Sunday 30 January 2011

Replicas

Remember the bellflower earrings I made and sold some weeks back? The photo's a couple of posts down. I liked how the wire frames I made mirrored the bell shape of the flower beads so much that I made replicas of the earrings yesterday - using 3 different colours of artistic wire. I paired silver-plated wire with some navy blue flower beads, gold-plated wire with purple flower beads and finally, brass-plated wire with green flower beads. All 3 pairs are listed in my Artfire shop. I think they're quite girly and romantic, which considering Valentine's Day is coming up, is rather apt really.




What do you think? Do you like them as much as I do? They're not perfect I know but I'm secretly quite proud of myself since it's the first time I've bothered to make a component - ie. the spirally wire frames - myself. I'd love to hear what you think.

Friday 21 January 2011

New old jewellery

Looking through my posts, I'm beginning to see how this blog is slowly turning into a catalogue of my work. I'm not sure this is what I intended when I first began. But I think I like it. It's a bit like having a portfolio of sorts. Just online. Anyway, I'm posting photos of earrings I made as Christmas gifts this past December. After braving snow, sleet and rain - and goodness knows what else - in the last month, they've finally found their way to their intended owner in the US.





Sunday 16 January 2011

Special jewellery

I've started 2011 by agreeing to make some commissioned jewellery for an old schoolmate. We only recently re-connected via Facebook and I'm both pleased and honoured that she's asked me to make some very special items for her. This from only seeing photos I've uploaded on the Net.

First up is a rose quartz bracelet because she says she always feels calmer when she wears this stone. I'm not ecstatic with what I came up with, but it's serviceable and will pass muster. I think.


Apologies for the poor picture-taking. I'm without my regular camera since it's in HK with my sisters :-(. So I had to take photos with my dodgy old camera instead. 

My schoolmate then requested for 2 sets of prayer beads - or tasbih as we call them - which she wanted to give as gifts to friends who are going through rough times. Again, she asked for rose quartz beads. It never occurred to me to make prayer beads but I loved how they turned out. More than that, I'm thankful for being given the chance to make something meaningful with my beads. 


Sunday 9 January 2011

Go me! Part 2

I got it wrong. My jewellery's been featured in two other Artfire collections. Isn't that great? I can feel the warm fuzzies descending on me as I type LOL. I never thought my Lovebirds and See You Later Alligator earrings would be pretty enough to be selected.....but they were! Unfortunately, one of the collections isn't available anymore so I can't showcase it here. But the other one - featuring my See You Later Alligator earrings - is, so go check it out!


Go me!

I've been featured in an Artfire collection! Yay me!! My Heart of Gold earrings was selected by Artfire member Juicy for her Valentines' heart-themed collection.

It's the second time my work has been picked for a collection, and I gotta tell you that it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to know that my peers think my jewellery is pretty enough to be included in their beautiful curated collections. Go check it out - every item is drool-worthy.


Saturday 1 January 2011

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year to one and all! May the coming year be better than the last, filled with love, joy, good health, success and every good thing you can wish for.

Looking back, 2010 was a landmark year for me. I started making jewellery with the intent of selling them, and finally got around to having an online presence through my Artfire and Etsy shops. I can't say I've been very successful in selling my work but then again, I haven't put in the effort and time that I should have. I did however start talking more about my jewellery to people and posting photos on Facebook which resulted in some friends commissioning some pieces. I found that it's much easier for me to make an item when I have someone in mind than when I'm making jewellery for the sake of a sale. I would do much better I think if I could picture in my mind's eye the sort of person I'd want to be wearing my jewellery before I actually start making it.

So I'm going to take those lessons learnt from 2010 and use them in 2011. My goal this year is to sell more of my work. It doesn't matter if it's through online sales or to friends who want to buy the bracelet off my wrist. I'm not going to put a number on the sales I'm hoping for though. 'More' will do. Just more.

2010 requests

I received several requests from friends to make them jewellery in 2010. In all, I think I made 3 necklaces, 4 bracelets, 2 pairs of earrings and a ring - which wasn't asked for but which I made anyway since I had 1 solitary coral nugget left. I'm so very grateful to these wonderful, kind friends for supporting my work and my passion. 






Sold








Some of the several pieces of jewellery I managed to sell in 2010. I'm proudest of the last item pictured. Because it was bought from my online Artfire shop and by someone who was a complete stranger. The buzz I got from that sale lasted nearly an entire week. I hope I get that buzz again this year.