The Perfect Moment

Organising a bunch of gems of various colors, hues and shapes together into an interesting and unique palette is for me, very often a result of serendipidity.  The process is almost like searching for and capturing the perfect moment - a surprise of colors juxtaposed yet in harmony.

I believe that a jewelry artisan works very much the same way an oil painter approaches his paints.  Bearing the principles of the color theory in our minds, every discovery of a unique palette is at once heartstopping and breathtaking.  It is a perfect moment, and a gift.

Element Jewellery

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Merry Christmas and looking forward to spring...

Apologies for the long hiatus.... I have been working hard!  And finally Christmas is here!  Wherever you are, have fun, celebrate and may all your dreams be realised in the coming year.

Here is a bouquet from me to you, looking forward to spring :-)

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Sunshowers and a wedding gift

The weather in sunny Singapore is getting a little cranky with scorchingly hot mornings and dreary afternoons with strong downpours.  Today, we had a sunshower, while not exactly a rare sight, is still less common than grey rainy skies.  According to an old folklore, when it rains with sun, the foxes are getting married.... or is it the tiger?

How about a wedding gift to congratulate the couple?

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The Orchid Necklace has been featured!

It's a great pleasure that one of my creations has been featured in Indiespotting!

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Glorious Sparkles

I have been hard at work and here are the fruits of my labour for the week.  It's been a joy working with these gems!

The first is a lovely long, cluster drop earrings with sage green amethysts and sapphires of mauves, tangerines, warm yellows, and raspberry pinks.

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The second piece builts on a classic design with the most gorgeous Swiss blue topaz.  My challenge with great quality gemstones has always been coming up with the best design to do justice to these sparkles.  A poor design could so easily put these fabulous gems to waste.

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What are you thinking about?

There is something intriguing about a person's backview that makes me want to find out more. What kind of person are they?  What thoughts are going through their mind?  Do they feel happy or sad?

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Finding Your Style

Like many girls, I often see a piece of fabulous jewelry and fret about when I would ever find the right occasion to wear it. I'm a bit of a lazy dresser and like to go with pieces that do not take too much effort to wear yet give the impression of effortless style.

So one day, I thought of putting a styleboard together as an experiment to see how I could wear my jewelry pieces. In the process, I had lots of fab discoveries!

I would love to know what your style is!

For a relaxed date by ilmare

Cocktail party by ilmare

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Drenched in gems!

I finally realised my dream of making a luxurious gemstone bracelet... I loved the way it turned out!  Pleased to report that this has gone to a lovely new home... :)

Il Mare Atelier

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Sweet Violets

The rose is red, the violet's blue,
The honey's sweet, and so are you.
Thou are my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou'd be you.

~ Gammer Gurton's Garland, a 1784 collection of English nursery rhymes

Il Mare Atelier

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The Charm in Links

The stories behind jewelry always fascinate me to no end. The significance of a moment, memories carried from generation to generation breathe life into artefacts that would have been otherwise soulless.


There is something about the memories and nolstagia attached to charm bracelets that never let them go out of fashion.
Putting a charm bracelet together feels like going through old pictures and letters. Choose each charm for the story it tells, what it means to you and how much you care about it. Keep the most precious memories close to your heart.
Don't let it become an empty artefact.

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Pretty in Pink

Unobstrusive, hardly in the limelight, cottage pink flowers are often grown as edging for their larger and more flamboyant rose and peony cousins. Yet, they are an attractive perennial with their spicy fragrance.

The next time you stop to smell the roses, look out for these little ones. :-)

by Hiro

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Wish List for a Handmade Christmas

Handmade to me means a beautiful work of art, a means of connecting with another artist. I'm growing to be quite a big fan of handmade goods. Here is a list of my handmade picks for this Christmas. Would you like to share yours?

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Luscious Greens

La Mer

Doesn't this bring back memories of the shimmery hues of sea waters lapping on pure white sands?

I'm becoming quite a big fan of wirework and here is one of my more productive experiments. Let me know what you think of it. :-)

Sensuous Simplicity

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I won this!

I took part in Anna-Karin's blog giveaway and won this!

(by BlackDaisyDesigns)

Even more gorgeous in real life, these matt silver discs are cut so round, and the overlay of 2 discs in each earring brings to mind the image of a silvery moon in the dark sky. Finally I can see why they are named Lunaris!

The sage green packaging (of organza bag with pale green ribbons) remind me of pine trees - the perfect gift wrap for Lunaris!

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Featured on Handmade News!

While I did get notice that my jewelry was going to be featured, I was still very excited to see the feature in Handmade News on Artfire.  This is the most awesome thing that happened in my handmade journey!

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Waterfalls and Northern Lights

An idea that sprang from waterfall landscapes...

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Il Mare Atelier

A little lovely story about these labradorites (compiled by Shimmerlings Artist Jeane-Margherite):

According to an Eskimo legend, the Northern Lights were once imprisoned in the rocks along the coast of Labrador. It is told that a wandering Eskimo warrior found them and was able to free most of the lights with a mighty blow of his spear. Some of the lights were still trapped within the stone, and thus we have today the beautiful mineral known as labradorite.

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Signs - About Serendipidity and Communication

A friend introduced me to this wonderfully amazing film.  It turned out to be one of 2009 Cannes Lions winners! You will love it too, enjoy!

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Midsummer Night's Dream

I had been twirling this design in my head for a while... how do I dress soft warm peach moonstones and make them look chic? When I saw these mystic black spinel rondelles on sale, I ordered them right away. I was so excited I couldn't wait for the package to arrive!

 

Il Mare Atelier

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Some of My Favourite Things - from Artfire!

It's amazing how advances in technology has brought so many talented artists together in the same marketplace.

Here are a few of my favourite items to celebrate Artfire artisans today. Enjoy!

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Royal Purple

Il Mare Atelier

It was by chance that I picked up the free-form wire wrap from a beading magazine and another chance led me to discover the lovely combination of royal purple and champage.  Notice the deep shimmering purple in these amethysts while the champagne citrines just sparkle!

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