Il Mare Atelier

In Love W.E. Trust

2012-02-14T00:00:00.000+08:00

On this Valentine's day, I'm reminded of the controversial love story of King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. Much has been written about their relationship but in short, a king gave up his throne for the love of a woman. That was in December 1936, a time when the British royalty and society was not ready for such an action and that Wallis Simpson was twice divorced did not help gain sympathy for their relationship.

While the couple lived out the rest of their lives in exile as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, they marked the milestones of their romance and twenty years of their marriage with exchanges of jeweled gifts. The entire collection is extraordinary but to me, the most poignant ones are these:

A gem-set and diamond bracelet made by Cartier (1934 - 1944), which is a charm bracelet with nine crosses given by Edward to Wallis to note key moments in their romance.

A gold and gem-set cigarette case, also made by Cartier (1935) and given by Wallis to Edward. It presents a two-tone map of Europe where cities the couple had visited together were inscribed with a gemstone and connected by enamel lines.

What really took my breath away was the combination of the couple's initials - Wallis and Edward becomes W.E. or "WE". It was as if they were made for each other and destined to spend their lives together and so they did.

Pink Romance

2012-01-26T22:00:00.000+08:00

Sweet. Intoxicating. Enchanting. Irresistible.

Teacups and roses

Valentino's RTW Fall 2011 collection

Pink Blush

The enchanted cove

My favorite things at Chinese New Year

2012-01-22T12:56:00.001+08:00

It's the eve of the Chinese New Year today and in a few hours' time, most families would be sitting down for their reunion dinners - it's one of those family dinners you can't miss every year.

There is so much to share about the Chinese New Year traditions that I thought I would list a few of my favorite things instead:

1. The decorations - what a great way to get into the festive mood!

Source unknown

2. Lion and dragon dances - especially since it is going to be the year of the Dragon

3. New year treats - dried persimmons (mom gets this from our local Chinatown every year), pineapple tarts, kueh lapis cake (lovely when it's baked with dried prunes!)

Clockwise from top right: My baking and cooking passion; Teczcape; Tasting Cultures; Asian Aisle

4. And of course, catching up with old friends and good conversation.

And finally, here is wishing you (if you celebrate) a very happy and prosperous new year!

What I made

2012-01-15T21:19:00.000+08:00

I can't believe I haven't shared these pieces - they took a long time but I'm so proud of them.

Mimosa - I thought these were incredibly cute. The labradorite earring posts felt special and the moss aquamarine drops were glamorous with a back-to-nature flair. I specially loved the orange Padparadscha sapphires adding a bright 'pop' of color in this painting. The earrings are available in both my Etsy and Artfire studios.

Lapis lazuli is a very popular gemstone indeed, having been known as a spiritual stone and used by ancient Egyptian royalty in ancient times. I matched it with Namibian blue frost chalcedony and before I knew it, I was adding water sapphire and pyrite. If you didn't already knew, pyrite is also known as "fool's gold" because of its similarity in shape, color and habit to gold. In the old mining days, pyrite was often confused with gold as they occurred together, but the value of the two minerals are vastly different. I love how the pyrite stone bring out the pyrite flecks in the lapis lazuli stone.

I decided to name this gorgeous bracelet "Spellbound" and you can see more pictures at my Etsy and Artfire studios.

You might have notice the prop that appeared in both pictures. It's a brushed metal vase with a lovely name (Mint Julep Cup Vase) that I bought here. I just love the vintage feel and how it adds more interest to my pictures.

And just sharing a piece of good news for local friends:
When you sign up with SimplyShopWhere as a member (it's free by the way), you will receive news about great shopping and dining deals AND also a SGD50 voucher for your purchase at my Artfire studio.

Enjoy a fabulous week!

Happy 2012!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

It's time to leave 2011 behind...

Pin Wheel Black and Red Heels by Lea's Vintage

... and step into:

Champagne Toast by VintageConfections

May you have a blissful, lovely and beautiful year!

BekahJennings

Fleur-de-lis :: A study

2011-11-29T02:10:00.000+08:00

Fleur-de-lis, which literally means "lily flower" in French appears to be inspired by the iris flower. The three leaves were said to represent the medieval social classes: those who worked, those who fought and those who prayed.

The Fleur-de-lys symbol grew to became the ancient emblem of the city of Florence and is often seen as the mark of royalty (especially the French monarchy). The symbol has been widely used in military insignia, religious art and architecture.

Silver fleur-de-lis bracelet by Serrelynda

Carvings under the Anne Boleyn Gatehouse at Hampton Court Palace

Fleur de lis watch pin with london blue topaz and sapphires by Il Mare Atelier

Konstantino ring

Red & Blue :: Sequel

2011-10-05T01:15:00.006+08:00

I felt like an artist learning to paint for the first time.

Following my previous post on Red and Blue, I finally plucked up my courage to try my hand with these sea-foam blue Peruvian chalcedony. Having bought these superb stones on impulse, I could not think of what best to make with them... that is, until I chanced upon some emerald-green onyx.

And then the painter's brush came to life: I added dashes of crimson red rubies and baby-pink sapphires to the ocean-blue/green canvas. And the warm brown andalusite hearts just seemed the perfect straw to pull off the whole color palette.

Red & Blue

2011-08-25T23:03:00.001+08:00

Sometimes I feel like I want to do a piece with a strong color theme, and what better than the primary colors of red and blue you ask?

apartmentherapy.com

2011 Christian Louboutin High Heels Jeweled Platform Slingback

Creature Comforts

Cendrine Rovini

The Silence in Black and White

On Etsy and Artfire

Inspiration :: This is glamorous!

2011-08-17T23:26:00.015+08:00

Loveyubrides

This is glamorous

Google

Maisondesfleurs

Rebecca Ruby Chami

Old world charm and luscious fabrics...who could resist these! My favorite is the seafoam, turquoise train in the first picture...there is just an ethereal, dreamy feel to it! Which is your favorite?

Dazzling in gold :: a touch of vintage glamour

2011-08-11T01:19:00.001+08:00

It has been some time since I created a style board in Polyvore. However, on my daily blog reads, I stumbled upon some very beautiful inspiration boards and that nudged to drop into my account again. I'm no talent at this, so I could only do up a very simple style board for the day:

A touch of vintage glamour by ilmare

Natural (gem) Curiosities

2011-08-07T23:46:00.024+08:00

I have to say that I was not particularly attracted to natural (gem) curiosities before but recently they seem to grow on me.

Druzy agates, geode slices, solar quartz, ammonite fossils...the organic feel and style of these stones create an interesting twist from the usual sparkling gems I use and somehow, by incorporating these stones into my work, I feel like I could enshrine a part of mother nature forever.

Geode Slice Ring

Marigold Garden

Solange

Jasper Stalagtite earrings

Ammonite fossil pendant

What are you?

2011-07-30T23:33:00.000+08:00

Pick one. In fact, you may pick more than one. :-)

The enchanted cove

Starry Starry Night

2011-07-20T02:04:00.001+08:00

The life of Vincent van Gogh as a tragic genius holds too much drama for my liking, but his paintings of starry nights piqued my interest. In one of his letters to his friend, Eugene Boch, he described his study of Arles, depicted in the first painting below (The Starry Night over the Rhone):

"The town lighted with gas reflected in a blue river. Over it the starry sky with the Great Bear - a sparkling of pink and green on the cobalt blue field of the night sky, whereas the lights of the town and its ruthless reflections are red gold and bronzed green."

Starry Night Over the Rhone, 1888

Starry Night, 1889

Inspired to create my own "Starry Night" piece, I started with two onion-cut briolettes of teal blue London blue topaz and slowly and surely, the rest of the gems began to fall into place. So here is the result ~ a petite cute little ensemble :-)

Birthstone Jewelry :: A New Love

2011-07-01T01:34:00.002+08:00

I have always imagined birthstone jewelry to be boring, with simple stones on a fine chain or earring post to signify the month of birth. Well, my creativity was put to the test one day when J. approached me to create a necklace for her mother, using birthstones for herself, her baby girl and her mother.

For any jewelry artist, it is always the greatest blessing to have lots of room to work one's creativity and J. was wonderful in giving me that. We finally decided on a focal cluster weaving in golden and champagne citrines, royal purple and pink amethyst and hot pink topaz and the cluster thins away with the same gemstones sprinkled throughout the rest of the necklace.

W. recently got me to create a simple, sophisticated petite pair of earrings for her friend who was born in July. Using the traditional (onyx) and modern birthstones (ruby) with some accent stones, the result was a surprising pop of colors:

What I have been busy with...

2011-05-26T01:17:00.005+08:00

Something wonderful has been brewing in my little studio.

A few customers approached me lately to create bespoke pieces. As I soon discovered, custom orders require a lot more communication with the customer. The interaction has been both fulfilling and humbling for me, as I learn about the stories and ideas of my customers and create for them a wearable piece of art that we both love and know will delight the recipient.

The first bespoke piece I made was meant as a present from a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law. J. had wanted a necklace created from the birthstones of her baby girl, her husband and herself. It's truly a meaningful gift... I can only imagine the mother-in-law will feel that her family are close to her heart whenever she wears this necklace.

M. saw the Dandelion earrings in my Etsy studio and was inspired to create a single earring for herself. She has a clear love of semi-precious opaque stones and natural curiosities to precious sparkling gems. We finally decided on lapis kites and this was what I made for her. She is going to look really cool in this!

Inspiration :: Tea Rose

2011-05-22T02:41:00.002+08:00

So many artists have explored tea rose as a color inspiration, that I was tempted to do one of my own but with a twist. It didn't start out too smoothly at first but I finally got to where I wanted these earrings to be - a blossoming bouquet of bursting summer colors :)

Inspiration :: Portia

2011-04-25T03:05:00.002+08:00

It's inexplicable, but the name "Portia" springs to mind when I had to name these earrings... Perhaps it's the strength of her character as the heroine in The Merchant of Venice that attracted me. Wisdom, wit and grace residing all in a single soul - she wins her suitor and saves the life of his friend. In the play, Portia delivers one of the most famous speeches of all time:

The quality of mercy is not strain'd.

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

Ellen Terry (1847 1928) As Portia In The Merchant Of Venice C. 1885 by Albert Joseph Moore

Source unknown

Curiously, I'm also reminded of Audrey Tatou's character in Amelie who carries out elaborate ideas to help improve the lives of people around her. Perhaps that is a name for another creation on another day...

Cythera :: Isle of Love

2011-04-14T07:13:00.001+08:00

I first stumbled upon the story of the fabled island in Jean-Antoine Watteau's paintings, drawn from the world of Italian comedy and ballet and manifested in fêtes galantes style. Cythera, also thought to be the birthplace of Venus, goddess of love, became the place where one could hope to find his or her ideal partner. These paintings are unusual in that you can never exactly tell if the people on the island are coming or going.

I was spurred to interpret these enchanting landscapes and mood in these paintings but wanted to add a modern twist to it....so when this yellow bantam pendant from Rosalera came along, things fell in perfectly! The pendant becomes a keepsake and reminder of happy memories and was wonderful to go with a palette of sapphires, amethysts and lemon quartz and a solitary Akoya baroque pearl (all the gems that a girl would love!)...today was a very happy day indeed!

Gray Exquisites

2011-04-06T02:38:00.002+08:00

Whoever said gray had to be dull and dreary?

weheartit

And I even found this lovely blog in gray - check it out!

Happy anniversary...

2011-04-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

...to me! Amazing how time flies...it has been two fabulous years since Il Mare Atelier was born.

I still remember and am eternally grateful to Emily of Exquisite Studios who became my first customer and continued to be encouraging and supportive always; Kim of Vabeachquilter whose self-discipline spurred me to be persistent in my marketing and promotion efforts...although other challenges have come up along the way and I haven't been able to keep pace.

And not forgetting the many lovely customers I have had, some of whom have become friends...and many other friends I met in the online space :)

In celebration of Il Mare Atelier's second anniversary, I'm having price reductions on all items in both my Artfire and Etsy studios. Use the coupon code - BDAY20 at check out to enjoy a 20% reduction. Anniversary sale ends April 15th, enjoy!

Wind, Sand and Stars :: a handmade interpretation

2011-03-26T23:06:00.002+08:00

Inspired by my favorite author - Antoine St. Exupery and his novel - Wind, Sand and Stars, I felt compelled to put this treasury together. Was it not said that a picture paints a thousand words? :)

A birthday gift

2011-03-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

Specially made for R's birthday and I almost couldn't bear to give it away! Couldn't post pictures earlier as I didn't want to spoil the fun. Look at those creamy baroque pearls with sparkling clusters of lilac amethyst and iolite gems... I hope R. loves these as much as I do and wear them often (*hint*).

More spring love

2011-02-19T23:55:00.001+08:00

My favorite season of the year - soft, sweet hues in fashion styles that I adore completely...so here I am, shopping on Etsy again:

Inspiration :: The Great Gatsby

2011-02-13T23:00:00.003+08:00

I recently finished F. Scott Fitzgerald's haunting novel - The Great Gatsby and must say I have become quite a fan of his writing. The novel tells the story of the doomed romance between Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan and some has said that the book illustrates the fallibility of the American dream.

It has been more than a week since I read the novel, but the characters of Jay and Daisy are as fresh in my mind as ever, and I actually got inspired to create a necklace based on the style of that time period.

cagedwonder

Stylexperts

In the mood for love

2011-01-28T02:43:00.003+08:00

There are so many legends and traditions about Valentine's Day that it is hard to know its true origin today. In the modern age, the occasion has just about become a commercialized event that few would even remember how Valentine's Day came about.

As people around the world honor and remember their loved ones on this coming day, I thought I would share my favorite poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning:

How Do I Love Thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

A whiff of Spring :: Cherry Blossoms

2011-01-16T13:01:00.004+08:00

The blooming of cherry blossoms or sakura (in Japanese) is a joyous occasion - it's a time to get together with family and friends, with good food and wine, and best of all, lots of laughter and good conversation...this is what the good life means :)

Inspired by the cherry blossom flowers, I decided to create a palette in irresistibly pink gemstones - pink amethyst, rose quartz, pink Madagascan sapphires, rhodolite garnets, with keishi pearl accents. Smoky brown andalusites with dashes of rutiles were added to resemble branches of cherry trees. Perhaps this could be the start of a spring collection:

Mixed Metals :: Gold and Silver

2010-12-26T02:00:00.007+08:00

I used to think that gold and silver (especially bright silver) would be mutually exclusive. Mixing the two metals together went against conventional fashion sense. In fact, one hardly sees both applied in the same piece of work, although this began to change in recent times.

This pair of earrings was born out of a sudden inspiration that popped into my head a few days ago...it really warms my heart to see that it turned out pretty well.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T23:45:00.002+08:00

weheartit

This Christmas, I remember and am thankful for every single soul who crossed my path on this creative journey. I have met and made friends through blogs, Facebook, Artfire and Etsy... all your kind words and support were immense encouragement for me to carry on.

May joy and peace be with you and your loved ones...have a beautiful Christmas and a wonderful year ahead!

Hunting for the perfect gift

2010-12-10T12:51:00.004+08:00

Fret not for last minute shopping... you could pick up a gift from these amazing artists right here at home in Singapore!

'Shop at home this Christmas' by IlmareAtelier

littleoddfores... $32.00	miniaturepatis... $62.90	uniquegrabs $10.00	yenpaintings $13.00
AiClay $11.20	monograft $6.00	itshandmade $26.90	lilypang $26.90
lovegrowsbygiv... $34.00	tullerie $40.00	HummingBoxStud... $21.00	girlwitharadio... $10.00
bringyourownba... $22.00	MOSAICShip $22.00	kushkush $32.00	ArcEnCielcreat... $60.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Inspiration found

2010-12-03T23:46:00.004+08:00

You know the thrill in your heart when you see a piece that excites you, much like the archaeologist who stumbles upon a 100th century old treasure. Here are my finds for the week:

Eric Lafforgue

Cheerleader in Borobodur Java - look at her headdress!

A 17th century Ottoman tent - how positively breathtaking! I would stand in awe too.

I do not know the story behind this picture but how rich these colors are!

Maple Autumn Fantasy

2010-11-29T02:32:00.008+08:00

Living in a city enclosed with summer all year round (with the usual spurts of tropical showers, of course), I find the warm autumnal browns and reds simply irresistible. After seeing so many similar scenes in the movies and dramas, I often dream of walking down a road like this:

weheartit

So when I found a bunch of gems in this color palette, I just had to make these:

Exotic finds

2010-11-05T01:51:00.001+08:00

I realised I haven't been showing much love to my blog lately...what with a change in jobs and lucky for me, I managed to squeeze a short getaway to exotic Siem Reap and the mysterious Angkor Wat. The collection below was inspired by my travels...enjoy!

Blueberries

2010-10-19T08:38:00.000+08:00

My inspiration for the week:

Rebecca Crump

weheartit

The first overwhelms with delicious temptation that no mean palette could resist and the second exudes heartwarming thoughtfulness. Hmm... how do I translate this into my work:

I had a dream

2010-10-10T02:50:00.003+08:00

I had a dream one night, of waiting at a bus stop amidst a backdrop of lush greenery... it wasn't clear what I was waiting for but the overhanging tree branches with glistening raindrops rolling down the leaves of sage green felt so real that the smell of greenery was in the air when I woke.

Vinh Tran

Many weeks later, I was inspired to create this piece and to think that it had such a whimsical start!

Midnight Muse

2010-09-13T00:00:00.007+08:00

A muse, in Greek mythology terms, is a goddess or spirit that inspire the creation of literature and art. In the modern day, a muse could appear in any form...a person you met, a story you heard, a place you visited, one thing leads to another and voila! A piece of art is born.

The muse for my latest creation was a surprise, even to me - Chanel's 2010 Autumn Winter Collection that I found in Vogue's September edition.

One word kept appearing in my mind afterwards - Midnight - and very aptly adopted for my latest work:

Art finds

2010-09-04T11:56:00.003+08:00

Chancing upon the rare exquisite vintage find at the flea market almost always makes the heart race, like stumbling upon a treasure trove before everyone else. Exactly my sentiments when I found these bursting onto my screen:

le stelle erano come i diamanti

Walls of wine by Sven Fennema

Inspired to plough away at my own piece, I collected gems in dusky pinks, light mauves, petite coral, smoky browns and tada! Here is the result of several weekends of hard work:

Collections

2010-08-17T23:36:00.002+08:00

Seashore necklace

I have often shied away from creating whole jewellery collections, that is, matching earings, necklace, and bracelet, as I felt to wear all of these at the same time would be too over the top.

However, a lovely customer approached me recently to design a bespoke pair of earrings to match the Seashore necklace she purchased. Not wanting the overall look to be too heavily accessorised, I kept the clusters simple while retaining the overall flow of the design:

Good things come in small packages

2010-08-08T23:10:00.000+08:00

When I first chanced upon Rosalera, I thought this was the most beautiful way to freeze memories in time! It is amazing how a humble piece of history (think vintage lace...) or nature (think petite flowers...) could be encased in resin and sterling silver and "live" forever.

Well, I bought myself a piece of history (antique venetian lace with vintage kimono silk) from Rosalera, could not bear to use them for a long time and finally made these:

More goodness from Rosalera:

Solange

2010-07-25T02:11:00.014+08:00

It was by a stroke of luck that I came upon this beautiful piece of solar quartz heart, with lots of fine crystals gathered around a centre of concentric circles in a lovely radiating pattern. I wanted a unique gemstone color palette and my mind was filled with images of lagoons and white-sand beaches at the time...so here goes.

Doesn't it just reminds you of New Caledonia? A sea paradise in southwest Pacific, the island was first discovered by Captain James Cook. It has been said that he named it New Caledonia as the rugged coastline reminded him of Scotland.

from +

bleu Majorelle

2010-06-19T09:40:00.003+08:00

The first time I read about Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Garden), I was enthralled. The incredible variety of lush vegetation, including cactus, yucas, water lilies, jasmine, bougainvilleas and others, juxtaposed with the bold cobalt blue architecture to form a breathtaking landscape from a different world.

Located in Marrakech, Morroco, this garden was designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle (1886 - 1962) and has been thought to be his creative masterpiece, more than his paintings were. In fact, the special shade of cobalt blue used so extensively in the garden was named after him, bleu Majorelle.

from +

Indeed, Jardin Majorelle was in my mind when I came across these lapis lazurites with their outrageous cobalt blue with dashes of brass gold pyrite flecks...I knew I had to get them!

Flowers

2010-06-10T02:50:00.001+08:00

Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

~Veronica A. Shoffstall, "After a While," 1971

from weheartit

Seashores and discoveries

2010-06-05T13:44:00.002+08:00

The allure of the pristine beach is always so incredibly inviting - lush white sands, shimmering hues of pale greens to deep blues of the waters against the brilliant blue sky with streaming cirrus clouds...

And yet, rocky seashores and limestone caves could sometimes contain an immense surprise...A rare seashell find never fail to light up my heart for sure :-)

The bittersweet story of Hyacinth

2010-05-24T09:50:00.002+08:00

Ancient Greek legend has it that Apollo and his beautiful friend from Sparta, Hyacinthus, were having a game of discus when the discus veered off course, hit Hyacinthus and took his life. Deep in grief, Apollo named the flower that sprung from Hyacinthus' spilled blood Hyacinth in memory of his beloved friend.

In the Victorian language of flowers, the Hyacinth flower symbolizes sport or play and the blue Hyacinth signifies sincerity. It has been said that the Hyacinth flower could bloom again after the first bloom is gone, by trimming the flower stalk at the base and leaving the leaves to dry on their own.

Inspired by the story of the Hyacinth flower, I embarked on an ardous journey to create one of my most luxurious and decadent piece to date.

Hearting :: Pearls

2010-05-02T02:49:00.002+08:00

I recently became fascinated with baroque pearls and when I found these ivory baroque akoya pearls, I absolutely had to get them. Baroque akoya pearls are cultured saltwater pearls and have the appearance of a tear-drop shape. Juxtaposed with blue-flash labradorite hearts and a largely lagoon-blue gem palette, my idea of a long strand necklace was brought to life:

Peaches and Cream

2010-04-18T03:05:00.002+08:00

The apricot-peach color, one of the perennial favorites in my wardrobe, is a common theme that runs through these lovely scenes below. No matter how bad the day has been going, it has the uncanny ability to lift the spirit and brighten up the day. In the right ensemble, it can transform a girl into a sweet and sophisticated lady.

by La Belle Vie

by Samantha

by Its happening now and its always been like this.

by me (Il Mare Atelier)

Giverny's Gardens

2010-04-12T02:30:00.004+08:00

I chanced upon this beautiful sight in Claude Monet's gardens at Giverny. It is amazingly tranquil yet does not detract from the vibrant lush colors of the fabled gardens.

http://www.jeniferheid.com/monet/garden.htm

I have tried to capture my own with songea sapphires and mint green amethysts in this piece here:

I heart :: Cornflowers

2010-04-03T11:23:00.003+08:00

photographed by Michaël Pontégnie from Belgium, June 2002

The lovely cornflower, a tradition of English country gardens, becomes my latest inspiration.

Also known as the Bachelor's Button, it was said that the cornflower was worn in buttonholes of young men in love when they went courting the ladies. Cornflowers last so well after cutting, that the couple could dance the night away and the cornflower would sparkle.

How lovely would it be to dress up your ears with these:

And to sleep with these:

by Karen Barbe

Morning Dew

2010-03-27T21:32:00.000+08:00

Glistening morning dew coupled with the scent of fresh crisp green leaves are the best ingredients for a perfect morning. Inspired, I gathered various white and blue gemstones I could find - blue-flash rainbow moonstones, pristine rock crystal, sparkling aquamarines, and blue topaz. And here is my perfect morning:

World Artisan Gems

2010-03-12T02:13:00.000+08:00

I first came across World Artisan Gems by chance and I felt like a child who discovered a treasure trove! The incredible number of talented artists featured there has made me an ardent fan of the site ever since. You can imagine my amazement and delight to find in my inbox one day an invitation to be featured on their site. You can view my feature here.

Thoughts

2010-02-19T23:08:00.004+08:00

If you have a past that dissatisfies you, forget it now. Imagine a new story of your life, and believe in it.

~ The Fifth Mountain, Paulo Coelho

by Karin Mathilda

Posies

2010-02-16T22:01:00.001+08:00

My definition of a posy [pz] : a bouquet of flowers grabbed and arranged in the spur of the moment, yet looked effortlessly put together:

Lilac Love

2010-02-10T10:11:00.004+08:00

My heart skipped a beat when I received these GEM quality amethyst! I mulled over what would be the best way to show off these lovelies and here they are:

How about transporting these colors into your home?

Jay Jeffers Lilac Room

The Sunshine (blog) Award!

2010-02-06T11:17:00.002+08:00

It was a pleasant surprise to receive the Sunshine (blog) Award from the energetic Kim of Vabeachquilter (yes, you've guessed it - she makes fabulous quilts!), who besides running her business, helps other handmade business owners to promote and market themselves.

Part of accepting this award is sharing the love around:
1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2. Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

So here are the 12 lovely blogs that I'm passing on the award to:
1. Amanda Spicer Illustration
2. Always Adorned
3. The Sanctuary
4. MadebyAnnaK
5. One Inspiration, Two Perspectives
6. The Spotted Sparrow
7. Fossicker, Baker, Photograph Taker
8. The Meandering Musings of Consummate Shopper
9. Pretty Shiny Sparkly
10. Aspiring Couture
11. Brunch at Saks
12. Florspace

Take your time, have a cup of tea and enjoy browsing through these wonderful blogs! I did!

Lavender fields

2010-01-27T10:00:00.001+08:00

I had always dreamt of creating a palette like this - a bouquet of lavender and lilacs, roses, pinks with a dash of sunshine yellow. It took me a while to collect the gems and finally achieving this:

In the mean time, check out this gorgeous picture by Linda. I do want to be lying in these fields!!!

I believe I can fly...

2010-01-23T10:15:00.003+08:00

Isn't this perfect when you need to carry your dreams? Lots of great company too!

By Gaston Batistini

Fields of Gold

2010-01-18T23:33:00.001+08:00

I remembered listening to Eva Cassidy's beautiful rendition of the song which later became my inspiration for this piece. This song was written by Sting, which was said to be after he bought a house near a barley field and was inspired by the sunset and the colors of the field.

~o~ Fields of Gold ~o~
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Among the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

Will you stay with me will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
And you can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We will walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We will walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold

Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
As you lie in fields of gold

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold

I've been tagged!

2010-01-07T23:14:00.006+08:00

I have been tagged by the sweet and lovely Duni, so for the first time I'm sharing some snippets about the private me :-)

1. Your hair? It's starting to grow out of place again, so I need a hair cut pretty soon!

2. Your favorite food? Oh, where do I start? I never seem to tire of tiramisu though!

3. Your favorite drink? I'm addicted to tea!!! chinese tea, green tea, local tea....lots of it!

4. Your dream/ goal? To touch lives with my art

5. Your hobby? Visiting museums, swimming, reading, dabbling with paints ;-)

6. Your fear? I'm afraid of falling into drains.... it's strange, I know...

7. Where were you last night? At my desk, sketching designs right before I dropped off to sleep.

8. Something you say all the time? I don't really know... but sometimes I find myself getting more repetitive... is this a sign of ageing? :-(

9. Something that you’re not? I'm not a sporty person much as I would like to be.

10. Wishlist item? In the land-scarce island that I live on, I'm always wishing for more space!

11. Last thing you did? Stuck a plaster on my bleeding thumb.... I suffer paper cuts way too often!

12. What are you wearing? Navy blue dress with a lovely bow at the waist, plus a cute little cardi.

13. Your pets? I don't have any but may think about having them in the future.

14. Friends? Absolutely, these are the people that have touched my life in so many ways...

15. Missing someone? Friends residing around the world, thank goodness for facebook!

16. Something you’re not wearing? No heels, yay!

17. Your favorite store? Recently, it's been Artfire, Etsy.... there is an incredible range of handmade goods, I wonder why I didn't came across them earlier!

18. Your favorite color? Lovely pink, mauves and lilacs...

19. The last time you cried? When I watched certain parts of the Monster anime, it was a tragic story...

20. When's the last time you laughed? Oftentimes that I don't remember!

21. One place that I go to over and over? It has to be gemstone suppliers now, lol!

22. Where do you eat? No one single place, but I like quaint little cafes, like this one :-)

And here are a few lovely blogger friends that I've tagged:
Diane of The ShutterbugEye Photography
Amy of Bride Chic
Katie of Katherine's Corner

The Perfect Moment

2009-12-30T23:30:00.008+08:00

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

Merry Christmas and looking forward to spring...

2009-12-25T09:01:00.005+08:00

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 :-)

Sunshowers and a wedding gift

2009-11-29T02:27:00.002+08:00

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?

The Orchid Necklace has been featured!

2009-11-27T23:01:00.002+08:00

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

Glorious Sparkles

2009-11-21T10:12:00.006+08:00

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.

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.

What are you thinking about?

2009-11-18T23:37:00.004+08:00

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?

Finding Your Style

2009-11-15T22:46:00.008+08:00

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

Drenched in gems!

2009-11-01T23:21:00.008+08:00

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... :)

Sweet Violets

2009-10-27T22:00:00.011+08:00

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

The Charm in Links

2009-10-24T23:15:00.004+08:00

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.

Sweet Pinks

2009-10-05T19:44:00.007+08:00

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

Wish List for a Handmade Christmas

2009-09-26T15:46:00.005+08:00

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?

Luscious Greens

2009-09-26T12:20:00.009+08:00

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

I won this!

2009-09-12T22:07:00.005+08:00

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!

Life Experiments

2009-09-06T21:00:00.001+08:00

Ever watched your dreams pass you by and wished you had the courage to pursue them before? Ever saw someone who, not knowing any better, went ahead to chase his dreams and succeeded, and you watched in awe, wishing you were that person?

This winning entry from the Unconventional Writing Contest was shared with me by a close friend and is truly inspiring. Read it here.

Now I need to change my mind about how I view my day job. :-)

Flowers in bloom

2009-08-30T22:44:00.009+08:00

It has been a while since my last blog post... Some rare sparkly gems arrived and I have been working hard to put together some new ideas and tada!

Violets

Orchidea

I have been featured on Handmade News!

2009-08-21T22:00:00.002+08:00

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. This is the loveliest thing that happened to me in my handmade career, lol!

Spring is long over but.....

2009-08-11T00:00:00.000+08:00

I discovered this lovely colour palette of tangerine orange, dusky pink and soft mauves quite by chance and immediately the image of cherry blossoms came to mind. I know spring season is way over but I couldn't resist sharing these:

A Story to Share - 1,000 marbles

2009-08-08T22:00:00.006+08:00

Some time ago, a friend forwarded me a story that made me think about the life I had been living. You can think about yours after you read this.

Here goes:

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it.

I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom." I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."

He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."

And that's when he began to explain his theory of "a thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3,900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."

"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy."

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and have thrown it away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones ..."

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.

"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."

"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.

"Oh, nothing special," I said. "It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

May all Saturdays be special
And may you have many happy years
After you lose all your marbles.

I'm ready to enjoy my Saturday, are you?

Waterfalls and Northern Lights

2009-08-01T23:41:00.006+08:00

An idea that sprang from memories of waterfall landscapes...

http://www.topdesktop.com/nature/waterfall1.htm

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.

http://www.freewebs.com/nlbt/

Signs - About Serendipidity and Communication

2009-07-19T21:47:00.008+08:00

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!

Midsummer Night's Dream

2009-07-19T18:21:00.011+08:00

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 got so excited I couldn't wait for the package to arrive!

Some of My Favourite Things - from Artfire!

2009-06-22T02:00:00.004+08:00

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!

Simply Stunning Gems

2009-06-15T10:46:00.006+08:00

Much hard work had gone into these frames. Now I just need to add gems!

Here is what I have done - The pink amethysts are divinely beautiful!

Royal Purple

2009-06-11T19:47:00.008+08:00

I just love the free-form wirewrap, don't you? The royal amethyst has a deep and rich purple while the champagne citrines just sparkle!