My Precious

Before I discovered charms and started making those cute and delightful charm jewelry, I was really into sparkling little semi-precious gemstones and precious metal. I couldn't resist thoses faceted briolettes, delightful colors, and well buffed stones. In fact, I collected so many of them that I had to destash some in my supplies shop (That Gem Shop). Well, I've closed up That Gem Shop for a bit now, because number 1, I have a tad wee bit too much on my plate right now to be managing two shops, and number 2, I've decided to be a hoarder and keep all those lovely precious stones for my own use. Yes, I've come back to my first love again, and have revived gemstone cum precious metal concoctions in my repertoire, but I won't stop making charm jewelry either. I'm gonna be making both because I love them all, and have a jolly good time doing it!

Here's to show off some stone pieces that I've recently made and put up in my Etsy shop (under The Classics). Sort of a trailer, more to come, so keep a watch out! :)

Dear Alice

Two Sundays ago I was surfing TV channels and caught a little of a re-run of Alice In Wonderland (the Johnny Depp version). There was one scene that caught my attention which I've not noticed when I watched the movie before. It was the one where Mad Hatter was making hats again, but it was for the horrible big headed Red Queen. But being able to throw himself back to his craft made him so happy that he forgot himself and his situation. When Alice reminded him that he was making hats "for her", he was suddenly awaken from his euphoria. Disgusted with himself, he swept everything onto the floor, and asked Alice in despair if he were mad, to which Alice replied that he is utterly bonkers, but the secret is that "all the best ones are"!

I love that statement. I've always been judged as being a little weird, too melancholic, too perfectionistic, anti-social, almost insane. But now suddenly my world makes sense, now I know why I've always been a little "off" - I'm simply one of the best! Hee hee! :)

Recently I've also made two necklaces inspired by the original Alice story - I'm Late I & II. From the first chapter of the book where White Rabbit is hurrying along because he is late. I love the charms, I hope you will too!


(P.S. You can find the necklaces in my Etsy shop!)

Purse Of Dreams

Again I've neglected this poor little blog.....so sorry but I've spent nearly half of July being sick, and even now still coughing away........

Anyway, it's been a while since I've talked about my projects, so today I'm introducing a piece that I've made this month (before I fell ill that is) and which I've finally taken photos of yesterday!

This long necklace has a beautiful, ornate, artistic purse locket. Yep we've all seen the usual round and oval lockets, but this one is in a special purse shape. Outside the purse I've hung two metal stamped discs, which I've used to signify coins, one says "dream", and the other says "hope". The story? Well, being in this handmade business, everything is made by my own two hands, and so everything is very personal ("it's not personal, it's just business" really does not apply to the handmade movement I think, how can something you design and make not be personal right?) And every time someone appreciates and buys my work, it's a boost of confidence and an assurance that my work means something to someone else. I cannot describe the joy and encouragement that I feel with every sale, it's more than the joy of getting paid, it is a shot of hope of being nearer to my dream - of making this handmade craft my livelihood. So in this sense, every cent (or coin) that I get not only signifies wealth, but a sign of hope and fulfillment of my dream. In the same way, I hope the wearer of this purse will become prosperous, not only in wealth, but also be filled with hope for the fulfillment of your dreams!

The purse locket can be opened and you can fill it with messages, pictures or other lightweight trinkets, but it is not advisable to use it as a real purse for real coins or money, as I don't think it can take that much weight. And this is a limited edition piece, one piece only, no remakes!

To see this in my Etsy shop, click HERE

Mama & Baby

I'm an owl fan, or rather, fanatic. I go crazy when I see owls. And this owl necklace that I've made just reminds me of my daughter and I taking a cosy pic together -

"Mama & Baby"

And I found and older picture of hubby and girlie in the same pose too.....well maybe the owl's a daddy, who knows!

Mystical Trees - Necklaces & Earrings

Mystical Trees - Necklaces & Earrings
Originally uploaded by jewelparlour

To me, these little trees look like one of those out of the forest of Avatar, too bad they can't come in neon colors, though the brass ones has sort of a golden glow to it.....Anyway, if you love trees like I do, they are a must add to collection items. In my shop now. click the links below to get to them:

1) Necklace in Silver
2) Earrings in Silver
3) Necklace in Brass
4) Earrings in Brass

Swallows

Swallows
Originally uploaded by jewelparlour

I love them in all the colors - don't you? Majestic swallow bird charms with freshwater pearl drops below them. These are short necklaces and their chains are all different. Check them out:

Silver Color: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39314737

Antique Brass Color: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39189646

Gold Color: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39040041

Leafy Collection - New Additions

More fabulous additions to the leafy collection!

1) Maple (1st row, 1st 2 pairs from the left) : Gorgeous maple leaf charms with freshwater pearls. In silver and gold colors.

2) Leaves In The Wind (1st and 2nd rows, 1st pairs from the right): Perfect leaves that will sashay nicely in the wind and beneath your earlobes! Gold color with garnet, or silver color with amethyst.

3) Leaf In The Wind (2nd row, 1st 2 necklaces from the left): Need I say more? Perfect complements to the earrings, or vice versa. In gold with a little pink flower and garnet, or silver color with a little clear flower and amethyst.

4) Three Leaves (3rd ros, 1st 2 necklace from the left): With a single freshwater pearl each, these petite little leaf charms make fabulous focals on your neck. In gold and silver colors.

5) Leaf Up (3rd row, 1st necklace from the right): A leaf hanging above a dark magenta glass briolette focal. Sweet and elegant and a mood lifter. Only in gold.

I love leaves - hope you do now! These are all in the "Charmed Blings" collection in my shop. To get to the item listings, just click on the links. See ya in my shop!

A New Leafy Collection

Those familiar with my work would know that I usually feature flowers in my pieces, but these leaves are so attractive that they have become the centre of attention.

1) Berries And Leaf (Top) - The matte goldplated leaf has gorgeous detailing and is realistically curved with a backbone stem. Adorned with handwrapped garnet "berries" and a floral toggle.

2) Rustling Leaves (Bottom Left) - Textured filigree leaves that will rustle softly on your ears as the wind blows. Adorned with blue glass flowers.

3) The Leaf (Bottom Right) - A very fine, wafer thin large sized filigree leaf that's so pretty. Reminds me of a fallaway leaf floating atop a gentle river, glistening with shiny water droplets, and continuing an endless journey with its little floral companion.

See this new collection at my shop now!

Some More Fluttering

As I have mentioned, next to flowers I love butterflies best, and we have some new ones in our shop! From top left in clockwise direction:

1) Rainbow Flutter - A wafer thin red iridescent butterfly is the focus of this piece. Simply gorgoeus!

2) Blue Flutter - A delicate piece with a blue rhinestone studded butterfly charm focal, with polymer clay rose and swarovski crystals

3) Butterflies - Green enamel butterflies, a little swish-swish for your ears.

4) Pink Flutter - Sister of Blue Flutter in sweet pink.

See them all in my Etsy shop now!

Store Update - Sweet Damsel

If you have not been to our Etsy shop lately, it's probably a good time to do so. With Christmas just a month away and tons of parties to attend, we've got some lovely feminine newbies that will dress you up for your function and wow your audience.

1. Sigal (top) - Sigal is a hebrew name for violet or treasure, which is just so apt for our sweet precious piece here featuring a gorgeous flourite teardrop pendant.

2. Taisia (bottom left) - Named after the legendary Princess Taisie of Rathlin Island who was the most beautiful woman in the world. And supposedly with the most gorgeous BLUE eyes, which coincides with our main color theme in this piece.

3. Alyssa (bottom right) - This is a remake with some slight difference in the bead mix. The first piece was sold off at a bazaar before it could make it's way to our shop, so a remake is a must!

These aren't enough to tempt you? Then check these out:


1. Jaeda (top) - Asymmetrical piece with a pale green rose on filigree and freshwater pearls. Eye catching subtlety.

2. Rowana (bottom left) - A sweet yet sexy combination of red and black.

3. Rhoda (bottom right) - A remake in a cheery peachy color that will brighten up your attire.

For more details on the materials and measurements, just click on their titles and you will be taken directly the item listing. Don't wait, or the party will be over. It's time to dress up and boogie! See ya at my shop!

Store Update - New Charmed Blings

Some of my friends commented that I seem to have dropped off the radar, well the truth is I have been a really busy little bee crafting my heart out. It's true - just check out my Etsy shop and see the new stuff I've been adding. And let me introduce a few pieces here, belonging the the category of Charmed Blings, beginning from top left going clockwise:

1. Shopping Queen - The handbag is the most important accessory for the girl who loves to shop (me!), and hopefully of course the bag will always be full of $$$! The bag charm is hanging on a crown shaped toggle. Do visit my shop for a closer look.

2. Femme Fatale - This is a 3rd remake, I really love this theme! This piece also earned a feature spot in FallenPeach's blog (thank you!)

3. My Lovely Deer - This one is a long necklace. I had the deer in black and dusty pink, the black has been sold already, I've no doubt it will soon be this cute one's turn too!

4. The Queen - Another Her Majesty themed piece. The swarovski crystal brio sparkles like royalty

Do check out other new Charmed Blings in my Etsy shop! See you there!

Splashes of Colour!

I love love love colour! So when I saw these delightful polymer clay beads, I simple couldn't resist! A splash of purple, a dash of pink, a blot of blue, a spot of yellow - these will light up you day and dress up you mood! These can be found in the "Sweet Damsel" section in my shop. Do roll over for a look now!

All About Fluttering

Next to flowers I love butterflies best, and recently I think I went a little crazy, let my heart went a fluttering - and ta-da! butterfly themed creations! I especially love the black wafer thin metal butterfly charms (on the right top and bottom), they are just so special! And the bracelet (on the left in the 2nd row) is a charmer at MAAD, I've sold quite a few pieces already - it really looks much better put on - I love the way customers' faces just light up when they try it on and they go "oooh"! Now that's satisfaction to the creator :)

Do roll over to my shop for a closer look at more pics. Catch these beautiful flutter at our Charmed Blings section. Catch you there! :)

Tensha

There was a time when I was madly in love with tensha beads, and recently my old love was revived when I saw some new versions of tensha - UV tensha beads! These necklaces are made from UV tensha - the background of the tensha pendants turn a nice shade of purple under direct sunlight or UV light. The transformation is almost instantaneous, and once you go back indoors, the colour changes back to normal. Cool!

And because my old love was revived, I decided to remake some of my tensha dangles. Love their sparkle! Call this a "retro" phase, Jewel Parlour style. I made 5 pairs actually, but one is already sold. And one per pair only, strictly no remakes, not in a long long time at least! :)

These are now on sale in my Etsy shop under the category Sweet Damsel. Because they are really sweet! Mouse over for a look!

Long Charm Necklaces

I'm in a long mood recently, and made quite of few of them long and charmed bling blings. Have a look see in my etsy shop, under the Charmed Blings section.

Four Seasons - In A Glance

Four Seasons - In A Glance
Originally uploaded by jewelparlour

So this is my rendition of the four seasons of nature, in jewelry form. I got these pretty lampwork glass beads when I was in Tokyo last year, they were handmade by the glass artists there in the studio above their little shop. I knotted them with faux leather straps into necklaces.

So what's your favourite season?

You can find these in my shop now, under the section Sweet Damsel. Each cost S$36. Click HERE to see.

Glass Tiles

Glass Tiles
Originally uploaded by jewelparlour

These cute little glass tile pendant necklaces were "softly launched" since Dec's MAAD, and they have been quite well received! Fun to make too, and I just love those cute little images - what a kawaii perk me up! Available now in my Etsy shop, in 2 sizes - square and scrabble. Click here to see: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=37793&section_id=5962741

Be Charmed

I love charms, I cannot resist them! They are adorable, fun, cute and to me, they can tell a story! Check out my shop for the new collection of charmed goodies - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=37793&section_id=5969212

These Lovely Vines

During my trip to Tokyo in June I picked up some lovely rhinestone studded, flower-motifed, sparkling and twinkling connectors, which reminds me of twirling vines. I paired them with swarovski crystals and glass briolettes and ta-da! - presenting the lovely vines series - 3 pairs of pretty danglies and a princess-like necklace. Just the right amount of sparkle for work and play. Mouse over to my online shop http://jewelparlour.etsy.com/ for a look-see!

New Goodies!

Yes, I know.....it's been a while since I've updated the new stuff that were added to my etsy shop....and here they are! All nicely collaged together for your easy viewing. Some of them may be good for the upcoming Mother's Day! (*hint hint wink wink*)(And if you cannot decide what to get, gift certs are available too!) Just mouse over to my shop for a closer look at them now - http://jewelparlour.etsy.com/