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Various cultures around the world have a great deal of influence on my work. La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise or The Chinese Jewel Box is one where the intersection of 2 cultures gave birth to this happy creation.

During my recent sojourn to the beautiful Loire Valley of France, I had the great fortune to stay at the beautifully restored neoclassical Château du Grand-Lucé. At the Château there is a beautiful room called the Salon Chinois or the Chinese Salon with beautiful paintings by Jean-Baptiste Pillement. Pillement was a highly regarded muralist of the 18^th century who counted among his patrons Louis XV, Mdm de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette. The murals in the  Salon Chinois is one of only 3 completely intact remaining today. Chinoiserie was absolutely de rigueur during the period and this beautiful room had it in abundance.

The beautiful Chinese pavilions depicted in the murals with their curved hip roofs (庑殿顶 or wǔdiàndǐng) and resting hill roofs (歇山顶 or xiēshāndǐng) immediately leapt out to me and La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise was born. The body of this small but intricate jewellery box is my interpretation of these Chinese style roofs with its elegant and seemingly interwoven curves. Embellished with nothing more than delicious magatamas or drop beads, the box is totally self-supporting and is woven completely in peyote. The lid is topped with a beautiful Czech gold foiled cabochon to create a precious “roof” for the jewellery box. The box sits on “legs” made of delightful Baroque cabochons. The number 8 is also extremely important to the Chinese as it is associated with wealth, prosperity and fortune. As such, La Boîte à Bijoux Chinoise is woven with 8 distinct repeats and sits on 8 “legs” to ensure that the owner of the box will be imbued with the power of the number 8.

A happy confluence of Chinese inspired architecture found in a French chateau.

To purchase additional gold foiled cabochons please click here.

La Dolce Vita or the good life, is a celebration of how wonderful beads are during these unprecedented times of global pandemic. The ability to indulge in my passion for beading is so comforting to me, as it must be for a lot of you.

La Dolce Vita uses Cubic Right Angle weave to form graceful arcs which embrace a beautiful Swarovski pearl. These arcs form a gentle curve to sit at the base of your neck. And suspended in the center is a magnificent crystal that glitters and shines brightly.

A keepsake is a small item kept in memory of the person who gave it or originally owned it. We treasure them as it brings back great memories we had with that person. What is more appropriate than to keep it in something as beautiful as the keepsake itself.

The Keepsake Vessel is an 8 sided self-supporting bead woven container worked exclusive in peyote. The vessel is embellished with surface netting as well as an embedded crystal cup chain. The vessel stand is self-supporting “wings” embellished not only to look beautiful but also to give structure and support. The lid is topped with a beautiful Swarovski pearl.

In all a fitting vessel for your precious keepsake and the beautiful memories it brings.

One of the loveliest Chinese festivals in Singapore is the Mid-Autumn Festival, falling on the 15^th day of the eighth lunar month.

Marking the end of the autumn harvest, the Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally a time to give thanks to the gods. The moon is at its brightest at this time of year which is why lunar legends have always been attached to the celebration.

One of the most notable legend is the story of Chang Er, the wife of a merciless king. To save her people from his tyrannical rule, she downed the elixir of immortality that he had intended to drink. As the story goes, she ascended to the moon upon her brave act, and has been worshipped by the Chinese as the Moon Goddess ever since.

When dusk falls, celebrations go into full swing. Lanterns decorate the streets and gardens. Children come out with their lanterns vying each other who has the best lantern. Moon-viewing parties are popular as well. Family and friends sit in gardens lit by the soft glow of paper lanterns, sip tea and nibble on mooncakes.

Chinese lanterns are traditionally made of paper and it symbolizes the wish for a bright future.

Our lantern is not made of paper but of thousands of little seed beads, twinkling in the moonlight. A self-supporting central column supports “wings” that extrude from it. Between the wings are twinkling crystals adding to the glittering moonlight. Although inspired by the Chinese beautiful lanterns, The Lantern is designed as a drapery tassel (tie back) or a Christmas tree ornament.

For more information about this lovely celebration, please visit www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/cultural-festivals/mid-autumn-festival

Additional tassels available here

IMPORTANT

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Born Arjumand Banu Begum, Mumtaz Mahal was the Empress consort of the Mughal Empire’s emperor, Shah Jahan. Poets extolled her beauty, gracefulness and compassion. The emperor even conferred upon her the title of Mumtaz Mahal meaning Exalted One of the Palace. Mumtaz Mahal had a very deep and loving marriage with Shah Jahan and travelled with him throughout the Empire.

She died giving birth to the couple’s 14^th child. In the immediate aftermath of his bereavement, the emperor was inconsolable, and he went into secluded mourning for a year. When he appeared again, his hair had turned white, his back was bent, and his face worn. He began planning the design and construction of a suitable mausoleum and funerary garden in Agra for his wife. A task that would take more than 22 years to complete and Taj Mahal, a monument to love was the result.

Mumtaz Mahal takes its inspiration from the Empress consort herself. An elaborate bezelled crystal pendant is hung from symmetrical spiralling ropes. More ropes hang below the pendant giving the impression of endless spiralling loops.

A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Ribbons are used for innumerable useful, ornamental, and symbolic purposes. Cultures around the world use ribbon in their hair, around the body, and as ornamentation on non-human; animals, buildings, and packaging.

Cloth ribbons are typically made of natural materials such as silk, velvet, cotton, and jute. They can also be made from a variety of synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, and polypropylene.

The Ribbon is a sparkling, pliable band of tiny seed beads forming a ribbon-like band. The band is then embellished with hundreds of tiny sparkling firepolished beads. The Ribbon can be made with or without the “bow”. The Ribbon is further accentuated with decorated tassels ending in delightful tear drop shaped beads.

Filigree available from here

The Horned Necklace is a 3-dimensional self-supporting pendant suspended from herringbone rope sections.

Beautiful backlit glass cabochons are bezelled with tiny seed beads. Gradual increases in bead count create “horns” that rise from the mid-section of the pendant. It is then topped by another bezelled cabochon to make it fully reversible.

Sections of herringbone rope are linked with double sided connectors that twinkle in the light to form a pliable, elegant rope.

Noble, powerful and very important to the crown. The Marchesa defends the borders of her country from incursions from hostile enemies. A hereditary rank that follows one’s blood lines through the ages. And for this service to the crown and country, the Marchesa is often rewarded with jewels and riches.

Il Braccialetto della Marchesa, the Marchioness’ Cuff, is strong, noble and rich, just like the Marchesa herself. Sparkling Swarovski chatons are embellished with tiny seed beads and sparkling, delicious Czech fire polished beads. Set in a frame of more sparkling Czech fire polished beads, the cuff is substantial while supple and pliant.

A richly embellished and luxurious cuff sparkling and gleaming in the light.
A cuff that befits the wrists of any Marchesa.

Filigree is delicate jewellery metalwork, usually of gold and silver, made with tiny beads or twisted threads, or both in combination. It is soldered together or to the surface of an object of the same metal and arranged in artistic motifs like lace, scrolls or arabesques. Popular in Indian and other Asian metalwork as well in Italian, French and Portuguese metalwork from 1660 to the late 19th century.

A delicate filigree cubic zirconia focal is encased with an intricate cubic right angle weave bezel. The bezel continues upwards to form a flowing rope showcasing the exquisite little Quarter Tila beads. The elegant, sophisticated collar is secured with a sparkly cubic zirconia magnetic clasp. 

Filigree focal available here 

Star Light, Star Bright uses a structured peyote woven base that is then embellished with glimmering chaton montees at the spokes. This style of setting crystals allows every facet of the beautiful Swarovski xilion chaton stone to be seen in all its glory without obstruction or hindrance. Nestled at the centre of the star, is a snowflake embracing another xilion chaton. The result is a star that answers my wishes – a glimmering, glittering ornament that would look exquisite on any tree.

Give the gift of a wish this Christmas season. Star Light Star Bright makes a beautiful gift for a loved one or a friend. Make them for your own Christmas tree and invite your friends and family to make a wish for peace, happiness and love this festive season.