Tutorials

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.

Glittering and sparkling, a circle of 8 hearts radiate from the center of the pendant giving this piece its name.

The lacy ring of hearts lie on top of an equally sparkling crystal. Embracing this ring of hearts is a beautifully woven cubic right angle weave bezel. To ensure there is an even more sparkle the side of the bezel revels a rings of twinkling Czech firepolisedh beads.

The rope is cubic right angle weave with double cubic right angle weave accents woven with delicious tiny firepolished beads.

Definitely a statement piece for the bling aficionado.

Additional glass rhinestones are available 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 handmade ornament is one of the most precious heirloom you can hand down to your children. It also makes an extremely meaningful and personal Christmas gift for a loved one or a dear friend. Your gift of love will certainly be cherished for many Christmases to come.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is made in 2 parts. First the peyote star is made. When the star is completed, we will bezel a chaton for the centre and embellish the arms of the star. We will also build a loop at the tip of one of the arms so that you can hang the star on your tree. Before you start, it would be a good idea for you to read all the instructions once through so that you will understand the sequence of what you will need to do.