When It Catches My Eye

These are some of the materials I source that can inspire my creation. Some are man-made and some are refined by man. Knowing a little more about these materials will let yourself to understand and appreciate the jewellery pieces you own or wish to have. This post will be updated with more materials in time.

Appliques Components

It is interesting to apply pre-fabricated metal-cast brooches, earrings, pendants to wire sculpture creations. It provides a "setting" to tell my story as I create. My favourite appliques are those of flora and fauna images. These platinum ones just arrived in late September. Don't they look beautiful and ready to tell a story?

Platinum appliques. Non-tarnish. The shell you see is Paua shell.

Appliques in vintage gold. The slippers with shell base are a limited edition of 10. Unavailable now.

Shell Components

Recently, I was able to verify with the suppliers of these beautiful shell chips and components, that a percentage of these were re-cycled from discarded sources, such as by-products of food processing factories. So, instead of just throwing away the shells after the flesh is retrieved, these shells are collected, cleaned to prepare for the next stage.

The workers will cut, re-shape, polish and dye them into different shell items. Then, they are ready to be packed and sent off. 

It is good to know that we are able to look good and do our bit to preserve the natural environment. 

Candy-coloured shell chips

Angular-shaped shell chips

Gold and natural-coloured shell drops

Cute and candy-coloured round shell beads

More gold-dyed shell chips

Carved shell pieces into flower shapes. Only 8mm in diameter. Made from black lip shell, these are exquisite and especially expensive!

Natural Gemstones

These natural gemstones are achieved by cutting them into a desired shape and polishing them. They look like glass but they are not. Gemstones have been known to be used for astrological remedies. See how the gemstone grains flow inside each bead, which makes each bead unique. Some of these gemstones that I selected are agate, carnelian, howlite, chrysocolla, fluorite, aventurine, garnet, lapis lazuli, and quartz .  

Howlite gemstones in Turquoise

Agate gemstones in different shapes

Quartz and gemstones chips

Playful-coloured dyed Jadeite and clear quartz gemstones

Pearls Pearl Pearls

Pearls can come from the inner-side of the shells or be retrieved from inside the shellfish. This is how some pearls may have a flat-back, thin-cut and big and round. I use a variety of differently shaped pearls to give my creations different looks. Also, the dyes used to colour the pearls makes them all the more interesting to work with.

Colourful Mother-of-Pearls

Glass Crystal/Beads

These are man-made and hand-made glass creations. Glass beads give that extra shine than plastic ones. They also add a definitive and firm look to the final creation. My preferred choice all the time.

Millefiore glass beads - check out the colour detailings

Colourful glass crystals

Silver/Gold foil lampwork pendants

Special Cabochons

I am very impressed with how cabochons can immediately give that vintage look right off. I am now hoping to look for materials to make my own in-house cabochons. Do let me know if you have any recommendations.

Glass and resin cabochons in different designs

Cloisonnes

Check out these beautifully done European/Oriental Cloisonne pendants. These pendants are definitely a joy to work with and a feast for the eyes.

Love-shaped and elephant-shaped cloisonnes

More specially selected Oriental-style cloisonne