Product photo shoot

Finally there is sunshine in my house. I have been waiting for it so long. It is super hard to capture a beautiful image of my Rose Water necklace. I love this a lot and I have one I wear a lot. The necklace was shot more than several times which the softness and loveliness of the blushing pink rose quartz drop is so hard to capture.

A beautiful shot of my Rose Water with the aid of sunshine. No retouch, just size chopping.

Unlike the photo underneath which was captured in a cloudy day... even though I tried to add light source with a DIY tent, nothing is better than natural light.

!Crap!

Here are some tips for product photo shooting and styling tips via

Making it Lovely

Decor 8

Spring Market @ Amor Workshop

Not sure if you have tired to see similar photos of me next to my handmade booth :P

I will keep on doing this as

1) to record my handmade life

2) to meet more handmade lovers

3) to encourage others to appreciate the value of handmade

Yes, I have highly glory goals. ha ha

For No. 3, it is also an ethical question. People often view handmade goods are slightly over priced. Let's turn the table. Beading takes time and effort. It requires detailed work of skillful hands and creative mind. Generally, there are 2-3 pieces of trails before I made the perfect one. I have hided so many experimental pieces under my jewelry desk. If I spent the time on handmade by working at McDonald's, I would earn more. How pathetic it is.

Your little purchase is my encouragement to carry on! Thank you :)

Some more snaps. More photos on my facebook fan page!

Floral Ruby - hammered rose gold with ruby beads

(sold, custom order only)

Left: layout of my booth | Right: Tele - hand hammered 14k gold necklace

First time host

I am hosting a Giveaway at Pretty Shiny Sparkly with my the lovely Sparkly! Do step by and say hi to Kristina :)

Millinery flowers

I have named this new handcrafted headpiece, Peony!

I am learning to make millinery flowers for some time. And this is definitely fun!

Peony is unique which cannot compare with the ordinary silk flowers that you find in decoration stores. It features with super delicate and soft touch of colors petals in a very structured combination. The petals are dyed, hand cut and streamed by me. I love the texture of it.

Promo Packs for Handmade Mart

I have made this promo pack for the coming craft fair, Handmade Mart. I thought it will be fun to receive a little gift rather than a leaflet. And my friends are impressed.

Inside the pack are
manila tags, stickers which are hand stamped and made with re-purposed paper, ju ju be business card and of course the leaflet.

I will be a Culture Club, Soho Feb 6 (Sat), 2pm - 6pm. I was told the venue is easy to be by-passed. So make sure you read the map at my facebook.

P.S. For those lovely brides-to-be who would like to have a headpiece custom orders, you are welcome to step by. Just ask at the booth :)

xoxo

St. Valentine's Day Market

Photo

Top: Me at the craft show Middle: New French vintage collection Bottom: French Chic Necklaces (sold out)

Hello I am back. I am so tired after the craft show on Sunday yet filled with joy :)

It felt good to gather with other handmade artists to share our thoughts, opinion and some fun things.

I regreted that we were so busy chatting and did not take a photo together.

We may have different style but we all handmade with love :)

Amor Workshop

by Candice
The Gal Who Sold Tora

Libby la Soup's Workshop
Rainbow Mosaic

and ju ju be (i.e. me)

A year with handmade

1. My booth 2. Me and Candice's booth 3. Libby's and Olivia's corners and their creations

Finally I have finished my X'mas Market and some custom orders. I think it will be a good end for 2009, my handmade year. It was grateful to be invited by Libby, a handmade artist to be in the X'mas Market at Amor Workshop. My creations are appreciated and valued. I was biting my nails during the market. I knew I did not have lots of fans at the local market. Few guests were expected to visit me... But, my booth was doing unexpectedly well. This is a feeling I never had.

I am confident for what I am doing. I can now say I am a bead jewelry maker / designer rather than a housewife.

Of course I met some brilliant handmade artists during the market. I have received fruitful opinions of producing more conceptual creations. (though I was a bit shocked) I disagreed that my creations are not handmade in appearance. Handmade can be sophisticated as well. It can be rustic in style but not in appearance. Handmade is craftsmanship of one's performing the best of beauty and taste.

I wish Hong Kong handmade market can be stronger. Handmade products should be consumed but not admired. I will work harder in 2010.

2009的反思

終於我完成了X'mas market. 是次活動我有好大的成功感, 一開始得Libby邀請﹑再得到Amor accepted 我已好開心, 自己做的東西有人欣賞; 到了market當日我是戰戰兢兢的, 因我知我的客人多數是US的, 本地實沒有多少fans會特意上來。Unexpectedly, 其他的handmade artists的visitors都會買我的作品。這是之前擺openair market沒有的驚喜。

今年可謂我handmade year, 我之前都是以興趣為出發去做: 有人可以間中喜歡我的作品買下已十分高興，不竟有人欣賞和有人會用錢去買是大大的不同。擺檔當日都遇很多experienced的handmade artists, 我會明白我的作品會比她們似是少了點concept的味道，我沒有讀過design / arts, 我只想做出我認為最美的東西。我沒有想過如果作品做得不似handmade會是太commercial; 我只是好用心的做, 用了好多心機時間去練習才不似handmade, 我不禁問自己為什麼handmade一定要是粗糙的? 是我們的stereotype吧!

我希望香港的handmade market有日會壯大起來, handmade products 不再是只供人欣賞/抄襲﹑沒有人consume。

這是我個人有感而發, 希望不會得罪任何人。

Dec Newsletter

Clockwise

• Free Giveaway: Be a fan on facebook!
  I've been featured
• X'mas Craft Fair @ Amor workshop
• Free shipping within HK
  

Gift Hunting!

又到christmas, 是shopping的時候! ju ju be的所有creations都會有10% off及handmade gift wrap。今次的X'mas Market 主要是handamde products如首飾, 新娘頭飾,布藝, 玻璃工藝,scarpbooking等。 是次活動地點是一間bridal showroom, 快要成為新娘的妳亦可到場參觀!

*免費入埸*

I am very grateful to be invited to join the X'mas Market at Amor Workshop. It will be a great time to grab some handcrafted jewelry for yourself / your lovely girl pals this X'mas.

Do come to have a relaxing afternoon with some Christmas shopping.

Artists @ the market

jujube that is ME! - jewelry

candice - stamps, crochet accessories

kurama - gem stone jewelry

Fiona - glass creations

Olivia - scrapbook

Libby - fabric accessories/ bags

Oh so blue!

Newly added to my store.

Please fall in love with ME

續五月的peak galleria, 我終鼓起勇氣再參加pokfulam market。閉門造車了數個月, 今次的作品

的主題都是dainty glit, 精緻的閃爍的 :) 和for keepsake! 大部分的作品都是從US入口的14k gold, 意大利的bass charms, 都是用心的作品, 充滿秋意。希望blog友有時間都來逛逛。我還會demo hammering metal, wire wrapping等技巧。

I am very proud to announce my 2nd craft fair will be taken off on Nov 1, 2009!

I have prepared a new collection which is inspired with the mood of fall (or autumn in English), harvesting colors, high quality of 14k gold with detailed hammering work, leaves and feathers, luscious pearls and gemstones, dainty accessories for your perfect outfits at events and celebrations.

So please FALL in Love with JU JU BE! More details of the market, please click here.