For the last week I have been in Hong Kong, a place dear to my heart. It took me many years to embrace this place, with all it’s noise and commotion, pollution, and overwhelming fascination with all things material. My refuge is often the roof top, where the view of the skyline and Victoria Peak from the 17th floor  is humbling.

My days start early here, and I always enjoy a bowl of fresh fruit. THANK YOU ASIA FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL FRUITS!Then I spend my days, like most people in Hong Kong stuck in air conditioned offices with neon lights. Luckily I get to sort pearls for hours.

About 10 years ago, I followed Fuji’s father Rudolf Voll as he literally ran after a cart load of uncovered raw meat, taking photos and all the while exclaiming how it was destined to be delivered to a “fine” restaurant  (he was in his late 80’s at the time… and he was indeed correct about that cartload). SO this is in honor of Rudolf… who never trusted restaurant food!

After work, I shop for clothes, and on the weekends I go and relax with friends. This last weekend we had a barbecue at my friends house in Mui Wo. It is a relaxing ferry ride and beautiful to watch the busy city slip away into the horizon, only to be replaced with rare natural environs.

Shredder, he is not a vegetarian, but he is very helpful at choosing vegetables!~ He is a local celebrity in the little village of  Mui Wo… and enjoys the rock star status of being the only dog allowed in Park n Shop.

Here is a photo of Shredders “owner”, wearing a carved pearl. He of course asked to remain anonymous for fear of added groupies.

What I love most about Hong Kong is it’s diversity. People from all over the world have come here to live and do business. There is a unique mix of ancient wisdom and modern technology. In Hong Kong you can ride an elevator to the top of a luxurious high rise and see work men out the window effortlessly balancing on bamboo scaffolds. There is a constant buzz, there is a deep hum. There is always more than enough to do, and there are always more pearls than one can carry home!

Gem of the Ocean

“Carved Tahitian pearls start at $100; Kojima Company, Oakland, Calif.; 510-387-1188; kojimapearl.com

French Polynesian carvers are taking aim at larger and higher-quality pearls. In the past, most work was done on low-grade cultured pearls, where artful carving could significantly improve a blemished bead. But new carved pearls have very thick nacre with carving to 1 mm in depth and feature elegant tribal patterns.

Sarah Canizzaro, owner of the Kojima Company in Oakland, Calif., says with these pearls, buyers are getting more than a gem from the sea. “They’re getting a pearl, not just from Polynesian waters, but with a Polynesian motif that tells a story from the rich and varied culture of the islands.” Carved pearls from Kojima are available in rounds from 12 mm to 15 mm, with some drops and baroques as long as 17 mm. Prices start at $100. —Blaire Beavers”

Thank you to Blaire Beavers who took note of these precious pearls and worked tirelessly to make sure the industry’s leading publication did the same. Blaire truly loves pearls and has an eye for gems as well. She has written countless articles and is a frequent contributor to

Pearl-Guide.com

under the handle “GEM GEEK”.

Blaire can be found giving lectures about pearls nation wide and with her ear to the water … can always be a trusted source for the latest news in the pearl industry. She is also an AWESOME photographer!

This brilliant addition to our studio was inspired by the famous wave at Teahupo’o Tahiti.. and of course the photography of Josh Humbert… if you are unfamiliar with the work and fun, please see www.joshhumbert.com. Like the waves, we strive to create something original and driven by the inspiring wonder of nature, and like the surfers we take risks and hope that there will always be inner grace in our designs and integrity in our movement.

www.joshhumbert.com

www.joshhumbert.com

www.joshhumbert.com

The wave gate was hand crafted by Phillip R. Baxley, a local artisan with extraordinary talent and work ethic! He happened by the studio one sunny spring day, introduced himself as a welder and the rest is history.

Since it’s installation… we have had people taking photos, and just stopping to compliment and share their appreciation for Phillip’s work. I feel blessed to have experienced the great wave of Teahupo’o first hand, to have absorbed it’s mist and felt the inspiration of riding the perfect wave… and of course to be able to work with local artisans to create something both beautiful and also unique!

Here is a great video of Celeste Brash (writer for the Lonely Planet) explaining what Teahupo’o really means! Yes that is me … in the boat with her!

http://www.lonelyplanet.tv/Clip.aspx?key=57B87EBFCFE2DDAA

6 AM!!!!!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of teaching these two angels how to make necklaces. Meet CINDY AND JUAN!!

Juan is most likely the sweetest and most well behaved 11 year old boy on the planet. He loves playing soccer.. and took to stringing beads with surprising speed and ability!

Cindy is 8 years old and just as sweet as her big brother, she is a painter, a sculpter, and an expert translator!Dora .. their mother is a tad bit more shy … but she also delighted in making necklaces and seemed to lose herself into this rare quiet time in her world.

Juan made a necklace for his 92 year old great grandmother. Today is her birthday.And Cindy made some beautiful pieces, she works really well with color.

This is something I hope to do more often.. including many other kids from our amazing community here. Today was a test run.. and I couldn’t have had better kids to practice with! It feels great to teach and inspire kids to sit down and make something beautiful in a quiet and bright environment, it’s also fun to hear what happens in their world….

THANK YOU CINDY, JUAN, AND DORA… LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME WITH YOU!

Here is what I am convinced is the proof that there is a genius bead worker (and pattern designer) living among us in Old Mystic, Connecticut.
I met Laura McCabe at the booth of Gary Wilson (who is a genius as well, but for other reasons).. and she showed me several of her original designs… and after seeing tonnes of jewelry and being in Tucson show for more than a week.. I was stunned!
I bought this bead right away , and I have been holding onto it until today when I finally made a necklace out of it. The bead itself is about 2 inches wide.. and yes it is sharp! The “spikes” of savannah jasper are not backed.. they are completely encased in small gold, and glass beads and tiny pearls. The necklace is a total of 37″ and includes Japan Akoya (6-7mm), Kamoka black pearls (10mm), and tiny white Chinese fresh water pearls.
It actually takes a lot for me to use “genius” in relation to bead work… but I think the fact that Laura makes her living doing seed bead work and traveling around the world teaching others to do the same.. pretty much sums it up!
www.justletmebead.com

I hope you enjoy her pieces as much as I do… even if they are a bit sharp for your taste.. I hope you will appreciate the mix of her imagination and talent! ( I should probably mention that she is really humble and sweet)
More power to people like Laura!

We are VERY excited about the new studio. After a full month of planning, painting, laying flooring, decorating, and moving… we are putting the finishing touches on this our most beautiful space yet!

When we moved in the place was a bit of a cave!

We worked tirelessly painting the walls and ceilings… and laying the flooring!

Walls painted and the flooring in progress...

The safe arrived on the stormiest of days… ! Here is a photo of Fuji directing the movers..

Fuji supervising the delivery of the safe in the rain!

My friends are HANDY

HANDY ANGELS... bending curtain rods, late at night!

ANGELS!!!!   Coming to work at the studio after their long work days! Here they are creating custom bent curtain rods for the front window curtains.

We had tonnes of fun! Tools became toys.. as we listened to music and got DIRTY… transforming a cave into a pearl den!

Late night construction turns tough!

Little by little the vision has taken shape..We have some amazing neighbors here in this little district of artists: a freelance photographer, a potter (Whitney Smith), a day spa..The Magestic Day Spa (I am personally very excited about that!), and just next door will be a fine art gallery and cafe!

If you find yourself in the neighborhood (just a couple blocks from Lake Merrit, and the Lakeshore Avenue Shopping District, please feel free to stop by, I look forward to showing you what we do and how we do it. We will have plenty of interesting people and pearls to make you smile!