A new harvest of “WISH NECKLACES” is in! These necklaces are hand made with a variety of special pearls. Available in 16 or 18 inches, in black or new golden weave cords, and finished with a simple sterling silver hook clasp. These necklaces have been VERY popular, easy to wear casually, great for vacation, or gifts for trendy youngsters. Tahitian pearl wish necklaces look really GREAT ON MEN! Thank you for supporting hand made and pearl ART.. may all your wishes come true!

My dear friend Lou Zeldis passed away yesterday.. and I am so blessed to have known him in this life. I met Lou waiting in line for a taxi in Tucson about ten years ago.. he was tall, poised and wearing about 25 necklaces (each one with a story, each one of his creations). We shared a taxi and became immediate buddies. Lou was the sort of person that you couldn’t help but notice in a crowd of thousands.. he glowed, it was impossible for Lou to hide. His art was an extension of his wonder. Lou was brilliant, having traveled and lived abroad for most of his life, Lou chose to speak his own language, a sort of glamorous pigeon which everyone understood. Lou refused to drive a car, and delighted in walking and taking the slower route. Lou was FUN.. the sort that would tie your hair to the strings of helium balloons and enjoy a sunny afternoon on the lawn blowing bubbles. So as I sit here writing.. knowing that you must have been needed for a incredible art installation in the sky Lou.. I thank you for your teachings, and for including me in the group of thousands of artists and free spirits world wide who all loved you and delighted in the character you were and shall always be… Here’s to the power of 9!

All natural color cutrured baroque pearls from Lake Kasumi 2011 harvest. Sizes 13-16mm

The best strand I have ever assembled! What a joy to see these glow.
Please come have a look at our booth in the GJX #107 January 31st – February 5th 2012 Tucson Gem Show.

As I sit here in the warm studio, I am happy to know that I was able to bring joy to many ladies and pearl wearing gentlemen this Holiday Season. Wow .. we were busy around here! With four shows in four weeks leading up to Christmas, I was a pearl whirlwind all over California, meeting pearl lovers, designers, friends and family… and then came the last minute online shoppers. So now the dust has settled and we are enjoying the peace and quiet here.. designing new pieces and anxiously awaiting the fresh harvest of Japan Kasumi pearls set to arrive in the middle of January 2012.
TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR … FOR THE FIRST TWELVE DAYS OF 2012… WE WILL BE HAVING A SALE OF 12% OFF EVERYTHING ON OUR WEBSITE.WHEN ORDERING PLEASE USE DISCOUNT CODE: HAPPYHAPPYPEARLS
(no further discounts apply during this time).
Here are some of the latest pieces we have enjoyed making:

Sea of Cortez pearls with diamonds on white gold.

Hand carved cameo and fresh water pearl brooch made of sterling silver

Natural pistachio color Tahitian baroque pearls with 14K yellow gold.

Cowrie shells with a large Chinese fresh water accent pearl.

Natural color Tahitian circle pearls with cowrie shell and tourmaline beads.

Natural color Tahitian circle pearls 12-14mm finished with a brushed gold vermeil clasp.

Chinese fresh water pearls with neon pink knots finished with a satin finish gold vermeil clasp.

18" long necklace of natural color Japan Kasumi pearls on black cord.

Double strand pearl medley necklace.

THANK YOU JEREMY!

This past weekend I spent in a mansion atop Mount Olympus overlooking Los Angeles for as far as the eye could see in any direction. It was truly spectacular. Complete with a glowing blue pool and an opportunity to reawaken my tennis skills (we kept score not in points.. but by counting the number of balls hit over the fence). The house was filled with pearl enthusiasts that have met through Pearl Guide over the last several years. Pearl Guide is an on line forum where people all around the world gather daily to update and discuss all matters pearl related, from new market discoveries.. to questions from novices.. to photos of fabulous creations.. it is the largest and most informative site about pearls in the world. The site is the brain child of Jeremy Shepherd (owner of Pearl Paradise) and moderated by the venerable Caitlin. Pearl Guide has fostered such a sense of community that some of it’s most avid members have created a tradition of meeting once a year, as a sort of pearl family reunion. These meetings are generously coordinated and hosted by Jeremy Shepherd and his staff at Pearl Paradise. This year’s Pearl Ruckus will be hard to top! For the opportunity to be included in this group of pearls.. I am eternally thankful.  What a blessing to spend time with such a group of people, and in such a remarkable setting.

We began arriving on Friday afternoon, and each of us found a space in one of the ten or so rooms.  I found my spot in the top top little turret room which was decorated like a Moroccan lounge with windows on all sides , tonnes of pillows and easy access to the roof through a midget size door. Friday evening the dinner was delicious! We lounged around like the royal family, slowly arriving from all the corners we had traveled from.

Saturday morning I enjoyed outside, the sound of the fountain, and delighted that there were baby bunnies in the garden. We all gathered for a series of presentations. The first  from Josh Humbert of Kamoka Pearls. Josh showed us some of his incredible photos and talked alot about how his family figured out new ways to encourage ecologically sound farming practices throughout the atolls of French Polynesia. His presentation really captured what being at the farm on Ahe is like, for instance : how playing with the eyes of the fish you just caught is actually really funny.. and also reminding us all just how many people work so hard to bring just one pearl to the market.. how there is pride and love for all aspects of their pearl farm.. and just how rare that is these days.

Next up was Douglas McLaurin partner in Mexico’s only Pearl farm in the Sea of Cortez at Guaymas. Douglas is not only a biologist but a historian as well. He’s just a pretty brilliant and hilarious person all around.

He taught me a lot about the history of Mexico and the effects that politics and war can have on nature. HOW THE ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE BORDERS! Perlas del Mar De Cortez is a small farm, bringing only the finest pearls to market. This strand of near round pearls and keshi was a lovely example

Michael Rivers (AKA: Mikeyy on Pearl Guide) is the owner of  The Pearler.com and also the supplier of nuclei to many of the worlds largest pearl farms. He shared amazing examples of some huge shells and also some great examples of how nuclei are produced and what makes them higher quality choices for pearl producers. Mikeyy is a easy going guy with great tales of adventure, having started shell digging at the age of 13 to being an international professional scuba diver.. he has seen it all! He was really great about the trail of coffee grounds that I accidentally sprinkled through his room!

At some point during the seminars we took a break and out came a pearl tiara we have been working on here at Kojima : for a contest on Pearl Guide. I promised the winner a bag full of pearly treasures.. I never expected that tiaras could make both men and women.. THIS HAPPY!

And finally lunch was served! After yet another beautiful meal I took a swim and all the ladies gathered in the dining room for a pearl stringing demonstration from Hisano the jewelry designer at Pearl Paradise. She was incredibly patient, and really did an amazing job of teaching the group some wonderful time saving secret techniques. It was a joy to watch everyone learning new tricks.

That afternoon, there was more pearl show and tell going on.. Josh set up shop next to the pool, and the ladies took notice!

"Pattye" and Blaire Beavers, Pearls EXTRAOIRDINAIRE!

Saturday night was an elegant affair, the house swelled with more guests and everyone delighted in fine food and drink, candles were lit and the pearls were plenty.. I was too busy having fun to take any photos.. but I remember many flashes! I hope I will get to see some of those photos!

Some time on Sunday morning.. someone poured molasses into the air.. and the house full of pearls.. woke up a little less than perky. We all piled into cars and made it down to Pearl Paradise for some time sorting through their vault and more talk of pearls..

IT WAS A VERY FULL WEEKEND.. and ONE I AM VERY GLAD I DID NOT MISS! Thank you Jeremy, thank you ladies! Everyone there this past weekend is an inspiration to me!

These lovely brooches are made by hand in Hong Kong, by one of the sweetest women I have ever met there….. The natural shapes of the Chinese fresh water stick pearls radiate with lovely soft colors and high shine to add elegance to any summer outfit, coat, hat, or shawl. Ranging in size from from two to three inches across. The back of these pins are made of very simple base metal findings which helps to keep them affordable. The last couple of times I brought these home from Hong Kong they literally soldout in minutes. I will most likely add these to the KOJIMAPEARL  etsy site… http://www.etsy.com/shop/kojimapearl as this website does not have a category for brooches and pins. (doh!)

THESE BROOCHES WILL RETAIL FOR $55…. Please feel free to email me directly, if you are interested in purchasing one or some.

Enjoy!

Just in.. these lovely simple little necklaces. Hand made in the USA of woven nylon thread .. delicately framing a special pearl. Available in Tahitian black pearls, Japan Kasumi, and Chinese fresh water drops. Choose from 16″ or 18″ .. pearl sizes range from 13-20mm and the comfortable chords are finished with sterling silver hook clasps. A new elegant twist on Little Island Jewelry! Please see the “Necklaces” page of the Jewelry Store for more details on each unique piece! ENJOY!

In case you have not noticed Passage Des Perles on my links page, I would like to take this foggy Sunday morning to introduce you to my personal favorite in the world of fashion blogs. In my 16 years in the pearl business, I have met thousands upon thousands of women and most of my customers are of the “elegant age”.. so I hope you will all find the same genius in Passage Des Perles that I have! I just hope she’s still writing when I am fifty or better!

http://passagedesperles.blogspot.com/

The author, Duchesse, speaks the truth with a sharp wit and keen eye! Her posts have
had me in tears of laughter. She writes about fashion in terms of age, culture, size and
marketing… she offers elegant solutions for every season. She is also an avid pearl lover
and has featured items from Kojima Company, many of our customers, and fellow pearl
dealers in her posts. Click below for a selection of her posts about pearls, their physical
features and an eloquent rundown of which pearls may better enhance your own shape and style:

http://passagedesperles.blogspot.com/search/label/pearls

Duchesse also contributes to other fashion blogs. Here is a link to her guest appearance
on the hugely popular blog Une femme d’un certain age, written by Deja Pseu (http://
www.unefemme.net), where she addressed the bold statements achieved with minimalist
jewelry:

http://www.unefemme.net/2010/09/bold-statements-minimalist-jewelry.html

Duchesse has won my pearly heart.. and I feel blessed to have her watching out for my fashion both now and in the future. Her posts are updated on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday..and it’s the fist place I go online in the morning!

THANK YOU DUCHESSE ! WE APPLAUD YOU !

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!