For Fiorina Golotta making jewellery was a passion, but unlike many
business owners, she never dared imagine the success her business could
achieve. Coming from a fashion background, Golotta had worked with
clothes designers and as a make-up artist, but it wasn't until she was
24 that she started taking private lessons in how to make jewellery.
Golotta
started out making jewellery from her kitchen table and selling her
creations at local markets. Before long she was being commissioned to
create pieces. Through word of mouth her brand, Fiorina Jewellery,
started to establish itself.
Golotta's fashion connections served
her well and before long she had started wholesaling her products. When
the business launched 15 years ago, she says it was a different retail
environment and "the more you had, the more you sold".
Golotta
ran the business through a wholesaling model "for a long time", but now
she owns a shop in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale and she employs
eight people. While the business now turns over $1 million annually and
she hopes to see further growth through the upcoming launch of her
online store, Golotta intends to maintain the "intimate environment" of
her small business.
Women's Agenda sister publication
SmartCompany spoke to Golotta about her transition into eCommerce, the
inspiration for her designs and an endless copyright battle.
Owning a now well-established business, Golotta is able to spend the majority of her time designing.
"As
the business has grown, I don't have to do everything anymore. Time is
what makes the business function and now I have that luxury of time I
get to design, although sometimes I get side-tracked when there are
practical things to do.
"For me it's a strange blessing that I
can be creative and still make money. To call yourself an artist is a
luxury and there is the notion that you have to be starving, but when
you're running a business you have to let that go," she says.
On the day of the interview, Golotta was preparing to go to Hong Kong the following day to source materials.
"I
do travel often to source materials, but it's an excuse. There is a big
world out there and it's inspiring. I love Turkey and Italy, I'm
Mediterranean so there is an immediate affiliation with their coins and
their culture."
Golotta's designs are inspired by her travels and she takes influences from a variety of other cultures, such as India.
"I love its aesthetic and its an opulence," she says.
Golotta's
original mentors were old jewellers and in her creations is the careful
precision and artistry taught to her by the "true craftsmen".
Golotta
is currently building an online store, although she says it's the
exclusivity of her creations which has allowed her to avoid the pressure
placed on retailers by the growth of online businesses.
"Thank
god what I do is not that accessible online, it's a specialty product,
it's bespoke and people are still responding to something handmade.
"The
designs are also not really seasonal fashion-based, I'm still making
pieces which have been in the range for 15 years," she says.
Golotta resisted the online push at the outset, but now says it's the way the industry is going.
"It's
a way of testing the water internationally. We are always getting
international enquiries and I post orders to America and to England
because there are a number of Aussies there.
Click on their website www.beralleshoes.com for more
information.
2013年6月30日星期日
2013年6月27日星期四
where we organise the Beijing Design Week
who currently resides and works in Beijing at the Caochangdi Art
District was a featured designer at the 2011 Beijing Design Week and was
also instrumental in initiating the use of Caochangdi as one of the
three major design hub locations during 2012 Beijing Design Week.
“Since Ai Weiwei moved here, the village has become an art community. The place is like a rocket launchpad where you can meet the most interesting individuals from all kinds of industries.
“My house is like a public space. There are tonnes of people coming in. I’m sociable and like to have people come visit. The house is designed by Weiwei. I can’t buy it but I rent it as one can only buy on a long-term lease. We need to live here, no matter how long,” she concluded, sharing her ideas on design, work and life.
I made a crate so I could live out of it. The Crates was my first breakthrough made out of plywood because that’s what shipping crates are supposed to be made of. The choice of material and hardware satisfy the function. I’ve dealt with a lot of crates when I was doing exhibition designs and found them to be stable, sustainable and containing a structure that simply makes sense.
I’ve sold quite a lot of The Crates to private owners and have worked with some fashion and jewellery brands to make their crates. My crates are now sold in London, Beijing, Hong Kong and Paris. The prices vary from sofas to bars and the most popular is the foosball table.
My second series, Fold, represents set furniture that can be folded and opened up to become tables, chairs and cupboards. The first generation was made out of plywood because they were made for exhibitions so they needed to be simple, as they were.
Monument is a new series featuring the Pentagon Day Bed, with a two scale model of the Pentagon itself, which I regarded as the safest place to sleep in, as inspiration for this design. In the miniature range, I’ve designed Flammable, a series of candles representing all the iconic skyscrapers of the world.
I’m self-made and have eight employees. On a typical day, I wake up at noon and go to the factory. I really love being in the factory as there, we talk about the projects we need to do, solve problems, do some good designs and talk to people. Then, I’ll come back. We have our office as well where we organise the Beijing Design Week. I will only go out if I have to attend a meeting. When I’m home, I’ll work on my drawings. My life is all about work, but it’s fun.
The core of Chinese culture is very embracing and we just have to strive and adapt. The condition of life has always been difficult but Chinese people can always thrive so my design makes the most of what we have.
It’s no point asking why it is so unfair but (we have) to find a way through design. Ultimately, design and the task of design is to improve life, be it aesthetically or functionally.
I consider my life situation as a practical problem to solve in terms of displacement. Where you live and how long your life is going to stay that way is unpredictable.
There are literally hundreds of millions of people facing huge displacement. The Chinese have a long history of feeling attached to their homes but people have to understand that in order to get a better life, they have to relocate. In order to find a better life, you have to move from city to city, and from region to region. And, this has never happened so massively in China.
We have a huge population, so anything that happens is big. Beijing has 20 million people which is almost the same as in Malaysia itself.
This is a problem as everybody is moving from their homes to a new place and in-between different jobs. People are constantly changing locations.
I wasn’t born in Beijing but I’m living in Beijing. In Beijing, I have to move to a new location constantly to look for a better life. Even I feel like a migrant or refugee all the time. The home for us, is just a very thin area.
Click on their website www.beralleshoes.com for more information.
“Since Ai Weiwei moved here, the village has become an art community. The place is like a rocket launchpad where you can meet the most interesting individuals from all kinds of industries.
“My house is like a public space. There are tonnes of people coming in. I’m sociable and like to have people come visit. The house is designed by Weiwei. I can’t buy it but I rent it as one can only buy on a long-term lease. We need to live here, no matter how long,” she concluded, sharing her ideas on design, work and life.
I made a crate so I could live out of it. The Crates was my first breakthrough made out of plywood because that’s what shipping crates are supposed to be made of. The choice of material and hardware satisfy the function. I’ve dealt with a lot of crates when I was doing exhibition designs and found them to be stable, sustainable and containing a structure that simply makes sense.
I’ve sold quite a lot of The Crates to private owners and have worked with some fashion and jewellery brands to make their crates. My crates are now sold in London, Beijing, Hong Kong and Paris. The prices vary from sofas to bars and the most popular is the foosball table.
My second series, Fold, represents set furniture that can be folded and opened up to become tables, chairs and cupboards. The first generation was made out of plywood because they were made for exhibitions so they needed to be simple, as they were.
Monument is a new series featuring the Pentagon Day Bed, with a two scale model of the Pentagon itself, which I regarded as the safest place to sleep in, as inspiration for this design. In the miniature range, I’ve designed Flammable, a series of candles representing all the iconic skyscrapers of the world.
I’m self-made and have eight employees. On a typical day, I wake up at noon and go to the factory. I really love being in the factory as there, we talk about the projects we need to do, solve problems, do some good designs and talk to people. Then, I’ll come back. We have our office as well where we organise the Beijing Design Week. I will only go out if I have to attend a meeting. When I’m home, I’ll work on my drawings. My life is all about work, but it’s fun.
The core of Chinese culture is very embracing and we just have to strive and adapt. The condition of life has always been difficult but Chinese people can always thrive so my design makes the most of what we have.
It’s no point asking why it is so unfair but (we have) to find a way through design. Ultimately, design and the task of design is to improve life, be it aesthetically or functionally.
I consider my life situation as a practical problem to solve in terms of displacement. Where you live and how long your life is going to stay that way is unpredictable.
There are literally hundreds of millions of people facing huge displacement. The Chinese have a long history of feeling attached to their homes but people have to understand that in order to get a better life, they have to relocate. In order to find a better life, you have to move from city to city, and from region to region. And, this has never happened so massively in China.
We have a huge population, so anything that happens is big. Beijing has 20 million people which is almost the same as in Malaysia itself.
This is a problem as everybody is moving from their homes to a new place and in-between different jobs. People are constantly changing locations.
I wasn’t born in Beijing but I’m living in Beijing. In Beijing, I have to move to a new location constantly to look for a better life. Even I feel like a migrant or refugee all the time. The home for us, is just a very thin area.
Click on their website www.beralleshoes.com for more information.
2013年6月23日星期日
which has experienced fuel shortages in the past few years
Egypt's smart card system for subsidised fuel will come into effect in
July for diesel and in August for gasoline, Prime Minister Hisham Qandil
said in a press conference on Saturday.
Initially there will be no limits imposed on the quantities consumers can use, said the prime minister, a change in policy compared with previous announcements regarding the scheme.
In March, then-planning minister Ashraf El-Araby announced that the smart cards would entitle owners of vehicles with smaller engines (1,600 cc or smaller) to an annual 1,800 litres of subsidised fuel, over which motorists will have to pay market prices.
But officials present at the press conference stressed that the aim of the new system is now to tackle smuggling of subsidised fuel, which they blame for fuel shortages.
"Although fuel quantities distributed to gas stations exceed consumption by 20 to 30 percent, there are still shortages,” said Tarek El-Barkatawi, head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Company
Egypt, which has experienced fuel shortages in the past few years, was hit by particularly severe shortages this year.
While the government blames fuel smugglers for the crisis, many gas stations say they do not receive the required quantities.
Prime Minister Qandil said that an island in the Mediterranean had sent a letter to the Egyptian government requesting it put a stop the smuggling of Egyptian fuel. He did not name the island in question.
Post offices, traffic points and branches of the Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit will be among the distribution points for smart cards.
Owners of diesel-powered vehicles, mainly taxis and microbuses, which according to government records number one million, will simply have to pick up their cards from designated distribution points.
According to the ministry of finance, vehicles without a traffic licence such as three-wheeled tuktuks and agricultural vehicles will be eligible for smart cards according to a new system to be introduced in September. Any fuel sold outside the smart card system will be sold at cost price, said El-Barkatawi.
The government says it has already implemented the first phase of the smart card system, which consisted of issuing cards for tanker trucks and gas stations, and building a database of companies and depots for distribution.
The government has announced many times its ambition to reduce fuel subsidies that consume around a fifth of budget expenditures.
Every transaction carries some risk, security experts agree, but the agent seems to have conflated a couple of security concerns.
Chipped cards — or "smart cards," which On the Spot and More for Your Money have been writing about for weeks — are the standard in much of the world, but not in the U.S. They're beginning to creep into use here, especially as consumer demand for them grows. They come in two varieties: Chip and PIN, and Chip and Signature. The PIN is the more secure of the two.
Much has been made of the notion that the unscrupulous can grab its signal and have their way with your card (or your passport, which also contains such a chip). Although anything is possible, this, several experts told me, is improbable.
First, the thief would have to be physically close, said Terry Hartmann, vice president of security solutions for Unisys. How close? Four inches. So unless that thief snuggled up to you, he or she probably couldn't get into that chip.
Second, even if the chip is breached, the information is heavily encrypted, said Dale Thompson, associate professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. What someone gets is a serial number "that really has nothing to do with your PIN," Thompson said. "It's not your credit card number, it's not your Social Security number, it's not even your name."
And third, said Phil Lieberman, chief executive of Lieberman Software in Los Angeles, "The card itself is dynamic. Every time you do a transaction, it changes. Even if you skim it once, you can't really reproduce that result."
Although having a Radio Frequency Identification-blocking wallet may help — it adds another layer of security, Hartmann said, and security is all about layers — it's probably not going to protect your card from the PIN stealer that Taylor's agent fears. Why? Because to use the card, you must take it out of the wallet. The magic shield is gone.
The bigger concern, Hartmann said, is the magnetic stripe card that predominates in the U.S. If the card is lost, anyone can use it fairly easily. A chipped card that requires only a signature, which is what many banks are issuing, has some of the same issues.
Read the full story at wwww.beralleshoes.com!
Initially there will be no limits imposed on the quantities consumers can use, said the prime minister, a change in policy compared with previous announcements regarding the scheme.
In March, then-planning minister Ashraf El-Araby announced that the smart cards would entitle owners of vehicles with smaller engines (1,600 cc or smaller) to an annual 1,800 litres of subsidised fuel, over which motorists will have to pay market prices.
But officials present at the press conference stressed that the aim of the new system is now to tackle smuggling of subsidised fuel, which they blame for fuel shortages.
"Although fuel quantities distributed to gas stations exceed consumption by 20 to 30 percent, there are still shortages,” said Tarek El-Barkatawi, head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Company
Egypt, which has experienced fuel shortages in the past few years, was hit by particularly severe shortages this year.
While the government blames fuel smugglers for the crisis, many gas stations say they do not receive the required quantities.
Prime Minister Qandil said that an island in the Mediterranean had sent a letter to the Egyptian government requesting it put a stop the smuggling of Egyptian fuel. He did not name the island in question.
Post offices, traffic points and branches of the Bank for Development and Agricultural Credit will be among the distribution points for smart cards.
Owners of diesel-powered vehicles, mainly taxis and microbuses, which according to government records number one million, will simply have to pick up their cards from designated distribution points.
According to the ministry of finance, vehicles without a traffic licence such as three-wheeled tuktuks and agricultural vehicles will be eligible for smart cards according to a new system to be introduced in September. Any fuel sold outside the smart card system will be sold at cost price, said El-Barkatawi.
The government says it has already implemented the first phase of the smart card system, which consisted of issuing cards for tanker trucks and gas stations, and building a database of companies and depots for distribution.
The government has announced many times its ambition to reduce fuel subsidies that consume around a fifth of budget expenditures.
Every transaction carries some risk, security experts agree, but the agent seems to have conflated a couple of security concerns.
Chipped cards — or "smart cards," which On the Spot and More for Your Money have been writing about for weeks — are the standard in much of the world, but not in the U.S. They're beginning to creep into use here, especially as consumer demand for them grows. They come in two varieties: Chip and PIN, and Chip and Signature. The PIN is the more secure of the two.
Much has been made of the notion that the unscrupulous can grab its signal and have their way with your card (or your passport, which also contains such a chip). Although anything is possible, this, several experts told me, is improbable.
First, the thief would have to be physically close, said Terry Hartmann, vice president of security solutions for Unisys. How close? Four inches. So unless that thief snuggled up to you, he or she probably couldn't get into that chip.
Second, even if the chip is breached, the information is heavily encrypted, said Dale Thompson, associate professor of computer science and engineering at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. What someone gets is a serial number "that really has nothing to do with your PIN," Thompson said. "It's not your credit card number, it's not your Social Security number, it's not even your name."
And third, said Phil Lieberman, chief executive of Lieberman Software in Los Angeles, "The card itself is dynamic. Every time you do a transaction, it changes. Even if you skim it once, you can't really reproduce that result."
Although having a Radio Frequency Identification-blocking wallet may help — it adds another layer of security, Hartmann said, and security is all about layers — it's probably not going to protect your card from the PIN stealer that Taylor's agent fears. Why? Because to use the card, you must take it out of the wallet. The magic shield is gone.
The bigger concern, Hartmann said, is the magnetic stripe card that predominates in the U.S. If the card is lost, anyone can use it fairly easily. A chipped card that requires only a signature, which is what many banks are issuing, has some of the same issues.
Read the full story at wwww.beralleshoes.com!
2013年6月20日星期四
The robbers barged into the outlet shortly
Two unidentified youths fled on a motorbike after snatching the gold
jewellery of a 63-year-old woman. The incident took place early Thursday
morning when she was taking her morning walk. The victim is the
mother-in-law of Municipal Corporation councillor Gurbaksh Rawat.
Shakambri Rawat was on her way back home, in Sector 40, from her morning walk when a person, with his face covered, came from behind and grabbed her neck. "I resisted when he tried to choke me and snatch my chain. I retaliated and hit him with my elbow," said Rawat.
She added, "I managed to get hold of the chain but it broke into two pieces of which one remained in my hand and the other fell in the hands of the miscreant. He then tried to pull out my earrings. I shouted for help to another person standing next to a bike and wearing a helmet a few metres away. Little did I realise that the passerby was an accomplice of the snatcher. So that my screams are drowned, he started blowing the horn of his bike," added Rawat. The incident took place around 50 metres away from her house at 7.15 in the morning. According to Rawat, both of them were of medium height and physically well built.
Both then escaped on the bike after robbing Rawat of her valuables. According to her, the bike was blue in colour and the registration number plate was folded so that no one could read the number.
Rawat suffered minor bruises on her neck. Her family members immediately called the police who reached within five minutes to the site of the crime. "Our team immediately rushed to their house as soon as we got the call.
A group of six armed men brandishing parang hit a goldsmith outlet in Jalan Besar, Karak near here, escaping with nearly RM400,000 worth of jewellery.
The robbers barged into the outlet shortly before it was about to open for business at about 8.55am on Thursday.
One of the robbers threatened the owner, aged 52, with a parang, forcing him to empty at least 13 trays of jewellery kept in the strong room.
Police who were alerted of the robbery, conducted investigations and lifted some fingerprints from the site.
They also found an empty tray thrown on the ground, about 2km away, in Taman Karak Jaya.
OCPD Supt Mansor Mohd Nor said the robbers made their getaway in a car parked in front of the outlet.
He said all six robbers were wearing ski masks.
"So far, we have not make any arrest and are scrutinising images from the CCTV.
"The case is being classified under Section 395 of the Penal Code for gang-robbery," he said.
The offence carries a jail term of up to 20 years in prison and whipping, upon conviction.
It is learnt the outlet has opened for business for 50 years and it was the first time it was robbed by armed robbers.
Previously, thieves posing as potential customers were captured pilfering small amount of jewellery in the pretext of viewing the items from their staff.
Supt Mansor urged pawnshops or members of the public who were offered jewellery at lower the market value to alert the authorities.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
Shakambri Rawat was on her way back home, in Sector 40, from her morning walk when a person, with his face covered, came from behind and grabbed her neck. "I resisted when he tried to choke me and snatch my chain. I retaliated and hit him with my elbow," said Rawat.
She added, "I managed to get hold of the chain but it broke into two pieces of which one remained in my hand and the other fell in the hands of the miscreant. He then tried to pull out my earrings. I shouted for help to another person standing next to a bike and wearing a helmet a few metres away. Little did I realise that the passerby was an accomplice of the snatcher. So that my screams are drowned, he started blowing the horn of his bike," added Rawat. The incident took place around 50 metres away from her house at 7.15 in the morning. According to Rawat, both of them were of medium height and physically well built.
Both then escaped on the bike after robbing Rawat of her valuables. According to her, the bike was blue in colour and the registration number plate was folded so that no one could read the number.
Rawat suffered minor bruises on her neck. Her family members immediately called the police who reached within five minutes to the site of the crime. "Our team immediately rushed to their house as soon as we got the call.
A group of six armed men brandishing parang hit a goldsmith outlet in Jalan Besar, Karak near here, escaping with nearly RM400,000 worth of jewellery.
The robbers barged into the outlet shortly before it was about to open for business at about 8.55am on Thursday.
One of the robbers threatened the owner, aged 52, with a parang, forcing him to empty at least 13 trays of jewellery kept in the strong room.
Police who were alerted of the robbery, conducted investigations and lifted some fingerprints from the site.
They also found an empty tray thrown on the ground, about 2km away, in Taman Karak Jaya.
OCPD Supt Mansor Mohd Nor said the robbers made their getaway in a car parked in front of the outlet.
He said all six robbers were wearing ski masks.
"So far, we have not make any arrest and are scrutinising images from the CCTV.
"The case is being classified under Section 395 of the Penal Code for gang-robbery," he said.
The offence carries a jail term of up to 20 years in prison and whipping, upon conviction.
It is learnt the outlet has opened for business for 50 years and it was the first time it was robbed by armed robbers.
Previously, thieves posing as potential customers were captured pilfering small amount of jewellery in the pretext of viewing the items from their staff.
Supt Mansor urged pawnshops or members of the public who were offered jewellery at lower the market value to alert the authorities.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
2013年6月18日星期二
This reflects a cultural shift towards enjoying simple
We can relax - it’s official! It’s not just the big things that make us happy, like expensive holidays or luxury cars. Actually, the more attainable ‘everyday’ pleasures can bring the same levels of happiness, according to a nationwide survey conducted by Twinings.
Twinings spoke to 1000 New Zealand women and asked which items they used or what did they do regularly, that made them feel happy or special - with the vast majority choosing everyday items with a sentimental attachment.
Overwhelmingly, 64% of women surveyed said using a beautiful fragrance made them feel special or increased confidence, while 48% of women said they had a sentimental piece of jewellery they loved to wear, and 47% of women said a ‘special’ cup of tea gave them elevated feelings of contentment and happiness - enhanced further still by simply using a treasured or sentimental teacup. Interestingly, almost all items selected in the survey had a sentimental connection which conjured up special memories making women feel happier and more uplifted.
The women surveyed were keen to share their experiences with one woman saying "I have a special perfume given to me by a friend. It is worth a lot more than I would normally spend on a fragrance but I love to wear it every day and when people say ‘you smell lovely today’, I tell them how lucky I am to have such a great friend".
While another said her most treasured item was "A beautiful cup and saucer that was my Grandmother’s, filled with English Breakfast tea just like I used to share with her. It makes me remember my Grandma and the special times and stories we shared over tea - always in a pretty cup and saucer - it makes me feel warm and loved".
The concept of using their ‘special or best things regularly’ produced strong emotive responses, and the women surveyed were unanimous that those moments made them feel either positive, special, happy, relaxed, confident, calm or back in control.
"This reflects a cultural shift towards enjoying simple and sentimental things more regularly as our lives get busier. We’re leading faster and more complicated lives than ever before, so taking time out to enjoy life’s simple pleasures is important for our wellbeing. Using our ‘treasued’ things more regularly simply makes us feel better." said Michaela Dumper, Twinings NZ Marketing Director.
"Of course, ‘special’ things are very personal but almost everyone enjoys a cup of their favourite tea and it’s nice to know Twinings are creating moments of pleasure for Kiwi women across the country." said Michaela Dumper.
Other items that women treasured were beautiful lingerie (38%), a special dress (32%), nail polish (28%), scented candles (26%), designer shoes (21%) and a special handbag (21%).
"No matter what the personal interpretation of using ‘treasured things’ everyday’, it seems to strike an emotional chord with everyone and here at Twinings we are celebrating that." said Michaela.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
Twinings spoke to 1000 New Zealand women and asked which items they used or what did they do regularly, that made them feel happy or special - with the vast majority choosing everyday items with a sentimental attachment.
Overwhelmingly, 64% of women surveyed said using a beautiful fragrance made them feel special or increased confidence, while 48% of women said they had a sentimental piece of jewellery they loved to wear, and 47% of women said a ‘special’ cup of tea gave them elevated feelings of contentment and happiness - enhanced further still by simply using a treasured or sentimental teacup. Interestingly, almost all items selected in the survey had a sentimental connection which conjured up special memories making women feel happier and more uplifted.
The women surveyed were keen to share their experiences with one woman saying "I have a special perfume given to me by a friend. It is worth a lot more than I would normally spend on a fragrance but I love to wear it every day and when people say ‘you smell lovely today’, I tell them how lucky I am to have such a great friend".
While another said her most treasured item was "A beautiful cup and saucer that was my Grandmother’s, filled with English Breakfast tea just like I used to share with her. It makes me remember my Grandma and the special times and stories we shared over tea - always in a pretty cup and saucer - it makes me feel warm and loved".
The concept of using their ‘special or best things regularly’ produced strong emotive responses, and the women surveyed were unanimous that those moments made them feel either positive, special, happy, relaxed, confident, calm or back in control.
"This reflects a cultural shift towards enjoying simple and sentimental things more regularly as our lives get busier. We’re leading faster and more complicated lives than ever before, so taking time out to enjoy life’s simple pleasures is important for our wellbeing. Using our ‘treasued’ things more regularly simply makes us feel better." said Michaela Dumper, Twinings NZ Marketing Director.
"Of course, ‘special’ things are very personal but almost everyone enjoys a cup of their favourite tea and it’s nice to know Twinings are creating moments of pleasure for Kiwi women across the country." said Michaela Dumper.
Other items that women treasured were beautiful lingerie (38%), a special dress (32%), nail polish (28%), scented candles (26%), designer shoes (21%) and a special handbag (21%).
"No matter what the personal interpretation of using ‘treasured things’ everyday’, it seems to strike an emotional chord with everyone and here at Twinings we are celebrating that." said Michaela.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
2013年6月16日星期日
It shaves like a razor blade
Bill Smith has been making knives since 1959, and he doesn't plan on slowing down.
His first experience with a knife, was when he was going to college.
He was at a hardware store and asked some guys if they would let him have a quarter of their deer if he skinned and quartered it for them.
"I got three in one afternoon (deer meat)," said Smith.
That is when he realized he didn't have a good knife, so he made one using old planter blades. He was approached by a man who asked if he could buy the knife for $85.
"Back in the sixties, that was a lot of money," said Smith.
He kept the second one he made and has been using it ever since. "I have only sharpened it one time, and it really didn't need it," said Smith.
Every time Smith would make a knife, someone would buy it.
In 2000, a friend invited him to a gun and knife show. He sold out of his knives in one day.
"I call that a successful show," said Smith.
The following day at the show, he took orders for knives. He worked from dawn to dusk getting all the orders complete, but by the time he was done, he had 33 new orders.
"At one time I was 41 orders behind," said Smith.
"I don't know what I am now and don't even look anymore. I build one and just pick up the next order and say, 'okay, this is what I am going to do now.'"
Every October, Smith builds a special knife for the Salado Education Foundation.
They auction the knife to raise money for kids so they can go to college.
Smith was a school teacher for over 31 years.
He got his degree in science and art.
He is passionate about art and was even a practicing artist for a number of years. But it didn't provide a stable, monthly income, so he went into teaching. He did his last art show in 1972.
Smith has made over 3,000 knives since his first one in 1959.
"This is man-made material and this is ivory from a wooly mammoth thousands of years old," said Smith as he displayed his collection of knives at the dinner table.
Smith also dabbles in other hobbies such as wood work, ceramics and even belt making.
"A man came to me. His belt was almost torn in two. He asked if I could make him a new belt."
When Smith learned the man was a World War II Vet, he made the belt for free.
"I have had several Vietnam Vets want something," said Smith. "I couldn't charge those men."
Two soldiers approached him ten years ago and inquired about ordering a knife. When Smith told them the cost, their eyebrows shot up in surprise.
So, Smith offered for them to make their own knives and pay for the materials.
Two soldiers became four, and new soldiers started arriving to participate in "knife night."
"one of the soldiers had something come up and the others harassed him saying, 'now you aren't supposed to make plans on knife night.'"
Smith then picked up another knife from the dinner table.
"This is what's called a caping knife. It's hammer forged out of a hundred year old hammer spring. It shaves like a razor blade and it has a rib bone in it. The bone washed up in a bay in Texas."
According to Smith, a capping knife is used for chopping wood, skinning animals and cutting up cheese.
"An unsuccessful hunter lives off cheese and crackers," said Smith.
Smith's big accomplishment was was when he got a hold of the original diagram of the Bowie knife. He bought it at a gun and knife show in Arkansas.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
His first experience with a knife, was when he was going to college.
He was at a hardware store and asked some guys if they would let him have a quarter of their deer if he skinned and quartered it for them.
"I got three in one afternoon (deer meat)," said Smith.
That is when he realized he didn't have a good knife, so he made one using old planter blades. He was approached by a man who asked if he could buy the knife for $85.
"Back in the sixties, that was a lot of money," said Smith.
He kept the second one he made and has been using it ever since. "I have only sharpened it one time, and it really didn't need it," said Smith.
Every time Smith would make a knife, someone would buy it.
In 2000, a friend invited him to a gun and knife show. He sold out of his knives in one day.
"I call that a successful show," said Smith.
The following day at the show, he took orders for knives. He worked from dawn to dusk getting all the orders complete, but by the time he was done, he had 33 new orders.
"At one time I was 41 orders behind," said Smith.
"I don't know what I am now and don't even look anymore. I build one and just pick up the next order and say, 'okay, this is what I am going to do now.'"
Every October, Smith builds a special knife for the Salado Education Foundation.
They auction the knife to raise money for kids so they can go to college.
Smith was a school teacher for over 31 years.
He got his degree in science and art.
He is passionate about art and was even a practicing artist for a number of years. But it didn't provide a stable, monthly income, so he went into teaching. He did his last art show in 1972.
Smith has made over 3,000 knives since his first one in 1959.
"This is man-made material and this is ivory from a wooly mammoth thousands of years old," said Smith as he displayed his collection of knives at the dinner table.
Smith also dabbles in other hobbies such as wood work, ceramics and even belt making.
"A man came to me. His belt was almost torn in two. He asked if I could make him a new belt."
When Smith learned the man was a World War II Vet, he made the belt for free.
"I have had several Vietnam Vets want something," said Smith. "I couldn't charge those men."
Two soldiers approached him ten years ago and inquired about ordering a knife. When Smith told them the cost, their eyebrows shot up in surprise.
So, Smith offered for them to make their own knives and pay for the materials.
Two soldiers became four, and new soldiers started arriving to participate in "knife night."
"one of the soldiers had something come up and the others harassed him saying, 'now you aren't supposed to make plans on knife night.'"
Smith then picked up another knife from the dinner table.
"This is what's called a caping knife. It's hammer forged out of a hundred year old hammer spring. It shaves like a razor blade and it has a rib bone in it. The bone washed up in a bay in Texas."
According to Smith, a capping knife is used for chopping wood, skinning animals and cutting up cheese.
"An unsuccessful hunter lives off cheese and crackers," said Smith.
Smith's big accomplishment was was when he got a hold of the original diagram of the Bowie knife. He bought it at a gun and knife show in Arkansas.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
2013年6月12日星期三
Their photographs were displayed to a gallery
So said a federal prosecutor yesterday as he laid out the extraordinary case against James "Whitey" Bulger, 83, the former king of the Boston underworld who went on the run in 1994 and was once the most wanted man in America after Osama bin Laden. He was apprehended in 2011 in California after living a seemingly quiet life under an assumed name.
In response to charges that his client was involved in no fewer than 19 murders, Mr Bulger's lawyer appeared to agree that his client was a crook.
"James Bulger was involved in illegal gambling, he was involved in illegal loans, drug trafficking and extortion," the defence attorney, James Carney, told a jury.
He said his client had made "millions upon millions upon millions of dollars", but that large chunks of the income were paid to agents at the FBI to ensure that his nefarious activities were not interrupted by anything as inconvenient as a criminal indictment.
"From 1972 to 1995 James Bulger was never once charged with anything by a federal prosecutor," said Mr Carney.
Both sides offered insights into the dark period in the city's history when Mr Bulger rose to prominence as the leader of the Winter Hill Gang.
Brian Kelley, for the prosecution, said the gang had "run amok in the city of Boston for almost 30 years. At the centre of this murder and mayhem was one man, the defendant".
He recalled a man named Arthur "Bucky" Barrett, "by all accounts a likeable guy", a seller of stolen jewellery, who was lured to a house in south Boston and "chained to a chair" and told to call his wife and persuade her to leave the house, so that gang members could steal $40,000 Mr Barrett had stashed there. Mr Kelley said Mr Bulger then told his gang: "Bucky's going downstairs to lie down for a little while." He added: "As Barrett walked downstairs, this man here killed him."
He also alleged that Mr Bulger had strangled a gang member's stepdaughter and machine-gunned a local man who had boasted too openly of working with his gang.
Mr Kelley read out a list of all 19 alleged victims of Mr Bulger's gang: their photographs were displayed to a gallery that included relatives of the deceased.
Mr Bulger cut a frail figure, flanked by his two defence attorneys.
Mr Carney portrayed a key witness, John Martorano, who has admitted killing 20 people, as a "psychopath" who "would kill people as easily as we would order a cup of coffee". He suggested that Martorano, who served only 12 years in prison, had been willing "to say anything" to cut a deal with prosecutors.The trial continues.
It's been almost two weeks since eminent filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh passed away and there is now an attempt to preserve his non-cinematic legacy as well.
Rituparno was known for his flamboyance and fine and eclectic taste in art. His residences (a sprawling ancestral home and two other apartments elsewhere) are a treasure trove of books and paintings, jewellery and trinkets, lampshades, watches and sunglasses, crockery, shawls and scarves-valued at a few crores to say the least.
At a memorial service held in Kolkata late on Tuesday, there were discussions about conserving the artefacts the late director had handpicked over the years and Aparna Sen, Rituparno's senior colleague and mentor, appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to turn his ancestral home into an archive, "to make these accessible to the public, including students researching his works." Banerjee, who was present at the event, promptly accepted the proposal.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
In response to charges that his client was involved in no fewer than 19 murders, Mr Bulger's lawyer appeared to agree that his client was a crook.
"James Bulger was involved in illegal gambling, he was involved in illegal loans, drug trafficking and extortion," the defence attorney, James Carney, told a jury.
He said his client had made "millions upon millions upon millions of dollars", but that large chunks of the income were paid to agents at the FBI to ensure that his nefarious activities were not interrupted by anything as inconvenient as a criminal indictment.
"From 1972 to 1995 James Bulger was never once charged with anything by a federal prosecutor," said Mr Carney.
Both sides offered insights into the dark period in the city's history when Mr Bulger rose to prominence as the leader of the Winter Hill Gang.
Brian Kelley, for the prosecution, said the gang had "run amok in the city of Boston for almost 30 years. At the centre of this murder and mayhem was one man, the defendant".
He recalled a man named Arthur "Bucky" Barrett, "by all accounts a likeable guy", a seller of stolen jewellery, who was lured to a house in south Boston and "chained to a chair" and told to call his wife and persuade her to leave the house, so that gang members could steal $40,000 Mr Barrett had stashed there. Mr Kelley said Mr Bulger then told his gang: "Bucky's going downstairs to lie down for a little while." He added: "As Barrett walked downstairs, this man here killed him."
He also alleged that Mr Bulger had strangled a gang member's stepdaughter and machine-gunned a local man who had boasted too openly of working with his gang.
Mr Kelley read out a list of all 19 alleged victims of Mr Bulger's gang: their photographs were displayed to a gallery that included relatives of the deceased.
Mr Bulger cut a frail figure, flanked by his two defence attorneys.
Mr Carney portrayed a key witness, John Martorano, who has admitted killing 20 people, as a "psychopath" who "would kill people as easily as we would order a cup of coffee". He suggested that Martorano, who served only 12 years in prison, had been willing "to say anything" to cut a deal with prosecutors.The trial continues.
It's been almost two weeks since eminent filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh passed away and there is now an attempt to preserve his non-cinematic legacy as well.
Rituparno was known for his flamboyance and fine and eclectic taste in art. His residences (a sprawling ancestral home and two other apartments elsewhere) are a treasure trove of books and paintings, jewellery and trinkets, lampshades, watches and sunglasses, crockery, shawls and scarves-valued at a few crores to say the least.
At a memorial service held in Kolkata late on Tuesday, there were discussions about conserving the artefacts the late director had handpicked over the years and Aparna Sen, Rituparno's senior colleague and mentor, appealed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to turn his ancestral home into an archive, "to make these accessible to the public, including students researching his works." Banerjee, who was present at the event, promptly accepted the proposal.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
2013年6月8日星期六
who want to preserve their game through taxidermy
It’s the first time in four years that the taxidermy championships have taken place in Craig, giving local taxidermists a prime opportunity to show off their game.
Mountain lions, black bears, elk, deer, ducks and sheep were only a few of the animals on display Saturday at the Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion, where roughly 175 people gathered to evaluate the quality of each taxidermists work.
Competitors traveled from Wyoming, Utah and Montana to compete against Colorado taxidermists.
Animals from across the globe were mounted for the audience and judges to see, but the room mainly was filled with elk, deer and mountain lions.
“I think it’s pretty awesome,” said Don Laib, of Craig. “It’s a real talent. This stuff is incredible. How do they transfer it here? It’s so life like.”
Many of mountain lions on display looked as if they were going to come alive and grab those who passed by.
Exotic animals from Africa, such as a zebra and two cape buffalo, stood tall in the middle of the room. Foxes, fish and even a skunk gave audience members an eyeful — each of which was up for first, second or third-place ribbons in a variety of categories.
“This is a great opportunity to get a variety of different species on display,” said Gayle Zimmerman, who chaired the event. “It’s neat to see the competition. It’s the biggest show Colorado has ever had.”
It cost roughly $8,000 to put on the event that featured 150 different animals. The money helped pay for the space, the awards and a certain portion went to pay the two judges who facilitated the prizes.
Taxidermy judge Marcus Detring went from animal to animal, explaining to competitors what they did well and what they could’ve done better.
“He’s really helpful. Hopefully I can apply what he says to my next pieces and make them better,” said Willie Ungerman. “That’s why we come — to learn.”
Ungerman traveled from Hunington, Utah, to display three of his pieces, including a mountain lion that he killed with a bow near his home. Excitement filled his eyes as he explained the hunting process. He used three hound dogs to track down the kill.
“You can track a lion for 10 minutes, or you can track a lion for 10 hours,” he said, noting that it took him 20 minutes to track the 180 pound lion that he killed. “I was way proud.”
Hunters who want to preserve their game through taxidermy must keep in mind how many times they shoot an animal, Ungerman said.
“The least amount of shots means the least amount of holes you have to fix,” he said.
Mark Zimmerman, who owns Bullseye Taxidermy in Craig and is Gayle Zimmerman’s husband, had several pieces on display.
“I think this is great,” he said. “Some of my best friends I’ve met through taxidermy competitions. Most of the time, it’s pretty friendly competition, but I want to beat them.”
Judge Detring explained to several competitors what they should think about when mounting their animals, outlining that craftsmanship, general anatomy — both skeletal and muscular — and correct skin placement is what he judges.
Click on their website www.agesteeljewelry.com for more information.
Mountain lions, black bears, elk, deer, ducks and sheep were only a few of the animals on display Saturday at the Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion, where roughly 175 people gathered to evaluate the quality of each taxidermists work.
Competitors traveled from Wyoming, Utah and Montana to compete against Colorado taxidermists.
Animals from across the globe were mounted for the audience and judges to see, but the room mainly was filled with elk, deer and mountain lions.
“I think it’s pretty awesome,” said Don Laib, of Craig. “It’s a real talent. This stuff is incredible. How do they transfer it here? It’s so life like.”
Many of mountain lions on display looked as if they were going to come alive and grab those who passed by.
Exotic animals from Africa, such as a zebra and two cape buffalo, stood tall in the middle of the room. Foxes, fish and even a skunk gave audience members an eyeful — each of which was up for first, second or third-place ribbons in a variety of categories.
“This is a great opportunity to get a variety of different species on display,” said Gayle Zimmerman, who chaired the event. “It’s neat to see the competition. It’s the biggest show Colorado has ever had.”
It cost roughly $8,000 to put on the event that featured 150 different animals. The money helped pay for the space, the awards and a certain portion went to pay the two judges who facilitated the prizes.
Taxidermy judge Marcus Detring went from animal to animal, explaining to competitors what they did well and what they could’ve done better.
“He’s really helpful. Hopefully I can apply what he says to my next pieces and make them better,” said Willie Ungerman. “That’s why we come — to learn.”
Ungerman traveled from Hunington, Utah, to display three of his pieces, including a mountain lion that he killed with a bow near his home. Excitement filled his eyes as he explained the hunting process. He used three hound dogs to track down the kill.
“You can track a lion for 10 minutes, or you can track a lion for 10 hours,” he said, noting that it took him 20 minutes to track the 180 pound lion that he killed. “I was way proud.”
Hunters who want to preserve their game through taxidermy must keep in mind how many times they shoot an animal, Ungerman said.
“The least amount of shots means the least amount of holes you have to fix,” he said.
Mark Zimmerman, who owns Bullseye Taxidermy in Craig and is Gayle Zimmerman’s husband, had several pieces on display.
“I think this is great,” he said. “Some of my best friends I’ve met through taxidermy competitions. Most of the time, it’s pretty friendly competition, but I want to beat them.”
Judge Detring explained to several competitors what they should think about when mounting their animals, outlining that craftsmanship, general anatomy — both skeletal and muscular — and correct skin placement is what he judges.
Click on their website www.agesteeljewelry.com for more information.
2013年6月6日星期四
why I judge people with piercings so harshly
I was indulging in a bit of people watching while I waited for my
daughter to finish work and these two sure were fun to watch until I
realised what they were about to do.
This gorgeous girl with her cover-girl smile was about to get her lip pierced and her cute boyfriend, with his carefully tousled hair, was getting a matching one.
"Does your mother know what you are doing?" I wanted to ask as they selected their preferred pieces from the display at the beauty salon right beside where I was meeting my daughter.
"Do you have a job? What will your boss say? Who is going to give you a job with that stuck on your lip?" - these were the questions I wanted to ask them as they filled out a questionnaire for the beauty therapist.
I maintained my silence but I was hoping they would change their minds and walk out. They didn't - so while they were out in the back of the salon having their faces defaced I took a closer look at the people around me.
Maybe it was because I was looking for it but I started to see piercings everywhere.
Nearly every young person who walked past me had some sort of piercing that I could see (who knows how many had piercings that I couldn't see). Lots of eyebrows, lips, noses and belly buttons were decorated - there were even a few shiny bits of metal and sparkly jewels stuck into arms, hips and backs.
I guess I'd been happily unaware of just how popular these trends were but on that day at my suburban shopping centre there was no denying it.
Obviously I'm a bit old-fashioned when it comes to piercings in general - but especially on the face. My own kids seem to have skipped the piercing obsession with the exception of my youngest, who fought long and hard to be allowed a belly button piercing for her 16th birthday.
Thankfully with the battle won she seemed happy to stop there.
Given the sheer number of piercings on display around me I was feeling quite grateful that my kids had never felt strongly about having holes punched in their bodies. Same goes for the ridiculous stretcher style ear piercings - there would have been an all-out war in our house if they had come home with those.
Over the years I've been careful not to be too vocal about my dislike of facial piercings - the last thing I want is for my teenagers to see a piercing or three as the ideal way to push my buttons and assert their independence.
As I watched these two young things walk out of the beauty salon rubbing their newly pierced lips I couldn't help but think about the fights I had with my mum about getting a second piercing in my ears. That was considered quite daring in the day (showing my age a little here) so I guess teenagers and their desire for self-expression really haven't changed that much.
These two teens would never know it but watching them also made me think about why I judge people with piercings so harshly.
Why can't they have a good job even if they have a piercing in their lip, nose or eyebrow?
What's so different to the piercings in my ears?
That didn't stop me from working hard or taking my job seriously.
So, instead of turning away as they came towards me I looked a bit closer and was surprised to realise they were still a cute couple and, dare I say it, their piercings actually suited them.
Not that I would ever admit such a thing to a teenager.
And, of course, if it was my child who was coming home to show off their new jewellery I am pretty sure I would not have been quite so accepting.
Click on their website www.beralleshoes.com for more information.
This gorgeous girl with her cover-girl smile was about to get her lip pierced and her cute boyfriend, with his carefully tousled hair, was getting a matching one.
"Does your mother know what you are doing?" I wanted to ask as they selected their preferred pieces from the display at the beauty salon right beside where I was meeting my daughter.
"Do you have a job? What will your boss say? Who is going to give you a job with that stuck on your lip?" - these were the questions I wanted to ask them as they filled out a questionnaire for the beauty therapist.
I maintained my silence but I was hoping they would change their minds and walk out. They didn't - so while they were out in the back of the salon having their faces defaced I took a closer look at the people around me.
Maybe it was because I was looking for it but I started to see piercings everywhere.
Nearly every young person who walked past me had some sort of piercing that I could see (who knows how many had piercings that I couldn't see). Lots of eyebrows, lips, noses and belly buttons were decorated - there were even a few shiny bits of metal and sparkly jewels stuck into arms, hips and backs.
I guess I'd been happily unaware of just how popular these trends were but on that day at my suburban shopping centre there was no denying it.
Obviously I'm a bit old-fashioned when it comes to piercings in general - but especially on the face. My own kids seem to have skipped the piercing obsession with the exception of my youngest, who fought long and hard to be allowed a belly button piercing for her 16th birthday.
Thankfully with the battle won she seemed happy to stop there.
Given the sheer number of piercings on display around me I was feeling quite grateful that my kids had never felt strongly about having holes punched in their bodies. Same goes for the ridiculous stretcher style ear piercings - there would have been an all-out war in our house if they had come home with those.
Over the years I've been careful not to be too vocal about my dislike of facial piercings - the last thing I want is for my teenagers to see a piercing or three as the ideal way to push my buttons and assert their independence.
As I watched these two young things walk out of the beauty salon rubbing their newly pierced lips I couldn't help but think about the fights I had with my mum about getting a second piercing in my ears. That was considered quite daring in the day (showing my age a little here) so I guess teenagers and their desire for self-expression really haven't changed that much.
These two teens would never know it but watching them also made me think about why I judge people with piercings so harshly.
Why can't they have a good job even if they have a piercing in their lip, nose or eyebrow?
What's so different to the piercings in my ears?
That didn't stop me from working hard or taking my job seriously.
So, instead of turning away as they came towards me I looked a bit closer and was surprised to realise they were still a cute couple and, dare I say it, their piercings actually suited them.
Not that I would ever admit such a thing to a teenager.
And, of course, if it was my child who was coming home to show off their new jewellery I am pretty sure I would not have been quite so accepting.
Click on their website www.beralleshoes.com for more information.
2013年6月4日星期二
when people see how many diamonds line
Karen Braidwood and ceramicist and musician Kari Weiner lulled the crowds with soothing guitar rifts amongst and abundance of colour, wine and food.
Main Gallery - “QUINTESSENTIAL” - Five Artists - five journeys: Kari Winer - Beautiful deep reflective Temmuko glazes over porcelain enhance the beauty of food when served in the work created for this exhibition. Kari’s animal sculptures and raku fired work are also be featured.
Robyn Simon - a wonderful indulgence of her passions of travel and painting has been the inspiration for most of this collection of work. Through painting Robyn attempts to convey to the viewer the thing which struck her about the beauty or interest of the subject.
Ann O’Brien – Ann’s most recent journey in jewellery making shows a shift from beads and crystals to her new fascination with the endless possibilities of polymer clay.
George Partos - George considers himself a late starter and finds the creative process in itself reward enough and a wonderful journey of discovery. “Simply I love the process in itself and the journey continues”.
Lyndall Edsall - Lyndall loves to play with colour. Her work for this exhibition depicts scenes from travels plus and “I couldn’t resist adding a sprinkling of my favourite still life themes”.
Studio Gallery - “The Flower:
Nature’s Virtuoso Act ” - Polly Wells The flower has been a time- honoured motif of many artists and it offers infinite possibilities. I am interested in the enthralling beauty and power of flowers.
See your ad here
They are not just “ pretty things”, they have been a driving force in the whole of evolution. The urge of life is somehow distilled in a flower and emanates out to us in form and colour. I hope to capture a little of this dazzling virtuoso act of nature in my paintings, and through it share the joy that nature stirs in us .
The Marquise ring consists of a large one carat F colour marquise diamond set in a 18K white gold ring. The two shoulder diamonds are point one five carat pink diamonds with a 5P colour rating which creates a stunning contrast to the beautiful white marquise diamond centre stone.
Finally, to make the marquise diamond look even larger without blowing an average person’s budget, 60 point five carat diamonds are used to follow the shape of the marquise diamond. The result is a ring design that draws the eye to the marquise centre stone.
This Marquise engagement ring can be seen on the Australian Diamond Brokers’ website as well as on display in their store located at 70 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
Varouj, a jewellery designer with over 30 years experience said he challenged himself to create a marquise diamond ring that looks bigger without a big price tag.
“The funny thing with this design is that when people see how many diamonds line the marquise diamond, they think it will cost more than just having a larger marquise stone when in fact, it costs less,” said Varouj.
This ring design can be catered to all budgets and include options such as choosing the ring metal type from gold, white gold and platinum. The pink shoulder diamonds can also be changed to yellow diamonds or any other colour as well.
Interested buyers can contact Australian Diamond Brokers for more information about The Marquise ring or any other diamond engagement ring.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
Main Gallery - “QUINTESSENTIAL” - Five Artists - five journeys: Kari Winer - Beautiful deep reflective Temmuko glazes over porcelain enhance the beauty of food when served in the work created for this exhibition. Kari’s animal sculptures and raku fired work are also be featured.
Robyn Simon - a wonderful indulgence of her passions of travel and painting has been the inspiration for most of this collection of work. Through painting Robyn attempts to convey to the viewer the thing which struck her about the beauty or interest of the subject.
Ann O’Brien – Ann’s most recent journey in jewellery making shows a shift from beads and crystals to her new fascination with the endless possibilities of polymer clay.
George Partos - George considers himself a late starter and finds the creative process in itself reward enough and a wonderful journey of discovery. “Simply I love the process in itself and the journey continues”.
Lyndall Edsall - Lyndall loves to play with colour. Her work for this exhibition depicts scenes from travels plus and “I couldn’t resist adding a sprinkling of my favourite still life themes”.
Studio Gallery - “The Flower:
Nature’s Virtuoso Act ” - Polly Wells The flower has been a time- honoured motif of many artists and it offers infinite possibilities. I am interested in the enthralling beauty and power of flowers.
See your ad here
They are not just “ pretty things”, they have been a driving force in the whole of evolution. The urge of life is somehow distilled in a flower and emanates out to us in form and colour. I hope to capture a little of this dazzling virtuoso act of nature in my paintings, and through it share the joy that nature stirs in us .
The Marquise ring consists of a large one carat F colour marquise diamond set in a 18K white gold ring. The two shoulder diamonds are point one five carat pink diamonds with a 5P colour rating which creates a stunning contrast to the beautiful white marquise diamond centre stone.
Finally, to make the marquise diamond look even larger without blowing an average person’s budget, 60 point five carat diamonds are used to follow the shape of the marquise diamond. The result is a ring design that draws the eye to the marquise centre stone.
This Marquise engagement ring can be seen on the Australian Diamond Brokers’ website as well as on display in their store located at 70 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.
Varouj, a jewellery designer with over 30 years experience said he challenged himself to create a marquise diamond ring that looks bigger without a big price tag.
“The funny thing with this design is that when people see how many diamonds line the marquise diamond, they think it will cost more than just having a larger marquise stone when in fact, it costs less,” said Varouj.
This ring design can be catered to all budgets and include options such as choosing the ring metal type from gold, white gold and platinum. The pink shoulder diamonds can also be changed to yellow diamonds or any other colour as well.
Interested buyers can contact Australian Diamond Brokers for more information about The Marquise ring or any other diamond engagement ring.
Read the full story at www.agesteeljewelry.com!
2013年6月2日星期日
Please share this article with others using the link below
On a recent sweaty night at Murtala Muhammed international airport in
Lagos, a Nigerian man strutted towards the boarding gates like somebody
who knows – or rather hopes – that he is being watched. He was pulling a
carry-on Louis Vuitton suitcase, with a smaller Louis Vuitton bag on
top. His shoes were from Louis Vuitton and so were his trousers, belt,
shirt and sunglasses. It was over-the-top, even by the standards of
Nigeria, where some of the elite love to flaunt the luxury brands
purchases in the boutiques in European capitals.
Until very recently, flying abroad was the only way for them to buy luxury goods. Now, things may be changing. In April, Ermenegildo Zegna opened a store in Lagos, the first luxury clothing brand to do so. Its setting – on Akin Adesola Street, a busy road that links the lagoon and ocean on either side of Victoria Island, the city’s financial district – is not glamorous. But Zegna, which had never had a store in sub-Saharan Africa, is betting that customers more accustomed to shopping on Bond Street or the Champs-elysees will not mind.
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Zegna is considering opening a store in Angola, which, like Nigeria, has a small but extremely wealthy elite thanks to its oil industry, and in Mozambique, the site of large new gas finds. Africa “is going to be a territory that’s very important for luxury”, even if the market is still at an early stage, according to Gildo Zegna, chief executive. Describing the company’s strategy in emerging markets, including Africa, Mr Zegna told the FT last year that it was targeting “the top 1 per cent of the population, or perhaps even less”.
Zegna’s African expansion may initially seem startling – both Angola and Mozambique experienced devastating wars not long ago – but the company is not alone. Breitling now distributes its watches through wholesalers in at least a dozen African countries, including Ghana. The trend is less surprising when you look at Africa’s place in the global economy. Sub-Saharan African economies are expanding faster than any other region, bar developing Asia, with the IMF forecasting growth of 5.4 per cent in 2013 and 5.7 per cent in 2014. Though many African countries are growing from a very low base – and income distribution is often very unequal – the number of wealthy, status-conscious people is rising and will continue to do so while commodity prices stay high.
For now, the only entrenched market for luxury goods in sub-Saharan Africa is South Africa, which has the continent’s largest economy and a largely urban population. A recent report by the consultancy Bain noted that South Africa has 71,000 dollar millionaires, 60 per cent of the total number in sub-Saharan Africa. That is more than Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates and not that far off the 95,000 millionaires in Russia. Bain estimated that by 2020, 420,000 households in South Africa would have disposable income of more than $100,000 and forecasts that the luxury goods market, worth about $1bn a year, will grow by 20-30 per cent for the next five years.
In South Africa’s favour is its large number of high-end shopping malls that offer the sort of retail space attractive to international brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gucci and Fendi, all present in the country. South Africa has its own luxury brands working mainly with leather and jewellery.
In Lagos, the continent’s most populous city, with more than 12m people, there only two small malls of international standard – compared with 74 in Johannesburg – and even these may not be of a high enough standard for the likes of Louis Vuitton.
Francesco Trapani, head of LVMH’s jewellery and watches division, said last year that Africa remained “a very, very small market for us”. Hermes said that despite looking at South Africa, it had not yet found any suitable opportunities to do business or open a shop on the continent. Yet as Zegna’s foray into Lagos shows, the amount of money sloshing around – and the appetite for conspicuous consumption – means that some luxury goods companies no longer feel content simply to wait for change.
According to Euromonitor, Nigeria was the second fastest growing market in the world for champagne between 2006 and 2011, by which time it had became the 17th biggest consumer of bubbly in the world, with 752,879 bottles drunk. Over the five years to 2016 the trend will continue, with only France experiencing a larger rise in champagne consumption, by volume. And it’s not the cheap stuff – Moet, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Perignon are all popular among Nigeria’s elite.
Carmakers have taken note. Porsche opened a dealership in Lagos last year, a short walk away from the Zegna store. For luxury to take full flight will require the emergence of a middle-class. That said, for some luxury bosses, a narrow band of super-rich people will do for now.
Until very recently, flying abroad was the only way for them to buy luxury goods. Now, things may be changing. In April, Ermenegildo Zegna opened a store in Lagos, the first luxury clothing brand to do so. Its setting – on Akin Adesola Street, a busy road that links the lagoon and ocean on either side of Victoria Island, the city’s financial district – is not glamorous. But Zegna, which had never had a store in sub-Saharan Africa, is betting that customers more accustomed to shopping on Bond Street or the Champs-elysees will not mind.
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Zegna is considering opening a store in Angola, which, like Nigeria, has a small but extremely wealthy elite thanks to its oil industry, and in Mozambique, the site of large new gas finds. Africa “is going to be a territory that’s very important for luxury”, even if the market is still at an early stage, according to Gildo Zegna, chief executive. Describing the company’s strategy in emerging markets, including Africa, Mr Zegna told the FT last year that it was targeting “the top 1 per cent of the population, or perhaps even less”.
Zegna’s African expansion may initially seem startling – both Angola and Mozambique experienced devastating wars not long ago – but the company is not alone. Breitling now distributes its watches through wholesalers in at least a dozen African countries, including Ghana. The trend is less surprising when you look at Africa’s place in the global economy. Sub-Saharan African economies are expanding faster than any other region, bar developing Asia, with the IMF forecasting growth of 5.4 per cent in 2013 and 5.7 per cent in 2014. Though many African countries are growing from a very low base – and income distribution is often very unequal – the number of wealthy, status-conscious people is rising and will continue to do so while commodity prices stay high.
For now, the only entrenched market for luxury goods in sub-Saharan Africa is South Africa, which has the continent’s largest economy and a largely urban population. A recent report by the consultancy Bain noted that South Africa has 71,000 dollar millionaires, 60 per cent of the total number in sub-Saharan Africa. That is more than Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates and not that far off the 95,000 millionaires in Russia. Bain estimated that by 2020, 420,000 households in South Africa would have disposable income of more than $100,000 and forecasts that the luxury goods market, worth about $1bn a year, will grow by 20-30 per cent for the next five years.
In South Africa’s favour is its large number of high-end shopping malls that offer the sort of retail space attractive to international brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gucci and Fendi, all present in the country. South Africa has its own luxury brands working mainly with leather and jewellery.
In Lagos, the continent’s most populous city, with more than 12m people, there only two small malls of international standard – compared with 74 in Johannesburg – and even these may not be of a high enough standard for the likes of Louis Vuitton.
Francesco Trapani, head of LVMH’s jewellery and watches division, said last year that Africa remained “a very, very small market for us”. Hermes said that despite looking at South Africa, it had not yet found any suitable opportunities to do business or open a shop on the continent. Yet as Zegna’s foray into Lagos shows, the amount of money sloshing around – and the appetite for conspicuous consumption – means that some luxury goods companies no longer feel content simply to wait for change.
According to Euromonitor, Nigeria was the second fastest growing market in the world for champagne between 2006 and 2011, by which time it had became the 17th biggest consumer of bubbly in the world, with 752,879 bottles drunk. Over the five years to 2016 the trend will continue, with only France experiencing a larger rise in champagne consumption, by volume. And it’s not the cheap stuff – Moet, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Perignon are all popular among Nigeria’s elite.
Carmakers have taken note. Porsche opened a dealership in Lagos last year, a short walk away from the Zegna store. For luxury to take full flight will require the emergence of a middle-class. That said, for some luxury bosses, a narrow band of super-rich people will do for now.
we have launched a few limited edition diamond
Representatives of 11 Bahrain jewellery firms are taking part in one of the industry's premier shows in the US.
The Bahraini participation in the KCK Las Vegas has been organised by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in co-operation with Tamkeen, said BCCI gold and pearl jewellery committee head Mohammed Sajid Shaikh.
"This is the first time Bahrain's jewellers and manufactures are taking part in this prestigious event," said Mr Shaikh, speaking from Las Vegas.
"Bahrain firms are the only ones taking part from the region and this is a great honour," Mr Shaikh told the GDN.
"Participating alongside the best in the world, we now have an opportunity to open a whole new market for jewellery made in Bahrain," he said.
"This will also open up the export market to the US and jewellers can take advantage of the free trade agreement between Bahrain and the US."
He said American wholesalers have shown a lot of interest in Bahraini pearls and jewellery and manufacturers had received a lot of inquiries from the Arab American community in the US and Canada.
"We have also arranged meetings with the US Diamond Club and the American Jewellers Association to register Bahraini companies in their Jewellers Directory and website to give them a chance to directly contact Bahrain's jewellers and exporters."
JCK Las Vegas, North America's leading jewellery trade show, continues until tomorrow.
The 2013 show consists of over 2,500 manufacturers and designers representing 32 countries, including 300 new exhibitors, and covers every corner of the jewellery industry, from the most sought-after brands to fashion and up-and-coming talent.
JCK Las Vegas features the most exhibitors of any Jewellery Week show spread over a broad range of categories from bridal and emerging artisan-quality designers to high-end fine jewellery and luxury timepieces.
Loose stones, materials, packaging supplies, and merchandising displays are also available.
"With such breadth of product presented, the show is able to provide one-stop shopping for vendors and retailers alike," said Mr Shaikh.
Sky Jewellery is once again undoubtedly leading from the front with its customer friendly offers and campaigns of its own apart from the conventional seasons of the trade.
It is kick starting today its 8th Anniversary in Muscat with week long anniversary celebrations, offers, discounts and with lots more Value for Money' surprises.
''As always it is customer celebration. And now taking the advantage all together of low price of Gold, at the brim of holidays and above all comparatively very low prices from the Indian market along with renewed duty structure customers are all in full advantage compared to any years in the past. And our offers come at a very right time to add more and more value for their money'', stated Babu John, Managing Director of Sky Jewellery.
Apart from previous years this time we have launched a few limited edition diamond designs fitting to all walks of diamond goers starting from RO79, RO219 and RO2,299.
All these unique pieces would be accompanied by free Designer Bags, Canon Digital Camera and iPad2 respectively, added Babu John.
Diamonds also come with a seasonal 60 per cent Off with free gold coins staring from one gram to 36 gms.
Today showroom will be functional from 8am onwards without lunch break and the first 50 customers will be privileged to enjoy special gold coins as early bird offer irrespective of the size of their purchase.
This early bird offer will remain every day but for the first 25 customers till the campaign gets over.
All the purchase will have free gifts through out the anniversary celebrations.
Thursdays and Saturdays will have special happy hours from 2pm to 5pm with lots of surprise offers and gifts.
Those customers who go for gold purchases above RO5,000 will have a special Gift Hamper containing a Canon Digital Camera, Davidoff Cool Water perfume, Designer Bags, exclusive Jewel Box and lot more surprises.
''Renowned and Certified Planetary Gemologist Shri Unnikrishnnan Sivas will be on a special exclusive consultation at Sky Jewellery . He will be on consultation till June 14 to assist to choose your favourite and luck stones and the anniversary offers will be available till 8th June. However, in order to take advantage of the best designs brought from all across the region in connection with the anniversary and also the price dips always decide to go for the theory Sooner the best,'' said Cyriac Varghese, General Manager, Sky jewellery Group
The Bahraini participation in the KCK Las Vegas has been organised by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in co-operation with Tamkeen, said BCCI gold and pearl jewellery committee head Mohammed Sajid Shaikh.
"This is the first time Bahrain's jewellers and manufactures are taking part in this prestigious event," said Mr Shaikh, speaking from Las Vegas.
"Bahrain firms are the only ones taking part from the region and this is a great honour," Mr Shaikh told the GDN.
"Participating alongside the best in the world, we now have an opportunity to open a whole new market for jewellery made in Bahrain," he said.
"This will also open up the export market to the US and jewellers can take advantage of the free trade agreement between Bahrain and the US."
He said American wholesalers have shown a lot of interest in Bahraini pearls and jewellery and manufacturers had received a lot of inquiries from the Arab American community in the US and Canada.
"We have also arranged meetings with the US Diamond Club and the American Jewellers Association to register Bahraini companies in their Jewellers Directory and website to give them a chance to directly contact Bahrain's jewellers and exporters."
JCK Las Vegas, North America's leading jewellery trade show, continues until tomorrow.
The 2013 show consists of over 2,500 manufacturers and designers representing 32 countries, including 300 new exhibitors, and covers every corner of the jewellery industry, from the most sought-after brands to fashion and up-and-coming talent.
JCK Las Vegas features the most exhibitors of any Jewellery Week show spread over a broad range of categories from bridal and emerging artisan-quality designers to high-end fine jewellery and luxury timepieces.
Loose stones, materials, packaging supplies, and merchandising displays are also available.
"With such breadth of product presented, the show is able to provide one-stop shopping for vendors and retailers alike," said Mr Shaikh.
Sky Jewellery is once again undoubtedly leading from the front with its customer friendly offers and campaigns of its own apart from the conventional seasons of the trade.
It is kick starting today its 8th Anniversary in Muscat with week long anniversary celebrations, offers, discounts and with lots more Value for Money' surprises.
''As always it is customer celebration. And now taking the advantage all together of low price of Gold, at the brim of holidays and above all comparatively very low prices from the Indian market along with renewed duty structure customers are all in full advantage compared to any years in the past. And our offers come at a very right time to add more and more value for their money'', stated Babu John, Managing Director of Sky Jewellery.
Apart from previous years this time we have launched a few limited edition diamond designs fitting to all walks of diamond goers starting from RO79, RO219 and RO2,299.
All these unique pieces would be accompanied by free Designer Bags, Canon Digital Camera and iPad2 respectively, added Babu John.
Diamonds also come with a seasonal 60 per cent Off with free gold coins staring from one gram to 36 gms.
Today showroom will be functional from 8am onwards without lunch break and the first 50 customers will be privileged to enjoy special gold coins as early bird offer irrespective of the size of their purchase.
This early bird offer will remain every day but for the first 25 customers till the campaign gets over.
All the purchase will have free gifts through out the anniversary celebrations.
Thursdays and Saturdays will have special happy hours from 2pm to 5pm with lots of surprise offers and gifts.
Those customers who go for gold purchases above RO5,000 will have a special Gift Hamper containing a Canon Digital Camera, Davidoff Cool Water perfume, Designer Bags, exclusive Jewel Box and lot more surprises.
''Renowned and Certified Planetary Gemologist Shri Unnikrishnnan Sivas will be on a special exclusive consultation at Sky Jewellery . He will be on consultation till June 14 to assist to choose your favourite and luck stones and the anniversary offers will be available till 8th June. However, in order to take advantage of the best designs brought from all across the region in connection with the anniversary and also the price dips always decide to go for the theory Sooner the best,'' said Cyriac Varghese, General Manager, Sky jewellery Group
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