Enjoy 30% off this Valentine's Day!

Being the last Valentine's Day that I will be able to spend with my husband without the wailing of a baby in the house, there will be a special 30% off promotion for all jewelry on my website and my Etsy store!

Simply check out with the promo code XOFeb14 before February 14, 2014.*

Most styles are currently in stock and I will not be creating new inventory after February so hurry up before they are all gone!

For those of you who are thinking of a special tailor-made piece for yourself or your loved ones, I am still open to custom design until March 1, 2014. After that, I will only take custom orders that are modifications based on current designs, up till March 31, 2014. So let me know asap if you have any ideas in mind!

*Cannot be combined with other offers. If your existing discount codes do not work anymore, don't worry, they will be available again after the store-wide promotion is over.

A custom designed ring for an illustration artist

This is another ring I custom made for a good friend of mine, who is a very talented illustration artist. Her name is Jessica Boehman and she specializes in pencil and color pencil drawings for children books, animals and fantastic characters from myths.

The rutilated quartz was chosen as it ressembles the lines in a pencil drawing. Jess does a lot of drawings of nature so I have chosen a tree design around the stone. I made the ring model from droplets of wax. After the model was done and cast in sterling silver, I soldered the bezel on, hand-polished and oxidized the silver to create an antique look that matched the darkness of the stone. And set the quartz in myself.

This is a fun project! If you want to collaborate on a design, drop me a line!

The Making Of the Custom Made Wedding Ring Project

This is a project that I started with a customer since mid-2013. Between discussions, travel plans, pregnancy...etc it took much longer than we both thought it would be. But the process is collaborative and exciting, the result is amazing and I love (even the most painful moments) every second I spent working on them.

The original brief is to create a set of rings designed around the concept of being "together." We started with a yin-yang concept. Then I designed 2 very rough 2-D sketches to show what I have in mind and this one was picked.

(Excuse the ugly rendering...did it all on photoshop :P)

My concept is an elongated heart shape, with each ring carrying half a heart. Together, the two rings form one pattern. Yet when separated, each would still retain its own individuality.

After I got the approval to proceed, I started carving the original wax model for the male ring because it provided the most surface to work on, so we could really see the effect of the curves. It was a tedious process. Click on the snapshot below to read a little more about each step on my flickr album.

There were 3 different models created before we finally arrived at something both of us liked. And in between, I found out I was pregnant, and went through a couple months of inactivity from the all-day sickness. We joked about how the wedding rings were actually made by 2 of us - me and my baby. Talking about good omen!

The final set was cast in tarnish-resistant sterling silver and hand-polished to a mirror finish.

I love working on custom designed projects because each one is designed with a person in mind. They are "born" to be a part of someone's life. When I started creating jewelry, I always believe that jewelry is more than accessories to an outfit, but it should call upon the wearer's reminiscence of an unforgettable moment.

I hope I can continue to work more on these meaningful projects. If any of you are interested at creating your own set of jewelry with me, simply drop me a line and let's collaborate!

Trunk Shows at Hester Street this Sat and next

Come say hi at my trunk show at Hester Street this Sat and next.

Hester Street August hour is actually from noon-10pm with live DJ and special events. But I'll be there up to 9pm only.

The Rose bouquet ring shown here is only available as samples at the trunk show with limited sizes only. So come grab it before it is gone! Some items will be on sale too at sample prices. Don't miss it ;)

Spot Harlequin&Lionhead!

Thanks to Arts Business Institute a year ago, I was inspired to turn Harlequin&Lionhead into my full time job. And a year later, I am a LLC business owner, hosted trunk shows at Henri Bendel, had my first photoshoot and my first lookbook, runs my first studio space, has a full functioning Shop Harlequin&Lionhead Online.

Recently ABI reached out to me and did an Harlequin&Lionhead interview with Arts Business Institute with me about my line and my trunk show experience. ABI is a great source of information and community for independent designers and artists. I hope my story can help someone out there.

Click on the image to read it.

Meet Harlequin&Lionhead this Sat in Chelsea, NYC!

A look back at my spring trunk show

4 days flew by quite quickly at Henri Bendel and again, I admire the strength of the staffs working at Bendel! Standing straight for 12 hours and chatting up customers are really quite physical, but I enjoy interacting with customers and share the joy of creating. Thank you all for the great folks at Bendel. Here is again a shameful display I did the first day, and how nicely it is put up on the second day by the professional :P How can I do this without you all ;)

Day 1 - Debbie's own doing...the bracelets are hidden. And I can't put out all the earrings :(

Day 2 - With the help of the visual team at Bendel, all my necklaces are displayed properly and I managed to get my earrings out. And my bracelets are placed more prominently!

Now spring is kicked off with a new lookbook and a trunk show on 5th Avenue. More to come this year and I look forward to it all!

P.S., Here is my new friend. Last time it was the little mayan god made with jade, this time it is the lovely silver dolls! Starred at them for 4 days...I wish I can adopt them :P

2013 Spring Trunk Show at Henri Bendel

After more than 2 months of hiatus, I'm back to meet you all in person at my spring trunk show at Henri Bendel NY Flagship store. Come to the 2nd floor of their 712 5th Avenue location and say hi on March 28-31! Can't wait to see you all.

A sneak peak at my lookbook 2013

My lookbook is finally available! I will be posting it onto my website next week and a lot of work to be done around the site. I am blessed with the generosity and talent of a lot of people who made this happen. I will work hard to bring more beautiful jewelry! 

Thank you so much, Angela Cox Photography. Angela has been amazing working patiently with me going through my mood boards to get a sense what I am looking for, work with me on the styling notes and pretty much executed the whole shoot unsupervised! I cannot have done this without you. BIG HUG!

And of course, the muse and soul of this shoot, the beautiful Molly McCoy. As a part time model and student, she possesses the qualities in the girl that I imagine in my head when I work. A bit rebellious, definitely confident, but a little melancholic as well...

Hair and makeup is done by Heather Cox. Thanks for working with such tight schedule and outdoors in the cold! And of course, a big round of applause for Sally Tseng, who kindly lend me one of the tops for the shoot. This lovely pastel yellow camisole is just perfect with its wood-like pattern. So pretty :)

Now 2013 carries a much more solid feeling. It is on my cover :D Next, a powered up website!

Special Valentine's Day Promotion - Week 3

This is the 3rd week into my Special Valentine's Day Promotion. Introducing yet another limited edition from the Rose Collection at my Etsy store,
The Long Stem Rose Earrings.

A stem of 3 roses, a tiny leaf and a single thorn create a beautiful romantic story of love. This delicate pair of dangle earrings is hand sculpted by myself. The stem of roses swings with your movement, measures about 2.5" in length, and is made with sterling silver posts. Comes in sterling silver, or brass gold plated in 14K yellow gold or rose gold.

Normally only available at trunk shows and at boutiques, it is now brought to my Etsy store only in the month of February in celebration of Valentine's Day, and at a discounted price.  It is the ultimate gift for your beloved, and a unique adornment for your lovely self.

Visit my store for more romantic stories made of roses.

Special Valentine's Day promotion - Week 2

Week 2 update of the Special Valentine's Day Rose Collection on my Etsy store is here.  This week I'm introducing the pretty Rose Collar Bib Necklace to my Etsy store. It is especially created for my Etsy customers. Made in brass, available in basic gold finish and an unique pinkish gold oxidized version, this necklace radiates romance and is versatile for all occasions.

During the month of February, I am bringing some special pieces from my Rose Collection that are usually NOT available anywhere except for trunk shows and at selected retail stores, to my Etsy store customized or at a discounted price. These are usually specially designed or produced in small quantity only. Now you can get them directly from me to you, or to your loved ones. 

Come back later to see more rose d'amour in my store.

What to say about 2012 and 2013?

From Kozyndan Bunnyfish Collection

I feel like 2012 was a year that Harlequin&Lionhead was truly born. 

I was blessed with some really great mentors in this year. Thank you Arts Business Institute for pointing me to the right direction. And thank you Tracy and Robin for your guidance and advices. These all help laid a good foundation for me to build on.

I was lucky to have found a partner to be my ally at various shows, Jessica. You are a sweetheart and I don't know how I could have done this without having you by my side ;)

I was pumped to find out that Henri Bendel has chosen me to be featured at their NYC location. There I get to know a talented designer Brandy. Hope 2013 will bring you lots of good news!

And I am so happy that Harlequin&Lionhead has found a stable retail home at Urban Alchemist. Thank you for Imaan and Tara for bringing me to the lovely neighborhood of Park Slope Brooklyn.

Of course, I have to give a big thanks to my husband and my mom who have been so supportive of what I am doing.

Big plans for 2013. More to come. The rabbit that dreams to be a fish loves you all.

Did you read about it?

Thank you for a great interview of Harlequin&Lionhead by Flourish & Thrive Academy! Read more here.