Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas & a great time celebrating the holiday with family & friends!

This year just flew right by and I cannot believe we are going to be entering the year 2015 in less than a week!!

To celebrate the end of a great year and the start of a brand new one, we are giving a 25% OFF discount to ANY order of $15 or more. Simply enter "NEWYEAR25" at checkout and the discount will be applied.

Also, new designs will be added very soon so keep an eye out of updates on our Facebook Page or Twitter!

Thank you again for all your support in the year 2014! I look forward to creating more beautiful things for you to enjoy in the coming year ;)

Thank you.

Thank you for being so ever patient with Amanda K Design Studio.
I know that we have been slow in updating and posting of new designs.

The winter has hit us early this year and we have had to experiment with new options in taking photos of our new designs. So please continue to be patient as we try and find the best alternative while everything outside is completely covered in snow and ice.

Meanwhile, there is a great discount for all of you as a sign of gratitude.
For those of you who have previously purchased from our etsy store, as soon as you leave a product review on Etsy (don't know how? Click here.), simply enter "THANKYOUSHIPSFREE" for FREE shipping on your next order!

For those of you who have not yet purchased from us, don't worry. We also want to say a big thank you for supporting us and being patient with us!

Enter the following coupon codes at checkout accordingly:
"NECKLACE20" for 20% OFF on any order of a necklace.
"BRACELET15" for 15% OFF on any order of a bracelet.
"EARRINGS10" for 10% OFF on any order of earrings.

All coupon codes will expire on December 25th, 2014.
Promo codes will not be reimbursed to customers that did not apply promo codes during check out.

Enjoy & Stay Warm!!
We will have more items arriving next week!

These edgy necklaces are perfect for Fall.

If you're like me, you are already wearing your favorite leather jacket and layering your sweaters with printed scarves. I've come to realize that though I love wearing scarves, when I go indoors and my scarf comes off, sweaters can appear a little boring.

That's why I created these:

Le Cœur Necklace. 

The Natalie Necklace.

The Natalie Necklace was inspired by Natalie Portman from the movie Black Swan. It just has such a cool vibe that I had to name it after her dark performance in the movie.

These two types of chain I found while I was away in Hong Kong. They are so gorgeous I just couldn't wait to make some very edgy necklaces for you. 

I hope you like them and the direction I'm taking for this new season! 

The Infinity Figaro Chain Bracelet.

Do you remember when your teacher or parent first told you about that interesting symbol called the infinity symbol, the one that looked like a sideways number eight? Were you as amazed as I was? This unique symbol has always given me such a strong sense of wonder and amazement.

The symbol represents something that is completely endless.
And though I could go into more about what mathematician Georg Cantor says about this, math has always been my weakness. So I choose to simply apply this concept into what I understand as being completely never-ending. For me, that's God's love.

What better way of reminding myself of this everlasting, infinite type of love, than this simple bracelet.

Get yours in silver or gold here.

Like this concept of infinity in jewelry? More to come! 

There will be more casual infinity bracelets as well as some fancier, more elaborate pieces! 

We are back & ready to start a new season!

I sincerely apologize for not blogging for the past month. As I had annouced on the Etsy shop as well as the Facebook page, I was away on a mini vacation to Hong Kong.

Like I promised, I went to search for more beautiful findings and be inspired with new creative ideas. So here I am to announce that we are back at the design studio and will be working hard to show you new pieces of jewelry that will ease your way into the fall/winter season!

The Janis.

Presenting to you, a new type of necklace:

The Janis Illusion Necklace.

The technique used gives it the illusion that the beads are "floating" around your neck.

When making this necklace, a song was playing in my head.

It is the song At Seventeen by Janis Ian.

Never heard of it? Here's Janis singing it live in 1976 (I love my oldies).

Do you remember what it was like being the age of seventeen? Did you experience similar feelings and have similar thoughts as this song describes?

Personally, I just couldn't wait to grow up. I couldn't wait to mature into a woman that could buy herself a nice strand of pearls to wear. :P

This necklace is definitely a tasteful choice, whether you're seventeen, twenty-seven, or beyond.

The floating pearls and multi-faceted bronze and gold beads make this a timeless jewelry piece. 

Make it yours by clicking on the listing here.

Janis, I am so inspired by your voice and your talent. I think you're beautiful regardless of how you felt when you were seventeen. 

For all of you, what were you like when you were seventeen? What kind of thoughts and feelings did you have at that age? Don't be shy to share! :)

For those of you who like this style of necklace, Good news! 

There will be more coming - some multi-stranded while offering you a wide variety of colors!

Earrings now for sale!

They're up on Etsy now!

For earrings, I will be packaging them in nice organza bags like the photos below unless otherwise requested. This is to keep the packaging simple and lighter in weight in order to help you save money on shipping! 

Shipping has never been this cheap! So don't hesitate.. if you like them, now is the time to buy them for yourself, a relative, or a friend. Perfect for any occasion or to simply put a smile on their face!

Get The Elsa Earrings here.

Get The Kelsey Earrings here.

Don't forget that if you LIKE the Facebook page, you can use the coupon code: "FACEBOOK20" for 20% OFF your order of any 2 or more items! This discount expires Aug. 29th, 2014!

If you like these earrings or have any suggestions as to what you'd like to see made, please feel free to leave me a comment! I want to make what you would want to wear!

Facebook Page & Some Good News!

If you haven't already, please check out the Amanda K Design Studio Facebook page! 

If you simply "LIKE" it, you will see a coupon code for 20% off orders of any 2 or more items!

Don't miss out on this limited time offer. Click here for the Facebook page!

Once you have liked us on Facebook, simply enter "FACEBOOK20" at checkout when you buy any 2 items or more! This coupon code will expire on Aug. 29th, 2014. 

Next announcement: An ALL NEW category of Jewelry!

Earrings!!

To be honest, I love love love earrings.. Unfortunately, I have extremely sensitive ears so I can't wear them for more than a couple hours. 

That's why I'm so excited to be creating earrings for all of you to enjoy!

Here's a sneak peek of two sets of earrings that will be for SALE tomorrow!

The Kelsey Earrings.

The Elsa Earrings.

Don't you hate when you buy earrings and they don't come with earrings stoppers? 

Well you don't have to worry about that when you purchase from Amanda K Design Studio.

They come nicely packaged with flat back earrings stoppers.

Want more good news?!

Shipping will be CHEAPER for all earrings! 

So remember to check back tomorrow night for the two new listings of earrings!

The Anita.

I love clothes and accessories that have rope or braiding incorporated into the design. 

I have been dying to make some jewelry with the use of rope. Finally last week I came across some beautiful shiny black rope, perfect for this design I had in mind.

I just love how black & gold go so perfectly together. I don't know if any other two colors would match as well as they do. 

The more I worked on this, the more clearer my muse was.

Anita Mui. 梅艷芳.

She is known as the "Madonna of Asia". Her never-boring costumes and looks were just as infectious as her distinctive voice. She has contributed so much to the Hong Kong entertainment industry through her music and films. Sadly, she passed away in 2003 from cervical cancer.
This is the last song she ever sang on stage.

Anita, we miss you.

Thank you for inspiring me.

So here it is. The necklace I worked diligently on in the middle of the night:

You can now purchase this statement necklace here.

Leave me a comment about what you think of this necklace or share your favorite memory of Anita Mui. I'd love to hear from you!

And if you want lower shipping costs, I still need to get your feedback from the previous blog post.

Shipping Solutions

It's been a busy week over here as I continue to take my design studio further in experimenting with different tools & materials. What I've been meaning to blog about is the issue of shipping.

For those of you who have visited my shop and maybe considered to make a purchase would have already noticed how expensive shipping can be. Yes, I totally agree.
That's why I want to open up this dialogue about shipping so we can work out a solution together.

The purpose of this Etsy shop and my new jewelry design endeavour is to inspire you and give you access to affordable, trendy, and one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. I would absolutely hate if shipping is steering you away from enjoying what I create.

Let me first clearly state: I do not make any money off of the existing shipping costs. Canada Post is known to be expensive and becoming more expensive as time goes on.

So please, if there is a time to leave me feedback, it's now. Let me know what you suggest I could do to lower shipping costs. I have a few ideas in mind that I'd like to share with you.. they will not happen unless I hear from you! I want to know what works best so you can make happy purchases without worry.

Ideas:

1. Change of packaging. As you may have seen in photo in each listing, I neatly package every item in a gift box tied up with string then inserted in a bubble mailer. Though not significantly, this does add to the weight and dimensions of the parcel. Would it help if I used velvet bags or organza bags instead?
I chose this particular type of gift box packaging to protect and beautifully display the item upon its arrival. However, if it impacts shipping, I want to be flexible.

2. New York combined shipments. Those of you who live in New York, I am trying to see what I can do to help lower shipping costs for you. The idea I have is to combine your shipments together and have a face trade in a particular location.

For example, most of you in New York, I know from QHC (Queens Herald Church). If several of you want to order something, you can combine the orders together and I will package them all in one shipment. Then I can either send it to one of you that purchase, or I can ship it to my boyfriend, aka the messenger, to hand out the items at a particular time & place (ex. Sunday at church). This will lower the shipping costs and I will even throw in a personal discount to combined shipments such as these (3 items and above). Just make sure you let me know ahead of time so I can issue the coupon for you.

Leave your comment here or on facebook to let me know what you think of the above. Or if you have better suggestions, don't keep it to yourself! :D

Thanks again for all your support. Even those of you who just "like" on facebook. It's a great encouragement to me!

Milly.

Perhaps not all of you know this, but I once interned at a high-end womenswear company for half a year called Milly.

Even though interning there worked me pretty hard, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I got to touch their beautiful fabrics, help dress models for their photoshoot, and see how design sketches came to life in their sample room.. of course the highlight was getting to sit in during the show at Mercedez Benz Fashion Week.

Milly is vibrant in their color choices and unique prints while still being chic and very wearable. You can check out their stuff here on their site!

This Milly necklace that I created would go perfectly with Milly's design aesthetics. 

It features fun and trendy mint colored glass beads braided with an elegant gold chain.

Trust me, it's a necklace every woman should have. I made extra so I could keep one for myself. ;)

Get yours now here!

By the way, have you seen The Francesca Necklace yet? Those of you who gravitate towards necklaces with birds or birdhouses, this one's for you!

See the listing of this whimsical Francesca necklace here!

Don't forget to use the coupon code WELCOME15 at checkout for orders over $20 to get 15% OFF!

It expires in a week!

Happy Long Weekend to my fellow Canadians!~ Enjoy the sun!

The Maya.

Presenting to you... The Maya.

Who or what was this bright and bold necklace inspired by?

Maya Angelou.

To be honest, I didn't know too much about the poet Maya Angelou until she passed away this year.  But her life and work is needless to say, simply inspiring.

As I was weaving this necklace and stringing these beautiful mint/seafoam beads together, I realized that this necklace celebrates the vibrancy of culture. The gunmetal chain is a symbol of great strength. 

This Maya necklace is now sold here.

Here's one of my favorite poems by Maya Angelou. Hope it inspires you!

Touched by An Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free. 

The Daphne.

If you missed the facebook announcement of the grand opening of my etsy shop, here it is:

It's Open!!  

http://etsy.com/shop/amandakdesignstudio

I will keep posting new items every day if possible, so don't forget to check back often!

My second announcement is..

I made my first sale within 24 hours of opening the shop!!

I came home today to find that I had an order to purchase one of my favorite necklaces so far:

The Daphne.

I was so excited and at the same time felt torn about having to part with something I created with all my heart. So I really wanted to share a glimpse of the inspiration behind this particular piece of jewelry.

Why is it named The Daphne?

It was inspired by Daphne Guinness. 

Almost two years ago, my school at the time, The Fashion Institute of Technology, had an amazing Daphne Guinness exhibition held in the museum. I remember staring at the many spectacular outfits dressed on mannequins, feeling as if I could not breathe any longer. It was simply breath-taking how beyond amazing her wardrobe was. 

When making this necklace, I was reminded of how cool and sophisticated Daphne Guinness is. The chunky gunmetal chain represents strength and courage. The rhinestones give it just enough glamour and elegance. Daphne Guinness is truly a fashion icon that will continue to inspire me as I create more beautiful things. 

Follow me on twitter (@ak_designstudio) for daily inspirations and behind-the-scenes photos!

Are you ready?

Less than 24 hours until the grand opening of the Amanda K Design Studio Etsy shop!

Are you ready?

I sure am! Or at least doing everything I can to get ready..

Check out the tags that I've made for the packaging.. I'm so happy with how they turned out. Whoever invented QR codes is awesome. ;)

I'm so excited to reveal more of what I've been creating.

Hope all of you will join me tonight on July 26th for the grand opening!

Don't forget to give me some feedback.. I value your opinion very much!

Telling me what you like will help me create more beautiful things that are inspired by you and for you.

Prelude..

For the past week or so, I went on a mini vacation with my family. We went up to a resort in Collingwood, Ontario. Even though I wasn't feeling well for the first few days, the calming environment really helped me find rest & recovery. It felt great to be surrounded by farms, lakes and beautiful scenery.

Of course I wouldn't waste such a great opportunity to take some nice photos of the pieces I've made so far. So here's an early viewing showing a few of the jewelry pieces I will be selling in my etsy shop very soon!

Can you tell what the last two necklaces are made out of? 

Let me know if you like any of them or if you'd like to see more of a certain type or style of jewelry. :)

Have you ever...?

Have you ever looked through your closet and felt as if you had nothing to wear? 
Have you ever walked past a window display, wondering when you will ever be able to afford something nice to wear?
Have you ever asked yourself why so many people around you can dress in the latest trends but it seems like you cannot?
Have you ever wondered how you would ever be called "fashionable" or "in style" with the clothes you've been wearing for the past few years?

If you're like me, you've said yes to all of the above.

I have been studying & working in the fashion industry for the past few years, yet I still feel like I cannot live up to its standards. So how can we stay on trend and look fashionable without swimming in debt?

With jewelry & accessories!

There have been several occasions where I didn't put much thought or effort into my outfit, but because I wore a nice statement necklace or a vintage ring, I received unexpected compliments on my outfit as a whole. This is what inspired me.

Many big names in fashion have been getting very bold & creative with their accessories line. But of course, they are usually very expensive. So I want to make trendy jewelry pieces that will really add to any outfit for a price that you & I can afford. So please stick around to see what I have to offer.
My etsy store will launch very soon.

Before the grand opening, here's a sneak peek at some of the materials I use, including some hidden pieces that I will be selling online.

Of course my dog Cookie couldn't help but be attracted to all the beautiful pearls and bling! ;)

What is your favourite type of accessory? Share with me in the comments below or in the poll to the right! I'd love to hear from you!

This is the beginning..

Here I am. 

The start of a new blog, a new creative idea, a new challenge, and a new adventure. 

Thank you for joining me as I discover more about what Amanda K Design Studio is capable of and how I can be inspired to inspire others.

Those of you who already know me may already know that I love the arts.

I may have been through fashion design school in New York, and once started a small crafts-making company, but I am still yearning to learn more and more about the arts.

When I was five years old, my father asked me, "Amanda, what do you want to be when you grow up?" I paused and simply said, "An artist. I want to be an artist."

Of course, like any typical asian father, he dismissed the idea and suggested that I will know what I really want to be when I'm older.

More than two decades later, I still want to be an artist.

So here I am. Grasping each and every creative idea that passes through my busy mind. 

I hope you enjoy what I can offer as an artist-in-the-making. 

I will start introducing what I'm actually making in the design studio and my thoughts behind each creative process. Meanwhile, take a guess in the poll to the right and come back soon for the big reveal! :D