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