The Big REVEAL

Drum roll pleaseeee!!! As I promised in last month’s newsletter, after a full month of experimentation and dedication in my studio, I excited to show you my Fall 2018 collection!

If you are a true HTY Jewelry lover, you will definitely notice the new Reveal series has a twist from the original Reveal collection. It has the intuitive mix-n-match patterns from the Reveal triangle elements but, I combined semi-precious gemstones and new colors. It’s more spontaneous yet still has the sense of balance.

While I’m still working on the limited edition and production collection, below are a couple of my favorite show stoppers:

If you absolutely love the new concept, but you prefer to have different enamel colors or gemstones, remember, you can always contact me to talk about customizing the Reveal collection just for you. I’m at your service to make Reveal truly yours.

Let’s get the process started… go here and fill out my intake form.

I can’t believe there are only 4 months left in 2018. How did that happened? The Fall season’s approach means that I’m rolling into my busiest time of the year: the holiday craft show circuits. If you want to check out the new pieces in person or just want to say hi (it’s always nice to see a familiar friendly face at a long day show :P), just check out my schedule for September to December. And mark your calendars!

So…what do you think? I hope you enjoy the new collection, let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions. I alway appreciate it!

Till next time,

Hsiang-Ting

Makers Gonna Make

Alert: This month’s blog is a bit heavier than my usual content, but I want to be true to myself and my jewelry lovers.

I feel like I have hit writer’s block (or jeweler’s anvil?) for a while now. With everything that is going on in day-to-day life, it is so easy to get distracted to other things that require my attention and energy. It almost feels like an easy way out to avoid the fact that my creative mind is stuck. When I feel frustrated in the studio I put the mission of creating a new design to the bottom of my to-do list instead of making it a priority.  It’s been an ongoing pattern for a month now; the struggle is depressing and the fear of not being able to create my next best collection haunts me every night when I go to sleep.

Just about a week ago, I finally got the courage to face my demons: I’m a maker. And makers gotta make. It’s engraved in my DNA. I dedicated a whole afternoon to allow myself to play in the studio without any distractions. A lot of sketches and a lot of paper models were involved, when suddenly it all clicked in the middle of nowhere. Just like that, I’m creating new work again. And it’s a direction I’m very passionate about! I can’t believe how much I’ve missed the excitement of going in to studio full of ideas and motivation! I feel like I have come back to life, again!  

My new collection is a twist from the original Reveal collection. It has the intuitive mix-n-match patterns from the Reveal triangle elements but I combined semi-precious gemstones and new colors. It’s more spontaneous yet still has the sense of balance. Here are some photos of my work in progress. Stay tuned until next month when I will reveal the full collection!

Till next time,

Hsiang-Ting

Go West... West Virginia!

How’s your summer been so far? July is my favorite month of the year because, not only it is my birthday month, but it’s also the perfect month for all kinds of outdoor adventures. Best of all? I got to combine those two this year! My hubby and I just returned from my birthday celebration at the New River Gorge National River in West Virginia with a bunch of our close friends this past weekend.

It was an adventurous yet relaxing trip that involved hiking the beautiful New River Gorge trails; whitewater rafting on the Lower New River Gorge (I got thrown out of the raft after the second class 4 rapids- this was the LOL moment of the trip); and exploring Thurmond, a “ghost town” with only five residents. (Did you know that Thurmond was one of the richest coal mine towns back in early 1900?)  At night, after having dinner at the delicious local restaurants in the heart of downtown Fayetteville we spent the rest of the evening by the fire pit sharing laughter and good times. And, did I mention the weather was in the high 70’s during the day and mid-50s at night? How perfect is that? Especially since it was just almost 100 degrees in Raleigh last week! I couldn’t ask for a better way to celebrate my birthday weekend.

Happy summer and till next time,

Hsiang-Ting

The Royal Fever

Did you wake up way earlier than usual on May 19 for the wedding of the year - the royal wedding? I was at a black tie wedding myself so I couldn’t get up at 5am to watch live on TV with the rest of 29.2 million American viewers.  I missed the live ceremony, but trust me, I had my share of royal wedding highlights over the weekend : P

As a jeweler, I can’t help myself, the thing I care about the most is not her dress or the glamorous guest list, but Meghan Markle’s engagement ring! So, here is a little backstory on her engagement ring.  As a touching tribute to Prince Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, the two smaller diamonds are from her personal collection. And that’s not the only way Prince Harry is keeping his mother’s memory alive: the large stone in the center has a hidden meaning, too. The diamond is originally from Botswana, which Harry often refers to as his “second home.” The couple recently vacationed in the African country for Meghan’s birthday.  This heartwarming story just totally melted my heart, no wonder Prince Harry is one of the most popular royal and lucky Meghan!

Do you like the idea how Prince Harry honors his mother by repurposing her jewelry for Meghan Markle’s engagement ring? Just in case  you wondering, I provide custom jewelry service to help my clients honor the memories of their passed loved ones by giving their heirloom jewelry a new life such. A redesign or restoration allows my clients to  wear the jewelry and cherish the legacy in their everyday life.

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For example, the beautiful yellow topaz center stone of this ring is from my client’s great-grandmother’s necklace circi the 1920’s. She couldn’t wear the necklace before because the necklace mounting is not balanced. I removed one of the yellow topaz gems that is still in good condition, and created this Art Nouveau-inspired gingko leaf cocktail ring for her.  It features 18k rose gold, yellow topaz, pink sapphire, and pearls.

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Here is another example, for this wedding set, I repurposed the small marquise diamonds from my client’s great-grand aunt’s engagement ring as accent stones for the new wedding set, and I reset the heirloom center diamond to a pendant so she can wear it on her wedding day. (I couldn’t repurpose the diamond for her engagement ring  because it was seriously damaged when she received it from her grandmother.)

I can help you whether you are local or located outside of North Carolina! And, you can learn more about the custom process here: Learn more about custom jewelry service

Indy Week is Calling | One-Day Only

#1. Indy Week Best of the Triangle 2018….Guess what? HTY Jewelry is a finalist!

HTY Jewelry is a Best of the Triangle 2018 finalist for “Best Jewelry Store in Wake County.” As a small business owner this recognition means so much to me and my brand, which I have been building since 2013. Please take a minute to  cast your vote for me to show your support, thank you so much!!!

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#2. Special One-Day Electroforming Workshop at the Cary Arts Center

I'm offering a special one-day electroforming workshop as a double fundraiser in order to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Town of Cary Scholarship Program.  100% of your tuition goes to both organizations, and I'm donating my time, knowledge, equipment, and supplies for the workshop. It’s a win-win! Not only you will come home with some beautiful jewelry but  you are also supporting these two great causes, please call Cary Arts Center at 919-469-4069 or visit the center to register for the workshop. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Title: Elector-forming Workshop
Course Code: 114040
When: 10am - 5pm. Saturday, June 9
Tuition: $90 (supplies included)
Level: Easy, no experience is necessary
Location: Cart Arts Center (101 Dry Ave, Cary NC)

What is electroforming? You can explore the endless possibilities that copper electroforming has to offer in jewelry design.

Electroforming is the intricate process of fusing copper onto another medium via a low voltage charge that is passed through the materials to create a relief that becomes a separate part in its own right. This technique enables artists to create thicker copper structures layered over other materials like glass, shells, clay or wax. This form, unlike electroplating, creates a totally new layer and is actually a science, a method that reflects the best copper use in art.

Thomas Edison used electroforming in his work, as did Michael Faraday, a famous 19th Century physicist and chemist. It was exotic, it was costly, and in the early days, was used to reproduce art pieces.

During this workshop with me, gain insight into the creative process involved in electroforming various organic and non-organic objects to create beautiful and unique jewelry.

Help Me Make Wishes Come True | In the Studio | It’s Show Time

I am participating in the Make-A-Wish® (MAW) Foundation Trailblaze Challenge this Spring. On Saturday, June 2nd, I will hike 26.5 miles of the Sauratown Trail in Winston-Salem, NC along with my teammate, and many others. The fundraising goal for each Trailblazer is $2,500. Will you help me reach my goal and help MAW grant more wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions?

#1. Let’s Make-A-Wish® Come True Raffle Winner

Thank you so, so, so much to those who participated in my Make-A-Wish® Trailblaze Challenge online raffle fundraiser from March 18 - April 4!  Your help means a lot to me personally and thank you for your support.

And the drum roll please... our lucky winner of the one-of-a-kind Reveal Lapis Earrings is: Amy L Barnard!!!

Besides creating new jewelry and filling orders in my studio, managing my fundraising campaign  and weekly training hikes have become part of my daily routine since early March. Just a quick recap: as of today (April 9th), I’ve hiked over 50 miles for my training hikes and our team has raised over $1,300!  Will you help me reach my $2,500 personal goal? Remember, your donation is 100% tax deductible! (OK, I promise I’ll talk about something else in the next paragraph of this blog post : P )

Click here to: Hsiang-Ting’s Make-A-Wish® Fundraising Page

Meet 8 year old Hudson! Hudson was diagnosed with a seizure disorder before he was one year old. Hudson's one true wish was to meet Paw Patrol and at the end of March he was able to do just that! 

My most recent 17 mile training hike with other Trailblazers, in the 45 degree rain.

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#2. In the studio:

This week I just finished this pair of custom floral inspired dangle post earrings to match a custom ring that I made a year ago for my client. Made in sterling silver, 14k white gold posts, and set with Chalcedony and blue topaz.  I’m just so in love with this color combination: soft translucent green from Chalcedony and the light icy blue from blue topaz, it’s perfect to wear for any occasion in Spring and Summer! Enough said, my client said she “LOVES IT” when I sent her these pictures!

Floral inspired post earrings

Features Chalcedony and Blue Topaz

Alright, I need to get back to work on new designs for coming up American Craft Council show in St. Paul, if you are in the area or if you have friends and family live in the area, please do come visit me! This is my first time exhibiting at St. Paul, will be nice to see some familiar faces there : )

Till next time,

Hsiang-Ting Yen

Let’s Make-A-Wish® Come True!

Challenge accepted!

A lot of you are probably already familiar with Make-A-Wish® Foundation, their core missions is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Over the organization's 30-year history, they have found that granting a wish for a child struggling with illness is often one of the best medicines possible. It is a prescription that changes a child’s outlook on life and can provide a much needed oasis of respite from struggles that most of us can’t imagine.

In an effort to raise funds to grant more wishes and in the honor of my cousin, I am combining my love of physical fitness with an amazing cause where I know the money will make dreams comes true. I am participating in the Make-A-Wish Trailblaze Challenge this spring. On Saturday, June 2, I will hike 26.5 miles of the Sauratown Trail with my team of 4 and many others.

 

And here are two ways you can help Make-A-Wish® to grant more wishes!

#1.  Purchase a raffle to win a one-of-a-kind piece from HTY Jewelry:

HTY Jewelry is donating a pair of one-of-a-kind Reveal Lapis Earrings valued at $325 as a fundraising raffle prize for the Make-A-Wish® Foundation. Every $5 raffle ticket you purchase will not only give you a chance to win this beautiful pair of one-of-a-kind earrings, handcrafted by HTY Jewelry, but it will also help Make-A-Wish® Foundation to grant more wishes to children with life threatening or critical conditions!

Raffle drawing is scheduled for  Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 10:00 AM Eastern time, the winner will be notified via phone or email and it will also be announced on social media.

#2. Direct donation to my Make-A-Wish® fundraising page:

Click here to: Hsiang-Ting’s Make-A-Wish® Fundraising Page

Thank you so much for reading and your consideration!

P.S. Your donation is 100% tax deductible!

Till next time,

Hsiang-Ting

Sterling Silver Jewelry Care

Sterling silver will tarnish naturally over time but can be cleaned very easily. Be sure to clean the silver only and avoid contact with any stones, particularly pearls and soft stones such as opals and emeralds, as the polish may cause damage to these stones.

Be particularly careful of chlorine. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your silver jewelry. Avoid wearing silver jewelry while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub. Tarnish is also accelerated in a humid environment. Oily salts from fingers can also tarnish silver.

Great way to kick off 2018: An interview with Taiwan-based La Vie magazine (January, 2018)

Happy 2018! I was overjoyed when I found out last month La Vie magazine wanted to interview me for their January 2018 issue. La Vie is a Taiwanese monthly lifestyle and design magazine, published by Cite Publishing. In Taiwan, it is one of the most prestigious magazines in the arts and design fields.  I remembered when I was still living in Taiwan, I used to seek inspiration by browsing through their monthly magazines in the bookstore, it’s literally like a bible for artists and designers.  Therefore, I felt so honored and immediately said “Yes!” to the opportunity without any hesitation.  Besides, this is my very first interview from my home country, so it really means a lot to me to be recognized by my people.

The main focus of this issue is an in-depth discussion about the alternative career paths and lifestyles of my generation of craftsmen and craftswomen. The career choices for a college graduate are not limited to  working for corporate America.  Instead, young Taiwanese craftsmen and craftswomen are using their creativity and talents to build the vivid lifestyle that they have seen all over the world.    

My section was actually a group interview with five other Taiwanese craftspeople. Each of us shared our experiences of working as an entrepreneur in different countries, including France, the United States, England, Israel, and Australia. As a studio jeweler, I talked about the overall market trends in the States based on my personal observations in this industry through the years.

I wish they had an English translation of the magazine, but at least I can still share my happiness with you! I hope you all had a wonderful holidays with your loved ones in 2017 and have a prosperous New Year!

Till next time,

Hsiang-Ting

[Repost] Jewelry Under $200

Thank you Made of Jewelry for featuring my Reveal earrings! 

As told in my previous, not everyone has the money to buy exquisite and/or high end jewelry. But you must know there is jewelry out there for all kinds of budgets. That's why I selected some under $200 just for you! Hope you'll like what I've came up with!

1. Keynes Small Signature Hexagon Chain bracelet by Walters Faith in Sterling Silver, $150
2. Tourmaline ring by Manari Design in 14k Rose/White/Yellow Gold, $199
3. Champagne Diamond Half Eternity ring by Rie Kanemitsu Jewellery, $200
4. Self Love bracelet by Fred + Far, $179
5. Jaqcueline hoops by Erin DeLuca Jewelry, $130
6. 14kt Gold Sapphire & Champagne Diamond Arc ring by La Kaiser, $172
7. Rose Baby Signet by Gabriela Artigas, $195
8. Boss necklace by Winden Jewelry, $185
9. Little By Little ring by Aletheia Phos set with graduating faceted Iolite, $189
10. White Sapphire ring by Jamie Park Jewelry, $199
11. Anni Aquamarine Pave Crescent ring by Leah Alexandra, $170
12. 14K Gold Birthstone Stud by Shahla Karimi, $145 (single)
13. Snake ring by Mara Carrizo Scalise in Sterling Silver, $145
14. Carved Tourmaline Flower pendant by Happy Little Gems, $133
15. Bloom ring by Louise Jean Jewelry set with Pink Sapphires in Sterling Silver, $180
16. Banded ring in Silver by Clarice Price Thomas, $164
17. Wrap ring by Karen Hsiang in Sterling Silver, $190
18. Mini Letter Chain ring by Kelly Bello Designs, $130
19. Rún earrings by Laurie Fleming in Sterling Silver set with Mother of Pearl stones, $155
20. Friends Smitten Chain necklace by Ruifier, $155
21. Atlantic Ocean ring by Silverella NYC set with London Blue Topaz in Sterling Silver, 190
22. Reveal - 3 Tier Geo Post earrings by HTY Jewelry, $185
23. Tiny Turquoise with Cognac Diamond studs by Lumo, $125 (single)
24. Cupid necklace by Workhorse Jewelry, $172
25. Amethyst and Baby Diamond Bezel Birthstone ring by Stones & Gold, $175

Behind the scenes at my very first style shoot featuring:

Jewelry: HTY Jewelry

Model: Emily K Hunter

Hair and makeup: Naomi Yata

Photography: Jessica Berkowitz Photography

I feel so proud and grateful about my first collaboration style shoot with these three super talented ladies last month. Our Audrey Hepburn- inspired shoot was a great success and here is why:

Durham-based photographer Jessica Berkowitz successfully captured the charm and the spirit of Audrey Hepburn from beautiful model Emily K. Hunter.  She held her camera as if it was her magic wand, she knows how to blend  all the elements to create the most breathtaking images. Watching her photography process was just so inspiring!  

Raleigh-based makeup artist and  hairstylist Naomi Yata is also a true artist. She really transformed our model, Emily, into the modern and chic Audrey that I had pictured in my mind for months.  When Naomi suggested the Audrey-with-an-edge-twist theme, it just clicked with me because that’s exactly what I want my jewelry-lover to feel when they wear my jewelry: be bold and be classy.  

Lastly, a super thanks to my friend and our model Emily.  Can you believe this was her first fashion shoot!? She is a total natural! When I explained the shoot concept, she just got it, and the result speaks for itself.  She was like the incarnation of Audrey but with her own interpretation.  

The whole collaboration experience was so much fun, I truly can’t ask for more from this dream team! A picture is worth a thousand words, so here we go! Click the link below to see the full collection!!!

How to care for your Oxidized Sterling Silver Jewelry

The blackish color of oxidized sterling silver is a special treatment that is achieved by careful processing at our design studio. With time and with wear, the color of the oxidized metal may lighten a bit—this is a natural and organic occurrence. If you attempt to clean oxidized sterling silver with a cloth or chemicals, it may strip off the oxidized finish. Please do not clean oxidized sterling silver jewelry.  Attempting to clean oxidized sterling silver jewelry will remove the finish.

September was harvest month and I reaped the rewards of hard work!

September was quite a productive and busy month for me and for my business, HTY Jewelry. I want to share a couple of the highlights with you!

Highlight #1: Call me a girl boss! My jewelry business conference trip to New York City!

I traveled to NYC from September 12th-15th for my very first Flourish & Thrive Live Event, a jewelry business workshop and conference., I’ve been a participant in this jewelry business coaching program since the beginning of the year and it was an amazing experience to get to spend my time with other talented women entrepreneurs & jewelry designers. I learned so much from the workshops and the life and business experiences shared by the other attendees during the week. It felt like I was back to school again, but this time I was learning new methods and techniques that help me run my business in a better way! This trip also allowed me to re-charge and visit my friend from graduate school!

Highlight #2: Guo Pei: Couture Beyond Exhibition Reception at SCAD FASH | Museum of Fashion + Film, Atlanta

Last month I mentioned that my jewelry collection was selected to be displayed for sale at the SCAD FASH | Museum of Fashion + Film store in Atlanta during fashion designer “Guo Pei: Couture Beyond exhibition”.  I saw the exhibition in Atlanta during the VIP reception on Sept 21st. Seeing all of Ms. Guo’s 50+ couture dresses in person was just an incredible eye-opening experience. I was blown away by the perfect craftsmanship and how detailed-oriented of each her dresses are. Some of the dresses took her years to complete; they are truly the work of art! The highlight of the evening was meeting Guo Pei in person! It was a short introduction and she was so humble and down to the earth. I now understand why everyone in both fashion and politics likes her! I truly feel honored that my jewelry was chosen to complement her exhibition. It was truly one of my most unforgettable nights!

Highlight #3: CenterFest, Durham + Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, Raleigh

When I look back at my September calendar, I don't know how I was able to add two more shows in between all those travel….What can I say, I can be a workaholic sometimes. LOL. I had a great turnout for both shows and I was able  to reconnect with several of my previous customers and make connections with my new customers. I really enjoy doing shows in my hometown and region... and being able to sleep in my own bed and with my own pillow every night is always a plus :P

Highlight #4: Charity campaign for Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria relief efforts

Thank you so much for supporting the charity campaign! I started the campaign on my website during the last two weeks of September and during CenterFest and Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, I generated four sales from the selected jewelry during this period. I divided 30% of the proceeds into three equal amounts and donated to the Red Cross for relief efforts from Hurricanes Harvey & Irma and to United for Puerto Rico for relief efforts for Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria. So glad we got to help them all together.

It’s finally October.The air is fresh and crisp and I am giving myself a short break to enjoy it. But stay tuned for coming up photos from my latest Audrey Hepburn inspired collaborative style shoot with talented photographer Jessica Berkowitz, brilliant makeup and hair stylist Naomi Yata, and beautiful model Emily Kaitlyn Hunter featuring my Reveal collection!!!

Sneak peak: Behind the scene

Metalhead: A Learning Lesson, Part 2 | Gold-filled, Gold Vermeil, and Gold Leaf Jewelry Care

Gold-filled, gold vermeil, and gold leaf jewelry requires special care. Store your jewelry in an airtight container when not in use and remove them before applying perfumes, lotions and before bathing. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures, can permanently damage or discolor your jewelry. Avoid wearing them while using chlorine bleach or while in a pool or hot tub. To clean your gold-filled, gold vermeil, and gold leaf jewelry buff VERY gently with a soft, dry 100% cotton cloth. NEVER use chemical cleaners on as it can strip the gold finish. It is natural for gold-filled, gold vermeil, and gold leaf jewelry to tarnish with time— don’t worry though, it adds character to the item and makes it as individual as you are.

"Guo Pei: Couture Beyond" Exhibition featuring yours truly

It happened so fast. For the past three years, ShopSCAD, the gallery store for the Savannah College of Art & Design has successfully represented my jewelry at their beautifully curated store located in center of downtown Savannah, Georgia. Since early summer I have been communicating with the store manager, Suzanne about arranging a re-order for the upcoming holiday season.  On the last Friday of August I received a call from her right before I was about to call it a day. It turned out that she decided to select a nice range from my collection for the SCAD Fash Museum of Fashion + Film museum shop during Guo Pei’s solo exhibition because they think the style of my jewelry will complement Guo Pei’s couture dresses. I WAS BEYOND THRILLED!!!

According to The Wall Street Journal Guo Pei is China’s first haute couture designer.  She created Rihanna’s gold ball gown and red carpet-winner for the 2015 MET Gala, after that she gained major media attention in the U.S. although she was already well-known in China.  Guo was named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People" and one of The Business of Fashion's 500 "People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry."  This exhibition is ranked as #1 on ELLE DECOR's list of the 12 Best Museum Exhibitions for Alternative Fashion in 2017.  

And, dear friends, this is why my heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I got off the phone with Suzanne. Even though I was only given a week to complete the whole order I was not going to let go of this amazing opportunity. I had to temporarily stop everything I was working on that week so that I can focus on filling this order. I worked day and night, even past midnight (which I haven’t done since graduate school :P )…but it was worth all the hard work!

“Guo Pei: Couture Beyond” is also Guo’s first solo exhibition in the U.S. This landmark exhibition presents more than 30 of her grandest, most dramatic gowns from the past decade, alongside a selection of her prêt-à-porter dresses and jackets. It includes complete looks replete with accordant footwear and accessories.

If you are huge fashion lover and live in Atlanta area or greater southeastern U.S. you won’t want to miss this this exhibition!

“Guo Pei: Couture Beyond” Exhibition

Sept 7, 2017 - March 8, 2018

SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film

1600 Peachtree St.

Atlanta, GA 30309

For more information: http://www.scadfash.org/exhibitions/guo-pei-couture-beyond-exhibition