Saturday Sparkle: My-SECRET-Corner

Who Sparkled this Saturday?

My-SECRET-Corner

As a jewelry maker, I am always intrigued when I learn about an impassioned and inspired artist who is able to articulate the nuances of his or her creative process. For some artists, making jewelry is a fun thing they like to do as a hobby. For others, like today's Saturday Sparkle artist, creating beauty through jewelry is an essential tool for self-expression. And thus, I’d like to introduce you Wella. She is the owner of My-SECRET-Corner in Singapore, and you might recognize her as tazel14 online.

As I began preparing for our Saturday Sparkle interview last week, I read Wella’s blog and noted how she allowed her many qualities to contribute to her jewelry art. First, she is an expressive writer who communicates traits of being uniquely perceptive, compassionate, and sensitive. I think that there was something about those qualities that were apparent, the first time I saw today's Satuday Sparkle piece, the NATASCHA bracelet.

Wella designed her bracelet using sterling silver and Swarovski crystal. I admired its sparkle because of how well her selected color combination and weaving technique communicated depth and texture. In reviewing the rest of her collection, Wella is clearly an artist who creates pieces that are at once both timeless and complex, and her weaving techniques and color combinations express a striking clarity, solidity and depth.

Wella began buying handmade jewelry from others when she lived in the Philippines some years ago, and as she would admire her new purchase, she began asking herself the question “If other people can create such lovely items, why can’t I?” Her curiosity and drive led her to explore the beaded jewelry craft, and in a short period of time the praise and admiration that her designs received both inspired and challenged her to turn her passion into a business. Now, her Singapore-based jewelry design business has become a way of life to which she is passionately attached.

Wella, it’s apparent from your designs and blog writings that you have a great passion for your craft. What is it about beading that draws you to it?

Beading extracts the passion and creativity hiding deep within me. Sometimes I just can't believe that I have created certain pieces on my own. I will sit and face my array of beads & materials and the mood that I'm in, and suddenly ideas will blink into my head and flow into the items that I make. Beading brings amazing and interesting things out of me. For me, jewelry-making has no limitations. I create with great patience and give importance to having a timeless style. In my opinion, jewelry does not need to be expensive, but rather versatile and wearable any time. Certain details in my stringing and wire-wrap work are such that you are well assured that it is one-of-a-kind.

What are your top three sources of inspiration when creating your designs?

First, the Mood of the Moment plays a vital role in inspiring me to create. More often than not, happy moods would always bring out good designs from a crafter. In fact, the majority of people can create something different specially when they're happy but in my case I'm highly productive for an even more special & unique items when I'm feeling low and needs to focus myself away from sad events.

Second, my Secret Palette of Happiness, which based greatly on bold but special color combinations. Anyone - any age, any place - can wear my jewelry because they're designed to fit and make any individual happy just by the look of the attractive colors found in every piece.

Lastly, My SECRET Corner which is a special and personally created beading room that is ideally located in a quiet corner of our home. It gives me the vital feeling of contentment and surrounding peace I need every day. With my young kids spending their time reading books or just browsing for things, and all the wonderful beads & materials I had sourced from everywhere piling up in this place, I'm destined to create something one of a kind anytime of the day!

I’d like to thank Wella for allowing us to have this unique and inspiring look into the passion behind her craft today. To see more of Wella’s beautiful work, please visit her at:

My-SECRET-Corner

Website: http://www.my-secret-corner.com/

Blog: http://taszel14.blogspot.com/

Shop: http://stores.ebay.com.sg/My-SECRET-Corner