Inspiring Women: Elizabeth Galton

As I was running on the treadmill this morning, I simultaneously watched my first episode of an investment tv show, Dragon’s Den. I only knew of Dragon’s Den from the TV show “IT Crowd”, so it was kindda cool to see the real thing. It has to be more than a coincidence that at the exact hour when I went running, on a tv that could’ve been put on any channel, they showed a 2005 Dragon’s Den episode where a high-end Jewelry designer Elizabeth Galton took the spotlight. Elizabeth was only 28 when she appeared on the show.

I am intrigued that out of so many people that proposed their inventions, a jewelry designer would out beat them all. She took the spotlight not because of her solid background and experience in jewelry design and sales, but also her knowledge in business, and that was a big plus for her in having the dragons securing 110.000 pounds investment (with 30% share) that she needed.

I’m just quoting straight out of the episode here straight from my memory. She first collaborated with Mercedes Benz in an advertising campaign in 2000. She sold 5 necklaces in one add for 6.000 pounds each- that’s 30.000 pounds from one add. I was really impressed when the Dragon’s asked her about where her business is going to go, she has her business plan and financial forecast planned out already and was very confident about it. If I was in that room being bombarded by questions and criticism, I would cry. It’s just amazing how she kept her emotion still.

Ok, I’m not the sort of person who cares too much about money, power or even mass produced anything. But I do believe that Elizabeth is more of a designer than anything else and it's awesome that she combine that with her business brain.

Here's an interesting article about her career and appearance on the show:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/yourbusiness/2922418/Dragons-Den-fired-investors-interest.html

I hope you are inspired! =)


"Orchid Gem" Necklace by Elizabeth Galton commissioned by Swarovski.

M(a)y Jewelry Clearance Sale!

Hey Everyone!

I don't normally advertise on my blog, but I thought this news is worthy to be posted here.

My Etsy shop, Beadsforpeace is having a jewelry clearance sale this month! Almost half of the jewelry stock are 25% off (38 items to be exact). Once they are sold, the design of that particular item will be discontinued (unless you beg me nicely which works... sometimes...). So if you like anything you see, get them quick before they are gone completely! Price starts as low as US$5.25 through to US$30 (not including postage). All jewelry are dreamed up by my little big brain and lovingly handmade by my 2 little hands, so it's a real bargain right?

This sale ends by the end of this month (Tuesday May 31st). This is my first clearance sale eversince I first opened the shop in 2008, so I don't do this very often at all! Feel free to contact me in whatever way pleases you or post a comment on this blog if you have any questions!

Here's a link to the clearance item list:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Beadsforpeace?section_id=7011429

Looking forward to hear from you! :D

Awesome stuff!

My fiance bought a lot of magnets from www.zenmagnets.com and the item had just been sent today. Their sent notification email goes like this:

"After a rigorous 4 step process of verifying the quality and consistency of each and every magnet, we donned silk gloves and placed it into a sacred padded envelope made of magic and lined with Unicorn fur, sealed the envelope with an adhesive made from strands of Gypsy hair, and wrapped the whole thing in a snazzy looking faux gold leaf paper, with elm leaf inlay from Costco. Unfortunately, by the time it gets to you, all of that fancy stuff will likely have been picked clean by the greedy postal service employees. Please don't be surprised to see just a plain padded envelope."

Now that's an idea if you're an online seller! What a fun alternative to a boring "your item had been shipped" email notification! Totally worth the read!!!

I will never be bored

Oh wow, time had moved fast in the past… 3 weeks! Can’t believe that was the last time I post something!

So what's been happenin…?

I’m now well and truly back to blogging again because I’ve quit my job this week!!! I had to resign anyway because of my big move to Aus, but I end up resigning 1 month earlier than planned after a little chat with my fiancé on a suposedly lazy Sunday afternoon when my brain was about to explode. I was very reluctant to quit thinking that I'm not quite ready to move on, but my parents supported that decision, and so voila! Je suis… sans emploi (I am… unemployed).

It was hard to get around thinking I wouldn’t be going to work here again. I suddenly feel vulnerable, floating and have lost quite a bit of my dignity… though my mum would say to me, “What dignity?” – it didn’t come across right at first. I thought she was saying that I've got none, but I think what she really meant was, “ Who cares what everyone else think?” ... lets hope so anyway :p

My high school jazz teacher Mr. Retkee told us that the reason why he loved jazz music so much is because his number one fear in the world is boredom ( I can only remember this because he likes to repeat himself… a lot). Jazz music allows endless improvisation that takes away life’s boredom. But I realize now that music and art is like air supply to us artists. We have no choice but continue to be creative if we don’t want to start to choke and so for that reason, I will never be bored.

Just looking around my bedroom there’s already so many things that I feel the need to catch up on. Next to the bed is my neglected keyboard and audiobox, and next to that is my cleaner than usual beading table. On the computer my blog and Etsy shop had been quiet in the past weeks, online tutorials are waiting patiently to be tried and tested. Also after 2 wedding floral gig I had earlier this year, it made sense to take bridal floristry course in my spare time. Working on my wedding and start packing for my big move to Australia is supposed to be at the top of the list yet I keep forgetting about it when my activities gets slightly more interesting than usual :p.

I’m currently super worried about money matters after quitting the job. I’m not sure why. My fiancé and parents are more than willing to help, but it comes down to the dignity problem again. It always feels better using your own money to buy stuff than someone elses of course. I guess this is the bit where I have to stop worrying and really trust God 100%.

On a lighter note, I’m super duper happy seeing that it’s Monday tomorrow and I don’t have to go to work! O yea... I can definitely get used to this!