For all of you nomads

After years of looking and searching and trying, I have finally found the perfect travel pouch for my jewelry. You must all know this problem, you go away for the weekend or on a vacation and take some jewelry with you: a few necklaces, some bracelets, earrings and rings fitting with your wardrobe, necessary accessories! The problem is that amongst the dozens of zip pouches that you have, all the necklaces still get entangled and you end up either spending an hour detangling everything, or giving up but feeling totally stressed....

Recently my friend K showed me an old pouch that she had kept from Japan. I did not like its aesthetics, but it looked like the perfect little bundle. So I started crafting and trying as soon as I got back home. I have this whole collection of fabrics that I bring back with me when I travel, and after creating the yoga eye pillows (more on that later I promise) I mixed and matched prints with cottons and silks. 

The idea is simple. You open the pouch and have eight individual pockets inside, where you can store your jewelry. I made it bigger than the model I had seen, as jewelry tends to be on the bigger size these days. To close it, you just pull up the ribbons and make a bow. Each pocket inside will then be shut and your rings and bracelets won't mingle together. Neat!

By the way, if you were wondering how they are called, I also found the appropriate name: NOMADE. 

Here are a few pictures of the ones I managed to make before they sold out....this summer was the perfect time to travel with style and all my friends needed  their own Nomade! ;-)

The feedback is fantastic, which is great.

I am doing a whole production at the moment as I will be selling them at the outdoor market Hand Made Hong Kong in Discovery Bay on October 12th. Make you you stop by if you are around.

Give me color

With the heat coming back I feel like having color around me. This morning I picked a few color beads, some liberty fabric and voilà. 

I can imagine all these colors and fabrics. If you want something made to measure, let me know. 

inspiration is everywhere

A few months ago I went to Bangkok for a few days. It was the first time I was there and I loved the city. What I liked most was the warmth you feel everywhere in the city, the soft colors, the omnipresence of gold, and how every part I went to inspired me.
I made some photos of some details I found around me on walls of temples. For those of you who know me, you are aware that flowers play an important part of my life, and more importantly of my craft. Here are a few of the photos to inspire you for the weekend.
Njoy!

I love those flowers. very simple yet powerful. a few layers of several sizes and colors, and here you are! the second photo with what looks like a plate is amazing! I remember seeing some in a temple in Dalat in Vietnam. I have made some as brooches in many different materials, in a similar manner.

Aren't those colors amazing. I realize that since I live in Asia and have a lot more sun in my life, my relationship to colors have changed. When you live in a grey country with lots of rainy days, you have a tendency to wear dark colors, but now in Hong Kong I wear all those colors and mix them all together. It feels good to do so. 

I like this mix of gold/blue/green/yellow and white. Maybe I should o back to work and create a bracelet like this.

Starting fresh

When I first started writing this blog, I was not sure at all in which direction it would go. Honestly, I have so many interests, how can I put all of them down here: photography, craft, fashion, trends, food, jewelry… you name it. I would need 50h per day to post about all these. I see so many beautiful things on the internet and on blogs, so many talented women who all seem to find the right words, the perfect photos, to express themselves. where do they find the time to live their lives, do all the things they do, write about it and document it in such an inspiring way???? One thing is sure: the challenge is a big one, but   I think I will just have a go at it, go at my own rhythm and see how it goes. The core value of Atelier Divalys is creativity. I will share projects I do things that inspire and motivate me and hopefully you’ll be happy to follow me along the way.

The last few days I feel like I was a little bee, going from flower to flower, starting a project here, another there, going back to the first, and in the end never finishing any of them….rather frustrating. As it is the beginning of the year (Chinese New Year at least) and still time to take those resolutions (yes yes, never too late!). This morning I decided I would finish one project and it would be the first of a new series on the blog.

The idea came up last week as I was getting a fresh towel from the cupboard; I did not like the smell at all, humidity had settled in the fibers and given the towel an awful smell. I thought about  a lavender bag I still had from Provence, and decided to make a little lavender sachet, like my mother used to make in the summer; it has the double advantage of smelling nice and of keeping moth away. I decided to give it a personal touch so that it would not be boring... I chose some fabrics that fitted well together as well as some ribbons and started cutting, sewing, ironing and finally filling the little bags with the wonderful lavender. I love the resultIt and it smells like summer (although it is freezing cold here at the moment…). 

 The little lavender sachets have now found their place in my cupboard and my towels (now freshly washed) won't be getting the humidity smell any longer.
Yesterday we were invited for dinner and I brought our hostess one of the pouches, and she liked it very much. I like to bring something personal when I am invited, and these will be great to slip in a bag before going out.

If you like the sachets, or anything I make as a matter of fact... you can drop me an email and I will be happy to sell it to you or to make a new one for you.

Have a good sunday,

Do you have all your presents?

Christmas is definitely around the corner and my days are busy! 

The last two fairs went very well and it was great to talk with the people who bought my creations!!! The best seller was my Savasanaahh, an eye pillow especially designed for a relaxing yoga practice or to soothe your eyes at the end of a long stressful day. The weight of the japanese rice helps your eyes to relax and go back into their sockets, and the French lavender is soothing and relaxing. It also is great to take a nap, I've tried it ;-)

At the moment I am working on some pearl necklaces, and some other items of decorations like those coat hangers that I have pimped up with liberty fabrics! Time to finally put away my summer dresses in the back of my wardrobe. I also have gone back to crocheting now that the weather is cooler! 

If you want to order some Christmas presents, don't hesitate and drop me a mail or just call me. There are some bracelets, necklaces, eye pillows and notebook left, and I can still do a few made to measure items. 

Enjoy the day and be creative!

HandmadeHK, sunday 24 Nov in Discovery Bay

I am happy to finally share some photos of my booth at the fair that I took part in on November 11th at the Conrad. It was a crazy day, 11 hours non-stop, but great experience! Thanks to Kako & Janine for their support.

This coming sunday I will be at Handmade Hong Kong in Discovery Bay main Plaza and it will be more convenient for those of you working. Less hustle and fresh air on the plaza, plus lots of bars and restaurants.

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Discovery Bay Main Plaza – Nov 24, 2013

November 24 @ 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Discovery Bay Main Plaza, Discovery Bay, Lantau Hong Kong

http://www.handmadehongkong.com/event/discovery-bay-main-plaza-nov-24-2013/

Handmade Hong Kong

Today is the last day before the fair tomorrow and I hope I have everything ready! So far the feedback of friends who saw my my creations is very positive. Come and find out by yourself tomorrow!!!

For those of you who cannot make it on a Monday, I will be taking part in the Handmade Hong Kong in Discovery Bay on November 24th. A very laid back atmosphere, the booths are outside, and it is the perfect Sunday stroll.

More info on http://www.handmadehongkong.com