[Sueki]

Hello Manu,
Lovely items you have - the mother of pearl and Tahitian pearl pieces are beautiful.

[Manutea]

Thanks for taking a peek, Pattye!

Knotting was the first thing I learned, after drilling. The ones up there at the moment, I did in Tahiti and had serious HELP with, but I have some freshwater and coral strands that I did recently, with a view to putting Tahitian pearl pendants on them.

There was much swearing and re-doing and re-doing again, that time! LOL! But I think now, I have conquered it and mastered the art and have managed to knot 5 strands now, including the ones in my shoppe. The most difficult bit is putting the final clasps on! But I think I've got it now....

Then I learned how to carve the Mother-of-Pearl shells.... I can make flowers and simple basic shapes and getting more skilled at it all the time. I have in mind a leaf-brooch (pendant?) on which to place a Tahitian Keshi, that is in the shape of a snail!

It's a great pearl - the snail 'body' is white, while the 'shell' is black! Can't wait to do that one! I need to find me the right leaf-shape to carve, though.

I have moved on to basic silver-working now.... Soldering and fusing. I made some terrific 'blobs' at first! LOL!
I have in progress at the moment a three-pronged pendant with a different colour Tahitian on the end of each 'prong' and topped by a larger one. I have broken it 3 times so far, but this 4th time, I think I've got it, finally!

I have just moved house, so I haven't had time to do anything in the last few weeks - especially with going away to Sri Lanka... I accompanied hubby on a business-trip there, but made good use of it too!

The gold, I either buy the findings in, right now, or get a local jeweller I know, to make the finding up for me - gold is too expensive to 'play' with! So I design the stuff and get him to make it.

I can't wait to start using the stones I bought... I have an Australian blue/green black Lightening Ridge Opal to use too... Also, topaz, star sapphire, Iolite and Aquamarine... So many designs, but not enough skill/cash right now!

Manu

[Manutea]

Ooh Sueki! Didn't see you there!

Thankyou very much for the compliments! Not really me... the Oyster did MOST of the work!

Manu

[Manutea]

Ahhh - Rats! Past 1AM again.... Better go to bed I suppose. Work tomorrow...

Manu

[mansourh]

I hope you are fine. I am working in Sri Lanka in this time .I am new in this site and i want see and be friend with people from all around the worls. I hope see you in Sri Lanka in future. best regards.
Mansour Houshmand

Originally Posted by Manutea

Hi everyone!
I live in Perth, Western Australia and I have just come in to introduce myself!

I have a very fledgeling business with Tahitian pearls and I make very simple jewellery. I went on holiday to Tahiti a couple of years ago and made friends with a Tahitian family, who have an export license and they approved me to bring my first small 'lot' of pearls to Australia.
I sell on a small Australian auction site (which is growing!), but as yet, do not have my own website.

I love the Tahitian pearls and am very happy to have the opportunity to work with them! I am learning new jewellery skills all the time, though not very quickly, as I need to work as well, to pay the bills.

I am originally from London, but as I mentioned before, I now live in Australia.
The Tahitian family called me 'Manutea' (pronounced 'Man-ooh-tay-ah). It is a Tahitian name, that means 'White Bird, who flies a long way from home'.
I thought this was appropriate and very amusing, because in London, girls are called 'Birds'. I am a white female and now I have moved to Australia, I couldn't have gone further from Home, unless I had gone to the Moon! LOL!

My little business is called 'Manutea Pearls'.
I have just returned from Sri Lanka, where I was sourcing sapphires and rubies to use with the Tahitian pearls, in my jewellery.

Nice to meet you all!
Manu

[jerin]

Hello Mansour and welcome to the Forum,

I would love to come to Sri Lanka, but it will take time. Anyway, keep us posted on everything that is interesting in Pearl World on Sri Lanka!

[Nerida]

Hi Manutea,

I am also in Australia - although East Coast, not West, and I am a native. Welcome to Australia! I hope you love living in Perth - it is a gorgeous city. I have had a quick look at your website - your pieces are lovely, particularly the carved mother of pearl.

Good luck with your business - I am also carving out a market for myself over here - selling to higher end boutiques and homewares/gift stores - there must be some of them over there that woud love your pieces - they are quite unique. Also love the baroque strand, BTW think your prices are pretty good in the Australian market.

Welcome to PG too - I am pretty new here and these people are amazing - I have just strung my first complete strand thanks in no small part to the encouragement and advice of PGers - just can't find the *&@!! cable to download the photos from my camera!