Ying Yu Jade
Contact
Kathleen
yingyujade @ yingyjade.com
You can always see what's new, click here
Here it is, end of January and three days until Chinese New Year which traditional also means the beginning of spring. There's probably still some cold weather ahead for us in central Florida, but I couldn't wait any longer to trim off the dead foliage from the last hard frost night we had a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to leave it for awhile to protect the plants if it freezes again but it is so warm now and the brown stuff looks so bad...it was time. And I was amazed to see all the new growth already, new sprouts even from annual plants, and green leaves on what looked like dead branches. Nature sure is yin and yang, terrible and wonderful. The green parts of my jade bangle looked really bright and fabulous when I was working outside. I hope my jade gave good qi to the plants. January 30
One of my favorite jade pendants to wear is a "bi symbol of heaven" jade pendant, that looks like a donut, a circle with a hold inside. I have a thin gold chain 24" that I slide through the hole and it gives it a little fashion while keeping the traditional appearance. With a long chain, it looks get with any of my tops and any of the necklines on them because it fall over my heart, giving my heart that good jade qi energy. This is a very popular pendant in Asia during the Chinese new year, and any time. Simple, classic, elegant, and the Saturday Daily Special. (But if you are reading this today, you can get it before it sells out, click here) January 28
The past couple of weeks I've sold more carved jade bangle bracelets than I usually sell because they are very cherished for "chujie" Chinese new year. In addition to the energy from the jade and the jade colors, you have the energy from the symbols carved in the jade, so they are very auspicious. Most of the time I wear a smooth soft green old mine lao pit jadeite bangle bracelet, but after the Jan 1 new year, I wear my fu lu shou carved old mine lao pit jadeite bangle for the symbolism and the festivity of it. Most of the carved jadeite bangles are quite old, purchased prior to the jadeite embargo, and they are of a very good quality, not the commercial color treated kind. A carved jade bangle is fabulous jade carving that you can wear and enjoy. There are also a few Chinese "water" jade bangles that I had carved just for me, and of course our wonderful Dynasty Collection. The design for these was researched and carved by China's master jade carvers for a traditional ancient style. January 26
The 3-D jadeite rabbit pendant is my favorite of all the Year of the Rabbit pendants. It's a pretty little carving of a rabbit to wear all the time. It has a hole in the top to wear with a silk string, and I wire wrapped a bail on one to wear with a chain. I love it. It's an excellent quality, the old mine lao pit jadeite. They started selling as soon as I put them on the web site, hope there's still some for the Daily Special! January 25
Readers often ask why many of the prices, especially the Daily and Weekly Special prices, have the number "8" in it, instead of a "nice round even number". The number 8 is considered the most lucky number in China, it sounds like the word for "money". Chinese people often pay a premium price to own the number 8 in their addresses, phone numbers, car license plates, and the more 8's, the happier they are. We follow Chinese tradition on Ying Yu Jade, and use the number 8 for specials. For example, the jade rabbit adjustable silk string bracelets are regular price $28 (they retail in catalogs for more than $35) and made the sale price a whopping discount of $18.88. So lucky for you as a customer, and lucky for YYJ. January 24
The beginning of Chinese New Year is very festive, but filled with newness and Chinese wear a symbol of the new year to protect them and bring them good luck throughout the year. This week we will feature some jade rabbit items, bracelets and pendants, to bring you luck and protection during the Year of the Rabbit. There were a big supply of them, but friends and neighbors have been purchasing them so they can be sure to get one. The Rabbit jades are all much nicer than the photo shows, as is almost all jade! January 23
I'm trying to put together a "sister set" of jade bangle bracelets, both a carved and smooth jade bangle that is similar in size and coloring. I have some that I purchased to be sets but she is looking for something different in size and style. The only jade that is easy to "match up" is color treated jade, when the entire jade lot has been dyed to look the same. But natural jade "sets" are really difficult. Sometimes I can match up the Chinese jade, but even that has so much variation in color, width, translucency. But they surely do look wonderful together, whether it's Chinese jade or the jadeite, two or more "sisters" on a wrist is a spectacular "look". January 20
A friend and I took a "girlfriends day out" today. We didn't know what we wanted to do and the weather wasn't good this morning so we decided to go to a mall, have lunch with lots of dessert. We wandered around the mall, made some small purchases and found a store that had really cute clothes. I don't need anything but we're taking a few days off at Valentine's Day which some dress-up is involved so I tried on some dresses and outfits, nothing fancy. But my jade bangle made everything look really great and gave an exotic air to whatever I tried on. I wasn't wearing other jewelry, except for my diamond studs, and that fu lu shou carved jadeite bangle was all the jewelry I needed to wear to really make those outfits look great. So I saved a lot of money by getting simple items and will wear that jade with them to make them look really classy. Jade is truly an investment. Oh, and all that walking around burned off the lunch and desserts. January 18
I used to get migraine headaches really bad, several times each month and they would last 3-5 days. A few years ago when I went to China for a shopping trip, I got an intense Chinese medicine treatment for migraines, and don't get them like I did before. When I feel one coming, I get an aura and my brain feels scrambled. I have a jade pillow cover that has been removed from the backing and I place it over my face and try to relax and surprisingly it usually calms my brain. When my brain feels tired I get out the jade cover and sleep on it, and wake up feeling very good. The jade is cool, but it warms up with my head on it, and as is the nature of jade, it still feels cool as soon as it doesn't have the heat from my body on it. I would love to have a jade blanket to wrap myself in, the qi energy feels so good! January 17
Working with the Rabbit jades made me wish I could be in China during the Lunar Festival. I have never been able to go there during that time, which is usually the end of January or early February. Most business shuts down while migrant workers and other Chinese people who are away from their families board trains and buses and "go home". In fact, some people are already leaving to avoid the madness of the rush to go somewhere. Lunar New Year is the end of winter, so it's cold in the north, but the promise of spring is there. I got in the spirit this weekend by switching jade bangles to a "fu lu shou" three color jadeite bangle with carving of bat for happiness, coins for fortune, bamboo and a dragon. It's an old vintage jade bangle pre-Mao and not very green, mostly a "chalk" bluish green, with "hong" cleverly carved with the little carvings and white. Wonderful polish and extremely high chime, it's definitely old mine lao pit, and looks and feels fabulous. You can see it on my "favorites" page. And it has a clarification line which is not a crack but if you don't know jade you could think it was a crack, but if it were a real crack it wouldn't have held up amost 80 years! January 16
I've been working on getting some very special jade jewelry items ready for Valentine's Day, which is one month from today! There are two Ying Yu Jade exclusive necklaces, one is bold, the other is dainty that will be listed next week. There will also be some of our other jade that is perfect for Valentine's Day on Daily and Weekly Specials. Our necklaces this year are really beautiful and I'm excited to show them to you as soon as they get photographed and listed. And we're still working on getting the Year of the Rabbit jade ready to photograph and list. Lots to do here! January 14
A customer/friend who has been wearing a very green jadeite bangle purchased a light green and white translucent jadeite bangle and asked about wearing it in winter. Darker jade is more "yang" and has a lot of energy to protect, and if you don't get a flu shot or tend to get colds and flu easily, this is a good jade for protection. Lighter/white jade is related to the lung meridian and also protects the lungs in cold weather. If your spirits are low, the light from this kind of jade can help you feel better. For example, if I wear a dark green jade to keep me well, but get a cold, I would switch to a white or light green translucent "yin" energy jade because the yang from the dark color jade and from the illness is too much yang for the body, and needs some lighter yin to balance it. Combination of light and dark, yi and yang, is also very balancing for the body. January 13
I had a chance to visit with a girlfriend who is a neighbor today, and she was wearing her Chinese "water jade" bangle, a classic rounded light green translucent jade bangle that she has had for several years. She wears it often, even when she works at her physically demanding job, and it still looks good. But sometimes jade starts to lose its luster and needs a little something to give it a glow. You can spray a small amount of furniture polish on it, then wipe it with a soft cloth, and it's amazing how much that will improve the appearance. After all, the final step to jade bangle making is the waxing and polishing, so it makes sense to use a little wax or furniture polish to clean it, fill the small scratches and really give it its glow back. January 12
I'm really trying to keep clutter eliminated from my "new" office, but I did keep all of my jade carvings for good business office feng shui. My number one jade carving is a jade three legged money toad with a coin in her mouth to bring me good fortune in my business. Money toads are supposed to be positioned with the head and coin pointing toward the person who is working so money is directed inwards. I also have a huge and heavy money toad by my home front door pointed toward the office. These are very traditional and found in businesses in China and Asia. I also have a jade Buddha for compassion and fairness in all my transactions. And a small Chinese jade turtle, very green and translucent and the first jade carving I purchased more than 10 years ago. My wall calendar is surrounded by hangings on red silk string, one one side a fish with coins for prosperity and the other side has a Guan Yin, Buddha of Compassion and a hollow carved " spice bottle" with scented oil. Those are my "basics" although I have to tell you I am truly surrounded by jade! January 11
The Daily Special jade and quartz crystal necklace was a design made by my jewelry maker, who loves jade as well as crystals. She's a Reiki friend who makes up the one-of-a-kind necklaces and is really creative. Jade beads can be uncomforable around the neck because beads plus a pendant and silver pieces gets heavy, and hot, so she uses the beads with the pendant on the front part, then makes the back part with a flat chain for comfort. This style holds up longer because the heavy weight of jade can pull apart with wear, and these are not so heavy. They are our exclusive design, beautiful and comfortable. If you purchase the Daily Special necklace, let us know how you like the energy "feel" of crystal and jade. January 10
The jade grapes carvings I bought at the trade show flew off the web site the same day I listed them and there is only one remaining. They are probably one of the best values, price for what you get, a lot of jade and detailed carving. I have most of the items I bought listed now, and can start working on some of the jade purchased for Chinese New Year, metal rabbit, that starts next month. I have several "rabbit" friends and will gift them with the pendants, jade and silk string bracelets, and will try to keep some to share with you! I really do only sell what I would buy for myself and for my friends, and that's part of what makes this jade business fun. January 9
A requirement for having a jade business is working out to keep in shape and have good muscle tone so when you attend trade shows as a buyer you can haul huge heavy boxes and bags of jade "finds" from the most remote region of the show to your car! The most interesting jade things I find are always as far away from the door as you can get! But I sure did buy some unique jade carvings today, include some fabulous jade grapes carvings, Buddhas, and intricate carved pieces that could be used as big pendants. I restocked jade worry stones so we have a calming piece of jade to carry in our pocket and rub when we start to fret. I also bought some other crystal like flourite and amethyst for the Calm Spirit Reiki distance sessions, great energy. And one of my suppliers of the river jade bangle bracelets let me have "first pick" so the weekend special is $10 off of these with coupon code BANGLE10. There are also other things, my car trunk was filled when I left and Capital One Business cards fraud department calling me to see if the charges were really mine because vendors come from all over the world, and I sure shop world wide! A fun day, and more jade goodies for you. January 8
One of the big trade shows today, can't wait to see what's new and what my favorite Chinese sellers brought for me. I arrive before the show opens so I can get "first chance" at the jade things they bring before they set them up for sale. There are still a few odds and ends gifts if you place your order today. Next blog will have trade show report. January 7
An international customer was bemoaning the add on fee of EMS Express shipping required for orders $150+ so they can be tracked and insured and arrive safely to the customer.She understood why it was in her best interest to add the fee although credit card companies and Paypal require me to ship international orders with tracking in case there is a problem. I had forgotten that January 3 the USPS and UPS raised their rates, and was shocked that it cost more than $6 now. So I had to increase the add on fee, which is the basic fee for 8 ounces or less. Sometimes USPS mail here in the USA gets lost, delivery confirmation shows it's been delivered but the customer didn't get it, so I often send with signature confirmation so the carrier MUST deliver to the person. I really want your purchases to get to YOU, not someone else, and all shipping fees include insurance. I know shipping costs a lot and adds to the cost of your order. Ours aren't as high as Boston Proper, which is only clothing that doesn't need special packing for it's fagility. No, I didn't place my order with them, so I understand how you feel about shipping fees. January 6
Still getting my office back in order. I ordered furniture from Staples and they made what should have been a pleasant experience extremely frustrating and miserable with their poor service. A customer support person told me yesterday if I wasn't happy with their furniture (a big hole in the middle of my new desk top) I could buy furniture from Ikea! So what should have been delivered last Thursday finally got delivered late Tuesday, and now we're putting 5 pieces together and trying to get up and running. While I was taking everything out of old desk drawers and files, I found a lot of odds and ends of jades and other things that I received as samples from sellers, and I have a small box full, so I would like to share with customers. When you place your order, write "free gift" in the comments box and I'll send you something. January 5
I’m working on better feng shui for my office. I’ve been “making do” with odds and ends of pieces that are difficult to deal with, and in December ordered new office furniture. It’s a simple clean design with a big work space and is furniture made for technology. Feng shui is being "rediscovered" throughout the world. It's from Daoism (Taoism) and at the core of the philosophy is being in harmony with nature. Using feng shui principles helps me deal with clutter, keep me more organized, and gives me more calm in my life. Jade is also a big part of feng shui, and many feng shui accessories are made with jade pieces. The jade gives good energy. There's so much to know about feng shui, if you want to learn more do an internet search. Worth it! January 4
The JadeBangleBracelets web site has finished it's re-design and should be working properly now. There is an expanded "bargain jade bangle" section, good quality at low prices. Let me know if you see any "glitches" in the system. If your weekend was anything like mine, you were busy and multi-tasking, and now we can get on with the year 2011. January 2
Happy New Year! I wish you the best for 2011, much happiness, good luck and good health.
The Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete January newsletter is available online now, click here. This month features Chinese medicine wellness information for January regarding balance of body, mind and spirit. There is information about what kind of jade to wear this month if you wear jade for your health, and more.
yingyujade @ yingyujade.com
