Ying Yu Jade
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Mailing list subscribers received their "Bon Voyage" special coupons today. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, either log into your account and choose the "subscribe" option, or if you don't have an account, create on an choose the subscribe to newsletter option. I subscribe to some companies that have an online presence, and I get "specials" from them almost every day, so frequently they don't seem "special". I won't inundate your email box with daily, or weekly, emails. I send one every month, sometimes 2, and if there's something really special, maybe 3 but that's very rare. I respect my customers. I treat customers the way I want to be treated. A Ying Yu Jade special is a real special. Thanks for your patronage, which is very much appreciated. October 22
My husband knows me very well. He asked me how many minutes of internet time I was going to buy while we're on the ship. Minutes start at 55 cents a minute for a 30 minute card. I told him I was going for vacation, not to work. He knows I keep up the blog even when we go to China. Blog about my cruise? Probably not interesting to you, because it's not about jade! And I can't respond to questions about products because I don't have them with me, or customer service because that information is in my home office. I'm sure I'll miss blogging, and it will be the first time I'm going somewhere where "jade" is not part of the journey (except for enjoying all the jade I'm going to take and wear) Oct 21
I left out part of the story about the Dynasty carved Chinese jade bangles yesterday. During my search for a carver and the right kind of jade to make these, a company in China contacted me and told me they could supply me with these. They showed me photos, but wouldn't let me purchase a sample, and the minimum sample order was for 10. And they were quite expensive for a wholesale order. But I couldn't resist getting them because I'd been working on this project for so long. There are still a few on the web site, and they are very nice, well carved, and the jade is the quality that was used during the dynasties. I placed an order for a larger quantity, thinking I would get a lower price for ordering quantity, but the price actually went up. The seller had contacted me because he found my web site, and when he saw the price I listed them for, which is my standard mark up price, he wanted me to pay the $500-600 I was selling them for, and wanted an order for 100! So that was the end of that, and I suspect it was a scam to get me to send money, and not get product. Which wouldn't be the first time that happened, but not for that amount of money. I was disappointed, but it worked out for me and for you, the customers, because the carved jade bangles I received in my shipment last week are more "wearable" than the first purchase, the carving is lower and more smooth. So waiting and continuing the search paid off. October 20
The Tuesday daily special is for one of the Dynasty carved jade bangle bracelets. This is the first time one of these is discounted, but I want to "show it off" on the Specials page, and give you a chance to get one at a discount. Most of the carved jade bangle bracelets are "uninspired" carving, and I really had to do a lot of shopping to find carved that jade bangle bracelets that firstly had good quality jade, then nice jade carving. Most of the carved jade bangles are Burmese jadeite. The carver carves them by hand, but uses standard design, so I bought those that really stood out as unique. Quite a few years ago, my Chinese associate and I searched all over China for a jade carver who really enjoyed his art of carving. When I'm in northern China, wandering around the countryside, not shopping in the jade market, I can see who is an independent jade carver by the large rocks, the roughs of jade in front of his home. When they see me, a "foreigner", they literally drag me into their home and show me their jade carvings. Some of these are very simple and poorly done, but some are magnificent. I have hauled heavy jade carvings around China and holding them on buses, trains and finally the flight home because I didn't want to lose or damage them. We researched the ancient Dynasty carvings for design during those years, and have had carvers make us samples of jade bangles that were made in that style. It's taken 7 years to get some made for Ying Yu Jade! These are being "shown off" to friends and enjoyed by me now, but will get on the web site next month. The lighter green one is one of the samples this carver made prior to using the darker, higher priced Chinese jade. I have photos and a great story to tell when I get a chance to edit the photos and write, from going into the jade mines, to getting the carving done, over the past 8 years. There's enough material for a book! October 19
I spent the weekend getting new jade bangle bracelets to replace the ones that sold this past week. Jade doesn't like to be in a dark box, when I take them out, they look so dull, so I put them in cool water for awhile, dry and polish, then set them in natural daylight (not direct sunlight!). The next day, they look a lot better, so I can photograph them. I price them as low as I can, because jade is meant to be worn, not be in a dark box in a closet or drawer. Your jade will get more pretty as you wear it. If you are healthy, your body qi will make your jade glow, and the small veins will look brighter. And, as many customers have told me, the "real thing" is much prettier than the "flat" photo. October 18
I've been unpacking, sorting, putting away jades from my new shipment. I ordered medium and double jade rollers, and had to open each box to find them, and sort them. Since yesterday, I've received two wholesale jade rollers inquiries, and sold several of the rollers to blog readers. These jade rollers are really nice, I use mine daily and keep it by my bedside, so it's part of my "going to bed" ritual. I haven't started unpacking, sorting, sizing the bangle bracelets or other things. I keep my new items in the screened porch until I put them away, and it's been hot, 90's, for two weeks, a cold front is starting to come through so by Saturday it might be cool enough to spend some time on the porch and take a good look at everything. I always take a quick like, just like I gave you in the video, then take my time to inspect more carefully, figure out what to do with everything. October 15
A reader, Helen,
asks: "After reading your blog with the explanation of yin/yang
energy, can you give suggestions in your next blog as to what kind/color
jade bangle would be best for the person that wants "the one"
jade bangle to wear permanently? "
I'm preparing a video about how to find the "best" jade bangle
for you. First most important is the size, a diameter and width that is
comfortable to wear all the time. Then you want to consider the color
of the jade that is most desirable to you. People are attracted to the
jade color that has the energy they need, so pay attention to what your
eyes are telling you when you look at the jade colors. You also want a
bangle that is substantial, inside to outside, and probably not a carved
bangle, as carving gets more wear than a smooth bangle, and it's easier
to chip the more fragile carving. Then you want your jade color to look
good with your skin tone, and the colors of clothing you wear most of
the time. My every day jade bangle is usually a soft green, and "lao
pit" because the fine grain really looks better as you wear it, so
it always looks a little different every day depending on your health.
And it looks good with all my outfits, from jeans and a tee shirt, to
a cocktail dress. I can dress it up with a couple of 24k gold bangles,
or wear it by itself, depending on my mood. BUT....I have to admit that
even after more than 10 years of buying jade bangles, I still haven't
found "the perfect jade bangle"! I have some theories about
that, maybe for another blog! October 14
New shipment from
China! Watch the video, watch for new listings soon. October 13
Last month I wrote about the article in Vogue magazine "The Green Movement", written as though Vogue just discovered the beauty of jade. My friend Karen sent me a hard copy of the article (thanks so much!) and I read it and thought about it for awhile, it was strange for me to read about jade from a Western and fashion point of view. The photos showed some pieces including two rings, one a Tiffany design. The jade used was not jadeite, and not Chinese jade either, but jade from other parts of the world. These jades are from Guatamala, Turkey, and nephrite from Alaska, British Columbia (very dark and solid green). The green jade is really green-green for fashion, so it would probably NOT be jadeite or Chinese jade. However, it's real jade. Jade green is "the" color for fashion now, and you can buy synthetic "jade" to mix with your real jade for a fabulous high fashion look. Get a manicure with jade polish! Have fun with your jade. October 12
A reader asked to me explain why some of the jade is described as "high energy". As a qi healer, Reiki Master, I am very sensitive to energetic qualities, especially jade's qi energy. Jade is considered to be "yin" energy, and then there are qualities that make it more or less yin. If it's very light green or white, it has more yin energy, and is peaceful, tranquil, and the energy is helpful to someone who has chronic conditions, or allergies, rashes, acute illness to help balance the yang energy of the health problem. Jade that has bright color, deeper green, veins of deeper green feel very energetic to me, and I really can feel the yang energy. You would want a high energy jade if you are very healthy and feeling good and want your life to be more vibrant. If you have chronic fatigue, are tired, have a chronic illness that saps your energy, a high energy jade will help balance you by giving you more yang energy. When you are looking at the photos of the jade, you probably see some that appeal to you more, and it's your brain telling you that it has the energy that will be best for you. Seasonally, you want more yin energy in hot weather, and more yang energy in cold weather to keep your body balanced and healthy. October 11
In 2000, when I had recently started selling jade,my Chinese qigong teacher decided that since I was having some success with jade, he would also sell jade, and told me he was going to copy my web site (which he did, mostly my text, descriptions, policies) and be more successful because he was Chinese. He didn't think he needed to learn about jade because "all Chinese know about jade". The jade bangles he purchased were all color treated and not A quality, although he was sure they were natural color because the seller told him it was, and he was Chinese. He couldn't understand why women asked him specific questions, and for more information, because all he thought was necessary was to "see the photo and buy". And he didn't learn about jade, so he didn't know how to answer questions, and American women don't want to hear only "it's jade, it's good for you, you should buy". The contacts about questions were annoying to him, but many women DO ask questions before they buy, and to me, that's where I get to know people and the interesting and enjoyable aspect of selling jade. I enjoy the jade, and I enjoy getting to "meet" you, more than I enjoy taking photos, listing jades (of course!). That's what I miss when I'm away for a few days. October 10
I'm taking a much needed 9 day vacation the end of this month. I rarely take a vacation with this internet business because I can't provide good customer service and of course ship your orders if I'm not here to do it. My husband and I intended to travel after we moved to Florida, but we have had only three real vacations, and they were short, and I took the laptop and responded to emails every day. This vacation is a cruise, so I won't do any business while I'm gone, and will "close the store". You can look at the web pages, but not access the automated shopping cart system when the store is "closed". If you want to order anything before November 5, you will need to do it by October 25. I'm thinking about "retiring" and this cruise will give me time to see how much I would miss it, and help me decide. This is my first cruise, first long vacation (going shopping in China is NOT a vacation, it's fun but it's a lot of work!) I'm excited. October 9
I just finished reading a fiction mystery about jade, "The Shanghai Moon" by S.J. Rozan. If you enjoy reading about Chinese culture pre and post Mao, and jade, you will enjoy this. In fact, I neglected listing new items because I wanted to read instead of work! The Shanghai Moon is a jade pendant, and Thursday's Daily Special is a bi pendant that is what I think it would look like. I'm going to wear one for awhile so I can continue to think about the story. Loved the characters, too! October 7
Thanks for all your feedback about the Swan Lake Chinese style video. I've watched it several times, it is truly amazing. A reader asked about wearing a jade bangle during dancing, exercise and activity that is "risky" for jade bangles. A really good quality jade bangle, like a lao pit, will hold up well to every day activity. I wear a jade bangle all the time, including in the swimming pool and being strong, the jade holds up to the accidental whacking on the concrete of the pool, and during gardening, exercise and every day life. But if you want a less expensive every day jade bangle, there's a nice selection of value priced jade bangles on our sister site, JadeBangleBracelets, in the $100-250 category. I like to have jade bangles in every price range, and these are good quality and good value. October 6
This is one of
the most awesome videos, the Chinese State Circus performing Swan Lake
What could make it better? A jade bangle bracelet! October 4
A friend asked
me when I first fell in love with jadeite and when I first encountered
it. On the international flight to China I fell in love with two material
things: a big, maybe 10mm pearl necklace a Chinese flight attendant had
on, and a slender rounded fei cui green jade bangle a passenger was wearing.
The first day of our tours, the tour guide took us to a "jade factory"
and I didn't see anything I liked. The last day of our trip was free time
and I went exploring with my room mate, and we ate noodles and sweet potatoes
in Dashalan street, which was very dirty at the time and my qigong master
told us all to stay away from the Dashalan area, so of course that's where
we headed, and I bought a jade bangle that I thought was pretty and was
actually fake jade and really dyed, and I pondered over it and couldn't
figure out why I didn't like it when it was so pretty. I went back to
China two months later with my qigong master again on a tour all around
China, not just the Chinese medicine training in Beijing, we had a female
tour guide who took me to a real jade shop where I started learning about
jade. I went wild buying jade bangles and spent all my money on jade bangles!
When I got back home, I sold one on my calmspirit.net web site, then I
sold all of them except two, and made enough money again, and decided
I would go to China once a year, buy things, and sell them so I could
continue to go every year. And that's how Ying Yu Jade came to be, and
my philosophy of selling the kind of jade that I would personally wear.
By 2003 I had a considerable jade inventory and started the Ying Yu Jade
web site.And you can tell that it's a true passion for me. October 3
Chinese "Moon Festival" is starting, a time to eat mooncakes and look at the moon, a very romantic time. It also represents the beginning of the cooler season, and it felt like the time for me to change my jade bangle bracelet. My very light with green veins jade bangle felt so "light" on my wrist, almost like it wasn't there, and not in a good way. I rely on the energy from the jade to keep me balanced and needed a little more "yang" energy to ward off the flu and keep healthy. Click here to see what jade bangle I'm wearing now, and why. October 2
October 1 is China's
National Day, and today is 60 year "Grand Celebration", the
most auspicious age in Chinese culture (12 astological animals x 5 elements=60,
a Taoist Feng Shui concept). So today's Daily Special is a jade bangle
that any woman in China would be proud to own, a perfect jade bangle bracelet.
Yes, it's expensive, but still below retail price you would see in a Chinese
jade shop, so at it's regular price, still a good deal.
The 60 years of "modern China" started with Mao, trying to bring
unity and order to China in 1949. It started as communism, but really
isn't communism now because the "iron rice bowl" is non-existent,
and wealth is not shared, but people are expected to take care of themselves.
Capitalism is encouraged. Yes, there are many things that other countries
don't approve of going on in China, but the way they manage their government
has brought them the order and prosperity they hoped to achieve. And I
believe their government will continue to improve. If you would like to
read a good article about China today and how people perceive their government
click here.
So buy a jade bangle today to strenghten our ties and encourage growing
capitalism and positive social change for the every-day Chinese people.
Ask me for free shipping in the comments box on the order form and pay
with Paypal (who I'm giving a "third chance") and I'll refund
your shipping on jade bangles $250+.
The
Calm Spirit / Ying Yu Jade complete
October newsletter is available online now, click here. This month
features Chinese medicine wellness information for October 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
.
