Big news this month as our long standing black & white Shop Dog, Princess Pavlova, is celebrating her birthday. We also have some new products and new class dates listed. Don't forget to scroll to the bottom to see one of my travel videos from my recent trip to the Madagascan sapphire fields.

Pavlova is 14 years old! To help her celebrate her birthday, we have a PAVLOVA THEMED SALE running for the month of June. The below black and white beads have all been reduced to only $1.40 each/per strand.  Sale prices are available online and instore, until the 30th June.

Don't forget that you can use the "NEW" category on our website to see our latest products at any stage!

Our latest set of beading classes is now available to see on our website! Come along and join in on the fun and excitement of jewellery making, with classes available for those just starting out, to the more advanced. Class numbers are limited, so call and book into the class of your choice today. Classes are held at our shop in Cheltenham, Victoria. Don't forget that we have a great range of free beading instructions available for download.

We hold beginners classes twice a month and advanced classes twice a month. A beginners stringing necklace must be completed before attempting an advanced class. Advanced classes change every month - keep an eye on our website for the latest list! Our upcoming classes are:

Friday 22 June, 12:00pm – 1:30pm

***BEGINNERS – $35 per person, includes purchase of your own kumihimo board and all materials***

Learn the technique involved in making this fun knotted kumihimo bracelet in our 1.5 hour class. You will learn to use the kumihimo wheel, a tool designed to make simple Japanese knotted bracelets with ease.

Colour of findings is silver - students are able to choose colour of beads on the day. Class sizes limited, so call us on 9584 1678 to book in today.

Friday 29th June, 12:00pm – 2:00pm

***ADVANCED – $56 per person, includes purchase of your own knotting tool and all materials***

Learn to make this gorgeous knotted glass pearl bracelet in our 2 hour class. You will learn to use the knotting tool, which will allow you to create knotted pearl and gemstone jewellery.

Colour of findings is silver - students are able to choose colour of beads on the day. Class sizes limited, so call us on 9584 1678 to book in today.

Our Cheltenham and Toomuc Valley stores will be closed on Monday 11th June for the Queens Birthday public holiday.  Our website will still be taking orders, however due to post office closures, orders will not be sent until Tuesday 12th June.

I've recently returned from an Epic Africa trip, that involved a few countries, including Madagascar. As travelling gemmologists, it goes without saying that a trip to Madagascar HAD to involve some gemstones along the way. A gem rich country, Madagascar is well known for its ruby and sapphire, but is also a producer of tourmaline, spinel, quartz, beryl, garnet and more.

In 1998 an area off the national highway in the SW of Madagascar underwent a sapphire "boom", resulting in the small town of Ilakaka almost spontaneously errupting into a hustling bustling kinda place. These days the rush has died off considerably (although there is talk of new areas being found!) but you can easily appreciate the Wild West feel of this small town.

On our visit, we were taken out to one of the sapphire mines, where the miners were hard at work. Work begins with a 25-30m narrow shaft (just wide enough to lower a person down) being hand dug. Gravel is lifted out of this hole, and the contents examined for evidence of sapphire. If such evidence is found, a much wider pit is dug out around the shaft, by a large team of men wielding buckets and shovels, passing the soil in a "bucket brigade" up the line.