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Beyond bling: The power in Billie Jean’s fab originals

By Edgar O. Cruz, Contributor

06/18/2007

Fun. Feminine. Flirty. Funky.

These are the adjectives that best describe each piece of the one-of-a-kind and hand-crafted Beaded Jewels by Billie Jean, pieces of beaded wearable art created by Billie Jean Sioco-Chuaunsu. According to this interior designer, she heard about Joy Lim of Charms and Crystals, who was responsive to her suggestions of improvement in design when they met. Soon, with Joy’s knowledge in the use of charms and crystals and Billie Jean’s design expertise, they came up with some of the most beautiful and powerful bangles, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings, earrings and hairclips this side of the metro.

Having endless ideas and working on infinite possibilities, Billie Jean (named after the tennis champ, not from song of the Prince of Pop) works with crystals, pearls, corals, semi-precious stone chips, glass and metal beads, shells, stainless steel, gold-plated, copper and silver wires, and fashions jewelry pieces. She combines textures, colors and shapes to create unique pieces each owner will treasure. Every piece of Beaded Jewels by Billie Jean is value-for-money, costing P1,000 and below, considering that each piece is intricate and inimitable, with unexpected character.

As an artist, Billie Jean started making accessories as a hobby. When friends and relatives started ordering them, she decided to make it a business venture. When she became Charms and Crystals’ house designer, demand increased so she decided to expand by creating her own brand. Now, Joy is a client. She orders her exclusive designs in bulk, adding appropriate charms and/or crystals to enhance the mystical powers of the pieces. She believes they have power, using the story of her own pregnancy as example. By the way, she also designed the Charms and Crystals branch at SM Mall of Asia.

Billie Jean innovates. Having mastered the art of twisting ribbons when she was a school girl, she uses pastel ribbons, which she twists and weaves into multi-colored bands. She uses them as substitute for the fishing nylon strings usually used for such creations. The tantalizing combinations of colors give a very feminine appeal to her creations, flattering to any user. As to be expected, it has been copied. But Billie Jean’s technique is more delicate-looking, while remaining durable. As they say, the original is still the best.

For orders, visit Charms and Crystals stores. Beaded Jewels by Billie Jean is currently available in Backstage Serendra in Fort Global City. For inquiries, e-mail bjs868@gmail.com.