OUR STORY
My pursuit of gemstones more formally started in 2017 when I was close to burning out at work. Although this interest was initiated as early as 2012 (please refer to my blog – a starter’s journey). Yes, it takes about a decade to be on the way! To help myself feel better (from a GP’s advice of me having anxiety), I took an extended annual leave and began studying mindfulness meditation techniques and focusing more on the beauty of gemstones and their properties, especially how they provide humans with healing powers. Focusing on gemstones adds enormous extra value to my meditation activities. I still love fashion. Wearing different gemstone jewellery makes me feel closer to nature, enjoying their colour, texture, feel and more they offer. Recalling how our ancestors worked with gemstones, reading mysterious geology books, and turning magical colour gemstones into appealing pieces of jewellery, I feel powerful energy rising through all my body (as they say there are seven chakras being root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and crown). Jewellery-making gives me a deeper level of calm, concentration, and enjoyment.
When I started buying gemstone pieces, I noticed that it was not affordable for most people even me although I had a good salary. I decided to teach myself to make beaded jewellery and in 2018, I created my own brand FQli (Fashionqueenli), proudly using my late mother's maiden name Li.
After about two decades of doing research and teaching in the UK’s Higher Education sector, I resigned in 2023 and am now focusing on completing my diploma course on Jewellery Design and Manufacturing at the British Academy of Jewellery. My design patterns and ideas follow my exploration of cross-cultural enrichment between China and the West. I have started to enjoy this deep-rooted connection between my cultural origin (i.e., Confucius) and Western philosophy. Bringing them into my design is my dream soon.
I am now formally running my small business, using my past experiences of doing this part-time since 2019 and my continuous learning in the industry. My goal is to provide quality gemstone jewellery of any type at an affordable price. I mainly source locally in the UK to ensure quality. Considering the varieties of gemstones across the globe, I am considering using my resources in Asia and Africa (where I have been many times during my research career) to obtain the most ethical sources for jewellery making and manufacturing.
I like to use hypoallergenic metals such as stainless steel, sterling silver (mainly recycled silver), and ethically sourced gold to make jewellery. I particularly appreciate nature gemstones of any type and Swarovski pieces as they are long-lasting. Occasionally, I have a small group of likely-minded people who work with me so that customers can appreciate different making techniques that create appealing pieces. ​
No matter what happens in life, I believe that dressing up fashionably, believing in what you do, living a healthy lifestyle, and loving yourself and those around you is critical to finding happiness in life. Happiness is infectious!
