One of my good friends is a jewellery designer, working under the label ‘Two Pigs Jewellery’ (so called as her twin boys were born in the year of the pig). She draws her inspiration from the bright lights of Singapore and New York (she’s lived in both places) as well as the buzz and vibrancy that comes hand in hand with city living.

She launched her new collection ‘Sparkle’ last week with a one-off sale in her apartment on Grange Road. The collection was conceived after a recent trip to New York where she was inspired enough to celebrate her return to Asia, the place she now calls home.

Pieces were quite eclectic (what she does best) and included Venetian glass baubles, crystals and gold; there were earrings made using African Fair Trade beads and ceramic earthenware pieces that had been hand dipped by women in African villages.

And within a matter of hours she actually sold 70% of her stock, which was fantastic.

My particular favourites, I bought two things, were a pair of ‘fishbone’ and crystal earrings which cost me $60 (£30, pictured on the left), as well as the show stopping long earrings pictured below which I’ve surprisingly worn quite a lot (must show a lack of imagination on my part – or a lack of earrings, which can’t be the case).  They hang almost to the top of my collarbone and are my most prized purchase that can only really be worn with a simple, strapless black dress (I know now, having worn it with a red one and looked like a Christmas tree).