Trained at AUT as a fashion designer, Lisa Yuyi has an eye for aesthetics and a keen sense of style. Her Crown-inspired deep dive into pearls planted the grain of an idea which she has developed into a growing business creating classically beautiful pearl jewellery from cultured baroque and keshi pearls. Lisa’s Felt shop, Mermade Pearl Studio, features a treasure trove of handcrafted strands, made in the heart of Ōtautahi.


What do you make?
Pearl jewellery for everyday and special occasions. I mainly focus on cultured baroque and keshi pearls as they are unique and interesting. I offer pearl strand necklaces and bracelets, and I’m currently expanding into pendant necklaces, earrings, rings, and charm bracelets in sterling silver and gold-filled options.
How did you get into your craft?
Becoming a mum to my now 10 month old boy had a lot to do with it. I binge watched many seasons of The Crown on Netflix while I was pregnant, and almost every scene had someone wearing pearls. From there I ran down the rabbit hole with pearls – researching different varieties, cultivation methods, and grades. I then went online and bought some loose freshwater pearls to experiment with, creating pieces for myself and to make thank you gifts for girlfriends who gave us baby presents. To my surprise, my pearl creations were such a hit amongst my girlfriends, several requested that I make more and they’d pay for it. One thing led to another, shortly after it was drilling machines and tools galore.
Do you have formal training or qualifications in your craft?
The short answer is no, but I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design from AUT. My degree has trained my eye for aesthetics, and taught me a great deal in the use of different mediums and tools to put together a collection. I think this translates through my creations.



Your favourite materials, tools, and processes?
Aside from baroque and keshi pearls, it has to be gold-filled, which is almost identical to the look and feel of 14k gold, yet at a fraction of the cost. It is equally hypoallergenic and low maintenance – it will last for years before you will even think about replacing it.
Tell us about some of the techniques involved in producing one of your pieces
A large part of my studio time is spent sorting the pearls by grade, arranging and pairing them, and deciding if they are better suited for pearl strands, bracelets, pendants, studs, or rings. Then I will drill them in a very large batch, so they can later be strung or set. I’m not a jewellery maker – my parts are produced by a local manufacturing jeweller.
What inspires you?
I’m a very practical person so I tend to focus on creating things which people will wear and love. My inspirations tend to come from observing my surroundings through everyday moments, places I’ve been, people I’ve met, shops I’ve browsed, or shows I’ve watched. In New Zealand, we have a collective aesthetic which is unique to us, so I try to capture this through my designs and collections.
What has been a highlight of your maker journey so far?
Holding a stall at the Seeker’s Makete (Christchurch Art Centre) – it’s on every Saturday year round. People’s responses have been so encouraging and it helped build my confidence as a maker as it validated my work.



Describe your workspace:
Temporary. Pop up. I currently work from my home in Papanui, Christchurch, where I have two trestle tables set up – one to do the making, and the other to mock up visual merchandising for the market.
Five words that describe your mind:
Busy, organised, observing, stoic, focussed.
Your favourite feedback from a customer:
“How come I’ve never seen pearls like these before?!” This was the response of a market customer last week when she chose a pair of orange/pink baroque pearl studs for her mother-in-law’s birthday. I’ve often received similar responses from people saying they have not seen the shapes of pearls I have curated.
What’s your favourite childhood book and why?
Alice in Wonderland. I really identify with Alice, with her sense of adventure and curious spirit. My life has been, and still is, full of rabbit holes. I hope that will never change, I want to continue to explore and stay curious about life.


A favourite quote:
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” I find myself repeating this in my head when I’m overwhelmed. I have come up with different strategies centred around this ethos, in order to manage my time and be productive without getting anxious.
If you were a crafty superhero, what would your name and superpower be?
Mermaiden, I would throw oyster shells as darts and pearls as bullets. My superpower would be to extract toxic waste from the ocean and turn them into nutrients for my pearl farm.
What would your advice be for those starting out in a crafty business?
Set yourself a goal you can achieve daily. Eat the elephant one bite at a time. When I first decided to sell my work, I wrote a random to-do list in no particular order, of all the things that needed to be done, and every day I would choose one at whim to complete. Within a month I had 20 listings on Felt, a business card, a domain name, and Instagram and Facebook pages. The month after that I started doing markets.


What does it mean to you when someone buys your creations?
It means that they have given me a vote with their hard earned dollar. And I don’t take that lightly in today’s economy – people have less disposable income, not to mention so many choices both online and offline. That they’ve chosen to purchase from me gives me a sense of mission to create better and offer better service.
What was the last handmade item you bought and what attracted you to it?
A Bluff oyster trinket filled with resin, from Felt seller Jupiter & Pip. I use it for visual merchandising at the market. The maker, Leah, works at Barnes Oysters in Invercargill as an oyster opener. I love great maker stories like Leah’s and it builds a great visual story – people often ask if I made it and if it’s also for sale!
What’s your favourite item in your shop right now?
The Rice Pops Necklace, nothing screams summer and beach vibes more. I’m currently wearing this almost every day.
What’s in store for the rest of 2025?
A few things excite me with the year ahead. Firstly, I would love to attend Encraftment Market this year! Secondly, earrings and pendant necklaces are also coming to my Felt store. Last but not least, I will be launching a premium collection with saltwater keshi pearls.


beautiful creations
Great looking setup and products! I think my wife would love these for valentine’s gifts I’m gonna have a good browse
Thanks Johnny. I will be loading more products in the coming days prior to Valentines day so watch this space 🙂