All that glitters

She staged her first solo exhibition of more than 200 designs in October 2009 in Beijing's Sanlitun area. Gao has three series - Jacaranda, Notes and Mini.

The first series features tropical trees with clusters of fragrant, purple, trumpet-shaped blooms. She says it represents life and beauty, explaining the line was designed in a wild, bold and random way.

She regards Notes as a record of her life and dedicates it to her mother and friends.

Gao says she takes inspiration from anything and records whatever she encounters that impresses her, be it an amazing song or delicious meal. She enjoys the process of creating with her hands and revising until she's satisfied.

Gao says every piece she creates captures her various moods, and that's what makes them special.

She says jewelry has become her primary creative outlet. Photography has become just a job, and she misses the days of film.

"I am a sentimental, self-centered person, and I hate repetition," she says.

But she also says that will be inevitable when the brand becomes a business.

"It's ironic because I'm not very good at marketing or management. I'm good at coming up with weird ideas," she says.

"When you're at different ages, you do different things. I'm glad I've been able to find suitable ways to express myself then and now."