What Have I Been Up To during MCO (18 Mar to 12 May 2020)

Today is the 51 day we have been on Movement Control Order (MCO).
The whole world is in some kind of controlled movement or lockdown due to this nasty Covid-19 virus. I hope you, your family, and friends are doing well and you are keeping yourself healthy and safe.

Starting this week, this controlled movement is now known as Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) or MCO5. Basically, some economic sectors/businesses and activities are allowed to take place with conditions. Four persons are now allowed to be in a car provided you are from the same household. There are many many more conditions but I am not going into that.
TBH, I would prefer MCO4 to continue until the 12th of May.

I have been wanting to update here, thinking that during this time I'd be able to post more often.
But behold, Working From Home (WFH) is really WFH.
....just realized that WFH is like working 24/7.

What have you been up to during this time?
Cooking?......baking?......cleaning?.......making wire jewelry?.......start a new hobby or hobbies?.......DIY DIY DIY?.........watch movies/dramas?........surfing the www?........exercising?........reading?........spring cleaning......go over your todo list?....oh there are many things to do if you are not WFH.

As for me, WFH takes up most of my time although I tried to stick to fixed working hours.
Ahh...that doesn't mean I didn't do other things though.
The food photos that people have been sharing online and all over the social media during this time are just too tempting.

So, one thing I discovered during this MCO is that I can BAKE cake.
I don't remember the last time I tried my hand on cake baking...
Must have been like 30 over years ago.
That was a failed orange cake. Or was it a butter cake?
Well, we don't have youtube, smartphones and google at that time.
So, I gave up cake baking after that one failed project.
On top of that, I am not a baking or cooking person.

Thanks to Emily of Emily Secret Passions, I tried out the Basque Burnt Cheesecake.
The reason I gave it a go is mainly because it only involves 5 ingredients and a hand mixer....haha I don't have electrical mixer since I have resigned to the fact that I can't bake. So, I don't have many baking tools and utensils at home....don't laugh...

So here is the result....my first ever burnt cheesecake.

 This is a very tiny cheesecake - 6 inches in diameter

 Ignore those cheese on top. Must oil the knife next time.

I used air fryer for my first cheesecake....easy peasy.

For those of you who think that you don't know how to bake, give this cheesecake a try.
If I can do it, so can you.

Here is the youtube recipe that Emily shared with me:



Have a great day and stay safe, stay healthy.
What have I been up to, to be continued...

BIB Conference 2017 is Back in Kuching

The Borneo International Beads Conference 2017 is back.
It is currently held at Plaza Merdeka - a Shopping Mall + Hotel venue, right next to the previous venue - the Old Court House.

Actually went there yesterday after lunch but left without setting foot at the mall. The area was jam packed and we couldn't find any parking space. Disappointed!

So, this morning, we made it a point to leave an hour earlier, around 9 am. Just so that we can find parking space. Hais! Guess what?....We were not allowed to enter the Mall/hotel basement parking area before 10 am. Got such thing onekah???

Lucky us, we found a spot along the Main Bazaar. Phew!!
Off we went for a short sightseeing of the old bazaar area. This is the section of the city where we drive pass quite frequently but rarely stop to visit or shop.
If we do, only to a particular shop but not the whole stretch of the shops along this street.
This morning, we managed to take a peek at most shops - at least those that were already opened at 9++am.

Back to BIB, stalls were set up within the mall itself, therefore, it's way more comfortable with air-conditioning.

This year, however, I did not see any stall displaying beads from other countries. Most are locals. Not sure if it was because we were too early.

Here, let the pictures dothe talking.

4th Borneo International Beads Conference (BIBCo) 2015 and Happy New Year 2016

Happy New Year 2016
May your dreams turn into reality and all your efforts into great achievement.
Wishing you more success in 2016 and more PEACE to the country and world.

Thank you all for your loyalty and for keeping up my rambles here at WireBliss.
Psst** will try to post more often in 2016☺

Yes, I have been missing from action for more than a month.
This will be the last post for 2015.
Before the new year starts, I better post about the 4th BIBCo that took place last October.....LAST OCTOBER!!! more than two months ago.
See how behind I am.

This year BIBCo was held at the Sarawak Tourism Complex which used to be the Court House, at the bank of the Sarawak River.
I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Here is a nice view of the inner courtyard of the old Court House.

Gemstones necklaces

Native beads of Sarawak

Beaded colars

Book by Elaine Robnett Moore

Native beads of Sarawak

Some wire wrapped earrings by Elaine Robnett Moore

Glass beads by Marianne Bradman of the USA

Handwoven Baskets

Native bead necklace in the making.

Wire and metal work pendant

Goodbye 2015
Have a blessed 2016

Look at Vera's Creation

This blog is kind of neglected lately...though I have been posting here at OrchidBliss :) Just because many of our orchids are blooming now.

That aside, today I am sharing Vera's creation which are based on my popular (hehe *wink*) Twice Around the World (TAW) Tutorial. It is always very nice to receive feedback from fellow students and wire jewelers after they created something out of my tutorials.

So, keep them coming please....and here are the pieces created by Vera.
Let me know what you think.
I think all of them are very beautiful with her own personal touch.

▼I told her and I am going to say it again. I especially like this earrings.

Check out Vera's other creations here:
FB Page - https://m.facebook.com/WireDreamsJewels

The TAW Bracelet Tutorial is available here if you want to try making it yourself:
TAW at Etsy

I did it Upside Down

Don't get any naughty ideas :)
I am referring to the Coiled Filigree Earrings by Emily.
Tried out the project yesterday.

Well, I didn't follow through the tutorial.
Reason being I got flooded with other ideas halfway through the project.

First, while making the hoop, I decided to change it from dangle to hoop earrings.
The size of the hoops are maintained at 2.5cm in diameter.

Then, when the coils were completed, and I was getting ready to attach it to the bottom of the hoop, another idea came to mind.
Ermmmm....how would it look like if attach to the inside of the hoop instead?

That is how I ended up with an upside down version of Emily's Filigree earrings. Instead of this

....a hoop filigree earrings

The beads, coral and pearl were wire wrapped to the bottom.

How do you like my version of the Coiled Filigree Earrings :)?
Hope you like them.
I love them.

If you would like to learn how to make a Coiled Filigree Earrings, check out Emily's Tutorial here.
Who knows you might be flooded with more ideas than me.

Emily, thanks for the inspiration.

Emily Secret Passions and Other Links

Here are some of the recent happenings and links that I would like to share.
Hope you'd find them informative and useful too.

First thing first.
Emily Secret Passions
The multi-talented Emily just joined the club.

She recently opened her Etsy Store, EmilySecretPassions (Handcrafted Wire Jewelries, Gifts & Tutorials).
She is in the process of getting her shop populated.
At the moment there are several items listed including two wire jewelry tutorials.
Emily is multi-talented because she can do crochet, beading (ah...too strenuous for my eyes), sewing and twist wire into beautiful jewelry.
Not only that, she is a good cook too :)...need to learn from her one day.

Here's a sample of Emily's Crochet Earrings.

...and here's one of her wire jewelry tutorials.

This will be one of my projects this weekend.
I'll share with you the outcome after that.
Emily takes the time and effort to explain in detail each step (with close up pictures) in creating this earrings.
Won't fail, for sure.
You can check out the tutorial Here.

Etsy New Delivery Process for Digital Goods
Etsy finally introduced its new delivery process for digital goods.
This is really good news for me and many many others who sell digital goods at Etsy.
No more manual emailing of each and every tutorials :D
You can read more about it here - Click here

Following this, I have updated my Etsy store to make use of this new delivery process.
Now, when you purchase tutorials from my Etsy store, you don't have to wait for me to email you the tutorials anymore (except for tutorial packages that I still manually ship or mail them out).
After the payment process, you will receive an automatic email notification letting you know the file is ready on the Downloads page.
Just click on the blue link, which will bring you to the download page.
Click Download and save the file in your computer - see pic below.

Oooo...bliss! bliss! :)

Fastener Type Chart
Then, there are all kind of fasteners which I came across at Bolt Depot - Fastener Type Chart.
Now I know what to call my fasteners.

Bird Nest Jewelry
Something I have been wanting to make but always pushed back to the back burner.
Mortira of Inspirational Beading put together an awesome list of Bird Nest Jewelry Tutorials which I think is a very good source of reference.

Made by Joel
Another new site I discovered is Made by Joel.
Lots of art, craft, DIY projects for children.

Ok, that's it for today.
Hope you enjoy the links.

Wire Jewelry 2013 - Feedback

It is always a pleasure to receive positive feedback from people who purchase my tutorials and successfully completed the projects based on these tutorials.

Your feedback are very much appreciated and I would like to say thank you all for that.

Comments and feedback are important for me because from them, I'd know what you think of my tutorials and if required improve on them or future projects.

As such, I am starting off my 2013 posting by sharing few selected feedback and a completed project.

Feedback

Great tutorial, very clear and easy to follow. Made a bracelet in one evening and very beautiful. The extra instructions on making a clasp and jump rings are also great. This design is good for beads with small drill holes because there are thicker wires to help hold the links together. It won't fall apart. Thanks so much for sharing this, it's very clever and well thought out -- from Kate

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Friendly seller, and fast delivery of the tutorial to the inbox. Instructions are so easy to follow. Highly recommended. -- from Kristen

Kate and Kristen are giving feedback to this tutorial -  Twice Around The World Bracelet

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Super fast delivery. Clear concise instructions and pictures. I'm sure I am going to have fun making these. Thank you! -- from Sharon

Sharon is referring to this tutorial package - Tutorial Package


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Lightning fast delivery. Excellent, clear step-by-step instructions. Turned out wonderfully the first time I tried making this ring. -- from Mary

Super fast service. Excellent, clear, detailed instructions. Blessings! -- from Diana

Mary and Diana are referring to this tutorial - Sparkly Crystal Ring

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I can't wait to create this beautiful project. The text directions are perfectly synced with the detailed photographs so that even a beginner should have no trouble following along. Thank you! -- from Sue

Sue is referring to this tutorial - Braided Wire Cuff (Meet me Halfway)

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Easy and looks great. I'm a beginner and made a pair in less than 30 minutes. The finished look is very professional. Will make more to give away as presents. Thanks for a great tutorial. -- from Kate

Kate is referring to this tutorial - Wire Wrapped Stud Earrings Tutorial

Completed Project (Need more on this)
Unfortunately there is only one photo to show.
This Braided Cuff is done by Donna based on this tutorial - Braided Wire Cuff (Meet Me Halfway)
Donna used 19ga black steel wire and she'd be busy with this project for a while :)
Thank you Donna for sharing.

If you would like to share your projects based on one of my tutorials, do let me know.

Email me (click on the white envelope at the top right of this blog) or leave a comment here and I shall get back to you.

If you have a website or blog, provide me your links to be included.

Till then, have a great week.