Wednesday, October 19, 2011

One Size Fits All: New Wire Jewelry Tutorial

JUST RELEASED!
Adjustable Wire Wrapped Ring with Seed Beads

Adjustable Wire Wrapped Ring with Seed Beads

This tutorial is rated for beginners to intermediate level students.
The lesson teaches you to make an adjustable wire ring that fit finger sizes between 6 to 12.
Once you are familiar with the technique, the ring is highly customizable depending on your creativity. You can make it thinner or wider, plain or colorful, bigger or smaller to fits your fingers and tastes.
It doesn't take long to complete one so it makes great last minute gifts as well.
Adjustable Wire Wrapped Ring with Seed Beads Tutorial



Adjustable Wire Wrapped Ring with Seed Beads

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Beads! Beads! Beads! Abuzz

The Borneo International Beads Conference.
Took place last weekend.
Last year was held in Miri, about an hour by air from Kuching.
So this year, I made sure I don't miss it since its in Kuching.
Sad! Sad!, I only managed about half an hour there, before its time to pick the boy from his Taekwando.
Borneo International Beads Conference
Click picture for larger view.
 Intricate beadwork from our very own Sarawak.
Intricate beadwork from our very own Sarawak
(Click picture for larger view)
More beads from Borneo.
Intricate beadwork from our very own Sarawak
(Click picture for larger view)
These bead works are from South Africa and Kenya.
The top most are peacock necklace from South Africa.

Very detailed and intricate work.
I was told it takes about a week to complete one.
Copper and silver wire jewelry from Indonesia
:) my favorite stall that displayed lots of Copper and silver wire jewelry from Indonesia.
Look familiar? The rose pendant at the top right corner :)
Lots of wire weaving and coiling there.
Another beautiful native beads from Borneo
Another beautiful native beads from Borneo.
About 10mm or larger each.
You have a great weekend.
I am looking forward to it....working on my next wire jewelry tutorial :)

Saturday, October 08, 2011

Wire Work How To and Matang Wildlife Centre

How nice to start the day with a message that reads "Congrats! One or more of your items has been featured in a new collection titled: "Wire Work How To", curated by BonniesPlace; Great job!".
If you have the time, do take a peek at some of the talented wire artists listed.
Who knows you'll get hook, like me.
Here is the link - Wire Work How To.
The following pictures are not related to wire jewelry but shots taken during Raya cum Independent day - last 31st August 2011.
A bit late but nevertheless....off wire rambles.

We took the boys to Matang Wildlife Centre, about 30 minutes drive from the city.
Orang Utan picture at Matang Wildlife Centre

The Information Board is a bit confusing.
Maybe we got the orientation wrong cause we ended up on the wrong side of the trail....lol...
Information Board at Matang Wildlife Centre

Dear hubby and William way ahead.
It looks bright here but actually its quite dark...the little one got scared and we got left behind a bit.
Jungle trail at Matang Wildlife Center

Catching up and manage to look at the signboard indicating the tree species - Kayu Malam (Night Wood - direct translation :))
Jungle trail at Matang Wildlife Center

Here's the Hornbill - can't see much here as the camera keep focusing on the wire mesh.
Any suggestion on  how to take clear picture of caged animals?
Hornbill in the cage

Here's the crocs...sleeping.
The boys got all excited...but that's about all the wildlife we saw :)
Most cages are empty!
No Orangutans...disappointed!
Crocodiles at Matang Wildlife Center

Here's, the stream.
Clear water but the rocks are mossy and slippery.
There was only one other group of people there so we kind of have the whole place to our self.
I think it's because of the entrance fee - RM10/adult, RM5/child.....expensive? Erm...kind off...considering...rather not say...
Henry happy playing in the river

I don't know why but they don't want to dip or sit in the water  - maybe its the moss...
William squinting his eyes

As usual, I am busy looking at the rocks hoping to find some interesting ones.
Look! Bit of love from this rock I found.
Heart shaped river stone

Snack time! Here's the Lemang!
Glutinous rice cooked in bamboo + coconut milk.
We purchased this on the way to the centre.
Look how much is cooking. He is making lots of them because it's Raya and his Lemang is very popular.
RM9.00/piece
Row of glutinous rice cooked in bamboo + coconut milk

Ready to eat? :) Peeling the bamboo...and...
Glutinous rice cooked in bamboo + coconut milk

Yummy! well....its sticky rice...and its filling...
Yummy, sticky rice

Time to go home, exit...

A bit of fun over the sunroof....
William sticking his head out of the car roof

The sun was setting by the time we hit the highway...
Sunset

...stopped by our favorite stall for dinner...:)
Dinner time at Chai Heng

Hope your weekend would be fun.
Happy Weekend :)

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Wire Wrapped Rings-Adjustable and Jasper

Just a quick one to post on two recently completed rings.
One Adjustable Japanese Seed Beads Ring...and one wire wrapped Jasper ring.
Both are similar to previous ones if you have been following my posts :)

I am currently working on a Tutorial for the Adjustable Japanese Seed Beads Ring.
Been a while since I last published any tutorial so...
I guess its about time :)
Further, there have been a couple of inquiries for this tutorial...
So, hang on there, it shall be ready soon...
Till then, have a great weekend!
Adjustable Japanese Seed Beads (glass) Ring

Close up of adjustable Japanese Seed Beads (glass) Ring

Close up of wire wrapped jasper ring

Close up of wire wrapped jasper ring

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Back to School and Peace Pendant

When the boys start school earlier this week after a week long holiday, it means back to busy time for me.
Besides work, basically its back to the routine of dropping and picking up the boys from schools.
Morning is not so much of a problem as I drop Henry at his kindy on the way to work.
At noon time, I have to rush to pick him up and drop him off at home by 12:30pm. As he gets out of the car, William gets in and off we go as he is in the afternoon session which starts at 12:45pm. After dropping him off, normally just on the dot, I'll drive straight to office, grab a quick lunch (normally tapao / take away) and back to work - all within 1 hour, provided there is no traffic jam.
That's basically my day on week days.
Now you know why I am always looking forward to weekends and holidays....hehehe.
I am sure there are many parents in similar situations as I am but that is part of life over here.
Not sure about other places though....maybe you can share.
Enough rambling, here is what we really need - PEACE - at home or outside home.
This wire wrapped Swarovski Crystal peace pendant was completed a while back but it got pushed back and back till now.
Wire wrapped colorful Swarovski Crystal peace pendant

Wire wrapped colorful Swarovski Crystal peace pendant

wire wrapped colorful Swarovski Crystal peace pendant on my palm
Its quite large, about 5cm in diameter but it is meant to grab attention :D
Have a PEACEful day!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Wire Wrapped Handphone Charms

:) Weekend is here again...happy!
After that it will be Raya holidays and school holidays.
Almost one whole week to catch up with delayed projects.
Hope to complete most of them.
Meanwhile here's the recent completed project - wire wrapped handphone charms.
Been a while since I last made handphone charms.
This time around made 14 of them.
Wire wrapped Swarovski Crystal handphone charms
These are made of Swarovski Crystal and Pearl.

Wire wrapped handphone charms with mixture of glass beads, crystals, gemstones, pearl, Swarovski Crystal and metal charm
These are mixture of glass beads, crystals, gemstones, pearl, Swarovski Crystal and metal charm.

Close up of wire wrapped charms with cracked glass and amethyst, pearl, Swarovski Crystal and metal charm
Close-up, I still love swirls......

Wire wrapped charms with yellow colored big beads and porcelain bead
These are my favorite. These beads have large enough hole for the chain to go through, so I made them this way.

Wire wrapped charms with yellow colored big beads and porcelain bead
Have a beautiful weekend my dear readers.