work in progress

Here are 2 necklaces I made today, only half done as I'm planning to glue mini flower cabochons onto the filigrees. My shipment of supplies will be arriving some time this week, have bought quite a few of smaller sized flowers (hint: adorable!), can't wait!

I really like this design, looks a bit Christmassy don't you think?

Which is the irony of it, because these will only be up for sale in January, hmm...

I'm absolutely bad at keeping up with trends, I never follow them and my pieces seem to be way off the season (I like the non-conformity of it) ;)

but I'm extremely delighted to have found out the Pantone 2011 Colour of the Year is

honeysuckle!

woohoo... one of my favourites, such a sweet fine blend of pink and red.

now with this I hope it will keep me trendy & in style, whatever you call it ;)

christmas!

time flies and the annual year end rush is here again.

christmas in malaysia = extremely crowded malls + massive traffic jam everywhere.

(yes, we asians simply love spending hours at malls!)

My house is in the midst of a cluster of hugely popular malls, to the extent that shoppers park their cars behind my house . Getting out of the house this holiday season means heading straight to all day long traffic congestion :)

Anyway, this isn't the point of this blog post (though I seem to have written quite a bit, i'm easily distracted!), here are such awesome gift wrapping ideas, the best I have seen this year!

source

If I were to receive something wrapped like this, nevermind the content, most likely I wouldn't open it, too pretty!

Merry Christmas! ♥ 

ask and ye shall be given

I have a knack for stories, I like reading the lives and experiences of ordinary people, which leads me to books like Chicken Soup. My mum bought me the teenage ones & another called 'tough stuff' when I was younger. The other day I re-read Cup of Comfort: for Christians (mum bought this 4 years ago when I wasn't a Christian yet but I enjoyed reading it anyway) and I casually mentioned I would like to buy Chicken Soup for Christians, while lamenting how expensive it was (books are generally expensive here in Malaysia!)

published in 1997

No, I didn't get it in the end, I don't feel rich yet ;)

Couple days later mum was dusting the shelves and out of the corner of my eye I saw Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul. I have totally forgotten about this, it was given to me by dad's colleague during a tough time in life. Didn't matter that it wasn't what I specifically wanted, I felt like a little prayer of mine is answered, hallelujah! (I didn't even pray actually, I always feel things like these are too small matters for prayers. I certainly have got more to learn, the fact that He knows when a strand of hair falls from my head, nothing is too insignificant then)

Like mum said 'see? ask and it shall be given!'

Like I said, I did not ask, but He knows better ;)

friday

Had a belated birthday buffet lunch with my friends today. I stuffed myself so much that I was too full for dinner (sin of gluttony?). I seldom go for buffets as I'm a small eater, buffets are simply a waste of money for me :) which is good in a way, less guilty pleasures!

I told my friends not to get me presents this year as most of the time I have no need/use for them, save the $$. I did receive some mini candy canes though, how cute! Oh, and a huge handmade card too with sweet messages written all over, that meant much more to me than a store bought plushie or teddy bear :)

am glad I don't have a sweet tooth, this would have sent me straight to the dentist if I were to finish all!

After the heavy lunch, I made this customized bracelet for a local customer. I'm not too fond of silver actually, preferring the rustic old charm of antique brass but it was a refreshing change to work with different materials once in a while :)

 

I really like the teeny weeny heart charms that dangle from the chain, how I wish I have them in antique brass too, that would be so cool!

Off to source.... Have a nice weekend!

november round up

November's been great, on the local front I had a big order that had me working harder than usual, coupled with a few etsy purchases in time for christmas, that was the icing on the cake! =)

13 new pieces and now my store has page 4, i take every step as an achievement.

Thank you for an amazing month, I am grateful!
 

soar

I like looking at hand stamped jewellery, but if you were to offer me one I would have no idea what to 'stamp' on it. I'm not one who likes to wear my name on my neck, not fond of family names either, probably a favourite Scripture (that would be hard too as I have too many favourites), but then again Scriptures are way too long to fit into a tiny little pendant.

Finally, I found one I really like, here it is:

Necklace found here  @ The Rusted Chain

The word 'soar' has a special place in my heart, "soaring on wings like eagles", so goes Isaiah :)

I was loaned a book on eagles by a friend in church, it talks about how majestic eagles are, and how they soar above the storm (literally). 

Admittedly I didn't finish the book before returning so that is basically all I can remember, doesn't matter, eagles are still cool.

(I like owls as well, guess I caught the etsy bug too!)

Back to the necklace, I will get it one fine day when I feel rich ;)

having way too much!

I was working on a necklace the other day and couldn't find the filigree I wanted. I searched through boxes and boxes for a whole 10 minutes before finding it in my toggle & chain box.... I have always prided myself on being able to remember where I kept every single item, to the smallest beads! Daddy said this to me many times 'You must have really good memory to remember all this!', to which I would smile proudly at him.

the filigrees I was looking for, hidden snugly at the bottom of the box!

necklace made, can be seen HERE

Guess this time my 'pride bubble' has burst! ;)

and an indication that I should probably control my bead hoarding business, haha

but isn't that what all beaders do? we accumulate & heap up all the time!

Speaking of that, I have gotten some new toggles to add to my stockpile!

my favourite of the lot are the ones on the bottom left.

=)

oh gosh, just remembered I have a parcel at post office yet to be collected...

more hoarding, I never seem to learn, yikes!