Camelia Necklace

FOUR DAYS!! I HAVEN'T POSTED FOR FOUR DAYS!!

Which means I have work on this one for FOUR DAYS!! Unbelieveable!! Yeah, because this necklace is rather tricky. Read on to know why I took so long for this one.

This is it:


Camelia Necklace - SOLD

This is a pattern in a beading magazine, and a lady that came over to my house the other day happened to browse that particular magazine and in love with this pattern. So, she asked me to make one for her. And the challenge begin.

First of all, I did not make anything in gold before, so I do not have any gold findings that I can use. I asked if she would like a different colour but she insisted that she want it in gold! But of course, she meant to use craft wire in gold, not real GOLD! Else, that would be pricey!

So, I asked around "what is the best material that I can use to make this necklace", because I heard that gold plated findings tarnished faster then silver plated. I have suggestion to use Artistic Wire, or Beadsmith Wire, or Darice Wire, or Beadalon Wire, or gold-filled (expensive). But all these are not easily available locally. have took some time seeking for quality and affordable gold colour wire and I have found Artistic Wire (gold coloured copper wire) at a fair price so I bought it. After all, many people have been voted for that.

So I got my wire the other day, and of course I start making the necklace! I start off with the pendant. I have actually change the way of making that pendant, because I do not have some of the material needed, but the end result is the same.

Now, the tricky part is to eye-pin the 4mm beads with the gold wire. I found out that their (the wire) non-tarnish coating are coming off so easily that I hardly make any loop without peeling off the coating! This frustates me. I know they will turn green for sure because the coating are gone and the copper underneath is showing. So I fed up, leave them aside, and do something else.

The next morning, yeah they really turn green at some spot. I try to use a homebrew technique to wash away the greenish, it works, so I thought, "ok I can wash the green away, I can just continue making". When I am about to finish half length of the necklace, I get more and more frustated because none of them stay as shiny as they were! There are bump here and there!!! *sobs*

Actually I know where the problem is, the plier is too hard (or is it me that is pressing too hard), and its making the coating peeling off. I thought, if I have the rubber coating for my plier, it would be better! *Sigh* Its hard to get proper beading stuff here locally. So I end up using economic but troublesome method that work as great too. And finally I am able to create some loop without peeling off any coating. ~Phew.. I have found a solution and I stopped and do something else.

So the next day, which is yesterday, I continued making the necklace, and finally it is completed. But something disturbed me! The beads that I pinned earlier are disgusting! I end up cutting every each of them, retrieving my beads and REDO. Yeah.. REDO. At last, the necklace part is finished. *Relieved*

Final day, which is today, I redo the bottom part of the pendant. REDO all includes the tiny little swirl. And I have to do a clasp myself, because I don't have any commercial clasp that match the colour! I end up making an S-clasp. It looks great. Just like this but in gold colour.

DONE DONE DONE! Yay! Yay! I showed to my mom, showed to my bf put it up near my neck.. it looks so gorgeous! The lady will be visiting me this weekend. I hope she will like this necklace! Else, this will be mine! *Grins*

P/S: I am such long-winded!

Rainbow Bracelet

Its getting late and I am having fun creating a new bracelet. Seems the bracelet fever had caught me! I made this necklace after I have seen the effect of those glass cubes in the Rainbow Anklet. The Rainbow Anklet has received great feedback, so I am now making a matching bracelet :) No, it is not a charm bracelet but its a linked-bead bracelet.

Here it is:-

Rainbow Bracelet

This bracelet sparkles and looks shiny. It also looks delicate and lady-like. Looks colourful huh? It cheers up the wearer and the people around!

After I had finished making this, I calculated my cost and my selling price. I couldn't believe it can be set at such a low price for such a pretty bracelet! Click on the picture if you are interested in looking at the price :)

This bracelet is made with 92.5 silver (Sterling Silver) wire, plier-loop link and a commercial spring-clasp. The beads used are 4mm Swarovski Crystal Bicones and 7mm Glass Cubes.

I love this bracelet the moment I finished this. I tried to figure out if I can use Swarovski Cubes instead of Glass Cubes, so it will add more sparkles to the whole bracelet. And I figure out that I need to triple the selling price if I am going to use Swarovski Cubes. (X_X) If a customer is insisting on Swarovski Cubes, I will definately make one for her, and charge appropriately.

Rainbow Anklet

Mom had been asking me to make her an anklet for ages, and I kept on dragging her till just now, she told me a friend of hers bought a lovely anklet from the jewellery store and she would like to have one too! Ok, since she had bug me for some time, so I made her one a couple of hours ago.

So I grab her sterling silver chain that she have bought for a few days, run through my beads, and I have choosen some cubes for her. Luckily she likes it. Ok, that speeds up my job. After much coiling, cutting and pinning I have manage to finish an anklet that she loves very much.

Here it is:


Although she said, "a little bit indian look" but she loves it very much and will wear it tomorrow morning. To show off I guess :)

P/S: Do you think she is a lucky mother? I do.

Custom Order Beaded Belt

I should have posted this yesterday, but as soon as I posted the previous post, I felt tired and slept. ^_^

This is a custom order belt, made with glass pearls and sterling silver.



This is a "double strand linked bead chain" that meets up at both end with a sterling silver lobster clasp, with a few more "linked bead chain" dangle at the end followed by a beaded cross. It is designed that the cross is hang on the side. I hope I explain this well, I wish I could find a suitable display to show you how it is suppose to be wear. The customer will come and collect tomorrow. Hope she likes it. =)

Chickadee Chick

This is what I have made for custom order.



This Chickadee Chick is made of Swarovski Crystal Bicones and Jet Round. The lady wanted to hang it within her handbag. She insisted a chicken, so I guess she is borned in the year of chicken?

Now, I can make all 12 animal from the Chinese Zodiac. Let me know if you are interested in any.

Ok, a short post, let me take picture of another custom piece and will post sometime later tonight, hopefully.

Colourful Lollies Bracelets

I couldn't be continuing to make the custom orders when the material haven't arrive at my doorstep. They should be here by tomorrow, and then I can continue with the custom orders.

So, I chat around with my friends through MSN. When I asked a friend what should I make tonight, she said I should make a bracelet because she said she never seen me make any. And I asked, "what colour" and she said "purple". So hmm, a purple bracelet, I thought. Arrghh... bracelet is a bit tough!! But I just wanted to take up this challenge.

This is what I come out with (after half an hour looking for what beads I wanted to use):


A Purple Bracelet

Made with Purple Swirl Glass Nuggets (3 of them are from my lollies), Swarovski Bicones (Light Amethyst), Purple Cat Eyes, Glass Pearls and some metal beads and findings. It turns out so great that I wanted to remake them in Sterling Silver. Just have to order more wires and some sterling silver beads.

Can you see the clasp of that bracelet? It is kinda hidden among the beads. Its a lobster clasp.

You know what, as soon as I finished making this piece of bracelet, I took the photo, and edit it in my picture editing program, just when my mom passed by, and said, "Eh, what is that, its so pretty, I want it". And I just thought.. "oh no, she want to take my new creation again.."

Fine.. fine.. I can just make another. So, I grab more beads, different colour this time, and not glass, but gemstone. Fiddle around with the colour, and voila... I made another bracelet. Woohoo, 2 bracelets in a day!

This is it:-


An Orange Bracelet

This orange bracelet is made of Agate Nuggets, Swarovski (Jonquil, Crystal, Fire Opal), Creamrose Pearl, Carnelian Round... and daisy spacers.. Much more better quality in terms of the beads.

And you guessed it, mom said she loves this even more... *sigh*

So I hand both bracelets to her, and she look at both bracelets and said, "how much?" So I took the calculator and counted my cost. I then told her how much I would sell the piece and she said, "Ok, put it nicely in a box..." Now.. don't assume that she is buying off me! She continued her sentence with "I will show my friends tomorrow and if they are interested in buying....."

"Ok"

Phew.. well it will be good if she can sell them, so I get the money, else she might be the bracelets new owner. But I definately will grab them back and list them in my website.

P/S: Did you notice that I am become more "creative" in naming my bracelets? Or am I a lazy thinker?

A Necklace and A Choker and Stories

I have made a few pieces these recent days. I have been busy beading and haven't have the time to blog. So here am I posting all my new creation.


Rhoslyn - Necklace

Rhoslyn, or lovely rose are so divine. Only the best beads used in the necklace. The pendant is made using Swarovski Bicone in Rose and Miyuki Silver Line Seed Beads with a Sterling Silver bail, and the necklace is made with Swarovski Bicone in Rose, Light Rose and Crystal. This piece is very lovely and feminine. I have make this necklace for me, if you like this, I can remake a new one.

Next, I have another pretty choker.


Cailyn Choker

Cailyn, as its name suggested, its a pure beauty choker. This choker is made of 8mm and 4mm round crackle natural crystal. This piece looks a lot much better on the neck then on my display. When wearing it as choker, the tension of the chain will be balance, hence creating a tight but balance and elegance looking choker.

I am going to make one similar in Swarovski Crystal and Sterling Silver, but I need to find a suitable sterling silver chain first.

I was making a sterling silver beaded belt for last 2 days. It is for a custom order. I have completed it, just have to add a clasp to finalize it. I have ordered some sterling silver clasps and they will only arrive tomorrow. So I will complete the belt tomorrow and take a nice nice photo to share here.

I still have a couple of orders to complete before making some stuff the stock up my website. And I still have to edit 35 pictures of the earrings for charity so I can share in my website too!

The charity has over, and they manage to sell a couple of earrings. They should have sold all of them... but they sort of "hide" my earrings from view. They should learn how to display my pretties better :D However, they are keeping them for their future event, like lucky draw or birthday gift among the association member? I don't know, I have no control for those earrings anymore after I have donated them to the association.

Ok, let me finish up the custom order first. Till then..

My Lollies

Just want to share my new beads. They are very pretty, just like lollies/candies. They looks yummy (that's the reason I have to buy them). They are glass. I think they are Indian glass, but they are quite good, I mean their quality are above the average of Indian glass. They don't come in pair (in my pack) so I can't make matching earrings. Perhaps I can try on some assymetrical earrings design. =)

Here are the lollies:-



They come in irregular shapes and different colours. These really give me a great challenge to think what to do with them. At the current moment, they will rest in my container. They told me they are sick of flying. (They came in an aeroplane *cough*). When they have enough rest, they will "work" for me.

Wahhahahhaa...

The matching earrings

Oftenly, when I do a piece of necklace, I will make the matching earrings without anybody requesting it. I love making things in a set. Therefore, I have made 2 earrings to match the pearl necklace in the previous post.

This time, I use earposts instead of ear hooks. They looks more neat and tidy.

Swarovski Crystal Bicones and White Glass Pearls


Swarovski Crystal Bicones and Creamrose Glass Pearls


I offer free matching earrings with necklace purchase!

A quickie too ;)

P/S: These are hard to photograph... they roll around too much!

Return to the Simple-Land

Sometimes, when I wanted to bead, I just can't figure out any idea. I have a strong feeling to bead, but don't know what to make! What a great torture!

Today, the same thing happened. At last, I decide to return to the Simple-Land by creating a simple pearl necklace (yeah I stocked lots of pearls). Simple-Land is a very calm and peace place and it is always encouraging! After making 2 pearl necklaces from the inspiration of Simple-land, I feel satisfied. Yes, I make something today. Yay!

Swarovski Crystal Bicones and White Glass Pearls


Swarovski Crystal Bicones and Creamrose Glass Pearls


I have made this type of necklace before. Indeed, it is a popular design among the ladies. I have sold quite a lot, and everyone loves the sparkles of this necklace. You can see the Swarovski Crystal shines from far far away.

My mom joined a choir and they performed on the stage. Of course, my mom has my pearl necklace (but hers is with white fresh water pearls and swarovski crystals). I was sitting at the audience seat, and yet I can see the shines of the crystals! Believe me! And to be frank, the pearl necklace of the other ladies are ... *ehem* anyway, mom's the best. =) After the first show, her choir-mates ordered the pearl necklace from me. They have more shows on schedule. I get all of them Swarovski Pearls at best price.

During Chinese New Year, I gave a similar one to my "mother-in-law-to-be". Sounds like I can't wait for a marriage. Hers is made with fresh water pearl and Swarovski Crystals. She got alots of compliment from the relatives. All thanks to the sparkles of Swarovski Crystals.

Why do I use glass pearl instead of Swarovski pearl this time?
Budget ;) People with low budget can purchase a similar necklace at lower price.

What is the different between glass pearl and Swarovski pearl?
Swarovski Pearls are guarantee scratch-free. The coating will not come off. They are all in round shape with a smooth holes. For the glass pearls, extra care needed to make sure the pearls are long lasting. Glass pearls do not have smooth holes (not as smooth as the Swarovski Pearls) and they are not as round as Swarovski Pearls. And of course, the price for both type of pearls are different too.

I shall post some pearls care guide soon.

Okay sleeping time.. dream beads... lots and lots of them!

A Quickie

I have been cleaning my beading table, and also organize my new beads and findings. Told you that I had some bead shopping last week! Everything is seperated into proper container or baggies so they are well-kept, and will not fight ^_^. Another reason to keep them tidy and nicely is that, they will speed up my beads searching progress, and will speed up my production as well.

All beaders will know how difficult it is to clean up a beading table. Beads sorting is not a pleasant job... imagine sorting out hundreds or thousands of beads.. as tiny as 2mm? Ok, I am exagerating here. I was just doing some counting and beads sorting, and put them in seperate baggies. They makes my beading life much more easier in the future!

Cleaning and tidying, and a quickie in between.

A Mother of Pearl simple earrings =D

Simple enough that you can wear to everywhere you like!



Yup, one of my new beads, purple shell beads. Some people name this kind of bead, Mother of Pearl (MOP) but I will call them shell, and that is what they really are!

MOP is not a type of pearl. They are one type of shell. The following is the defination from http://www.encyclopedia.com/ :-
MOTHER-OF-PEARL [mother-of-pearl] or nacre , the iridescent substance that forms the lining of the shells of some fresh-water and some salt-water mollusks. Like the pearl it is a secretion of the mantle, composed of alternate layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin. More...

=) Like this quickie? Drop by my website =)

Might do a similar in brown one day ^_^

Why I hadn't been posted

I have been away from home, did bead shopping, (yes nice stash I got!) and been taking a rest while celebrating the birthday week with my bf. Yes, a week! Oh I get to see him few days in a month :)

I have got a lots of beads from my friends too. I oftenly do swap beads with my beading friends. This time, I have got some lovely stars and I have decided to use them!

I have made 2 more earrings with sterling silver for the past week. Here they are:


Starry Starry Night
Swarovski Jet Bicones and Hematite Stars on Sterling Silver
Elegant chandelier earrings, drop measures 60mm excluding the earhooks.



Starry Starry Heart
Swarovski Light Rose and Crystal Bicones and Rose Quartz Stars on Sterling Silver
Rose Quartz brings love. Enjoy and respect your rose quartz. It's one of nature's greatest gifts.

Both are really nice earrings!

Others:
I have been working on 30 pairs earrings that are going for a local charity. My local primary school is doing a charity market for fund-raising and I am sponsoring these earrings together with my mother and another friend. All sales will be donating to the school. I will post a link to the pictures of those earrings when I have done editing the picture!

P/S: That's the other reason I haven't been blogging.

Till then =D

Beaded/Weaved Swarovski Black Bracelet

I should have posted more these few days, but there are some internet problem recently, and the broadband provider took 3 days to fix it, and 2 days for weekends, that makes almost a week without internet! Oh.. how did I survive without the internet?

Luckily I had some orders from a small jewellery party that I had, and I fill my time completing those custom orders. And yes, I made some sales from that party. For custom orders, I have made 1 ring, 1 pendant, 2 bracelets, 1 necklace and 1 beaded watch. I have sent all of them to their new owners, and I have forgot to take pictures!! I was beading away from home, and post the orders back home for mom to pass to the customers. I forgot to take my camera with me, therefore I couldn't take any picture.. how sad..

Ok, back to the topic. This is what I made today, in fact, few minutes ago. I still haven't get back home, but I borrowed my bf's digital camera. I must remember to take picture for each of my creation!!

Beaded/Weaved Black Bracelet with Swarovski Crystal (JET)

As the name suggested I made a bracelet with Swarovski Crystal in black. This is a beautiful and delicate weaved/beaded bracelets. It sparkles a lot!

Shot One


Actually I have made a lot of different colour for this version of bracelet. This is similar with one of the bracelet order. The customer choose violet, for her daughter-in-law-to-be.

Another Shot


And I have made a similar in fuschia and light rose (red tone) and present it as a birthday gift for my friend. She loves it a lot! I bet every girl will.

Wearing Position


This is how it should looks like when it is on your wrist. By the way, I just need more light. Proper lighting to take proper photographs. But forgive me, its dark here, no sunlight... its almost 4am! I should go to bed soon. Shall make this in different colour tomorrow!


P/S: Tell you what, I hate his camera, I just don't know how to use it properly!