Spring cleaning!

For the past couple of weeks I've been going through my stash of beads and gem stones, and trying to organise them in such a way I get to see all of them on the table and get inspired. So far it's been an uphill task because I can't get much done before having to go to the market, do the laundry, prepare meals, meet the children for lunch, take my daughter to dance classes or piano lessons...

Although I've been beading steadily, experimenting with new ideas, I've not really completed anything worthy of mention yet. Take yesterday for example. I got this really cool idea for a bracelet only to find I didn't have all the components needed to experiment with and that meant another trip down to my suppliers. Another frustration with the suppliers is the limited stocks they have. Many people make their own jewelry now but they look for the cheapest parts. I'm looking for better quality components so I have to order online. Two weeks ago, I was looking for bead caps. The ones they had in the store (their best quality) was 6 caps for S$4.00. The ones I was looking for was S$50 for ONE! Needless to say they didn't have it.

Someone asked me the other day how long it takes to come up with a new design. Well, I carry a sketchbook with me everywhere I go so I can draw or write down ideas. After sketching it out, I sit at my studio desk for hours, flipping through magazines and books for inspiration, looking through my bead stash and trying to come up with the right combination of colours. Then I start putting my ideas to thread and needle. Sometimes it takes a few days of experimentation before I come up with a combination of colours that I like. Once that's settled, I start on making the whole piece. Many times I've had to cut up everything and start all over again for various reasons like the beads don't sit properly, the piece is not comfortable when worn etc etc. It may take a few weeks for the design to be completed and ready to sell. I always wear the new designs just to make sure it falls nicely. But you'll be pleased to know I'm always working on more than one piece at a time!

Check back again next week. I hope to have something to show you!

Week 5 - Ready, Steady, Go!

Thank you to all who have complimented my jewelry thus far. It has been a joy crafting new designs and locating the perfect beads for them. I've been trying to work faster but unfortunately, the unavailability of my choice of jewelry components in Singapore (having to order from overseas takes one week at least) and the new school schedule has been rather challenging in more ways than one. But I plod on in the name of art! Here are a few pieces completed last week.

This is a stainless steel 16-inch necklace which means not having to deal with oxidization. My new series contains different centrepieces in an array of colours for different occasions! I'm still designing centrepieces and will show them to you in a week or two. This week's centrepiece is made from Delica beads in a shiny purple, green and gold tone. I used Swarovski rondells for the lacy drop which catches the light really well in the evening.

This is a Tiger's Eye cabachon which I beaded with an ultrasuede backing for comfort and durability. The necklace is 17 inches and completed with a strong matt and shiny gold-tone magnetic clasp. I mixed both matt and shiny beads to bring out the textures.

Cameo Ear Rings

This morning has been quite productive for me! Here's a pair of beadwork ear rings made with cameo cabachons. I used Toho Delica beads together with 11.0 and 15.0 glass seed beads.

There's a matching pendant cabachon I'm working on now, incorporating a peach aventurine pendant and beads. Since I'll be accompanying my daughter to ballet and tap this evening I probably won't get to finish it till the weekend. See you next week!

Chinese New Year

Good morning friends! Last year, I found a lovely cinnabar pendant with the Chinese word "love" on it. I sold one at the Christmas sale, made one for myself and this last one I decided to bead it like a cabachon. Here's the end result. It's has a 16-inch spiral rope necklace and I absolutely love it! This will be perfect for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations which always reminds me of family and friends, and the love we share for one another.





Some of you have asked how I end up with a cabachon design. I don't really follow a pattern from any book. However, when I first started, I did just to get a feel of what is needed. Now I develop the design with the pendant or cabachon in my hand. Sometimes I make a sample or work a few rows and find that it doesn't go the way I would like so I rip the beadwork out! It takes anywhere from 3 to 9 hours to work on it! Of course not counting the many days I just look at the piece to get inspiration.

Spring's here!

This 16-inch spiral rope necklace has a lovely rhodochrosite cabachon which I beaded. I used Toho cylinder glass beads, 11.o glass beads, 15.0 glass beads and Swarovski crystals. The clasp is an antique gold flower.

I took these photos without flash to minimise the glare. It's a little lighter than what is shown here. Really nice.

New Creations for the year

The past two weeks have been really challenging in terms of time and scheduling but things are beginning to settle down now. Next week will see a new schedule for school but we'll cross the bridge when we come to it!

Anyway, as promised, here are my new designs for the year.

This first piece is a 34 inch lariat. I used lots of Czech leaf glass beads, coral beads, fire polished beads and Swarovski crystals. I absolutely love how it turned out.

A Chinese New Year possibility! 16 inches with a lovely Chinese porcelain pendant and aluminium beads on the side.

This is a 28-inch "endless" necklace made with

Japanese wood beads, Czech glass beads as well as aluminium beads (will not tarnish).

A New Beginning -- 2008!

Dear Friends,

A very happy new year to all of you! We started the new year with great anticipation. Our son will be taking one of his most important school exams this year, the "O" levels. Our daughter started at School of the Arts (SOTA). My husband has new plans for this year's business and I'll be working harder on creating more jewelry pieces for all of you!

I've started beading and will post photos later in the week. Thought I'd share some photos of my daughter's new school and friends today.

This is the new school logo. I love that it's so colourful!

Here's the Minister for Communications and the Arts at the school's official opening with the Vice-Principal.

My daughter with her new friends Adeline and Yuki. They will specialise in ballet.