Happy Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse 2014

Happy Chinese New Year 2014 to family, friends and loyal readers of this blog of mine.

Thank you for being around and hopefully you would stick around for many many Chinese New Years to come :)

This year, as in previous years, we celebrated moderately consisting mostly the same kind of stuff:

• On the eve, we had the reunion dinner where family members from near and far sit together for the dinner (basically food, food and more food). This year we have Annabel, Kwang and Abby over for the dinner as well (their first after moving back to Kuching). The reunion dinner is considered the biggest event of the Chinese New Year. As such children always make it a point to get "home" for this occasion no matter where they are. Not for me though, as I am considered married into dear hubby's family so I am with hubby and family (ah, complicated tradition ya? Never mind, leave this for some other time).

As usual, my favorite is the one right in the middle - fish maw soup :)
The rest....well I can ignore them.

• Final cleaning of the whole house after the reunion dinner (to sweep away ill old luck and welcome the new good luck). I thought we can rest after the fulfilling dinner but NO, we have to work some more....right till before the clock strike 12:00 am. Can't bring the dirt into the new year.
• Setting off fireworks (to scare off the bad spirit) at the strike of 12:00 am (although others started way earlier, like after dinner).

I am not good at taking fireworks pic.
This is the best pic I took.

• Next day, on the first day of CNY, first thing first, we distributed red packets or Angpows (with $$$) to the parents and the boys and the unmarried family members.

When we were young and single, this is what we looked forward
to every Chinese New Year because we were at the receiving end.
Once we got married (without kid yet), we don't look forward
to this because we will be distributing but not receiving :(
Once we have kids of our own, we don't really mind because
we will be both, giving and receiving...hehe.
Of course they go into the boys' account.
In this case, it is better to have more kids. You will receive more...LOL

• Then we dressed up a bit, preferably in red (pinkish for me this year), ready to receive visiting family and friends and vice-versa.

With Henry.
Looky, my tourmaline necklace.
Very matching my dress ya..<3 love

Ahhhhhhhhhmmmm.......Henry feeding Abby cupcake.
Cute!

• We visited the temples, praying for a prosperous, successful, happy, joyful, healthy, abundance, bountiful, smooth, good luck, peaceful, etc. etc. new year of the horse.

Tua Pek Khong Temple

At the temple with the boys.
How fast they grow.
William is almost as tall as I am.
It was only like yesterday when I held
this little tiny baby in my arms (10 years ago!)

William and Henry excited over the Kois.

Koi Fish symbolizes success and wealth.

• Lion dance performance. They are usually invited to perform privately or at special functions, at different days of the Chinese New Year celebration.

....look at the happy boy on the right hand corner....

That's about it - the happenings around our 2014 Chinese New Year celebration.

The way you celebrate yours might be slightly different from ours.

Feel free to share and comment.

Jewelry Storage

Now that I think about it, I actually never talk about this topic – jewelry storage.
Maybe because I do not have many finished jewelry ;)
That’s why I am more into storing stones and beads.
Storing stones and beads is not difficult. I mostly use plastic containers like these here.

As for finished jewelry, people says it is an art in itself. Some use wine glasses to hang earrings, twist wires to make wire trees to hang necklaces and earrings (ehm! planning to do this), modify old picture frames into jewelry frames, and many many more ways depending on your creativity and of course budget and space.
Mine is quite simple here and rather "artless". I simply throw everything into this individual compartment here ;-)

Psst! I hang some of my necklaces and rings on the clothes hooks too.
This way, I can just choose which one to put on when I change my clothes...for convenient sake.

Wire Jewelry - Pearly Wire Woven Cuff

Hello January 2014!!!
Here is my first post of the year.
A pearly woven wire cuff.

Used lots and lots of 30 gauge wire.
Not easy to keep them align to the shank as sometimes I pulled too hard and other time not hard enough.
It's easier at the start but got difficult towards the center of the cuff where it's wider.
Look at the edges, they are not smooth.
But, there is beauty in imperfection :)

Have a productive January!

Goodbye 2013, Welcome 2014

A brand new year is just 3 hours away.
Lets welcome it with our best smile.

Wishing you all, readers of this blog a very HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014.
May all your dreams and wishes come true and all resolutions fulfilled and accomplished.
Thank you for visiting over the years, and please continue to do so :).
Your support is very much appreciated.

I am looking forward to a smooth new year filled with more wire jewelry projects.

Wire Jewelry - Freestyle Wire Wrapped Amethyst Pendant

Another asymmetrical wire wrapped pendant.
This was actually done right after the Agate Pendant earlier.
Yeah, I thought this one would be easier but I was wrong.
Similarly difficult and wasted more wires on this one.
Maybe I am not cut out for wire wrapping asymmetrical stones :( ???

Anyway, I hope you'd enjoy pictures of this wire wrapped pendant from different angles and can draw some inspirations from it.

While at it, Christmas is just around the corner.
For very very very late and last minute DIY gifts for that particular someone, check out these two quick projects you can whipped up in minutes (within 30 minutes the most).

Wire Wrapped Stud Earrings

Wire Wrapped Rose Ring and Earrings

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wire Jewelry - Asymmetrical Agate Pendant

This is one of the more difficult piece that I have ever wire wrapped although it looks simple enough.
Mainly because of the lack of symmetry of the Agate as well as the thickness of the stone.
I was thinking "this will be my last asymmetrical pendant (without hole) that I am going to wire wrap...arggghh. I am not taking order for this type of stone anymore!!!"
Yikes!

Wasted a fair bit of wire on this as I restarted at least 3 times at the viking knitting stage as well as the outer wire wrapping stage.

What else can I do?
I just hope the new owner likes it as it is.

See how thick the Agate is at the top end?

Just glad I got it done.

Looks yummy though :)

Wire Craft - Sparkly Crsytal Bracelets

The sparkly season is back.
This time around, its the Wire Wrapped Swarovski Crystal Bracelet.
Although they were wire wrapped with the simple wire loops, it took me about 45 minutes to an hour to complete one bracelet.
Wire size - 26 gauge
Swarovski Crystal - 3mm bicone
Clasp - Lobster clasp

If you would like to try DIY this sparkly crystal bracelet, there are lots of free online tutorials that teach you how to wire wrap this simple/basic loop.
The most basic tools required - round nose pliers, wire, clasp and a big dose of healthy crafty juice :)
I checked out Pinterest and here are all the available tutorials that you can check out.
Click on the link below and you are on the way to create this sparkly bracelets, just in time for Christmas.
How to Wire Wrap Loops

Looks way way nicer if you wear a bunch of them on your wrist.