Saturday, October 31, 2009

Finally Here!

I have been neglecting my blog for almost a week. Been busy with work, went for a short course (work related) and sat for an exam. Feel very drained after that but the arrival of this "baby" two days ago really made my day. One of the happiest moment in my life....a bit exaggeration here but I am extremely happy and please.
My own Canon G11 camera is finally here! Been waiting for it for the last few months and finally its here.
Haven't really got the time to play around with it yet but I will this weekend and shall learn to take better pictures with it.
Here is a quick experimental one taken early this morning, outdoor near the pond, cloudy and overcast.
The left pix was taken with G11 and the right one with my old Cannon Ixus 850 IS. Opps! Old Ixus :) Been good to me though. Really loving my G11. Notice how close I can get to the object - almost touching actually. With Ixus, its about 3 cm.
woven lapis lazuli ring

No cropping involve except for reducing picture size and combining them. Any difference? There should be but I am still getting use to G11.
Have a nice weekend all and if you are curious about the camera, follow the link below.

Canon G11 Camera
Canon PowerShot G11 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Stabilized Zoom and 2.8-inch articulating LCD

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Pearls - Mikimoto Pearls

Yeah! I love pearls and I use them a lot in my wire wrapped jewelry. If you have been following, you know I have done lots of wire wrapped pearl pieces. But, none of them is comparable to what I discovered recently.

Mikimoto Pearls, the Originator of Cultured Pearls also synonymous with the finest quality pearls. The pearl house was founded by Kokichi Mikimoton in 1893, more than a century ago. With such long history, it is not surprising when only the best 3-5% of cultured pearls are deemed worthy to carry the Mikimoto's name? Just awesome!
Mikimoto Akoya Pearls and Diamond Rose Gold Twist Earrings 7mm
Anyone who loves pearls should also know that Mikimoto invented the proprietary grading system of sorting and grading pearls (I just found out actually :)). This grading scale is the only qualified system which accurately and consistently defines six factors for grading pearls - luster and nacre quality, surface perfection, color, shape and size. Since then, many other companies have adopted this system. However, be extra careful when a company graded its pearls AAA or A+ as it does not mean they compare to MIKIMOTO's grades. It can be very misleading. So check your pearls before purchase.

Mikimoto has 4 Grades: A, A+, AA and AAA (highest quality) and 4 Sub-grades: A1, A+1, AA1 and AAA1 the '1' means a slightly more blemished surface.

Feast your eyes on some of Mikimoto's elegant pearl jewelry. 

Monday, October 19, 2009

New Tutorial - Heart to Heart Earrings, 30% Discount or Free Tutorial

"Heart to Heart Earrings Tutorial" is now available at my Etsy Shop for $5.00.
As a token of appreciation, you can get 30% off this tutorial OR get free tutorial/s from my Low Cost Tutorial Section on Etsy Shop if you do the following. Read on below:



How to get 30% Off Heart to Heart Tutorial OR Free Low Cost Tutorial
1. Post about this Heart to Heart Tutorial post on your blog/website/Facebook/Tweeter and link back to this post. I leave it to you to decide on the length of post. 
E.g. Heart to Heart Earrings Tutorial is now available at Wireblissmei.com. You can get 30% off or opt for a free tutorial if.........Check it out now at wireblissmei.com.....

2. After posting, please come back here and do either one of this:
a) Post a comment or
b) Email me at meiky6@gmail.com, if you want privacy.

    Information to include in your comment or email:
    If you opt for Heart to Heart Earrings Tutorial:
    * URL of your post where the link back is located, so that I can clarify your post and linking.
    * Your email address, so I can email you the invoice for $3.50.

   If you opt for Free Low Cost Tutorial
   * URL to your post/s where the link back is located, so that I can clarify your post and linking.
   * Your email address, so I can email you the low cost tutorial of your choice.
   * Your choice of the Low cost tutorial - Top Wrapped Stud Earrings OR Wire Wrapped Rose Ring

Disclaimer:
  • The 30% off is valid for Heart to Heart Earrings Tutorial only.
  • Only one entry per person or per post/per blog/per website. If you have two blogs/websites and posted in both, then you can claim for 2 free low cost tutorials that I have. I only have 2 low cost tutorials to offer right now. So, 2 will be the maximum.
  • The discount of 30% for Heart to Heart Tutorial will be given once I have clarified your posting and linking. I will email you a PayPal invoice for $3.50. The tutorial will be emailed to you once payment is approved.
  • Free low cost tutorial will be emailed to you immediately after I clarified your posting and linking.
  • As of now, there is no deadline to this offer.
  • This type of offer may be extended to my other tutorials in future. So, keep posted by subscribing to my RSS Feed - click here or Follow Me (right hand column of this blog). 
  • Due to our different time zone, please allow 24 hours for respond and delivery.
  • Wireblissmei reserve the right to change the terms and conditions.
Thank you for your interest.
This kind of offer is my first time so let us learn together and see how it works out.
I am all for comments and suggestions. 

That said, if you don't want all the hassle, head on to my Etsy Shop to purchase this tutorial :)
Have a great week ahead.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Put Some Sparkles back into your Life

Its a weekend so don't feel down or sad. Put some sparkles back into your life.
I just hope my sparkling Swarovski crystal necklace and bracelet will bring some sparkles into your life.
Finished wire wrapping them early this morning just in time to share with you early Saturday morning.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Wire wrapped sparkling Swarovski crystal necklace and bracelet

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Getting Too Cagey Already?

Seems like I can't get enough of this wire wrapped cages :)
I'll let the pictures tell the story this time around.
wire wrapped caged pendant
wire wrapped caged pendant

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

This is Much More Easier


wire wrapped caged pendant with Tiger EyeAnother try on this caged pendant. This time around its a round tiger eyes gemstone of about 1.2cm.
I can only say this is much! much! easier than the heart pendant and earrings made previously (previous post).
As it is round, I don't have to worry about how it sits in the cage. Whichever way it turns, it still look balance in all direction...hehe..
Easy! easy!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I Took the Plunge - www.wireblissmei.com

Yahoooo! Did you see it?
new domain http://www.wireblissmei.com
I have my very own domain name - http://www.wireblissmei.com! A real domain name!
Dunno what took over me last night. I just decided to make the purchase.
Actually I wanted WireBliss but it is not available with the .com so I settle for Wireblissmei, which I think a lot of my readers here are familiar with.

Very Happy! Happy! Happy :)

After almost 3 years of blogging, I never thought that I will have my own domain name. Ok, maybe it is small matter but this is something 'BIG" for me :D

You can still visit using my old address wireblissmei.blogspot.com as you will be automatically directed to my new domain. Current subscribers and followers, thank you for your continual support and loyalty.

So, all is still the same, except for the new name - http://wireblissmei.com. :D
Happy Sunday!

Note: Some links may not be working properly during this transition period (2-3 days) so please bare with me. Thank you.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Long Overdue - Blog Awards

This is a long overdue blog post. I received 3 awards back in June and July but delayed posting till today. Here they are:

One Lovely Blog Award

Blog award - MyGemstoneBoxThis one is from Diane of MyGemstoneBox - Thank you Diane, I am honored.

The Rules

Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.
Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered (some of mine are not newly discovered though :)). Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
* :) 15! That's quite a lot but I shall try. 
OK, I hope you all don't mind being my victims :) Here goes. I would like to pass this award to:
  1. Robyn Hawk of A Fly on the Wall's Views and Reviews by Robyn Hawk
  2. Marjorie of Puppy Love Jewelry
  3. Susanna of Card of the Week.com  
  4. Shuku of The Great Unknown
  5. Jedda of This Little Project
  6. Mandy of Beads Me 
  7. Sharon of Live Wire Jewelry 
  8. Melissa of The Wired Quilter 
  9. Heather of Azure Islands Designs
  10. Dianne of Art By Dianne
  11. Kudzu of Bits and Pieces
  12. Sandy of Sandy Petals 
  13. Lynette of Dichroic Glass and Art 
  14. Tania of Free Step-by-Step-Tutorials
The Premio Meme Award
I got 2 of this Premio Meme Award. One from Mortira of Inspirational Beading and another from Emma of Glitter Glow Beading. Thank you Mortira, thank you Emma.
Check out their blogs and get inspired especially the tutorial section. 

The rules are simple. List seven facts about yourself and pass the award to seven worthy bloggers.
  1. I started this blog to share my wire wrapped jewelry with the world and I am afraid it is turning into something else...LOL....hope not....focus! focus!...
  2. Best way to relieve stress - wire wrapping and laugh out loud and heartily.
  3. Generally cheerful and happy go lucky kind of person. I can be funny but i reserve that for special occasions...:) just kidding lol.
  4. Always want to do more than what I can, in terms of time.
  5. Shy :), most of the time enjoy being alone and don't talk much.
  6. I used to be a very patient person but as I get older, I am losing it.
  7. Dislike people who constantly worry about their looks, extra quick with excuses and telling lies.
This award goes to:
  1. Janice of Doxallo Designs 
  2. Kerry of Kabs Concepts 
  3. Cathe of Just Something I Made 
  4. Lorelei of Inside the Studio 
  5. Heather of Azure Islands Designs 
  6. Shay Stone of Shay's Creative Journey 
Phew! Finally done...one of my longest post in recent months or is it year?
Now I am off to inform all of you.
Have a wonderful weekend! Cheers!

Here's the Pendant-Wire Wrapped Caged Earrings

Alright! It's not the headache. It is actually quite difficult to wire wrap this tiny crystal.
It just didn't want to sit still.
I managed but its a bit "wai wai!" (off center)!
Glad that I completed this set as they have been with me for a while :) but
* Reminding myself not to wire wrap this kind of tiny crystal next time. Must be at least 1.5cm.

Wire Wrapped Caged Earrings

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Wire Wrapped Caged Earrings - Painful piece, almost gave up

Yeah! I almost gave up on this one. I was wire wrapping this pair when headache strike again last Sunday. Managed to finish it before the full blown pain. Maybe because of that I decided this is one of the more difficult and painful piece. Yeah! Blame it on the headache :)
Anyway, headache is gone now and the world is so very BEAUTIFUL again!

Wire Wrapped Caged Earrings
Secondly, these are really tiny heart crystals....heart shape not very visible due to the wrap.
They are less than 1cm. Had hard time holding them down with my "temporary" clumsy fingers while trying to secure the loops/wraps at the front. The crystals kept slipping away to the sides or out the cage.
Holding the Wire Wrapped Caged Earrings
I hope the pain doesn't show on the earrings :)
So, here's happy non-headache days ahead and wishing you will never ever get any headache in your life.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Catching Up - Wire Wrapped Cab

Got this done this evening. I thought it would be a breeze wrapping this piece but not really. I use 23ga wire for wrapping the frame and I have problem keeping all the wire together while fitting the cab in there.
A bit of flow there but if you look closely, the cab is positioned a bit off the center.

Wire Wrapped Caged PendantSpecial thanks to Bobbi for her tutorial.
Wire Wrapped Caged Pendant
Why Cathching Up? Because I have lots of catching up to do ;)