BIB Conference 2017 is Back in Kuching

The Borneo International Beads Conference 2017 is back.
It is currently held at Plaza Merdeka - a Shopping Mall + Hotel venue, right next to the previous venue - the Old Court House.

Actually went there yesterday after lunch but left without setting foot at the mall. The area was jam packed and we couldn't find any parking space. Disappointed!

So, this morning, we made it a point to leave an hour earlier, around 9 am. Just so that we can find parking space. Hais! Guess what?....We were not allowed to enter the Mall/hotel basement parking area before 10 am. Got such thing onekah???

Lucky us, we found a spot along the Main Bazaar. Phew!!
Off we went for a short sightseeing of the old bazaar area. This is the section of the city where we drive pass quite frequently but rarely stop to visit or shop.
If we do, only to a particular shop but not the whole stretch of the shops along this street.
This morning, we managed to take a peek at most shops - at least those that were already opened at 9++am.

Back to BIB, stalls were set up within the mall itself, therefore, it's way more comfortable with air-conditioning.

This year, however, I did not see any stall displaying beads from other countries. Most are locals. Not sure if it was because we were too early.

Here, let the pictures dothe talking.

Wire Jewelry - Older Pieces from Simple Yet Elegant Collection

I was "spring cleaning" sort of all my files and bookmarks today and came across some older pictures of some earrings that I have not posted here or anywhere else.

They are from the "Simple Yet Elegant" version.

▼Cherry Quartz - love the color.

The tutorial for this is available at my etsy and craftsy shops.
Simple Yet Elegant Tutorial at Etsy
The digital file is immediately available for download after purchase.
Fast and easy.

Simple Yet Elegant Tutorial at Craftsy

Instant download is also available at Craftsy, similar with Etsy.

▼Cherry quartz, tiger eyes and turquoise

Wire Jewelry - Several Pairs Dangle Earrings

These are quick projects last month.
Made for SIL and Rachel when they were visiting.
They travel the world.

Rainbows

Isn't this beautiful?
Happy Monday.

生まれて初めて虹の端っこを見た。 pic.twitter.com/OeAZymPbwO

— ut* (@utstar_) August 17, 2017

This one appeared after rain in our area last Saturday.

This view greeted us on our way out for dinner later the same day.

Wire Jewelry - Wire Wrapped Rose Studs

This pair of rose earrings was made a while back.
Pictures were kept to collect dust...haha!
The pair is however with its new owner now.

Wire wrapped with 20 gauge stainless steel wire, this is not a difficult project and does not involve lots of tools.
All you need is wire, wire cutter, something round to act as mandrel (e.g. marker pen), and file for filling the stud's end.

I have a tutorial for similar earrings here - click on the links:

Etsy - Rose Earrings Tutorial

I have it at Artfire as well. However, it is easier at Etsy or Craftsy as the tutorial is instantly downloadable. You do not have to wait for me to email you the tutorial. Artfire does not have this facility.

Have a great Sunday.

Offwire - Potato Roses

Today's post is about food.

Ya, I rarely post about food.

However, I must post this because it is one of the easiest to prepare and the boys love them.

So, here is my potato roses.

There are many recipes available online if you google for it.
This one here is from my Pinterest collection - Potato Roses at Pinterest

This one here was back in December last year.

They love having them with creamed corn.

If potato roses isn't your thing, you can always check out my other roses' related thingy - wire jewelry tutorials:

Wire Wrapped Rose Ring

Adjustable Wire Wrapped Rose Ring

Wire Wrapped Rose Earrings

Have a Rosy Sunday.

Wire Jewelry - Tree of Life Pendant

I said I will post more often.
But, my more often is not that often.

Another long overdue post here.
This Tree of Life Pendant (TOL) and bracelet is for our dearest primary school English teacher - Mona San Louis.

We have not seen her for like more than 30 years!
But she looks great and beautiful as ever.

I didn't attend the reunion but just managed to get this TOL pendant and bracelet on time, to attend on my behalf.

I don't remember ever making a TOL pendant before, so this is a first.
I used peridot, garnet and tourmaline.

Minlet with peridot to accompany the TOL pendant.

There are many tutorials (fee and paid) to make similar Tree of Life pendant online. Check them out here - https://goo.gl/DkqzlR
This should keep you busy browsing thru them.

Happy weekend.

Wire Jewelry - Infinity Bracelet

Time really flies.
It's been 4 months since my last post.
Many things took place in between but I am not going into details in this post. Maybe some other time.

OK, today's post is about this gemstone Infinity Bracelet.
Actually this bracelet was completed back in July.
Yeah, took me that long to post.

Do excuse the photo quality- its handphone quality pics.
As mentioned before, my camera went "kong" many months already.
Been looking around for a new camera but yet to get a new one.

Still with the purple and blue stones - Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli and Amazonite.

This infinity bracelet is not difficult to make.
You only need a piece of wire - size 20g, 21g or 22g - and the gemstones.
Doesn't take that long too.

Infinity Bracelet Tutorial at Etsy

Wire Jewelry - Wire Wrapped Turquoise Studs

Hello, long time no see!
July is already coming to an end.
Half of 2016 is gone and it really feels like we are rushing to December.

Hopefully, the next half year would be more productive for you and me.

Meanwhile, here are 3 pairs of studs that I actually get done a while back.
See you soon.

Wire Jewelry - Purple Cat Earrings

By now, you must be very bored with my cat earrings postings.
Before I bore you some more, here is a bit about the city I live in - Kuching
Kuching City is in the State of Sarawak, Malaysia.

Kuching is a Malay word for Cat, therefore Kuching City is Cat City, literally translated.
There are many theories as to the origin of the City. You can read them here.
Not all are related to cats though.

You must be thinking that we have many cats roaming the city to be called a Cat City.
Not really, but you can find other types of cat all over the city such as this one here.



These green cats are found at a traffic light junction.
There must be over twenty of them watching over the traffic :)

We also have a muzium dedicated to cats - the Kuching Cat Museum.
Don't expect to find live cats here though.
Check out the above link or just google for Kuching Cat Museum to get an idea.

Enough of Cat City, back to another pair of my wire wrapped cat earrings.

This time around wire wrapped with 20g stainless steel and a purple gemstone.

The Amethyst looks better in the above picture.
Must be the background light.

Come visit the Cat City :)

Wire Jewelry - Still with Cat Earrings

I am still not done with wire wrapped cat earrings.
Hope I am not booooring you with all the kitties:)

This time around, only the head with tiny body.

If you don't know yet, I work almost exclusively with stainless steel wire.
This is 20 gauge round wire.
They are flattened with lots of hammering.

Cute ya???

Wire Jewelry - Cat Pendant

Still with cat.
This time around a wire wrapped cat pendant.
Or maybe a key chain.
Did a bit of wire weaving for the tail with copper jewelry wire.
The body is a heart shaped Rose Quartz accented with a 4mm stainless steel spacer beads.

Some cats facts:

• They are the most loving animal (at least to me).
• They are the best companion (when you are lonely) and manja (no exact English translation for this word, closest is pampered).
• They always look cool and calm..haha.Some studies found that cat owners are more logical and practical than dog owner...hahaha...there you are dog owners!
• Cats can improve your health too, especially your heart health.
• Sad....millions of cats killed for food especially in China, its a delicacy.
• There was a cat mayor somewhere in Alaska.
• Cat cafe in Japan and Korea provide you temporary companionship with cats. 

More cats on the way.

Wire Jewelry - Meow! Meow! Studs

A wire wrapped cat stud earrings made in a whim.
Not difficult to wire wrap these little kitties.
Lots of hammering to harden the body and head though.

Inspiration from my dear old cats from a long long time ago, our neighbor's cats as well as the many inspirations from the world wide web.

If dogs are man's best friend...then
Cats are woman's best friend!!

Wire Wrapped Donut Pendant Tutorial is now Free

Update 22 Aug 2020: The free tutorial is no longer available at Craftsy since it was taken over by Bluprint. You still can have it if you email or leave a comment here. I will email it to you. 

Wire Wrapped Donut Pendant Tutorial is retired from my Etsy and Artfire shops.
One of my oldest tutorials.

It’s now available for download (FREE) at my Craftsy Shop, only.
It’s not available at Etsy as there will be relisting fee involves.
Artfire does not have instant download service, so it is not there too.

Only at Crafsy.

To download, click on this link below and it will lead you directly to the tutorial.

Free Wire Wrapped Donut Pendant

I hope you'd enjoy this project.
Happy wire wrapping and let me know how it goes.
Leave some pics in Craftsy if you don't mind.

Wire Wrapped Flora Earrings

Where have all the days gone?
Just blink and almost end of 2nd week of March.

Been wanting to post this earrings since the last post.
Remember the post about my failure.
That was last month but feels like it was only yesterday.

OK, this is the outcome of that many tries.
Not very satisfied but not so badlah.

Wire is 20g and hammered hard.
Wrapped each side of the earrings with different type of gemstone beads.
One side is wire wrapped with Lapis Lazuli.

The other with 4mm frosted Amazonite.

Close up pic is not close enough but that is the closest I could get with my hand-phone camera.
My "camera" is about to die of old age.
Time to look/get a new camera - *sigh* but the one I am drolling at is just so damn expensive *sigh*.

Then there is the 4mm stainless steel spacer beads.

Someone commented that the style of the earrings look "oldish" i.e. suit older woman.
I do not agree but that is her honest opinion and no offence because i trust her 200%.

Right now I am thinking about retiring 1 or 2 of my tutorials at Etsy and Artfire
Wait for the announcement.

Till then have a great week and happy creating.