Following up on my silliness

Finally, the crazy exams are over. 3 weeks before I dive into trying to do 4 exams in 2 weeks. Pray for me please! I spent 6 hours catching on orders last night and I shall continue tonight. I am really enjoying this short break and look forward to the end of the semester!

Well, I tried to remedy my rough treatment to the bracelet the past two days. I believe this is working. However, I would like a baby tester to test it out. So, I will be putting together a giveaway for this bracelet, to find out how durable it really is. Keep a lookout for it if you are interested.

Back to how to make the memory wire end beads do its job work: Before putting in the hypocement, roughen about 2mm of the end of the memory wire by marring with the cutter or serrated plier. This gives surface for the hypocement to hold on to. I tried the same method with E6000 and it did not work. So I am sticking with G-S hypocement as my most excellent adhesive and reinforcement glue. The rest of the method is the same as previously described. Give it a try : )

I also want to give thanks for 3 pairs of earrings sold in The Front Room last week during their anniversary sale. Congratulations to The Front Room for their 3rd anniversary and thank you Linda for making sales a breeze for me. The ArtFire studio is not updated with which are the sold pairs though, since I have not have time to visit The Front Room for a while now. So do make an enquiry before making a purchase to avoid having to do refund. I do not remake any pieces of jewelry unless specifically request by customers. Thank you everybody for your support!!! 

Alright, getting back to work!

New Website Launched!

Yeah! It's finally ready! My new website has been revamped and launched!

Why did I choose to move to webs.com? Let me tell you why and see if you are tempted too.

1. Free and short URL and free webhosting. I am not making huge sales here, so not having to pay for website is great!

2. Easy to use site builder with exactly the function I need. Eg. Navigate to another site directly, and posting of links to other webstore

3. Built-in shopping cart and easy to manage items. Only disadvantage is that free members get to post only one picture.

4. Beautiful and simple template

Hmm... these were reasons enough for me to move out of google sites. Now I have to crawl the website and make sure I change my URL. 

Tell me what you think!

Silly me...

Now, this is what it looks like after chewing away the crimp bead. I love it!

Well, this was the final bracelet... Unfortunately... I wanted to make sure the bracelet could withstand the rough handling if a child were to wear it, so I pulled at the end bead real hard.

Hehe... Of course it came out! Silly me.... Trying the process again and will look into whether hypo-cement is sufficient for the connection. May need two part epoxy instead.... Need some advice on this...

Tips on using Memory Wire End Beads

Have you ever had the experience of buying a product because the description makes it sound like it will make life easier for you? After getting it though, you feel stupid for not knowing how exactly to use it to your advantage?

That was me tonight... I bought some memory wire end beads a while ago but had not had the time to try it. Or rather, I kinda forgot I had them while I was putting together a pearl bracelet, suitable for babies or toddler as baptism gift. I had made loops to hide the ends of the wire from the wearer before I remembered about my packet of end beads. These end beads have half drilled holes, so can act as a end stopper. This was what I had before using the end beads.

For those who are lost already, memory wire is a very hard coil of metal wire on which you can string pretty stuff on. They have standard size for necklaces, bracelets and rings. It is the kind of jewelry that goes round and round and doesn't need a clasp to put on because you can just uncoil it and it will coil back like a spring. They are called memory wire because they retain their original shape so well. They are so hard a need a pair of specialized memory wire shears.

Here comes the problem. I had put on one end of the end bead and allowed the hypo-cement to cure overnight, and I tested to make sure it was secured enough to string on now. At the end of the stringing though, I thought long and hard about how to put on the other end of the cap. Well, the glue will be too wet to let the rest of the beads go back on the wire. It will definitely be pushed out. I could hold the pearls further down with pliers when applying the cap, but does that mean I have to hold on to it the whole night?!

Haha! I think I can share this tip with fellow crafters out there feeling frustrated with this little thingy. What I did was to put on a 3mm crimp bead as far down as possible to hold the string back! Note that I can comfortably push the rest of the pearls back because the other end was allowed to cure overnight. So no shortcuts!

Now you can apply the end cap and sit back, relax and allow the hypo-cement to do its job. Once it is secured, the crimp bead can be easily chewed off! 

And tada! The bracelet is now securely sealed on both end with no sharp wire poking out! (I will add the picture tomorrow after I remove the crimp bead) No marks, no trace that a crimp bead was ever there.

Enjoy the new technique!

I am being featured again!

What can be happier than being greeted by a "Your product is featured on...." email? Oh my gosh! That's two in less than a month. I am so grateful. I am also grateful for my very first follower, DeeCee, my all time best customer, Yeing Yeing and other new followers, Ellie, Runwaycrochet and Sunflower Rosie and all the 213 fans at Facebook now. Thanks for being here! I am in the process of revamping the website. Please be patient while I deal with 3 exams this month at the same time. If you have any questions, just drop by here or facebook anytime!

Since "Japanese Beauty" is being featured today, let's talk about Tensha beads : ) The first time I saw Tensha Beads was precisely from today's curator, mybeadpoint. I bought the 12mm round milk flower design. My first impression was that it feels like an acrylic bead but looks like a beautiful porcelain bead. I have since been "stuck" with 12mm round Tensha. There are times I did not like it too.

From the look of the bead, it looks like printed transfer onto a plain bead. The print, although pretty with flower, may sometimes look pixelated. The acrylic seal, if not done well, may also cause the print to peel. Therefore it is important for the artist to choose the design carefully. Therefore, I cannot agree that every design is pretty. I am happy to report that the earrings that I had made with Tensha beads usually flies off the shelf.

Now, be sure to look into beautiful Tensha beads collection. Have a wonderful week ahead!

The Beauty of Ten...

  Curated By: mybeadpoint

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts

I've been featured!

Ever had the feeling you need somebody to tell you you've done a good job! That's how I felt when I received notification of my first feature! That's not withstanding the fact that the notification went into junk mail box and I only realized it 3 days later - when I decided to look at my junk mail box for the first time ever!!! I take it as God-given encouragement for this depressing exam weekend!

Enjoy the collection. I think it is beautiful : )

Glamour and Glitz

  Curated By: MoltonGlass

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

My first experience on TARC

Wow... Time flies by when it gets busy. It's been a week since my last entry.

Well, except for the one angel that I made for a friend to bring home to India, I haven't had time to make anything new. Beadalon had cleared my doubt about my flush cutter though. So hopefully, I can get down to playing with the new sterling silver and gold filled wires soon.

What I really wanted to talk about today was my first experience on TARC. Before today, when I mentioned taking TARC, friends would warn me that it is not safe because it is the cheapest way to get around this city where crime is rampant. Being the brave girl I always have been, I took the opportunity of free rides between campus to explore this rare public transport system available in Kentucky.

First of all, I was impressed that all the buses were wheelchair-accessible and bicycle-rack equipped. I had my bike with me but since it was my first time, I had no clue how to mount the bike on the rack. The lady driver came out from her seat to teach me how to do it. Nobody was unhappy that I had to delay everyone by a minute or two because of my ignorance. I thought I was lucky.

Secondly, I was surprised that bus stops can be found at every road junction, between 20-50 m apart. No wonder my friends were upset when I asked where I should get off. (Duh! At the nearest road junction where you want to go!) All bus stops were also designated as no parking zones. You will get a citation (parking tickets) for intruding that space.

What really touched me, was what happened on my trip back after class. There were two wheelchair bound passengers. After all other passengers got on the bus (without any kind of pushing or jostling), the driver released the ramp for the wheelchairs to come on board. I took a seat near the front, but other passengers tapped on my shoulder and told me and some other passengers near me that we will need to move so that the wheelchair passengers can be placed in that spot.

In all, about 6 passengers gladly got out of our seats or some others moved to give up their seats for those who had to move. So about 12 passengers had to make adjustments to their seats to accommodate the new passengers. For 5 whole min, the wheelchair passengers got themselves up into the bus and the bus driver, helped them to be strapped safely to the "seat", one after the other. After all that fuss, others who had "caught" the bus continued to come on board. Nobody, I say again, nobody, showed any sign of irritation, or impatience (like making "tsk" sounds...). Everyone was in fact, helping to make sure the two ladies in wheelchair were comfortable and safe.

In this amazing country, where I learnt that being on time was everything to Americans, were willing to spare a few moments to showing kindness and grace to those who need them. Compared to my comrade Singaporeans, whose time is something that has been rubberized and meant to be broken, are rarely patient in showing graciousness for one another. That is most unfortunate, yet I am grateful for this chance to witness and reflect on this.

Millefiori Beads?

Have you ever walked into electronic stores and start staring at TV on display with a "show" that catches your eyes? I will always, without fail, fix my eyes on this particular one that shows the making of Millefiori glass. I think it is an art of its own.

Wanna guess what Millefiori means? It is not too difficult. It is Italian for "Thousand Flowers". World famous Murano glassmakers probably marks the origin of this beautiful art. Victorian Charm was made using these beautiful lampwork beads. 

Like "Charming Bali", this was one of those first pairs of earrings I made. I remember it was my first attempt to make wrapped loops using the headpin, and definitely the first pair that enjoyed the gunmetal colored findings. 

I have taken it off the shelf too but it is definitely available for order since I still have more of these beads. However, as unique as each bead is, a new pair will not look the same as Victorian Charm. For now, Victorian Charm belongs to me : ) I am basking in the joy of wearing earrings again!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Need I say more to explain the charms? I guess not. I decided that a present for myself is long overdue. The new supplies that just arrived were perfect. I have happily replaced my bracelet now : )

Shower of Blessings

I have been so excited about this necklace for weeks. I finally got the photos taken to have it posted!

The project started with 2 things that I bought from Jo-Ann: Square silver spacer which I fell in love with immediately and Silver tube bead with dangle loop. This is exactly what I have been looking for!

 

Whenever I pick up pearls to work on, it reminds me of a bride. I love the look of white pearls on the bride, studded with little shimmering crystals. The dangle must be simple, yet elegant, sophisticated but not overwhelming. I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

Check out the listing on Artfire for more details and pictures : ) 

A surprise

After the entry last Tuesday, I went through my box where my handmade jewelries in transition sit. I found this pair of earring which was listed as "Charming Bali" before. The centre feature were Bali charms, held in earring holders, enhanced by a trail of 5mm Light Sapphire bicone crystals and 2.5mm square spacer beads.

This was one of the first pair of earrings which I made at about the same time as "Swing with me". "Swing with me", in the original Swarovski Aquamarine color was not sold but a pair in Amethyst was ordered. Charming Bali, however, was never touched. I took it off The Front Room's rack recently since I did not want my customer to wear old pieces of jewelry. I wanted to take it apart, thinking the design must have been unappealing.

After looking at it for a while, I decided I to wear it the very next day. Since I have not worn earrings for a long time. I wasn't not sure if my pierce holes were still open, or will I be hypersensitive to new earrings.

Much to my surprise, I received many compliments and I did not have any problem with the Rhodium hooks. Many thought I had a special occasion to attend that night. I am well pleased with my decision not to take it apart. It shall be my earring for a long while : )

Things to be excited about...

Since this is a brand new blog, "new" shall be the theme.

Well, it is the the start of a new school term. Unfortunately, it is nothing to be happy about. In fact, it is the beginning of misery because I have to wonder around downtown campus on my own AND can't bring my own lunch anymore!!! That is extremely saddening and depressing...

Something to be happy and excited about - a brand new craft box! It is a ribbon saver but it is exactly what I have been wanting for my wires! When I saw it, I told my husband (yes, he went craft shopping with me) how great it would be if it is half price... I would definitely get it. Guess what?! It was really half price! 

I could not stop grinning after getting it and now it is filled with all my favorite things...

Back to why I started this new blog: I wanted a place where I can record my thoughts when I make a new piece of jewelry. A lot goes on behind the scene but it quickly becomes forgotten if I don't write it down. So, I hope this blog becomes an avenue for me to do that. I do hope I can keep up with myself. Support from all you readers will keep me going... : ) Thanks for reading!