WireBlissMei

TAW Bracelet Tutorial and Deliciously Flowing

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:19:00 +0000

my Sixth sense whispered to me that I should start doing the tutorial for TAW (Twice Around the World) Wire Wrapped Bracelet.
If you feel like laughing at me :D ;D, go ahead and laugh all you want but I listen to my sixth sense all the time :)
I think you do too :)

Don't you? Don't you?...LOL....LOL

******

Will start working on it tonight.

******

Meanwhile, here is another deliciously wrapped
piece/s for your viewing pleasure :)
When was the last time I made something for myself?
Can't remember exactly but this one is for me :P

Why I love them so much?
* There are 5 individual necklaces here.
* No clasp! Yay! Slip on just like slip on slippers
   and I am ready to go.
* Easy and no fuss and suitable for any occasion.
* As there are 5 of them, I can choose to wear
   just 1, 2, or 3, or 4 or all 5 at once.
* The are very light weight. The chain are really tiny!
   If you look closely, the smallest wire loop that I made are
   still like 3 times bigger the the chain link.
* The stones, they are mixture of all my favorite gems,
   pearls and crystals - tourmaline, peridot, garnet,
   agate, pearls, moonstone, amethyst, fluorite,
   rutilated quartz, citrine, aquamarine, prehnite,
   cherry quartz, Swarovski crystals, etc.
***Have a wonderful weekend!

Deliciously Wrapped, Swarovski Pearls

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:50:00 +0000

Delicious!
That's all I can say :)

These Swarovski Pearls are for the next project - Sparkly Crystal Rings.

My first time with Swarovski Pearls so lets wait for the outcome :)

They all look so perfect, too perfect in fact.

Double Abundance and Time

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:18:00 +0000

How time flies. I didn't realize that its been a week since I last posted.
Office work been keeping me busy these days including weekends :(
Although I tried to keep work within the confine of "office hours", Monday - Friday, sometimes its just impossible. Not that I like to, but got to, as my line of work involves deadlines all the time.
Maybe my time management is not good enough. But I only have so much time right?
Will I do it better with a citizens watch?
That also explains why I have been a bit slow in the wire jewelry creations department.
By the time work is done, the mood for creating is not there anymore. Not only that, I have been out of touch with facebook friends and tweetering as well.
Most of the time, I'd be surfing here and there, aimlessly.
It is during one of these surfing session that I came across this site - of all sites, a watch site, gold mens watch, you name it, there is a long list there. Guess they know I have been thinking about time a lot these days. Not that I am planning to buy watch but I was attracted to the jewelry and the site layout.
You know I have been working on my site layout.
There are items and links I want to put up there but still no time to work on it.
This watch liquidator site is an inspiration.
I'd like my site to be like that one day - minimum clutter, easy and fast navigation and their shipping info, payment terms, F&Q are clearly explained in straight forward fashion.
Yeah! Lots of work needed there and clutters to clear up. What more, blogger now allows you to create your own templates design. Now I need more citizens watches!
Hopefully after this week, I'd be 'freer' to create.
I have said this hundred of times but its mid-March now and I am still behind.

Ok! not to bore you more with my rambles, here is a wire wrapped double donuts pendant I managed to complete after a long long time. Sorry Bi to have kept you waiting for a while :)
This is really a special pendant and the feeling it gives me is - ABUNDANCE!
Isn't it great?
I wish for abundance of time.
How about you?

Multi Stones and Colors

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:45:00 +0000

This multi-stones and colorful wire cuff took the longest time to complete.
Not sure why! I started yesterday and only managed to finish this evening.

Various beads and stones were used for this cuff.
19ga wire for the frame and 28ga for coiling and wrapping stones, crystals and pearls to the frame.

Kuching is so hot these few days.
When its hot and humid, the mood for creating also affected...just wishing there's an air condition in the living room :)

Happy Chap Goh Meh, Caged Pendant and Whimsicalnquirky

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:19:00 +0000

Happy Chap Goh Meh! the 15th night of Chinese New Year. It is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day and marks the end of the Lunar New Year. In places like Penang, the celebration is associated with young single women tossing tangerines into the sea with the hope that their future life partner will pick it up. Not sure if they do it here in Kuching though.
We celebrated quite simply with family dinner, fired a few fire crackers and took the boys for a spin around town, watching fire crackers lighting up the city's skyline.
The moon is brightest tonight and people are still lighting up the sky with fire crackers as I am typing this. Tomorrow, it is time to go back to life as usual, back to work, back to business and no more long holidays.
I didn't manage to make any wire jewelry today but am sharing one that I completed yesterday - a caged turquoise pendant, similar to this one.
Used 22ga wire for the wrapping.

Hey look what M of Whimsicalnquirky came up with - Rosy Bliss based on my Wire Wrapped Rose Earrings Tutorial :) While you are there, do check out her amazing works.

Thank you for sharing this M :)

New Layout, Logo and Adjustable Ring

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:18:00 +0000

By now you must have noticed what I did to my blog - a complete makeover. Something I have been thinking and wanting to do for a long time.
Its been almost a week but I am still tweaking here and there trying to clean up the site whenever I have the time.
You might not be able to access the site sometimes for the last few days but it should be ok now except for a link that is still not working at the time I am writing this post ;)

I gave up on Internet Explorer. I think the problem is IE and not my blog.
I tried accessing with IE and it got stuck halfway and just hung.
If you are using IE, I expect you'd be facing the same problem.
So, PLEASE change to other browser such as FireFox.

Oh ya! I got my new logo as well :)

Planning to make one with real wire and see how it goes.

How do you like this heart shaped potato? Love is great! even with potato :)

If you have the time, I would like to hear what you think of my new blog layout/design and logo?

No worry, I can accept positive and negative comments.

There should not be any problem with the comment box!

Thank you for your time in advance.

If you would like to know the creator of this new template layout/design, check out Derek at BlogerSkinz. I discovered him by accident but at the right time :)

NEW TUTORIAL - Wire Wrapped Cross Pendant

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:39:00 +0000

Announcing my NEW TUTORIAL now listed in my Etsy Shop

Swirly Wire Wrapped Cross Pendant - $8.00

All this project requires is wire of 3 different gauges and a bead.
The cross in this project measures about 3 cm x 5.5 cm.
You will learn how to:

Create a symmetrical cross frame
Create the swirls
Attaching the swirls and pearl
Create a flexible bail

For more details check it out at my Etsy Shop.
To purchase directly, click on the Buy Now button below.

Chinese New Year Pics

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:43:00 +0000

CNY holiday is coming to an end for me. Its back to work soon. I was hoping to do a lot more during the hols especially you know what - Wire Jewelry!!!

But it didn't go according to plan.

Anyway, I managed to snap some photos here and there and here are some of them.

Happy viewing and enjoy the rest of the holiday.

New light for the New Year!

Visiting the temples for prayer is a must every year.

Henry is growing up fast. He is not scared of the "Dragon" anymore.

William and Henry

Its been raining everyday since New Year's Eve

William with his favorite Cece (sister)

A surprise find at the mall - wire flowers and vases!

Close-up of the wire flowers.....getting inspired already?

This is very precious - a gift from Ami (Aunt in-law)

Another one from Ami - do not know what beads are these. Any idea?

Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Valentine

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:31:00 +0000

Kong Hei Fat Choi! to all Chinese friends and readers.

Happy Valentine to all of you!
All the best wishes goes out to all of you this new year!

Adjustable Woven Ring - Tiger Eye

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:10:00 +0000

This, I made couple of days ago.
Moving away from Black Onyx, this is Tiger Eye - welcoming the year of the Tiger :) Grrrrrrrrr..............

We are almost done with the cleaning and shopping. Just some last minute preparation for the reunion dinner and we are all ready to welcome the Lunar New Year.
I am looking forward to the long holidays rather than the celebration (shhh! don't tell people at home), hoping to finish off few projects that's been KIVed since last year. Yay! Go Mei! Go!

Lord of the Rings - Adjustable

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:14:00 +0000

Hi Giveaway winners, have you started your Sparkly Crystal Ring project?
Care to share some pictures of your first sparkly? :) Just hoping

Anyway, I am back to 'work' today, finishing this ring here and also waxed the car. Part of the Chinese New Year spring cleaning.

Simple and adjustable wire wrapped ring with Japanese seed beads.
The new owner stopped by to pick it up this evening and she is loving it too.
She is calling it "My Lord of the Rings" :)
Planning to make one with gemstones but need to find really tiny stone measuring about 3mm.

Do you know that it cost $160 to get our car wash and wax here in Kuching.
I am referring to a normal car wash center...not those expensive looking center.
We were told the price will increase this Thursday as it draws nearer to the big day. Duh!
I dunno if that is the normal price for waxing as I have never done it so $160 is waaaaaay too expensive for me.

I'd rather use that amount of money on other things like gemstones and wires :) :)!

So, as with previous years, we DIY.

With hubby and another helper, it took us only about an hour to wax my little car.

And I am happy that I saved $160 for gems and wires...hehehe!

I hope you have a great weekends too!

Giveaway Winners!

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:25:00 +0000

I am slightly late here but here are the 3 winners of my Giveaway which ended yesterday.

Yoda
Jenny Pong
Sherry

Congratulation to all three of you! and I hope you'd enjoy the tutorial and project.
I shall be emailing you the tutorial right after this.

For those who didn't win, try again next time.
I would like to say thank you all for participating.
Appreciate your time and interest very much.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Another 2 days till Friday

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:55:00 +0000

Giveaway Ending on Friday - Check it out here to enter

For 3 lucky winners!

So hurry if you would like to win a free Sparkly Ring Tutorial worth $6.00 at my Etsy Shop

**************

And here is a recently completed caged pendant...again! :)

Material:
22ga wire
12mm tiger eye (approximate.

Shopping and Chinese New Year

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:50:00 +0000

It’s the time of the year again. Chinese New Year is just around the corner and this year it coincides with Valentine Day. Wonder how often that happens?

As usual it is spring cleaning time and shopping time at home front. Spring cleaning means we shall be cleaning the house inside/outside, top/bottom or wall to wall. Everything must be cleaned. Sometimes it involves painting but we did that last year so no painting this year. Phew! The important thing is that everything should be spanking clean and if possible, new. Yeah! If you can afford it, everything new would be the best.

That’s when the shopping comes in. Top among the list is buying new clothes including underwear (yeah!...don’t laugh..we go for red). This (new clothes) is very important and is the highlight of the year for some. My mom used to tell me when they were young, they worked hard the whole year to save up enough money so that they can wear new clothes during Chinese New Year.

Different generation, different thinking I guess. Personally I don’t worry if I have new clothes or not during CNY. I buy new clothes whole year through, so some of my clothes are still quite new for the New Year. Got to get myself a new pair of shoes though. Further, over the years, I seem to do more and more online shopping. It is more convenient and with online coupons there are great bargain without the hassles of driving to the mall, got caught in a traffic jam along the way, looking for empty parking lot and later in the mall struggle with other shoppers especially for items on special offer.

Wire jewelry will slow down just a little bit but who knows because its an addiction...LOL...

Day and Night, Two Colors Themed Bracelet

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:14:00 +0000

Don't forget to take part in my Sparkly Ring Tutorial Giveaway here - Free tutorial for 3 lucky readers - open till 5th February 2010. Go here to comment and participate.

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Day and Night Themed Wire Wrapped Bracelet - Pearl and 8mm black Swarovski Crystal.
The Sunday Market is a great place for ideas although most of the pretties sold there are stretch bracelets.
I saw a combination of 2 different colors stone for a stretch bracelet which is inspired me to create this day & night themed bracelet.
Added a heart shaped wired clasp to make the bracelet less boring :)
Shall be making more of them, with different colors stones though.

Meet Me Halfway

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:57:00 +0000

Don't forget about my giveaway in my previous post here. You'd have a chance to win my Sparkly Ring Tutorial. Let me know if you have problem commenting in my comment box by emailing me at meiky6@gmail.com. I have heard some of you having problem with the comment box.
Not sure what is wrong with that but need to got fix...???^%#

Here is my recently completed Meet Me Halfway Braided Wire Cuff, now halfway to its new owner. Slightly different from the previous one but still flows nicely :) Made for a size 5.2in wrist size. Tiny! tiny!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Giveaway to 3 Lucky Readers - Ends 5th February 2010

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:07:00 +0000

Done! all 80 of them. These Sparkly Crystal Rings is one of my "way behind 2009" projects that I mentioned yesterday. I can't remember how many I have made the last two years but it should not be less than 300, maybe 400. I even have a step by step tutorial that shows you exactly how to make this ring at my Etsy Shop.

Oh! No, I am not asking you to buy this tutorial because I am giving away this tutorial to 3 lucky readers in conjunction with my birthday (:P! thank you all for the best wishes) and Valentine Day/Chinese New Year. So, if you are feeling lucky till the 5th of February and would like to learn how to make this ring, here is what you have to do to be one of the lucky 3.

How? Any 1 or more of these 4 easy ways!
1. Follow this blog, then leave a comment with your name or email address* - 1 entry
2. Tweet about this giveaway, then leave a comment here with your name or email address* - 1 entry
3. Link this blog to your blog/website, then leave a comment here with a link, your name or email address* - 1 entry
4. Blog about this giveaway, then leave a comment here with a link - 3 entries
(*I need your email address so that I can email you the tutorial if you win. If you prefer not to include email add here, please check back after the 5th of Feb and email me your email address. If I don't hear from you after the 10th February, I will pick the next winner).

Winners will be picked using Random.Org and announced on 6th of February 2010, Malaysian time.

All the best and happy wrapping.

Way Behind and my Plans

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:45:00 +0000

Right now, I am way behind on a lot of things that I have been planning to do in early 2010. I am well behind in finishing several commissioned pieces. I am lucky so far, as my clients have been very understanding and flexible. Thank you for that.

I have wanted to create a free tutorial for a while, but looks like it will not happen yet.
Now, I am thinking and planning for a giveaway instead. That will be the next best thing, right?
I have been planning to change the logo of my shop since last year but still haven’t gotten around to it.
I have planned to create my own banner and still have not gotten to it.
One of my friends has been asking me to print my own brochure so that he can market my creations but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I have planned to design and print my own business cards but right now the idea is still floating inside my head.

Well, that is the problem with a full time working mom with a hobby like this.
Right now, how I wish if printing company like PsPrint is nearby. Why? Because they provide online printing services that let you create and customize your own business cards, brochures, catalog, postcards, posters, stickers and many more in a matter of minutes. You don’t have to be a professional or hire a professional designer as their free online design tool, Design It! will help you create a professional looking card, etc.
Hmmm….if they ship to this part of the world (at the moment they only ship to Continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada), I would have tried out 50 business cards for a start - now only for a fee of $11.93.

They say internet makes the world small; ordering is accomplished with a click of a button. However, I will have to find my own ways with my logo, business card, banners and brochures for now.

Mystical Creature from South China Sea :)

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:06:00 +0000

When I was done with this wire wrapped sea horse this evening, I kept thinking that I would not be able to recreate or remake a similar seahorse. Partly because I spent a lot of time in forming the seahorse shape/frame. This is the most difficult part for me, shaping the wire to make it look like a seahorse.
More difficult when the whole seahorse frame is wire wrapped with one piece of wire.
Can you tell/see where the wire ends?
Coin pearl, seed pearls, colorful tourmaline, garnet, corals, Swarovski Crystal and peridot are the gemstones used.

I am quite happy with the outcome though. Maybe I should give it another try - a smaller seahorse :)
Happy weekend my dear readers.

What's Keeping Me Busy?

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 17:18:00 +0000

Finally its the end of the week. I can breath a little and look forward to the next 2 days where I don't have to rush from home to school early in the morning. Rush back home to pick up the small one to his kindy and I to office. At noon, I rush to pick the both of them from school/kindy to home and rush back to office, all within an hour. Sometimes missing lunch. DH works quite far from home so I have to be the "bus driver" for now.
Our life would not be the same to pre 2010. With William in Year 1 and Henry in kindy, everything is now centered around their schooling and activities including extra classes. He is already talking about joining taekwando classes on Saturday. There goes half of my Saturday. But I wouldn't want him to miss anything while growing up.
Parents would sacrifice anything :)
Overall, its been a great week for William and us. For weeks we have been wondering how it would be like for him. Is he going to like it, hate it, scared, cry, shy, etc. etc?
It is a relief to see him enjoying himself and making new friends.
Very happy to get his first tie.
He loves his school uniform.
No teary eyes when we left him on the first day.
On the second day, he told me not to walk him to his classroom. But I insisted :)
He loves his Transformer school bag...always insist on pulling it himself.
What can I say, I am very proud of him! :D and want the best for him and Henry.

OK, its late and very tired. Time to get some sleep and tomorrow I shall post some pretties.

First Piece of Earrings for 2010

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 14:39:00 +0000

Just a simple pair of earrings to welcome 2010. A good start for 2010.
The 1st day of 2010 started quite well - sunny in the morning, overcast in the afternoon and raining in the evening. Its cool now.
I stayed home whole day and got to do what I love to do. I only went outside in the evening to take pictures of this earrings in the garden.

Stones used for this earrings are garnet, peridot and green agate.
I hope you have a wonderful 1st day of 2010 as well.

The Last Post of 2009

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Less than 7 hours to go.
Goodbye 2009 and Hello 2010
A Huge thank you and a Happy New Year to all readers.
New year, new hope, new resolutions, new goals, new dreams, new to do (ok! some old to do :D), new projects, new wishes, new....oh...this is an endless list. Better not list them all because I have a feeling they will be old/new in 2011.
2009 generally was a good year for me and I hope 2010 would be a much much much much better one.
So, here's saying goodbye to 2009 and welcoming 2010 with my wide open arms and a wire wrapped Seahorse!
The letter "S" at the center is not for "Seahorse", it's the initial of the new owner :)

According to Wikipedia, the seahorse has long been a sign of eternal friendship in Hawaiian culture. Somewhere else mentioned it represents confidence and grace. Here's a detail post by Avia on the symbolic meanings of seahorse. This is interesting and new to me "A unique aspect of the seahorse is that the male is impregnated by the female and carries the offspring to term". If only human can do that...LOL.
I hope to have all the Seahorse's symbolic meanings in year 2010.
Enjoy and Have a Very Happy New Year 2010.

Triplets and Mr. Spiky

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Not as productive as I wanted to be the last few days. Some delayed projects and inability to meet deadlines. No hard feelings but I got time extension :)

Here is my Triplets! Identical bird cage ring. These are tiny rings...size 7 done with 22ga wire.

This is an easy and fun project to make. Approximately 5 min each ring. These were done in between a very difficult project.

Meet Mr. Spiky. This piece is based on Carmen's tutorial - Spike Seahorse. Great technique and I can see many possibilities from this technique. Just haven't got the time to explore more. Next year maybe..:)
Talking about which, Have you list down your New Year resolutions?
Me, not yet - still thinking.

Happy Christmas from WireBlissMei

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Here is wishing you a Very Happy Christmas!
To both you and your families, my greetings and best wishes for the Christmas period.
For New Year 2010, may you be blessed with good health, prosperity, happiness, abundance creativity, inspiration and beautiful wire jewelry creations.

This wire wrapped cross was completed recently for its tutorial. Since its almost end of 2009, I will bring this project to next year :)

No Wonder, its Winter Solstice Festival

meiky6@gmail.com (Mei (WireBliss)) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:01:00 +0000

While taking shower this evening, I kept wondering why my fellow colleague left home early today. Normally they stay till 6pm or later. But this evening all left before 6pm. By the time I left, the office was empty. It only occurred to me during shower that its Winter Solstice Festival today. They left early to make sure they are on time for dinner with families. See how hardworking we are that we forgot about talking to each other except about work...hehe...
More on Winter Solstice Festival here. But then, we did have our festival family dinner (small scale) with our favorite soup as well as the Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). The Tangyuan was a last minute purchase and preparation. Just before dinner, I walked to the nearby hypermarket to purchase 3 packets of the ready made tangyuan, boil them, add in gula melaka (Palm Sugar) and serve. Very simple and easy to prepare. My mom always say, once we have taken our tangyuan, we are one year older. That is why this festival is considered as the most important festivals of the year (some may not agree but that's what mom says) :)
While rushing for all this, I forgot to take photos of the tangyuan. Nevermind, but here's another type of tangyuan for your viewing pleasure :D More fruity....