The Work Room

Merry Christmas 2011!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:26:00 +0000

Just a short note to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! And I hope you guys had a good one this year! ^.^

Ouh, and this year, we decorated the window in office too!

TWR076 Jet Black Cross Pendant Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:15:00 +0000

Hello, everyone! Excuse me for my absence from the blogosphere for a while. Oh well..... what can I say. Work in the office is just never ending. :/ Just when you think, "Okay, a few more to go and I'm done!" then before you know it, there goes 'Plonk' on your table again. *rolls eyes* It just never ends, does it?

Looks like 'waiting for it to end' is not really a good idea cuz work seems more like a flowing stream rather than a .... puddle of water, maybe? That fills up with water only when it rains and dries up when the sun shines brightly in the sky. No wonder I had been forewarned when I was just starting out with my day job, that it actually pours when it rains!

Well, looks like I just need to learn how to squeeze some time here and there!

So, anyways, just another version of the cross pendant tutorial. :)
Finished pendant measures approximately 1" X 2"

Tools & materials used:

(56) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone
Size 10/11 seed bead
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent
Pendant bail or jump ring
Scissors

Number of steps: 47
Page count: 22

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 1.15 MB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

p/s: Can't believe it's Christmas already this weekend! ^.^
AND, it's the end of the year, ALREADY! *gasp* My, oh my......how time flies~

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice. Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

Poppy Earrings featured!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Poppy Earrings featured in LuaTomi's curated collection in ArtFire! Thank you! :D

Check out the entire collection here

or

Check out Poppy Earrings here,

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

Adding New Thread

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:18:00 +0000

I was asked on how I add on new thread to a particular project. So I thought I would do a post on this topic. I think this concept works the same across the board, regardless of what project it is.

So, when do you add new thread?

It's quite subjective. Some people feel comfortable working with shorter lengths of thread but some people would rather work with longer threads to avoid the hassle of adding new thread. But if you ask me, adding new thread is unavoidable is you do bead weaving. At some point, you would need to add new thread.

There are many ways that you can add on new thread but generally, there are two things I consider when it comes to adding new thread :-

1. The type of stitch I was doing; and
2. The type of stringing material I was using.

In my case :-

1. Since I do the two-needle R.A.W (some are more familiar with it as the cross weave) most of the time; and
2. Use fishing line all the time

this is how I always add on new thread.

I also used to do some other stitches like peyote (or some refer it to gourd) stitch where I used a different way to add new thread, but that's another story.

How I do it is very simple, really.

What I do is finish off the old thread by weaving it back into my work like how I would normally end a project before adding on the new thread at the point where I stop to finish off the old thread earlier on.

First thing first, at what point do you stop to add new thread?

Two things I do :-
1. Make sure you leave enough tail; and
2. Stop at the point where both thread end crosses.

Make sure you leave enough tail for you to weave back in. It's up to you really at which point you think want to stop your work to addI leave a minimum of 3" long thread. You don't want the thread to be too short because not only longer thread will make your work easier but also more secure. On how it makes it more secure, I'll explain it in a while.

Well, if you are doing a cross weave, every step ends with both thread ends crossing. So, at what point do I actually stop? Well, this has a rather relative answer.

It depends on the project on hand but what I normally do is to stop at the point where I consider it to be a 'secure point'. Which is the point that I consider to be the 'secure point'? But a good guide can be when you are done with one 'cycle of repetition'.

Take the project in the picture for example. It actually has a base row that I then embellished with additional beads on top of it. So, if you ask me where I think would be the 'secure point', I would have to say that it's the base row after it has been embellished with additional beads.

Here's a look at the base. You'll see that I have pass the thread around so that the two thread ends meet (individual thread path shown by the blue arrow).

Just like how you would finish off any piece, you are going to tie a knot between the two thread ends and the weave both thread ends back into your work again.

Now, the further you weave back into your work, the more secure it is, which explains why a longer tail end is needed earlier.

Two things to take note of at this stage.

1. Where you end with the know. Remember earlier when I explained how that the knot is hidden in the bead hole when you finish off your work? So, wherever it is that you decided to knot, make sure that no more thread will be passing through that bead where the knot is hiding or you will have difficulty passing the thread through because the knot is already blocking the thread path!

2. As you are weaving your thread back into your work, make sure that it is done in a 'zig zag' manner i.e. don't weave them back in a straight path but rather pass the thread through the beads up and down. It's the turning 'angle/corner' that will secure the position of the thread path. Get what I mean?

Turning back to the front, it looks like the ends are finished off already but we are going to continue.

Cut out a piece of new thread and pass it through the bead where you decided to stop earlier on, In this case, it's the bead on the edge at the base. And continue weaving.

Well, that's how I do it, regardless of what project it is. It's still the same principle. :)

Hope this helps!

TWR075 Beaded Halloween Pumpkin Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:46:00 +0000

Boo! Trick or treat! Heh! :P

Well, something fun for the upcoming Halloween! ;)

This is size of the final piece is approximately 2cm X 2 cm all round with a loop at the top to hang as a charm.

And the pumpkin has a face! :P

Tools & materials used:

(11) Size 11/12 seed bead
(20) 3mm Swarovski crystal bicone Topaz
(52) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone Topaz
(8) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone Jet
(1) 12mm Round bead
(1) 5cm/2” head pin
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent
Round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, scissors

Number of steps: 44
Page count: 17

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 1.00 MB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice. Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

Oh....so Frust!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 07:13:00 +0000

Yes, I am frustrated. No, wait.... I mean I WAS frustrated, which explains why I was M.I.A for a while.

No. 1 - Work. The facial expression above was what work made me feel for the past month. Well, it's not always like that. I enjoy what I do most of the time but sometimes you run into a brick wall and just as you've manage to find a mega drill to drill a hole through the brick wall, you realized that there's no longer any road ahead of you and now you're faced with the giant pacific ocean. So, what's next? Swim! Swim in search for the shore but luckily you CAN swim!

That's work, and then...

No. 2 - Blogger. Blogger has been updated with all these new features, format and what have you, which is really cool but kinda driving me nuts while blogging.

And finally.....

No. 3 - Blogger. AGAIN. To put it point blanc, my ENTIRE Galerie is GONE. All the more =.=". I downloaded some free template that you can get online as one of those blogger template hacks cuz I like it arranged in one of those picture viewer format-style but ever since Blogger made the latest changes and updates, the hacks probably not work with the new Blogger and the whole thing gone haywire and disappear! Luckily, I didn't lose the pictures but I definitely have to re-do EVERYTHING! Argh!

Dear Blogger,
Your Dynamic View comes a tad too late. -.-

Oookay, that's my rant for now. Will update again later tonight. :)

Introducing Tutorial Package

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 10:25:00 +0000

For the benefit of those who are interested in trying out a few tutorials. Now you get to buy them all at a discounted price!

For this tutorial package, you get to choose ANY 5 tutorials you like at the price of $20. And, you have OVER 70 tutorials to choose from!!

That works out to an average of $4 for each tutorial. That's AT LEAST a 20% SAVINGS, on the assumption that your choices of the all 5 tutorials are the cheapest priced ones, i.e. $5.

In other words, you could probably even SAVE MORE depending on your choice of tutorials!

All you need to do is just to click on the 'ADD TO CART' button below and in the column where you can leave message to me, list down the 5 tutorials you want. When doing so, please be specific and list down BOTH the code AND the name of the tutorials.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The tutorials are in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
Please make sure you have enough space in your mailbox.
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.

Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

Crystal Cuff Bracelet featured!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0000

Crystal Cuff Bracelet is featured in Lunaessence's Featuring Treasury! Yay! TQ!! :D

Check out the rest of the Treasury here.
Or more info on the bracelet tutorial here.

TWR074 Crystal Cuff Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:44:00 +0000

Learn how to make this elegant crystal cuff bracelet with a handmade button clasp.

You can use any combination of Swarovski crystal bicones but my favorite is using crystal AB. Love the blings! :D LOL..... and I think they look especially pretty when worn on night function!

Love how the pearl button add a touch of elegance to it!

Not a very difficult project. Tedious, perhaps.
See how it even looks a bit ziggy zaggy? LOL.....

Tools & materials used:

(110) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone (This makes a 6 ½” long bracelet. You will need more for a longer one)
(1) 10mm round bead
Size 11/12 seed bead
Monofilament/Fishing line/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors

Number of steps: 35
Page count: 15

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 993 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice. Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

TWR073 Color Block Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 00:39:00 +0000

I remember color block dresses were once all the rage on the fashion runways. Well, while the heat has died down a little on the runways, I don't think it will ever go out of style.

And if you know about fashion, you'll know that it's just a matter of time before these dresses make t to the runways again.

While I can't say that I own a pair of color block dress myself but I do, in the form of a bracelet! ;)

And so can you!

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to section the bracelet into blocks of color while adding picot on the edges of the bracelet for accent.

The materials here make a 6 1/2" long bracelet. So, if you are making a longer one, please bear in mind that you will be needing more beads.

Tools & materials used:

(166) 4mm Swaovski crystal bicone (more if making a
longer one)
(2) bead tip
(2) Crimp bead
(1) clasp of your choice
Monofilament/Fishing line/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors

Number of steps: 17
Page count: 11

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 673 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

What's up, folks?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:55:00 +0000

Aaaah, yes. And so I've been rather quiet the past month. Apart from my birthday month, a couple of other events came up as well. Mostly personal events.

Heeee... yeap, I got 2 birthday cake this year. Yay! :D The top one is the Baskin Robbins chocolate ice cream cake from Mum. The cake could have been better but since it was not ordered in advance, they were stuck with what the folks at Baskin Robbins could whip up in that short span of time. It was still delish nonetheless!

And just in case you are wondering, 'Tan' is my family name. I seriously don't know why on earth my bro included my family name on the cake. It just look so odd. It made it sound so..... 'formal'? o_O

And the one below is from office. Also a chocolate flavoured. Chocolate sponge cake. They could have challenged my taste bud, really, since I've got a rather adventurous taste bud! But choco is still all good!

Also attended two weddings.

One traditional Chinese wedding. My cousin bro got married.

That's during the tea ceremony where I offered a cup of tea to my sis in law in exchange for a red packet or 'and pow' filled with money. It sorta means like an acknowledgment of the new addition to the family..... I think!

And as for the red packets, it's given out as the blessings from the newlyweds. I know what you're thinking. Shouldn't the newlyweds be GIVEN blessings instead of GIVING blessings?

Well, the GIVEN blessings part happened earlier on already wth the elders. Now it's the newlyweds GIVING their blessings to the younger ones.

And the other wedding I attended was a traditional Malay wedding.

Now, Malay weddings are different.

The bride and groom will sit on a 'pelamn' which is the two huge chairs to have guests offering their blessings to the newlyweds. The bride and groom will have both their hands on ther lap, palms down and blessings are given to the newlyweds by sprinkling 'rose water' on the newlyweds hands.

The 'rose water' here is actually just dipping a the rose flower on a stalk into water and then sprinkling it.

Actually, I think my friend (the bride) skip this step. Cuz I don't remember sprinkling any 'rose water' that day although I've always remember that as part of the tradition. I only remembered crashing the bride and groom on the 'pelamin' for photos. :P

Thing is, traditional custom weddings can be very elaborate and modern couple tend to skip certain step/ritual to simplified the process,

And another good news is a new addition to the family! :D

Sis-in-law gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Baby M is slightly over a month old now. Been spending every weekend for the past month at my bro's house in another town with Baby M.

Isn't she such a sweetheart!

What a way to end the first half of the year! I hope everyone had a good frst half of the year too!

Stay Creative!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:09:00 +0000

Hey guys, how is everyone doing? Hope all is well and good on your end.

Aaah, yes, been kinda quiet lately. Apart from trying the adjust to the new Blogger editor layout (ha.ha), but the day job been kinda busy lately. Energy wise, well.....lacking, really. Anyway, a friend shared this link with me and I thought it was really nice and just had to share it with you guys. I believe this might ring a bell with most of us who does any creatve work.

Well, I guess I won't have much problem with all 29 ways except for method no. 8. I don't really do no.8, ya know. Anyway, check the video out, will ya! ;)

TWR072 Springy Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:38:00 +0000

Like coils of spring, you wear "springs" of beads around your wrist with this one! ;)

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to make this multi strand cuff-like bracelet.

Included in the tutorial is also tips on how you can add on thread should the need arise. The design is open for other variation as will be suggested in the tutorial.

Tools & materials used:

(112) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone
(1) 6mm round bead (or any size bigger)
Size 11/12 seed bead
Monofilament/Fishing line/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors

Number of steps: 25

Page count: 13

The material listed here makes a 6 ½” long bracelet. You will need more bicone bead for a longer bracelet.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 683 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

TWR071 Crown Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:12:00 +0000

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create diamond motif using Swarovski crystal bicone.

Bicone bead aside, you can also try it with round beads. And when all the diamond motifs are joined together placed in a circle, somehow they just looked like a crown to me! ;)

The material given here makes a 6“ long bracelet (to fit my wrist! :P) including clasp. Clasp will take approximately 1” of the length of the bracelet. You’ll definitely be needing a few more beads extra to make
a longer one.

Included in this tutorial are also tips on how you can add on thread should the need arise.

Tools & materials used:

(48) 4mm Swarovski bicone Colour A
(36) 4mm Swarovski bicone Colour B
Size 11/12 seed bead
(2) Jump ring
(1) pair toggle clasp or any clasp of your choice
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers

Number of steps: 23
Page count: 11

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 614 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

TWR070 Rainbow Bangle Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:55:00 +0000

This is a very quick and easy bracelet to make and in my opinion gives the most effective result.

I also love the fact that it gives you this 3-dimentional structure that ‘raised’ the bicone beads above to give an
impression of a bangle.

This tutorial works especially great for those ‘orphan’ beads where you do not know what to do with the leftovers, you can just use it here to make a colourful bracelet.

Tools & materials used:

(84) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone (this number
makes a 6 ½ “ bracelet. You’ll need more if you are
making a longer one.
Size 11/12 seed bead
(2) crimp bead
(1) pair of clasp of your choice (although I personally
think that magnetic or button/snap clasp works the best)
(1) pair of clasp of your choice (although I personally
think that magnetic or button/snap clasp works great)
Chain nose pliers
Scissors

Number of steps: 18
Page count: 9

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 368 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

How Do I ....

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:54:00 +0000

Arrrgggh, and so I've been MIA for quite a while. Well, day job's been terribly busy lately. Hmphh!

Oh, well.....................

Anyway, here's another feature but this time in SerendipityCandleShoppe curated collection! :)

Check out the entire collection here.

or

Check out Dainty Flower Ring here.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email (atelierworkroom@gmail.com) for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

TWR069 Floral Spring Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:53:00 +0000

In this tutorial, learn how to make this Spring inspired piece of bracelet. A very simple project, great for
beginners!

The finished bracelet is approximately ¾” wide and the materials here make a 6 ½” long bracelet. You may need more bicones if you need to make a longer bracelet.

Basically, what I did was pick one colour to frame the bracelet but go colourful on the 'flowers' motif inside the bracelet. You'll need approximately 82 bicones for the framing.

Tools & materials used:

(124) 4mm Swarovski bicone
Size 11/12 seed bead
(2) bead tip/calottes
(1) crimp bead
Clasp of your choice; here I used lobster clasp
Fishing Line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent

Number of steps: 20

Page count: 9

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 420 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

An organized mess!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:15:00 +0000

I'm talking about me, that is! :P

Sorry peeps, haven't been updating very often lately. Work has been kinda crazy for the past month or so.

Just a quick post to shoutout to everyone that I'm still A.L.I.V.E ! Heheh!

Will try to get a proper post out by end of the week! ;)

TWR068 Starfish Pendant Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 05:07:00 +0000

Another version of the star pendant but this time with elongated points/tentacles using a variety of

sizes of beads ranging from 3mm to 6mm, to simulate that of a starfish.

Final pendant using the recommended sizes of beads here measures approximately
slightly more than 1” across.

Tools & materials used:

(40) 3mm Swarovski crystal bicone
(10) 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone
(10) 6mm Swarovski crystal bicone
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors

Number of steps: 23
Page count: 11

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 459 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

TWR067 Trapped Bead Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:04:00 +0000

In this tutorial, learn how to frame square beads together which creates the effect of beads appearing as though trapped within a net.

This technique should also work with other flat surfaced beads but depending on the thickness and shape of the beads it might bring out a very different effect from the one shown here. Here I used eight 14mm square facetted beads of 5mm thickness for a 6” long bracelet. You’ll probably need more or less depending on size.

For this tutorial, we’ll be experimenting with the use of bead tip/calottes to finish off the bracelet. Bead tip/calottes is one way you can finish of a hand beaded bracelet neatly.

Tools & materials used:

(8) 14mm square beads of 5mm thick (or other flat
surfaced bead of your choice)
(2) bead tip/calottes
(2) crimp bead
Clasp of your choice
Size 11/12 seed bead
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors
Chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers

Number of steps: 16
Page count: 13

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 550 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

Pssstt...these are the square facetted labradorite I used. These beads are just gorgeous, really! I got them from Beading.com.my if you're interested but I think they ran out of this size already.

Helping Angels : Socks For Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:08:00 +0000

I guess by now everyone would have known about the devastating disaster that hit Japan. It saddens me a lot just reading through the news on the latest update.

Makes you realize once again how fragile life can be and you never really know what is going to happen tomorrow.

Torinoumi on the eastern coast of Japan before the earthquake and tsunami disaster (left) and after.

Japan's disaster reminds me a lot of a Malay language's proverb I learn in school back then; "Sudah jatuh, ditimpa tangga".

The literal translation means to have the ladder leaning against the wall fall on you after you have fell on the floor yourself. Loosely translated as just bad luck! One disaster after another befall upon you.

It started off with the earthquake and because of the earthquake you later on get the tsunami and then the nuclear accident and snow snap. It makes me cringe just at the thought of it.

And another malay language proverb comes to mind; "malang tidak berbau".

Literal translation to mean upcoming disaster has no smell and loosely translated as you'll never know when bad luck's going to hit you!

And now, is you would like to extend a helping hand to Japan, this is what you can do

.

Helping Angels is a volunteer organisation founded by Poesy, a dear friend of mine. Poesy and I shares quite a bit in common. For one, we are both involved in making jewelry and secondly, we share similar life experiences such that we can relate to each other but that's anonther story. You can find out more about Helping Angels through their Facebook Group here.

American author Jason Kelly, through Helping Angels is collecting socks for earthquake victims.

Why socks? Because it's one way you can help Japan, directly and meaningfully. Do spare some time to find out more on how you can send the earthquake victims a pair of warm socks here.

I just realize that you'll need to sign in with your Facebook account in order to view more. So, for the benefit of those who don't, I shall copy and paste the info here :-

Dear Angels,

I am sure each and everyone of us are concerned and would like to find ways to do something for our Japanese neighbours. After days of wondering what to do while I stared in horror at the terrible news images on German television and the internet, I found something we can all do as a random act of kindness. It seems like a great idea for those of us who aspires to bring comfort and joy to those inflicted by such magn...itude of loss. If you do end up participating in this tiny movement of empathy, do sign off your package as a 'Helping Angel' below your name so we pass on our aspiration to grow this goodness network, one day may your recipient be an angel too. I shall sign off here while you can read on. Let us all exercise our compassion.

Love & Aspirations For All.
Yours, P

American author Jason Kelly, who lives in Sano, Japan, is collecting socks for earthquake victims. He writes:

Here’s a way you can help Japan, directly and meaningfully.

Hundreds of my readers in the United States and other parts of the world have asked me how they can help the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Japan on March 11. There are many places to donate money, and that’s a wonderful thing to do, but direct aid is also cherished by victims.

My office location is perfect for managing a direct-aid operation because it’s close enough to the primary damage zone that we can physically get there to help, but far enough away that mail delivery is working. So we quickly set ourselves up to run this operation, called Socks for Japan.

Guidelines:

- Send only new socks.
All human beings are comforted by a fresh, clean pair of socks. Other advantages socks offer this operation: their sizes are easy, they don’t break, people need lots of them in disastrous times without running water, people can keep them forever and remember that somebody from far away cared. Please do not send any other items of clothing, food, etc. Just socks, but go ahead and choose nice ones that will brighten somebody’s day.

- Group similar socks in one package.
To help our inventory management, put all socks of one type in a single package. For example, “men’s large,” “girls’ medium,” “boys’ small,” “baby girls’,” and so on. Different colors and styles are fine in the same package, but keep the gender and sizes consistent, please. If you include several different groups in a single box, please pack the groups in clear bags with a description enclosed, facing out.

- List package contents on the package.
To help our inventory management, write on the outside of the package exactly what’s inside. For example, “ten pairs, men’s medium socks” or “one pair, girl’s small socks” and so on. This will enable us to quickly group inventory for efficient distribution without opening packages.

- Enclose a short care letter. Japanese people treasure letters, especially ones from foreigners. Victims of the 1995 Hanshin quake in Kobe said that care letters were among the most uplifting items they received. If you enclose a care letter, provide a copy of it for each pair of socks you send. This will enable us to hand each recipient of your socks a letter from you. Please keep your letter brief. You can save us time by enclosing a translation of your letter into Japanese, which you can make easily at Google Translate, then copy, paste, and print the result to attach to each copy of your English version. Machine translations are imperfect so be sure to send your English version in case we need to tidy up the Japanese. If you send only English, we’ll translate it to Japanese and include your information that the recipient can use to respond later if they would like. No guarantee on that, of course, and any replies will probably arrive months or possibly more than a year later. We’ll translate replies from Japanese to English.

- Write your email address on the package. The most efficient way for us to keep in touch with you, and track the status of your package once we receive it, is via your email address. Please write it on the outside of your package so we can communicate with you without opening the package.
Please ship your package to my office:

Jason Kelly
Helping Angels : Socks for Japan
Plaza Kei 101
Wakamatsu-cho 615-6
Sano, Tochigi 327-0846
Japan

Thank you for your support! When your package arrives, we’ll send a note to you at the email address you wrote on it.

Close That Perfect Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:41:00 +0000

Well, ok, to be honest, I don't know what makes a perfect ring but have you sometimes experienced the difficulty of closing a jump ring?

It's like no matter how, there's this little gap hanging, which I think is rather common in 'cold connection' cases.

Alright, just in case you are wondering, 'cold connections' means no heat is involved in connecting pieces together. In traditionally silversmithing, jump rings are meant to be soldered in which case there's probably not such a big deal with minor gap. I think!

Anyway, this is something I picked up during the Beginners' Silversmithing class. Well, it wasn't taught to me literally but just something I observed and reckon how it's done.

So, okay, in circumstances like this, what you do is to reopen the ring.

Alright, now I give you a top view of how it's actually going to be reopen.

As you open the ring as you normally would, at the same time, apply pressure on the sides by pusing the two ends towards each other.

In other words, as one hand pushes one side of the jump to the back and another hand pulling another side to the front, simultaneously with the strength of your palm pushes the two sides towards each other.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to make them clear in words but I did try with drawing arrows on the picture which I hope would be better illustration.

What we're trying to do is kinda to get the ends to be slightly overlapping on each other.

Compared to how we would normally do it where both ends are more or less in tandem with each other?

Now, try closing it again.

As you pushed the two sides closer to each other, you'll see that the two ends of the jump ring overlaps, but that's ok. Just try to 'push it in' nonetheless.

And you should be able to 'get rid' of the gap.

And now, back to the front view.

There you go!

Hope this works for you like it did for me. :)

TWR066 Checker Bracelet Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:44:00 +0000

Like the checkerboard, eh? Heheh......

In this tutorial you will learn how to make this Checker Bracelet where squares sections; made from bugle

bead and embellished with Swarovski bicone (think checkerboard? heheh..... ) are joined together with netted seed bead.

I did not list the exact number of beads you need because as far as bracelet is concerned it is very much a

matter of individual sizes; since the size of wrists from one to another varies greatly and also a matter of
preference; in that whether you like to wear your bracelet snug fit or loosely. I, for example have a small
wrist and prefer wearing bracelet that fit a little snugly.

The size of the bracelet that I made in this tutorial is 6” long using 80 bicones with 5 squares link. I didn’t specifically numbered the amount of bugle beadsand seed bead you’ll need because I assume that these would have been bought in packets or shanks which I believe should be more than enough for one bracelet.

Tools & materials used:

4mm Swarovski crystal bicones
6mm bugle bead
Size 11/12 seed bead
Clasp of your choice (I use magnetic clasp here)
Crimp bead
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent
Scissors
Chain nose pliers

Number of steps: 39
Page count: 17

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 931 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.

A cool jump ring trick!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:52:00 +0000

Well, at least I think that it is! Heh! :P

It was in my previous post that I realized I've not blogged bout the basic of opening and closing of jump rings and so just for the sake of completion? collection?, I shall blog a post about.

I'm sure most of you would have know bout this already but I'll just share with you how I normally do it and a cool little trick that you can do with jump rings.

For those commercial jump rings that you can buy off retail, you will either find them to be closed or open jump rings. Meaning to say that they are either well,......closed or open.

A;ternatively, you can also make your own, heheh! :P

And so here, we have a closed jump ring.

You'll notice that the ends of the jump ring on each side kinda overlaps with each other but that's alright. It can be sorted out just by opening and closing it.

I think it's probably due to the way the cut out the rings from the coil.

Anyway, with your pliers gripping onto each side of the jump ring..... (here, I'm using chain nose plierss on the left and round nose pliers on the right but you can use any other pliers that you are comfortable with)

And pull each side apart from each other in opposite direction simultaneously.

Okay, the key word here is simultaneously cuz I've realized it sometimes doesn't quite closed nicely in a circle if you don't do it simultaneously.

Well, what I mean is that I sometimes have the habit of gripping on one side in a stationary position and let the other side pull away. Erm, know what I mean?

In those circumstances, I've noticed that they don't open up nicely.

*shrugs* hhhmmmm, or maybe it's just me? o_O

And to close the jump ring, very easy. Just push two sides of the ring towards each other.

And, voila!

Actually, this is not my favourite method because for some strange reasons I sometimes can't grip them steadily. Well, I reckon it's more a matter of my personal idiosyncrasy rather than anything else! :P

So what I do is actually grip onto half of the circle rather than just at the sides of the jump ring.

(hmmm.... I still can't decide whether I'm crazy about how the Panasonic Lumix LX5 takes macro shots where it's sharp at where it focuses and blurry on the surroundings. o_O)

And then use another plier to grip onto the other half of the circle in opposite direction before pulling it apart from each other.

Heh! Just how I like to do it. :P

Ouh, actually, I just remembered another trick on opening and closing jump ring! It just came across my mind as I was typing just now. Don't think can fit into this post now, so I think I'll share it in future posts.

Anyway, that was just the warm up. What I really want to share in this post is this little trick that you can do with your jump rings. More like a design trick if you ask me.

You'll need to link many many jump rings together.

You'll also soon realize what a tedious job it can be to link many many jump rinhs together one by one.

This is how I do it when I need to link many many jump rings together. I don't exactly do it one by one cux I found another way which I find is faster.

I've never exactly timed myself but it did feel like it was done a wee bit faster.

So, this is how I do it.

I first closed two jump ring.

Then, I open one jump ring and slide the two closed one in...............

And close that ring.

And that's how you get the 3 jump ring link shown in the above. I find it's a faster way of linking the three together than say, if you open and close one by one to join them together.

And to continue joining jump rings to the link, close one jump ring.

Open one jump ring and slide that closed one in.

And slide on the longer link (in this case, the three jump ring link earlier on). Close the ring and it feels like you have just joined four jump rings together in 2 steps. Well, that's what it always feel like for me! LOL... :P

That is how you'll be continue adding on links until your desired length.

Next is where the trick is. :)

Now, take a piece of wire and slide the wire randomly through each jump ring.

Okay, key word here is through and each until you've passed through the end of the link like the very first picture.

After you have pass through all, next is where I think is the fun part!

You slide all the rings down.

See how the rings all clump up together that gives it that grunge look?

I think it works quite nicely when you incorporate them into your design like what I've did in the two bracelets below here.

Pretty neat, huh? ;)

The one above was done in wire sections whereas the one below done with memory wire.

Have fun trying! :)

TWR065 Flexi-'O' Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy Sue) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:21:00 +0000

This is another version to the earlier sparkly ‘O’. Just like the earlier sparkly ‘O’, you can use it on its own as
a pendant or like how I like to use these ‘O’s best is by making your own T-bar and use it like a toggle clasp
which in the end also doubles up as a pendant.

This is a relatively easy tutorial where you’ll learn how to make this sparkly ‘O’ in less than 10 steps using teardrop bead. This is a very flexible tutorial in that it works with any size of teardrop beads or even using different sizes together to achieve different effects.

I will also be suggesting alternative design that you can do. You can easily vary the size of the 'O' using more or less bead. Design possibilities are endless!

The 'O' with the red teardrop bead is bigger and uses 30 beads whereas the crystal ones are alightly smaller using only 24 beads. As far as the sizes of the teardrop beads are concerned, the crystal ones are 11mm and the red ones are smaller, 6mm.

This tutorial only teaches you how to make the 'O'. For adaptation of the 'O' into these necklaces/pendants, you are expected to know the basics of making a loop, a wrapped loop, opening and closing jump ring and also wrapping a teardrop bead. Any additional material will be needed accordingly depending on how and what you want to adapt this 'O' into.

Tools & materials used:

(30) teardrop beads of any size
Size 11/12 seed bead
Fishing line/Monofilament/Supplemax or equivalent

Number of steps: 9
Page count: 10

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This tutorial is in PDF format and you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them.
File size: 479 KB
The PDF file will be sent to your email address registered with PayPal within 24 hours or less.

PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE, LEND OR COPY. DO NOT MASS PRODUCE. PLEASE ALWAYS GIVE CREDIT TO THE DESIGNER. THANK YOU FOR RESPECTING DESIGNERS' COPYRIGHT.

nb: Prices may be subjected to change without prior notice.
Malaysian buyers, please contact me by email for quotation in RM and payment by local bank transfer.