Getting off the hook

It's with a heavy heart that I've to shut down this blogshop in compliance to the policies laid down by the organisation I work for. I tried emailing and calling but being put on hold for 15 minutes only to be cut off twice just isn't my cup of tea. So, until all the i's have been dotted and all the t's crossed, the 'shop' part remains closed.

I'll still keep in touch, maybe on Instagram, so you'll know what I'm working on. I'm currently overloaded with yarn, yarn and more yarn,,,
There are

• vermillon / grey throw that I'm knitting on the bias. Garter stitch as usual because this yarn is so fine and I'm using 4 balls at a go. More than half done.
• DS' raglan jacket that I've yet to start
• DD's cotton blanket that's going to use almost 2kg of yarn. That's 2 balls of 10 colours in the pattern that she chose. Incidentally, she now prefers the wrong side of the pattern, LOL!
• semi-circle shawl using beautifully dyed tonal yarn that was on sale because it's discontinued 
• semi-circle shawl using deep grey yarn from a cone. Not so portable project that I tried to bring around. I'll just work on this at home.
• knit/purl throw in mustard and navy
• green shrug - I think I'll frog this
• variegated orange shrug - I think I'll frog this too
• rainbow coloured cowl - I think I'll frog this again
• knitting loom shawl - I'll need to figure out how to get it off the loom and I'll have another FO
• book covers wrapped with Uniqlo and Yacht 21 paper bags waiting for the inside covers and paper. I've yet to decide whether to stitch the book together or just O-wire the pages
• multi-coloured pages waiting to be sewn together, now that I've found the string and the wax. What stitch shall I use? Perhaps Coptic in a single colour so it won't fight with the colours and patterns.
• and there are simply too many UFOs to list. Yes, insta is good. Snap and post so you can see progress. My current phone has 13MP which is so much better than the previous 8.

Until next time, stay happy, healthy and continue crafting. 

Thank you for staying with me these years and hope to see you soon!

Don't think there'll be another of this

This is something strange, no? I took 2 green book rings, 2 anodized aluminium jump rings and a barrel weave chain and made this. Wanted to see what it would look like. DD says it's nice, DS says 'no' but DS says 'no' to so many of my stuff anyway. I find it odd. I think I'd rather have just the book rings. :-)

On another note, I tied to bundles of notebooks with twine and ribbon. Can't decide which looks nicer. I think it depends on the print though twine is more versatile. This is in preparation for the 'Cutting Corners Sale'. Rather corny, no? 'Cause I cut/rounded the corners of the notebooks.

I have lots of cardstock left and papers as well. I just don't have the time and focus to finish them at the rate I want to. I've been adding more holes to the saddle-stitch. I think it's a different look from the usual 5 holes. I'll have more pics soon. 

Have a blessed Sunday!

Keep the faith

Shepherd's hook bookmarks with Byzantine weave chainmaille and 'faith' charm.

Have a blessed day!

Clearance sale now on on Facebook

I'll be taking on something new from next year for 3 years. It's something I've been looking forward to though I'm still waiting for final confirmation that it's on. It's going to take up most of my time so I'll have less time to craft :-(

I'll still craft though, but I won't be taking any more customised orders.

I'm clearing on-hand stock now on Facebook, selling some items almost at cost.

Check them out!

Starlight

I said, "Oh my, what a marvelous tune"

It was the best night, never would forget how we moved.

The whole place was dressed to the nines,

And we were dancing, dancing

Like we're made of starlight

Like we're made of starlight

This bling charm reminds me of that song from Taylor Swift's latest album. It's attached via a Byzantine chainmaille weave with a grass green suede tassel on another chain.

Have a blessed day!

Afternote:
Made another one.

No headphones

I've always wondered where the dust plug goes when the headphones or earpieces are plugged in. I think I might just add a tiny lobster hook so it can be hooked somewhere. Maybe onto the keyring?

Made this with a bling dust plug that just arrived. Detached the Byzantine chainmaille from a shepherd hook's bookmark and attached it here. Hmm, maybe I should just have a lobster hook so you can have a two-in-one. Bookmark or dust plug. LOL!

Have a blessed day!

Same, but different

Made these two antique bronze shepherd's hook bookmarks with box weave chainmaille and the largest owl charms I have. The left hook is a plain hook and the right one has patterns etched on both sides.

DS and I prefer the left one, DD, the right.

Have a blessed evening!

Quick update

So the PSLE's over and we're in spring-cleaning mode. I managed to squeeze out some items though.

Antique bronze shepherd's hook bookmarks with full Persian chainmaille weave and charms. The squirrel and dolphin were a gift from a supplier so I only have 1 each. The Sue Bonnets and bunnies I bought from South Bridge road.

We finally bought E6000, the industrial strength glue for sticking the ring bases to the fabric-covered buttons. I like the filigree ones though DS said it looks too fat for the ring. I think it's so pretty that it can be worn on its own. :-) DD has claimed the butterfly, by the way, LOL!

More stuff coming, after the spring-cleaning. That's for sure. The postlady's been here quite often with packages for us that we'll be making into some pretty items in time for Christmas.

Watch this space.

Have a blessed day!

Psalm 23 bookmarks

I didn't know that these bookmarks are called shepherd's hook. Sure reminds me of Psalm 23 after I knew though.

The beaded ones were made with gifted beads from SL. They won't be for sale 'cos she has something planned for them.

But there are more than enough hooks so I'll be making some for sale too :-)

Have a blessed day!

Happy National Day

Here are some pics of what I've been making recently. 

Byzantine bookmarks with anodized aluminium rings and charms.

 

 Antique bronze bookmarks - Full Persian on the left and Byzantine on the right.

For the most important book in the world :-) 

These Byzantine star keychains remind me of the song that goes like...

There are five stars arising out of the stormy sea...

Happy National Day!

National colours

I'm looking forward to 9 August.

We'll be going to the Promontory @ Marina Bay for the National Day Parade screening and fireworks. Perhaps next year we'll get tickets to the Grandstand but it'll be nice at the Promontory too.

Made these as an early National Day gift using red and white Toho seed beads and silver tone jump rings and earring hooks.

I'm making a red and white bracelet too. It's WIP 'cos I'm still trying to figure out if I can add a bit of white frosted beads where the moon and stars are supposed to be. More on that soon.

Have a blessed evening!

Finally something different?

After bracelets and chokers, I've finally made some matching earrings :-)

I used readymade ear hooks though but the chainmaille weaves are mine.

Left to right:

Silver tone Byzantine weave earrings

Gunmetal Byzantine weave earrings

Silver tone barrel weave earrings

Gunmetal barrel weave earrings

Cheers!

Make a mark!

DS used to fold dog ears. I don't like dog ears. I'll remove them if I see them on a library book. I much prefer to remember the page number or use a bookmark.

This is DD's request. She chose the spine, the weave and the charm. This is the larger version (and thicker) of the spine. There were plain ones in silver, gunmetal and bronze, zig-zag ones even but she chose this one with the sun and stars detail.

I'm waiting for her to finish reading this book. She's read it 3 times already and going to finish reading the 4th time soon. I'm wondering what's so captivating about this book?

Have a blessed Sunday!

So who won the Byzantine bracelet?

Congratulations, Pamela!

You've won this Byzantine bracelet. Please let me know if this length is OK with you else I can customize it to your requirements.

Thanks to all other participants of this giveaway. As a token of appreciation, you get

10% off storewide at Tobias' Shoppe and Tiffany's Shoppe

20% off if you're buying chainmaille items.

Valid till 8Aug2012

Have a blessed day!

Sliding lock

5-aside European 4-in-1 bracelet made with 5mm silver tone jump rings.

I like the slide lock better with this weave, more than with the lobster hook. The hook's nice but with other weave. Somehow, the with and the simplicity of the closed slide lock complements this weave.

Have a blessed day!

I'm off to the flea market. See you there!

Dual purpose

This is the longest chain I've made so far. It's so long that it can be either a double wrap bracelet or a choker. Woven in the Barrel weave using 5mm silver tone jump rings. I added a silver tone lobster hook with extension chain and squeezed in a 5-ring Mobius flower at the end.

I think this looks really nice when worn with a collared shirt. Maybe I'll keep this too, LOL!

Have a blessed evening!

All packed!

Packed the chainmaille keychains more than a month ahead of the actual day. Sometimes I'm early, sometimes I'm late :-( 

Hope the recipients will like it!

Have a blessed day!

New metal

The gauge of these stainless steel rings are higher so I could attempt a full Persian weave. And a 7-ring Mobius flower too. I didn't bother with aspect ratios again and just started the chain. It's quite fluid but not slinky. I added a stainless steel lobster hook so this bracelet is totally made up of the same stuff as forks and spoons.

I like this and am wondering whether to keep it for myself. I like shaggy bracelets too but there's something about simple clean lines and repetition and sleekness that I associate with chainmaille bracelets.

Hmmm, maybe I should make this mine, LOL!

Have a blessed day!

Afternote: I think this would look very nice as a choker when worn with a collared shirt. If I can find a pretty stainless steel toggle. Hmmm...

Playing with food

Do these look like olives?

DS said the previous black one looked like tiny grapes.

Toho 8/0 seed beads with pink lining and olive green on the outside. Silver tone rings for some brightness and shine.

I think this is the last of the shaggy bracelets for a while. Toho has lots more beads that I would like to try - drop beads, 6/0 beads and all the different colours! Well, if these are popular at the flea market on Sunday, I might just delve into these a bit more.

Meanwhile, my sewing machine beckons.

Have a blessed day!

Black Beauty

While this would go very well with a little black dress, I think it does casual looks as well with a long sleeve white shirt (sleeve rolled up to bracelet length, of course) and jeans. I like this combo, shiny/bling beads and shaggy loops, for its dual personality of formal and casual looks.

As usual, I've included an extendable chain with a 4-ring Mobius flower.

I'm liking the Mobius flower more these days. There's something quite captivating about looking at the swirls on a multiple-ring Mobius flower.

Material used: Toho 8/0 seed beads, 5mm gunmetal rings and gunmetal lobster hook

Have a blessed evening!

ps: I'm considering making these as chokers or short necklaces but the looping so many beads is a stumbling block. There are about 400 here and it already took me hours :-( That, and my hand hurts.

Afternote

Took another pic this morning. Looks different :-)