Christmas Pines...

... for 2010 EGA Heartland Fall Seminar! I stitched more models so they can be displayed at the upcoming 2010 EGA Heartland Spring Seminar. I thought it would be fun to use different fabrics, fibers and colors. Moreso, I'm making companion pieces as included in my proposal was how to finish other fiber-filled sewing accessories. Further details for the first stitched piece was posted here. Notice that I added a gold-tone daisy and pearl at the center of roof on the recent models.

So there you go, since the contract is with me already, I can now announce that I'll be teaching a half day class at the Fall Seminar on October. Mississipi River Valley Chapter will be sponsoring the said event... will talk about further details later on. I was extremely excited when I recieved the invitation, and I can't wait for it to come! I love the fact that I'll be able to spend time with fellow stitchers, and talk about our needlwork passion.

I started making "korona" (a Tagalog term which means crown) pincushion last year so I thought it would be great to make a new series of them.

Another good news I wanna share is that I was invited to be the Guest Speaker and teacher at a local EGA chapter on next year's anniversary! It's also a gathering I can't wait to partake. It's a dream come true for me to be able to teach my love of 3D hand finishing.

Also, to other EGA chapters (which I will mention the chapter names when the right time comes), thanks to all of you for including one of my works in your upcoming workshops. I'm in the process of finishing more on-site and off-site exclusive teaching pieces aside from the ones you already saw. Please extend your patience with me as I try to accomodate all your requests. Slowly but surely as the saying goes... I still want to do 100% of the work on my models... from designing to stitching (and sometimes a lil' frogging) to finishing. I'm so humble with your requests and can't wait to see your completed pieces.

And lastly, I finally managed to finish more models for TGOSM... and want to apologize sincerely to Kirsten for taking these models to reach her... and very thankful for the break. I know it's been quite a while but I can't wait to share new finishing ideas.

I look forward to a great and busy stitching week! I hope you do too!

Nature's Beauty Bracelet And Earrings Set

For instant gratification, I strung some beads on a long flexi-wire while watching the night news and ended up with this bracelet. Though when DH saw it, he's not sold with the idea of a chunky blue stone which for me is the focal point. Anyway, I might re-string it and replace the blue stone. About 8" and is made of fire-polished, gemstones, turquoise, green jade and iris seed beads.

Should you have suggestions, I would love to hear them. Thanks again for dropping by!

Cellini Necklace In Progress

I find my mathematical ability is put into good used whenever I'm doing a bead stitching project. Same goes whenever I finish a 3D stitched piece! For me, beadweaving is as calming as counted thread embroidery.

Here's what I pictured this piece in my mind, but during the execution, I didn't find it appealing. The proportion is too off! I had to dismantle it to say the least.

The 2 segments are a wee bit over 7" so I thought of using each segment as focal point of a necklace and bracelet to make a set. But that didn't worked out for me too so I had to consider other options again.

I'm considering this but again, I think the pendant is too small. I'm also on a look out of big stone pendant that will match the colors of the E beads.

And my last option is to make a flower pendant out of these 1" size stones. I'm tied up at the moment therefore the project will have to wait for a while... or maybe a long while!

Thanks for dropping by all! Don't forget to leave a feedback should you have any suggestion for this piece. I would really appreciate it!

More Jewelries For A Good Cause

I hope you guys are not tired yet with my jewelries. I know I've made so much of them already, but I wanna finish as much as I can so I can sell some of them and donate the proceeds to the needy kids back home. There's these 3 siblings in the neighborhood I grew up wherein their father has been diagnosed with severe diabetes. He used to work in the construction and his family was doing pretty good until his sickness. While I was there, I found out that his big toe was infected and had to be cut. It has been months since and it's not healing, and the infection is getting up to his leg. I was told by my parent and siblings recently that his leg might be cut too. It just break my heart hearing this... They don't have anybody to turn to as their relatives can barely support their daily needs as well.

For me, the worst part in the situation is that the children has to suffer too. The eldest among the 3 siblings is in junior HS and is currently living at her maternal grandparents (which can barely survive too). The second is in 5th grade and almost didn't able to enroll last year... there's a big possibilty she won't be able to this year unless somebody will help them out. The youngest who's 6 years old while I was there last year, haven't been to school.:( Despite the fact that the girl really wanna go. The enrollment won't be 'til June so I'm planning to set-up a jewelry store for my beadworks to help these siblings. I asked my sister to take a picture of the siblings next time the eldest is there so you can see them. I'm leaning towards having a silent auction for my pieces but nothing is finalize yet.

Anyway, here's a necklace with beaded beads and spiral peyote as focal point. Made of glass pearls, seed and E beads with toggle and clasp closure.

I enjoy putting this bracelet together and the dangling earrings with lever back are fun to make. Again, the bracelet has spiral peyote strip as focal point. Made of pink jade gemstone, magnetic hematite, silver findings, seed and E beads.

I think I'll gonna keep this bracelet as I don't have any pink in my personal collection. Made of pink jade, glass and seed beads. It's a little over 8" and fits like a cuff on my wrist.

These 2 bracelets has matching earrings and they're for my 7 and 2 yo nieces back home. I used spiral weave on the left and St. Petersburg stitch on the right. Made of seed beads with loop and pearl closures.

DH wasn't impress with this necklace but I love it. It can be worn as single or double strands... both ends of the inner link has lobster clasp therefore it's detacheable. Made of Mother-of-pearl, seed beads and freshwater pearls.

And lastly, here's another set of earrings I also made for my friend's daughter. Made of glass pearls and crystal spacers with lever back earrings.

Thanks for dropping by everybody!

Circle Of Tree And Bulaklak Jewelry Sets

Made these sets for my friend and her daughter. Unfortunately, by the time I was stitching them, I only have few focal beads so I had to work from what I have.

I knew for a fact that my friend loves to wear tubes and/or spaghetti strap tops as they live in the sunny state, so I thought this kind of necklace will serve her well. It can be worn either the pendant in front as Y-style or let it dangle at the back as choker style.

CIRCLE OF TREE

Technique: Spiral Weave and Basic Wirework

Materials: Shell Drops, Seed and E Beads

And this Bulaklak set is for her 12-yo daughter. I love classic look and I think the set can be worn with almost anything. The necklace is a long Y-style.

WHITE BULAKLAK CLASSIC

Technique: Off-loom Beadweaving and Stringing

Materials: Seed Beads, Crystals and Glass Pearls

Be warm everybody!

Teaching Piece No. 2: CHRISTMAS PINES PAGODA

Here's another pagoda which will be a part of the 2010 Holiday and Seasons Series teaching pieces.

CHRISTMAS PINES PAGODA

Fabric: Hand-Dyed Line from Stitches and Spice

Threads: Dinky Dyes Silk Threads, DMC Threads

Accessories: Lody's Creations, Mill Hill Seed Beads

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Details of the other teaching piece is at this BLOOMS link.

Weaved Bracelets And Wired Necklace

I know, I know, I should be posting more stitchy stuffs!

I also finished all these jewelries this month, and are meant to be surprise gifts... but had to reveal due to a great circumstance.

These bracelets are for my dear friend in Florida, Anne, and her daughter, Kei. Anne sent me a fabulous package which I recieved on my birthday so I thought I'll make something for her and Kei. They're made of seed beads, garnet ships, freshwater pearls, MOP chunks and Silver tags. Both closes with toggles clasps.

The off-white bracelet is a birthday gift for my great-aunt in Michigan. Also made similar to the above ones, spiral weaving... made of freshwater pearls, MOP chunks, silver tags, seed and E beads. The blue-purple bracelet is has 2 beaded beads (tubular peyote), polished stones, and crystals. Another combo of simple weaving and stringing techniques.

And lastly, a linked necklace that I really enjoyed creating... my second piece with this technique. I'll post the first one when I find the photo (it was made of various glass beads). Most of the MOP chunks are from Anne, while the heart donut pendant & the freshwater pearl at the center hole is from my own stash. Still contemplating if I'll give this as a gift as well to match the bracelet above. I'm not doing really good with my stitching lately so I had to boost my ego with jewlery pieces... just so I can say I finished something. LOL

I've had really good mail days this month so I thought I better devote a post for them... something I can look back in time. Hope everybody had a great Sunday! To those in the winter dillema like me, keep warm!

Modified Pagoda: Turkish

Here's a modified pagoda with specialty stitches, i.e. turkish, etc. I enjoyed stitching the turkish stitches on the roof and can't wait to incorporate it on my next projects. The bottom part of my 2-tier pagodas looks like the bottom of this one. Watch out for upcoming off-site teaching projects, they're great for your stitching guild's workshops.

TURKISH PAGODA

Fabric: Monaco Evenweave from Charles Craft

Threads: Dinky Dyes Silks, DMC

Accessories: Lody's Creations, Mill Hill Seed Beads

Bracelets and Earrings Galore

Again, the beading bug continues. I've never enjoyed "stringing" this much. It's obviously way faster than bead stitching and embroidery but I can honestly say I'll be able to wear the pieces everyday or on any occassion. Only few projects below were created with peyote and spiral weaving.

I used up one of my christmas GC on more jewelry supplies to increase my glass beads stash. I had to grabbed more glass pearls to accommodate the bracelets I wanted to make... as seen below!

Though I'm not a dangling earring person, I love creating them. Each piece I make reminds me of my niece back home, who doesn't wanna wear earrings unless they're dangling... and she's 7 years old! LOL

The earrings below are 7 pairs per set... all made with gradated glass pearls but differs with rondelle accent: in red, in white crystal, and in rainbow shades. The rondelles were casted in silver so I used sterling silver earring hooks.

I have more beadworks to share but will save those for later posts. I better post more stitchy-related next.

Hope everybody's having a great stitching day!

Necklace Galore...

... a lariat with RAW, a simple stringing piece with beaded pendant, and a classic black with spiral peyote!

More days spent on beading and bead stitching so I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

CURLY LARIAT
Materials: Cubes, E and Seed Beads
Techniques: Basic RAW and Stringing

PURITY
Set: Necklace and Earrings
Materials: Glass Pearls, Crystals, Rondelles,
E-beads and Japanese Seed Beads
Techiques: Bead Stitching (Beaded Bead) and Stringing

TWISTED BLACK BEAUTY
Set: Necklace and Earrings
Materials: Fire Polished Glass, Glass Pearls, Seed & E Beads
Techniques: Spiral Peyote and Stringing

Have a great stitching day everybody!

Teaching Piece No. 1: BLOOMS PAGODA

I want to formally introduce my first teaching piece for the year 2010. Yes, it's just a pagoda finish but I was thrilled when the Education Chair of Nocturnal Needlers-Embroiderers of Oklahoma, informed me months ago that they wanna include my "pagoda finishing" in their 2010 workshops - come springtime. Really, I was overwhelmed with excitement! Now you should see the smile on my face.

BLOOMS

Fabric: Stitches and Spice

Threads: Dinky Dyes Silks, Stitches & Spice Silk, DMC

Accessories: Lody's Creations, Mill Hill Seed Beads

Ok, as the title says, it's my first teaching piece for 2010 - as on-site and/or off-site project. I had thought about offering off-site teaching pieces when another Education Chair contacted me over a year ago if I can teach for their group... which is of course a hand-finishing course. Unfortunately, the stitching guild is out-of-state and the sad part is I had to say no. Moreso, I've wanted to experience an informal class (which I already did last year) first before going to guilds. To cut the story short, my upcoming off-site teaching pieces will be available to stitching guilds and groups with at least 10 members. A photo DVD of step-by-step hand-finishing will be included in the agreement. I'm still finalizing the details but should you intend to partake on this set-up, please have your Education or Program Head to email me.

On the family side, we're supposed to celebrate my birthday (brunch) today at Aunt R's house but her furnace had a lil' problem so we did the gathering at SIL's house. I was given another family heirloom - needlework piece - which I truly love. It's a tatted doily made by MIL's mom. I'm not sure about the year it was made but I think it's over 50 years old. The crafting and beading bug continues... recieved a sub of Bead Style magazine from MIL, Hobby Lobby GC from SIL, and a set of fabulous "Crafts in America" DVD's from DH - which I enjoyed tremendously. Pictures to follow.

Lots of postings coming up so stay tuned!

Happy Year 2010

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring happy bells, across the snow.

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850~

BULAKLAK

Materials: Glass Pearls, Crystals and Seed Beads

Techniques: Bead Stitching (Beaded Beads) and Russian Snake

Enjoy my first jewelry sets for 2010... with more to come the soonest! I had been in a beading-bug since christmastime and the cold Iowa weather calms me so far with bead stitching. I also have few stitched pieces to share on my next post.

Hope everybody's having a fabulous New Year's Day!

Christmas And Crafts

This post has been long overdue so be warned - it's a long post!

Part of our christmas gifts for MIL and Aunt R are books so I made coordinating bookmarks for them, finished them on the 24th. DH was the one who picked all the books and though I'm not a novels enthusiast (used to be back in college), these 2 books caught my attention: The Memory Quilt and A Thread of Hope. I kinda gave MIL and Aunt R that I'm interested to read these books when they're done. LOL

I waited till 24th to finish wrapping gifts coz we're expecting more DVDs in the mail. Unfortunately, they didn't made it in time for christmas. Most of the DVDs below are in the christmas gift lists of my dear in-laws. Did I mentioned before that months before christmas, we exchange lists of what we want to recieve for christmas? I think I did! LOL Anyway, these DVDs are the last gifts I wrapped.

We finished off our gift shopping with a bunch of giftcards... yeah, they're on the list too! Ranges from $25 to $100. I love recieving GC as well, specially from my fave craftstores. They're great for after christmas sale as discounts are hugeeeeeeee! And of course, I recieved some GC as gifts myself. Here I come Hobby Lobby! LOLHere are the gifts, all wrapped up before me and DH hauled them to SIL's house on christmas morning - where we had our gathering. We had a brunch instead of the usual lunch in the past years. I made bacon-wrapped lil' smokies and apple pie. The gathering is a potluck-style so we had a bunch of food.
These beads were from DH and in-laws. Mom got me Bead & Button mag (sub to follow) and Cube Bead Stitching book... plus other stuffs. DH surprised me with a box full of beads (mostly seed and E beads) and other beading supplies. He knew I need to expand my beading stash so he went to Hobby Lobby while I was back home and got me a bunch of supplies. I actually opened the box 2 days before christmas coz I've been bugging him. LOL Talking about excitement ha! He also included bead organizers, and they're already filled. I had been busy reorganizing my craft stash again since before christmas as it's getting hard to find things I'm looking for. SIL also gave me about 10 packs of seed beads (4 oz bags) plus a big organizer. My in-laws really know how to pamper me with craft supplies. LOL SIL gave me, MIL & Aunt R Lion King tickets which we will all use on January 23rd. We'll gonna have a girls day out on that day coz she also got a ticket for Katie and her. This will be the first time I'll see the show but I know it's really good. SIL and Katie watched it whenever the show is available in Des Moines, IA. This might be the 5th time Katie will see it, yet she's always excited. She loves musical shows and always go on some every year.

The first time I saw this bowmaker, I knew right away I had to have one. So I grabbed one this month and told DH to include it in my christmas or birthday gifts. LOL Needless to say, I had to doodle over it, before wrapping it. I'll just act surprise when I opened it this weekend for everybody to see. LOL SShhhsss, just kiddin'.

Look familiar - our driveway! I took the same photo last year... this one was taken yesterday morning as we had snowstorm the other night. DH didn't make it home due to bad road condition. He had to stay at the hotel where he works.
And what could be better during those snow cold days but yummy soup! DH went home few days before christmas with a whole big ham, he said he won it at work. So I immediately cut one fourth of it into cubes and made my own version of Bean and Ham Soup - with celery, carrots, laurel leaves, sweet basil, etc. It was soooooo yummy that I'll gonna make again this week.
I've been in the beadland since christmastime and stitching had to take a back seat. I've been busy beading away... mostly strining and beadweaving! In the last few days, I made more than 10 pairs of simple earrings, which I haven't took a picture yet. Moreso, I made a whole bunch of beaded stitching/sewing accessories like stitch markers, counters, etc. I think I have over 50 packs made already. I also enjoyed making the cases, using scrapbook cardstocks, hence the bright colors... and felt to hold the pins. It closes very well and ready for gift-giving to fellow stitchers. I will list most of them at my store.
And lastly, I'm glad that my partner for the TGOSM Ornament Exchange recieved her package before christmas. She sent me an email on the weekend before christmas that she didn't get them yet despite the fact I mailed it on December 8th. So I told her I'll stitch another one if she won't get them in 2 days, though I stitched a repalcement immeditely for the just in case scenario... and voila, the package arrived on the 22nd. BTW, I restitched another pagoda and will just give it as gift to my great aunt.

Well everybody, I think I've said to much so I better quit. From our house to yours, we wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Some Finishes And Family Talk

We had to celebrate SIL's birthday more than a week early, last Saturday, as she'll be off to the Twin Cities either tomorrow or Tuesday. Our dear niece, Katie, will have a surgery on the 10th so pelase send some thoughts and prayers for her.

Ont he stitching note, when I saw La-D-Da's ornament on 2009 JCS Ornament issue, I knew I gotta stitch it. I stitch it not only once, but twice already... and I'm working on 3rd. Since I used 28 count linen instead of the recommended higher count, I finished mine as door hangers. But I'm sure they would look great as well on a big christmas tree. Also, I didn't use the recommended thread colors.

Another design from this year's JCS Ornament issue is this Celtic Wreath by The Sunflower Seed. I just need some quick to stitch and finish project so I'll feel I accomplish something.

I really needed those quicky projects so I also stitched this Prairie Schooler's Winter which I had to modify a bit to fit on the box lid. This is DH's favorite (and mine too) amongst my recent finishes. I'm working on a second piece as well! LOL

And lastly, the JBW Christmas Tree I is a must-stitch for me too... working on the companion piece (the second tree). I decided to use the linen I bought from Philippines so I used brighter shade of green so the color will stand out. The other ornie is from Homespun Elegance and the pattern can be found at a JCS Ornament issue as well (forgot what year though... will share later), which I finished as a pocket ornament. Those stuffs sticking out on top are DMC threads.

Well, my dear friends, the above are some of my accomplishments in the last couple of weeks. I stitched and finished those in-between or while working on some teaching pieces! I have more "smalls" made while back home and will share photos of them soon so watch out... I love how they turned out.

Have a great stitching Monday all!