Thanks to all of you who turned up today!

Heartfelt thanks to all of you who trekked all the way to Singpost Centre in Paya Lebar today and got lost looking for the right set of lifts to bring you to the CozyCot Blog Shop event! It was pretty hard to find wasn't it? Kudos to those who found the place without needing help with directions! Nonetheless, I hope it was a fruitful trip for all, and I truly appreciate all your support! :)

Thanks so much to all of you who purchased my trinkets, I really hope you enjoy wearing them as I did making them! :)

For those of you who wanted to go but did not make it to the event as the venue was quite out of the way (yes, I've already given this as feedback to the organisers as turnout is very dependent on location location location!!), you will still be able to view my new trinkets as I will be posting these up in due course.

Time now to get some much needed rest - will post again once I've recharged!

Have a great weekend all! :)

A little slice of heaven

Just got back from the Four Seasons Koh Samui. What can I say, but paradise found? Its a lovely resort set on an isolated steep cliff, perfect for that chill out, R&R holiday with a loved one. The hubs and I were there to attend a friend's wedding and I must say the wedding itself was absolutely beautiful! It certainly set a new benchmark for weddings, it was a romantic and dreamy beach wedding and thank goodness the weather held up.

This being my first resort holiday, I was not sure what to expect. Would I be bored? Well, the resort with its luxurious villas are designed with the level of comfort to enable you not to leave them at all! We basically holed ourselves in the villa/resort most of the days we were there. We had the choice to hang out in our own pool, laze on the huge daybed or even tan on our own deckchairs.

The most incredible thing of all? My brain completed switched off itself from my usual busy life and the world around. Not once during the stay did I think about anything related to my usual schedule back home. Not the fact that I was not going to bead, not the fact that I was missing my Sunday Jazz Ballet lessons, nor did I even think about the news in the financial markets. I was completely relaxed and chilled out. It felt wonderful. Sometimes, I guess less is really more.

Off to Koh Samui!

Just a quick note to say I'm off for a short break in the sunny isle of Koh Samui (actually at the airport now as I blog this). So I will be away from my beads for a bit.... Actually heading off to a friend's wedding there, but of cos making use of the opportunity for a romantic R&R trip with the hubs :)

Thanks to the girlies who left me such lovely feedback.... enjoy your pieces! :)

Made a pair of earrings to wear this weekend for the wedding... will post it when I return next week! Ciao!

Just a quick note...

Its been a busy past couple of weeks. Literally living the "so much to do but so little time" life. It feels like an eternity since I've last posted n beaded... although in reality, I realise its ONLY 10 days but I think that's the longest I've ever gone without posting!! It feels terrible when I've all these ideas forming inside my head for new creations but not had the time to actually sit down and bring them to life.

I've done a few items, but had not the time to take pics of them... hence the lack of posts recently. Hoping to rectify it this weekend, before I go away next weekend.

Been attracted to glam glam earrings of late, perhaps arising from my own need of one such pair for an upcoming friend's big wedding bash. I think its going to be a really grand affair so I need something eye catching to fit the theme, and basically to spice up an old gown that I'll be "recycling" for the dinner. So watch out for the fruits of the ideas bubbling in my head!

Parting Can Be Such Sweet Sorrow

Hmm, seems like the Luxe necklace I made is getting a pretty good response. The gf who commissioned it as a bday gift has taken quite a fancy to it herself (are you contemplating keeping it for yourself dear? ;p) and so has another gf who saw the necklace when she popped over to my place just then tonight. To be honest, I quite like it myself too!

That's what I've realised since I took up beading - it can be quite difficult to part with your creations. Each and every single piece that I've made feels like a little part of me. Its a reflection of my mood, my feelings, my thoughts and my style. So even though it makes me very happy and feeling accomplished when others admire and appreciate the pieces that I've created, its also bittersweet when I send them off to their new owners. But nevertheless, I take great pride in knowing that someone out there is wearing a piece of jewellery I created and made, and perhaps liking it as much as, or even more than I do! That's one of the best reasons I enjoy about beading - the pride and satisfaction derived! :)

Beautiful Barcelona

My maiden trip to Spain has taken my breath away. Wow, is all I can say. Barcelona is a fantastic city and I now understand why its a wildly popular destination of travellers to Europe. My trip can be described in one word - fabulous! I had a magnificent time exploring the sights, sounds and tastes of Barcelona, checking out its quaint little pedestrian lanes, walking around the Old City, getting culturally acquainted with its museums and galleries, admiring its fantastic and unique architecture (thanks to Gaudi!) and sampling its wonderful, heavily seafood-based cuisine. The days I spent independently sightseeing were the most fun, I absolutely relished the complete freedom and autonomy I had in creating my own travel itinerary and I was reminded of how much enjoyment I could derive from my own company. I was having so much fun even though I was moving around alone, hubs locked away in his day long seminars. But of cause, it was nice being able to return back to the hotel in the evenings and share details of the wonderful day I had with him.

Oh, and the weather was simply beautiful for winter, plenty of sunshine. Nothing tops Mediterranean climates. Oh boy, do I miss Perth!

And surprisingly, I did not miss my beads as much as I thought I would, till towards the end of my trip. Time to get the fingers working! I can't wait! :)

Pacific Ocean

Ok, reality is sinking in, I'm going to be away from my beads and internet connection for a week. Hmm, I guess its good though for me to have this bit of time away, to spend with the hubs. I confess, since I took up beading a few months back, I have been neglecting him a tiny bit. Ok, fine, quite a lot actually.... *oopsies*

Hun, thanks for being so nice and sweet about it and not complain (yet) when I spend much of my non-work waking hours with the beadies! You'll have my full and undivided attention in Barcelona, promise! :)

So before I head off tomorrow, I will be posting some items which I have made already but been procrastinating to post.

The above bracelet is made from various Swarovski crystals in bicone and round shapes, linked with a delicate gold colour chain. I love the light refreshing colours! Reminds me of the beautiful Pacific Ocean coastlines I used to get pampered with back home!

Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas Tivoli PM

This post isn't directly related to beads or jewellery, but it is definitely related to fashion trends.

The above bag is apparently a new model from LV, released only in November 2007. Response to the Tivoli design (which also comes in a bigger size called the Tivoli GM) was very good, with the bag apparently sold out in Singapore and many parts of the world. Apparently the waitlist in Singapore for this bag is already full, with the next shipment possibly arriving in February 08. Oh, and for those wondering how much this little baby costs, its apparently retailing in Singapore for SGD 1480.

Now, I am not a LV fanatic, definitely not one of those hard-core collectors. The above information I managed to gleam from doing a quick Google on the Tivoli PM. Which is why most of the sentences were filled with the word "apparently". Haha.

However, this morning, I woke up and found an SMS from the hubs (who is away on biz trip at the moment) that I am now the owner of a LV Monogram Canvas Tivoli PM. This is probably the first (and likely only) time that I have what is considered as close to an "IT" bag as it can get.... the phenomena which I've never really understood. In hub's SMS, he said that he managed to get me the last Tivoli PM in the store, and the salesgirl said he is lucky as that design is almost soldout worldwide.

Wow. And all I thought was the bowling bag shape of that bag was cute, so unlike the other "boxy" LV types which you keep seeing on the streets..... Haha

Thanks for your support!

A big 'Thank You' to those pals who visited my little space on the web and the feedback given, and for those who took that leap of faith to ask me to make trinkets for them!!!

My first customer, K, bless her kind soul, liked her charm bracelet enough to suggest that I come up with a pair of earrings to match! Wow, you blew me away with your request babe! Thanks soooo much for your faith and supportiveness!

Another two dearies bit the bullet and allowed me to design a charm bracelet each for them... whee, this is so fun! Thanks babes, I promise I will come up with something yummilicious! :D

I'm really enjoying this burst of creativity, been having these wonderful ideas in my head the whole day, thinking of my beads and what to make! Can't wait to get working on my ideas! In fact its making me more excited than my trip to Barcelona this weekend! (sssshhh, don't tell the hubs! he's paying for my trip! hehe)

Another year zips by.....

Unbelievable, we're on the cusp of the start of yet another new year.... where does all the time fly to???

As with thousands of other bloggers who are reflecting about the soon-to-be past year of their life on their own blogs, here's my two cents worth for my own.

2007 - has been a year of changes. Changes on both the work and personal front. To myself as well as to the loved ones around me. For the better and at times, worse. Changes come along with it higher mountains to climb; new frontiers to conquer. The most difficult ones have been those which are in the mind 'cos I've found that a change in mindset has always been the toughest change to adapt to. Overall, on the last day of 2007, I look back at the past year and feel happy to say that even though it hasn't always been smooth sailing, I've glad I've survived the bumps in life's rocky road for yet another year, fairly unscathed. I'm happiest about finally achieving not one but two new year's resolution - would you believe that??? Soooo happy that I've finally stopped procrastinating and started beading after thinking about it for so long! Didn't think it would happen at one stage 'cos of the silly hand but thank goodness it has since recovered. The R&R trip back home certainly came at the right time and I never felt happier being in the bead shop surrounded by all those lovely crystals, glass beads, semi-precious stones and charms!!! Like a kid in a candy store.... *kekeke* Only wished I had started beading earlier in the year!

So yes, 2007 is indeed ending on a high note for me.... having found peace at work and beading nirvana, what more could this chick ask for???

2008 - here I come!! WOoHOo!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HEALTH!