Friday, July 22, 2016



July 22, 2016 - My short holiday to Bali was well spent walking around and touring some nearby places from where I had stayed in Legian. Legian is located north of Kuta which on the other handmwas indeed a very busy area in Bali where most of the tourists were concentdated to party hard. I didn't go there to party though but with a mission to find some silver components suppliers and of course check for some beadshops in the neighboring area too.

I was lucky to have met a good driver in the airport when I arrived in Bali. He became my tour guide when I rented his taxi to take me to some silver suppliers. I didn't find the real silver components manufacturers but I found some reputable finished silver jewelry suppliers in Celuk instead. This village is the silver and gold centre of Bali.



Mop and Blue Coral Pendants


Finished jewelry from UC Silver showroom








Most of the places I had been to only sells the finished jewelries. I got frustrated when they won't disclose where I could find a place where I can buy the silver findings / components I need for my beaded jewelries. I am sure they were just nearby. Lucky I stumbled on 1 silver findings shop as we drove along Celuk on that rainy day. Despite it was pouring rain, I told Juni the Balinese driver to keep on driving till we find a shop selling what I need. 

Going thru small little streets off the main road ...

Small narrow streets as we search for silver artisans ...

What I found and bought in 1 silver components shop .

It wasn't easy to find the shops selling just silver findings. The technique to get hold of these components is to bring some samples and get it copied there by the small artisans. That way you would be able to get what you really need. Most shops are just selling the finshed jewelries and not their  components or findings. So next time I go back there, I will bring the samples, get them done in 3-4 days and continue my holidays while awaiting the completion of my order. Therefore, a 5 days holidays in Bali would be great enough to get all my orders done. Or another option is to email them a few weeks before you get to Bali the pic of items to be  copied and pick them up as soon as you get there. Ahaaa ...  Now I know !

Anyhow, quite a bonus that I  had managed to find a bead shop just about 300 meters from my hotel. Oh my gee... I was so delighted when I walked in there . See what I mean ? My eyes were feasting ...











Oh well, it gave me a  hard time to come out of there without buying anything . Of course I didn't leave the shop empty handed. How can I ? Impossible !  So I ended up getting at least 20 strands of differnt types of recycled glass beads. The owner was very nice and accomodating. I will surely come back to this shop once I set my foot in this area of Legian again.

For now, all I hope is to come here again for another holidays soon.
Fingers crossed !







Wednesday, June 29, 2016

My Art Inspiration ...


June 29, 2016 - People had asked me several times on where I get my design ideas. I looked at them straight in the eyes and told them without blinking that my designs come as  the by product out of my problems, loneliness and certain moods . The negative side of my life are my true inspirations bringing out the positive side of me. The more I am hurt, the more I am concentrated to finish some ideas into visible forms to challenge myself that no matter what hurts or affects me the most, I would  come out the winner . I see the dark clouds during the day as my model to create the sunny side or the sparkling stars to brighten up my gloomy soul. I collect several inspiring ideas regarding colors from the feelings I feel for the day. I see blue inspiring colors like those hues from the sea giving me a sense of hope when I am feelin lonely .



 Or red to purple to black color hues when I am feelin angry.



All of these I incorporate to my beading designs that'ss why you would probably notice that my use of  colors and combinations are always sharp and bold.



Most beading artists would often say that they were inspired by good feelings when designing . So you see... that sense of feeling makes people different from each other eventhough we do the same crafts that can be beading, painting, or others. Some artists create things when they are happy while some create things when they are sad, just like me . Interesting isn't it?

When I do my beading, I have some nice slow music playing in the background making me feel as if I am in a different place where I would enjoy a walk on the sand, watch the sunset , feel the breeze as waves touch my feet or sitting infront of a candle lit dinner. With those things flowing freely in my mind, my fingers would be balancing with the beads , threads and needle as I design.


I can say I am having a class of my own teaching myself freely of what to do. No pressure ... just letting things go fall into places ...





Life can be inspired by just anything ... from good to bad or vice versa. We can always turn the bad things around and keep ourselves happy by simply finding the best means to keep us thinkin the positive way .

 Life is not that bad at all ... it's true , trust me !







Thursday, June 09, 2016

June 2016 ... Catching Up


June 9, 2016 - I  had a super busy week creating sets of bracelets n
earrings bound to Johannesburg  South Africa last week. I made sure the items were flawless coz my friend needed to give them as gifts to some people when they get there for their family holiday. I was so much in a rush to make 6 sets all in all after she placed the order a week before their flights. At first I got worried that I won't be able to finish everythibg due to the elaborate and intricate designs . Luckily, I made them all in time after consuming so many sleepless nights. Wow, I am so  but happy to see the fruits of my labor ...








I was so glad I have all the materials for all these designs that contributed to the fast processing of this order. If not, I would had gone nuts searching for some parts all over the bead shops again.

Anyways, my friend was so happy to take them all to South Africa with her. Her husband was also very happy to get unique gifts for their friends back there.I am sure the recipients will be very happy too.

So now , I have time again to relax and do some bonding with my friends and be out there enjoying the outside world . I am blessed with good supportive friends and their company keeps me moving on ...








I have a good life and also some bad times but no matter what comes first, I look positive to things and try to do something to ease the burden of the bad ones. I go have a laugh with my dear friends...


 I have my dogs keeping me company on my lonely days guarding me every moment I am beside them and showering me with endless kisses .






And I have all the time to myself to decide whatever I wanna do ... go party and dance with my friends anytime I want ...




Or even put my hair down and my cleaning brooms away and have fun!


 Isn't that great ?


 
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