Sunday, December 12, 2010

Baby Polar Bear


I found this baby polar bear pattern, which makes me want to pet and cuddle with it.
With a busy schedule of working full time and taking boys to their activities, I didn't have much of a chance to do this project. But this weekend I worked hours to finish this, which was the perfect escape activity for me. While people are out shopping for Christmas. I'd rather bead. I plan to make more of real-like portrait, now that I'm done making ornaments this year.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Purple Flower


This is just a small project, killing my time while the boys were playing with their video game; a cute purple flower. My purple pansies outside my house is dying and I need to remove it for the winter. At least I have this purple flower inside for this winter.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

White Sweater


I made another sweater for this year's ornament. This time it's white and red. I planned to make white sweater after I finished the pink one, but I was getting short on white delica beads so I kept putting it off. But, two days ago, I received white delica beads as a gift, so the first thing I made was this white sweater.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Horse


I've been searching for a horse pattern that looks real and finally found this.
It uses 13 different colors and because some of the colors look so much alike, sometimes I got a little confused, but it was all worth the effort.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Basket of Roses


I LOVE ROSES!! This ornament only uses 5 colors. It is a simple but sweet ornament.
Maybe I'll plant yellow and orange roses next summer for my garden. This is one of the biggest ornaments I've made this year so far.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Gift Bow


I love BOWS. I don't like shopping and I don't shop much for clothes, but when I do and see shirts with bows or tie-in to make a bow, I can't help but grabbing it and take it home. This bow is so cute that I want to have it on my tree.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Motorcycle


I tried this pattern few months ago but I failed. This time, I succeeded.
I don't even know how to ride a motorcycle, but this pattern is just too cute.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Mario


I made this ornament for my son. He requested this ornament sometime ago, but I forgot it until recently. Finally I finished it yesterday. It uses 13 different colors of delica seed beads. Mario got lost inside my bag for a day, but I just found him hiding.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Chinese Lantern


I found this pattern about 9 months ago (designed by Sigrid Wynne-Evans) but kept putting it off making it. Finally I decided to make this Chinese lantern last night. This is my third try because I used wrong stitch the first time and the second time I miscalculated the beads so the character was wrong. But, third time is the charm.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Remember to Pray

This ornament is very meaningful to me, to remind me to pray.

I made the red praying hands for my parents.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

High-heeled shoe


A lot of women think that there is is no such thing as having too many shoes. I'm not like that.
As long as I have 2 brown and 2 black shoes for the Summer and 2 brown and 2 black boots for the Winter, I'm happy. Kind of boring, but those colors work with every outfit. Here is the dress up high-heeled shoe for lots of women out there..

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Pilgrim Jack and Jill


I found this pilgrim Jack and Jill pattern online and really enjoyed making the pair.
It looks like they are communicating. Jill is offering something to Jack and Jack is ready to receive it. I like the outfit that both of them are wearing.
I found the perfect bluish grey delica seed beads for their clothing at bead bazaar two days ago.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Pink Sweater


I really like the color combination of pink and grey ever since I was a little girl.
I remember that I had pink and grey polo shirts, which was my favorite.
So, I'm using pink and grey color for this sweater. I feel warm already by just looking at this sweater ornament.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Mouse on the Sled


This mouse on the sled ornament is so cute. It is using a leaf as a sled.
And he dresses up with Santa's hat, blue pants and matching blue scarf.
It makes me smile.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Robin Hood


I remember when I was a little girl I enjoyed reading the story of Robin Hood.
I also watched Robin Hood movies. Two nights ago, I watched the new Robin Hood movie played by Russell Crowe and I ended up finding the Robin Hood pattern and made it last night.
My son also just started taking archery class from last week, so it turns out to be a unique ornament.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Flying Eagle


An eagle's wings are long and broad, making them effective for soaring. He looks so graceful with wings spread apart. Where I work, by the river, sometimes I see eagles hunt fish from the river.This pattern reminds me of them.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Boy Scout of America



My brother is the den leader of his son's boy scout group.
He asked me to make the boy scout logo out of beads for him, as a key chain.
I didn't want to make it too big, but if I make it too small, I can't put details on it. So, I made it just big enough to put details on the logo.

Green Tractor


I love tractors! Since I can't have one of my own, I created this design on my own, based on John Deere tractors. Originally, I planned to make a smaller tractor ornament, but turned out to be the biggest creation yet out of my ornament collection, because I wanted to add much more details on the tractor. Even with that, I'm very happy with my design.

Little Chick


After I made rooster ornament couple of weeks back, I made chick to go with the rooster. This chick is eating.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Eskimo person


It's getting cold outside and I'm glad I don't have to wear thick clothes like the Eskimos have to wear. BRRRR...

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Golfer Girl and Dove with Mistletoe



I don't play or like golf, but I can pretend that I can or like it. At least this ornament shows how fun it can be to golf for some girls.






"Dove with mistletoe" ornament reminds me of the story of Noah's Ark, where the dove brought back a branch of mistletoe to let people know that there was dry land with plants.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Yellow Labrador


My parents have 2 black Labrador dogs. I can't find cute black Lab dog pattern for it, but I found yellow Lab pattern, so I made it last night. It's made out of 11 different colors, although it's really hard to notice the different colors on its face, because the colors are so similarly close.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Penguin carrying fish


When I saw this pattern, I smiled. This penguin looks so cute and mischievous.
He's carrying a fish under his arm, looks like he just stole it, very proud of it and ready to eat it.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Time to bowl


My boys love to bowl and we go bowling from time to time. But, I am very bad at it, even though I am enjoying it. When I saw this pattern, it made me smile because I remember how bad I am at bowling. So, here is the bowling pin ornament.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Rooster and Light Bulb ornament



My ornament tree will be full of interesting ornaments.
I made this rooster ornament on Saturday and finished light bulb ornament yesterday.
I know this kind of light bulb won't be sold on the market anymore, and only the energy-efficient light bulbs will be around after this. But, I'll always have this ornament to remind me of the old-fashioned light bulb.

Friday, October 15, 2010

German Shepperd ornament


This German Shepperd dog ornament is so cute that I had to make it last night.
The only problem was that I don't have the perfect "orange" color for his fur, so it turns out too orange. But, it's still a cutie dog.

Dolphin ornament


As we are about two months away from Christmas, I am excited to start making ornaments to be hanged on my "ornament tree" that I received last year.
I want the ornaments to be in variety, not all "Christmas theme", but all cute themes of beads. So, I made this dolphin ornament and he sure looks adorable.

Yellow Flower necklace


There is a story behind me making this yellow necklace.
As I had a new raised flower bed in the front of the house two months ago, I decided to plant pretty yellow mums and purple winter pansies that will last until winter.
Unfortunately, a month later, my yellow mums started to wilt and one by one I cut them out. Now that I don't have very many yellow flowers on my flower bed, I thought it would be nice to have cheery yellow flowers necklace to remind me of my yellow flowers.
So, I decided to make this necklace, designed by Sandra Halpenny.
I even found a yellow shirt to wear together with this necklace.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Asian Choir Angel Ornament



I know it's only October 10th, but I found a very cute pattern for an angel ornament and I wanted an Asian angel, with black hair and black eyes. Using brick stitch and Delica 11/0 seed beads, I finished this angel ornament in 8 hours non-stop. I started when I accompanied my son while he did his homework, but I couldn't stop and couldn't wait till I finished the whole thing, so I ended up beading until midnight yesterday and finished my ornament. Although my eyes grew weary and my shoulders and neck became so stiff, it was worth it because to me, this angel looks so beautiful.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Blue picot pearl


When I went camping to Seaside beach, Oregon in August with my boys and friends, there was a bead show at Seaside convention center.
So, we went and found little unusual dyed pearls, bluish-greenish. I bought
2 strands and made this picot pearl necklace out of it, using right-angle-weave stitch. This necklace was simple to make and was done less than 2 hours.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Fuschia "acorn" necklace


When I saw the design of this necklace by Sandra Halpenny, I thought it looks like acorns.
I have fuschia seed beads that matches perfectly with 4mm bicone crystals, so I combined those two and made this necklace. I made matching earrings as well.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Gold and Silver necklaces


I made another alternating daisy-chain necklace in gold color for my friend's birthday. She wants gold color necklace. As for my silver necklace, it was a project at Bead and Button magazine few years back using tube-netting technique. But, instead of having 5 sets of beads for the tube, I modified it by only using 3 sets, to make it smaller. I use 4mm metal beads and 15/0 clear seed beads. I actually ran out of the seed beads, so I ended up with shorter necklace. So, I added chain at the back of the necklace to complete the necklace. It's hidden and the chain acts as an extender.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Lavender Picot Pearl Necklace


I only have very few of size 6mm pearls. I usually stick to smaller size 3mm or 4mm pearls on my projects. But I wanted to use my purple 6mm pearls sometimes. So, I chose this design to be able to use both 6mm and 4mm pearls together. I also have just enough lavender color 11/0 seed beads, so I use them all together. It's a great project to use some leftover beads that I have. Once I finished the necklace, I had just enough seed beads to make a pair of matching earrings.

Purple jade necklace


I made this necklace for my friend's birthday. She requested dark purple color theme.
I use alternating daisy chain from Beth Stone book for this necklace.
It's made by purple jade 4mm and size 11/0 seed beads.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Pink Pearl necklace


I love pearls and found these pretty pinkish red glass pearls at the bead show last year.
With simple right-angle-weave stitch, I made this simple necklace with matching earrings.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Blue Flower Clasp Necklace


I saw this project in the magazine and tried making it. It's a fun project using double St. Petersburg's stitch. I love the clasp because it's the focal point and it's located in the front instead of in the back of the necklace.
This necklace is using size 15/0 seed beads and 4mm bicone crystals. As for the clasp, it's using a tubular peyote stitch and fringe, make it looking like flower.

Turquoise necklaces


Although I like turquoise colors, I don't have an outfit that matches that color. But, it's time for me to use my turquoise beads. Instead of making just one, I ended up making 2 necklaces.
The left one with ladybugs is the one I made for my friend. A couple of weeks ago, I made only the ladybug earrings for her. I thought the matching necklace will look good with the earrings, so using the simple daisy stitch and the ladybug that dangles from it, the necklace is ready. The right side of the necklace is what I made for myself to use up my turquoise seed beads and crystals. The project comes from Sandra Halpenny's website. Again, I need to have matching color earrings, so I used the leftover ladybug beads to make earrings.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Victorian Style Rose Necklace


When I visited Japan in Summer 2009, I went to Tokyu Hands store that focuses on hobby, home improvement and lifestyle products. I found very unique rose-shaped beads, which I can't find here in the United States. I bought 15 rose beads in both red and blue colors and made a simple victorian style necklace and matching earrings using the red colored rose beads. I made this necklace in about 2 hours; very simple but elegant necklace to make.

Sparkly Golden Necklace



After almost a month finishing my pink lei flower necklace, I wanted to do easier beading project. So, back to the basic Daisy Chain, I made this gold-color necklace using bicone 4mm crystals, size 6 and size 11 seed beads. Felt so good to be able to finish this necklace just in few hours. Such a great weekend project.

Tropical Flowers Necklace


I decided to challenge myself by making this Lei flower necklace, patterned by Sandra D. Halpenny.
I started on July 2, 2010 and as busy as I was, I tried to bead at least a flower a day. I finally decided to finish my necklace before my boys came back from their 6-day church camp and I did it!! I finished this necklace on July 28, 2010.
This necklace is made by using Delica seed beads.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Black Twirly Necklace


It's been a while since I posted my projects on this blog. I've been beading, but busy schedule makes it a little challenge to have just special time for blogging.

I wanted to make black Victorian style necklace, but after I couldn't make up my mind on the style, I ended up making a contemporary twirly necklace, that looks like DNA design. Using black pearl and 11/0 delica seed beads, this necklace can be worn casually or elegantly. It took me less than 4 hours to finish. It was a perfect weekend project.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Leopard color lace necklace


I made this necklace for my friend's birthday gift.
She likes leopards, so I used colors that resemble to leopards: brown with touch of gold. Size 11/0 seed beads with netting stitch is used for this necklace.

Just for fun, I read the history of bead netting. Bead netting can be traced back to Egyptian artifacts, New Kingdom, 664-525B.C. In 2005, an Australian archeologist team uncovered three mummies at a dig site near the Saqqara pyramids, south of Cairo, Egypt. The mummies were covered by intricate nets of beads dating from those period.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

What motivated me to bead

When I was a little girl, I had a beautiful beaded pouch that I carried everywhere I went. As I went into my journey of life, I carried that little girl in me and hoped that someday I would learn how to bead.

In May 2009 I finally had the opportunity to make a little step in reaching my dream by taking my first beading class. From then, what seemed impossible became possible. I took a few more classes, and borrowed as many books as I could from the Library. After hours and hours of learning and practicing, while growing in knowledge, each step was met with its own set of frustrations doubts and fear of failure.

This blog marks my first year in beading and my journey ahead as a beader.

I have learned never to let go of hope. No one knows the mysteries of life or its ultimate meaning, but we can believe in our dreams and ourselves. Life is a precious gift in which anything is possible. It means following our heart, living our own life and settling for nothing but the best.

I want to thank people who are closest to my heart for giving me the love, support and encouragement each step of the way. Thank you for being my sunshine.

I will post my current project and finished works from time to time.