Duckling Stained Glass

My parents own a duck restaurant in Indonesia. My Dad is a great artist and made so many handmade ducks accessories all over the restaurant and replica of the foods they serve.
As a gift for my parents, I decided to make stained glass of duckling so they can put it on the restaurant.

Duckling, after foiling, Feb 16, 2013

Final Duckling, Feb 18, 2013

Red Dragonfly Stained Glass

I know I've been making more of glasswork than beading. I'm still beading my parents' tapestry, but for the last 2 weeks I've been practicing stained glass.
My backyard has a nickname "dragonfly forest" because there are so many dragonflies during Summer time.
Also, my Chinese family name means forest, so that's where the "dragonfly forest" nickname came from.

I thought it would be nice to make something with dragonfly, so I found this pattern using 25 pieces.
Although not perfectly round, here it is.. my red dragonfly.

During foiling, Feb 5,13

Final, Feb 7, 13

Orange Glass Blowing Bowl

I decided to use the coupon to make big glass bowl, so I can have "something new" for Chinese New Year.
I planned to use red color bowl with stripe of yellow. But it turned out that red is a color that's stubborn and likes to merge with other colors. So, guess what happened? My planned of having red and yellow bowl turned out to be orange bowl. Oopsie!!
But, I love it. I called it the blessing in the mistake. :)

Tulip Stained Glass

This is my first solo project after I finished my stained glass class. No more teachers guide me through and fixed my mistakes. But I made it. I wanted something simple and has less than 15 pieces, so here it is.. my pink tulip.

Pink tulip foiling, Jan30,2013

Final pink tulip, with silver, Jan31,13

Final pink tulip with light behind it, Jan31,13

Final result of Landscape Stained Glass

Today was my last class (4th class) of beginning stained glass. It was an intense class: soldering, putting frame, patina, putting ring on and finally waxing it. WOW!!
But, it was all worth it because the end result was so beautiful.
Now, I'm hoping that I can pursue this on my own at home, after buying a bunch of tools and machines for stained glass making last week.

Stained Glass week 3, Copper Foiling

Today was my third week (third class) of stained glass class.
We did a lot of fine grinding to make sure all the pieces fit perfectly.
After that, we put copper foils on each piece for the solder to be able to joint them together next week.

It was fun. I really enjoyed copper foiling each piece.

Before copper foiling, last week, Jan15,13

Landscape after copper foiling, Jan22,13

White Tiger

I love CATS, big or small. That includes white tigers.

Some facts about white tiger: they're somewhat bigger than original tigers. There are only several hundred white tigers worldwide, mostly found in India.

So, here is my newest members of the animal tapestry family. It measures  5.75 x  6.63   inches
( 14.61  x 16.84   cm), using  39 colors of 11/0 delica beads. The pattern was made by Sandot Designs.

White Tiger, Jan 16,13

Stained Glass - Landscape (2nd class)

I've decided to learn new craft this year. I've taking my son to archery lessons for the last 2 years and every time I passed by a stained glass little place. I love stained glass and how the light goes through it and wanted to stop by, but didn't have the courage to do it.

During my Christmas break, I decided to visit 2 glass places.
The first place was Glass blowing store and I took 2 classes (see my previous posts).
The second place I visited was the Stained glass store and I decided to join beginner's 4-week course.

The first week, I picked the easy pattern, picked the glass colors and finally cut up the patterns and glued them to the glass that I picked.

Last night, my second class, we learned how to score (or scratched), cut and grind all the pieces.
After it's done, we put them onto our patterns.
Can't wait what I'll learn next week from this class.

Landscape, Jan15,13

Glass Blowing - Float

Since I loved making the small bowl and I found more coupons, I decided to take another class making glass float. Got my fingers little bit burned from hot pipe, but it was all worthwhile because the float turned out to be beautiful.
This time, instead of swirl, I learned how to make it looks like marble.

Float and small bowl together

Glass Blowing - Small Bowl

I had few days of vacation after Christmas. I had nothing to do or planned.
Then I thought of stopping by the glass store that I've looked online and interested to see once before.
So, I drove there and decided to jump into an opportunity to learn how to do glass blowing.
I registered for small bowl class. It was so much fun. I even loved the heat.

Here is the result. It's a lot more beautiful than what I thought it would turn out.

The Good Earth

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I found this pattern "The Good Earth" from JaValle beads few months ago and bought it because I want to make it  for my best friend, who loves earth, moon and all the planets. I thought I would not even make it until sometime next year.

But in late October, after I finished beading my son's Three Winter bird tapestry and elephant,
we decided to not buying Christmas gifts this year, instead we'll give each other one small inexpensive gift.
Then I want to make something that's meaningful instead and decided to bead this.
With my busy schedule, usually it takes 3 months or so to bead something this big, but I use my spare time to bead every chance I got and I was able to finish this in 48 days (started on October 26, finished December 13, 2012).

This patterns measured 12x12 inches, using 40 colors of 11/0 delica beads. It's using peyote stitch.

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year ahead.

The Good Earth

White Horse

While I was beading the elephant tapestry, I was listening to audiobook during my commute to work called "Chosen by a horse" and at the same time, I was reading a book about a white horse called "The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snowman".

I love horses although few years ago my youngest son had an accident while riding on a horse for the first time. He was thrown off the horse,  fell on the rock hitting his head. Fortunately, he was fine, only had concussion. With the books I'm reading/listening and with the bitter-sweet memory of the horse riding, I decided to bead this white horse small tapestry.

This tapestry I got from maddiethekat.com.

White Horse, Dec 15, 12

Fused Glass Ornaments

I took Fused glass Ornaments class on November 28, 2012.
It was supposed to be only a snowflake ornament class, but we were given a free project making wreath ornament.

Here they are.. so pretty to add ornaments on my Christmas tree

Fused Glass Snowflake Ornament

Fused Glass Wreath Ornament

Fused Glass Pendants, 2nd Class

I took another class for making fused glass pendants again on November 26, 2012.
It was fun and I learned more and using different things, for example copper wire.
I make simple pendants because I love simplicity.

Fused Glass pendants before going into kiln

Fused Glass pendants results (copper wire on the right)

Three Winter Birds

Happy 16th Birthday, Dear Son!

I made this 3 Winter birds tapestry for my oldest's son's birthday gift.
I want him to have something just for himself that'll last longer than I am in this world :)
My youngest son got different winter birds tapestry in April 2012 for his 13th birthday and this is for my oldest son, so each of them has one special tapestry just for them.

I bought the pattern and kit from Ja Valle Beads. It took me 83 days to make this (started in July 15, 2012 and finished on October 6, 2012). I wanted to start early because I know it usually takes 3 months to make bigger tapestry.
This pattern uses 40 delica colors, measured 10x14.5 inches (28x37cm).

Three Winter Birds for my oldest son, November  2012

Winter Birds for my youngest son, April 2012

Free Tractor Pattern

As I said in my earlier blog, I lOVE tractors. I created this tractor pattern to make Christmas tree ornament.

Elephant

I miss beading animal tapestry. So, here is the elephant tapestry.
It measures 5.40 x 3.60 inches (13.72 x 9.1 cm), 23 colors of 11/0 delica beads.

I love elephants and their sweet nature. I remember my trip with my family to Thailand where I was able to ride on elephant back. I could never forget how memorable it was.

Fuse Glass Pendants

I just realized that I haven't posted anything for over a month. WOW!! How time flies.
I've been busy working on big 10x14 tapestry for my son's birthday in November, along with busy schedule after boys' start school and their after-school activities.

So, in the mean time, I took fuse glass pendant class on September 27th. It was a great new experience and I enjoyed 2 hours of "me time". Since there was no kiln, the instructor took the pendants home and finally, they were ready yesterday. What a difference it made before and after they went into kiln.

These are the "before" pendants, cut and shaped the way I wanted them

These are the "after" pendants after went to kiln

Traveling Caribbean Bracelet, Last day (Book signing with Jenny Lawson)

Today, "Cari" met one of my favorite authors, Jenny Lawson (author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir). I've been so excited and have anticipated this day to come and it's such a great ending of "Cari's" trip over to Oregon.

It was such an incredible night as I watched Jenny read her own book. She signed my copy of her book and allowed me to take a picture with her.

Book signing with Jenny Lawson

Traveling Caribbean Bracelet, Day 6 (Archery practice)

Today, "Cari" went to see my son practice his archery skill. It hopefully was a new and exciting experience for "Cari"; to be surrounded by bows and arrows.

Traveling Caribbean Bracelet, Day 5 (Hang out with Chibi)

As usual, I took "Cari" to work with me and wearing it gave me a great attitude the whole day for dealing with people and working a tedious job. After I got home, I introduced "Cari" to our cat, Chibi, and he admired it.
I'm sure he thinks "Cari" is so beautiful, with all the fish and turtle patterns that he loves. :)

Chibi says hi to "Cari"

Chibi admiring "Cari"

Traveling Bracelet "Caribbean", Day 4 (Portland International Airport)

Today, "Cari" went to Portland International Airport to pick up a friend from Japan.
I'm sure "Cari" was happy to see the airplanes and happy to be surrounded by my extended family who were impressed by the story of the Traveling Bracelet, "Cari".
We were glad that it was not time for "Cari" to ride on one of those planes yet. Only 3 more days to enjoy each other.

In the car on the way to Portland Airport, with Downtown in the background

Arrived at Portland International Airport

At the waiting room looking at some planes

Traveling Caribbean Bracelet, Day 3 (Backyard)

Today was a low-key Saturday. We just did a lot of errands around the house and was able to relax out in the backyard. "Cari" visited the pagoda and Chinese gate in my backyard, during our hot 85F Oregon Summer. Cari even brought the Chinese Dragon Robe, pattern made by Sig, to the backyard together.

Chinese Dragon Robe and Cari in the backyard

Cari by Chinese Gate in the backyard

Traveling Caribbean Bracelet, Day 2 (Willamette River)

I was so excited waking up and went to work this morning (even though it's Friday). It's because I've got to wear "Cari" to work.

The good thing is that my office is located right by the side of Willamette River, so I hope "Cari" enjoyed the view of the river during my lunch break, as much as I did.

"Cari" by Willamette River

"Cari" by the boat docks at Willamette River

I received Caribbean Traveling Bracelet, Day 1

I was so happy when I received email from Pat Rivera, a beader from Oregon City, this morning.
She only had my email address so she asked my address where she could send the traveling bracelet to, without knowing it would go to the same state. She contacted me and she was willing to drive 45 minutes from Oregon City to Beaverton, to hand-over the bracelet in person. Thank you, Pat!!

This traveling bracelet is made by one of my favorite beader/bead-pattern maker, Sig Wynne-Evans.
The detail of this fun project can be found at her blog : http://travelingbracelets.blogspot.com/

I received the Caribbean design and will spend a week with this bracelet before it'll go to different part of the country. It was so neat that Pat wanted to drive all the way from Oregon City to meet me in person instead of just mailing the bracelet.

I had great time with Pat and was so amazed at her beadwork that she brought with her. WOW!!
You can find her patterns at www.bead-patterns.com

Beadwork by Pat Rivera

It was an honor to meet such a great beader from Oregon, Pat and her husband, Ed.

Here is the Caribbean bracelet "handing off" time.

Pat handing off "Cari" to me

It's time for the Caribbean bracelet journey to start with me. 

Pink and Silver Necklace

Pink and silver has been my favorite color combination for as long as I can remember.
When I saw this project for sale at Bead-Patterns.com by Cecilia Rooke, I had to try it.
I started making it on the last day of my trip to California, on July 7th and finally finished it today, July 15, 2012.

I can't wait to wear it sometime this week.

Finished Fuschia Blossom Necklace

During my vacation and family reunion between July 1-8, 2012, I had some chances to work on the necklace. I finished it on the last day of my stay in San Francisco. I didn't make it as lariat, just as a regular necklace.

Fuschia Necklace working progress

I love Fuschia flowers and have them around during Summer time, on hanging baskets and/or on pots.
When I saw the Fuschia necklace design by Adele Kimpell (BeadCulture.com), I wanted to make it.
So, I started making it last night and got 2 petals done. I made the pink and white combination Fuschia flowers.
I can't wait to go home and work on this necklace.

The Pattern

2 Petals I've done so far