M.I.A.

Yes, it has been 5 long days since I blogged. The last hiatus was over the Christmas hols, but that was a legitimate holiday. This time though, I have just been too busy cleaning house, and surviving the Chinese New Year rigmarole.

Being without help for the past 10 days took its toll 2 days ago, when I gimped up my thumb while vacuuming. I was enthusiastically sucking up all the dirt from under the sofa, when I pulled the nozzle out really hard and banged my thumb up against the coffee table.

Now, as far as I am aware, I have a pretty high threshold for pain, what with having birthed 2 kids au naturel with no drugs, and a massive blackwork tattoo at the back of my neck, and a huge one on the arm with multiple sittings... But this thumb-stubbing was, I swear, the ultimate pain. It was pretty bad, realistically, 'coz the cuticle was torn off backwards from the nail, and it was bleeding some. But the pain, oddly enough, was so bad I almost passed out. Seriously, my hearing was going and my head was all woozy.

So I quickly cleaned it up and went and lay down on the bed. And fell asleep for a couple of hours. After which I went for a walk, because I couldn't do any housework anyway. Even walking around was painful, 'coz I had to have my hand raised to shoulder level, else I could feel a throbbing pressure in my thumb.

Glad to report today though, that all is well. I managed to wash my hair with both hands today, and do the washing up after lunch. I was also back at vacuuming this morning. This time with the coffee table moved well away.

I was gonna post a pic of my gimped thumb, but thought it might be a little too gross. So this shall have to be a pic-less post. ;)

Time Flies When They're Growing Up

My babies...

... then...

...and now. :D

Customed Care

I have a friend who is currently going through a pretty rough patch. So I crafted this necklace up for her, to channel some positive energy her way.

A handmade chain of calming Amethysts, dotted with Onyx for protection against The Nasties...

... with charms of freshwater Pearl for strength, Clear Quartz for clarity of mind, and a touch of Carnelian for some fire in the belly.

I Will Survive

It's never-fricken-ending. There is no completion. To say it's "therapeutic", or "good exercise" is to be very, very optimistic.

And optimistic I shall be. I am overlooking the increasingly dusty bookcase and icky floor, and working on changing the bedlinen and the laundry.

And tomorrow, while I dust the bookcase and sweep and mop, I will overlook the growing ironing pile. All this in between preparing meals, washing up, ferrying Them Two here and there for various extra-curricular activities...

Good strategy for a perfectionist, if I don't say so myself... :)

(pic via Anne Taintor)

Happy Monday!

I am keeping the spirits up with this super Fleetwood Mac classic. One of my all-time faves. :)

February Monthly Giveaway Result

It's Sunday, so Maya is at Taekwondo lessons.

Which makes Ruhi the honorary Picker of The Winner.

And the winner is...

Congratulations, Cheryl! Please email me your mailing address, and your prize will be on its way! :)

Thank you so much everyone for playing! It has been really good fun. Hope to see you around the blog AND at next month's Giveaway!

Keeping Calm and Carrying On, with More New Stuff

For the next 12 days, I am on my own. My housekeeper is hanging up her apron to head back to the Philippines to get married and settle down. She's been with us 5 years, and it is with her help around the house that I have been able to focus on the kids and pursue my jewelry adventure. Bless her.

The last time she left to go on home leave for a month, I turned into a monster. I didn't realise that it was just not possible to keep the house as neat and tidy as she does AND work on MAYA & RUHI, AND run The Real Maya and Ruhi's schedules. Well, not possible for me anyways, being not one for multi-tasking and of zero organisational skills. I was trying to do it all, and failing miserably at everything. It was pretty ugly.

So this time, I am going to have to let the crafting take a back seat, for the next 12 days, until my new helper arrives. I will only turn to the worktable in serious need of therapy from the day's foibles, and even so, only to relish the monotony of wire-working most part of a wraparound. I have plans, Big Plans, for a series of stunning wraparounds and bib necklaces... in 12 days' time. ;)

And as my sabbatical from crafting begins today, I list these at my Etsy shop...

I experimented with an ultra-modern look, with this handforged 14K gold filled ear wire, clear quartz facetd nugget, and 14K gold plated chain. Quite cool, no? (Do excuse my skanky thumb nail, with dabs of colour from giving Ruhi a fancy manicure.)

I go back to my roots with this triple-strand necklace. I used to do a series of these, which sold very well at the boutique. And I love how glorious this piece, with faceted smoky quartz, coral, Swarovski pearls and 925 silver, has turned out.

I really love this one. So delicate, yet so striking, is this lovely number crafted from faceted onyx, raw-form rose quartz nuggets, freshwater pearls and 925 silver.

This pretty little pair crafted from faceted coral, turquoise and 925 silver, is a burst of spontaneity to any outfit. So bold, so bright, so fun!

New stuff

This hasn't photogrpahed very well, but those are actually faceted navy blue resin beads, wireworked in gold brass wire.


The top centrepiece is a sienna-rust orange of a faceted red aventurine, while the rest of the necklace is accented with fuchsia agate, amazonite, Swarovski pearls and 24K vermeil. The icing on the cake: a geode slice for a pendant.

I love how this has turned out. The colours are striking with a hint of Byzantine flavour, while the classical air of its form and colours, is juxtaposed with the raw energy of the geode slice.

This is up in my Etsy shop. Click here to check it out! ;)

Oscar de la Renta RTW 2010

I am bowled over by the finesse of this collection. From the conservative yet creative silhouettes, to the Orientalist palettes and graphic prints.

My mind is dancing a jig to the tune of really eclectic-bohemian wraparounds. I'm just hoping they come to fruition. For they would be pretty delicious... heh heh.

Some howlite, accented with subtle corals, olive jades, carnelians and amazonites, topped with 24k vermeil...

Fossilized coral with garnet, coral, fuchsia jade, turquoise and olive jade with 24K vermeil...


Faceted blue agate with turquoise, subtle howlite and possibly some clear Swarovski bling, topped with 24K vermeil...

Rutilated quartz anyone? I have a bunch of really lovely faceted rutilated quartz that I have exciting plans for... with some turquoise, subtle garnets and maybe some carnelian, and 24k vermeil...

Monthly Giveaway

This month's giveaway is from my venturing into making smaller teardrop hoops. They're turning out to be really fun, 'coz they're so versatile to work work with - as dainty little somethings on their own, or pretty endings to dramatic long numbers.

Crafted from non-tarnish brass wire, Swarovski pearls and 14k gold filled ear wires, this pair measures 5.5 cm from the bottom of the ear wire to the bottom of the pearl. Another version with pink pearls and wire-wrapping, is listed in my Etsy shop. Click here to see it. :)



Just leave a comment at this post if you are interested in receiving these for free! The winner will be announced on February 7th's post, so you have until then to leave your comment... Good luck!