The Crackle Bead Necklace

Still using the byzantine weave and bead combination, I made a necklace using black crackle beads instead of the Swarovski faux pearls. I was dying to see how the necklace would turn out with the faux pearls, but didn’t have any more of them. Then I found a bag of crackled glass beads and thought, Heck, I’ll just use these as substitute. I just HAD TO have the necklace translate from my head to before my eyes.

I only found 18 beads, so I just used them all to create a long-ish piece.

I’ve always found the side toggle interesting on necklaces.

Overall, I’m very happy with it! The crackled beads are kinda addictive too. They’re smooth like marbles, but look extremely textural because of the crackle detail. They’re half-coloured and half-transparent as well, creating more visual interest.

The Pride Bracelet

Using the same Swarovski faux pearls, I made a really cute bracelet. I didn’t intend for it to be cute, but it just turned out that way. I guess a small dose of cuteness wouldn’t hurt anybody. Then again, maybe it’s just me; I don’t know. ‘Cause I tried on the bracelet and the only word that came to mind was ‘cute’.

It is basically a Byzantine chain injected with the beads. Despite the cuteness, there’s a slinky, smooth, polished feel to the bracelet. I think this would make a gorgeous necklace too, but I’m out of beads. But when I do try out the necklace, I think it would be something fierce. The Swarovski faux pearls come in an awesome range of subdued colours.

The Chunky Mesh Bracelet

I was digging through the packets of jump rings at the shop when I came across jump rings 1.5cm in diameter. I snapped them up immediately. I have always wanted to scale up chainmaille. I guess my ultimate chainmaille project would be working with rings the size of my palm(~12cm in diameter. *gasp*), probably making a wall installation and/or chandelier.

Anyways, with the limited stock of rings, I managed to make a couple of bracelets. Chunkier than usual, and *OH!* that glorious clinking sound of the rings.

Because the rings are so big, I used the European 8-in-1 weave and they accommodate comfortably. It’s so much fun just playing with it!

I’ve tested it out, and a looser fit is the best. The mesh loses its ‘life’ when the bracelet is worn snug. And it becomes really apparent how the chainmaille mesh sculpts to your wrist’s contour. I would love to keep one for myself, but I’m going to kick that habit.

The Pride Necklace

Yes, yes, yes! I’ve ALWAYS wanted to make pride jewellery. Nothing like a rainbow to cheer things up! So I picked out a bunch of 12mm Swarovski glass beads yesterday and made a necklace today!

I’m basically addicted to these beads. They’ve got that pearly sheen to them that I love. And I especially like that fact that the colours are pretty pastelist. A little more subtle and less in-your-face. A lot of pride edition stuff are pretty ’screamo’, so I guess this is a good deviation from the norm.

Of course, nothing escapes chainmaille when it’s on my workspace. Added a unit of the byzantine weave above each bead to create more visual interest. I love the decorative bead caps with the beads too. I’m very addicted to these bead caps with the glass beads.

I’ll make this available for purchase this Saturday at Flea-tique! at SAM@8Q. Pride necklace going at S$35 each. I will definitely make a few more variations of the theme.

P.S. Once again, Flea-tique! Late Night Edition happening on 7 Nov, this coming Saturday, at SAM@8Q, from 6.00PM to 1.00AM. Facebook event page here.

Upcoming: Flea-tique! Late Night Edition

WOOHOO!~ Flea-tique! is back!

I miss the late night editions a lot! This Flea-tique! session happening on 7 Nov 2009, Saturday, from 6.00PM to 1.00AM at SAM@8Q.

Happening at 8Q also, Inside Out—A SAM Party.

Looks like it’ll be a blast!

Flea-tique! Facebook event page here. Do become a fan of Flea-tique! on Facebook too! Inside Out Facebook event page here.

The Clear Teardrop Beads On Byzantine Chain

This week it’s all about the byzantine weave. Chainmaille is addictive for me. I tend to stick to one weave and obsess over it for 1 to 2 weeks straight, then perhaps move on to another weave and obsess again. Anyways, following the byzantine bead dangles, I decided to utilise the clear chunky teardrop beads I thrifted.

I started with a simple idea of a chain and pendant.

Love the simplicity of this piece. I get a very European vintage vibe from this necklace; something a princess would own.

Then I experimented with something more geometric.

Definitely reminiscent of the Eye of Fai necklace. The triangle held up by gravity and tension. I don’t think it looks wrong, but it doesn’t feel too right either. There’s some something unsettling about it, and I don’t know what it is.

The Byzantine Bead Dangles

I had these purple and mauve beads left over from a previous project, so I decided to put them to good use. I want to start incorporating a little colour into my chainmaille pieces.

3 graduated lengths of byzantine chain with beads on end.

Relying on the same 3-strand concept, I rendered it longer, with 2 beads of different colour and size.

I love how the byzantine chain creates a beautiful texture, and with the deep purple and mauve beads and ornate bead caps, I somehow get a very Victorian/gothic vibe from it. I’m not sure how I want to render the chain though.

Using cord might seem too simple, yet creating a custom chain might make the whole necklace look too prissy. I’ll go find something that’s somewhere between bland and prissy.

Upcoming: Fashion Bazaar @ Singapore Flyer

Hope this will be fun! I have never been to the Singapore Flyer before! And the layout for the bazaar seems pretty awesome. I think fengshui there is good. And the best fengshui features are the ATMs. Hahaha!…

Facebook event page here. Eureka Bazaars Facebook group here.

This happens on 1 November, Sunday, from 12.30PM to 8.30PM at the Singapore Flyer.

The Eye of Fai Necklace

I was prepping a bunch of jump rings for chainmailing and it got a little mundane, so I got distracted and started toying with the clear teardrop beads and the metal trinkets I got from Sungei Road the other day. I had vague ideas floating around, but nothing really substantial. It was really just arranging elements around until I get to something I like.

Then I remember Fairul arranging the metal sticks thingies into a triangle and suggested hanging the teardrop bead in the centre.

I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but then I realised that it might actually work, so I experimented and managed to produce something amazing!

With the whole triangle going on, it just reminded me of the Eye of Providence. The whole Egyptian symbolism concept seems pretty cool for jewellery. Plus the triangle is just very aesthetically pleasing.

Getting sidetracked a little, I remember seeing a fashion editorial based on the Egyptian symbolism concept too. It’s still the whole triangle thingy, but with the Eye of Horus instead. It’s a severely genderfucked editorial, so be warned, but I love it like hell! View it here on The Fashionisto blog.

So back to my new creation, I decided to name it the Eye of Fai because Fairul gave me the idea. You’ve got to offer credit where it’s due. But I just happen to be damned fabulous to make the idea work. Haha!

I love this piece a lot. I think it’s more ’soulful’ as well, since I basically put these random, thrifted trinkets together to create something completely new.

The Pink Swirl Tie Dye Tee

So I prepared a basin of DEEP PINK FUCHSIA dye for Fairul’s jacket, and do you honestly think I’ll let A FULL BASIN OF PINK DYE GO BY WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING FOR ME?!

Obviously not, so I took out an old white tee of mine, tied it up and dunked it into the dye and voila! Instant tie dyed tee! IN PINK.

This is literally fresh out of the dye basin. Whoopee! Something that veers away from jewellery. And something with colour!

I knew the swirl technique at the back of my hand, so I knew it was a surefire way of getting a design that works. I just decided to offset the swirl so it radiates from the chest over-the-heart-ish.