I'm now back In Singapore ! I arrived with my family on board Lufthansa Airlines yesterday afternoon with luggages much heavier than what we had when we left Singapore almost 4 weeks ago . I really wondered why and how come they're so full when I didn't do much shopping in Belgium despite of citywide sales of up to 70% off. Only 2 things I got for myself are : a small huggable stuff toy from Intertoys for Euro 6.99 instead of Euro 17.99 which I named " Toochie Patootsie " and a party tight fitting dress with tiger prints on it for just Euro 13.00 instead of Euro 79.oo ... what a great bargain !

See how cute Toochie is ? She was very soft to the touch and very useful in the plane giving support to my neck while I sleep in the plane yesterday ...

Holiday in Belgium was 50 / 50. Meaning half good and half bad. Just couldn't get all positive things without the mess... Oh well, at least this time, weather wasn't so bad.

The Church Tower in Grote Markt near the City hall of Aalst on one very sunny afternoon Nice blue sky with Cotton candy like super white clouds which is not a common sight when you're in Belgium .

And oh ... I've got real nice pictures of flowers in most of the places I'd been. Kids are complaining I had more pics of flowers than them ... oeps ! Sorry guys, mommy needs some entertaining too you know. It makes me happy to see and photograph the nice flowers I find so I have the camera most of the time to take shots.

Photo of a flower bud being checked by a curious fly in the flower garden of Mr. Albert De Raedt . He was the uncle of Koen ( my brother in law ) who has at least 1000 species of flower bearing plants in his wonderful back yard. Some of which he had planted about 28 years ago when he bought the land for his home and garden.

Flowers by the side street while walking around in Oud -Hevelee looking for a good & decent restaurant to eat dinner.

Wow, it seems like the month of June had just came to a halt and here comes the beginning of a new month !

July would be a great month ( I hope ! ) for Eauropean summer like in Belgium in particular. Kids are off from school now here in Singapore and that kickstarts the summer holiday. normally, we spend the summer holiday in Belgium. So tonight, we'll be dragging our bags to the airport probably with masks on to avoid the swine flu. Off we would go to visit Grandma & Grandpa, Hubby's friends and see what's the state of our "yellow House" out there.

See why it's called the " Yellow House " ?

BTW, I also have to inform some special people that I'm not going to be in town until end of July. Most important is my Mom back in the Philippines. Not forgetting to greet her as well coz today is not just an ordinary day in her life. 1st of July is her special day coz it's her Birthday !

" A very Happy Birthday Mom ! "

I had been thinking about her last night after I had finished making 2 pairs of wired earrings. Suddenly, I came up with this idea of doing a necklace to match her name " EDEN ". Sounds like a good idea ! I had this urge to create something to remember her during her Birthday. So I grabbed some colored Pearls , seed Beads, Wires and Glass Beads and started creating what came out to be this piece of long necklace with wirewrapped pendant in it and I named it after her :

#SPN133 = GARDEN OF EDEN

For almost a month now, I'd been hardly on my beading table creating anything. Revision of Websites had taken most of my time. But no regrets everytime I see my pages and my viewers coming from all over the place. Gee ! I'm getting known in the world although I'm just sitting here at home Lol !

Well Anyway, My Lariat Necklace ( see the poor thing ? ) is not even halfway , wonder when will I ever finish it. But, I had added at least 3 inches to its lenght this morning somehow in between my packing ( filling up 4 suitcases at least ) . What an accomplishment huh !

Then suddenly, something blinked on the side of my mind ( oh no ... I'll be taken away from finishing the Lariat again ... ) . I remembered suddenly the pair of earrings ( magazine indicated it's from a Shop called Ola ! ) I had seen on CLEO magazine last Sunday in the restaurant. My memory is quite sharp ( even I didn't have any good sleep the last few nights ! ) that I can clearly picture those earrings and the way they were wired. Absolutely simple but yet , stunning pieces of ornament. I make jewelries but when I see other people's creative stuffs, I get so fascinated ! Quite a pity I was not able to know who made those earrings to give some credits to the talented crafter ! Also too bad for me for not not being able to buy that issue of CLEO Magazine for referrence , so I just kept the image in my mind ! How I would love to create earrings like that for myself or as a gift to friends.

But with great liking to the earrings & with such inspiration, I took out some Seed beads in 3 different colors and sizes , 2 Glass beads, 2 Briolettes & A roll of Gauge 22 Non Tarnish Silver Artistic Beading wire . I'm up for a big challenge !

I started laying all the materials on my craft mat. For me its a challenge to make things out of what I can visualize in my head. Photographic memory I guess is working well on my advantage ! I'm not an expert in terms of wiring and never had any formal lessons about wiring stuffs ( but love to see the magnificent works of David Plumlee , Armored Hearts just to name a few ) . But for me, one doesn't need to be expert to create something, when there's a will , there's a way! So that pushed me a lot to start this project ...

A bit of turning wires here and a bit of twisting wires there using my bare hands to shape the earrings ( using pliers might break the seed beads so I stayed away from pliers for a while until I reached the part whenI have to cut the loose wires and put the Earring Hooks ). process took me at least 25 mins the most. Happy and contented here's what I had finished :

" #GBER150= Always In My Mind "
Wired Square Earrings

Materials Used :

2 Pcs. 15mm Briolette Beads , Size 6/0 & 8/0 Seed Beads
2 pcs 10mm Lampwork Beads
2.5 Ft. Artistic Wires
1 Pair Earring Hooks

( Excellent For Beginners & Intermediate )

BTW, I'm still in the mood to make another pair but in a different shape and color. So, Here's the 2nd Pair I made for about 45 mins soon after I finished the 1st pair ...

"#GBER151 = SUMMER WISH "

Wired Earrings

Materials Used :

2 Pcs. 18mm Flat Blue Chalcedony Teardrop Beads , Size 8/0 &11/0 Seed Beads
2 pcs 12mm Lampwork Beads
2.5 Ft. Artistic Wires
1 Pair Earring Hooks

( Project Suitable For Beginners with basic Wiring Knowledge & Intermediate )

For 91/2 years now, I had known Dolores and her husband Peter ( Dutch ). They have 2 daughters , Nathalie ( my son's classmate ) and Nicole who both grew up with my kids here in Singapore.

Dolores and I were not close during the first few years even if we meet each other on friend's parties and get togethers. We had met in numerous parties : Birthdays of our kids, Birthdays of our friends, Pot Luck parties, etc.,

Photo of our kids during Tristan's Birthday in March 2004

Lately , during the last 2-3 years, we became closer knowing we were the only families who'd been staying for a long time in Singapore due to our husband's jobs. Both our husbands work for dredging companies .

Dolores & I had started meeting more for lunch, Bithday parties of friends and even with Yoga classes lately. For ladies night out, I would ask Peter if she can come with me. Oh, he's such a very sweet and gentle guy who always says yes to me when I want to out with her. Perhaps because I would watch over her the whole night ha-ha ! Mind you, I did all the time when we went out a couple of times ...

Photo with Laima During Matet's Halloween Theme Birthday Party ( Nov. 2008 ) Held in " 1 Rochester Park "

We had so much fun going out to dance in oue favorite dancing place in Chijmes. Infact, we went there in " INSOMNIA Bar " for the last time last night and met one of our friends from Yoga Class, Yvonne who was there with her American Husband Michael and 2 other American associates. Nice people !

Yvonne ( she's half my age, can you tell ? ) & I while waiting for Dolores in Chijmes last night ( June 27, 2009 )

Anyway, sad to say, our dancing days together in Chijmes is over now. Dolores would be leaving this week with her family to settle in Manila for good. It's sad but I wish her and her family all the best of health & luck in their new home back there in the Philippines.

Pair of Earrings I was wearing last night during the Farewell party in Chijmes . Made with Glass Briolette Beads, Lovely Venetian Beads with 925 Bali Sterling Silver Hooks.

Yesterday was Father's day here in Singapore. Just not quite sure if same event was celebrated at the same time in US territories and in European countries. But anyway just didn't matter 'coz I already had wished every father in the world the very best on their special day.

In our household , " Father's Day " started with hubby missing in the house when kids & I woke up. Oh well, it's Sunday and it's a normal scenario . He had ridden his new bike ( Triumph 2300cc ) to Malaysia again with his biker buddies. He'd been riding his bikes ( of course 1 Harley at a time ) almost every Sunday morning eating Prata for breakfast in Malaysia . So just need to explain to the kids yesterday that Daddy is having fun for his Father's Day which falls on every " Sunday " of any week and they looked at me like they were confused ... huh ?

For his Father's Day present, Tacha & I rushed to the shop while he's gone and after dropping Tristan off to a Birthday party in the Dutch Club . Quickly bought a Backpack which he can use for all his stuffs when he rides the bike. We got it and wheww ! What a relief coz he was already back in Singapore that very moment , looking for us at home and calling my handphone . While on the other hand I was paying for the bag and rushing the cashier to make it fast. Oh dear !

Lesson learned ? Better get the present days in advance so I can relax and just wait for hubby to come and give him his present with a smile. Next time I would surely will !

Photo of Bougainvillea Flowers from our Living Room Terrace taken during Father's Day ...