Wednesday, April 01, 2015
April 1st 2015 ~ Waking up in the morning with a brand new day but not knowing what's there waiting for you as time passes by makes me wonder sometimes and wish as well that I may please be given the chance to have something better than yesterday.
Today is the 1st of April and April Fools day. Oh no ..... time to do pranks on unsuspecting people again. Please spare me LOL! But today I knew in advance what's waiting for me. A Box from Fedex containing my entry to the Swarovski 2014 Contest hosted by Fire Mountain Gems. I had received several emails from them regarding my entry being returned about a week ago but they never mentioned anything else about the contest , neither the outcome or winners. So I have no idea if I had made it to the list of winners or just ended up as a finalist which is for me already a great honor knowing the so many beautiful intricate designs submitted from all over the world. This is my 2nd entry for 2014 for an international / overseas contest. After winning a bronze medal last year for my " The Red Angel " entry on the Seed Beads 2014 contest, I got more inspired to compete which I never did before after so many years of beading and creating my own designs.
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| The Red Angel Fire Mountain Gems and Beads' Jewelry-Making Contest 2014 featuring Seed Beads Bronze Medal Prize Winner Category: Bracelet |
The Red Angel design above took the Bronze medal for the Bracelet category .
I was so happy !
Now, here I go again with my 2nd entry below I had named " Down The Aisle " that luckily made it to the finals again . I wouldn't know I had won if not for the Gift voucher and the Certificate included in the delivered Fedex Box.
OMG ... I won again ! I just couldn't believe my fate ! I was so excited and rejoicing with my sister who was visiting in Singapore as I browsed the contents of the Fedex box .
It's true .. it's not a prank .. I really won and again , a Bronze medalist not for just the bracelet alone but for the whole set in the Wedding & Holiday category. Yeeehheeeyyyyyyy ....
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| ~ Down The Aisle ~ Bronze Medalist Winner Wedding and Holiday Category |
Now I have to say not just a million thanks but a billion thanks again to all the Fire Mountain Gems judges and staffs for giving me this honor. I am so overwhelmed and again so inspired to bead and create more .
I'm so proud of myself knowing I got included in the list of talented winners. View the works of the grand winners of this contest here :
2014 Swarovski Crystal Contest
View All Winning Designs
I'm so proud of myself knowing I got included in the list of talented winners. View the works of the grand winners of this contest here :
2014 Swarovski Crystal Contest
View All Winning Designs
I am also very grateful and blessed with beautiful friends who can model my jewelries in their events.
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| Mrs. Zeenat B. Ho ~ Mrs. Asia - World 2014 wearing my winning " Down The Aisle " Set |
I can't believe myself that I did it again to the grand winners !
Thank You ,
Thank You,
Thank You to all !
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
March 31, 2015 ~ I had just arrived from my Philippine holiday yesterday on board Singapore Airlines with my younger sister. Time spent in Boracay for 3 nights 4 days bonding with my eldest son , Meier ... was priceless ! His excitement seeing the place for the 1st time was such a great eye opener for him to see the world outside our modest home in Laguna. As you don't know, Meier was a homebody spending much of his time being at home doing his artworks. His passion is drawing just like the one below done with Staedtler colored pencils .
For him to be able to travel for a change to a tourist spot crowded with thousands of people both locals and foreigners was a great outdoor experience for him. His actual presence in the island of Boracay with me was an experience of a lifetime ... and in fact for both of us .
In 2012, Boracay was awarded as the best island in the world from the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure.
With pictures below I had taken as proof while I was there, I won't argue why ...
For him to be able to travel for a change to a tourist spot crowded with thousands of people both locals and foreigners was a great outdoor experience for him. His actual presence in the island of Boracay with me was an experience of a lifetime ... and in fact for both of us .
In 2012, Boracay was awarded as the best island in the world from the international travel magazine Travel + Leisure.
With pictures below I had taken as proof while I was there, I won't argue why ...
The island has been well known all over the world for its picturesque fine white sand beach . But unfortunately, the algae visiting the beach of Boracay yearly before the lenten season was there again this time and had turned the beach into a green covered shore.
But the fact that the algae is harmless and contributes to the whitenes of the sand afterwards after it dries up ( a fact accdg to the locals living in the island ) it didn't bother anybody visiting the place at all. The island was still full of local and foreign based visitors swimming and frolicking on the beach day and night . Although I really didn't dip myself all the way in afraid of all those green floating algae would get stucked into my long hair ! I managed to one day after a boat ride to get into the water that's waist deep for few seconds ... LOL!
But the fact that the algae is harmless and contributes to the whitenes of the sand afterwards after it dries up ( a fact accdg to the locals living in the island ) it didn't bother anybody visiting the place at all. The island was still full of local and foreign based visitors swimming and frolicking on the beach day and night . Although I really didn't dip myself all the way in afraid of all those green floating algae would get stucked into my long hair ! I managed to one day after a boat ride to get into the water that's waist deep for few seconds ... LOL!
Our time together in the paradise island was such a wonderful and meaningful vacation due to the fact that I had been living overseas and only comes home once in a while to spend sometime with my eldest son and daughter back in the Philippines .
Meier enjoyed much of the boat rides we had around the island , the sunset cruise as well as the Crystal Cove boat tour where we did a quick stop - over at the Puka beach found at the northen tip of Boracay for a sumptous filipino lunch together with the 3 poor and tired boatmen I had invited to join us for lunch . They were shy to join us by the table but I told them no worries coz lunch is on me. That day for me was a good time away from the busy life I had in Singapore.
Puka Beach was a quiet beach with very few number of tourist sunbathing all around. There were a few number of vendors trying to sell their wares to us too. So , inorder to help them earn a living even for just a bit I had bought a few number of beaded bracelets and a bottle opener from them. See ?
Although I was enjoying a great time in Philippines during my holidays, Singapore on the other hand is mourning for their loss. Their beloved well respected ex prime minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew ( born Harry Lee Kuan Yew, 16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015) passed away and was finally laid to rest.
The 91-year-old political patriarch who died last March 23rd peacefully in his home was cremated after a state funeral on Sunday March 29th. It was a sad moment for Singapore but Singaporeans,
young and old gathered to pay last respects to the ex First Prime minister who had ruled Singapore for three decades.
I may have not known you by heart sir , but for all the things you did to Singapore to become what it is now only proves that you deserve a great amount of respect and never ending thank you . Farewell to you sir .. you had left the nation physically but your accomplishments and contributions to Singapore shall remain and will never be forgotten.
Rest In Peace Mr. Lee Kuan Yew ...
Sunday, March 01, 2015
March 01,2015 ~ Here we go again welcoming the 1st day of the month. Today is Sunday and the 1st of March , I should have been as a Christian be going to church to listen in a mass but unfortunately, I spend my Sundays just like any other ordinary weekday where I start the morning with my cup of coffee while sitting alone infront of the dining table. My only sole companion every morning is my loyal attention seeker dog ... Gabby ! But I don't mind giving her much attention .. she pays me back with lots of kisses anyways ... so sweet !
But today is a bit different I guess. from the past Sundays. I am going to start my day unpacking a box I had received yesterday. I had been expecting its delivery since last week. Oh dear, how excited and overjoyed I was the moment it came. Lucky I was home when the delivery guy came knocking by the gate and got greeted by never ending barks of Gabby .. LOL!
Wandring what's inside the box ? See below photos please ...
In the said delivered box, you'll find nothing else but beads, beads , books Nymo threads and more beads ! They are mostly 8/0 Size Seed Beads , Rocailles/ Miyuki and Swarovski Rivolis.
Time to start beading endlessly again with all these supplies. By the way, I didn't buy all of them. They were about 80% redeemed from a Gift Certificate I had received as a Prize since I won in the beading contest last year from Fire Mountain Gems & Beads . I thank them so much for all these lovely items as well as their invitation sent via email encouragimg me to participate again in the 2015 Seed Bead Contest. I am for the moment already doing my entry set for the said contest way before I got their invitation. I would say , I was quite excited to compete more after I had gotten a place last year. Not bad for a 1st contest overseas I had participated in. My latest entry to the 2nd contest I had participated in 2014 : Swarovski Beading contest 2014 also made it to the finals . Yehheeyyyyyyy !
I am now awaiting for the list of final winners they're going to announce anytime soon. In fact, I am already happy just being chosen for the final rounds of the contest. It's such a great honor even just being a finalist ! There's so many very good beaders out there competing. Some of them had been doing the competition for many years. I was a newbie LOL!
Anyways, my entry for the Seed Beads 2015 Contest is still under way. Necklace and Earrings had already been done. Took me at least 1 week to create it.
Now I'm in the early stages of the matching bracelet. Final pictures of the whole set I'll post here after I had submitted it probably before end of March or mid April . Deadline for submission of entries is on April 30th so I still have almost 2 months to prepare. If any of you out there would like to send your beaded entries, please go to this link for more inquiries :
Send your inquiries to
beadingcontest@firemtn.com or
contact us at (800) 423-2319 or (541) 956-7700
For now, I'm heading to my beading table again and do my bracelet... so bye for now my dear readers and wish me luck in my upcoming contest entry to make it through the finals again.
Ooooppssss, wait a second . before I forget, I have an upcoming fundraising event this coming Saturday , 7th March in support of International Women's Day or IWD 2015
The charity event would be held at Esmirada. I would be putting some of my jewelries for display and sales in the said venue.
Esmirada @ Orchard
442 Orchard Road
#01-29 Orchard Hotel
Singapore 238879
Tel: 6735 3476
To all attendees, the entry fee costs SGD$45 .This event will provide everyone with a delicious 5-course tapas cocktail dinner + 1 Complimentary Welcome Glass of Wine. And very good lucky draw prizes! The lively banter will revolve around International Women's Day or IWD 2015 global theme, Make It Happen.
So come to Esmirada at Orchard and enjoy one of Singapore’s most special dining experiences! With its delicious, authentic Mediterranean cuisine, its professional yet sprightly waiters and its rustic yet homely ambience, this Esmirada Restaurant truly offers a dining experience like no other. Put also in mind there are giveaways and prizes to be won during this date.
So see you all there !
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Gong Xi Fa Cai
~ 2015 ~
February 19, 2015 ~ My-SECRET-Corner is ringing in the Lunar New Year — in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Goat —
Today marks Chinese New Year - the longesr and most important holiday in the Chinese calendar. Chinese New Year is the longest national holiday in China, spanning a total of 15 days.
Here in Singapore, the celebrations had already started since last night. Parts of Chinatown located in Northbridge road were so colorful. Adorned with well lit lanterns as well as chinese themed red and orange decors. The streets of Chinatown were beaming with lively colors and Goat lanterns adorned a major float situated right in the middle of a junction of 2 major street roads. The views were just spectacular especially during nighfall.
Goat or sheep?
2015 is the year of the goat, but you may see it referred to as the “Year of the Sheep” too.
The confusion stems from the Chinese character “yang”, which can translate in colloquial Chinese as either sheep or goat.
Those born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003 are goats, who can count their lucky colours as brown, red and purple.
Their characters are supposedly kind and peaceable, while their best months are supposedly August and November and their lucky flowers are primroses and carnations.
Chinese New Year is celebrated by dinners , parades, dragon dances, reunions and gift exchanges .
Red clothing and elements are essential for Chinese New Year, as the mythical monster at the centre of the New Year, Nian, was supposedly scared of the colour red and fireworks, which have also become a key part of New Year celebrations.
Cleaning the house on the twentieth day of the second lunar month before the New Year, and subsequent house decorating, are both major rituals in the run up to New Year.
Each day has its own celebration: while on Day 2 it is traditional to visit friends and relatives, on Day 3 people tend to stay at home as it is not seen as auspicious to socialise.
The final day, Day 15, sees the Lantern Festival, where red Chinese lanterns are released into the sky.
( Part of an article in The Independent )
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