It started with a ...

I'm a self taught bead artist. I call myself a bead artist because what I do or intend to do will not only be limited to jewellery making, although that discipline seems to be where I predominantly use the beads for. But we all know that beads are much more versatile and diverse than that. An artist because my endeavour has always been and will be to create one-of-a-kind pieces, distinguishable from the masses. Something distinctly Wendy Sue, so to speak. ;)

I specifically created this blog to talk about beads because I think I've got some things to say about it. Exactly what, I don't know but basically to share what I've learn throughout the past year through my own reading and research I made over the internet, books and magazines. The primary focus of this blog would mostly be on jewellery making since that was how it all started for me, though my love for beads go way back when I was just a little girl.

I did not attend any jewellery making classes mainly because I was not able to. A ruptured blood vessel in the brain (aneurysm) more than 3 years ago left me partially disabled and was mostly home bound. A segment in a women's magazine introduced a website on jewellery making and that was how it all started. So, I learn most of my stuffs through the internet and got most of my materials online, mostly from Ebay Malaysia.

Jewellery making started off as a hobby, and as something to take my mind off the emotional turmoil that I was going through. It also helps to serve as an occupational therapy of some sort, for me to work on my fingers to get back the motor function on my weakened left hand but I ended up loving it so much that it's now part of my life. Life will just not be the same without jewellery making.

Personally, I think jewellery making are just skills that you can pick up by yourself (probably with a bit of research work) and perfected over time with practice. What I'll be writing in here will be informative rather than instructive. Collective knowledge with regards to beads and jewellery making that I've accumulated over the years either through experience or reading. Although I would also include links with free tutorials for you to try out some jewellery making projects.

I'm not a pro(yet!) but I guess there's something for everyone who loves jewelry making here. It will be just as much as a learning journey for me as it might be for you.
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Updates:
I decided to add a Postscripts section at the end of each post on the interesting beading sites that I've come across.
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Update :  01/01/2011 

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Okay, I sure thought the introduction piece above of myself is rather obsolete now and in need of an update, don't you think? I mean, I started this blog more than two years ago, when jewelry making and I were still at its infancy and I was still pretty much house-bound.

But to really think about it, more than two years is a neither here nor there kinda duration. It's not exactly very long ago but yet neither does it 'feels like it just happened yesterday' kinda situation, which is why  to me, it feels like neither here nor there. 

This much has happened since I written that first entry in this blog.

Let'a begin with the blog. There's no longer the Postscripts simply because I've begun writing my own tutorials and instructions and hence no longer sees how Postscripts serves its purpose already.

Mobility wise, I have since been able to move around more by myself although I still need some assistance in certain circumstances but I'm much more independant than I was before.

Apart from still teaching myself on jewelry making, I've also took lessons to in other media of jewelry making.

 Took a weekend course on beginners' lampworking.

 Took a weekend course in Art Clay.

Also did a weekend course in Beginners' Silversmithing.

Well, not only did I learnt, I've also taught jewelry making.

 I've also started a 9 to 5 job but in my case, it's actually an 8:30 to after 5 :P, which leaves me with much less time on making jewelry.

Yes, that's how messy my desk gets when it gets busy.

But then, if you were to look way back to 2005 which is when I had the ruptured blood vessel in my brain, then yes, I've indeed come a very long way. A lot more has happened. From a totally immobile person to the person that I am now; who although still have an issue with the gait but still able to lead a normal life.

I'm driving again, both manual and auto transmission.

Witnessing my good friends getting married.

Flown out of the country twice to three different foreign countries.

England

Arcklow, Ireland

Singapore

That probably does not seem like a lot being done in 5 years? 6 years? But for someone who was once labeled a disabled and still with an issue with the gait, hmmmm, not too shabby, I'ld say.

Aaah, yes!

Brother got married too, and I'm a soon-to-be aunt! Heheh! :)

I've spend most of my life making plans only to learn it the hard way that life does not necessarily go the way you have planned it to be but I still have my fingers crossed. I don't know how high I can fly  but I do want to keep on flying.

Honestly, I do not know what the future holds. I know I'll still want to be making jewelry. I know I'll still want to write in this blog. I don't know who will still be sticking around but I'll be very happy to have you joining me in my journey. :)