A Break from My Hobbies

My little princess was born March 02, 2013. Any parents out there would know that at least for the first 3 months, nothing is normal and routine will change. That includes taking a break from my hobbies. Newborn babies are such delicate gift and with my almost 3 year old son around I have to watch them both like a hawk.

I still check out new projects and ideas for scrapbooking, cardmaking and bead jewellery making through my tab, my mobile phone and laptop, whatever I can grab hold of while nursing or waiting for my turn outside the doctor's office.

I will be back, oh craft table!

Anything Washi

I just started to try my hands on scrapbooking this week. I found out that Pretty Paper Studio (find them on Facebook) has posted a challenge for February titled 'Anything Washi'. So excited to start on it. I only have a few rolls of washi tapes (paper tapes) which I bought from Paperchase and Daiso and worried that it might not be enough for this challenge.

Anyway, this is what I will submit.

New Hobby - Handmade Cards

I cannot remember exactly how I did I have this new hobby. I suspect it was during my website researches or those times I was wandering aimlessly in one of the bookstores. I normally look for books on bead projects, the easy ones though. Not those require more than an hour of my time. What I love most about this new hobby, is the fact that I could recycle those old greetings cards or wrapping papers or anything that strikes the creative juice. I have been a fan of handmade stuff and recycling papers for as long as I could remember. The old job did not allow me to have this hobby and now I am so happy to start on this new hobby. I have not started on it though as I have a challenge in sitting at my project table too long. What I did, I bought a pack of 3D card making projects from Tchibo Mushrif Mall and started to put together few cards. It was a good start, great warm up! I bought another set to send to my sister in Malaysia since we both are into craft projects (mine was discovered quite late though).

The new found hobby is can be quite expensive if you go through the card making projects they have online. I am thinking of buying few more gadgets but space could be a challenge.

Want to see what I bought so far?

I have also bought few decorative scissors, adhesives (roll ons, glue sticks, white glue), lots of patterned papers, card stocks (bunch of thick papers), stickers, punches, stencil sets etc. I still need a circle punch and just maybe, a colour printer? Wishful thinking... 

My next card would involve these old Eid cards, cannot wait!

Wire and Beads Projects 2012

I took breaks from my weekly crafting and whenever my back can take it, I would sit and create! So in no particular order, here goes some of the stuff I made.

I am so pleased with this - my first handmade Christmas decoration!

Did you see that?

Another achievement for the year - a decade of Rosary, can be a car rosary or pocket rosary. 

Another rosary done

Another rosary

I like this bracelet - looks exquisite!

Bracelet using wires

Bracelets on stretch chord

This is quite big and heavy - I like the weight on my wrist!

Another one (or two) of my favourites - unique beads

Purple and pink

This is another heavy bead but very nice and comfortable to wear - I like!

When the two favourites are together, they look awesome.

Made this as a Christmas gift for a colleague

This went to a little girl

Trying my hand on brooches, this could look good as a wedding brooch too

Happiness Project 2012 Review

Well, in few days the year 2012 will be a thing in the past and we would have to get used to writing the year 2013. I realised that my last post was in July 2012 and no updates after that. Do not worry, happiness project is still on. In fact, the month of July probably marked another 'big' happiness entry if I had the time to write it down here.

To start with, God Almighty has blessed me with good news, I am going to have another baby! So, soon enough my little family will become four in total. This second baby is not easy to deal with, mood swings that never exists, cravings and morning sickness which is more like all day sickness to me. I still hug my tummy with all my love. My first son, who is turning 3 years old in April next year, is still too young to understand that he will have a little brother or sister soon and becoming very attached to us. I still struggle in potty training him.

If you are in Instagram, you will see all my other bracelets and bead projects (follow me on Instagram @aliepey). I would post them here soon. As I grow bigger in size, it is beginning harder to sit and do the projects for long period. Surprisingly now in my third trimester, I can sit a bit longer to do my bead projects. I managed to do few bracelets and gave them away as Christmas gifts.

Recently I have added another craft projects to do, making handmade greetings cards! Lucky in Abu Dhabi I could find paper supplies easily and for the other craft supplies like craft punches, stamps, stickers, different kind of papers, embellishments etc I can find them in Daiso shops and Paperchase. Even stationery section in Lulu hypermarket and WH Smith and Magrudy's bookstores can surprise you with supplies. I admit, this new hobby is very addictive and I am only talking about supplies here :) I will post more about this along the way for sure.

So there you go, a short list that goes a long way to make someone happy. Have you found your Happiness Project yet? Keep looking. It's there.

Getting Wired Up

This week I have not much time to sit and create as my two year old son is demanding more of my attention. This necklace and earrings were done in parts, especially the necklace (it was meant to be a bracelet).

Findings for My Rosary Project

Rosary necklace is one of my 'to-make' project list. Inspired by one of the blogs I read about rosary repairing service, I decided I should make this as a challenge. On Friday 29 June 2012, my husband and I (together with our son) went to Dragonmart Dubai to buy more of my bead project supplies. Trying my luck, I asked the sales assistant from the 'DaDa Trading' if they have this cross and medallion for rosary and she said no. That shop became crowded with people so I left and went to the first shop I bought the beads before, the 'DuDu shop' (see my previous blog in June). Not so many people so I can breathe and think while choosing the beads and findings. I asked the Chinese lady about the rosary cross and medallion and she produced both in less than 5 seconds. I wanted to give her a hug! I bought about 5 sets plus few more supplies and this time, did not even ask for discount. She gave me discounts herself :)