More Kurung With Manik

I am currently working on a new kurung that I am putting lots of gemstones. I got the idea while browsing through the dresses rack at Marks & Spencer. It is still work in progrees; but I'll share the photos once I have them. I hope it'll turn out ok - it is not something I have made before.

In the mean time, these are a couple of kurungs I had made some time back for a friend. Looking at the photos, I realize yet again I truly love the simple styles. Nothing too heavy or complicated for me.

This is a soft, scattered pink and silver beads with tiny ivory pearls.





This kurung is simply adorned with a tiny flower on each sleeve.

*****

Getting Creative This Syawal

I decided to continue posting photos here after all despite what I had written on the previous entry. That's our prerogative I suppose - changing our minds..

Anyway.

I completed a new kurung for a mother of a bride-to-be. I had a lengthy conversation with me-self in me-head on how to sew the beads on this colorful and flowery kurung. The owner hinted she wanted it to be a bit more extensive than the previous beading I had made for her.

So I came up with this 'gaudy-yet-very-de-gorgeous' (according to Iman. I mean, what the --?) beads. It was quite a task to finish, it took me like forever as I had put it aside during Ramadhan and eiful-fitr. I love the different shade of green and deep sea tones on the flowers. I sincerely hope the owner loves it as much too.





While finishing the kurung, I had also decorated ordinary (let's not forget cheap..) plastic bottles into some incredibly very-de-gorgeous (me think) bekas kueh raya.




And these.



You are most welcomed to get ideas from here.

*****

I'VE MOVED!

Hi everyone - if you are one of the visitors to this blog then many thanks from the bottom of my heart for your interests!

Please do take note that from here on I'm blogging all topics, including anything about bead, beading and bling-bling, on my personal blog. I've sort of moved, you might say. This site will remain open but no new posts will be added anymore.

You are most welcomed to my other blog, click here, and do leave any comments whatsoever there. I'd love to get to know you!

*****

Previous Handiworks

It feels like it is time to bead up a new baju again after a looong rest. Maybe for the upcoming engagement or that wedding in Oct or even for raya.

In the meantime, I post a couple more which I did some time back.


I was given a little bit more than week to finish this, despite only having weekends and late nights to complete it. She wanted to wear it to istana - husband dapat pingat! I was the preetiest there, she had gushed later - simply because Sultanah wasnt in court...

And I thought long and hard over this baju. The thinking took forever, but the beading was rather simple actually. I like the way the bright yellow gemstone shines.

*****

A Couple New Ones

And I finished a few more kurungs this past week. I was on leave so decided to finish these. Time to move on to other baju(s).

I am thinking of attending a new beading class to. This is like sharpen the saw. How to improve if not exposed to other techniques / other views? I already have one beader that I am keeping note of, the only thing is time never permits and these classes do take up a whole day.

Anyway. These are a couple of the kurungs I have completed most recently. The photos were taken at night; lighting is not perfect. I'll try to do better next time.

*****

More Beading

I did this some time back. I love this pink kurung. It looked so sweet and pristine in a fusion of pink beads.




This blue kurung belongs to a young teenager and I was asked to keep the beading to a minimal.



I still have loads of photos to upload. In a while - I have been quite busy lately.

*****

Latest Works

I completed quite a number of kurungs recently but didnt have the chance to update. So here I uploaded some latest ones I did for Lyn, her mum and sister.

This is hers. Hot pink I call the color of the kurung. She didnt want anything complicated and the color toned. So I did this for her.


This is her mum's. I have a feeling that as we get older we dont go for cute-sies and pretty little things. Instead we prefer bolder and more defined look in things. I dont know - I could be wrong. But anyway I did these flowers for mum's turquoise kurung.




And these I made for Lyn's young sister. She said make it simple.

*****

Pink Fusion

I have actually done quite a few beading projects between today and the one in the previous post (which is not so recent) but didnt have the photos uploaded just yet..

Nevertheless this is amongst the latest I have made. This is the baju raya. I love the material that is almost void of any patterns which makes it very easy to work with ie I dont have to think about a beading pattern that should match the material.

I love the multi-colored beads on the baju.

*****

Siti's

And I did these for Siti.

The beads on this white kurung was inspired by a baju I saw at the tailor's shop - it was a plain blue kurung with pink and blue beads. It had looked amazing and I had to recreate it. On Siti's white kurung it had looked almost bridal.

And Siti's dark purple baju was very easy to work with..

I had kept both simple (I hope..) I thought Siti might wear these items to work and so I dont want the beading look overly heavy. I hope I had gotten that right.

Siti, seriously hope you like them..

*****

Menjalara, Inhibited

And this is one of my sister's kurungs. She said no flowers please. But I am too enthralled by the flowers that Noraini has that I have just got to do them for her. But I toned it down a bit so that it doesnt look too flowery.

Nevertheless after she saw the baju she said cantiknya. I told her I should have made the full flower design for her after all. She said next baju then..

I had no problem with this baju, the beads and the pattern just flew across the sleeves. She had pretty tulang belut on the neckline so I decided to stick to traditions on the collar.

I'm glad she likes it. I should do something like this on my baju too.

*****

Fuschia Pink Kurung

I completed this some weeks ago. I simply love this pattern by Cikgu Noraini (of course, who else?) and had a joy finishing the project.

After completing this on my baju, I told my daughter I have to make one like this for her kurung too.

And when my sister sent me her own kurung, I said I will put the same flowers on her baju. But she said she'd rather not have the flowers. How unfortunate - I really enjoy sewing this actually. So I had to think hard how not to put the flowers on her kurung.. I completed both her baju but dont have the photos yet. Will put them up once I do.

ps : By the way, fuschia is actually a flower that bears the color of the brightest pink, Wikipedia actually calls it electric magenta. This pix says it all. Its hex code is #FF00FF or #F984EF for a lighter shade (in case you want to use it somewhere in your codes.. )

*****

Aquamarine Merak

This is my first project in beading after the class with Noraini last month. I actually couldnt wait to get started on this.

~

I got the pattern from class (of course) and cikgu calls this design merak; she had done it in a burst of orange-y shades (which I love so much). For my project I chose the aquamarine-blue-geen shades. I discover that you cant go fast on the stitches. Your aim is not to finish it quickly; the aim is to finish it with finesse.

~

Once your pesrpective is correct; the project will turn out alright. If your aim is to be done quickly, believe me the results will not be as you would like it to be.

~

I am actually very pleased with the final results of this. Cant wait to get on with other projects. Thank you Noraini for all the tips given at class.

*****

A Beading Class

And so finally I did manage to get to Noraini's class. There were eight of us; the area was cramped and warm but I simply love the lesson.

At the end of the day we had crinks in the neck, achy shoulders, cramped bums (?) but totally satisfied with what she had taught. She had 21 patterns on the syllabus (she has a syllabus - I admire that) and went through the details of each and every one of them.

She requested to see all the patterns we had done on our own piece of cloth. And seem like she shares all that she knows with you. Which is simply great. I recommend her to anyone who's interested in beading classes.

But watch out, you have to go to class with passion. The lessons could be long, tiring and uncomfortable if you mind / heart is not in it. Aini said a participant had had a headache and was sick in her previous class.. so, take a heed.

I had learnt a lot; and am ready to go a-beading again. In fact, after clearing everything last night I took out my long outstanding beading work and had continued again..

What's life without beading?

That piece of work in the photo above is the day's effort (not much when looking at that) but it is all in your mind (and your notes), dah-ling!

*****