Inspiration - Cameron Highlands

Last week had made a trip to Cameron Highlands with only one intention...CACTUS. Had stayed overnight as I wanted to visit the night market in Brinchang. As it is school holidays, the hotel charges peak season rate. During the previous visit to Cameron, had stayed at Strawberry Farm and Equatorial. Looking for a change....

Decided to stay at Century Pines Resort in Tanah Rata. The outside of the hotel reminds me of a hotel that my family had stayed in Grand Canyon with the Pine Trees. As most of the time was raining, the temperature was slightly cold. But that had not deter me from visiting the night market in Brinchang. Bought some small cactus at 7 pots for RM10.00.

The Century Pines Resort front view, you can see the pines tree outside the hotel

The hotel check-in counter

The room. Spacious and the bed is super king size 7ftx7ft.

Outside the restaurant where I had my breakfast.

As I arrived in Cameron late evening, not much Cactus hunting I can do except for visiting the night market as most of the attraction/nursery closes around 6pm. It was also raining. My cactus hunting only starts the next morning. Starting with Cactus Point in Brinchang. They have a very good collection of Cactus in all sizes from small to huge size. They do not have the saguaro type cactus that grow tall in Arizona but more of the rounded type but it is big.
Besides Cactus Point I also visited Cactus Valley. Do not really like this place as I need to pay RM4.00 for entrance fee and you need to walk uphill to view the cactus.
Made a substantial purchased of Cactus at Cactus Point. Different sizes but not the big one as the price is expensive. The most expensive cactus I paid was RM25.00 for 1 cactus and another one RM20.00. The rest are between RM3.00 to RM10.00. In Cactus point the small cactus is at 6pots for RM6.00.

This is the front of Cactus Point

Varieties of Cactus. They sell at RM 200 and up each. Most of the Big ones are not for sale.


This Cactus is for sales, Size slightly small. Selling at RM 6.00 eachMore cactus

Cactus... cactus... cactus

Still more Cactus

This is at Cactus Valley

Cactus Valley
I am not so sure how long it takes to get the Cactus these big.

Cactus Valley
More ......Cactus

More.....Cactus

And lastly not forgetting the SALADS...Selling 3 bundles for RM5.00

Inspiration - Restring

This is my sister's bracelet and not from my creativity. She bought it somewhere. I just restring it for her. This is using purely Bicone 5301 6mm 2xAB.

Inspiration 2009-1 : Bicone and Rivoli

Yesterday, I saw a nice looking bracelet at a shop in one of the shopping complex. I like the design as it looks so elegant. I had not been making any bracelets for sometime now as my attention shifted to some other activities. Fortunately, the design I saw really give me the needed push to try making one. Well the results just great. Love it.
This bracelet is using 6mm Rivoli Crystal AB and 4 mm Olivine combination colors

Inspiration - Taking a Break

Its already March for the 2009. How time flies and I had not been updating my blog for a long period of time. My attention had been shifted to some other new projects and activities. Besides not forgetting the hectic hours at the office. One of my activities is re-activate my interest in Cactus. Will share my cactus collection once I get time to take the pictures.
Last Dec, during the Christmas break, went to Yogyakarta or better known as Jogja for a 6days/5nights vacation. It was peak season in Yogja as it was 'Liburan time' in Indonesia and all the hotels in Jogja and Solo were fully booked. I was lucky as I had made my bookings way in advance but my sister & hubby who decided to join us last minute had to change to 3 different hotels for that 5 nights. The check-in counter at the hotel was also crowded.

What is good in Yogja - not much for shopping except if you're looking for Batik. Batik sarung, batik lepas, Batik pasang, shirt, Tshirt, pants, purse, handbags and all sort of varieties of products from batik. It seems each design of batik sarung and lepas have a story behind the batik design. Were told to be a Sultan you need to produce at least one batik design. Certain design of Batik can only be worn by the royalties. Found a nice textile shop in Solo.
Visited 2 palaces, one in Solo and one in Jogja. The sultan even though no longer in power still staying at the palace. Not much can be said about the palace and the surrounding accept it is part of history now.

Borobudur

The main attraction of Jogja definitely the world heritage, Borobudur. I am proud of myself for able to made it to the top of Borobudur.

The crowd going up the Borobudur

This is the sight on top of Borobudur

and what even more amazing, I found my name written on the one of the stone wall...

Prambanan Temple
This is another world heritage. This is a Hindu temple and not as big as Borobudur.

At night, near the compound of Prambanan Temple, there is a musical show - 'Ramayana Ballet' . The dancers were lovely and their dance movement were superb. The show were accompanied by gamelan. Whoever plan to visit Jogja, do include 'Ramayana Ballet' as part of your itinerary. It is really worth the money.

Silver Factory
Visited one of the many silver factory, not that we really wanted to go but our tour package had included that in the programme. Well, at least I got myself a lovely silver bracelet. Courtesy of my husband.

Inspiration 11 - Donut and Bicone

This bracelet is using 8mm Copper AB and 8mm light Colorado AB Swarovski Crystals. Combination with 6mm Crystals AB Rondelles and 8mm Smoked Topaz Bicone.
This is very easy to make and took me less than 20mins to complete. The thinking on what color combination to use took more than 3 hours.

Inspiration 10 - Butterfly Charm Bracelet

This beautiful charm bracelet is using 14K Gold filled and gold filled balls (suasa) with Swarovski crystals. The bracelets using the following Swarovski crystals
8mm 5040 Donut Crystals (Olivine and Jonquil)
8mm 5754 Swarovski Butterfly Crystals (Jonquil) as Charms
10mm Swarovski Heart Crystal AB colours (Vitrail Medium) as Charms

Inspiration 9 - Black Tone Bicone Bangle

This bracelets looks more like a bangle. Looks elegant with the black and white tone. Made from 4mm Bicone Swarovski Crystal and Silver Lined, Round Hole Matsuno Beads

Inspiration 8 - Simple and Sweet

This bracelet I made for my boss as I copy the design from her. I like the design, simple and sweet. As she got a rose and light rose combination, decided to make a green tone .... so I put together the olivine and light olivine combination.








This blue combination is a gift for Cheryl, a lovely lady from Atlanta, USA. She is here in Malaysia working on a project. She had helped me a lot by getting some beading tools and gorgeous loose beads, findings from Atlanta. Thank you, girlfriend.

Inspiration 7 - Enhanced skills

Thanks to my sisters I am able to enhance my skills and creativity. They like all the fancy and dazzling designs, compare to me I like the simple design. This is the latest that I make for my youngest sister.



This is the one I put together for my eldest sister. The loose crystals bought by her husband in Sabah.



And this is what I had made for myself. Using 4mm bicone. The width of the bracelets is only about 10mm.