Redge Designs

Cuff from Plastic Bags

2007-02-19T01:11:00.000+08:00

What can you do with the following (a plastic crochet needle, a pair of scissors, and plastic bags)?

Well, you can turn it into strips

So you can make it into this:

Plastic Cuff made from 100% recycled plastic bags. Entering the Whiplash competition.

Adventures in Bottle Cap Jewelry

2006-11-21T09:55:00.000+08:00

I had a hard time thinking about what to make for this month's Whiplash category: ALT CRAFT. I was pondering the different definitions of the word Alternative. Looking at the dictionary, it may simply mean a choice (www.dictionary.com):

affording a choice of two or more things, propositions, or courses of action

But nowadays, we think of Alternative as something different, retro, unusual. Given all these definitions, I didn't know where to start or what to make. Then I realized, one of the problems I have with living where I live is the dearth of materials for making crafts. I read crafts books that mention Mod Podge and say, "What the? Where am I gonna get that here?" Although, in a way, this has forced me to think creatively and look for alternatives (and there's that word again) . I think, hey, maybe I can use white glue mixed with water instead.

After much pondering, I came up with the idea of using bottle caps or tansan as we call it here. I knew I wanted to make jewelry with it since I don't know how to crochet or knit. But I wasn't sure what exactly to do. I had this idea of using it as a base for pendants which I got from a book. But the book used epoxy resin and after a whole week of searching, no epoxy resin to be found anywhere.

So, here's what I came up with:

1. Flatten the bottle cap using a hammer
2. Poke two holes near the center (kinda like a button). You can eyeball it or use a ruler :)
3. Thread cord through it.

I tried it out

but it definitely lacked something :(. So I added some beads!The blue ones, I just kina spread some glue and sprinkled seed beads :). For the red center, I threaded seed beads on nylon thread and glued it in a spiral design.

Here's another look

I just wrap the whole thing around my neck and tie it at the back :). I'm thinking of making a bracelet version with just 3 bottle caps.

Oh, in case anyone's wondering, the red bottle cap is Coca-cola, the rest are beer bottle caps (San Mig Light).

Fiber and Bead Necklace

2006-10-19T10:29:00.000+08:00

What do you get when you use some cross-stitch thread, beads, several pins, and a needle? Well, you get this:A fiber-bead neckalce :)!

While visiting a bookstore, I came across a book on sale. It had a really gorgeous fiber and bead necklace on the cover. I quickly scanned the book (forgot the title though) and since it had a tutorial, I bought it. Wanted to try it for some time, but never had the time. I finally decided to do this for this month's Whiplash challenge.

I basically used some cross-stitch thread I had from cross-stitch projects I haven't finished (or haven't started) and some beads. The technique includes weaving, beading and braiding. This is the first time I've tried to do weaving, and I think the result's pretty good :).

Here's a pic of me wearing it:I really love the closure on this as it's adjustable:
You just basically pull on the ends to adjust it.

Here's a shot of the centerpiece:
Though this took longer than expected (around 8 hours), I'll definitely make more necklaces like this. I love the way it looks :)!

I'll hopefully have better pics up soon. Since it took longer than expected, I wasn't able to ask my friend to take the pictures :(.

I'm entering this in the whiplash challenge, under the Design or the Skill category.

Jewelry: Made-to-Order

2006-08-27T17:27:00.000+08:00

I've been making jewelry off and on for the past 3 years. These two pieces are a commission for my officemate, Michelle. I made these early this year (January). David took the photos. He did an excellent job!

Blue square beads with clear round beads. Blue's my favorite color. I think I'll make something similar to this for myself :). I really do like this bracelet.

She saw a pic of a beautiful bracelet in one of my bead magazines. It had a floral theme. I tried to duplicate it using stuff I could buy here. It turned out pretty good, but not as pretty as the original. Basically used seed beads and some plastic beads in the shape of a propeller (for the flowers :D) and some twigs (since I couldn't find green leafy beads).

One of things I find hard here is looking for the beads I see in bead magazines. There's a bigger variety in the US, but not here. Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places...

So need to sleep...

2006-08-18T03:59:00.000+08:00

Ok, got home sometime around 1 am. Had to do over-time at the office :(...

Instead of sleeping right away, I found myself surfing the net. Came across the Craft Challenges area of Crafster.org and found the miniatures challenge. Sooo cute!

In celebration of miniatures, here are some pixel "art" I made some time ago.

Lotion made free-hand based on the lotion bottle I had on my desk the time I made it:

Pixel toys I made using a tutorial. But I need to find the link :(...

Definitely going to sleep now...

Whiplash Entry

2006-08-17T18:15:00.000+08:00

My dragon pants :)

I bought this about five years ago and it does show. There are holes in the pockets and one of the belt loops has frayed. Loathe as I was to throw away my pants, I decided to practice some "jeans art". I drew the design on the pants using pencil. I got some fabric paints and colored the design.

The colors I used were primarily green and blue with a little bit of gold. Blue is my favorite color since it's cool and calming. And I need a cool and calming presence in my life :). Green is a close second to blue. I chose gold for the accents (though it looks yellow :( ) because it fit with the design.

More about the design :)

I've always been interested in Celtic designs ever since I was a kid. Which is pretty surprising since I'm Asian and do not have a Celtic ancestor...unless there's a family secret I don't know about :).

When I decided to decorate my pants, I looked for Celtic designs on the internet.

One of the symbols is a Trinity Knot. This represents "permanence and the continuum of life, love and faith" . Or, as I think of it, infinity. I like to think that though are lives our finite, some things are still infinite, like: love, faith, hope.

Another symbol is the Tree of Life, where life began.

The biggest design is a pair of dragons forming an infinity loop. In the same way that I've been interested in Celtic designs, I've also been interested in dragons. They are represented in tales as good or bad, mischievous or helpful.

I had fun painting my jeans, I think I'll do it again with some other old clothes :).

I'm entering this in the Whiplash WARDROBE SURGURY competition under embellish/decorate.

PS. Thanks to David for helping me take photos of my pants :)!

First Post

2006-08-16T23:24:00.000+08:00

Trying out blogging. Maybe it'll inspire me to create something new everyday :).

This is a picture of my family's cat that my friend David took ->

His name is Tiger, he looks pretty pensive in this pic, but I still like it.