Credit Card Fraud

Nothing like getting a call first thing in the morning yesterday about possible credit card fraud!
UGH!
Apparently somehow someone got my ATM/Credit card info!
They had my pin number and everything!!!!
They totally took my rent money!!!!
Cleaned out my checking and were about to clean me out completely!!!!
Not that there was much to take but STILL!!!!!!
What JERKS!!!!
Thank goodness Citibank called me and asked if I was making withdraws from Vegas!!!!
Um, I was still in bed in California so...uh, NOT ME!!!!
o.O
They made 4 transactions from ATM's~!
I HOPE they all had cameras!!!!!
I feel SO violated!
So, now I have to WAIT and don't have my rent money to pay my Landlord!
NOT COOL!!!!
Hopefully everything is suppose to get resolved within the next few weeks!
Apparently an0ther gentleman behind me in the bank just had the same thing happen to him and the person was sitting there in the parking lot receiving all his info from the actual ATM that they fitted with a special device that reads OUR card info and relays it to the thief!!! Luckily the Citibank ATM read that there was information being transferred after the machine read his card info and shut the ATM down so it wasn't able to send all HIS info to the thief!!! They get EVERYTHING! Your pin number...bank info, card number et cetera!
Know what?!
I used my Citibank ATM only days before this happened too!
I RARELY ever use an ATM!!!!

This is SUCH a drag!

New Designs!!!!

Here are some new designs.
I have been swamped with Custom pieces lately.
By no means am I complaining!
I just wanted to share some pictures of some pieces that I had completed but never got to list or post.
I am going to try and list these soon!

Here is a beautiful little matching set. I just LOVE the little mint light green stamen mixed with the Swarovski crystals! I really adore a splash of color with all the white or ivory!

A while ago I Copyrighted this design which was why I hadn't listed it before. I just LOVE this mixture of the vintage inspired Brass leaves and wire work with Swarovski crystals and Freshwater pearls! So, if you see this anywhere else you KNOW I had it first!!!! And they better NOT or I have no problem seeking legal action! *cough cough* Copycat's and you know who you are!!!
LOL!!!


I have been getting A LOT of requests for 2 piece sets so I started making a few. I had to Copyright all of these too! I really was surprised how much I adore these! This particular flower looks and feels like real petals and appears SO velvety silky looking. SO PRETTY! Of course I had to add my signature jeweled cluster swirl center! Oh yeah, and my personal feather or two!



This was originally an idea that was developed but eventually changed into something completely different that I was working on with a Bride. I liked the idea I had in my head so much that I decided to make one anyway with my own added style. I just loved the idea of adding hand made petals and creating new flowers like little buds on the side. This looks SO feminine and something I would wear!
Here is a piece similar to my Morning Mist piece. This one had the gold center verses Silver.


Well, break time is over and I am back to work!
I will be out all morning and afternoon tomorrow working a wedding. LOL!
I am doing makeup for a friend of a client of mine...her Bridesmaids and of course the Bride.
:P
There will be NO staying up until 5:00 a.m. tonight! I have to be up at 5:00 to get ready to leave!!!
Hope all is well for everyone out there!

Here are some photos with my designs in her hair.
The only problem I have is that when I was searching for mannequin heads I had looked at SO MANY I forgot to check the exact dimensions of this one before I purchased it...I was too busy looking for aesthetics! LOL! Unfortunately, this one is NOT life size and is only 21cm around.
Basically, I'm guessing the size of a 10-12 year old.
So, the flowers will look SMALLER on a real person.
*sigh*
I think this is still fine for display purposes and I make sure to put on ALL listings that have the mannequin head that it is not life size.
LOVE HER!

NEW MODEL!!!!

I finally invested in a nice quality mannequin head and wig to use for my pictures.
Now I don't have to model!
LOL!!!
Plus, I can now get pictures of side and back views EASILY!
I think the lighter hair works A LOT better then my naturally black hair too.
Many of the pieces were lost in my dark hair.
I definitely like the way the pieces look against this hair color.
I also LOVE the way the veil photographed too!
I am still working on getting her lit right but as everything it's a work in progress.
Here's a few new pics of my Birdcage veils.

Phew! I needed a little break!!!

I decided to take a quick break and post!!!
Ha! ha! HA!
As you can see I have been VERY BUSY thus the lack of posts.
I know, I just posted that I was going to post more...and then I go and not post for days!
EEEK!
I guess at the end of the day I am VERY pleased that I am BUSY.

The heat is still here and my apartment still feels like a sweltering sweat shop. OK. I have never been in a real sweat shop but I have seen them on television! I suppose I shouldn't make fun of terrible conditions like those...but seriously, it IS ridiculously HOT in my apartment!
:P

I feel because of this heat my wheels are turning but I am not being very productive...never a good thing knowing I have a queue full of clients waiting for their designs.
So, I have been staying up until 4-5:00 in the morning working on pieces. It's cooler and I appear to be a lot more productive...or maybe I'm just delirious from exhaustion! LOL!!!
Just kidding everyone!
...
LOL!!!

My expensive photo bulb popped so I couldn't take pictures for days! I am SO glad it shipped quickly! Man, What a difference a bulb makes!!!

Thought I'd at least take this opportunity to share some of the new pieces I have completed since my last post. I was feeling VERY ORGANIC GODDESS when I was making these.

Pictures are SO MUCH more fun!!!
Hope all is well for everyone out there!!!!

Beaming with PRIDE!!!

I HAD TO SHARE this letter from my client Elaine that I just recently wrote the last post about her Earth Goddess piece we designed together.
I am SO PROUD of all the hard work I put into this design and to see how much she LOVES it makes me smile ear to ear!
It's not about people saying how great my work is (grant you who doesn't really enjoy a compliment now and then) But it is the true heart felt words that make me feel as if MY heart would burst!
:P
It is times like this that make me know I am suppose to be doing this!!!
:D

"Oh Mikiye...
Last night the package arrived. The piece is beyond my expectations. If the wedding was clothing optional, this hair piece would seriously be the only thing that a bride would need.

The work is so intricate, so detailed. And I'm floored with the amount of craftsmanship--couture quality ladies!!! This will definitely be cherished forever and will hopefully be passed on as a heirloom piece.

Thank you for being so patient, passionate, and for contributing joy to our little wedding. I adore it!

Hugs from across the bay,
Elaine"


HUGE HUGS RIGHT BACK AT YOU ELAINE!!!
*hugs*

*sigh*
my cheeks hurt from smiling SO hard!
LOL!!!!

I am SO blessed to have such wonderful clients!
Thank You.

Earth Goddess

I know.
I know.
I think I have to come to the conclusion that I am just BUSY!
I realize the posts have been pretty sparse this month and my apologies.
However, I MUST share with you my latest labor of LOVE!
I have been SO INSPIRED by several of my clients lately. Each allowing me to push the envelop in my own creativity and artistic skills designing their special even pieces. For years now I have been pondering ways to keep my work original and irresistibly MY unique designs. With all the people copying my pieces it only forces me to stay ahead of the game. (and take legal action against those who blatantly copy my work) :P

So, here is my NEW FAVORITE piece.
As I stated before this was a true labor of Love piece!
I spent DAYS working on this one.
I can't remember the last time I hand cut SO MANY silk flower petals.
I worked very closely with Elaine, the Bride, to create the vision of her dreams.
This was my most challenging piece to date as I had never made such a large flower completely from scratch and totally by hand!
The colors were meant to match the dress which was an amazing iridescent beige silvery tone.
Talk about a difficult color to find matching materials for! Very unusual. It was that color you "think " is pretty easy to match and when you get to the fabric store you can't find anything remotely like it! LOL!
Ah, gotta love "the blend" technique!
I mixed several shades of Ivory, beige and Silver Silk Chiffon and Silk Organza.
She wanted a very organic, billowy, romantic, elegant piece.
Of course my signature freshwater pearl center spray in 14Kgf decorated the middle and this time I added branch like designs with Swarovski crystals and rhinestones for more organic flair!
This was what I designed for her.
She loved it!
However, she wanted a little MORE!
So, after more communication and suggestions...another wire wrap branch...some Ostrich, Peacock and Stripped Coque feathers...
Drum Roll Please!
Ta Dah!
"Earth Goddess"

The photos just do not so this piece any justice. (For the life of me it was times like this I wished I was a professional photographer.)
I just adore Elaine! She was SO MUCH FUN to work with! She literally said she got tears in her eyes when she saw the finished piece she was SO HAPPY.
I thought my heart would burst!
All the hours of work were TOTALLY worth it!

So, this is some of what has kept me away from here.
I will certainly try to keep the posts not so few and far between in the near future!

Summer Delights In Smelling Good!!!!

About 8 months ago my skin decided I was never to use store bought deodorant EVER again. Well, I came to that conclusion after having 8 new sticks of different brands sitting in my bathroom that I couldn't use. This was when I made the wonderful discovery of my favorite Spa Therapy Works on Etsy. I was already a huge fan of her soaps and baths so I decided to give her natural deodorant a try.
I was use to "unscented" and the thought of getting something with a "smell" was really weird for me. I have had to change to EVERYTHING unscented in the last 3-5 years due to allergies. Unscented laundry detergent and fabric softener et cetera. So, I tried the Summertime and Fresh Juiced scents and was delightfully surprised!
Well, this season I tried a few more! My favorite is Black Raspberry Vanilla!
Realizing I could now use a few "scented items" I wanted to try more things! So, my NEW favorite items are a few body sprays that I have found!
Of course being a person that had to stop wearing perfume this was a FANTASTIC discovery! I mean, what woman doesn't want to smell pretty?!?!?!
So I had to get the matching Black Raspberry Body Sprayand it is wonderful, delicious and fresh!!!! I am also IN LOVE with Sweet Blueberry!!!!

I also stumbled upon another shops body sprays that I love too! CozyMoments.
She has some FANTASTIC Body Sprays and Perfumes!
I love Vanilla based scents...basically "foodie" scents is what I was told.
LOL!
What a surprise!
I purchased Vanilla Bean Noel and Vanilla Coconut Sprays! HOLY COW~! I LOVE them!
Ha! ha! HA! I am delirious with joy!
I literally mix them...a little fruit...a little vanilla!
WONDERFUL!
If you are looking for refreshing and delicious scents for anytime especially Summer I HIGHLY recommend you check out these shops! What is truly outstanding about these is that the scents don't smell "synthetic" like a lot of similar items on the market. I hate that weird "synthetic cheap smell" that makes you think of dime store soaps OR the old school Strawberry Shortcake dolls and scratch and sniff children's books! LOL!!!...you know what I mean?! Each of the scents I have named are fresh, succulent and pretty true...especially the Vanilla! Oh yeah, if you like baked goods...The Spa Therapy Pink Cupcake Spray is FABULOUS!


*All photos courtesy of Spa Therapy and CozyMoments

I'm Back!

So one of the best things about what I do is trying to interpret what another person is interested in me designing...
I ask A LOT of questions! For me the more the better since communication via internet is the easiest way to miscommunicate!
I am ALWAYS trying to play with new or different materials to create interesting and unique designs. I have to keep my creativity stimulated or it would be all over!
So, as I was saying...I have a few new custom items I'll list in my next post.

Here are a few pieces that I haven't listed yet.
As always...you get the sneak peek!


I really like the use of the lace material...very soft though and so I tried a little different technique. This is SO ROMANTIC and feminine! I really like the finished design! Approximately 3 inches in diameter.



I just LOVE this piece. This one is definitely a statement piece at 6 inches in diameter. The center piece is gorgeous in the light!



Working a little smaller this time. This piece is really only about 4 inches in diameter.


This piece too is approximately 4 inches in diameter.

No More Food Poisoning!

AH!
Missed you all!!!
I had the worst food poisoning and over 102 degree fever!
It was NO FUN!
I wasn't even able to enjoy the 4th of July weekend since I got it a few days before that!
Ugh!
Well, I am FINALLY feeling back to normal...?
Phew!
It's been forever and I apologize for my absence!