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!

Greenware Design

I have lived in my current apartment for a few years by now and realized only recently this is THE FIRST place I haven't had plants! I have ALWAYS had something green in my living space since I haven't had a yard. In my San Francisco apartment there was a big planter on my fire escape that all my flowers grew sideways due to the wind! LOL! But it WAS PRETTY! I think I still had plants inside too.
So, speaking of plants I came across Greenware Design. I LOVE succulents! They are hearty AND pretty! I had several in my windows in SF. These are SOOO Wonderful aren't they?!

"Handcrafted ceramic planter made from Loafer's Glory clay, then glazed a butter cream. Filled with an assortment of succulents, nestled in a bed of moss.

Greenware is easy to care for...just keep in a warm sunny spot and water sparingly. Care instructions included along with a chopstick to test moisture level.

Approx. 4 inches in diameter."

I think getting one of these will REALLY make me happy. I honestly think this is what has been lacking in my current apartment. I have my eye on THIS ONE!

These are so well put together and I love the individually hand made planters.
These are also perfect gifts for someone that might not have the greenest thumb because they are very hearty plants that are low maintenance.
Check out their Etsy shop Greenware Design

*all photos courtesy of greenware design

HOT....I'm melting.......

Could it REALLY BE ANY HOTTER?!!!
One of the reasons I haven't posted is because I have been miserable trying to keep cool these several sweltering days.
I literally just ran a cool bath, laid in there, dunked my head and sat in there to cool off. Of course within 5 minutes of being out I am uncomfortably hot again.
:P
Last Summer I had REALLY BAD Eczema because of the heat.
So, I am TRYING to prevent that from happening this time around.
My Costco air conditioner that thinks it can (like the kids story about the train that could) barely does anything. I think I referred to it like imagining a cup of hot water being poured in the Arctic ocean to warm it up!
LOL
I am THANKFUL that I have it though!
My poor cat has been pretty much passed out on the tile by my front door for days!
I bet he's MUCH COOLER down there!

Don't fret everyone!
I have been working on your custom pieces!

...BUSY MUCH???

BUSY!
I have been BUSY working on all my CUSTOM requests!
PHEW~!
I like being busy and it is SUCH A TREAT for me to be making something for that SPECIAL DAY for a Bride. It's REALLY quite awesome when I think about it. After all, it is HER day! The day that will live forever! To be able to contribute to being a part of that experience is REALLY something that I am blessed for.
I STILL get tickled after all these years seeing my work on my clients. Plus, who doesn't enjoy a little pleasure from being appreciated for all you hard work?
:P

On another note:
I just want to THANK ALL OF YOU out there that have been SO SUPPORTIVE with my BE issue. It really makes my day when I get positive e-mails from you recognizing the genuine hard work and effort I make to create unique HIGH QUALITY original to ME designs.
Ok.
Ok.
I admit that I do give a smirk when you also tell me that their designs don't even hold a candle next to mine...
Seriously,
I just want to say THANK YOU.

Birdcage Veil

Been crazy busy with it being smack in the middle of wedding season!
I also have been trying to get more pictures with the pieces on a person since I have customers wondering what they look like on.
Dun. DUN. DUN!
So, I was telling a friend that I have had some veils just sitting on my table for months now and haven't listed them because simply put, they look terrible FLAT. If it doesn't do a thing for me to look at I'd rather NOT post it. My other friend that has allowed me to use her to model didn't want me to show her face so the veils were out!
Ugh...so, I HAD to do it. I am SO self conscious since the medication I have been taking has made my face REALLY swollen and puffy. I tried creative angles to minimize.
LOL!
Don't laugh but here are a few pics of my Birdcage veil with one of my flowers.





I don't have these up yet in my shop...but as usual you get a sneak peak.