Hired

Sustainable Home

2011-06-11T18:34:00.000-07:00

It took months (actually, years, if we were to include the original hut built - now the bedroom/s) to build, with old, recycled, and new materials, but mostly local sourced...

roof is labig... or anahaw leaves variety.

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

...quite difficult to go through, but worth living in... in tropically warmer (and still getting warmer) philippines.

What will you do?

2010-11-01T23:36:00.000-07:00

with these:

photo 1

photo 2

I have been having problems with photo uploading for weeks now. must be my pc. damn.

Pressed Flowers with Color! Finally

2010-08-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

Finally, I found time to start work on the gifts of Pat Smith and Terica Luxton, dear friends from World Wide Pressed Flower Guild. Created a heart with the flowers. The laminated flowers Terica sent, I created an asymmetrical necklace.

The best thing about their gifts is that the flowers (and leaves, especially the fall leaves) still retain their original colors. I sooo love the fall leaves, but who can resist flowers with colors? It was my first time to actually work with pressed / dried flowers with colors! I used to work only with wild grasses of the shades of creamy white, moss green and brown variations...

You can imagine how I feel, can you? After years of frustration with the shades I mentioned earlier, I finally was able to work with colors! Thanks, Pat, thanks Terica!

More surprises from the mail

2010-08-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

I was listing upcycled gothic butterflies at my etsy shop when Terica's gifts arrived! It went from a previous residence to my third (from then). What a way to complete a day!

It has loads of pressed flowers (with colors!) , Terica's handmade bookmark and fridge magnet, flavoured tea bags, and loads of scrapbookin' stuff!

Ii will surely keep me busy for days to come!

Thanks Terica!

Am Back

2010-08-16T03:02:00.001-07:00

Hello friends. After months of un-stable internet connection, am back. Had my li'l cottage renovated, using old recycled wood, bamboo, and broken tiles... But my li'l home is un-finished because part of my dismal budget is for my li'l office...

Location: Cordillera

Been Awhile

2010-05-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

Relocated once again, the move to another city (after the flood) also in Manila has been quite disastrous, mildly speaking. Am back to my roots - in the Cordilleras. We are currently staying in this vernacular hut called kalapaw, the west version of log cabin- instead of logs, huts are made up of lighter materials like anahaw leaves called labig for roof, and bamboo (kawayan) for its walls. The posts are tree trunks of kawkawwati. They say its sturdy.

This is our temporary accommodation in our family house.

We're hoping to relocate to my own hut in a few days, hopefully.

The only disadvantage here is the limited internet connection I have been flaking in my swap for blog comments! Ugh! Pardon me, I can't help it!

Craft Links

2010-03-12T16:54:00.000-08:00

Some say it is better than therapy, and I'd like to add better than nagging! I hope you'll enjoy the links!

Crafting Projects Links

Petal Postal Surprise

2010-02-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

I have not participated in many mail swaps lately but I was delighted to receive a lot of pressed flowers from fellow Worldwide Pressed Flower Guild member Pat! Way back- probably decades ago- I tried to press all the flowers I can gather and ask from neighbors and friends. After weeks of waiting and upon checking, when I saw them turned into various shades of brown, I was discouraged big time I stopped. Only the grasses turned out fine, so, from then on, I sticked to grasses. But now that I have discovered friends who can share no matter how many miles away they are, my interest has bloomed again! Thanks Pat, and also to Terica for the encouragement and support! These ladies don't stop surprising & delighting!

Teehehehehe

2010-02-01T22:25:00.000-08:00

Digital ad and streaming media has never been this fun!

Vigan's Hidden Garden

2010-02-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

er

This was taken during our reading festival in northern Luzon featuring television kid celebrities - the Star Kids with Hidden Garden's owner Francis Flores. I've seen the Garden grow when it was still a pristine backyard garden with towering bamboos and lots of ferns.
Mr. Flores was an OFW from the Middle East. His family make earthen wares shown here - pots from red clay. In his stay outside the country, he enrolled to a landscaping course. He soon went home and due to his health condition, decided to stay. He spent his time planting as his therapy. "I enjoy planting, it took away my worries, and soon, as my garden grew, my health also improved."
Today, the garden boasts of a wide variety of flora and lots of bonsai plants. It has also become a tourist destination prompting Mrs. Glo Flores to set up her Lilong & Lilang (Grandpa & Grandma) coffee shop. Others on photos: my Mom Mercy, my youngest Ulivia, and Rose Tuzon, a family friend.

Ruby Tuesday 1

2010-01-29T20:16:00.001-08:00

as seen on my etsy... I like Ruby Tuesday, from the RS.

Create

2010-01-19T19:11:00.001-08:00

I just can't stop...

Finally, I had pressed flowers with colors! don;t know if am gonna start posting these accordions at my etsy... i still haven't got enough confidence...

Our other reality

2010-01-19T02:37:00.001-08:00

Here is the other side of my country's reality... This is a narrow passageway near the Congress offices in Quezon City. While the congressmen worry much about their pork cuts to the tune of millions of pesos, these children or their parents worry about when will they have the next decent meal. For the mean time, they have their hand-made toys.

My butterflies

2010-01-15T16:47:00.001-08:00

Having a butterfly overload...

While I had been after the unique colors and patterns captured in punching, didn't know the silhouette would turn out this good, too! Yup, am using the point-n-shoot digicam.

Valentine Wreath

2010-01-14T22:30:00.001-08:00

The month of the hearts is another rich season for getting busy. Here, I'd like to share with you about creating a Valentine wreath although this may actually be an all-year round conversation piece and dainty decor inside the home. It can brighten up any room.

Ingredients:

bright colored papers- gift wrap, origami or scrapbook papers (glossies are used for this one creating unique patterns and colors)
EK butterfly punch or paper shapers
stapler
Large board paper
2 sizes of satin, organza ribbons for hanging. The narrower ribbon should be at least 12 to 15 inches long and the broader ribbon will be used as decorative one.
Pencil for tracing or marking patterns
Glue gun and stick.

Direction:

Punch out several colored papers using the butterfly shapers.
Draft a large heart on board paper with an inner smaller heart shape creating a diameter between the two hearts of 2-3 inches. Imperfect shape is more interesting, but be sure it is identifiable as a heart! Cut out. This one here is about 15 inches wide and 13 inches high.
Layer about 3 of the same shapes and size
Arrange the butterflies to fill up as much space.
Staple them on the middle, positioning on the heart board at random.
Fill up as much space as possible.
Punch a hole on the middle top of the heart. Insert narrow ribbon and tie on both ends to create a hanger. Tie the broader ribbon interloped with the narrow one to create accent.
Lift edge of butterfly wings and pinch on the middle to create #D effect and volume.
Hang in place.

Alternative: If you do not have paper shapers:

print out butterfly illustrations such as the ones here, enlarged to your desired size.
Cut out patterns and trace on page of the most interesting colors/pattern side.
Layer about 3 pages of same size, with the tracing marks on the top page.
Staple the middle of the butterflies.
Cut the butterflies out.
Follow step 2 above.
One by one, glue the middle part of the bottom butterfly on the heart board paper in place. Use glue gun as much as possible.
Follow step 6 to 9 above.

If you are busy and would rather buy one, check this one out.

Enjoy!

SwapBot

2010-01-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

I joined Swapbot as referred by good friend Terica, and been having more exciting days looking ahead of receiving surprises. Snail Mail still can bring a lot of joy...

I swap with Swap-bot!

A Garden & A Library

2009-11-29T00:51:00.000-08:00

And so I was reading Maria Kaplan again... and saw Cicero's quote "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." And I wish it is just as easy to understand and live up to... but it's not....I have seen several libraries where the books were donated by well-meaning private individuals but the books were never read, instead, they remain a collection for photo opportunities... what a waste.(Ingga's Garden in our dreams)
If I were to choose, I'd have a garden as big as Martha Stewart's... but of course, I would not hire foresters to haul the fallen twigs and tree branches for composting. lol. as far as I know, they compost as long as they connect to the natural ground. But then, I can't even afford one of her pots!

(our city garden in reality)

...but in a crowded metro, a family of 5 is lucky to have one like this... yes, I am lucky!

(badz and our version of Martha's garden)
but in ilocos, our family also maintain that smaller version of Martha's garden (an'taray) in a contested ancestral land at the Cordillera's. It served as refuge, not only for my father but his children as well.

Recyling Bottles for Gardening

2009-11-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

My dad found good use of the alcohol (cuatro y cantos) and 7-up bottles for his garden...

The Flash Flood

2009-10-17T00:56:00.000-07:00

The flash flood that occurred in Metro Manila about a few weeks ago was the first of its kind. According to my close relatives who actually experienced it, the rush of water from nowhere (not the rains) was unprecedented: water rose from the ankle up to the neck in a matter of seconds (+-) while they were running...

The school of my kids was flooded, too, it being located beside a creek. The markings on the school wall showed it was above a man's head level.

This is the main reason why we had to relocate. Had it been a school day, I dread to imagine what could have occurred.My Ivvong's classroom is located in the ground floor, and they were more than 30+ in class. While I want to believe the teachers are competent, there would still be around hundred children to look after had the calamity occurred in a school day... we have a lot to be thankful of, despite the man-made calamity... Man-made because the floods weren't caused directly by rain but by simultaneously opening dam sites without warning the populace that would have been affected nor the various government bureaus being ready about it at all...

The children had to be transferred in new school(s). One of the more difficult part about moving is relocating my craft workshop... But anyway, we have settled... and I have been crafting non-stop again (unless I had to attend to my current event project...)

...my craft workshop...

... mini trees... some of my copper wire creations... all wired on beach stone...

... a mini Christmas tree... about 6" tall...

... white glass hexagon beads wired on beach stone with natural shell...

Cordillera Landslides

2009-10-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

Philippine islands has been hit by a series of storms causing floods, landslide, deaths of about 540 already according to the AFP news service, and displacement of millions of my countrymen.

This photo was taken from Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet, one of the Cordillera (mountain range) provinces, which, as of this moment had its share of numerous landslides already.
(Source: AFP through Yahoo! News)

AFP added that dozens had been killed of the landslides.
While sparsely populated, Northern Luzon, particularly the Cordillera Administrative Region, surprisingly has been subjected to major landslides throughout history. Attributed to the displacement of communities, as well as weakening of its natural defenses, the landslides' causes has been ironically through its natural blessing: gold, silver & copper deposits. Currently, there are three major mining companies in Benguet alone: the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company, Benguet Consolidated Incorporated and Philex Mines Corporation (Boquiren, A. 2006, Haribon Foundation).

Related to the typhoon and the victims, we have started collecting relief goods, raising funds, and hopefully start transport of collected materials before the end of this month. Since material donations have mainly been food and clothing, we will be using funds raised to help furnish learning materials to damaged schools in the Cordilleras and Northern Luzon.

To help, we shall be donating 50% of gross sales to this cause. We hope you would signify your help, too.

Maple

2009-08-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

I have always loved maple leaves, although maple does not grow in my area. I was always drawn to it, so that when I finally got my EK punch, I was ecstatic! Quite obviously if you'd check my recent posts at my etsy. So, I've started recycling using maple leaves punched in magazine pages and catalogs. It is quite easy and they look good decoupaged. Just seal the punched leaves with glue by hand or by brush, let dry prior to coating with varnish. I have not posted them in my shop yet because I am quite sure shipping will be a big problem for costing, and I still haven't figured out yet how to price these are they are quite huge compared to my usual stuffs I ship internationally. I mean, I already have a big problem with packaging and shipping for small items like jewelry, so, I still need to figure out the best way to ship bigger items without me losing more in the end...

GiveAways

2009-08-16T18:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, for the winner of my Etsy post, this is what you'll get... a dangling bronze with jade chips earrings est. 2 inches long.

A While

2009-08-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a while that I have not posted. I had been confused a lot -or madness has crept I worked and worked! Here are samplings from my workshop... available at my showroom or at etsy. Otherwise, convo me if interested.

I have not uploaded about 70% of what I have done. Around 60% haven't been taken photos yet. And the rest, I really am not that confident enough, honestly, to even plan to take photos of. I feel like I will remain a neophyte for long... to complicate to that, a confused neophyte.

This is supposed to be something else, NOT a necklace, but my sis thought it would look good on her neck. So far, I have no comment. I wish to remain objective, unbiased, etc.
This mobile is made of die-cut recycled papers.
These are 3D butterflies - die-cut and made from recycled papers.
This is an authentic recycled levi's jeans turned into messenger /laptop bag
This is a twig ring, ikebana fashion (my li'l girl holding it, in case you'd think it's huge!). I have a leaning on ikebana and minimalism, so I often have a disagreement with my sister about my works. She prefers capricious and excessive design.

...Went out with my old pals and I brought them some stuffs... here are the pics. We were at Tanke's 1521 resto. Clockwise, starting from me (in black) is Donna (retired from Abbot pharma), Reg (vid editor & producer with Nickelodeon), Misyel (UN-Germany) and Tex (GMA news & public affairs). In spirit, Odette was there, so, the "other" finger. In college, we were an odd bunch, the wart in the class, although there were bigger warts (in my point of view) like Tanke, and Victoria.

My Sis Seeks Green

2009-06-21T02:57:00.000-07:00

The other sis in gypsypunk recently went to Vancouver to seek "greener pasture". She left behind her husband and two kids, aged 12 and 10. She had been a stay-at-home mom for the past few years after retiring as private secretary and her craft kept her sanity intact. She is also self-taught. Like one craft forum posts, "crafting is cheaper than theraphy." She recycled these cornedbeef cans above, and I embellished them with dried grass.

Pressed Flower, the Art

2009-06-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

I missed to point out what other reasons why pressed flower art is kinda amazing and special for me. First off, I love flowers (but who does not?)... funny however, that a few days back, my daughter asked, "Ma, why don't you like flowering plants?" and I said, "Huh?"
"You don't seem to plant those with flowers..." she explained. Then added, "Ivvong picked the flower of your plants again," referring to perennials (I am also an absolute idiot about plant names) in can pots I have in my apartment mini-garden. In fact, those are the only plants I have that produce flowers, it's like pansies but smaller, in red and pink. And my daughter just partly answered her own question.
I don't like picking flowers from plants. If I could make the flowers in their best bloom stay forever, then, that's it... And it is why preserving flowers for me is special one time I bought a bag of silica gel to preserve roses and all the beautiful flowers I can gather. I succeeded to preserve their faded color for a few days, but after several more days, they all turned brown. And all my enthusiasm about flower preservation died with it... well, not exactly. I found out some straw flowers / grasses maintain their original colors and features even when preserved. I stuck with this bunch and created wreaths and topiaries for sometime. Made some little money. Then, there are what we Ilocanos call pagay billit. I simply love them because they are sturdy and dainty they could highlight a thrash anytime.
With the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild, I not only started to learn a few basic tricks but also got awed by the beauty of their arts. It takes a ton of patience just to place one piece of pressed leaf or flower in the right place, but with their works, it was like, OMG! How were they able to do this?
Paint (watercolor, oil, pastel) and mixed media are for me much easier to control and manipulate, but with pressed flowers? I was like, oh no, it got stuck in the wrong place! and would abandon or get discouraged at what I am doing... pressed flowers are very delicate and one little mistake could rip apart a treasure you've preserved... that difficult. And I was only talking about placing a couple or 3 pieces in place... as in basic. But then, as I already mentioned earlier, majority of things I know about arts & crafts are self-taught. Well, I actually attended a summer painting class one time and the lecturer was a pro he did a waterfall landscape without a draft --- just the paints directly on canvass, and it made me think since then that a sketch, pattern, or a guide is for sissies. I create most of my works from scratch, as in nada. And I never get to return to one piece again after I finish it. Just keep on doing what can be done out of materials I have, by whim if you may call it. That was a little stupid, of course. And the tragedy of it is that I only found out that that stupid thought is really stupid just a couple of days back, as in literally.
So, now, I hope you get the point. Pressed flower art is one of the most challenging and fifficult form I have ever encountered and these ladies will remain to overwhelm me for-ever. Well, you better checkout their works to believe it...

Here is a sample of Simona's detailed work.

World Wide Pressed Flower Guild

2009-06-16T03:29:00.000-07:00

I recently became a member of the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild with the big help of Terica, and it seemed I was thrown into another world --- a dream world that I never knew existed before. The ladies at WWPF aside from being the friendliest bunch I ever met online also create the most astonishing collage of pressed flowers --- and I was overwhelmed endlessly as I stumble on their sites and works one at a time...

Here are sampling of the reasons why (click to believe):

A dream vacation from Simona
Elegance from Denyse
Wedding Bliss from Annie
Serenity and magnificence from Kate
Ingrid's invitations
Ivetta's overview
Renaissance still-life and framed arts of Pat
Colorful world of Phyllis
Dreamy beauty of Rebeka's
and this are only a few...just browsing through... I'd include the others as I check on them. Eversince I started viewing their works at the Pressed Flower group, I learned how neophyte I am on arts and crafts... to say the least, I feel like a dot(.) But they are very supportive, so, maybe, I'd grow!

Recyling Paper

2009-05-27T17:16:00.001-07:00

Here's a link to recyling paper... enjoy!

Milk Box-Turned Photo-Frame Keeper

2009-05-25T03:01:00.001-07:00

This is a choco-milk box... at least it used to be.

until i made it a photo-frame gift / trinket box...

recycling boxes and papers

2009-05-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

okay, pilot projects... experiments... on top photo is double-sided photo frames-mobile made of board or cartolina paper. the 3 photos below is a recycled box-turned-CD holder... accented with dried grass flowers...

in reality, I am overwhelmed with all the artisans, artists, craftsmen, women and teens I meet online and in reality...

... i am still grappling, dazed and confused, wary that time will soon pass me by and i havent't found the fitting craft or material I should use, focus on, as well as explore...

... i keep exploring. I can hardly repeat one thing I already did when it comes to arts and crafts.

... i have not developed a system, a process so that things get a little bit easier, and correct the second time (all of them has got mistakes) around.
...while online artists and craftspeople present one masterpiece after another, earning (envy, envy), i stare... then let my senses (eyes and hands, OK?) stray yet again for another imperfect project... they've got a life on their own even my controlling mind is kept out of the way, most of the time... (it seems, or probably, it refuses just now to take the blame).

...sigh...

Against

2009-05-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

A collage of everyday Metro Manila's marginal...

Soap Box

2009-05-07T03:33:00.000-07:00

Gues what soap box this is made of? (it's a family brand)

Creamer Pack Recycled

2009-05-07T03:31:00.002-07:00

This is a coffee creamer pack, turned into coin/ trinket envelope/waller.

Neighborhood

2008-10-08T17:50:00.001-07:00

In the Philippines, a mini-grocery may look like this... A home's window is easily converted as one.

Our Gardens Part 2

2008-10-06T15:00:00.001-07:00

Practicing to become a garden photographer, or something that sounds like it... but in reality, I'd rather be a landscape gardener or something that pays as much...

And in the squash farm in the Cordillera hills, splurging on the bounty of nature

atsuete flowers {natural red food color}

bangbangsit - perfect for a colorful topiary

Lingzhi - I & husband have been drinking DXN coffee with ganoderma extract which photo resembles one like this... it was recommended by a colleague as food supplement, but we discovered something better: alternative for sleeping pills...

sapot [spider web]

Recycled gift bags

2008-09-20T04:33:00.001-07:00

I finally found time to take photos of the recycled magazines and papers we converted into gift bags and tags accented with beads and recycled clothes. Available in 7 piece-set at our blog-shop.

Winners

2008-09-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

Here are the winners with their corresponding page links for our promo this September:

First off, thanks ladies for your comments. We'd keep it in mind and hope to come up with really useful recycled items here or in our newly-opened shop. The winners will receive a jewelry organizer made of recycled packaging board with 2 sets of earrings, an anklet and a bracelet. Ladies, please email me the diameter for your anklet and bracelet.

For the meantime, I met Cat (Annthrop) just recently. She's also giving-away a lot of stuffs although I am not sure how interested overseas parties may be arranged with. We belong to a local Freecycle group and one of the more functional, practical and active groups I ever joined at YahooGroups. Freecycle has also been suggested by one of my fellow bloggers here, and I couldn''t be more grateful for the link sent to me.

Patches & Freebies

2008-08-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

I bought this bag at Etsy because of its remnant-rag style of patches.
For the meantime, we're giving away 3 sets of: 2 earring pairs, a bracelet and an anklet with jewellery / jewelry organizer (to double as wall decor) made of recycled packaging board... The contest rules: Post your answer to this question under comments: What common / everyday items would you buy made of recycled materials?

NOTE: Items and designs may vary depending on availability.

Hand-Made it

2008-08-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

We made this... my sister and I...

She --- the bag, and the velvet flower.

I- the accents...

My Craft

2008-08-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Some of the products of boredom and stress unloaded. Some I give away to friends who ask (it is quite difficult to offer and not be appreciated) but I love giving (just handle mailing /shipping cost if needed :)...) and some I love to keep and wear.

Below, box is accessorized by my sis Juliet, while I created from recycled milk boxes the heart-shaped holder with fish...

earrings

2008-07-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

Experimenting with plastic (the round frame beneath the), piece of cloth, plus a pair of beads, metal connectors and dangling earring metals... I apologize for the unfaithful color, but the cloth is peach, and the beads is glass rosette. I am still practicing when it comes to capturing with digital gadgets... but the major materials plastic frame and piece of cloth are recycled.

Recycling Grocery Bags & Pizza Boxes

2008-07-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

OK, this may be a little bit challenging, only if you're experimenting the first time... It was my second attempt, and my first pics got lost somewhere in transmission but the pics showed pizza boxes and plastic grocery bags (SM, with the word biodegradable on it... well, before you throw it carelessly to rot thinking biodegradable means nature will take care of it to disappear into another form of life, think twice, because the grocery plastic bag genius behind could actually really mean "recyclable" which means one may use it again for another bagging purpose), and measuring up the chipboard boxes to the same size of the grocery bag, or even 2-3 inches shorter... But here's the step-by-step process of turning grocery bags and pizza boxes into a free-standing gift bag or even toys bag:

1. Prepare at least 3 grocery bags (1 small and 2 big), and two pairs of pizza boxes.
2. Cut the pizza boxes to the size of the small grocery bag to make four pieces.
3. Cut the big grocery bags to cover the 4 pizza boxes. Actually, the inner board covered is enough
4. Staple or pierce and clip the covered pizza boxes into pairs with stapler or eyelet puncher (available at Office Warehouse or National Bookstore) with the unfinished side facing each other to make a pair.

5. Using double-sided tape, stick the small grocery bag on the inner side of the two pair of boxes leaving at least 2-3 inches hanging below the boxes.

Reinforce the opening of the plastic bag with a 1 inch strip of chipboard the horizontal length of the small grocery bag still using the double-sided tape. Staple each side on the pizza box.
6. Cover the staple wire on the outer portion of the pizza box with plastic straw or ribbon (I also used the plastic straw of the pizza box) and use the same to embellish --- a simple ribbon will do.

7. Punch pairs of holes to insert ribbon handle. Use as gift bag.

Or to keep toys...

Sari-sari Store

2008-07-19T00:17:00.001-07:00

For the meantime, more everyday photos... Sari-sari store in the Philippines means neighborhood mini-grocery stores that sells everyday items such as food, snacks and consumer items shampoo, laundry soap, national food instant mami or canton noodles, among other things. As of this writing, 1 US dollar is already equivalent to Philippine peso 45.

A minor mans the store. Gummy candies sell in the Philippines, too.

P45 per kilo of commercial rice... In NFA (National Food Authority) outlets, ordinary rice sells for P18 per kilo. Rice is the staple food of Filipinos and a kilo usually feeds up to six members of a family in one meal.

Over-ripe or semi-damaged fruits are affordable and good enough for the majority of consumers.

Boutique, home-based, in a crowded city neighborhood. Actually, we're having an overload of cloth donations sold in second-hand stores trendies call "UK" or "ukay-ukay."

Ready for Print

2008-07-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

As I asked earlier, please don't throw your soiled / used folders. I already have the pdf file ready to e-mail and ready-to-print, so, if you want to receive the copy, as I still haven't figured out the easiest route to sharing it here, just leave me a message. I will be posting for more, but I am trying to make the process easier for my readers, making patterns that minimize waste, taking photos and re-enacting what I've experimented.

the beginning

2008-07-02T06:32:00.000-07:00

When I saw how much paper are wasted in a regular office everyday, I felt a heavy tug inside. Gotta start doing something... so, for beginners, I am posting a recycled folder. Any standard folder, but the textured ones will do best so there won't be a need to cover it up or paint. As for the downloadable pdf pattern ready-to-print on your used-throw-away folders, please be patient as I am still perfecting it with the instructions...

Then, I'd let you know if my also-recycled embellishments (or scrapbooking / craft decors) would soon be ready for online orders... I'd like to hear comments, 'tho. I might be starting to give away some samples I'd post here (if you guys would care to receive some, although am afraid you'd have to handle postal fees, as I am still trying to figure out how these materials could actually reach their destination using Philippine Postal system. The last time I tried, I was advised by the the post office staff not to register my mail anymore -going to Texas-, but judging by the lack of response from my recipient, it seemed the small packet I sent by mail never reached its destination. Darn! I feel like wringing and wasting some flesh right now.) do let me know.

Anyway, here's the finished product.

So, next time you'd see a used folder around, think twice before throwing it away. Give a little time for mother earth. Frame a letter from a good friend, a favorite quote, an interesting magazine photo, or anything you'd want to hang and see from time to time...

Their Own Paradise

2008-05-29T02:46:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the overcrowded metro, these photos were taken... one is wide-angle view and the other, a zoom (close-up)... beneath the enviable shades of the lush trees... sort each.

Contrast

2008-05-23T02:46:00.000-07:00

Iddle Men, Working Men

2008-05-23T02:44:00.001-07:00

After the Fire

2008-05-23T02:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks after the fire at Gozun Compound in Malabon, May 3, 2008... that killed one and left a thousand of families homeless... children play kite in a hill made up of sacks of ashes and sand...

Cellphone, fishball, atbp.

2008-05-23T02:23:00.000-07:00

street scenes...

sharing a call, fishball, atbp.

Paper Craft

2008-05-22T14:19:00.001-07:00

Waste more paper at cubeecraft. Am not recommending, tho. Maybe, you could print on recycled papers. IDK if construction papers are recycled... But there are some recycled board papers now available at National Bookstore.

Craft-making reduces a load of stress. Try it from time-to-time. Maybe, it's like a meditation or yoga exercise, but I found it more effective. Drains you of a lot of mind trash. Not that I have professionally tried yoga or meditation but I could finish a lot of stuffs crafting and I end up relaxed afterwards.

I have not been uploading recent projects lately because I cannot find the funky hp camera cord that connects to my pc. Darn!

Photos

2008-04-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

I have an automatic... click here.

mix me

2008-01-23T04:24:00.001-08:00

"Classic Hits"
Mixed Media
Approximately 36"X24"
from "Men Talk" series

My own accessories

2007-12-08T17:38:00.000-08:00

This is pirate's bounty bracelet... with remnants and found beads from all over. There's an ivory from my cousin Lanie, tiger's eye, t'boli, glass, murano, rosette, porcelain, shell, coral, carnelian, and I am not sure if that blue thing was agate or whatever... Been trying to upload this one yesterday for about 3 hrs, then when I checked, the resolution and size was too high for blogger to handle, so I had to reduce...

shells, duriken & ilocanos

2007-12-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

Hand-painted with Derwent & Faber Castell plus a little technique, and your ordinary scallop shell turns more festive. They are festive as they are for they produce tiny windchime sound, and it's just irresistible.

This one below is made up of tiny brown turban shells like duriken or something. Anyway, duriken is an ilocano term for a type of edible shell that can be found in rivers. And ilocanos are the most resilient, industrious (well, maybe, next to some Chinese) ethnic group scattered all over the world. In one time of my life when i was moving from one job to another, it had been like a butterfly in a garden, due mainly to my ethnicity. in the Philippines, aside from the perennial kuripot tag on ilocanos. we are more known as hardworking... and about kuripot, that is something I really never took seriously except when I was in second year college in Asia's oldest university when a professor touted that we ilocanos are such. It was wrong. I observed it was only because it is difficult to distinguish a moneyed and a needy ilocano. But even the needy, I also find they really are not that "needy" once they put up their butt. So you see, i am ethnocentric.

Paper Recycling

2007-12-06T23:21:00.000-08:00

I am nuts when it comes to papers. Er, I love recycling papers. From milk cartons, to newspapers, and pan de sal wrappers. I did say I am nuts.
Not that I am an environmentalist nut, but just... these are the available stuffs i can have my hands on.

Here are some I have done lately. These are basic box wrapping, decoupage, and the one made of catalogue pages is a kusudama, of course, with pattern I copied/ downloaded online.

Kusudama origami

The end products serve as canister, stationery holders, decorative storage box, card holder, etc.

Holed!

2007-11-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

Beads
I like working on beads. Not only because beads are colourful, comes in variety, easy to assemble and incorporate on any design, but also because beads represent holed objects. It’s like a damaged woman, and you can almost handle anything that comes along. It is the hole that makes them adaptable for any use: accessory, necessity. Heck, they have been used to buy North American vast lands!

Title: Holed
Media: Beads on black cotton sando shirt
Size: est 4" dia.
From the "Men Talk" series

Nice Dress

2007-11-28T17:33:00.000-08:00

I've lost my Derwent & Faber Castel watercolour sets, so, I bought a box of oil pastels to unleash creative crap. This one's called "Nice Dress" from the Men Talk series... more to come, want it or not.

Nice Dress
oil pastel
15.5"X12"
(from Men Talk series)