PAPER BASKET

Happy 2012!

2012-01-08T11:05:00.006+08:00

Hello everyone! It has been quite awhile since I last posted a blog entry. I am still quite alive, thank you very much. :)

2011 was a very eventful year for me, for us, personally. So much has happened at the homefront that left me so little time, and so little interest, to focus on my paper crafting and scrapbooking. Aside from personal struggles which I'm very thankful that we're able to get through, August to December was so very busy. I'm still teaching Art to little children in Los Baños. There was the National Architecture Week to plan. Our students' Christmas production needed as much attention as usual (but we had to tighten our belts on stage design this year; economic situation all around calls for it). And since Gerry's schedule was so full last year, that added to my schedule as well. No question about it, I support my husband all the way. Family comes first.

Last time, I had the bright idea of coming up with New Year's Resolutions, not going to do it again. Except, EXCEPT, more travels this year. If I won't be able to go to foreign countries, then I'd be glad to just do it here in the Philippines. Besides, It's More Fun in the Philippines, right? haha. Life is short and I will enjoy it immensely with my husband.

We are planning to move to his parents' home soon. We agreed that it is time for them to have company 24/7. That will take so much time and energy on its own. Right now, I am still in the process of packing our things and some of our stuff are already there. So with everything that is going on and at this rate, I will probably be able to start with my paper crafting and scrapbooking by March. Besides, I have to reorganize this business and finally get really serious about it.

So, one step at a time. Also, I hope to be able to update this blog often even if I have no personal projects to show yet. I have a link to my Twitter account on the sidebar if you want to read about my raves and rants about my favorite tv shows. By the way, you really ought to give Doctor Who and Downton Abbey a chance. :)

See you and have an awesome 2012 everyone!

Ok.. I Really Have To Talk About This...

2011-04-19T22:43:00.016+08:00

Sorry, if I have to talk about this here. There's something I'd like to say about this whole issue of RH Bill.

At this point, I think it's immaterial what my thoughts are about the bill, whether I'm pro or con, but what I'd like to comment on is HOW our Church leaders are responding to this issue. It's very un-Christian-like. So, this is for them.

First, if you're trying to win the sympathy of ALL Catholics, my dear fathers and sisters, whatever it is you're doing, it's not working. You're only dividing the faithful. Why not instead of indignant homilies, side comments and scaring people of excommunication, you all go out into your communities. Talk to the people like those in the olden days when Catholic missionaries were working their way to convert indigenous peoples into Christianity. These are not Medieval times. You cannot launch wars against the gentiles anymore. If you want your former believers back, you have to court them to bring them back again to the Church. And being know-it-all pedantic-like won't win you points.

Educate, and not scaring them to hell, is what you should do. Go back to your missionary roots. Replace those leather shoes by rubber boots and immerse yourself in the swamp, so to speak. The amount of non-believers is increasing and some because they're extremely disappointed in you and what you do, sad to say. Make us believe again in the leadership by being more compassionate, kind and by making the effort of doing the right thing all the time. Right now, you are neither compassionate nor kind. Your self-righteousness is a huge turn-off and a huge setback.

Second, the state is doing its job. Do your own. Mocking the people who are for the bill isn't the way. It's not Christian. IT'S BULLYING. See above. Educate and make the faithful understand why the Church chooses that stand. Do it in person, one by one, face to face, if you want things to go your way. It's hard work but that's how it goes with any religion nowadays. You have to work triple hard.

Third, scaring people of Excommunication is the total opposite of what the gift of Free Will is about. This is not the Middle Ages, not even Renaissance. It's not a progressive approach and in a progressive society, it is ridiculed. Understand where people are coming from. Talk to us and not AT us. There's a difference. You don't know everything, even about Salvation. You say it's useless to talk to the supporters of the bill because their minds are set. But so are you.

I am Catholic and I don't think I'll convert to any other religion. I believe in this Church which was built by Jesus Christ upon the rock that was Simon Peter, the First Pope. I learned about our faith, our Christianity, for 11 years in a Catholic School and all of them I kept in my heart and retained in my mind. I am now 39 years old and I want the leaders of this Church that I believe in to be the leaders from whom I could see Jesus in words and in action. Right now, none whom I've heard is being Christ-like. And I am extremely saddened and disappointed about that.

Addendum:

Apparently, the Church hasn't threatened anybody with Excommunication. Yet.

Defined as "the principal and severest censure, is a medicinal, spiritual penalty that deprives the guilty Christian of ALL participation in the common blessings of ecclesiastical society". The guilty "may not participate in public worship nor receive the Body of Christ or any of the sacraments."

So what does it mean when you're asked to walk away during Mass like what happened in Baguio? Isn't that a sampling of deprivation of 'participation in the COMMON blessings' It is a Eucharistic Celebration. It's a Sacrament. Within the Mass, we have the Holy Communion, another Sacrament. Essentially, asking somebody to walk away from two of the Seven Sacraments, what was that priest thinking?

When the time comes and the Church gets really annoyed, I hope and pray that they don't resort to this. It would look more like a petty argument.

Reference:
Excommunication at New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia
http://www.newadvent.org

Curriculum and Things

2011-02-10T10:39:00.003+08:00

I was finally able to speak with the Art teachers from the main campus. I think I'm doing good so far with the lessons I'm giving but I still have a lot to teach the kids. The two I spoke to had been very nice and accommodating. I should have joined them during their orientation but at the time, I haven't signed my contract yet that I was not really sure where I stand in the whole scheme of things at school.

I'm currently comparing my notes to the checklist they gave me. I'm confident that we'll be able to reach those goals but right now, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I have to admit though that the checklist is easier to understand than that Rubicon which just swam like crazy before my eyes when I tried to read it.

There are other things I have to do still. Remember the New Year's resolution last year? Well, it remained in theory. The 2010 scrapbook? I did until May. I'm still doing the rest of the year but it's not as fast as I would have liked. I thought I'd just do a page a month but it turned out that our year was the busiest so far. Man! I even have 6 pages in some months because of all the activities and events that we went to.

The wedding album? I went as far as preparing the base sheets. The scrapbook albums I do for other people are quite embellishment-friendly. But personally, I prefer a minimalist approach and I still wasn't able to finish things that need finishing. Ha! Sometimes, when I should be doing this, I find myself reading books or online. I don't even have a Facebook account to lose myself into! I think it's an escape from responsibility thing.

But don't worry, my dear clients, the things I do for you, I can do easily and finish on time. But the things I do for me, I end up being saddled for months. Ha! That should change.

What's Going On?

2011-01-27T11:15:00.002+08:00

Hello everyone!

So many things going on and none at the same time. Hee!

Last 8th of January I had a lecture on scale model making with approximately 150 freshmen at the UP College of Architecture. That was fun! But they're a LOT! I even made a few samples that I left with them. The instructors were so sweet and generous. So thank you so much Chris, Patrick, Maureen, Faith and Celine! Much, much appreciated.

Since, I have nothing to do yet (except trying to finish my 2010 scrapbook album), I'm organizing my binder of lesson plan so it doesn't catch up with me later on. First semester is done so, it's about time. Classes are doing great! The students are amazing and some are showing real promise. As it was when I taught high school seniors, I also have bystanders in the Art Room during their lunch break. They're so sweet. Wednesdays are exhausting, yes, but their excitement makes up for it.

And today, I'm going back to my old school and will try to think about what to do with the bulletin boards at the reception lobby in preparation for the Emerald Anniversary. Canossa College is 55 years old!

In February, there's a wedding invitation design I need to focus on. She wants it different, fun, a bit informal and reusable. So, let's see.

Till then...

Hello 2011!

2010-12-30T18:30:00.012+08:00

Happy New Year everyone!!

Here is the title for Gerry's Rizal story which he asked me to do. He wanted the whole thing in freehand but of course, for the base pencil, I had to measure and use templates. The inking part is in freehand, though. Here's the finished pencil layout:

I didn't want to do it again in case I made a mistake with ink so I decided to scan it and print the lines in blue. Here's a partial inked part. Not much of it, actually. hehe. You'll see the finish product on his final inked and colored cover this January.

On to paper crafting! Two calendars I did for a couple of very, very good friends. You know who you are. Now you know what you're getting. :)

The calendar which I did myself, has a blank space at the bottom of each page/month to put tiny designs on. Here, I used paper strips. ribbons, stickers and a blank piece of cream paper where my friends can write important dates such as birthdays, et cetera. The pages, along with a cardstock stand, were bound together using wire comb binder.

If any of you would like a digital copy of the blank calendar, please leave a comment with your email address. I don't know how to make PDF file that I can link here, so I'll just send you the image files.

Be safe tonight everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T12:35:00.007+08:00

That was just something I was inspired to do only a couple of days ago. I visited my mother and noticed her curtains. I love the burlap bag thing going on. Actually, she said it was for upholstery but she decided to just make curtains from this bolt of fabric my brother bought quite awhile ago. So, I asked for scraps and made these things for tree ornaments. I'm not yet done, as you can see. I know it's late but I still have years to come to hang them. I decided to make one for each family member on both Gerry's and my side. :)

The following are photos of a few pages I took of the souvenir magazine I was talking about. It's 12 days late posting but hey! I am rather proud of this, to be honest. It's my first time to do a "magazine" which was actually based on Candy magazine (it's our young lady's choice of mag)... and it comes complete with table of contents and an publisher/editor's info box! The cover title and all the title fonts inside are mine. And isn't she pretty? :)

On a more different note, our dining seats are just old and manky, and this one in particular was burnt by a flat iron. And I wasn't the one who burnt it, by the way. I've been meaning to change the upholstery years ago but I was such a coward to wade through the madness that is Divisoria. And then I finally could so I bought 4 yards of fabric weeks ago and replaced the old ones. I still have quite a length after finishing 6 seats so I gave the rest to my mother who was inspired to change the seats of her old, manky dining chairs as well.

Side note: What's going on in Photobucket? I can't upload these photos! Is there a monthly limit to how much MB I can use that I didn't read about? The reason I don't like to upload through blogger is this. If you notice, they are smaller than my previous photos.

Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone!! Cheers!!

An Invitation and a Christmas Production

2010-12-08T23:31:00.002+08:00

Hoooookaaay..... Merry Christmas everyone!! In advance... because I feel so free right now. Free from deadlines. No work until after New Year, I told myself. Well, aside from the teaching thing. Then again, that's not really work... and the other things I do are not exactly work because they're all fun to make!! The second half of November and the first week of December had been really, really busy. So, I'll just fire away.

First is the invitation I did. This is how it came out, and I did 150 of these which I delivered two weeks ago. The theme is movies so this is what came about. The envelope is a clapper and the invitation itself are oversized movie tickets. I just wrapped it around with a burgundy ribbon. The father asked, "Why do you have to put ribbon around it?" He's hysterical, good thing for him, he's a very good friend.

If you're reading my tweets, you would have read me talking about the train. The train made from corrugated boards. Well here it is. These are the before pictures:

And this was this was taken earlier during the performance.

This supposedly was a dungeon wall where Izzy, Rosie and the Broken Toys were kept by the Abominable Snowman. This was made from newspaper, tissue paper, glue and paint. Thank you Neil Buchanan and Art Attack for teaching me to use these four materials to do just about anything!! And these two were my very able and very giggly assistants, Zara and Edjee. They're amazing! It's easy to meet deadlines with these two.

This was the set for T'was the Night Before Christmas. I wish I could have gotten a better photo because, modesty aside, it turned out so well in person. The stars hanging were made by the kids, pre-kinder to fourth grade. I promised them I'll hang them so I did with the help of Mang Eli. You have to keep your promises to kids!! If you can't, don't promise anything at all.

A closer take with the lights on. For before photos, please check out previous entries.

The three of us after the show.

These are my co-teachers with my assistants. From the left, Grace (prek/k homeroom teacher), Anna (3rd/4th grade teacher), Weng (Music Teacher/Music Director for the show. She's amazing! You just have to help her out to achieve what we're able to do tonight.), Edjee, Maya (Administrative Coordinator), Zara, Maan (Teacher Assistant) and me. Steve (1st & 2nd grade teacher) and Mark (PE teacher) were a bit shy to face the camera.

And us again. :)

It was so much fun, I tell you. Better than last year's in terms of children's performances and the general vibe and as if everything just comes together by Divine Intervention, like Anna mentioned after the show.

I also mentioned something about a magazine. Well, I'll pick them up on Friday and I'll post something about that on Sunday.

Well, I think I'll sleep now... finally. :)

Thoughts About My Job

2010-11-26T21:42:00.005+08:00

There are so many things I'm doing that I thought I'd never had the chance to do or won't be doing anymore. I just recently finished writing a company profile and my clients are so very happy and satisfied with it that they now asked me to design, layout and write articles for a glossy magazine as souvenir for their daughter's 18th birthday celebration. They also asked me to make the invitations. As you can see, I do these alongside the set pieces I'm completing for the Christmas production. I am quite all over the place.

Sometimes, all I can do is laugh and ask, "Why do I do this to myself?" I know the answer. Of course I do. It's because I enjoy doing them immensely. The diversity of the projects are just mind-boggling and yet, I embrace it. It's exciting! When they asked me to do the magazine the first time, I laughed at their faces. That's not the way to treat clients, I know. My excuse is, they're my friends. But it's hysterical that they would just ask me to do it because I have no experience on anything magazine-related whatsoever. What got me was, they did not ask if I could do it. That level of trust in my ability to pull it off never fails to catch me off-guard.

These props and scenes I'm producing for the school are another thing. It's my first time to be the lead person to do these things. I'm just winging it, to be honest. They look great so far on the table but I have no idea how it would turn out with the stage lights on. But again, that level of trust in my abilities never fails to amaze me. All I can do is be grateful that they believe I can do it, and because of that I still have a job.

No, I haven't forgotten my paper crafting business. It's still there. It's just these last four months have been about trying and doing new things. Such joy to experience these new challenges.

Set Pieces for Christmas Production

2010-11-25T19:10:00.002+08:00

Here are the photos of the set pieces. Thanks Art Attack's Neil Buchanan for teaching me the use of bathroom tissue in papier mache. Those extra corrugated boards definitely have use. The frames were made of 3/4" plywood scrap strips from carpentry. :)

Here's the fireplace.

Here are a couple of windows that will be on either side of the fireplace.

And here's the beginning of a dungeon wall. Edjee is helping me lay those stones. :)

I'll post the finished product later on. I doubt if I'll be able to finish this tomorrow. By the way, we're in the gymnasium closet, in case you're wondering why there were balls and hula hoops everywhere.

School Updates

2010-11-24T21:15:00.009+08:00

Finally, I remember taking a photo of our Art Classroom. So, here it is! It's a bit small especially if I try to squeeze in 13 students in there. But I love it!

It's a corner room and during the day, we have lots of natural lighting. It doesn't look as bright as it really is usually because I took this late in the afternoon today. That window faces west. Ok, just a bit of a tour. I had that big black display board (literally, a blackboard) made to replace the white board that was on that wall previously. The white board was moved to the wall on the left side (not seen) of the photo. On the yellow sheets on display, those are cutting exercises by first and second grade students. On the far right of the board, those are warm/cool color and complementary color charts by third and fourth grade students. The bunting across the room is a triangle-cutting exercise by prek/k students.

On the windows, those are Chinese paper lanterns, a few that were left from their straight line cutting exercise. The low shelf is for supplies and the tall one is for papers. Beside it is a former cart I had replaced with several cubes to put pencils, scissors, pens, pencils, etc. Behind me is another supplies shelf where all the student folders are, paints (watercolor, oil, acrylic, poster, washable paints, powder paints, etc), color pencils, color markers, etc. I forgot to take a photo of that.

The tables were prepared for an exercise using hand prints in primary colors with color by number borders in primary colors as well.

Now, this one, these are several props for our Christmas production: stockings, doll key, elf tools, wreath, a rimmed hat, train conductor hats and a toy soldier hat. All these were made from recycled materials (corrugated boards, a-few-year-old felt paper scraps and five-year-old washable paints and glitters). I thought I took a photo of the set pieces. Oh well, tomorrow, I'll do that.

This Schedule is Frightening But Awesome!

2010-11-11T22:29:00.003+08:00

Last week, I started working on the props for our Christmas Production. It's a big deal for the kids so I want the set and the props to look at least presentable and sparkly. I've been helping out on set designs since high school and again, when I taught the first time in that same school. This is the first time in which I'm actually the one doing it myself, along with help from my assistants Zara and Edjee, and the wonderful Mang Louie, head carpenter at IRRI. He truly makes things easy for me.

As of today, the frame for the set pieces are done while some of the props are ready to be painted. I requested for carpentry assistance on Monday. I hope I can show some photos (I know I'm slacking in the documentation department) of these things I'm doing.

Also, tomorrow, I'm going to meet with a mother of a debutante for her daughter's invitations and souvenir mag. The previous agreement, that was three months ago, would be I'd write the articles myself in addition to the layout and design of the magazine that should be finished in, well, five weeks? Ha! I'm Supergirl!

That's why I'm panicking now so I won't panic later on. There's a week and a half difference between the two occasions.

Tomorrow is November

2010-10-31T16:57:00.002+08:00

... And we feel Christmas in the air, which also smells good. :)

First off, I am no longer accepting orders for Christmas giveaways. It is going to be a very busy month ahead and I won't be able to attend to your requests at this point. I wouldn't want to disappoint you because I accepted orders when I know I won't be able to fulfill them and deliver on time. I am sorry, but I do hope you remember me next year. :)

Starting Wednesday, I'll start working on the set pieces and props for the children's Christmas production, T'was the Night Before Christmas, to be presented on the second week of December. This should be fun!! It will take much of my time and away from my table, which is what's already happening. That saddens me. It's laziness more than anything else. If I want to do my sorely neglected personal projects, I should make, not 'find', time for them.

Anyway, I'll take pictures as I go along. And I hope this lethargy won't get in the way of my posting pictures of these props.

Three Sets

2010-08-10T12:31:00.003+08:00

These three sets of Notepad/Penholder combo, Keychain Mini-Albums and Origami Albums were sent this morning as samples.

Manly Invitation

2010-08-10T01:32:00.005+08:00

These are the invitations I made for a friend who also happens to be an architect. It's quite new to me, because I'm used to small girls and floral-like invites, but it's a whole lot easier to make. It took quite awhile for us to get to how this would look like but it took only a day to finish 50 of them. I would've wanted a blueprint for the 'plan' but they smell horrible especially if they're going to give these away to people not used to that smell. Besides, tracing paper looks smashing!

Meanwhile, I'm contemplating of ways to package 3 sets of samples to give a client. And I'm currently at the edge of my seat about this contract thing at school. Looks like I really have the job. Yay! for the new Art Consultant. My position isn't called Art Teacher... I'm an Art Consultant. Heee!

Birthday Souvenirs

2010-07-24T20:07:00.006+08:00

December last year, my mother saw the notepad-penholder combo in my stash of goodies I'm selling. She just exclaimed, "I want these for Seya's souvenirs!" So, she asked me how much my budget should be sans labor, because a) she's my mother and b) she always volunteered to wash my dishes whenever she comes over. I thought it was a nice trade-off. One of my nieces turned 7 years old yesterday and these were her giveaways at her party today.

I made a slight modification to the notepad design because the flowers that were originally there I made by hand. And I absolutely have no more time to do them over 50 times for these. I thought she'd understand. The non-labor element's quite a good bargaining chip. :)

Oh, the pencils were not included. That's totally her idea and purchase. I just included them in the wrapping.

July Update

2010-07-15T13:14:00.004+08:00

Hello everyone! This is not good. This once a month update is almost close to nil but it's such a busy last few weeks but yes, I'm doing good.

The repairs and maintenance activities at the school are almost done. Has to be because school opens on August 5th. The supply room is finally organized and waiting for new supplies to come in as ordered. The Art Room is finally taking shape. The library shelves have been delivered yesterday so probably the librarian is finally organizing the books delivered the last couple of weeks. I might post some before and after pics later on. I hope nobody expects some Nate Berkus makeovers here. We just purged, cleaned and reorganized furniture around.

The papercrafting business is doing really well also. I'm very thankful to have the time to do them despite other things. Other things being other projects outside of the usual things I do and the domestic day-to-day stuff nobody can really escape from.

Ah! And there's something else I want to talk about. I am an architect and was very active professionally until about six years ago and shifted to what I do now. The reason I left the practice is another story altogether but what I want to say is, I was hired by an architectural firm to revise, rewrite and design their company profile. Yay!! They got me because I'm an architect, I know the business so I know what I'm going to write about.

I'm so very excited about this most recent project because as much as I love papercrafting, I also love writing. And I've been craving to write something in a more professional capacity. So, when they called one day and asked if I could, I grabbed the chance. They also put forward a couple more projects for later this year: a brochure for their spa and training center, and souvenirs for their daughter's 18th birthday in December. I'm very, very thankful for this.

2010 has been very, very good to me and my husband, most especially to him. It's been awesomely fantastic so far. I can't thank God enough for such beautiful year so far.

June Update

2010-06-10T19:36:00.003+08:00

Hello everyone!

It's been awhile. Personal projects have been on-hold for more than a month now. I have been really busy at school since a couple of weeks before the Moving Up Ceremony. Now it's cleanup time. The amount of rubbish generated in 10 months is astounding! Seven balikbayan boxes of trash... and that's just from the Art Room. I had some repairs and repaint that need to be done so I left it as it is for now. The queue for carpentry work is quite long.

While waiting for that, we tackled the library today. Drew a floor plan to help us rearrange the shelves, and we moved them. We'd still need seven shelves to follow the plan, though. It doesn't matter if we won't fill them up with books now. A library is a library, it will eventually get full. My architectural knowledge need not go to waste. heee!

Next week, the science laboratory and supply inventory. Need to schedule the painting job too. All classrooms need to be repainted as well as the corridor.

All these, and I'm not even an employee of the school. What do I call this job? Building repair supervision and consultancy? What?

Twitter

2010-05-28T11:08:00.002+08:00

I signed up on Twitter days ago (see side bar) but I find I'm using it to rant or rave about tv shows because I love tv. If you like to follow me, please do. Just a warning though, I do rant a lot. If it's your favorite show, I'm apologizing in advance for hurting your feelings but I won't apologize for seeing it the way I see it and saying it out loud.

Moving Up Day

2010-05-26T12:38:00.007+08:00

Yesterday was the kids' last day in school and of course, their Moving Up Ceremony. I did that background signboard or whatever you call it. The logo and the header are printed in large format. Then, the tarpaulin was stapled to a wooden frame without a plywood skin so it's lighter and easier to transport and haul up those undulating panels. We wanted it to be reusable so I decided that the other elements are paper cutouts in primary and secondary colors. Many thanks to IRRI's carpentry for making us that frame and helping us attach it behind the panels.

As to what the stage looks like... well. Until now, I'm still bad at arranging plant stuff. So I just framed the background with plants like so. And IRRI lent us a truckload of plants! I didn't know what I'd do with them so the others I just lined on the floor in front of the stage. In person, the whole front including the stage actually looks like a rain forest. LOL!

Shipping Today

2010-05-17T09:14:00.002+08:00

Here are two mini-albums I'm shipping today for a friend. I'm still finishing four other minis, two of which are identical. I really do enjoy doing these small things. It's like doing scale models again.

Finally, My Own Scrapbook

2010-05-06T10:43:00.006+08:00

I know! Isn't it pathetic? Remember my New Year's resolution about me creating a 2010 scrapbook? Well, I'm finally finished with my March double-page spread and starting with April pages. I also did the album on this one I think I'll be able to post this in January of next year.

I found that if I'm creating for myself, I tend to make it very simple. There are usually lots of frilly embellishments when I do scrapbook for others but here, it's not the case. But as always, there are a lot of photos in a page. I can't do just one photo. I tried, but I really can't.

Then there are the birthday photos of my niece, Kyla. I'll do a mini-album for those after the April pages.

And oh! Gerry is in a short film for Plan International under the direction of Lem Garcellano. I'll probably do a mini-album for his pictures there... a no-frills album as usual.

I Just Got Back from School

2010-04-26T20:16:00.012+08:00

I will share with you what my students were working on for the last 11 weeks. It sounds very grand, but it's actually just 11 hours total because we're only working for an hour every week. It's an After School Activity at Brent-IRRI in Los Baños, Laguna, and it's on Scrapbooking and Photography. Sound a bit much? Yeah, I think so too. Maybe next year I'm going to separate those classes.

Anyway, I'm not really a photographer but I know some basic things I could teach the kids like utilizing natural light, effect of the combination of light, shade and shadow in photography, golden hour (but my class was in mid-afternoon so it was just words), rule of thirds, get close to the subject, holding the camera straight, etc. So these are just some samples of what they did:

By Iman Ismail, Fourth Grade

By Isabelle Douthewaite, First Grade

By Xyla Fitzwell, Second Grade

By Anna Heuer, Kindergarten

By Mami Hosen, Third Grade

Aren't they neat? They just used digital point and shoot cameras for this, but for their grade levels, I thought they did really, really well.

The other part of our ASA is Scrapbooking. Below is a stack of scrapbooks they did. They scrapped the photos they took. I prepared the materials for covers and cut the interior pages. They put together the covers and we punched the sides for the binding rings. We didn't really use any fancy brand-named materials. We just want them to experience to make their first ever album.

Instead of patterned paper, we used giftwrapping paper. We used ordinary acid-free glue stick for all the papers, and a different kind of glue for embellishments. I bought a lot of buttons, ribbons, flowers, feathers, transfer letters and sequins in various shapes. There were a lot of leftovers so I divided them to six, bagged them and gave the rest to them. They were sooooooo excited about that. Next year, I think I'm going to let them use 'real' scrapbooking papers.

So, here are the scrapbooks they did.

There will be an exhibit of their works on Friday, April 30. I sure will be there to support them while they present their work. I'm telling you, these are the sweetest, most innocent kids I ever met. And they did some really, really wonderful job.

Roses from SM

2010-04-13T12:01:00.004+08:00

I wish we have a craft store here in San Pablo where I can just go and buy things I like. Unfortunately, there is none. Fortunately, we have none or I'll spend so much more than I should have. I am not fond of ordering online though I do it from time to time. I need to see and touch whatever it is in person.

The other day, I was in Makati to buy some stuff. And while there, I decided to buy some buttons, ribbons and lace from Carolina's in Glorietta 5 (there's another branch at the 2nd floor of Megamall B). Divisoria would be ideal cost-wise but it is just too far away and savings from my purchases would not be enough to compensate the stress I'd get just by going there. Anyway, I then went up to SM's 4th floor to hunt for some flowers I will use for my crafts, and found these on sale. I think they look quite pretty. I arranged them on top of my table and I'd probably pluck out what I need when I need them. Admittedly, I haven't seen the more elaborate flowers by Prima. But I'm quite happy with the ones from SM.

Carolina's and SM are not exactly craft stores. Well, Carolina's is debatable of course, but these places are my go to places every time I need something and don't have the time (or patience) to peruse online.

The Wisdom (and Insanity) of an Intellect-based Classification of Students

2010-04-10T19:01:00.008+08:00

This is very common occurrence in many local schools. There is the 'pilot' class or the science curriculum class, and there are 'others'. I don't even know how you call this scheme. Categorization? Classification? Elitism?

As a teacher, I do understand why this is done. It is easier to teach students who have the same level of intelligence. It is easier to cover topics and move on to others depending on the ability of the whole class to do so. For students of the pilot class, they won't be bored to tears and whinge and moan, "Again? But we covered that for two weeks!" But what about the 'others'? How do other students feel about this? Do they feel neglected, unworthy, or dumb? Or do they appreciate being taught the pace they'd rather be than spend the rest of the time just coping? I don't exactly know.

Is this kind of 'classification' justified? Is the reverse, say equal distribution of everyone across different sections or groups despite intellectual capability, better? Isn't that communism? Is it elitism vs. communism in the classroom? Am I being right in simplifying the concept? Or am I being an idiot with too much time in my hands just even thinking about it?

I can't help it. On one hand, I know it's easier for both teachers and students like I mentioned above. On the other, I can't help but think how the students feel about it in their hearts... how students in the pilot class must continually push their limits, and being urged and expected to do so, and stress themselves out at a young age... and how the some of the rest of the students might feel that they can't measure up to the so-called cream of the class. It's one thought that's been bothering me since high school, this difference. And now I start to wonder how young is young to be categorized intellectually?

I decided to write about this because of a public school nearby where one of my nieces go. It's a very good public school, I should say and they have this classification thing going on. Somehow I understand the need because they have near impossible number of students. But it starts in second grade. I mean, c'mon! They're only eight years old. They should have more time socializing and being with friends playing. Instead, they're cooped up in a classroom for seven hours and sometimes more, five days a week in 10 months... writing and reading and computing. And not only that, they have multiple assignments when they get home. They're only eight year olds, for crying out loud. I think school work that intense should start at 11 years, at least, but not eight. They should be kids experiencing kid things. They shouldn't be as stressed or look back when they're older and only see their classroom from their childhood.

I genuinely feel sad about this making me ask, are they learning more? Or are they learning more about stress earlier? All these questions I'm asking because I just want my niece to have a livelier childhood than what she's having now. I'm sure she's happy but she can be livelier, if you know what I mean.

Vintage Printables

2010-04-08T00:14:00.004+08:00

Happy April everyone! I'll resume posting about my projects later this month, in the meantime here is a very good site for those of you who love vintage images that you can print out yourselves for your art journals, mini-albums, collages and other craft projects.

This blog provides a variety of images in really large files that you can print out. However, please read the disclaimer on their 'About and Public Domain Manifesto' about, well, public domain and copyright issues before proceeding.

Here is the site: Vintage Printables

Environmental Concerns on Product Packaging

2010-03-25T19:18:00.004+08:00

When I watch updates from, example, Two Peas in a Bucket and BlueMoon Scrapbooking, I see new crafting products out in small plastic packets. I wish companies would package them in a more biodegradable products instead of those plastic containers.

Of course, we can recycle the boards that come along with the packaging but the plastic isn't so much fun for the environment. And if scrapbooking is a billion dollar industry, it goes without saying that plastic used for the products must also be a billion dollar problem.

Meeting Neil Gaiman

2010-03-19T11:26:00.010+08:00

One of the most exciting things I did last night. This is me with Neil Gaiman, my most favorite author ever!!! I had the chance of having my Anansi Boys signed. He was so sweet. Poor guy. He was soooooo knackered at this point.

He even confirmed to me that he wrote (I positively heard that it's in the past tense) an episode of Doctor Who for Series 6... giddily... in stage whisper. Yay!!

Update

2010-03-13T14:30:00.008+08:00

My husband is in Manila giving a lecture about blogging, video blogging and social networking. In his lecture, he outlined the importance of updating your blog regularly. I should have attended, listened and applied, shouldn't I? I'm really bad at updating this one blog.

I haven't been doing any project right now, except my monthly 2010 scrapbook pages. My mind is preoccupied with teaching and house repairs in preparation for the typhoon season. Teaching would be done in six to seven weeks and I'm still crossing my fingers about a more permanent teaching post in the same school. I'll tell you about what school it is when I'm accepted. I don't want to jinx my chances.

I'll be back with new personal projects on the second half of April. Well, aside from those listed in my New Year's Resolution. There are things I really want to try out myself for quite some time, years actually. I think I'm going to start that one out. I'm still open for commissions, though.

Accordion Fold: A Spelling Lesson

2010-02-27T19:32:00.010+08:00

I hope this is not taken the wrong way but I've been really, really, really bothered by this for quite some time. I did not major in English nor am I an expert in English BUT this has got to be addressed because there are a LOT of crafting blogs and websites that spell the term wrongly.

This is what we call an accordion fold, which is sometimes referred to as concertina fold. Accordion is spelled as A-C-C-O-R-D-I-O-N. It is NOT spelled accordiAn. It may sound like it when you speak it, but it's not spelled as such.

If you Google it, the search engine will automatically correct you:

Dictionary.reference.com has no result for accordian:

But in fact, has one for accordion:

Please, let's bother to look at our references before we endlessly abuse a word without really knowing how it's spelled. I hope you don't look at me funny. It's probably just the teacher in me.

Teaching

2010-02-25T11:58:00.008+08:00

I never set out to be a teacher that's why I'm a licensed professional who never ever thought of becoming one. Dealing with children wasn't really a gift I had then as far as I know. But somewhere along the way, the urge to share was too strong that I had to let go and embrace the change though quite frankly, I don't think I have it in me to this day this instinct about being with children. I don't think I'll ever learn how to, to be honest.

The first time I taught, they were 16-year-old high school seniors and they're boys... mostly. I accepted the position because they were nearer my age and it would be easier for me to relate. They're getting into college as I got out of it. Besides, I was teaching introduction to architectural drafting and painting. How difficult can it really get? I enjoyed those four years immensely, and hopefully inspired some of them, at least.

Now, I'm teaching primary schoolers. Big leap, huh? I couldn't tell you how I'm coping because I really don't know. My personality doesn't really suit being with small children. I'm not exactly gentle nor am I sweet. All I know is that they have impressionable minds and their foundation is of utmost importance, and that's where I take off. I treat them as I would my teenage students but slower and with more foundational inputs because well, that's what they need. I don't know if it's the right approach because I didn't study to be a teacher and be licensed for it.

Yesterday, as I was slouching on a sofa at the reception area waiting for my Crafts Class to start, one of my students, a six-year-old who I learned later isn't affectionate at all, came to me, climbed and sprawled herself on top of me. She gave me the tightest hugs and a kiss on my right cheek and said, "I like you. I like making things." It gave me a start because she's very close and my personal bubble was suddenly agitated. I was overwhelmed, to be honest, but I relaxed after awhile especially when she climbed down and started to inspect the goodies I bought. I guess, I must be doing something right. And I have to get used to their spontaneity.

To A Very Good Friend

2010-02-19T16:49:00.015+08:00

Arlanzandro C. Esmeña

8 December 1973-18 February 2010

So long, mate. I'll see you on the other side someday.

(In the pic is Arlan with wife May during UAP San Pablo Chapter's Christmas Party on 13 December 2009.)

Question About Paperbag Albums

2010-01-27T00:22:00.012+08:00

This is truly a curious question because I don't really see the point.

Why do you use paperbags when you are going to cover it with pretty papers? Isn't the point of using the material is to explore and expose its own properties and make it pretty without covering it with other types of paper unless, maybe, you're collaging on it? I mean, why call it paperbag album if you can't see the paperbag?

I don't understand. Honestly, if it is just utilizing paperbags as another material and it isn't being called paperbag album, I won't be asking this question.

Mini-Albums for January

2010-01-18T23:37:00.009+08:00

Hello! Here are my trio of mini-album projects that kicked off my New Year. I have a couple of origami albums as gifts. The green one has the usual three overlapping square papers but the pink one has additional two so it's rather long to accommodate more photos. (I had to blur the photo on this one. It's my friend's underage daughter so...)

The one on the bottom is an 8"x8" modified coptic bound blank scrapbook album. I inserted beads in between signatures to give the pages more room for pictures and embellishments in terms of thickness.

The kite string still works wonders and it actually has a sort of paper-y texture. It's like a really thin paper twine to the touch. I quite like it.

New Year Resolution

2010-01-06T22:16:00.007+08:00

I never made any list of resolutions at any time ever. Well, except if it's a school requirement back then and we all know some of them were done because they're requirements and unreal. I thought it's always a useless thing, well, as it applies to me. I always just went on about my life, carrying on, doing things that need to be doing and that's it.

Well, now, I'm making one. Just one. I thought I'd make one that is tangible and most likely to be accomplished. A bit lofty, actually, but I'm challenging myself. Like I said before, I'm not really an avid scrapbooker. I make them for others. It's what I do. This year, I'm going to change that because I'm making it my goal to finish three albums I kept putting off since seven years ago. First is our wedding album. I know! I know! That's why I'm putting this here. It's especially difficult to finish something personal than to finish something for somebody else with pay, you know? Second, is that great Bohol trip of 2004. I actually started that already. And third, I hope to complete a one-page a month album for 2010. I'm thinking, considering, to document my progress. Hmmm. I'm still on the fence on that one.

Well, it's because I promised Gerry this many years ago and he's snorting whenever I mention it now. I don't think he believes I'll do it anymore. This year, I'm really going to make time for these. :)

There's one other thing I'd like to do but this will depend on my resources that's why I'm not putting it up there. I plan to start re-printing old Florese family photos from our collection of negatives. I'd really love to complete those again. Thank God, my late father's a packrat. He kept all those negatives.

Next year, I will definitely revisit this post and see if it's worth doing at all. Resolutions, I mean. Wish me luck!!!

Finally saw the last episode of Doctor Who with David Tennant. David, you'll definitely be missed.

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-01T16:13:00.007+08:00

Wishing everyone a better year ahead!! Better in everything, I hope. 2009 was not really a good one for most of us for many reasons which I won't list here at all. I don't want to attract bad vibes into the new year. I'm sick as it is.

And it's Election Year as well. Please, please, please, choose wisely. Pray and ask for guidance before you choose our leader. We desperately need divine intervention!

Still, let's be optimistic and look forward to a more joyous, prosperous, peaceful year. Cheers!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

2009-12-25T21:35:00.004+08:00

Other Things...

2009-12-02T23:53:00.005+08:00

Sorry, I haven't uploaded pics yet. Been busy with a school thing that's been going on for awhile. Well, not really for a long time, but it was one of those I committed to for quite some time now. I taught for awhile (I think I mentioned this before) in this primary school and now we have this Christmas program for 8 December and I've been helping out with the stage and things.

They don't want anything fancy, since the idea of the program is so the kids can perform for their parents. So it would be just a simple thing really. I hope not to forget to take a photo of the stage, at least. I wish I could get a group photo with the kids in it but I don't think that would be proper if I don't ask their parents permission to post it. And I wouldn't do that because I really only met a very few of them.

Oh! And I've seen the costumes. They're sooooo cute!!! Even if the kids could still need practice even after the final performance, their costume and smile would make up for it. hahaha!

I will go back there again to teach Arts and Crafts from February to April 2010, and I'm excited about that! I was offered to teach there full time next school year and the teachers are making a very convincing argument on why I should agree. I would have gone this year but Gerry's got a lot on his plate and I don't really fancy being away from him at this point. It doesn't feel right. But next year, I might make a go at it depending on the amount of paperwork it's going to cost me. That's always a dealbreaker.

Store: Flip Fold Mini-Albums

2009-11-28T15:55:00.005+08:00

Thanks to Tricia Morris of Club Scrap for this idea which she also got from her friend, she says. I wish I could link the video to this project but I think I've found every TM video out there except this one. In the meantime, I think you'd appreciate a video of another project from her. :)

These 7 flip-fold mini-albums will be available at the San Pablo Comics Festival on 6 December 2009 at Lion's Club along Dagatan Blvd., San Pablo City. See you there!!

Store: Notepad and Pen Holder Set

2009-11-28T12:41:00.010+08:00

Thanks to Donna Salazar for inspiring me with the flowers. :)

Only 5 Notepad and Pen Holder sets will be available at the San Pablo Comics Festival on 6 December 2009 at Lion's Club, Dagatan Blvd., San Pablo City from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. See you there!!

Store: 2010 Calendars

2009-11-28T12:17:00.005+08:00

These are a few of the 2010 calendars that will be available at the San Pablo Comics Festival on 6 December 2009 at Lion's Club, Dagatan Blvd., San Pablo City from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. If you're interested in visiting, here's the website of the Festival.

(Books not included.)

Store: Keychain Mini-Album

2009-11-24T21:40:00.007+08:00

I will start uploading the goods that would be available for sale one by one this week until next week. Hope to see you all during the San Pablo Comics Festival on the 6th of December, that's a Sunday, from 10am to 6pm at Lion's Club along Dagatan Blvd., San Pablo City. So, here we go.

These keychain albums are 2" x 2" in cover size with 12-panel accordion interiors. Each interior panel is 1.75" x 1.75" and made from Canson Mi-Teintes.

1 - 1 piece, Burgundy interior
2 - 4 pieces, Moss Green interior
3 - 4 pieces, White interior
4 - 2 pieces, White interior
5 - 4 pieces, White interior
6 - 4 pieces, White interior
7 - 5 pieces, 4-Burgundy interior, 1-Old Rose
8 - 4 pieces, White interior
9 - 2 pieces, Azure interior
10 - 1 piece, State Grey interior
11 - 1 piece, light Pink interior
12 - 2 pieces, Old Rose interior
13 - 4 pieces, White interior
14 - 2 pieces, White interior
15 - 1 piece, White interior
16 - 1 piece, White interior

See you later.

Intermission: Just so you know...

2009-11-18T12:02:00.003+08:00

Doctor Who is breaking my heart. *sniff*

Now on to the next project and the next and the next....

Business Things

2009-11-16T02:05:00.003+08:00

It's the not-so-happy part of this papercrafting business thing. Happy is the creative side, taxes? Not so very much. There are the dates to remember like the 20th of each month; the 15th of April, August and November; on or before Christmas break; and, on or before January 20.

But of course, before all that, there are those books with little numbers you have to add over and over again just to make sure they're right. I'd love to put them to Excel and I tried but it's double the work because the little numbers have to exist on the actual books themselves so I decided to do away with it.

Add to that, I also do my husband's books and paperwork. And I thought I cleverly avoided the business courses back in college.

Sigh.

Good thing though, Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars is soon!! I need my Doctor Who fix at times like these.

Because Life is Full of Scraps

2009-10-31T22:31:00.007+08:00

Personally, I really don't like having bits and pieces of paper lying around (even if they're organized by color in a binder) especially if most of them have been around since 2003. I thought I'm going to use them all up before I buy anything new. I think I'm making a headway in terms of clearing my scraps out. Although, this year, it became sort of necessary to buy new papers for new orders as it should be.

Anyway, here are some of the things I did with the scraps.

This is a modified file folder mini-album. Actually, this was inspired a bit by this YouTube video of Marion Smith. I don't have those envelopes from junk mails nor do I want to use new ones but what I had were big scraps that I could cut down using a file folder template I did. Some of the scraps were double-sided patterned cardstock. Some, I glued lining inside. Some of the ribbons were scraps and the tags inside were made from a kraft folder left over by my niece from her project.

This next one is a tag album. The tags themselves are leftovers from my husband's bristol board scraps. He has a lot when he cuts down large boards for use as 11" x 17" drawing pages. I just glued similar-colored patterned papers on both sides of each tag and draw stitching lines to sort of 'unite' each pattern. I have yet to to put pictures on the albums. And I still have two coptic-bound mini-albums to complete. *Sigh*

Some were used for bookmarks and artist trading cards I have no one to swap with as I don't belong to any group. Although, I could swap again with the awesome Chris Palmer.

And I have punched quite a lot of little circles and squares and did a lot of bristol board buttons which I like more than chipboard ones since it has a white core. My nieces had already used some of those scraps. And I still have a lot of them remaining!! What else could I do with them? Serenity squares? Heh. Because honestly, I want to replace my stash already. I don't want to be saddled with stuff anymore than I can use.

October Project Updates

2009-10-27T22:06:00.007+08:00

It's been awhile! While I resolved to post things as often as I could, I find myself writing less. Why is that? Anyway, a friend ordered 100 pieces of 2010 calendars for Christmas along with 5 notepads with hard cover that I'm going to start doing by Thursday. I'm telling you now, they're really a lot! But they're so much fun to make and early orders are always, always easy to deal with and very much appreciated.

Yesterday, I delivered a coptic-bound scrapbook album with pre-made pages to another friend. I think I really did well on that one. :) Sadly, I didn't take a picture. :( There's another one for December so I'm going to make an effort to remember to take its photo.

There's a project I've been doing for the past few months. You might think that it's really huge. Not really. It's just a 4" x 8" (plywood size) bulletin board that would go up a clinic wall. It's really a cool project. That board would hold up hundreds of photos of children who are patients of my pediatrician friend. She said, they're her pride and joy aside from her own. Cutting up the photos took a lot of time. Then there's the matter of finding a 1/2" or 3/4" thick cork board (we haven't found any!), but we ended up using the ordinary 1/4" ones. My furniture-maker did not disappoint! They're going to deliver that to the clinic on Thursday where it's going to be painted a deep, deep brown, the same color as the trims in that room. I can't believe it! I've been doing bulletin boards almost my entire life!

And I'm doing some projects to get rid of my scraps I've had since 2003. Geez! Some of those papers I ordered through eBay or some Canadian firm because nothing was available here at that time... or at least, nothing I knew of. I'll post them next time. Yes, before October ends!

My friend Chris, gave me these beautiful, hand-carved unmounted rubber stamps for my birthday! How lucky am I to be the recipient of these. She took the time out of her very, very busy schedule (being both a student and a lecturer), to make me these. Awwwww... how sweet that is. Thanks so much Chris! And DON'T go easy on the kids. :)

So, that's it for now and see you later!

Alternative to White Gel Pen

2009-10-10T01:48:00.008+08:00

I should be starting posting projects, shouldn't I? I'm still up to my elbows in 2010 calendars, I can't see straight. In the meantime, let me talk about white inks and gel pens.

I know how most everyone in the scrapbooking and card making world loves our white gel pens. It gives an extra 'oomph' to our projects. But if you're like me and having all kinds of frustration about accessibility to it (read: I need it now! No time to order!), this is a perfect solution.

Any town with a technical school/college/university is most likely to have a school supplies store that sells technical pens and drawing ink. For me, I've always been a Rotring user so this is what I have. Other brands are also available such as Staedtler and Faber-Castell. The best part of it is, Rotring also have white drawing ink (and other colors like black, brown, yellow, blue, red) which you can buy for only Php100 and will go a long, long, long way. A few drops into the ink cartridge of the technical pen and it's good to go for awhile. Gel pens sell for about Php160 each. So, even if technical pens cost much more (about Php450 each, depending on point size), it's still cost-effective in the end because you only have to buy the ink when you're finished with a bottle. And you'll get different thicknesses if you're up to buying those college sets (includes three technical pens, ink, pencil and white rubber eraser in a set).

So, how long does a bottle of Rotring ink last? Look at it this way. A comic book's original size is 11" x 17". Now for a 22-page comic book that uses a lot of black ink, it only consumes about half a bottle of the same size.

Warning, though. Never use white ink on technical pens with sizes .10, .20 or .30. I would suggest that you start with .50 like the one I used above or thicker. White ink has the tendency to clog smaller sized pens and you'll have difficulty cleaning it. I lost a couple of .10 in my lifetime to white ink gunk.

That's my first tip in October and I hope it helps.

I really should start posting projects. All I post are tips.

How To Help

2009-09-27T16:49:00.003+08:00

In the devastating wake of Ondoy typhoon, I'm reposting these information for all of us who'd like to help:

Rescue and Relief Numbers Sep 27, ‘09 9:00 AMfor Oliver’s contacts(Reposting Katrina’s entry.)

Hi all,
Posting for anyone and everyone who wants to help, feel free to repost.

Rescue Operations
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) (+632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9115061, +632-9122665) Help hotlines: (+65 734-2118, 734-2120)
Philippine Coast Guard (+632-5276136)
Air Force (+63908-1126976, +632-8535023)
Metro Manila Development Authority (136)
Marikina City Rescue (+632-6462436, +632-6462423, +632920-9072902)
Pasig Rescue Emergency Number (+632-6310099)
Quezon City Rescue (161)
San Juan City Hall Command Post (+632-4681697)
Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (+63245-9634376)
Senator Dick Gordon (+639178997898, +63938-444BOYS, +632-9342118, +632-4338528)Senator Manny Villar (+639174226800. +639172414864, +639276751981)

Civil Society/ Media
Philippine National Red Cross (143, +632-5270000)
Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: (+632-6350922, +632-6347824)
Go to GMA Facebook page & post complete addresses and names of people in need of immediate help.
ABS-CBN Typhoon Ondoy Hotline: (+632-4163641)
Jam 88.3: (+632- 6318803) or SMS at JAM (space) 883 (space) your message to 2968

——————————————————————

Rubber Boat Requests, 4×4 Trucks
NCRPO (+632-8383203, +632-8383354)
Private citizens who would like to lend their motor boats for rescueplease call emergency nos: +632-9125668, +632-9111406, +632-9122665, +632-9115061)
You can also text (+632917-4226800 or +632927-6751981) for rescue dump trucks.
For those who are able to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Please send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, Tel No. (+632920-9072902).

Power Supply
Meralco (+63917-5592824, 16211, +63920-9292824) If you want service cut off to your area to prevent fires and electrocution.

Relief Aid and Donations
Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT.

NoyMar relief Operations: Clare Amador (+639285205508) or Jana Vicente at +639285205499). Drop off for relief donations is at Balay Expo Center across Farmers Market Cubao.

Miriam Quiambao drop off points: One Orchard Road Building in Eastwood, or message http://www.twitter.com/miriamq for more details.

Philippine Army Gym inside Fort Bonifacio or GHQ Gym in Camp Aguinaldo are now distributing donations for Ondoy Victims.

Team Manila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk, Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas.

Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandacan Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (+632-5639298, +632-5639308)

Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Cor EDSA (+632-9257931-40)
Aranaz Stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt is accepting donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm of the Jesuits, is accepting donations. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm.

Philippine National Red Cross‘ different ways to Donate.
Red Cross Load Donations: Right now the easiest way to make donations from the seat of your chair is via mobile phone load. The Red Cross Rescue and Relief Operations. Text: REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

Ateneo de Manila University is now accepting donations for the victims of Ondoy. Donations can be dropped at MVP Lobby. For those stranded/those who need help: To all students who need help or know of people who need help. Please text the name, location, and contact number to (+6329088877166). ATENEO, which is now an open shelter, accepts refugees. Call (+632917-8952792)

Papemelroti stores in 91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall are accepting relief goods (canned goods / milk / bottled water / clothes – NO CASH pls.)

TXTPower now accepts donations via SmartMoney 5577514418667103, GCash 09179751092 and Paypal http://is.gd/3GvuN

Our Lady of Pentecost Parish (+632-4342397, +632-9290665) per Gabe Mercado, donations are very much welcome. The Parish is located at 12 F. Dela Rosa corner C. Salvador Sts., Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

Hillsborough Village Chapel – Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes may be sent to Hillsborough Village Chapel in Muntinlupa City. These will go to families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.

Greenhills/Mandaluyong/San Juan Area, if you want to help out with the rescue and relief operations, you can drop off your donations (clothes, food, etc..) at La Salle Greenhills Gate 2 tomorrow or volunteer from 9am to receive, sort, repack the donations.Petron: You may bring your relief goods to all Petron branches.

LUCA stores (Rockwell, Shang-rila, Eastwood, or GA towers): Send your old clothes & donations (no cash pls).

“LUZON RELIEF: Volunteer / Donate / Pray”: Donations can be brought to RENAISSANCE FITNESS CENTER, 2nd Floor, Bramante Building, Renaissance Towers Ortigas, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City starting MONDAY (Sept.28) / 9am – 7pm Contact Person: Warren Habaluyas (+632929-8713488) or email at luzonrelief@gmail.com

MOONSHINE boutique in Rockwell also accepting relief good to help Ondoy victims in Marikina and Cainta.

Katipunan Avenue. Contact Erica Paredes at (+632917-4741930) — they need bread, packed juice, sandwich filling (tuna, chicken, anything) You can help her make them, deliver the sandwiches to her house, or help her distribute! Call for more details.Manor Superclub, Eastwood City will accept goods and other emergency items starting Sunday at 10 am.

Citizens Disaster Response Center (CDRC): Relief goods for typhoon victims being accepted at 72-A Times St., West Triangle, QC. Tel (+632-9299820/22)
MINISTOP IBARRA (Espana cor. Blumentritt, Sampaloc Manila) is also accepting relief goods, Food (non-perishable goods only) Clothing, Medicines, Beds, Pillows, Blankets, Emergency Supplies to help Typhoon Ondoy victims.

People Tracker (using your phones, get your friends and family to turn on their finderservice for you)

FINDERSERVICE. For Smart, text “wis ” to 386.
FINDERSERVICE. For Globe, text “find to 7000

Removing Adhesive Gunk from Your Scissors

2009-09-24T22:32:00.003+08:00

This is one of those things we dread doing: cleaning our scissors from the sticky leftovers of our adhesive tapes. What we commonly do is, get a piece of masking tape and repeatedly use it to peel off the gunk. The thing is, I'm not as patient with this activity as I would have me believe.

Then I remembered that, back in those days when I was still working as scale model maker and we're using quick-dry glue, we use acetone or nail polish remover to clean our hands of the adhesive. So I thought, why not use it to clean my scissors. And it worked! Just take a cotton ball, wet with acetone or nail polish remover, and slide off the blade. It works really, really fast.

Search for Bookbinding Thread

2009-09-13T18:23:00.006+08:00

For so long I've been doing my amateurish way of binding books, I used any string available because, as long as they're stitched together, it doesn't matter, right? Then again, I started taking the craft a bit more seriously than I've ever previously done. I learned about linen thread and it's the one being used in binding books traditionally.

I researched about them online and what did I find? A 200g spool of thread costs $100. Oh man! I'm not in the US so I'll convert: that's Php4,800.00!!!! Almost 5K for a spool of thread. That's professional-plan-internet for a month with lots of long-distance calls thrown in. That's a very comfortable, air-conditioned studio for a month. That's rent money. *sigh*

So I looked for alternatives. First, the readily available crochet thread, but it's made of cotton and it stretches, and if you stretch it a bit more than usual, it breaks and frays. Second, nylon thread. I have black and white here. Unfortunately, the three strands that make the thread separate each time it passes a hole. And it knots at the slightest move. Not good. Yesterday, I was on a hunt again to find a more acceptable substitute and there at the topmost corner shelf, behind the spools of ribbons, at Carolina's in Megamall, almost hidden from the casual customer, I saw: "kite thread". I had to look at it and feel it between my fingers. I pulled, tugged and tried to smoosh it up to see if it would fray and it didn't. Today, I tried to pull it into punctured holes on paper and it went smoothly. Yay for the find! And for the girl who assisted me there, thanks so much for your patience. She's genuinely helpful.

I haven't given up on that linen thread. I found another one that's $31 for a 50g spool of raw linen string. I might buy it someday, if I so decided to close my eyes, add it to cart, enter and never look back.

For the Love of Bookbinding

2009-09-11T17:06:00.009+08:00

Hello everyone!! It's the beginning of the -ber months and we know what it means: Christmas is just around the corner. The weather, though, isn't helping us setting the mood. No matter. In a few days time, it will be better.

Of all the papercrafting that I dabbled in, bookbinding is my most favorite. I love them all, don't get me wrong, but there's something about making books that hold so much appeal to me.

I've been doing a lot of this for quite awhile but Coptic stitch binding had eluded me for so long that when I got the chance to really sit down and learn it, it was such an accomplishment. So here are my first couple of coptic stitch-bound books. I truly enjoyed and loved the process I went through to get to these two.

I wanted to post this a long time ago but haven't gotten around to do it. It's Gerry's copy of the Elmer boxset and slipcase.

I'm planning on making a few more books for personal mini-albums that I've been planning to do for the last three years that I haven't gotten around to doing because, well, other things take priority. This time, I'm making it a priority. This house is distinctly lacking in albums! The irony of it is very glaring, I know. But I'm planning on rectifying that.

Dividing Your Paper in Equal Parts

2009-08-28T17:21:00.006+08:00

This is something my father taught me in Grade 5 and it's such a very useful tip since then!

Sometimes, there are sizes of paper or canvas that we want to divide in equal parts but have difficulty doing so because the measurements of the paper are not divisible by the number of parts we want to get. Example, we want to divide a 4" x 4" paper into 3 parts, but 4" is not divisible by 3. Or 6" into 5 equal parts. Normally we would reach for our calculator and end up with an infinite X.33333333333 as the answer. But there is no .333333333 visible on our rulers. So, I present to you a very simple technique which, I think, is loosely based on the Complementary Angle Theorem in Geometry... but whatever. You are most welcome to correct me if I'm wrong about that. :)

Here we have a 5" x 5" cardstock that I'd like to divide into 3 equal parts. The problem is, 5 isn't divisible by 3.

The nearest number to 5 that is divisible by 3 is 6 and so, I twist my metal ruler so that the 0" mark is on the left edge, and the 6" mark is on the right edge like so:

6" divided by 3 parts is equal to 2" and so I mark my first part at 2" with my trusty No. 2 Mongol pencil

... and the second mark at 4"

Well, assuming your paper is a true square, meaning, the corners are 90 degrees to each other, you may easily use your T-square and draw your first line based on the mark you made. If not a true square, your lines will be askew. Here I'm using a tiny T-square I bought from NBS. It's only Php28.

And draw your second line based on your second mark...

And voila! You have a 5" paper divided into 3 equal parts without your calculator.

If for example you have a 6" paper that you'd like to divide into 5 parts, just twist your ruler and find the number that's divisible by 5. In the inches part of your ruler the nearest would be 10" but if you look at the centimeters part, the nearest to 6" would be 20 cm. By all means, go ahead and use that. It's ok.

So, I hope that helps!

"Oh, The Dread That's My Handwriting!"

2009-08-27T14:49:00.015+08:00

It is a common affliction: the dread over one's handwriting on a scrapbook page. Many believe their handwriting are just atrocious, that they don't deserve to be recorded for posterity. I'll tell you what: the less you use it, the more uncomfortable you'd be with it in the long run. So, practice is the only answer.

One of the things I love about old documents are the handwriting of the officials who prepared them. The seeming uniformity of the angle by which the letters lean to; the size and shape of each character; the clever use of either a fountain pen or a ballpoint pen; and of course, I love, love the fluorishes for the capital letters and the final letters of a line or sentence. They are simply beautiful! But you know, if you look at them very closely, they are far from perfect. And that fact makes them one. Granted, they had no choice because there's no computer back then and, therefore, they had more practice with it.

This tip is for those who want to improve their handwriting and have that personal touch on their journals or scrapbooks. This is not really for those who want to be a professional calligrapher, because honestly, I don't know how to teach it.

First tip is to work on the slant of your letters. No matter how weird you think your letters look, if you have a seemingly uniform angle for your words, sentences or paragraphs, they'd look smashingly awesome! A cheat suggestion: instead of just lined paper you use as guidelines at the back of your writing surface, try adding diagonal lines (about 45 degrees) that run from end to end. Or lines perpendicular to your guidelines, however you'd like it to be. Follow that angle when you write and when you get the hang of it, try to write faster. The slower you write, the wobblier your lines are. The faster your strokes are, the better they look.

This won't happen overnight, I'm telling you now. So, if you really want it, try to be patient. Part that makes a beautiful handwriting is the confidence by which you do it and that only comes with constant practice. Like all skills, it requires practice, practice, practice. Remember also, that it is HANDwriting. It doesn't have to be 'perfect' like our computer fonts.

Your handwriting is part of the story you're telling in your journal or scrapbook. I certainly believe that it is a story on its own.

Till next time!

There Was A Time...

2009-08-23T22:35:00.006+08:00

... when we called it 'letter transfer' or 'transfer tones' in college. We used them for labels and titles and rendering in mixed media. When I got into papercrafting full time and was exposed to scrapbooking and cardmaking products, I learned that they call it rub-ons and they have lots of designs too! And transfer tones now refer to transferring ring tones from computer or mobile to another mobile phone! How things change. :)

I bet, those letter transfers at National Bookstore and SM Stationery are sorely neglected because I can see them stacked and rubber banded and shoved up the corner shelves. I hope some of you notice them when you go visit.

Martial Law... Again?

2009-08-13T11:38:00.004+08:00

I know I said that this blog is all about papercrafting but I thought this is too important an information not to be disseminated: Ex-envoy to US confirms military rule plan.

We cannot go there. We should not allow ourselves to go there again.

Christmas Craft Party

2009-08-07T18:12:00.003+08:00

It's the middle of the year and it's time to prepare papercrafts for my Christmas Craft Party. Last year had been successful and this year, I'm ticking off boxes of products to be made available to sell. I'm not even half-way through but I'm trying to experiment about some projects.

There is no specific date yet but it will be sometime in November 2009. It will be fun! :)

Thank You, President Cory

2009-08-01T21:12:00.006+08:00

President Corazon C. Aquino
(25 January 1933 - 1 August 2009)

Woman
Wife
Mother
President
Hero

Seems like not long ago when I met her.

(The video is a Studio23 tribute)

Incomparable Achievement

2009-07-31T16:53:00.007+08:00

I may have done a few things in my life that I'm proud of but nothing, NOTHING, could ever compare to being able to teach my two nieces to read and comprehend. Proudest moment of my life was when I heard them read their first word.

Crocheted Flowers

2009-06-27T15:20:00.011+08:00

The crocheted flower on this card is glued over a hand-cut butterfly shape I copied from the green one on the first row here. Not an exact shape, but I like how it turned out. :)

Funny how things change, though. I used to read Sweet Dreams pocketbooks during Home Ec class, and my embroidery and crochet projects were done by my mother. Well, I may start them for a bit, then she would finish them. I was that bad about these domestic-y things. I still am in a lot of ways. And what do I do now? I hand-stitch on paper and make crocheted flowers for my cards and scrapbook pages.

A few weeks ago, I was practising my crocheting skills (because there happened to be a crochet hook and a ball of string I both use for completely different reasons) which is just alright as it is, but there's one thing about it that I despise a lot: counting. I started this because I saw a card with crocheted flower and I thought, that looks so nice! At first, I didn't count my chains so I ended up with a variety of .... er... designs, if you can call it that. Shoved them into a drawer and forgot all about it. Then after a couple of months, I'd really wanted some of those on my niece's 7th birthday album that I'm working on so I decided to have a go at it again and... breathe.... count! Yay! I got to kindergarten, at last! So, below are a few of the flowers I did.

Now, don't expect anything more complicated than this. This is as complicated as I could get. :)

If you know me and you know my attitude towards crocheting, you'd think I would just buy ready-made stuff to remedy my want. But the thing is, I'm easily bored about these things, and I've known that since I was a kid. Therefore, I know that if I buy a package of them and wouldn't be able to use them in one go, I know that I won't use the leftovers anymore in other projects. Besides, I really, really don't want lots of unused things in my stash. I have an extremely small space and I don't want to cram it. It's already crammed as it is.

Same thing with alpha stickers or rub-ons. It's either I cut the letters out if I want dimension, or print what I want to say from the computer, or just write it by hand. It's more economical and besides, what do I do with the leftover Zs? If you prefer the stickers or rub-ons or stamps, it's ok because they are alright too. This is just a personal choice. I don't mind those extra time doing them because it's fun. It's creative fun!

June Update: Mulberry Paper

2009-06-24T14:44:00.007+08:00

I love mulberry paper. It's thin. It's textured. And can be adhered very, very easily if a bit messy. But that's ok! I make sure that the surface to be adhered to is painted with white acrylic first so the softness of the color shows. These utility and patient card boxes for a dentist/friend are wrapped in light yellow and lavender mulberry paper, which are similar to her clinic's color scheme.

I tried cutting out paper flowers out of them too, and it turned out gorgeous. I love it. I think I'm going to experiment on different shapes and layers of flowers and butterflies in various colors. These are a couple of thank you cards for my friends, Linda and Katja, who are two of the most generous people I know. Love you, ladies! I'll send them out when I could get out. :)

Most Annoying Questions

2009-04-18T18:23:00.006+08:00

1. When are you going to have a boyfriend (or girlfriend)? If you're single.
2. When are you getting married? If you're in a relationship.
3. When are you going to have a baby? If you're married and have no kids.
4. Why don't you have kids already? You're not getting any younger. If you're married for a few years and have no kids.

Well, it's none of your business. If ever you have any compulsion to ask any of the above questions, stop yourself because they are NEVER welcome.

It may be well-intentioned but still... DON'T. Just don't.

I want this... I mean, really, really want this....

2009-04-09T15:06:00.012+08:00

(This photo is obviously not mine, but I hope one day I'll get to take a photo of my own copy.)

It's the Journal of Impossible Things by Prof. John Smith from 1913.

It's a journal full of drawings and thoughts about the Doctor from Prof. Smith's dreams, and it feels nostalgic, quaint, sad and full of memories. And for someone like me who does things with my hands including handmade journals, this is very, very appealing.

I'd love to have this. I mean, really.

Elmer Box Sets

2009-03-29T10:01:00.008+08:00

These are the box sets I did for Gerry's comics, and I'm proud of them if only for those corners and how the lid and the bottom part fit the way they should. I forgot to take photos of the interior before we distributed these yesterday. I'll make it a point to take one from the next batch.

For details on these box sets, please see Gerry's blog here: http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/1332

And by the way, for those emailing me and asking if I accept orders for boxes of any kind, I don't do bulk orders. I do these things myself and it takes some time to finish each of them. These and the earlier ones are special orders customized to the need of my customers.

Hardbound Elmer

2009-03-11T13:39:00.004+08:00

Gerry asked me if I could make hardbound compilations of Elmer to be included in a boxset for him to sell. So, this is how it come about so far.

For details on the boxset, visit Gerry Alanguilan's blog here: http://gerry.alanguilan.com/archives/1282

And now, for the box...

Souvenir and a Gift

2009-03-10T15:45:00.006+08:00

Hello again.

This is a souvenir I did for Ed and Anne's wedding last December. I did 9 as giveaways for their principal sponsors. The book was handbound using 4" x 6" spiral notebook. The spine was sewn and the covers were made from a thick chipboard. I don't remember the thickness but it's definitely less than 1/8". The box was made from 4-ply Bristol board but they were wrapped with pink (their motif) Bazzill cardstock for the top part and white for the bottom part. It also has a beaded bookmark. I wrote the monogram in gold pen. Although, if there are two letters, do you still call it 'mono'? I really have no idea. I think I'll look into that.

This, on the other hand, is a gift for my goddaughter, Heaven, who was baptized on March 8, 2009. I hope she'd like it when she grows up. I know Honey, the mother and my friend, loves it. :)

Anyway, it's just a simple accordion album made from chipboard so it could stand if they'd like to display this. The layout is as bare as possible because the patterns are rather too busy as they are. On the other side of the accordion are baby and Christening poems and my message to her. I'd like to write the poems by hand myself but decided to print them out. I'm not scared of my handwriting. My hands are just shaking today... I wonder why.

I wish I had taken better photos. It was rather dark inside the church and I could have used flash but I'm scared of using flash because most of the time, they make the subjects flat and scary. I know, I still have a lot to learn about photography. Lots and lots and lots.

And speaking of handwriting, my friend suggests that I post some calligraphy samples here. I'll try to make some samples first to post.

New Year, New Resolve

2009-01-06T02:08:00.003+08:00

Ok... Happy New Year! I know, I know! But the papercrafting business thing went so well last holiday season that I completely forgot I have a blog. I hope to do something about that this 2009... update, update, update and post more photos!

Anyway, last Saturday, I stayed up very late to find out who the next Doctor would be, and I must say I'm willing to wait and see. If Steven Moffat chose him, he must be really good. But yeah, I'm still mourning over the fact that I won't see David Tennant next year anymore as the Doctor. And it breaks my heart. Oh, grief!

Alternative Email Address

2008-12-01T09:58:00.002+08:00

If you're trying to contact me via Paper Basket's email address, I'm so sorry but Gmail is acting up right now and I can't access my account there. Please use ilynflorese(at)yahoo(dot)com for the meantime. Thanks.

Open House... Craft Party... Selling

2008-11-10T15:41:00.003+08:00

Here are the photos from yesterday's open house. Only a few came but I was happy with the turnout especially after my friends ordered goods for their Christmas gifts. :)

Frame tags as Christmas Tree Ornament

Maze Books

6x6 Mini-Album
Post-It Note Holders

Various Blank Cards

With my friends: Jo-Ann, Mom, Chris, Ela and Jed

Christmas Cards

Arlan and May came to visit

Movits, Nhelds and Tita Meng looking at some of the stuff

Zara helping out

Thank you so much to everyone who came. There will be another open house in early December. I'll announce the date later! See you there!

And special thanks to my in-laws who allowed us to use their house for this occasion. Thank you so, so much for helping me, Mom, Dad.

Those -Ber Months...

2008-10-16T19:13:00.009+08:00

These are the recent projects I did:

A birthday album for my dear cousin. It was her 7th birthday last January 25. I took many of the photos here, and as you can see on the second photo, I didn't have any difficulty with that one. They posed themselves!

These are minibooks and cards for classmates who helped and contributed their time and resources to make our reunion held on August 3, 2008 a success:

This is for a client she gave as a gift:

These are for my friend, Ela, who asked me to make these huge boxes for organizing stuff on top of her closet. There's a smaller box for what-nots on her table, 2 pencil holders and a notepad. The red pencil holder is to match another notepad I did for her earlier.

How do you pronounce Mi-Teintes?

2008-09-26T17:26:00.002+08:00

Canson Mi-Teintes has always been a staple in my drawing classes back in college up until now in my various projects. The sad thing about it is, college is many, many eclipses ago and I still don't know how to pronounce it correctly. I googled it this afternoon and found a forum discussing this.

And the poster, Kate Mc, said that it's pronounced as:

Me Taunt, with a tiny 'uh' after the final t. Sandge, you need the final "t" sound because of the "-es" on the end. In French, Mi-teintes means
"half tints or half shades".

Ok, I'll use that until someone else says otherwise. :)

I met President Cory!

2008-08-22T21:49:00.007+08:00

It's the 25th death anniversary of Sen. Ninoy Aquino. The lunch after the Mass was in a gated community and when we got to the house, we saw bodyguards and security people. By the time we got to the door (we're the first of the artists who arrived), we saw senators, congressmen and former cabinet secretaries. And Noynoy was greeting people by the front door, invited us inside though he doesn't know us. We panicked. But we got in and at the foyer (they have a huge foyer with garden), we called Gerry's contact there, Jiggy, who's Cory's eldest grandson. It was sort of embarassing because it's like gatecrashing at a private party for family and friends, because that's who are inside.

The reason Gerry was invited, along with other artists, was because he contributed to a book, a tribute to both Ninoy and Cory by their grandson. It was a collection of 25 artworks and 25 essays. Me, I tagged along because I wanted to meet Cory. I even made a card for her thanking her for being an inspiration. I told her that her quiet strength, courage and spirituality made a great impression on me as a teenager. I was sitting beside a very nice lady who I later learned is the wife of a former Education Secretary under Cory. She and her friends regaled us with their stories about protecting the ballots during the 1986 Snap Election when they thought they really won't survive that year. She even got my number in case she'd want to have something done in terms of invitations or albums and what-not. She interviewed me when it should be the other way around. These people are nice!

This was the card I made for her:

Then people started to leave. Jiggy told us that he'll introduce us to his grandma before we leave. Each one of us had our photo taken with her. She's directing the photo shoot, it's funny.

"No flash? You? Why don't you want your photo taken with me? No camera? This one is good, c'mon?" Then she went out. We thought, she left for real.

The artists started having each one sign their books. Then Cory came back alone and sat on the table where Gerry and I was sitting. She told us a cellphone anecdote that's really funny. hehe. We talked about comics. She told Gerry and I that she asked Jiggy where did you meet these artists? Justin told her, because of comics. She said these in Tagalog, "but you're old enough for comics!" And he said, "Lola, comics now are different." And she told us, almost apologetically, "Well, I went to the States at 14, I only knew of Archie."

I can't do that... what you did!" She told Gerry, referring to the likenesses of Ninoy in the book that the artists did. So I said, but you're also painting.

"Yes, I do but that's different. No matter how hard I copy what's in front of me, I really can't." Then I said, "but that's your interpretation."

"Not even an interpretation." And she's laughing.

She told us that she gave away her paintings as gifts and told the recipients not to sell them. "Maybe when I'm dead!" She laughed.

Then we asked for one last group photo, and she said, "That's too much!" But she's smiling. She's probably tired already but she still accommodated us.

What's great about the meeting was, she's exactly the person I thought and imagined her to be for more than 20 years and that's just awesome!

For more photos, visit my husband's blog here: http://gerry.alanguilan.com/

Lapbooks

2008-04-24T22:04:00.008+08:00

I just learned what this is all about a couple of days ago when I stumbled upon a channel on YouTube about a child explaining her project. And I thought, what a great idea for kids to retain what they learned! Reminds me of those interactive 'albums' or projects I submitted for my Araling Panlipunan subject way back, way back in elementary school days. It is essentially a combination of scrapbooking and learning. Those booklets, flap books, accordion (why do people insist that it's spelled 'accordian'?), shape books, coloring and writing worksheets, pictures, cutouts, graphs, diagrams, vocabulary, stories in a curiously folded file folder... very, very interesting.

After watching the video, I Googled lapbooking, and found that it's almost always associated with homeschooling. In my understanding, it's a way of consolidating the things a child learned in a creative manner, making it more interesting for them. It's like scrapbooking the things they know of a particular topic. Isn't that interesting?

I already made a couple for my niece and I'm still making more which we're going to work on next week as part of her review in getting to primary school. Honestly, this perplexes me. Reviewing to get to Grade One? Seriously! But she needs it and what a better way to do it than with crafts. She loooooooooves crafts. She's going to love these. I'll post them when she's finished with them.

I'm very excited!

Oh, and I learned about the foodie fold terminologies: hamburger fold, hot dog fold and taco fold. hehe. Love it!

2008 High School Class Reunion

2008-03-30T21:27:00.005+08:00

Students of Canossa College High School Class 1988 (San Pablo City, Philippines), you are all invited to join us to celebrate, have fun and remember on the 3rd of August 2008 as we celebrate our 20th year.

For details, please contact any of the following:

Rods Florese at ilynflorese(at)yahoo(dot)com;
Che-che Gajitos at cgajitos(at)yahoo(dot)com; or
Lorna Aporto at laa_112(at)yahoo(dot)com

Or visit our message board at: http://canossabatch88.proboards52.com/

See you there!!!

logo design: Ilyn Florese
tag line: Lorna Aporto

Oh, Valentine!

2008-02-13T13:26:00.007+08:00

A friend of mine saw the 'extended' origami album I posted awhile back and wanted me to do something for his wife for Valentine's Day, "para sweet", he said. I really enjoyed doing this because it is my second time doing something red. I found out that it takes practice, at least for me, to get used to working with a particular color. The first were greens, then pinks and now, reds. I wonder what my next color to get used to would be?

And speaking of getting used to colors, I haven't tried oranges or violets yet until this card came along. Maybe I could start practising this combination. This is also for a friend to be given to her loved one. I had to blurry the pic because I didn't ask permission to post their photo online (ssshhhhhh!!!).

Cards and Key Chain Albums

2008-02-06T11:13:00.000+08:00

Vintage Cards

Well, make that vintage-looking cards. I tried doing these trio of cards because I enjoyed doing vintage collage after my friend, Chris Palmer, introduced me to it. And because I never did well with collage back in high school, this is exciting to me. Oh, and the materials? Well, they're still from the bag-full of ephemera from Chris' stash. It's on 4" x 4" chipboard and on the back is a blank tag for message.

Key Chain Albums

I was inspired by, first, the key chains I saw and bought from Divisoria with no project in mind. And then, I saw Tricia Morris' project on TV Weekly on Stampbord Mini-Albums. Now, I don't have access to Stampbord and I'm not a rubber stamper. Well, not yet anyway. So, I used 2" x 2" Master Board (yes, that one we do watercolor paintings on for our plates back in college) for covers; wrapped with scrapbook papers and the accordion interior was done using Canson's Mi-Tientes big-cut papers.

December Projects

2008-01-31T17:39:00.000+08:00

Last month, a friend of mine asked me to make her an origami album but requested that it be longer so we can include a lot of photos. The look on my friend's face was enough for me to be proud of what I did. And from what I heard, the friend appreciated it very, very much. I'm glad.

Also last month, I went to Christmas party and this is my gift... well, it was a belated Christmas exchange gift, gift-giving that I know nothing about when I attended the party last month. And so when I picked her name, I told her I'll just give it to her next time. This is what I came up with and gave it to her yesterday. I hope she uses them.

I will be making another scrapbook for my cousin who celebrated her 7th birthday last Sunday. As with her sister's, I will make the album myself. My little cousin asked her mother to tell my aunt to tell my mother to tell me (whew!) that she would love a scrapbook like the one I did for her sister. I guess, she's a little bit shy telling me what she really wants. :)

Craft Party of Three

2008-01-31T16:18:00.000+08:00

Last Tuesday, my cousin and two nieces decided to have a Craft Party and they gladly volunteered my home to do it. The aftermath includes an unrecognizable dining table, typhoon-like mess, empty containers of embellishments and happy faces. They did origami, paper bag, paper flowers and paper baskets (hey!) which I helped them with--or the other way around.

Here they are!!

Till next time, my little dears!!

Oh! And the teaching gig I have with the primary school where I taught for five weeks? I was asked to do it again till the end of the school year in May. This would be fun!!

Where Was I Last December?

2008-01-10T23:08:00.000+08:00

That's right, I saw Taylor Hicks in concert here in the Philippines. Enjoyed it immensely.

Anyway, it's 2008 and another year for new projects. Yeah!

Piolo Pascual

2007-11-23T18:32:00.000+08:00

I just finished a scrapbook dedicated to Piolo Pascual. No, it's not mine. It's for a client. It's the second book I did for her consisting of several clippings and photos from various magazines. I personally won't do something like this even for my favorite performer, but if it makes other people happy then who am I to say anything against it? Besides, seeing her face light up when she was looking at the pages is very satisfying.

Now, I know more stuff about him and I haven't seen even one of his works. No movie, no soap opera and no show. Maybe one day, I'll know why she likes him.

Bulletin Boards

2007-11-22T18:51:00.000+08:00

This is the nth bulletin board I did in my lifetime, and I'm not complaining. :) This is for a pre-school for their wellness and personal values lesson that will run for the rest of the school year. They're made of chipboard and acrylic paints. It's only this year that I experimented with pre-school colors. As a teacher of 16-year-olds for five years, my color palette as a teacher consisted of earth tones only. It's challenging but it's fun!

I also accepted a temporary teaching post for their After School Activity. For five weeks, I am to teach crafts to primary schoolers. I'm actually on my second week and it's been fun so far. Honestly, it's difficult to think of projects that could be completed in an hour by these children. Each has to be finished at the end of the session so they can enjoy it afterwards. Last week, we did stamping using corrugated boards and strings. Today, we had origami album using wrapping and colored papers. It's fun to teach these kids! I can't believe it.

Recent Projects

2007-10-25T20:53:00.000+08:00

September 2007

This is my first set of Artist Trading Cards (ATC) that I swapped with fellow crafter and friend, Chris Palmer. She's into vintage designs and so, for my first batch of ATCs, I thought it would be nice to be a sort of tribute to her since she's the one who really got me to try this. She also encouraged me to try collage and even sent me a bag of ephemera to help me on my first attempt! Some of the materials I used here came from her. One exception though, one of these ATCs is a paper cut-out of a woodcarving pattern from a Bahay na Bato.

Calendar and boxes for one of the bulletin boards in a pre-school. I did three bulletin boards but I wasn't able to take photos of the other two. They all look like huge scrapbook pages. Also, I held a crafts class for 1st to 3rd graders on Jacob's Ladder. At first I thought I'd take a photo or two of the class but as it is, they are not my kids, nor they are my students, and I would need the permission of their parents to post those photos. So I decided against it.

August 2007

This is an 8" x 8" post bound album I made as gift for my cousin, Carla, for her 18th birthday. The front cover is from Basic Grey Infuse collection and the rest were Canson Mi-Tientes big cut paper. Carla isn't a girly girl and would have frowned if I did pinks and greens and yellows on this album.

June 2006

This is the guest book I did for our godchildren for their wedding.

... a simple matter of ettiquette

2007-05-18T19:02:00.000+08:00

I have a very important request, dear friends. I would appreciate it very much if you don't give out my phone number to people I don't know. My husband has his reasons for not having his own cellphone so I BEG you not to use mine nor give my number to other people to reach him unless it's pre-arranged between the two of you. This is MY cellphone and not his. You may reach him through his email, website or blog. He'll reply as soon as he can. I hope you understand. Thank you very much.

Pearls Before Breakfast

2007-04-09T20:26:00.000+08:00

While we both wait for my web support to have some free time to help me with my online store, here is an interesting article on Washington Post about world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell and an experiment.

Pearls Before Breakfast

It's March and I haven't been really nice...

2007-03-20T17:36:00.000+08:00

I've been unbelievably detained. I got some gentle smacking down from husband; some reality check that needed to be done.

Anyway, I'm organizing some stuff and next week I'll open my online store. Yay! Actually, I'm still a bit shy about this. I've seen the projects that other gifted papercrafters and scrappers do, and I'm blown away every single time. I can only hope to hold my own. But there's one thing I know I can do better than most, my handwriting. There may be a future for me in this business.

There is a line of products I wish to develop, but that's still an idea as I don't really know how to go about it yet. I tried laying it down to paper but it's not quite as I see them in my head. So I still have to work that one out.

So that's it for now.

Merry Christmas!!

2006-12-25T23:36:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!!! From this side of the world, I hope you enjoyed your day. And to friends on the other, have fun and hope you spend a great day with your loved ones.

Still Working

2006-11-08T16:20:00.000+08:00

Hello again. I haven't forgotten this blog yet. Been busy working on some projects which I hope to upload by December or sooner. I also hope to get the help I need to learn to add links sooner.

Hope life's treating you well.

Update: Links 'on' now. Thanks, Hani!

*****
TRH.12.12.06

Welcome to Paper Basket!

2006-10-11T15:12:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone! Welcome to Paper Basket. My name is Ilyn.

Paper Basket is a start-up company selling handmade cards, albums, blank journals, calligraphy and scrapbooking services. Also, weekend papercrafting classes are in the planning stages so if you want to learn the things I'm selling, watch out for that. Papercrafting is such a fulfilling hobby that I don't mind sharing the love. It's such a digital world that we live in and, if you're like me who loves handcrafted products, maybe Paper Basket is for you.

I will feature my products every now and then for you to see what this Paper Basket is all about. Hopefully, you'd like what you'll see.

A bit of a background. I am a licensed architect since 1998 and taught architectural drafting and painting to high school students for five years. I worked as an architect for four years. However, I always love papercrafting. It started at three years old, sustained in elementary school when my teachers would ask for my help decorating bulletin boards. It was in high school when I started my calligraphy and did many certificates (I earned a bit from that) and handmade cards. In college, I did calligraphy work for a few couples for their wedding invitations. I even did my own wedding invitations myself, handwritten and all, in 2002. Why didn't I see it then? I have no idea.

After a while, I realized that the fulfillment I get from my handcrafted little projects far surpassed whatever the architecture profession was giving me and so, I decided to turn it into a business. When my first scrapbooking client and her family saw the album (it was my first) I did for them and was a bit blurry eyed with happiness, I knew I did the right thing.

I hope you stay aboard with me. And if you want to send me a message, leave a comment below or email me directly at info.paperbasket@gmail.com for inquiries. I would love to hear from you.