Christmas Gifts Part Deux

I just finished these four gifts so might as well post it before I forget it again. These are 7 sq. cm. fridge magnet I made from fabric scraps and a leftover sintra board, lined with scrapbooking paper from my stash. The magnet on the back was purchased from one of those P99 Japanese outlets in malls.

Type is mine, drawn on paper and traced on the fabric. Then I traced the outline with Chain Stitch, and the inside crisscross design with Outline stitch. I have yet to be brave to try out Satin Stitch. It seems to be my Waterloo.

Christmas Gifts

Hello everyone!

In a few days, it will be Christmas Day. So, I finally got around to finishing these little tree ornaments that are my gifts for my nieces. I started these in 2011 and they're two years in the making! I know, I need to commit more to these things.

Anyway, these are made from fabric scraps from curtains my mother made and less than a yard of lace. I don't really do embroidery but once in a while I have the urge to do something with my little knowledge of it. I really hope my nieces treasure these.

These are the front:

And this is the back that says "Dec 2013 (heart) Tita Ilyn:

I got to post in a timely manner... yay, me!

That Day in November

Hello everyone!

I hope it's great where you are.

First of all, we, here in the Philippines, experienced the worst typhoon in recorded history ever, as I'm sure you all know by now, and our countrymen from the south experienced the worst. There are relief stations set up in places but you can also donate through Red Cross below. Just click the image to direct you to the site:

In other news, I survived my first semester in my chosen MA. I'm finding Curriculum Studies really fascinating, and I'm realizing Education as a course is really hard. I had a hard time adjusting to academia, I don't even know if I've adjusted yet, but it's very exciting to have my brain exercised that only academics can. I'm enrolled for this semester and, hopefully, I won't have any reason to stop until I'm finished with my thesis. One of my professors suggested a very, very good topic that I'd really like to explore. It has something to do with heritage conservation, K-12 curriculum and nationalism.

Less than month ago, I took a trip with the husband! However, I'd write about it some other time. I don't think it's the right time to talk about with what happened yesterday. As a sneak peek, though, this is where we went:

For the next few days, I'll be busy with some bookbinding, slipcases and boxes that would go together for a special project. Here goes something all black. I'll talk about it when it's finished. I have yet to find some red boards for the lining which I haven't found after visiting some supplies store.

So yes. Papercrafting is still a go. It's not going to be as often as I would like it to be. Sometimes, I'm just exhausted thinking about curriculum-related things whether I'm on either side of a lesson plan. I hope it changes soon enough.

Till later.

Such a long, long time ago...

... was my last post.

Anyway, hello again everyone! It was such a busy year and so much have changed!

I resigned from the previous school because I'm back to university this school year, and I'd like to focus on that for a bit; give myself time to adjust to being a student again. I started my Master of Arts in Education major in Curriculum Studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman because I plan on teaching college kids next at a soon-to-be school of architecture where I live. Besides, it's time to admit to myself, I'd like to be a proper educator with degree and everything.

At first I was like, I'm going to find a nearby school to get my graduate studies done; just to get that degree. However, I found myself hopping from college to college, university to university just to find that elusive MA major; I even interviewed college deans (I know, right?!) just so I have a feel if it's the right thing for me. That wasn't a joke. I really did that. In the end, I thought, I'm going to spend precious resources might as well go all out. 

So, I went back to my Alma Mater and inquired. My former professors at the College of Architecture were the ones who pointed out to me to inquire at the College of Education. I saw their programs and when I laid eyes on Curriculum Studies, it was love at first sight. Ha! So I'm in my first semester and I'm quite overwhelmed right now.

To counter that, I haven't left papercrafting. Of course not. I would need that to keep myself sane. I have individual students for this one; an idea I haven't thought of until a parent asked me to guide her daughter with regards to papercrafting.

I left the school I taught at earlier than expected for health reasons, and my first and second grade students sent me these really cute paintings and wrote beautiful things at the back. Their homeroom teacher swore up and down that they thought of this themselves. It was such a beautiful thing. I'm still thinking of what I'd give them in return as thank you.