It's Going To Be A Long Summer Vacation

Hello everyone!

Just read the news yesterday that, apparently, our school calendar will shift and Academic Year 2014-2015 will start in August. Four months out of school, and that means a lot of time for papercrafting. So much time I could devote to it and yet...

My problem, and this has always been my problem for years and years, I cannot stop reading. I would start reading something and say, "Oh, just two chapters today." or "Just those two articles," and then I will do chores. Or do some crafts. No. That never happens. I would devour that book till the last page, and would realize the day has come and gone. Sometimes, I would realize, months have passed. 

I wish I could say, "I will do crafts this coming four months and nothing but that," but I'm sure it won't be true. I'll try my best. I hope this would be better than my New Year's Resolutions where none ever came close to happening.

Here's me. Giving myself a pep talk to do creative things in the next four months. GO!

Griffonage

Today, I learned a new word.

WASTED Box Sets

Hello everyone!

I said I'm going to post something around the 15th. Well, the 16th pretty much still hugs around the 15th, yes? Anyway, I was just so tired last night to post anything at all, so I'm doing it now.

Yesterday, Gerry had a signing at Comic Odyssey for one of his comic books. Also, we got to deliver 10 of these box sets as well. We offered 20 box sets but as it is submissions time at the uni, I wouldn't be able to do that for the 15th. So, 10 sets, and another set for delivery on April 12th for this Summer Komikon or the Philippine Komiks Convention. I actually made something similar back in 2009 for Elmer comics.

Anyway, what is a box set? I think, you guys are familiar with your dvd or Blu-ray box sets, right? It's similar to that. It is a set of related materials in a box, simply put. For this one, it is a set of printed and handwritten materials related to the comic book Wasted. My husband made this comics 20 years ago and it still has such a following up to today. This edition is the third printing, excluding the one that was printed in Fudge magazine years back. Now, for Summer Komikon, we are going to launch another comic book written by my husband and drawn by my cousin, Arnold Arre, titled Rodski Patotski. It's in full color and printing is not really cheap so we thought of raising some funds for that. One of them was to produce these box sets.

It contained a hardbound copy of Wasted with a slipcase. If you look at the above photo, the book is the one splattered in red paint and the one behind it is the slipcase. It goes inside the bottom compartment of the box which is also the main box, and on top of it, there is another compartment for the extras as shown here:

The box is black to complement the comics, and lined inside with a textured red board because textured board is very glue-friendly. The bottom inside of the main box has strips of black board that act as corbel to hold up the top compartment. It also has a black ribbon to pull up the book as it would be difficult to remove it without something aiding it up. If you also notice, the top compartment also has a ribbon loop so it would be easy to pull it up as well.

Here's the inside so you can see more clearly:

And here's Zara, wrapping and labeling the boxes in Japanese (tissue) paper and plastic bags to avoid dirt and grime sticking to them. And of course, I wouldn't want the photo on top sticking to the plastic:

Here's a link to the digital version of the comics if you want to read it. Be ready for the angst! You will know also why the book cover is splattered in red paint.

Wasted Comics Online

Here's a link to my husband's web site:

Komikero.Com

I would like to make a video or photoset tutorial for these boxes. Sometimes, though, when I'm so into it, I forget what other things I'm supposed to do. I hope I don't forget this time.

See you next time!

Hey!

Hello everyone!

It's submissions time at the university! Finished six reflection papers (two-page essays each) in the last month, and two research papers to finish until March 24th, and I'm dead. My English language brain cells are depleted to alarming levels. 

And yet, I'm so happy about these two subjects I got this semester: Socio-Cultural Foundations of Education, and Teaching Strategies for Developing Critical and Creative Thinking. The discussions and the papers we did were very meaningful, thought-provoking, and it makes you want to really do something and be somebody better.

I'll be posting something around the 15th. I hope I'm still alive by then. See you!

Custom Stationery

Hello February!

This is one of those projects I didn't know I would ever do. I don't really draw. I mean, yes, I'm an architect but I'm more of the three-dimensional-building kind of designer. I like three-dimensions; four, if time travel is involved. Drawing is two dimension, flat on a surface without texture, that actually involves sketching lines. It involves a lot of thinking, teeth-gnashing, and tears.

Get my drift about how I feel about drawing?

Second, this style of drawing is out of my comfort zone, but it is what is requested. These are my interpretation of the design requirement: something fun and not serious for these custom stationery. The names would be written in my handwriting. 

Anyway, here are the thumbnails for the proposed designs. The one with the lamps and cushions, and the coconut tree, those are for the spa owner who's the client. The other two are for gifts to her friends. I'm still not sure if she would want these designs but for now, I'd like to share them with you.

Dividing Circle into Equal Parts Without Measurements

Hello everyone!

So. Another tip. These things come as needed and right now it's because my mind wanders as I read about Foucault's governmentality, politics of resentment and popular media in education for one of my MA papers I need to write. My mind is broken. Ha!

Anyway, this tip is about drawing wheel-like things like color wheel or pizza, as long as it has equal segments, without using straight rule or protractor because sometimes, that could be intimidating. This is only recommended if you're not required to draw anything with exact measurements. Of course, the number of segments, you can adjust as needed. However, as you may notice, it's only even-numbered segments.

I actually used this when I was preparing the color wheel worksheets for my young students. So, feel free to use it somewhere else that doesn't require accuracy. For this one, we will divide the paper in twelve segments which is just enough for a color wheel for primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

Step 1: You'll need a round object as pattern, pencil, a pair of scissors, and a slightly thicker paper (not board!). I'm using a drawing paper from my sketchbook.

Step 2: Trace your round object on the paper, then cut.

Step 3: Fold the circle in half. Make sure the edges of each half align with each other.

Step 4: Then fold again to make 4 segments.

Step 5: Divide one of the quarters into three by estimating and folding each segment. It's ok to make wrong folds; this is just your pattern.

Step 6: Draw a circle on another paper by tracing your round object. Start tracing the spokes of your wheel by opening up your pattern; lining the rounded part on one side; and then, tracing the line of the folded side to bisect your circle.

Step 7: Fold in the first segment, and draw a line along its folded edge to make your first segment. Fold under the first and second segments to get to the next one.

Step 8: Continue doing that, move your pattern around as needed, until you're able to finish dividing the half of your circle.

Step 9: Straighten your pattern again into a half-circle. Using its folded edge, extend the lines to the other half of your circle like so.

Step 10: Continue until your twelve segments are complete. Voila!

Now, that's a pie of 12 segments. 

This is how to divide by six.

Step 1: Same as before: trace and cut circle, fold into half-circles, and then fold a bit into quarters just to mark the center like this.

Step 2: Estimate fold the half circle into three like this. Do not crease at once. Tug and pull until each segment is almost the same size.

Step 3: To draw, trace again on paper the way we did above; using the folded edges of the pattern.

I hope I'm able to help.

Positive, Negative

Happy New Year everyone! It's 2014! Aren't you all excited?

Here's another project. It's a collection of 3.75" x 4.25" cards in a box. I'm fairly new to Cricut which was a gift from a friend that had been in storage for a couple of years before I got around to using it. Ha! Anyway, one of the best things about it is that I can use both the positive and the negative pieces from the cut to get two objects in one go, and this is what happened.

I can't tell you about the papers I used, though. I'm not good at tracking the paper brands I use.