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!
Happy 2012!
July Update
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.
Business Things
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.
Open House... Craft Party... Selling
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.
It's March and I haven't been really nice...
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.
