Our First Noche Buena

Seems like its been ages since I last posted here! I thought I'll be able to come back after dinner on my last post but it took me 12 days to do so! Haha! :)

Anyway, after my last post, we've been busy with the holidays. Had our first simple Noche Buena (Christmas Eve dinner) in our own home with the family. The preparation was fun. Everybody helped out even my husband! He wanted to have Chicken Pandan on our menu but everybody's busy working on each own's menu so he helped out wrapping the chicken with pandan leaves! :)

While we were busy on menu preparation, I gave the kids paper clay art to work on. They had fun. Even my son, Vcoy, managed to finish his project which I never though he will coz he's not the type who loves working on intricate things. But his pre-school teacher once told us to engage him in beading, play dough and other projects that would require the use of his fingers to improve his fine motor skills. No, he's has no problem whatsoever, but i guess kids, especially boys, are born with really bad penmanship and they write letters sooo BIG! :) Anyway, we were happy to see that they enjoyed the project and are looking forward to our next!

Our Noche Buena was simple but I felt very thankful for everything God has blessed us. I can feel the joy, peace and thankfulness in our home from each and every member of our family - Vic, Vcoy, Loui, Ate Letlet & Kuya Toto. Its more than the gifts each has prepared for us but the gift of a healthy relationship is what matters most. I miss my family so much (my parents, brother and sister) coz our Christmases were never complete since 1991 after my sister went to the US and now all of them are there already! :( But having my own family enjoy the Noche Buena brings back the memories I had in this home. That's enough for now.... someday we will all be together again one Christmas.

Christmas day went out just the same - we heard mass in the morning, had lunch with my inlaws then went home in time for dinner. The kids were excited with their gifts. I told Vic this is not the kind of Christmas I had when I was a kid. It was happier then maybe because we have our grandparents, lots of cousins & relatives. Or maybe because we are just getting older! Haha! Or maybe just a different joy....

Christmas now, for me, is all about remembering the ReaSON why we are celebrating it and being grateful for what we have been blessed. Its not about the material gifts that we have received but the blessings our hearts feel. Christmas indeed is happy.

Airees
"Live life creatively."

Back again!!!!

Yes, we are back! Just got home and we are all dead tired....looking forward to menu planning and handmade gifts making with my kids this week. I planned to stay at home with them and do some "craft bonding" with them. I'd like to teach them the value of handmade gifts than store-bought gifts. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with store-bought gifts just as long it is from the heart but I'd like them to know that they, too, can make gifts, not just buy.

Will post more in a while....gotta have some dinner!

Airees :)

Just in case....

you need to contact me anytime betweel today till sunday, my number is 0917.8132821 or 0917.5214866.

Hope to see you at the bazaar! :)

Airees

Unique Gift: Monogrammed Journal

This is a quick post before we set-up our booth today. :)

I wanted to share this project I made for MyScrapworks to people who are looking for a unique gift for any occasion especially this Christmas season. And just like the kraft alphabet letters I featured earlier, this is personalized and the recipient will surely love because its the initial of his name! :)

At the Megamall Bazaar, you can choose from the variety of colors of our journals (6"x6" (Php165) or 6"x8" (Php185)) and pick a letter. We will attach it while-U-wait. That's it!

You may also want to purchase our handmade box with ribbon that will nicely fit the 6"x6" journal. The box is another gift since it is sturdy, reusable & functional. Just add Php50. :)

Just a note: Our journals are acid-free, the bookpaper is thicker than the ones you see in the market, double-loop wire-bounded so it opens flat and can accommodate additional inserts. 80 sheets.

We also have other designs available.

Home Decor: Photo Cubes

I sooo love this! (I hope you will, too!)

Again, I'd like to incorporate scrapbooking not just in albums but all-around our house! I love these photo cubes! You can put journalling, pictures and even make a picture mosaic (will post samples soon!) of your family. Its a good conversation piece in every living room and a unique GIFT this Crhistmas. Again, I designed it to be tree-free so it is made of kraft paper & chipboard, acid-free. Size of each cube is 2.5"x2.5"x2.5" and the tray measures 9" squre.




We will also be selling this, naked, at the bazaar tomorrow til sunday for an initial price of Php150. Get yours now! :)

Scrapbooking:Series: 12"x12" Vertical Paper Holder

I realized the benefit of vertical storage when I was re-organizing my home-office cum scraproom.

My patterned papers and cardstocks were on top of each other making it difficult for me to get the papers I want when I was scrapping. Why? 1) I have a huge stack and pulling even just one sheet of paper is like pulling a nail with your hands! The OC in me couldn't resist re-arranging them neatly in stack, per color (in ROYGBIV!), after I pulled out one. When I need another one, I go through the same process all over! I end up wasting my time without finishing my LO!

You would ask me, "what if you just put out all papers then just re-arrange them after I scrap?" I did that! I ended up with a lot of mess on the floor, my papers were either "gusot" at the corners or with dust! (haha! OC!).

I wanted to buy those Cropper Hopper vertical holder but its way over my budget! For around US$4.88 + shipping (almost Php250 each), I have to think twice.

I realized why not make a Pinoy version? I usually see file holders but not 12"x12". So with scrapbookers in mind, I developed 12.5"x12.5" handmade vertical file holders to be available locally. Here's a peek:

It sturdy enough to hold around 300-400 sheets of paper. I initially made it in dark brown and planned to put on my handmade designs (Php165). If you want to design it yourself, we will be selling them at the Megamall Bazaar for Php120@. You may want to start with buying 2 - 1 for cardstocks; 1 for patterned papers.

Price may be steep for some but we have to consider that it is made from chipboard and handmade paper and it is handmade. Labor and shipping costs were big factors in our costing. But its proudly Pinoy! (Support MSME's! :)

"Live life creatively."

May I invite you....

to come and check our new and unique handmade products especially for this Christmas season at the SM Mega Christmas Expo this coming Friday, Dec. 15 to Sunday, Dec. 17, from 10am-11pm (Fri-Sat), 10am-10pm (Sun) at the Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Whether you're a scrapper or looking for a unique gift for your loved ones, we invite you to come and take a look at our products. Let's "Buy Filipino". :)

"Live life creatively."

Unique Gift: Home Decor

Looking for a unique gift for someone special? What could letter of the alphabet could be more special than the recipient's name.

I've seen wooden letters abroad online and they look cute as a decor to anyone's home or office. I haven't seen a local supplier of this so I finally decided to come up with my own. I didn't like the idea of using wood so I used pasteboard & kraft paper instead (paper mache').

It stands 7" tall. You can order just 1 letter or spell out the name. You can also specify what color you want and we'll do the rest. Price: Php90@.

If you'd like to order the naked letters, Php50@.

Scrapbooking Series: Naked Accordion Albums

Our accordion album comes in 2 sizes: 6"x6" and 5"x7"; 4 panels with a matching box. These are acid-free and made of sturdy pasteboard. The dressed-up accordion fits nicely in the box that comes with it. (6"x6") -->












(5"x7" )
Price of each accordion set (both sizes) with box is Php100. Will post example of a dressed-up accordion soon.

"Live life creatively."

Scrapbooking Series: Pampered Crafter

Getting busier as Friday approaches and we are getting ready for our last leg of Christmas bazaar '06. Here are some more products that we will sell this coming weekend at the SM Megamall Christmas bazaar. Another version of our Pampered Crafter. Available colors are: dark red; yellow green, dark brown & fuschia. Will post other colors soon and how it looks like with your stuff inside.

NEW PRODUCTS IN!!!

Been busy for the past days that I have not uploaded our new products - meetings, designs, production....I can hardly breathe! We barely have 3 weeks in 2006 and so we would like to give a a sneek peak of what I have planned for 2007 - more Pinoy handmade products! I hope you'll include in your New Year's resolution "Buy more Filipino products" so together, we can help the MSMEs (micro, small & medium enterprises) and our economy.

First, this is our very own "Pampered Crafter". Perfect for crafters (scrapbookers), this is a rotating tool caddy - with 6 compartments, it can hold a LOT of your commonly-used tools likes pens, scissors, adhesives, paper piercers, etc. It is 100% handmade yet sturdy enough to hold your tools. Php400, available in dark brown, dark red, yellow green, and fuschia. The bookplates are available in various colors & patterns with mini brads, giving each caddy a unique look. We have around 5 pcs. in fuschia color available.

We will be launching this at the Mega Christmas Expo at the Megatrade Hall 2, SM Megamall on Dec.15-17.

I will upload more products in a while....gotta take breakfast first! :) Be back....

"Live life creatively."

...and we'll be on the road again....

Coming back from the bazaar, we took a short break from work. One week of light work and more on evaluating, planning and brainstorming for the coming year. Yes, even if we are just a small company, there's no excuse on not doing these things. It gives us perspective - of what we did right or wrong, and how we can improve.

Aside from catching a nasty cold & fever, I had backpains and migraine....probably stress-related. So I just slowed down a bit though not completely without doing any work (my clients would probably kill me!). It gave me the much need boost to prepare for our next gig. :)

And YES! We will be on the bazaar scene again (for the last time) at the Mega Expo Bazaar at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City this December 15-17 (Fri-Sun), Megatrade Hall 2. We have been offered a slot and we might as well try it for the last time this season since we think this could be a better venue since its mall-based. And besides, Megamall is just a few blocks away from our place (in Mandaluyong).

I will be posting our additional products (note: scrapbookers will probably love!) for those who are looking for UNIQUE gift items this Christmas. So keep checking this blog in the next 2 days for product uploads.

Hope to see you there!

"Live life creatively."