Somewhere beyond the sea....

Just a quick post.

While I was cleaning my office (so I can finally start working on new designs! I need to do this... I can't seem to concentrate if my office looks like there was tsunami!), I pulled out my laptop and played this song. It lightens my load somehow and puts a smile on my face....I don't know why....it could be the beat or the lyrics...whatever it is...it is all GOOD. :)

Beyond the Sea

Somewhere beyond the sea

Somewhere waiting for me

My lover stands on golden sands

And watches the ships that go sailing

Somewhere beyond the sea

She's there watching for me

If I could fly like birds on high

Then straight to her arms I'd go sailing

It's far beyond the stars

It's near beyond the moon

I know beyond a doubt

My heart will lead me there soon

We'll meet beyond the shore

We'll kiss just like before

Happy we will be beyond the sea

And never again I'll go sailing

I know beyond a doubt

My heart will lead me there soon

We'll meet, I know we'll meet beyond the shore

We'll kiss just as before

Happy we will be beyond the sea

And never again I'll go sailing

No more sailing

So long, sailing, sailing, no more sailing

Good-bye, farewell my friend, no more sailing

So long sailing, no more sailing

No more, farewell..

No more sailing

I hope you are all well. Its so depressing knowing people important to you or to your friends are sick. If you can, please whisper a prayer for them, so they may be all well in God's grace.

Thanks.

Plum + Gold = Elegance

2 weeks ago, a classmate of mine in high school contacted me to make her invitations. When she came up with her motif, I knew it will make an elegant invitation.
She wanted it simple but elegant. Sometimes, people see handmade paper as very casual or informal and they don't think it will make an elegant invitation. But I want them to look at our paper in a different perspective this time....I love how the dark shade of plum blended with gold - it made the gold beaded butterfly stand out all the more!

For the accents on the left side of the invite, lately, I'm into pearls and laces because I see them as symbols of elegance, of royalty. And since I'm a 3D person (I can't stop myself from adding something 3D on my invites! It feels "bland" and flat if it has no 3D embellishment.)

My old number is back!

After 5 long days of calling Globe's customer service and believing that they will restore my line immediately, I passed by The Hub yesterday. They just found out that SM City Sta. Rosa Globe Business Center entered a WRONG (as in a totally different number!) serial number from my SIM! I swear, if I have a heart problem, I'd die on the spot! Their customer service couldn't explain what's wrong with my SIM and always promises that my line would be back. If I had not gone to the Hub, I'd be waiting in vain and lots of lost clients!

Imagine what carelessness (or stupidity for that matter!) can do.

I thank Mr. Lloyd Santos of The Hub Glorietta for bearing with me. Even before I flare up, I told him not to take it personally. I am just pissed off with the person/people who entered the wrong serial number BUT I told him it is unacceptable for me to wait another 2 DAYS for the sim to get activated. NO WAY!

So, he went back and called up their Engineering Department and within 30 minutes I have a signal! I guess sometimes it pays to be the "other side" of Airees at times like this. :)

So, this is my OTHER number (though I am still keeping the 521... for the meantime, just in case...) +63917.8132821

I hope this will be the last of the not-so-good 3's that happened to me last week.....

I wish you all well.

TEMPORARY MOBILE #

My mobile phone was stolen at the Asian Hospital where I was confined last Monday-Wednesday. I was undergoing an EEG test at the lower ground when the incident happened. Someone entered my room and stole my phone. Long story....

Anyway, you may contact me thru this number until Globe restores my old number into my new SIM which is taking them sooooooooooooooooooo long! Isa pa yang Globe na yan! 4 days na wala pa din signal SIM ko!

Here's my other number: 0917-5214688

I'm off to Tagaytay for our last day of Kasalang Filipino 2007.

Kasalang Filipino 2007

I am inviting all of you to come and visit our booth at the Kasalang Filipino 2007 at Tagaytay Country Hotel, Olivarez Plaza, Rotonda, Tagaytay City on February 23-25, 2007 - 11am-8pm.

We will showcase our new designs for 2007 and some of our bestsellers. :) Special discount and freebies will be given for on-site booking.

Lastly, may I invite you also to the Wedding Expo Philippines 10th Edition on March 10-11, 2007 at the PICC Forum, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.

Dressed Up Monograms

I was invited by a good friend, Iris of SparkUp Planners, to hold a workshop at the Glorietta Homezone Area last February 17. I worked with one of our products, the naked monograms and dressed them up with patterned papers, acrylic paint. But this time, Iris suggested that I include some pictures to extend the use of the monogram further - as a photo decor.

I used the frame die cuts-to-go by K & Co. and some too-small-shots that I have of my daughter. These shots were put to good use since they just fit right to the frame.

This project is so easy to do. You might want to try them. These are perfect unique gifts for your loved ones. Just get a naked monogram (of course, from us!), some acrylic paint (for the sides of the letter so you wont have to cover it with patterned paper), patterned paper, and some embellishments.

Trace the naked letter at the back of the patterned paper. Remember to mark each side of the letter with 1 or 2 and its corresponding number on the patterned paper so you will have the exact pattern for each side. Cut and set aside.

Paint the sides of the naked letter first. Don't worry about getting the pain over the front and back side of the letter since you will cover these with patterned paper.

When dried, adhere the traced pattern to the corresponding sides. You may want to use sand paper on the sides to make the edges smooth.

Embellish!

Thankful!

I am finally posting the journaling I made on my layout for the MLA Challenge. I deferred posting it coz I still have to know the results of my tests. And now that I can say I am fine - there's nothing serious about my health (just have to learn to manage stress so it doesn't add more pressure to my cervical spine), I want to share with you the "things" I am grateful for.


But first, I want to thank all of you (you know who you are) who prayed for me during the time that I was in the hospital. Now I know I have a long way to go to fulfill God's plan for me and to take some time to slow down and relax and "literally smell the flowers" to appreciate more of this life. :)

Journaling:

February 18, 2007 - I am doing this layout a day before I undergo several tests at the Asian Hospital tomorrow afternoon. I will be staying there for 2 days to finish all the tests and hopefully be home by Wednesday. I don’t know what will happen next nor what the results would be.

I was advised by my neurologist to undergo MRI to examine my brain! I’ve been suffering from what I believe a migraine for about 5 years now but 2 years after I fell from the stairs, I had a “regular” migraine attacks and stronger intensity running down to my right shoulder. I finally had the guts to have myself examined by a neurologist after I realized that I have my kids to take care of and I needed to be alive for them! :)

As of now, I don’t feel anything except the nagging pain on my neck. I only think that the tests will just be a routine check-up and I will be fine. Perhaps, I am not that afraid yet, for I know God has the ultimate plan for my life and I know that He knows my kids need me for now...

But, My Little Attic’s challenge to make a layout for myself and what are the “things” I am grateful for INSPIRED me to make one. Funny, one thing that crossed my mind to make this layout is that if ever I’ll undergo a surgery or what, and I might have to lose my memory, at least I have a record of what I am grateful for and what the heck I am doing in this life! :) Yeah, I know, I am morbid. But its not impossible, right?

So, to my family, whatever happens to me and my memory, remind me of these 3 “things” that I am forever grateful to have:

ALBUMS - Its not the album per se that I am grateful but what they contain: my family, friends and the people I worked with, the relationships I have with them, for the lessons in life that each one taught me and for that, I have become the person I am right now.

INVITATIONS, BOOKS & MAGAZINES, TOOLS - They symbolize the talents that I have that God gave me. And because of this, it has become my passion and the passion led me to create works of art that I get to share with the people around me and has somehow brought joy and inspiration to them. I am grateful for the life I live right now because I have developed my self-esteem, found my own place under the sun, and my self-worth.

FAITH - Without this, I am nothing. Over the years, my relationship with my Creator has helped me go through what life has given me. I may not express my being a Catholic as much as other people would do, but the personal relationship with my Creator has been my source of strength - the reason for my being - and to Whom my life should be directed upon. It is a process and I take it one day at a time.....

Entry to MLA's Challenge

Just a quick post before I take some time off.

A layout about what I am grateful for. My journaling is hidden on the trifold pocket (too long!) but it is written from the *heart*.

I wish you all well!

EDITED: Layout and journaling above.

Tamang senti lang po....

Just a quick post here.

I love songs.... though sometimes the songs don't love my voice, I love how they touch you in your deepest emotions that sometimes you just don't know what words to express.

from the song Everything I Own by Bread:

"Is there someone you know, you're loving them so, but taking them all for granted? You may loose them one day, someone takes them away, and they don't hear the words you long to say?"

from one of my all-time fave song What a Wonderful World:

"I see babies cry, I watch them grow, they'll learn much more that I've ever known. And I think to myself: What a wonderful world!"

"Live life creatively."

Hapi Nyu Yi!!!!

It's Chinese New Year here in the Philippines. Though we are not Chinese (just Chinese-looking) we also take part in some of their traditions like wearing red for luck, fruits on our table, eating Tikoy and some fireworks, if ever we get to buy. :)

I've been reading (and following some) Feng Shui tips for quite some time and I guess it helps. I've read somewhere that Feng Shui is not a religious thing - it is more of scientific - harnessing the energy around us. But of course, even if one has a house full of Feng Shui paraphernalia making it to look like a store in Binondo, one cannot expect luck if he does not do good things especially to other people. Its just like Karma - there is no good or bad Karma - just Karma - "do unto others what you want others do unto you"; "the more you give, the more blessings to receive". That's simple, right? :)

So, to anyone reading this blog - I wish you well - good health and wealth, healthy relationships and most of all, may we all become better persons this year. Hapi Nyu Yi! :)

Fresh Upload, New Project

Hi everyone! I would like to invite you to drop by MyScrapworks.com - we've got lots of new articles and to-do projects for you.

Try it! :)

"Live life creatively."

Done!

I've been busy for the past days working on new designs for clients, meetings and ordering supplies online, thru SMS and taking a trip to DV (Divisoria)!!! Thank goodness for technology - ordering some supplies thru SMS or online and just have them delivered thru Air21 is more cost-effective and saves me time and energy.

Anyway, I am just glad to finally finish working on 2 designs for 2 clients. Though I still have more to do [2 of my friends will kill me if they read this because I haven't showed them their invites! ;) ], I felt relieved that I am done with these 2.

This is just a sneak peek of the invite for this "Victorian" bride. She has an eye for design and she loves a "lavish" design. She knows that the invitation is what gives her guests the first impression of her upcoming wedding and she wants to make sure that the guests will have an eye candy once they receive her invitation!

This 2nd invitation is quick. Even though inner invitation design (not shown here) is a bestseller, this is the first time I am working on these combinations and papers for this design. Still, I can say that the invitation will be uniquely-made for this couple.

Time to work on my next....

"Live life creatively."

My new "babies"

No I am not pregnant nor I have adopted a new "little monster"! :)

I knew sooner or later we will have to get this "baby" and I guess now is the right time. As new projects are due this month, we are faced with a situation - our "suki" cutter informed us that they will not be able to service our cutting and trimming needs because they are busy. You know, the printing presses are busy churning out tons of paper (poor trees....) for ballots and campaign materials because the national election is gonna push through in May. And so the day I dreaded came...

I had to make a quick decision. With hundreds of invites due and none of the papers are cut, production cannot move. Our clients are gonna kill me! :) So I called the sales agent and ordered my "baby".

I broke the bank for sure but its a HUGE relief for all of us because this baby really cuts through. Now, we don't have to worry about scheduling of cutting and I don't have to travel 30 minutes just to get to the cutter taking away 2.5 hrs at least of my time just watching and praying the cutter makes an accurate cut! We now have a faster production and turnaround time because this baby. She just sits here and ready anytime we need to make a clean cut!

For my other bebe, we've been eyeing this one since last year but we just couldn't afford it yet. I guess even in making real babies timing is just as important. Haha! And there you go! I am typing away this blog on my new bebe that I can bring along with me when I have meetings in Manila and still work on my vintage website@work in between. And hopefully, this bebe will be a big help on my work!

And so these are what I call my new babies! (minus the diapers, milk and poo!)

Airees
"Live life creatively."

Looking back....

I've been neglecting this blog for the past weeks. Its not that I don't like to blog but I just don't have the luxury of time to sit down and put down all the thoughts that I've been meaning to share. Since January 1st, me and my staff are busy working on new projects, planning out new products for scrapbooking and my upcoming exhibit at the Wedding Expo Philippines 10th Edition on March 10-11, 2007. The whole month of January, we managed to finish quite a number of invitations for our January(!) and March soon-to-weds. We didn't expect it because last year was not as busy as this January used to be!

Despite the adrenalin rush we are having right now, we are more than thankful for all these blessings God has been giving us and the TRUST given to us by our clients. I've been designing a LOT of invites this month and I'm quite excited that my creative juices are finally flowing after a long hiatus! :)

But as I, together with my staff, face 2007, I can't help but look back to what 2006 has been to us.

2006 has been a good year for us. On the business side, we got quite a few media exposure - being featured in Entrepreneur Phils. magazine, September Edition was a dream come true for me. It is something that tells me that I am doing the right thing and I know I have a good business with a lot of passion - for people, nature and my country.

On being featured at ABS-CBN's Kabuhayang Swak na Swak, it was a happy experience for all of us. From the taping here in our home-office, to the hush-hush interview to seeing myself on TV much to the delight of my families in the US, it is something that I am thankful for.

From the list of my 2006 goals, I can say that 80% of those were accomplished. The remaining 20% (website upload, more scrapbook layouts, exercise) is carried over to my 2007 goals. :) Among the accomplished goals, we joined 2 Christmas bazaars that I can say we earned substantially though not taking into account the stress and physical toll on me, but at least I learned a lot from that experience especially on product development. It also caught the eye of SM Management and offered us a space at any SM branch I want. But I didn't take the offer, not now. I still want to do something first that would make me venture in malls. It takes a lot of time, energy and financial resources to put up a branch in a mall and as of now, I feel that I still have to work on these 3.

Just before 2006 ends, another answered prayer came upon. I was invited by a newly-established one-stop wedding resource center at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel to be one of their 2 invitation suppliers. I now have a "Meeting Place" for my clients and a 6-day a week showroom for my invitations.

In between the success and blessings we had in 2006, we also encountered a lot of challenges. I was twice denied of a US B1/B2 visa simply because my parents and siblings are in the States! What a lame reason! I lost 2 BIG opportunities because of that!

One is to attend the Winter CHA (Crafts and Hobbies Association) which I am a member as a Professional Crafter. It was supposed to be an ocular inspection to see if I can exhibit on the Summer CHA to launch our handmade paper products from the Philippines.

Next, I was not able to join the Kasal Pilipinas Bridal Fair in San Francisco, CA which I am one of the exhibitors sponsored by the Philippine Consulate in SF,CA. I lost the opportunity to market my invitations for which I know will be a huge potential waiting for us.

But all these things I accepted as God's plan for me. Its not yet my time... but I do hope I'd be given a chance to promote our Pinoy products abroad because I know we have an edge...not just MY products but for all PINOY products. We should be given a fair opportunity and should not be denied simply because of one US consul thinks a Filipino businesswoman will never come back because her family is in the States!

Airees
"Live life creatively."

Yes, I'm back!!!

I'm running out of a catchy title for my post! :) But I really wanted to update you so I'll post anyway!

I guess the title still applies on me...yes, I'm back to my old self again after having been through with the creative rut, my mind is overflowing now with designs, plans, I barely can catch up! I like the feeling...makes me feel productive.

The 5 designs on my previous post were all done. I'm on my next batch of 12 new designs but I only have 3 more to go! That's the reason why my blog hasn't been update for quite some time...busy working on my projects. Even with my emails, I barely catch up with them but this is one area I'd like to work on.

Here's a sneak peak of one of the designs I made. Will post more soon.

One down, five to go....

This is how my work table looks right now. :) Been working on a few designs for my clients. My creative juices are slowly kicking in and I love the feeling!

The bride-to-be wants a simple yet elegant white invitation for her upcoming wedding. She wants an all-white type but I told her we don't have a pristine white handmade paper because of the nature of our materials. Instead, an off-white, or pearl white.

At first I thought it's quite challenging because I love mixing and matching colors and to be confined to just 1 color and white hmmm...... not my type. :) But I'm willing to give it a try. Here it is: plain off-white handmade paper backing with 64gsm white translucent vellum overlay, organza ribbon with silver edging accented with 5 faux pearls at the center. Envelope is off-white handmade paper embedded with granules & crushed capiz shells. I want to give the invite some dimension & texture so I used this. Size is 5"x7"

I wanted to give the bride another option so I made another sample using the same materials except the wire replaces the ribbon. This is 6"x8".

That's all for now. Gotta work on the next 5 designs. I need a little caffeine fix. :)

Airees :)

A Promise Fulfilled....

I'm still on a creative rut eventhough I'm excited to start designing. How's that possible???! I don't know! But to get things going, I tried working on a promise I made to my son & daughter - that I will make each for them a journal.

They always ask me for papers to draw onto and we end up having lots of them! I wanted to preserve them but I'm afraid our house will be full of papers 5 years from now! And when they saw my very own journal with my monogram, they also wanted to have one but not just the monogram...but their names!

The 2 journals (green & fuschia pink) were on top of my work table long before Christmas - untouched. :) Last night, I decided to finish them so they'll be surprised when they wake up this morning. And they did! Loui likes it so much she has her drawings on it already. I'm glad they like what I did.

This morning, I finally uploaded the design for a client. I hope she'll like it. I'm off to 3 meetings today.

It's back to reality.

Airees :)

"Live life creatively."

Happy New Year!!!

We celebrated our New Year's Eve in our home with family & neighbor friends cracking some firecrackers to get rid of the bad luck. We had a simple Media Noche menu of Pancit Bijon, Okoy & Black Forest Cake. I managed to get some round fruits but didn't make it in 7. :) It's ok.... we still have our Chinese New Year next month! Haha! :)

It's back to work now and I can't wait to start working on our projects and plans for the year! I still haven't finished my to-do list but I'm working on it. We are definitely pushing through with our new web design (gosh! its taking me years!!!!) and new invite collections for spring/summer.

I got to work on 2 layouts during my "vacation" and here they are at MyScrapworks Gallery and this one for Buzy Bee's 1-2-3 Challenge.
Airees :)

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 :)