Window shopping/Blue Monday

A perfect match to my worn-out pair of jeans.

Window-shopping at Atelier Avatar in Greenbelt 5.

Linking to Sally's Blue Monday

Sconces/Blue Monday

A Venetian mirror and a set of wall sconces at an antique shop.  Share something blue with Sally @ Blue Monday.

Patchwork Chair/Blue Monday

 I'd love to have this set in my living room.  Found this patchwork-covered chair and footstool set in one of the booths at the Manila F.A.M.E.  Some blues to share with Sally  at Blue Monday.

Circles & Point/Photo Hunt

Circles used as design element in fashion accessories. 

Through the years, I have noticed that circles are often used by designers 

to create a point of emphasis and interest to hold a viewer's attention.

A combination of colors, complemented with other shapes, 

a circle is a great focal point in fashion jewelry.

Necklaces have been a part of women's outfit for centuries.   

Necklaces can be light and trendy to heavy and elaborate.

It compliments a woman's outfit, enhances the total look.

Taken at Avatar's showroom in Cebu

Linking to Sandy's Saturday PhotoHunt and Gattina's Keyhole Pictures

Chinese room [RT]

@ mirandablue

A red-walled room and antique Chinese furniture.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Chair [RT]

@ mirandablue

In a room full of antique furniture in an old mansion in San Juan, this silver and ruby Chippendale chair caught my attention.  I love the rich red velvet upholstery.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Glass chandelier [Ruby Tuesday]

@ mirandablue

I hunted antique shops late last year looking for side tables with inlaid mother-of-pearl.  At Jo Liza Antique Shop in Megamall, I spotted this beautiful red glass chandelier and wished my apartment is big enough for this chandelier!  Maybe someday---it's OK to dream.:p

This post is linked to Ruby Tuesday

Frame [Kwadro]

@ mirandablue                                                                                         Craftmill showroom

Literal na kwadro ang lahok ko.  Kwadro ng mga kwadro?  Isang malaking salamin na naka-kwadro sa iba't-ibang kwadro ng litrato.  Magulo 'no?:p  Pero frame galore, di ba?  Kung adik ka sa litrato, ito dapat ang salamin mo sa bahay.  Ang mga kwadro ng litrato naman ay gawa sa sari-saring hinabing hibla ng abaca.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

My entry is literally a frame--or framed frames?  This is a floor mirror framed with various photo frames.  If you're into photo framing, this mirror is perfect for you.  The photo frames are made from  hand-loomed dyed abaca fiber.

For Thursday 2 Questions:


1.  What is your favorite framed photograph?
2.  What do you see when you look in your vanity mirror?

Husay/skill [Litratong Pinoy]

Kagagaling ko lang ng Cebu at nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na ipakita ang husay at galing ng Pinoy sa aking katrabahong dayuhan. Di lang maabilidad ang Pinoy, mahusay tayo sa paglikha ng magagandang obra. Ang nasa itaas ay mesang may WOW-factor---gawa sa inlaid multi-layered shells at stainless steel top. Show-stopper, di ba? Isa lang ang pabrikang ito sa mga gumagawa para sa mga sikat at mamahaling fashion houses sa ibang bansa katulad ng Armani-Casa, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, Fendi, Lane Crawford at iba pa.

Magaling ang kamay ng Pinoy, malikhain, pulido ang gawa. Ang dalawang manong ay iilan lang sa mga taga-ukit ng magagarang muebles na ini-export sa Middle East, America, Europe at Asia.

Sa kantahan, di rin tayo papatalo syempre. May Pinoy ba na hindi marunong kumanta? Mahuhusay kumanta at tumugtog ng gitara ang mga taga-Cebu. Pero si manong, iba ang talent---hinarana kami sa pamamagitan ng 28-string harp habang kumakain sa SuTuKil. Lalo kaming ginanahan sa pagkain!

Ang ibig sabihin pala ng SuTuKil, sa mga di pa nakakain dito, ay tatlong paraan sa pagluto ng seafoods---SUgba (grilled), TUla (prepared with soup), KILaw (raw fish/shells, seaweed salad).

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Broken [Photo Hunt]

Who said that crushed windshields and glass are useless and belong to the junk pile? Naturally, we want to get rid of those sharp and dangerous fragments. But before throwing away a broken glass, think of the tons of glass bottles and jars buried into our landfills each day. Recycling glass is an excellent way to reduce waste, save construction costs and help the environment.

I know somebody who transforms broken pieces of tempered glass into beautiful functional home accessories. A hobby that turned into a business. These candle holders are hand-crafted from broken windshields---these pieces are colorful and rough; they're perfectly imperfect, and there in lies the charm.

Posted for Photo-Hunt

Keepsakes [Ruby Tuesday]

It's funny that I found these keepsakes again after almost a decade. Moving forced me to sift through each piece of stuff I have collected all these years. These are the remnants of my Hallmark days when I kept a sample of the most problematic designs we worked on to remind myself of small victories. I also collected some of the funniest and the cutest designs.

This porcupine-in-love-with-a-cactus was my favorite, and I was thrilled when I found it at the bottom of a box. I love the text etched on the pot, "Ours is a strange and wonderful relationship".

Happy V-Day to you!

"If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should not grow old."

~ James Garfield

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

The Feast of Three Kings - Ruby Tuesday

16-inch set of 3 Wisemen from Creative Treasury, crafted from stamped tin and resin

The Three Kings are those who came bearing gifts or gold, frankincense and myrrh for the newborn Jesus in the Biblical stories. They were named Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar.

For Catholics, the Feast of Three Kings (or Araw ng Tatlong Hari) is the official end of the liturgical Christmas season in the Philippines. It is also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, which commemorates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. It is also known as the Pasko ng Matatanda (Feast of the Elderly), the day that specially honors senior citizens.

The Feast of the Three Kings was traditionally commemorated on January 6th but is now celebrated on the first Sunday of the year. For hundreds of years the Three Kings, not Santa Claus, were the traditional bearers of Christmas presents for children. The children left their polished shoes and fresh socks on the window sill, ready for the gifts from the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem. (Source: WikiPilipinas)

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Red Topiaries [Ruby Tuesday]

I hope you're not taking down your Christmas decor yet. In the Philippines, we usually remove the Christmas decor on the night of January 5th (Three Kings or Epiphany), or the Twelfth Night. In some cultures, it is believed to be bad luck to take down Christmas decor before the Twelfth Night.

Because my family has no Christmas traditions, I just enjoy myself getting creative with Christmas decor. When you're too lazy to put up a tree, or your apartment is too small to accommodate a real Christmas tree, then these pearly capiz cone-shaped topiaries would make a festive table accent.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

" Always leave something to wish for; otherwise, you will be miserable from your very happiness."

~ Baltasar Gracian

Slim Santa [Ruby Tuesday]

Santa is on a diet, so don't leave milk and cookies for him! Centuries of junk food and snacks have taken their toll on Santa's waistline. He's been warned of his cholesterol levels so he's cutting on sugar, carbs, and alcohol. Leave him apples and some bananas.

"There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus."

- Author Unknown

These slim santas were designed by Weennee Lagdameo of Accent Pieces.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Curved [Photo-Hunt]

Delightful symmetries of interlacing wires forming curved lines and geometric patterns. A fruit bowl with flowing curves, rendered seamlessly in iron. A set of angular wall decor designed in spherical convex curve to give an illusion of a diverging mirror. These are designed by a Filipino artisan, manufactured in Antipolo.

Posted for Photo-Hunt, hosted by TN Chick

Ruby Tuesday: cock-a-doodle-doo

A hand-crafted rooster wall decor from a showroom I visited a few weeks ago. It's made of die-cut and painted tin. The rooster kinda reminds me of a nursery rhyme.

Cock a doodle do!
What is my dame to do?
Till master's found his fiddlingstick,
She'll dance without her shoe.

Cock a doodle do!
My dame has found her shoe,
And master's found his fiddlingstick,
Sing cock a doodle do!

Cock a doodle do!
My dame will dance with you,
While master fiddles his fiddlingstick,
And knows not what to do.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday, hosted by Mary.

Ruby Tuesday: Captivating capiz

Everything in this photo is made from capiz shell---from the chandelier, to the vases and bowls, the plates at the background to the pedestal where the red vase and bowls are displayed. Capiz or windowpane oyster is a bivalve shell of a mollusk with smooth translucent and shiny interior. The meat is eaten and the shells are turned into these captivating pieces of home accessories.

Posted for Ruby Tuesday

Photo-Hunt: entertainment

These high school kids entertained foreign trade buyers and guests during the buyers' night reception of the Manila FAME last year. If my memory is correct, these public school students were being trained by Ballet Manila, a dance company founded by Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, as their commitment to bringing ballet to the people. It was entertaining to watch these "storytellers on toes".

Posted for Photo Hunt