A FAMILY AFFAIR

I am a self-proclaimed, trying hard craftswoman by heart.

I remember an instance back in grade school, when a classmate brought toy puppet versions of Spike and Little Foot (characters from the animated movie Land Before Time). Everyone was crazy about the movie at that time, and I ceaselessly begged my parents to buy me a complete set of puppets of whole the dinosaur cast. My mom’s answer to me was, “No. You have to improvise and make a puppet for yourself.” She tried to veer me away from the lure of commercialism and teach me the value of money while growing up. She also intended for me to be innovative and creative by helping me out with do-it-yourself projects of different kinds.  

My introduction to graphic design and visual arts came later, when I’ve began to understand the nature of my dad’s advertising business.  Much of my toddler years were spent learning about arts and crafts. My mom introduced me to Origami when I was 4 years old, and we would fold papers the whole day to make flowers, stars, and animals. I developed a love affair with paper, and soon it bloomed to an addiction to paper dolls, stationeries, and stickers. I enjoyed frequent visits to Papemelroti where I’d buy special papers and drool over beautiful handmade crafts and novelty items. In late afternoons, I’d see my friends to exchange sheets of stationeries, a pastime more popularly known to our generation as “barter.” My amateur attempt at intricate paper crafts were appreciated by doting Tito’s and Tita’s, and I eventually ended up doing projects for my cousins. This paper craze came to temporary halt when I reached college, as my interests shifted to visual arts and design.

Now that I have a kid of my own, I re-oriented myself with paper folding and hand made crafts to pass on the same value to my daughter as what my mother did with me. We bond over boxes of patterned paper, strips of ribbons and fabric, glue, and little ornaments. I try to bring in something new to the table, and draw inspiration from generous artists who share their DIY projects on line. One of the blogs we visited is by craftswoman / barista, April San Pedro.

If clothing lines have a category for high-fashion, so do paper. April’s paperie, amply called as Artisan Design Studio, carries couture stationeries, planners, and calendars, and produces quality invitations and other decorative paper-based designs.

This 28 year old artisan opened her home-based studio back in 2008, merely paces away from the family-owned coffee shop, right under their yellow painted house. Pre-artisan days, she brewed coffee, mixed drinks, and spent quality time with her computer to design posters for their own coffee place. “It was purely a family business where family and friends would gather to enjoy afternoon talks over coffee. I oversee the operations with my sister, who is the baker in the family. I was eager to learn about graphic design because I had a bit of difficulty dealing with advertising agencies when it comes to the layout and look of our posters. Luckily, I met some friends who were in the field of graphic design. I observed how they work and attended short courses in Manila to enhance my skills and knowledge.”

It was a bold move to jump from barista to graphic designer. The latter requires a sophisticated palate, while the other is a marriage of both skills and imagination. Apparently, her trajectory to the creative world was already set in her future, even in her late teens.

“I sometimes found it weird that I was not inclined to shop for clothes and shoes. I feel more enthusiastic with books and craft materials such as rubber stamps, punchers, etc. I even have a collection of Japanese craft books which I can’t translate into English, and I just try to understand it by following the illustration. Reading and learning about crafts is definitely my guilty pleasure. I can stay for hours in a bookstore and craft shops, and spend as much as others would in shopping with just a blink of an eye.  Good thing this passion grew into a business, giving me relief with a bit of return in investment. In college, I started selling personalized name stickers to my classmates. That was also when I ventured into beadwork and handmade accessories which I sold in bazaars around town.”

“I always wanted a store of my own. However, I still couldn’t figure out what it would be. I knew I wanted something related to graphic design or crafting. It may sound cliché, but I really find Martha Stewart an inspiring woman in this field. Not only because of her great taste, but also of the way she made crafting interesting and sellable to the global market.”

“My first attempt into designing was through a brand I created years back. With Tala-larawan (which means ‘album’ in Filipino), I concentrated on producing photo books on a per order basis. However, the turnover was so slow and the work was so tedious. Eventually, I figured out that I can channel the same materials, tools, and technique into different types of products.”

“I summed up my courage to open my own store and realized that dream when I opened Artisan Design Studio last July 8, 2009. Instead of just manufacturing photo books, I now concentrate more with customized paper goods such as invitations, stationeries, planners, and anything that I can be done by paper or graphic design.”

While planners and accessories sold like pancakes, her orders for custom made party invitations came in droves too. Her creativity enabled her to merge her client’s concept with her own imagination. “My inspiration will always vary, depending on the requirements of my client. I translate their ideas into designs which also reflect my style in graphic design ---- elegant, yet uncomplicated.”  

April’s design studio has seen several milestones and family events over the years. It’s like she became part of every family affair in the metropolis --- witnessing the solemn christening of a child, the marriage of two passionate hearts, and the graceful entry of a debutante into the society.

Just as her business caters to various occasions, she also involves herself in the community by organizing Christmas bazaars and sharing easy to do crafts through her blog (visit http://www.designsofartisanblog.com). The idea of putting up the Sabroso Sunday Food Market was born out of casual talks with her sister, Sandy, and fellow entrepreneur friend, Chiche Alejandre. The weekly food fair gathered families into the garden outside their coffee shop, enjoying the kitchen wonders and secret recipes of independent cooks. The food bazaar was a huge success and it inspired more food aficionados to support home-grown products and delicacies.

“Everyone has their own part in the community. Currently, I am focusing my business sense to exporting my own paper line abroad. I’m slowly starting with this by selling my designs online.  I also try to dedicate my time into touching lives of families, giving them activities which parents can do and bond over with kids. I share my ideas on improvised storage boxes and other decorative DIY crafts for their home. In the future, when I become a mother, I also want to enter into a different business that will cater to both moms and babies.”

Visit Artisan Design Studio on Facebook, or drop by the shop located beside the Yellow Hauz, V. Mapa St., Davao City. You may also call their office at (082) 303 272, or send your questions to designofartisan@gmail.com.

SPECIAL GIVEAWAY FOR READERS:

Here's a free and easy DIY guide to April's decorative window display.

Materials:

• Recycled Photos, 4x6 inches in size (but it’s better if you’ll cut out images from an old calendar). You’ll be needing at least 36 photos, depending on your window length of your window. I used 6-7 photos per batch.

• Cutting mat

• Scissors

• Cutter

• Bus ticket puncher (you can buy this in National Bookstore)

• Ruler

• Ribbon or Crochet yarn

Procedure:

Cut the photo from the calendar. Make sure to use cutting mat and a sharp cutter blade for easy cutting.

Use a bus ticket puncher or the smallest round puncher. I suggest a small puncher so the holes won’t be visible from afar.

Insert the yarn starting from the back of the photo and spool it in twice.

Then pull the yarn from the back and insert it at the bottom hole this time. Don’t twine the yarn from the top. It should be loose and can be pulled easily.

Do the same thing on the next photos. I used 6 photos per line. You can modify the height of the photos too.

On your last photo, tie a knot at the bottom to lock the yarn. Then do the same procedure on the next batch of photos.

Once you’ve completed the whole set, tie them each to a ribbon.
Cut the ribbon according to you’re the width of your window.
Hang both ends of the ribbon on the top of your window and align your photos accordingly.

Learn more about crafts and home decors by visiting April's blog site at http://www.designofartisanblog.com.

-----

Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.

Pages 15 and 18, INdulge section, Edge Davao, Vol. 5 Issue 62, 30 May 2012.

IN HER SHOES

                                                                                                        

In this modern age, dressing up has become more fun and easy without the grandiose rituals of our foremothers. Women nowadays have jam-packed calendars which take them to different places, even in a span of only 24 hours. Gone are the days when females took only the persona of a housewife, breaking through the old perfection of her function in the society, guiding the next generation in her traditional / understated garments.

What I love about the woman of today is her ability to juggle different roles with different clothes. Balancing a modern lifestyle as a woman consists of making time for a family, managing a fulfilling career, and keeping up with friends. While modern women vary in lifestyle and personality, we are still made of a common DNA that molds us into sophistication and elegance.  Be it fabric or shoes, our wardrobe transcends our being from divine femininity into to a production number for all occasions.

This photo came out in StyleBible.PH.

Take Bianca Barretto-Uy, for instance. Wife, mother of three, career woman, and a breath of fresh air in every social gathering.

She is Bianca with a C – being born and christened as Christine Barretto. Akin to the chic nickname given to her by her dad, she lives and breathes fashion with much ease and refined taste. Whether on candid or shot on cue, her smile and style registers perfectly on camera, looking confident, charming, and classy. I consider her look as an essay of various style theories and applications, polished according to type and purpose. If she underwent any formal training in styling, I’m sure she would have gotten an A+ on her report card.

Bianca gives us a preface of her dress diary. “For a fashion show, I’d probably wear a sheer blouse tucked in a short pleated skirt and pumps. Cocktail dresses are, of course, for cocktail events, but I try to hype up the look with heeled sandals or statement pumps. A mullet dress and heeled sandals would be perfect for my kids’ recognition program, while a relaxing coffee or lunch date with friends would see me in a loose blouse, shorts and flat sandals. A movie date with my husband would call for a t-shirt, cardigan, jeans and ballet flats. My typical office wear is a shift dress paired with open-toed wedges. “              

Each pair serves a different purpose.

She stands out with her choices of fashion commodities that are comfortable, un-restraining, and effortlessly stunning. Her flexibility in fashion mirrors her versatility as a person, walking the path to success in various shoes that are sure to make Carrie Bradshaw proud.

“Shoes are all about utility and style. They take you to diverse places. Needless to say, fashion should also go with comfort.” Bianca wears different shoes for different roles ---- a social figure, mom, wife, friend, and career woman.

She has managed to get through life’s rocky roads with effortless grace, just as she happily married the word “me” with “them,” right from the moment she stepped in her bridal shoes and walked the aisle with Morris Uy some 7 years ago. While most pregnant women balloon their way to hibernation, this social figure surfaced the pages of glossies donned in the latest trends, graced three times to her honour.

What Bianca wears complement her daily agenda, which she rolls out from as early as 6.30 am. Her morning glory is stimulated with butterfly kisses from her wonderful brood, coupled with good vibes which she carries to work with. Her trusty ballerina flats and sleek sandals are her saving grace to survive the long hours of work at the Sales and Marketing office of Kar Asia, a family business where she keeps busy as head of department. Her shoe tale continues with a trip to a mall or two, as style counsel to unica hija Isha, and to several summer arts activities for her elder sons, Quentin and Zach. Bianca treasures family bonding over food, Ipad games, out of town trips, and other interactive activities which help develop her kids’ skills.

What's in her bag

The characters she plays in her life are also evident in the supplies she carries in her bag: Baby wipes, sanitizer, makeup essentials, cell phone, face tissue, house keys, and a rosary. Yes, she is also a Marian devotee. No wonder her beauty is timeless, skin always flawless.

Her age remains a mystery to those who don’t know she’s now a 33 year old mom of three. Her road to maturity is symptomatic of a Benjamin Button case, as she’s one who has never aged a day and whose personal style channels through the classic and the pop culture. Her visit to the dermatologist comes secondary in maintaining her youthful glow, as her au naturel flair is skin deep and prettified by positive thoughts. To her, good vibes are almost medicinal as a pain reliever, as beautifying as any cosmetics product, and as age defying as stem cell treatments.

Taken at the birthday of her
third child, Isha

The child like innocence on her face is relative to her slim body frame. She describes her figure as scrawny, which to most of us is already a gift. There is no hint of baby fat in her svelte shape, and no trace of sagging skin that comes with age.  Her fitness regimen is defined by a goal to gain weight, except post pregnancy wherein she ably and quickly shrinks back into her slimfit’s by taking pilates and belly dancing classes. She quips, “Do something which won’t bore you. Metaphorically speaking, exercise comes as an easy breeze if you move to the beat of your heart.”

Her versatility to fit and match small sizes and exceptional designs makes her the perfect choice as print model for home-grown and global brands. She unconsciously charades as a living mannequin in special events, and has always topped the best dressed list of every meticulous fashion police.  For evening affairs, she slips into a pair of pumps to elevate her mood, as she does the “crossover” for the cameras.

Her discreet chic approach to styling is as modest as her persona. She prefers not to parade any obvious fashion credentials nor to be defined by brands. To her, dress-me-up-fashions are not as relaxing and functional if they don’t build wardrobes, ending up as throwaway fads or as one-hit wonders.


“For me, brands are immaterial. As long as you feel good in it, fits you well, and it’s not beyond your budget, then go for it!”
---
Story published on my newspaper column, Metro Mom.
Page 15, A1 of INdulge Section, Edge Davao newspaper, Vol. 5 Issue 57, 23 May 2012

ONE FAB HOTEL FOR YOUR POOCH

Dogs are every man’s best friend. We treat them like equals, giving them the same treatment we give to our family. Dogs reward our care and love with loyalty and friendship, even braving the odds just to keep their master away from harm.

In this time and day, dogs have elevated their position in family homes. Gone are the days when they just functioned as life guards. In a way, they have now become an extension of their master's identity and personality. Think Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell. Or better yet, Elle Woods and Bruiser. These pooches mirror the personal taste of their handlers, from posh cribs to sophisticated ensembles.

However, their crib is sometimes put into question when the need and impulse to travel arises. Not everyone has the moolah to get take off with their pooches via private plane, nor do most malls allow pets in their premises. 

Majority of the time, dogs are left to friends or neighbors who we do not intend to bother with the responsibilities and work load of a caretaker. Each dog lover has a different standard in caring for their pets, and your dog’s temporary handlers might get too worried over not being able to provide what your dog is accustomed to. I have heard tales of friends having sleepless nights, worrying about a friend’s pet in their custody, or about their own dogs under an inexperienced caretaker.

One Fab Pooch Hotel and Fitness Club is your saving grace for this dilemma. Whether it is for a day or a week, your canine bff is guaranteed to experience the best kind of hospitality in Davao’s first and only doggie daycare center and boarding facility.

Posh pooch enjoying the suite life

This pet-boarding place has sprung new breed and quality in pet care and grooming for every four-legged guest. One Fab Pooch is modelled after hospitals and luxury hotels, featuring home-like sleeping spaces, hours of play and exercise, experienced trainers, plus the best sanitation and grooming standards.

The suites

Deluxe rooms

Patterned after contemporary living spaces, One Fab Pooch has 21 well-appointed rooms, with different room categories and amenities to suit your dog’s needs. Each room is designed with the comfort of your pooches in mind. They also have a posh paw-lour where dogs can enjoy  ultimate pampering and a bit of fashion refreshment.

Their stay is not only packaged with meals, but also comes with personalized service like monitored potty schedules and daily walks. 

Fitness and playgroup activities in the Fitness Club also ensure that your pets are fit and well-socialized with other guests, so they won't feel too lonely during your absence. 

They are guided through an hour fitness session of supervised activities that stimulate their agility and coordination skills, added with a moderate cardio exercise to keep them in proper shape and health.

Check the Facebook page of One Fab Pooch Hotel and Fitness Club for more information, VIP membership, and special discounts. For a tour of their facilities, feel free to drop by their place from 9am-7pm. ONE FAB POOCH Hotel & Fitness Club is located at 751 Tionko Avenue corner Araullo St. (near Sunflower Hotel and Sanny Sweets), Davao City. You may also call (63 82) 305 0351 for other details and inquiries.