Extensive Chibi Workshop with Claythinz

When I was just starting to work with clays, my chibis looked like this:

Yes I know, they all looked scary! Even I can't stand the very sight of them. Lol. So I kept practicing and somehow managed to improve and created something more presentable...

I'm happy that people around me find them cute now but I wasn't really happy with the improvement because even if they look better, I can't seem to make their size smaller... at least small enough to make as cellphone charms.

I wanted to make personalized gifts for family and friends that are small yet pretty for them to hang on to their mobile phones but my chibis always end up as big as a charm for a pendant or even a cake topper, haha!

I wanted so bad to make small ones and really improve on creating mini-MEs hence my decision to join another workshop. This time with the chibi queen herself who also happens to be a good friend of mine, Thina of Claythinz.

Why her workshop? Well other than she is the Chibi Queen, she also makes really tiny yet BEAUTIFUL chibis -- and mind you, she's really good at it!

If you get to see these lovelies in person, I bet the first word that will ever come out of your mouth is "WOW!". Yes that's how awesome her chibis really are.

So last July 28, 2011 I had my workshop with Thina at home. A workshop specifically designed for one to learn the art of creating one of a kind detailed chibis. Love of Labor of Love also came to join us. It was such a fun day!☺

Love with Thina

I considered the workshop to be an extensive one because I feel that other than a refresher of my basic chibi workshop with Poxee, it also introduced a wider range of techniques in creating small yet very detailed chibis. But since we were not really able to maximize the day -- I had to take care of my baby and take the workshop at the same time, my mentor Thina was generous enough to give me a second round! Only the round 2 happened a couple of months after, October 09, 2011 due to both our hectic schedules (or was it just mine?) haha!

We still did it at home, only this time we had it in our other unit. And I was able to prepare for it more than I did the first one... Here take a lookie!

and there's still 3 of us because Cherry of Crafty CB joined us!

Cherry with Thina

Serious?

I am glad I decided to take this workshop... Not only have I learned how to make my chibis smaller, I also learned a whole lot of techniques and tricks... oh and hairstyles too! ☺

my workshop projects

Now every time I find myself a little confused or in the middle of nowhere whenever I am making my chibi Thina is always kind enough to answer my questions despite her busy schedule. Isn't that one of the most important things to consider when choosing our mentors?

I highly recommend this workshop for all those who'd like to learn how to make really special and fab chibis! If you wanna learn how just hit her facebook link below. ☺

Oh! And here's a picture of my most recent work that I made for our house help, Bibi.

It may look a little big -- but it's not! ☺ Just perfect for a mobile charm ♥

I give this workshop a 5 out of 5 stars.



Thina Villanueva (Claythinz)
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Sendong: Give L♥ve this Christmas

Sendong (international name Washi), a tropical storm that hit Cagayan De Oro and Iligan on Dec 16, 2011 like a thief in the night, where death has reached 927 while hundreds are still missing...

Read more of my Sendong post HERE.

Love from Friends...

Nothing compares to the wonderful feeling of receiving wonderful surprises from loved ones and friends.

And I got two surprises -- one came a couple of weeks ago and the other one just this afternoon! Both came really unexpected!

Here lookie lookie... 

This came from my friend Joy of Glitz of Joy. I never expected she'd make me my own signature stamp! I can't imagine just how much effort was invested in this project. This is really tiny yet lovely. Perfect for my projects.☺

The second one is this... 

The package came with a sweet note!

opening the package...

and this is what's inside

look at the back view!!!

a closer look at the back part

Perfect for my iPhone!!!

The second gift came from one of my NENDO distributors, Celyn of Kleyland. I really find it sooo cute -- I ended up using it the very minute I finished taking all the photos for this blog and set aside my capdase casing. ☺

I am happy for the lovely gifts I've received from friends, but most of all I feel grateful for having friends like them who took the time and effort in making handmade gifts for me. Really thoughtful, really special.

To Joy and Celyn, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart ♥

Which 1 Should I Get?

Due to hectic schedule weeks before, I decided to take some time off -- to sleep, rest and do non-crafty things (such as watching tv) as much as possible. As a matter of fact, I just woke up at 730pm from an afternoon sleep and it sure felt so good to be able to catch up on sleep!

Anyway, at the moment even if I am not doing anything craft-y my mind won't stop thinking... I just couldn't take my mind off this topic -- "which camera lens to get for my new toy."

I currently have AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED. I think my photography mentor, Marlon, mentioned that this is a zoom type lens. I tried using it several times in some of my projects and noticed that it had a hard time shooting in low light conditions. Since the only time I am free to take photos would be in the evening, inside our room, I figured I should get myself a new lens fit for what and when I do take photos.

So I am choosing between these 3 awesome Nikkor lenses:

The picture above is an AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G. Initially I wanted this because I heard that it's good at low light condition, great for group shots and basically a general all purpose lens, not to mention it's only P11,000.00, a little easy on the pocket. However, I am not so sure if it'll be that good too when it comes to product shots which is one of my main concerns for getting another lens.

The second one is an AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G. I considered this lens because after several research I found out that this lens works really great at low light conditions as well as portrait shots. Price however is more than double the amount of the first lens considered. This costs P26,000.00 when I called up Henry's and Mayers. :-(

Now this is an AF-S Micro Nikkor 60mm f/1:2.5G ED. My friend Randy Bautista of Focal Studios suggested this lens since I do lots of product shots. For him this is really the lens for the job. The only downside of this lens after I made my research is that it doesn't work well indoors and I'd be needing a tripod to prevent blur images. This lens also costs P27,500.00 and I think it went higher because the 50mm lens added 2k its original price from the last time I checked with Mayer and Henrys.

I haven't made up my mind... And I think it'll take me several more days to decide. But I feel the rush to make a decision as soon as I can because this topic is starting to hurt my head, lol.

Then again I have to remember, it's not on the camera nor lens alone -- but more on the skill of the photographer taking the picture. Even with a point and shoot cam one can come up with really fantastic photos. So I have to get to know the new camera, understand my notes from my mentor and learn as much as I can. Oh and not to forget, take note of my budget!☺


Credits: 
Photos - Google.com
Link Reviews - DpReview.com

Something New...

I haven't posted in a while...
Lots of things happened and now I am taking the time off everything, except work of course! teehee.

But I will write again, soon! I promise.

In the mean time, let me just show you a picture of my very special new toy!

The big guy (camera) over there is my new boyfriend! teehee.
I am sooo happy... Finally I have my own DSLR camera!

So other than my crafty little handmade stuff, I will also be posting here lots and lots of photos I will be taking as I step further and explore the fab world of photography ♥ I am sooo excited.

Also, I'd like to thank Mr Marlon Antonio, the wonderful husband of my clay mentor Rocky of Rockybeads, for generously guiding and teaching me lots of things -- from understanding my camera to capturing great photos. ☺ It always feels great to have someone around who's very well versed in photography. Thank you so much!

Lastly, let me share with you my new site -- My Doppelganger. No I am not moving, again. I just put up another site for my more personal blogs and weekly memes. Visit me there once in a while too and get to know the other side of me. *winkwink

That's it for now... Talk to you again soon!
Check back every now and then as I have lots of stuff and stories to share to you all soon! ☺