{MTO} Zia

Date: November 09, 2013

Event: Baptismal Souvenir

Request: Baby in Pink blanket with Nameplate

What do you think of the baby girl in pink blanket? 

{MTO} Jacob Frames

Date: October 2013

Event: Baptismal souvenir for godparents

Request: 4R Clay decorated picture frame

I had fun making this project! 

Like most of the orders I received in the past, there was no particular design instruction for this project. I'm actually grateful because the customer who ordered this was not only patient but trusting; she entrusted everything to me -- from the colours, to the frame down to the design itself. 

I'm happy because I was able to find the exact frame I have pictured in mind to use for this project. And because the frame itself was really nice, I decided to keep the clay decoration simple and minimal; this way the design can easily fit into the lovely homes of the receiver.

Here's a picture of one of the frames in action...

photo courtesy of Susan. Thank you!

And a very kind message Susan posted on Facebook & her IG accounts after she received the frames: 

I'm grateful that I was given the chance not only to make another cute project; but also the opportunity to have a new friend in Susan -- not only does she have a pretty face, she is also one of the sweetest!

I still have 3 pending frames due and this time it's for her kids. 

I must go find a new set of cute frames for this project!

ArtNouveauPH Goes Steampunk

Last October, we at Art Nouveau Ph has chosen Steampunk for our October challenge. That decision was derived from the fact that most of us find creating pieces using tiny gears challenging.

Initially I wanted to make use of my Christi Friesen book but since I already made dragons in the past, why not push myself to create something I've always wanted to make -- an owl designed card holder!

Materials used:

- Nendo Flexible clays

- Nendo Pixie Dusts

- Watch gears

- Inks

- Metal chains

- Blank card case
- Texture sheet

I love how it turned out; just exactly the way I wanted it to be -- steampunk with a touch of cuteness!

Hop on to our group's Facebook page to check out the awesome entries of my guildmates! 

Up, Up & Away...

Project: Bridal Shower Token

Date: September 01, 2013

Theme: Travel

... Finally the ❤ has found a Home.

To my dear cousin-in-law Jacqueline, 

Friends and family together as one, 

This is your day for some gifts and some fun, 

Enjoy all the lovely ladies in your life, 

As you celebrate your journey to becoming a Wife. 

I love you!

{Sample} Baby in Blanket

I made a female version of my Baby in Blanket...

I'm thinking of changing / adding variation to the head part -- instead of the 3-4 strands of hair... 

I'll try to make another sample on my next vacant time.

For souvenirs like this should you wish to have the celebrant's name added, if its just a 3-4 letter name, we can opt to attach it at the back of the baby's blanket like this,

Or we can still place it on a name plate and attach it with the baby.

What do you think? 

{Souvenir} Baby with Milk Bottle

Date: June 30, 2013

Event: Baby Matt's Baptism

I made them as charms attached to the Nendo key hooks. 

This very useful key hooks is designed, patented and exclusively available in Nendo Arts & Crafts.

Trivia: This project was inspired by my little China man :)

{Souvenir} Baby in Blanket

Date: June 23, 2013

Event: Baby B's Baptism

Packaging: Clear ziplock with picture label and ribbon

{Workshop} Trinket Tales!

Have a look at these projects...

photos c/o Trinket Tales

They're all so lovely and made perfectly, don't you agree?

I just love Trinket Tales creations! 

It's like she has these magical hands that whatever she sets her hands to create instantly turns into something very beautiful!

If you personally know me, you'd know that I choose the workshops I take very seriously.
I want to be able to take a certain course from the best teacher there is...
And to decide whether to join a workshop or not conducted by Ghie is a no brainer -- it's 101% a GO!

This is why even if I'm not really a morning person, more so is fond of doing long travels if its not for vacation trips or joy rides... together with two of my clay friends, I had the strong will to wake up super early and set off to Angeles City, Pampanga last March 10, 2012 to attend a workshop with Ms Ghie Malig, the pretty and super creative woman behind Trinket Tales.

When my friends and I decided to have the workshop, I got very excited and immediately sent a personal message to Trinket Tales' FB account. Ms Ghie replied at short notice and we were able to finalise everything. Talking to her reminds me so much of my 1st clay mentor, Rocky of Rockybeads, for me they do have a lot of things in common -- they're both very kind, warm and easy to talk to. She also asked me of the things me and my friends would like to learn out of the workshop, which for me is a very important quality in a teacher.

Now here's a couple of photo I took with my friends during our stop over on our way to the venue...

Cherry & I

Thina & I

And here's the list of the topics we requested to learn:
*Cuff
*Flower embellishment
*Locket
*Resin
*Steampunk
*Surface treatment


If you're starting to wonder how the workshop went, let our photos speak for itself:

Mentor wise I can say that Ms Ghie is one of the best there is!
Not only was she able to help us improve our crafts but she made sure that we enjoyed the whole time we were there too!

Aside from the lunch she prepared, she also made this uberly yummy cookies for us...
It was so yummy that I had to ask her if I can order for my family, haha!

Now here's us while working...

You see all those serious faces? Oh don't be fooled... We were all having such a grand time during the workshop -- laughing!

And on to the juicy part -- our creations...

All of our projects, together.

A closer look at each of the projects...

Embellished lockets

Surface treatment + resin (Pavelka gloss)

Steampunk heart

Flower embellished cuff

Lesson wise, it was very well prepared.
We were able to cover everything we came there to learn! Ms Ghie was able to make what seemed too complicated for us to do so easy. We came home overflowing with new learnings!

I, and I'm sure both my friends too, really learned a lot!
The long travel and money for the travel + workshop fees spent were all totally worth it!

So if you want to experience it yourself and learn as much as we did OR if you're not interested in clays but would like to own a one of a kind accessory, then head on to her site HERE.

I give this workshop a 5/5 stars.

Steampunk!!!

I've had the Steampunkery book of Christi Friesen for quite some time now... 

If I remember it correctly, the book has been with me for almost a year or even more than that!

I even purchased really expensive gears from Purplenook, which she got all the way from the US, in the hopes that one day I'll also get my hands into steampunkery!

I never really had the guts to make a steampunk project, well except for the cuff and heart we did when I had my workshop with Ms Ghie of Trinket Tales... Oh! I'm going to write about that so you have to watch out for it! ☺ 

I really had fun working on those projects! It's like an intro to steampunk too.

But despite the small background, I never really mustered the courage to create one. Needless to say, it took me several months to even a year...

Until last Sunday afternoon.

Since I wanted to make something nice and extra-ordinary for my very sweet and supportive doctor, which I'll be bringing with me on my next check up, I thought of making something she wouldn't normally see sold elsewhere... I decided to make a steampunk project!

So I grabbed CF's book from my shelf, chose a project, gathered my tools and started from there...

And this is what I came up with...

What do you think? Was I able to give justice to my CF inspired project? 

For a 1st try, I'd say it's not bad. I actually think it's lovely, haha!
I hope to improve more on this and create lots of projects too.

This by the way has a pin at the back but can also be worn as a pendant. 

I'm not sure if my doctor is into wearing necklaces with pendants like this, moreso made of clay, so I attached a pin to it at the back so she can use it with her scarfs.

Now I'm excited and really looking forward to my next check up -- this time I've got two reasons to be excited about: #1 my baby's check up + ultrasound and #2 handling her over this handmade gift from me! 

Hope she likes it! シ 

ArtNouveauPh Exchange Gift 2013

This theme was supposed to be our group's Christmas exchange gift project. 

But since all of us were busy during the holiday season, I suggested we do the exchange gift in time for the Chinese New Year, which happened to be February 10 this year, and I'm glad that they all agreed.

I had a little challenge finishing this locket... not because of the project itself but because during the days I was working on this one, I've been having so much contractions that I had to set it aside and work back on it on days my body feels a whole lot better.

But though late, I'm happy I was able to finish it.

I'd say that this is a simple locket but made with so much love and patience...

and here's how it looks like with the chain...

It's a locket decorated back-to-back. 

I just took a photo of it opened so I can let you see how the front and back looks like. 

Really hopes my monita likes it as much as I enjoyed creating it! 

Sweet Treats!

Hello everyone! How've you been? 

It's been such a long time and I really miss updating this site... However due to my current condition where I was asked to go on complete bed rest thus the absence, I've no other choice but stay in bed.

But every now and then, even little by little, I try and get my hands on clay (I know, I'm kindda hard-headed..) yet I make sure that I follow all safety measures such as not doing the baking part myself, wearing protective gloves and masks, etc. and really listen to my body to make sure I don't put harm on the baby. I find it really hard to do nothing!

A couple of weeks ago I managed to get back on my working table and did some little cutesy stuff -- I made CUPCAKES! And was I so happy to see my lil girl's eyes glisten seeing little cute cupcakes. 

She LOVES cupcakes!

Here take a lookie: 

Now here's a more close up shot of each of them...

This was inspired by Jill of Beadlady. 

I think she's the one who first made cupcakes with roses on top. I really admire her when it comes to making miniature cupcakes... they all look amazingly yummy!

With this one I made use of my purchased petal cane from one of my very talented mentor, Jen of Purpleluggage. I really love her canes!!! She makes them real well... indeed the master of canes!

So pretty, right?

Now the following cupcakes you'll see below I just played around with decorating... no particular inspiration, just pure imagination.

All cupcakes were made using my Nendo polyclay. I love that they're a little rubbery in terms of finish, not afraid of bumps -- since they'll end up being used as charms. 

And as per my work, I really think I need more practice to perfect my cupcakes...

I'll try to make more of them. 

How about you, what have you got on your working table?