You Are Enough

>> Saturday, October 2, 2010

Some serious doodling here, and enjoyed every minute of it.  Just the break I needed to fulfill my thirst for some "me-time" doodling which I have not done for what seems like ages. Being that most of the stuff I do is work/client related - it's just not the same.

Inspired by Tracy Clark's "I Am Enough", a self-kindness collaborative.  I started this a month ago, just painting the bird and the words, "You are Enough" and finally finishing it the other day on some much needed self-imposed "me-time".

Drawn on 9" x 11" Acid Free Canson Watercolor pad using watercolors, pigma micron pens, color markers and color pencils.

YES, YOU are Enough.
This is the scanned copy, wouldn't it
look lovely on your wall?

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Camp Giggle

>> Friday, October 1, 2010

I love camping! Yes I do.  It's no wonder that I eventually ended up joining outdoor clubs and mountaineering activities a long time ago (before my children were born).  And I still love it....the call of the wild still sings a song in my heart (hmm....that's a journal page waiting to be written and drawn!)  But again, camping is another activity I wish I could have time for.  What is it with my struggle with time?

I always have fun images when I think of camp, going off on adventures, exploring (real or imagined places).  I think that's what Rachelle (Designs by Doodelle) had in mind while creating her latest kit, CAMP GIGGLE.  Such a wonderful complement to our adventure, travel and yes, camp photos.


Here is my layout, it's my nephew camping out in his stuffed toy storage tub, surrounded by all his animal friends - both real and stuffed :)
And a little freebie for you! 

Don't forget to keep checking in and drop by Rachelle's blog and Pom's blog for some wonderful give-aways.

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Whirlwind of a Week

>> Thursday, September 30, 2010

It was a whirlwind of a week last week...deadlines and an event over the weekend = No sleep, incommunicado, fatigue and crying spells (yes, I cry when I am so tired I want to rest but cannot, wouldn't you?).  It's far from over mind you, this week is just as filled although not as frantic.  I like to think it is well worth it and my efforts at planting the seeds will bear fruit down the road (and it better be soon, haha).

All this work, but where is the money?? It seems like I am constantly and endlessly being chased by bills to pay, unending home expenses, confronted by new things to invest into marketing and improving my work.  "I will get over that bump soon!" I like to tell myself.  And I believe it.  It is why I cannot stop and constantly push myself to work, work and get things crossed off that long list.  And I know that long list will get even longer the more people I connect with, it's a good problem I'd like to have.   That's my goal, isn't it? Now if only the day could last like 48 hours instead of 24 and I did not have to be plagued by insistent upper back and neck aches.

The highlight of the week was a wedding fair I had the chance to be part of through partnership with Thunderbird Resorts for their booth at the Themes and Motifs Wedding Expo at SMX in Mall of Asia.  I was tasked to create a piece of artwork that would be sent to a silkscreener and that would be used as a backdrop for the booths of their two resorts (Binangonan, Rizal & Poro Point, La Union).

Too bad though, the silkscreen makers here in the Philippines kinda "suck" at silk screening (or maybe there is a good one but we haven't found them yet, suggestions anyone?)  and they could not accommodate the large scale design (to cover the back wall).  So my artwork was not used as backdrop, but it wasn't put to waste though because I had used it to create the table place cards, menu, table seat numbers and label cards.

These are the mood boards I put together (just click to enlarge):



The artwork was all hand-drawn, imported into Illustrator and then colored digitally in Photoshop.

And here are the wonderful photos from the actual event itself (photo credits: Jocelyn Alberto-Henares)


This is the set-up for the Poro Point booth:
 
Beautiful, elegant set-up by Royal Flower Shoppe
 Of course, here are the menu, place cards, table 
cards I designed.  Love seeing them in print!  
 Cake design by Cake Concepts
That's an actual soon-to-be wed talking to 
me about my album artwork, so exciting!
Here is the set up for the Rizal booth:
Menu card, place cards and table cards designed by me :)
Gorgeous flowers by the Royal Flower Shoppe
Cake provided by Cake Concepts, see how they adapted my doodles 
and used it all around the cake, I was pleasantly surprised!
Sample cakes from Cake Concepts, I just love the 
flour-less chocolate cake!!! Super yummy!

All-in-all, it was a good event for me, no on-the-spot bookings but definitely a lot of interest generated + quite a good number of we will definitely get in touch with you to do our wedding album because we love your work! Yay! Of course, these are for weddings happening next year or the year after.  It's a good start for 2011 and 2012, definitely something to look forward to.

How was your week?

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A Perfect Combination

>> Friday, September 17, 2010

She's a journalist by day and a designer the rest of the time, writing skill + visual skill = CREATIVE AWESOMENESS! Whoa!  Now that is quite a Perfect Combination.  That my dear readers is what my friend Rachelle has.  She is one multi-talented gal who manages to always make me smile with her wit and whose designs I always look forward to seeing.

Some of you know her as Rachness Designs or by her blog name Doodelle.  From now on, her designs will be known as Designs by Doodelle, I guess some people did not seem to associate her design name with her blog name, tee hee.  I love the new name Rach! 

Rachelle is the Featured Designer over at MScraps for the month of September.  Okay, I know this post is a little late and we're halfway into September, but you've still got another 2 weeks to head on over there and grab any of Rachelle's kits at 20% OFF.

For the entire month of September, Rachelle's special offer is a 20% OFF discount for any purchase of her products worth 5$ and above. You just need to use the coupon code you see in the graphic Rachelle made below.
 

And when you sign up for the MScraps Newsletter, you get the free mini-kit Rachelle used to create the graphic above - its called "Bloom"

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We were talking about Perfect Combination's awhile ago and what perfect timing to be able to use this kit for the perfect combination's in our life.


 This Element Pack can also be purchased separately.

 

Rachelle loves coffee and dark chocolate (mmmm, I totally agree with her there), curling up in bed with a good horror book and big fluffy pillows.  I happen to think that Rachelle's writing + designing skills are a perfect combination.

My Aunt Agnes and Uncle Dennis are to me, a perfect combination.  Their daughter Joy seems to be following in their footsteps with her perfect combination.  I love the combination of "kesong puti" (white goats cheese) with "pandesal" ( a type of Filipino bread that's slightly sweet and baked as small, oval loaves, from the Spanish pan de sal, meaning 'bread of salt') - mmm....perfect! I'm getting hungry...

Pom's perfect combination is narrated so well in her lovely LO.  (Hint: Something for you over at her blog).

My layout below. This is a photo my sister sent me, I always love Father + Child photos, there is a quality about it that just tugs my heart...maybe its because we grew up without our father in our lives... this is one that is just too precious:


And that layout is my Perfect Combination gift for you to use for those perfect combination's in your life...


Have a happy weekend ahead!

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A Kiddie Wall Mural

>> Friday, September 10, 2010

Here is a wall mural I'm currently making...it's a FJ Cruiser and a Mini Cooper...it's for a child's room, and he is just crazy about cars..so cute :)




Do you see how big the cars are? Practically the whole wall for the FJ Cruiser.  Not quite done yet, but almost there, I'm quite excited to see the look on his face.

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Inspiration Monday: The Meaning of Life

>> Monday, August 30, 2010

Today promises to be a busy, busy day but before I head off into work mode, I'd like to share this short video I found on Facebook, Posted by Santé et beauté pour tous.  I really love it and the soundtrack is just beautiful.  I hope it inspires and guides you....



The illustrations and the captions are from the book "Be Happy: A Little Book to Help You Live a Happy Life" (2007) by Monica Sheehan. The music is "Cuore di Sabbia" (Sand Heart) by Pasquale Catalano, from the soundtrack of the movie "Mine Vaganti" (2010) (Loose Cannons) directed by Ferzan Ozpetek

Lyrics

Be happy
Show up
Follow your heart
Find a new perspective
Have a sense of wonder...
Find people you love...
Set goals
Help Others
Dance
Pamper yourself...
Face your fears...
Go to a museum
Exercise
Limit television
Get in touch with nature
Lighten up
Get a good night's sleep
Read books
Buy yourself flowers
Don't compare yourself with others
Don't beat yourself up
Be open to new ideas
Don't focus on negative thoughts...
...Focus on creating what you desire
Make time just to have fun
Keep the romance in your life
Make a gratitude list
Love your Mother Earth
Want what you have
Be true to yourself

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After A Long Absence...

>> Friday, August 20, 2010

I'm back! Nope, I haven't really gone anywhere, I just got too busy because of:

a) back-to-back deadlines.
b) I was packing lots and lots...and lots of stuff. 
c) I moved out of the house I lived in for five years and into a tiny 45 sq meter condo. 
d) I was unpacking lots and lots of stuff + moving and pushing and pulling stuff around trying to make this new little place I call home look...well... like home.  (I still need to do and buy so many things!!! I need shelves and closet space!! a new bed, fridge, washing machine...)
e) trying to squeeze in some more work (I'm in semi-panic mode now because of quickly depleting resources and upcoming bills).
f) battling fatigue...bone on bone weariness from the stress of it all - I slept the whole day last Wednesday, I think it all just sank in.  All that adrenaline just came crashing down and my body just could not make it through the day - Yes, I hear you!! REST.  And so I did. 

And I am thankful.  For everything that has gone and for everything that is coming my way.  God truly is good.

I'm feeling much better today and trying to catch up on everything I need to cross off my list.  Don't you love crossing things off your list? I do.  It gives me such a sense of accomplishment.  My version of a list now is to write down the things I need to do, my appointments, deliverables on small post-it notes and tape them to my mirror.  Every time I finish something, I take the post-it note down and throw it away.  I find it very, very helpful. 


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On another note, I have got some cute little surprises for you to download :)  My dearest Rachelle of Rachness Designs (Doodelle) has come out with two adorable kits at MScraps.  Got to play around with them below:


Creative Soul  (S4H/S4O) released last August 13 is a kit truly after my own heart, all those doodle goodies in one kit, ah!!!!  I thought it fitting to create a layout with myself in it :) The photos were taken during the Wedding Summit event last June.  I designed the cake which was executed by Cake Concepts and the tarp I was sitting on is based on a drawing I did for the Thunderbird Resorts booth.

Creative Soul is available as a kit


or available as an Element Pack

And here is my Creative Soul Quick Page freebie for you :)


Download HERE.
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Wait! Before you go, there's more!

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For release today at MScraps is Rachelle (Doodelle's) Travelogue.  A travel themed kit to scrap your travel memories.  Such wonderful muted colors, I really love all those doodles and that cute little camera :)


That's my adorable little nephew picking strawberries, he is just the yummiest little baby boy I know (yeah, I'm quite biased but he really is such a CUTIE!), just look at those curls!

Travelogue Kit is available at MScraps today - August 20th at 20% off!!! 


it is also available as an Element Pack, also 20% off

And here is my Travelogue Quick Page Freebie for you :)


Download HERE.

Do drop by Rachelle's (Doodelle's) blog to give her thanks for allowing me to give this out to you, there's a give-away going on at the MScraps Forum and go check in on Pom's blog to see her fab layout!! You may just find some goodies in store for you.  

Have a great, fruitful day and a wonderful weekend ahead of you!

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About This Blog

All about me, my musings, ramblings, fancies, quirks and dreams; the blessings in my life - the kids and their growing years; and my love for digital scrapbooking/design and graphic arts; and my eternal quest to keep learning something new each day and give back in my little way.

This blog used to be 3 blogs which I decided to merge together, my scrapping blog (Pandoras Box of Thought), the blog about my kids (Beyond the Four Walls) and my cooking/recipe blog (Cooking Mama) - all the old posts are still up but I've decided to just post everything in the future in one forum, with all the things I'm doing, I'd like to keep everything in one neat container :)


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