Dear Santa: MY CHRISTMAS WISH LIST

      Things are starting to get quite busy with Christmas just a few weeks away.  As I am beginning to wonder what my kids will be asking for this Christmas, I thought how about me? Yes,  guilty as a charged! A mom like me thinking about what SHE wants for Christmas? Cliche as it is off the bat I would say, duh I have everything. But for this post can we remove the every in everything and just focus on thing in its plural form = THINGS?

    Yes, I am really gonna do this......Here goes:

#1  
Decorate Workshop: Design and Style Your Space in 8 Creative Steps [Paperback] 
Holly Becker (Author), Debi Treloar (Photographer)

     I am a fan of Holly Becker's blog and I already have her first book. So why not want the second?

#2  

Dinner: A Love Story: It all begins at the family table [Hardcover]  
Jenny Rosenstrach (Author)

     I have read good reviews about this book. It is also an off0shoot of a popular blog of the same name. 

#3   
New Paris Style [Hardcover] Danielle Miller (Author), Richard Powers (Photographer)

     Since my family and I went to Paris this year, it has been a dream of mine to do a modern Parisian style home. Maybe ours?

#4  
Cupcakes and Cashmere: A Guide for Defining Your Style, Reinventing Your Space, and Entertaining with Ease [Hardcover]

Emily Schuman (Author) 

     Another book I am really curious about but it is the cover that had me. Pretty!

#5 

Kindle

Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display 

     Reading from my iPad is giving me major eye strain and headaches. I would love to get a Kindle. 

#6 

A King Size Senso Memory Topper from Uratex Philippines

     I have been wanting one of these but it has been on the list of things we want to buy but never got around to actually buying stuff.

#7 

Washi Tapes!

    http://minibu.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/020111-washi-tape.jpg 

     Need I say more. Washi is love!

#8

Cath Kidston Spot Travel Bag 

     I love Cath Kidston still! The only way I can buy this though is online. We often take off on weekends so this would be great. 

#9 

A Red Wallet - Any Cute Red wallet

     Red wallets have always been lucky for me. I think my current one is ready to retire.

 

#10

Alice Blue Candles 

 

     Alice Blue candles, room sprays and oils are the best smelling ones among the local brands here. They are also so pleasant on the nose and won't give you a headache

     Are you disappointed? No Birkin, Repetto Shoes or LV Bags on my list? I am not that hard to please really even coffee and cake would be great on this list. 

     This was actually fun! Now to post this on H's facebook wall.....Just a few clicks away.....Or if you're reading this, mom? MOOOM!!! MAAADER!!!(She reads my blog.)

     Ho!Ho!Ho!.... to me! Hopefully. =-) Wink!

Endings are Beginnings

     One of my most vivid memories from childhood was looking out my big capiz bedroom window, watching the rain with crayons strewn on the floor and I would just draw the day away. This was the usual rainy day scenario of my youth. I always felt so renewed and content doing this. Up to this day, the rain continues to inspire me.

my rainy day collage

     For me inspiration is God's way of whispering miracles in our hearts. 
    The same feeling of the rainy day scenario happened to me for several Saturdays during my collage making class under New York-trained artist and my good friend, Toots Magsino.

     To me it did not only inspire my classmates and I to come up with collage after beautiful collage but it also inspired many things like a bond between Toots, my classmates and me that is just precious. I think I have written this before in my previous entries. I did not know art can be one of the easiest way to connect with people.

     Last Saturday was our 'graduation'  day but already Teacher Toots has another set of classes up her sleeve which my classmates and I are eager to be part of.
     I want to say I already know the basics of the fine art of collage making. It is something I totally love now. This new found love came wrapped in a pretty package of new friendships.  The course's 'giftedness' has Toots at its helm. She was more than a teacher but a friend leading a friend. Each of us had a unique experience of the class because Toots taught from her heart. A heart to which God whispers many inspired miracles. =-)

ruby's super pretty fabric collage

great work and sticking skills by therese

     So the next time I have a rainy day to spend at home. you know what I will be doing....

my fabric collage

     Here are some pics from our graduation....

     I just love our 'diploma'.

     Till next time, guys!

Toots also is a volunteer/teacher at Carewell.

Read more about our collage making class here.

   

Two Loves With One Stone

     This post is about two of my favorite things; collage making (See my post about it here.) and setting a good table.
     My mom has, what to me when I was growing up, the perfect set of vintage Pirex dinnerware. It had delicate green leaves like a garland around its edges. It can go for Christmas to any day of the year. I used to get a kick out of setting a fancy table complete with all the stemware and silverware to shock my parent's guests. In the Philippines, we are not used to that.
     Well, I have outgrown that but my love for table setting remains.
     In design school recently. we were tasked to do a table setting, complete with a theme,  menu, invites the works. I was excited! Even if i was up to my neck with work, I volunteered to do most of the prep especially the invites, place cards and menu. Why? I wanted to make and use collages for them.
     My group mates and I thought of a ladies book club afternoon tea party. Our teacher loved it. We got the highest score!.......And I had the time of my life. =-)

the invite

the menu

the place card bookmarks

My mind went totally blank with where to put the teaspoon though. 4:00!!

      Teacher got one of my collage bookmarks. =-)

Love At First Collage

    

     Are you a magazine junkie like me?

     Well, last weekend I discovered why God made me one. I was going to fall in love (at first sight) with collage making and my first ever collage making class involved the use of old magazines.

     To me it was not a 'making something out of nothing' thing but since I love my magazines. I turned something I love, detached myself from them (The first exercise was to look through the magazines and tear off what catches your eye.)  and make them into something else. For me it was some experience.

     It helps a lot that my teacher is my old friend, Toots Magsino

Toots is the one standing with the big smile.

     I've loved Toots since high school. She just got back from New York which where she trained and has made a name for herself as an artist. She is truly gifted. =-) ....And now she is my teacher and a very giving one at that.

Even to late comers...

     The class was very engaging and I was surprised how personal it felt.

Look at Vicky making 'kopya". hehehe!

    At the end of the class everyone had big smiles on their faces. The special thing about it was everyone was happy for everyone and our work. It was a lovely Saturday morning!
    
     This is what I brought home with me....

The class is on-going and still accepting those who wish to enroll. Please email me asmaslog@yahoo.com for more info or click here.