The One About FIDA Sewing and Arts School

I have always declared that the Philippines needs more creative spaces.  With malls and commercial establishments being built one after another, a quaint craft supply store or a small workshop venue always appears to be a breath of fresh air for artistic souls.  Just think of it:  a space when creative juices can freely flow, where untapped potential can redeem itself, where there are no mistakes, just artsy opportunities.

FIDA (Fashion Institute of Design and Arts) Sewing and Arts School is the (relatively) new kid on the creative block.  Founded in 2009 with schools in Davao and Cebu, their new branch is located in Silang, Cavite.   It is owned by Christine Munda who served as the academic director of the School for Fashion and the Arts (SOFA) at its inception.  Armed with her business degree and advanced fashion design education, she put up her own businesses in apparel, arts and crafts, and interior design.  Her vast experience in fashion and the arts ultimately led her to putting up FIDA.

The new FIDA location in Silang, Cavite promises to be a haven for individuals seeking to pursue inspired hobbies and artistic endeavors.  The school will be having its Open House and Soft Launch this week with a bevy of craft classes and sewing workshops.

 

Check out the classes that are offered this summer!

Naturally, the sewing classes caught my eye!  And hey, they even have workshops for crafty kiddies and young sewing enthusiasts!

As a creative, I cannot stress enough that one should allow herself the gift of inspired creativity.  FIDA Sewing and Arts School sounds like the perfect place for such gift. :)

Follow FIDA Sewing and Arts School on Facebook and Instagram or their website.

The One About the Valentine Candy Huggers

It's Valentine's Day!  Yesterday in school when my students and I were gathered for Meeting Time and updating the calendar, we talked a bit about this celebration.  Not a lot of them had plans because as one of them put it, "There really aren't a lot of stuff for kids to do on Valentine's.  It's really more for adults."  While there is a grain of truth to that, there's no reason for any of them not to feel the love!

A few days ago, I managed to carve out some time to make these Valentine candy huggers for my students.  Oh, how I missed crafting with paper!  I got the idea from Lia Griffith and it was so easy to put together!

What can be more perfect than candies hugged by sweet animal paws?  Enjoy this lovely day and be kind, lovelies. :)

Wednesday Nugget

Gone digging, so to speak.  But I promise to pepper this blog with interesting posts soon!

In the meantime, here's something that my crafty hands have been working on.  It's one of the lovely things that I'll be selling soon at the very first bazaar that I'll be joining.  Check back in here every now and then for updates on that.

And so, have a lovely hump day. :)

The One About the Felt Cookie Set

Yes, there's a new felt food set!  And I must say that it's painstakingly adorable!  Just thinking about the enormous amount of attention to detail that I have put in the project and sewing through all those nooks and crannies ups the preciousness factor of the set!

It's definitely a little girl's dream baking set.  Here's a closer look at all the handcrafted cookies...

Chocolate chip cookies

Iced sugar cookies with sprinkles

Peanut butter cookies

Dark chocolate cookies with white chips

Gingerbread cookies

And for good measure, here's a closeup of the incredible details. :)

I made two of each cookie so any little girl can share them with a friend...or a stuffed rabbit during make-believe tea time.

Happy crafting!

The One About The Summer That Was

As I write this blog entry, I am taking a break from unboxing my stuff from last school year in preparation for the advent of a new one.  I am slowly willing myself to get back into the teaching groove given that I have one more week before classes start.  However, it is proving to be more challenging than it used to be given the kind of summer vacation that I just had.

The summer that was was nothing short of wonderful.  Apart from a quick trip to Hong Kong, it was really nothing grand but every minute of it was well-spent and none of the I-just-lazed-around-and-watched-TV-and-slept-all-day kind.

I still woke up at around 5 o'clock in the morning to prepare my husband's baon.  Once he is off to work, I would steal a few more minutes of sweet slumber before finally waking up and preparing myself a light breakfast of either yogurt or omelette.  And I then I would clean the house until it is spic and span.  Twice a week, I would attend Zumba classes in a nearby gym which would send my endorphins singing well until the end of the day.  No need for coffee -- at least for two days a week. :)

Upon coming home and taking a shower, I would devote the rest of the day to either sewing, knitting, reading, trying out new recipes, or drawing up plans for my passion projects.  It would involve me sitting with Miss Gertie (my sewing machine and, yes, she has a name because, why not?) as she hums away happily as we churn out a new soft toy or an article of clothing.  It would involve me catching a good movie on TV with my knitting needles and a ball of yarn in my new attempt to make Waldorf balls for my new niece.  It would involve me curling up with a good book as I attempt to make my bedside pile shorter.  It would involve taking a quick trip to the grocery, picking out ingredients for a new recipe.  It would involve taking trips downtown, scouring for materials and supplies for future projects or sitting in a cafe with my laptop or notebook of ideas, mapping out the steps I will soon take for the things I am passionate about.  At times, I would catch up with friends I have not seen in a while.

More on this kimono soon!

Took an online workshop that fit right in my passion project plans!

At the end of each day, I have never felt more productive.  My husband has never felt more cared for.

At the end of each week - Fridays - to celebrate accomplishments no matter how small, I would treat myself to breakfast or lunch at some place as a way of indulging myself after a productive week.  It did not need to be expensive but I ate what made me happy.

Breakfast as Third Cup Cafe

Lunch at The Royal Picadilly Restaurant

 Breakfast at The Breakfast Table

On my last day of summer, I simply unplugged myself from my "work" schedule and took things easy.

And so, the summer that was.  There was no opportunity to be bored simply because I did not let myself be.  Poor TV was seldom turned on because there was always something "more important" to do.  The days were simple; the moments were all lovely.  :)

The One About the New Felt Breakfast Set

My first foray in creating lovely bits of felt food began with this breakfast set.

 Since my sewing skills have levelled up (“ahem, ahem,” –Miss Gertie), I created a much better, much lovelier one.

Oh hello, brekkie...

In case the difference doesn’t show in the photos, the pieces this time are bigger, almost mimicking the actual sizes of pancakes, eggs, bacon, syrup, and pats of butter.  The previous set had pancakes the size of silver dollars (although, yes, silver dollar-sized pancakes are still made in some homes these days).  Imagine how fun for a little one to play with real-life-scaled toys such as these!

On that note, won’t it be lovely to wake up to a hearty plate of these beauties?

Speaking of breakfast, I have often declared that it's my favorite meal of the day.  As I write this, I am having breakfast at this charming gem called Third Cup Cafe.

Here's to the happiness brought about by a hearty plate of eggs, bacon, and pancakes.  Or in my case, a steaming cup of cappucino and a jalapeno poppers sandwich.  Right now, I have the place all to myself which is a good thing because I brought work to do.  This blog post is just one of the many things on my to-do list.

Having said that, here's to a lovely day, a lovely breakfast, and a completely ticked off to-do list at the end of it. :)

The One That Keeps My Coffee Cozy

Sorry for the pun in the title but it's just that I'm over the moon after finishing this new coffee cozy that took longer to finish than the first one I made.  This is a long overdue gift for a friend -- along with a long overdue coffee date with her. :)

I made a cardboard cutout of a coffee tumbler, wrapped the knitted cozy around it, and labelled the card with my friend's name in my beginner-level calligraphy skills and line drawing.

Next knitting project:  NOT a coffee cozy!  :)

Happy crafting!

The One About the Fossil Craft

Earth Science provided an excellent crafting opportunity.  My second grade students and I were talking about fossils -- how they were formed, what a paleontologist is, why people study fossils.  I did not have real fossils on hand so I had to resort to illustrations and videos.  At the end of the unit, I had my students make craft fossils to emphasize the imprinting that happens in fossil formation and how it can be used to study living things.

It's real easy. :)  My students pressed play dough at the bottom of a paper bowl.

We scoured the school grounds for rocks, leaves, and even sea shells and used them to make imprints.

I then helped them mix 4 parts water and 8 parts Plaster of Paris and poured it over the play dough and rocks (or leaves or shells).  After a few hours, we tore the paper bowl and scraped off the play dough.

The fun part was painting the fossils.  I know it doesn't look authentic if painted but we preferred that they looked pretty. :)

As a creative writing link, they wrote stories about their fossils, spinning tales about the creature that made the imprint, what they ate, how they lived, and, of course, how they died.

How's that for crafts in Science?  Happy crafting! :)