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Archive for June, 2011

I have neglected to post this DIY repainting job we did in May. We were glad the kids helped in painting, thus, we were able to finished three sets of furniture. The first paint job was the green hutch I posted here and the brown wood  settee on Area 2 posted here.

The last brown woody set (yes, brown, AGAIN) was a three-piece outdoor set meant to be a coffee corner set…I specifically asked the furniture maker what design I would want. These two small settees were cut tree trunks and handcrafted to make the bottom part as legs/support.

Here’s the wooden “coffee” set. The table was two big for a coffee table. Nonetheless, for not giving in to my specification, the carpenter was willing to give me huge discounts, so we immediately agreed on the price. And, this set became a permanent fixture in the terrace since 2006.

The original color of the unfinished wood was dark. Do take note that no trees were cut down in the manufacture of wooden furniture such as those. Those trees were actually dead trees lying in the middle of the forest or those found near river banks. Igorots living at the foot of the mountain (Igorot who relocated from Mt. Province) collect those trees and being skilled wood carvers, it became their small industry, aside from planting vegetables.

For the wooden set in Area 2 and this set, I paid P6k including delivery fee. Wherefore, when I saw something similar at the city’s antique furniture shop, it cost more than double. Last summer, the antique shop showcased some of their items for sale at the city’s big mall. The prices were jaw dropping!

dried DIY flowers on the table (HOW-TO HERE)

these were electric insulators from hubs work area...(power plant station)

Displaying home pieces need not spend huge amount of money. Many display items found in home depot were pricey. A home maker needs a little creativeness and resourcefulness and before you knew it, a masterpiece could be created without spending a buck. Look around…

• pebbles, the white ones and purple colored pieces can add depth to any centerpiece

• weeds or twigs can be dyed into different colors and used as potpourri. (SAMPLES HERE)

• wild flowers can be dried and used as decoration such as the flower decor above. (DIY HERE)

• empty wine bottles can be used as potpourri holder or marble holders. (SAMPLES HERE)

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A cute souvenir from Macau from my sister-in-law who recently jetset to the famous Las Vegas of Asia.

I shalt be dreaming going to The Venetian riding the gondolas or strolling at The City of Dreams hoping I could do bag shopping at LV. Whew!

Dreams are free, e?

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Just came in from Sally’s blog who host Blue Monday. I learned that she is at the hospital and had been into surgery. I am wishing for her quick recovery and my prayers are with her. Please, Lord, guide a sweet friend.

blue ice-cream-like plastic pots for 10 pesos each

terra cotta rectangular planters for 20 pesos a piece

Bought those plastic planters last week, hoping we could do some gardening on the weekends but it’s been over a week now that the rain has continued to exert its fury soaking low lying areas in the metro and other areas here in the Philippines.

Good thing for me, I need not wait for the rain to stop and had the planters filled with black soil and have them planted with easy maintenance plants.

That was easy. I meant to put those at the veranda once they survived to “live”. Oh, please do. Don’t die on me…I need to see beautiful little blooms such as this…

this was the plant specie I sowed on the rectangular planters

Sorry for not exerting little effort on the name of this bloom. Sometimes, enigma remains on not knowing anything about certain stuffs, yet, beauty shines and we stood dumbfounded by all its glory.

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Happy morning. Woke up @ 5:30 am. Feeling good. Had quickly cooked for the lad’s school “baon” (packed lunch). And, while sitting in the couch sipping cafe latte and watching early news, I noticed how the overly shy sun is slowly creeping out of the grayish clouds in the eastern skies…

Been pouring torrents around here since, er, Friday…spoiling Sunday’s Father’s Day al fresco celebration, and, oh, been raining hard also on Monday, when the gov’t declared it as a public holiday to celebrate Rizal’s 150th birthday. Yesterday, slight drizzle went through as the day passed by.

A blessed day today, as the sun showers its first rays on our front lawn…

Thought of sharing how the gleaming cast of golden rays bathe our snow white mini cocoon…

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Even on a rainy weekend, I had step into these few items at the “tiangge” (bargain shop). The young owner said she would have to come drop by my place to see how have I done with the items that I have bought the past months at her shop. On my last stop, I couldn’t find any stemware to my liking (READ: no sale at those items), hence I settled for only 3 pieces. Better than nothing…

A round blue plate, a custom mug, with a Brit flag design…love it ^_^, and one ordinary yellow sieve, because I couldn’t find our old one, geez!

I had second thoughts bout this piece, but then, cashing it out the last minute because I had one cross stitch piece that resembles the silhouetted trees, and I find the Chinese inscriptions on the side look…well, Chinese ^_^.

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Few more cheap finds at the local “tiangge” (bargain shop) here in our small town. Thought I needed few drinking glasses to replaced the ones broken during my little miss’es birthday. I hate to see when something broke into my things. It breaks my heart,too ^_^

Hopping into the shop one day and these were my two loot bags:)

After unpacking the loots, I broke into laughter when I realized the color theme of the day’s cheapy finds were…ALL COLORLESS! funny, but, that’s co-incidence only:)

Got the same glasses I wanted for those broken ones for ten pesos each ($0.20), stemware glasses for P280 ($6.50)  for a box of six. And, the two clear deep bowls for P55 ($1.30) a piece. The KEY?…HAGGLE & HAGGLE MORE ^_^

Seeing these bowls, I was reminded of hubby’s  bickering that I needed to cook soups more often especially that the rainy season had kicked off. I was surprised that the bowls were a little heavier. I got two. Hubs said he would make noodle soup on the day the rain would show up:) Oh, please, rain, do come today:)

I do not fancy drinking wine, sorry, but, one of my passion is collecting wine glasses. For display only. Ouchy!

Who knows, might use them for cocktail parties later on^_^ . Might as well try Pinot noir or pina colada. Aye!

SHARING THESE “TIANGGE” FINDS @

While unloading the “clutter” on the hutch that we have repainted recently, I was delighted to marvel this blue box. This was supposed to be a tool box for hubby’s wrenches, pliers and other things. Purchased this years ago from a Tupperware agent. But when I get into the hobby of needlework. I traded a bigger tool box for a hubby in lieu of this. Woot!

Abandoning the cross stitching hobby for a while now, the box had become laden with dust…

Thank goodness, the DMC’s were free of dust.

Colorful DMC were arranged according to its numbers, thanks for the box’es compartments…

Kept intact were also these small spools which I did used for those unused DMC’s.

I was wondering when should be the day I shall use the colorful threads again?

Perhaps, when “blogland” got tired of my posts ^_^…

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While running an errand last Thursday, I bumped into a kiosk that sells home display items such as wall decors, ceramic jars, night lamps, and more. I browse through the items and found the prices were too steep for frugal buyer like me^_^. Just as I was getting out, found these cute little native basket. For $0.50 a piece, what do you think? Bought , AGAIN, faux flowers, as I making these two baskets for another flower arrangement, for a friend’s coming birthday…

So, after two basketful of  laundry, I I was back again in my work station…with the glue gun, scissors, pliers…what-nots…

After placing the orange faux bloom (this one cost $1)…I stopped to think what shall I add to it…so bare…

Rummaging through my storage  and finding small faux florets and greens…ONE FLOWER SET IS READY.

And, this awesome basket as my flower vase…how ingenious!

Glue this, glue that…

Some here, some there…ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO…

Here’s the other set…starting off with the native basket holder…Aint it a cutie? With its all-natural make…abaca twine, wood cuttings, to make flower designs…

Now, the second FINISHED set…

SHOULD MY FRIEND ADOPT THEM?

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This was the busiest summer on this household. Sans beach travel or Asian tour which do not include on top of our priorities this year, guess, our shabby nest gets the most out of this summer. Kids even helped out in revamping the furnishings. Decluttering their closet, alas!

After spending water fun at a resort, we did finished coating these settees with Boysen paints. I don’t know what it is in dark chocolate browns…I don’t know how to play with colors, maybe, that’s the reason why I am sticking to the original color when we purchased the wood settees few years back…

applied quick dry paint onto these

"love seat?"

This is the same quirky wood furniture some friends have told me to disposed of…for the love of wood and its antique design…I’m keeping these seats for good…

do they look new and shiny again?

Peeps who come to our place often threw this question, why do we have so many seating place in the house? This is AREA 2 (asian- inspired), as the whole family calls this place in the house. AREA 1, or the main receiving room has a contemporary theme here.

Because of the odd design of the settees, and its darker coats, toning down the colors with contrasting accessories is a must.

Blue jar in the corner with faux flowers in oranges, yellows and deep red.

pillow case matches the new curtains

candles and dried twigs i made

Check here how to make zero-dollar dried flowers.

part of my "tiangge" finds

orange/blue dessert plate for ten pesos ($0.25 )

orangy scented candle in glass jar for $1.50 @ Clark

basket for twenty pesos ($0.50). A great storage for wired stuffs

earth colors complemented by orange throw pillow

settees sit on an oriental rug. thanks "my lad" for a hand on the vacuum ^_^

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Did try my luck on blog contests last year. Fate destined me to win not even consolation prices:( Got tired joining this year. Until Nelson’s blog of DIGITAL CATHARSIS brought new hope to my thirst for winnings…What could be more thirst-quencher than this $100 price catch. Woot!

RULES ARE SIMPLE, TOO:

• 5 points for blogging about the giveaway
• 4 points for subscribing to his blog
• 3 points for posting a comment in any of his previous posts
• 1 point for pressing the “Like” button in any of his previous posts

Hop on to the host’s site to read more details on the contest which runs until June 28, 2011.