A Corkboard Makeover

Our home office has a blank wall above the desk. It's where my husband and I stick Post-its with lists or scrap paper filled with reminders attached to the wall using Washi tape. 

It was blah to look at. It needed a TADA! solution.

I found this corkboard at a thrift store. It was a steal at $3.00!

But because I didn't want the teenage bedroom or college dorm room look, I gave it a new face using paint.

Black paint.

I painted it entirely using about 5 coats.

It looks a lot more grown up now.

I found an excuse to go shopping for some push pins. These owl-shaped ones are from Target. They were less than $5.00.

I liked how elegant the gold looked on the black bakground.

This corkboard now hangs on our wall. It's beautiful and functional. 

Blah to TADA! indeed.

A Project Full of Patches

Hi guys! I hope your weekend went beautifully. 

I love me a good cappuccino, most especially if it's topped with gorgeous latte art (it's a skill I wish I had). That is why when I saw this little patch, I knew I had to have it: 

Isn't it cute? It could also pass for hot chocolate with a heart-shaped marshmallow. 

Many posts back, I made this pouch. It's a plain linen pouch that I got from the dollar bin at Target. I made it my own with iron-on patches. 

Each patch tells a story -- of my favorite things and some that I picked-up from my travels. 

There are still blank spots on the pouch for new acquisitions! 

With just a little bit of ironing...

My new patch is attached. 

It's a unique pouch that's a work in progress. TADA!

It's something I like to use for mini craft projects, keeping me organized and can be taken wherever I go. 

Crafting Away the Sadness

Hello everyone, how have you been? Apologies for my absence. 

My sweet mother Eloisa passed away on January 31st. 

It was one of those days that I feared -- when you receive THE phone call and you scramble to get to the hospital. But the hospital is half way around the world from where I live, involving a 15-hour plane ride to Hong Kong and another two-hour plane ride to Manila. Luckily, my husband and I were able to book our flights (without having to pay an exorbitant fare), pack our suitcases, and tell our respective bosses that we had to take a break from work for a medical emergency. 

My mom suffered a massive stroke. And while the loss and sadness is apparent, I am most grateful that I was able to say my goodbyes and "I love yous". And that she didn't suffer. And that she was surrounded by the whole family as she journeyed home. 

Dealing with loss is something I'm still trying to navigate. But just like on good days, when I have bad days, I craft. 

My mom owned this locket (I do have a fondness for lockets).

I chose a few pictures that I resized on the computer. It's wise to have a variety of photos, sizes, and color saturation as options. 

I cut around the photos and put them inside the locket. 

The first one is of my parents on their wedding day. The second is of my mom and me. I chose these because she looked very, very happy in them. Of the many roles she juggled, being wife and mother was her priority. 

I put the locket on a chain that I own, for me to wear as frequently as I can. TADA!