Flamingo Colors

Tried my new Staedtler Triplus "Flamingo" Pens. So far it was okay, it wasn't the tip that I was expecting but some colors are nice. 

Loungewear in "Flamingo" colors

My first attempt in trying to draw a rose. I want to draw flowers, too.

Face Studies

Yesterday I made my first face study and did another one today. I'll finish coloring tomorrow. 

First study

Today's study

To add, down to my last sheet in my sketchpad, I made two figures. It was supposed to be three but I messed up the third one. 

Illustrating again

Kaya ko to. 😢 To Kaya ko to! 😍

Last night, I tried illustrating again. It was my first in a loooooong time. Thank you, Lord. After I finished it, I felt good. I looooove it. I felt I am myself again. 

I stayed up until 4:30 am or was that 5:30 am? I made another set.

Together, here they are.

I hope to be able to blog again. I missed it. Bye for now. And I hope everyone stays healthy and safe. As for me, I hope to have a productive and memorable sanity weeklong leave.

Pinto Art Museum

The place itself is the artwork.

Breezy, lovely, and soulful and I cannot elaborate how beautiful it is, you have to see it for yourself.

I hope my pictures inspires you enough to visit the place.  The long commute is worth it. 

Bree

My first time to create a dress for a one-year-old and I'm so happy to see that it fits her well and it looks cute and lovely on Bree.

Photos courtesy of Venz :)

Pastel Party

A lavender polka dots cotton top with rosette embroidered patches and organdy shirred skirt with lavender polka dots cotton lining.  The pink cord with gold thread ends serves as an accent to the waist.

Jaymie - Maid of honor

The dress is beautiful because the woman in it is.

I suppose, how I weigh if my design is successful is if it has not overpowered the beauty of the wearer - if it enhances her beauty; if people notice her first.  To me that's good design, a successful design.

Seeing Jaymie looks comfortable in it as if it's her second skin is a compliment.  There's no denying that the joy on her face speaks so much joy and kilig.

Thank you Jaymie for trusting me on this.

You said thank you many times for what I made for you but I would like to say thank you more.  You were an angel.

The kilig is still in me. :)

Photos by Jaymie's friend, Martha

Jaymie's dress

And it's done finally.  She's so beautiful in it. :)

And the best part - she can't stop smiling, she looooves it.  I had goosebumps too.

And when I delivered the dress, she told me, kinikilig siya. Kinikilig rin ako.  Ang ganda ganda ni Jaymie and I am so happy I have given her that beautiful feeling through that dress. 

Thank you my God. :)

A halter bias-cut A-line dress with selvage ends 

and silk satin strap with detachable beaded real leaf brooch.

Green bow

Rosette brooch

My mother asked me to make her a brooch and I came up with this.  

Priceless win

Here's a jacket design contest I won in college before I graduated.  Just when I thought my fashion dream and daydream had left me, this happened just six or five months away from graduation.

Two of my designs garnered the highest votes but this white one had gotten more votes than the black.

You could only imagine the joy I was feeling seeing my schoolmates wearing it.  It felt even better to know that they bought it not because they knew me but because they loved it.

My prize... this jacket! I got it for free!  It was a huge deal because I had no money back then.  I mean I had no money for extra-curricular expenses.  And the best prize of all, the realization that I have truly wanted to become a fashion designer.

I knew at that moment that I would love to see more women wear my designs and the clothes I am going to produce.

The original proposal was striped bands for the waist and cuffs and the swirls was supposed to be embroidered; apparently, it didn't happen because the student council told me, that would be very expensive and students might hesitate to buy.

I am still glad with the result.  Silkscreen printing was huge at that time.  And looking at that jacket now, after six years, the print has not faded yet.

Do not be afraid of colors

I was skimming through old pictures and graphics I made and saw this.  At some point I posted that beside my desk at the office to remind me. :D

Someone once told me, "Do not be afraid of colors." It was Sir Mark who said it during a consultation with him for the 2014 exhibit.

YOUth

Never bet against the young... the future is determined by the young. (Bon Magazine)

A well executed design by Dieter Rams

Dieter Rams is a German industrial designer closely associated with the consumer products company Braun.  

His tips are, I believe, can be applied to clothing design as well.

1. Useful – a product is bought to be used.  Emphasizes usefulness.

2. Innovative

3. Aesthetic – only well-executed objects can be beautiful

4. Understandable – clarifies the products structure.  It can make the product talk.  At best, it is self-explanatory.

5. Unobtrusive – restrained, subtle to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

6. Honest – it does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is.  It is true to what it really is.

7. Long-lasting – avoids being fashionable (quality craftsmanship)

8. Thorough down to the last detail – care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the user.

9. Environmentally friendly – makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment.  It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifestyle of the product.

10. Is as little design as possible – less, but better because it concentrates on the essential aspects and not burdened with non-essentials.  Back to purity and simplicity.

Source: https://www.vitsoe.com/us/about/good-design

Reigniting the passion

I had been confused when suddenly I felt I didn't want this anymore.  Baka natatagalan lang ako. When I started in 2013, I thought it would only take a year for the three modules but it has required more time than that.  I have learned that it also requires commitment and enthusiasm (all the time).  

I was losing those.  So, I took a two-month break to look for a day job and to think (the night schedule was driving me crazy and making me cranky).  I was even thinking of putting fashion school aside.  I was so focused and in a snap, hindi na.  What happened?

I tried to look for a job, but no luck. So I prayed for guidance and realizations that God may lead me to the right path and decision.  If the job I applied to would only make everything worse, then please don't give it to me.  The response was quick.  After a couple of days, I have realized that I didn't want to leave.  Not yet.  A firm not yet.  In fact, my job right now is the job that I need.  I have forgotten that this job was His gift to me four years ago.  A friend and my sister also told me to take it one at a time.  For the first time, I listened.  I also have tried to forget I work in the night shift.  The attitude shift has done wonder to my disposition and ... sleep. 

So I enrolled.  I am in my third year now.  Today was my first day.  But I guess after today's class, my motivation went from zero to two  <10 being the highest>.  I still have 12 months to bring it back to a ten.  And yes! I will be joining this year's exhibit.  I hope to make it again. :)

Good vibe moment: My creation is still displayed at school.

LoveStyle: FOCUS

I have to remember why I started.

Cross-stitch tote bag

Cross-stitch tote bag I made in high school.

I am now using it when buying bird seeds.

Photo by Emmer Remulla

Still a long way to go

Working on a dress.