And away they go.

Hmmm.  My first sale on Etsy.

And off they go.

My first set of handpainted cake toppers go to a lovely Filipino couple in New Jersey.  Just to make it extra-special, I sewed two pouches (loving my sewing machine!) for these two to be kept in.  And because it took me a while to put everything together, I'm slipping into the package this lovely brooch/bracelet made of canvas, cotton lace and pearl.

I'm a fan of multi-functional jewelry.

I first prototyped this type of brooch/bracelet when I was designing something with my older sister in mind.  She's allergic to metals (though she seems to be okay with gold--quite the high-end allergy, if you don't consider fabric, wood and other non-metal alternatives)--her skin gets all red and blistery when in contact with them.  So to minimize metal contact, I prepared a bracelet with a strap made of wooden beads, topped with a canvas flower, that when detached from the strap can be used as a brooch.  There's still a bit of metal contact (the brooch clasp), but at least it isn't all that much.

So for Meliza, who ordered the cake toppers off of my Etsy shop, I made the bracelet/brooch above.  My first prototype of this kind had a smaller flower, but a friend suggested having a bigger one, creating more of a statement piece.

Personalized pouches.  Love.

And here are the heat transfer-printed pouch bags I made with my trusty sewing machine!

And off they go tomorrow on yet another adventure.  Awww.  I got kind of attached to this cake topper couple.  Sniff.  They'll be lovely additions though to someone's wedding memories, which I think is a beautiful thing.

A Roadtrip, and a Beach Wedding...

Of sorts.


Yesterday was the opening of the 19th Season of the Pundaquit Festival!  Not wanting to miss this awesome happening of happy tunes and great vibes, Lex and I headed out with his folks to see the San Miguel shoreline of Zambales.


And of course, apart from Lex's parents, we brought a couple of friends along.

Enjoying the view en route to Zambales.

While waiting for the program to start, we hung out on the beach and had the two frolic along the shore.

 Dreaming along the shore.

Some folks in the distance took notice, but the couple didn't mind. 

All in all it was a fun afternoon, and a good prelude to the evening of music.

These figurines are actually little cake toppers I've been prototyping.  Wouldn't they be fun little keepsakes?

I wanted the grain to still show, to maximize the wood's natural finish.  The translucent application of paint allowed for delicate shading.  I used gouache, then finished them off with a fixative.

The bride's dress is inspired by my little sister's wedding gown, and of course the groom is wearing our traditional Barong Tagalog.

They'll soon be available on our Etsy shop!  For local buyers, just send me an email!  I'd love to customize a set, or single toppers for you.