February 16, 2010 SAVE MOTHER EARTH

Whew!!! The HEAT is on.  A drastic change from our usual cool February climate. 

Signs that summer 2010 is fast approaching. . .or signs of climate damage!

The truth is, I never really thought of the environment's deterioration until the day my husband and I celebrated 4 in Tagaytay.  I was expecting the same cold weather from previous years.   Instead,  a scorching heat greeted us.  Even my friends from Sonyas Garden, Divine and Fernan, confirmed that the cool February weather is gone.

Alarming!!! It is a reality that we are  facing.

In my own small way, I have committed myself to help save Mother Earth.

Instead of buying storage boxes, I re-use tin cans, pots and bottles to store my beads.

Remember this blog http://bybeadedstory.blogspot.com/2010/01/january-25-2010-flower-garden.html? My thumb is doomed.  So intead of  re-using my pots for plants, I use them for beads.

Tin cans were former containers of ice-cream, moon cakes and wafers. I use them now for my big glass beads and storage for office materials like scissors, ruler, pens, pencils, stapler and more. 

Recycled bottles are now used as vase

On bottles, I discovered ways of sprucing it up from the internet.  Here are a few inspirations which I hope I can develop on my free time.

handpainted empty bottle

bottle transformed into a lovely vase

wind bottles for the garden

add spice to your evenings with colorful bottled lamps.  love this!!!

Celebrate Christmas with a one-of-a-kind tree.

My uncle and aunt's Christmas Tree made of empty wine bottles.

Or convert bottles into a necklace.  Whoa!  Great idea!

I also use pages of old journals as gift wrappers or bead packaging.

My 2009 journal.  I tear off sheets . . .

. . . and use them as packaging for my necklaces.  The necklace in this photo is the 2010 beaded cloth necklace which highlights a big turqouise pendant bound by a scarf .

Every living and breathing being on this planet must do something FAST to save Mother Earth.  Keep in mind that every saving act we do, whether tiny or large, is for you, for your loved ones, for everyone and for the generations to come. Always remember that Life is Beautiful . . . so, let's not ruin it.

P.S.  Heard from "boyfriend" that Al Gore is coming to Manila in April to share his sequel of An Inconvenient Truth :) Hope he can get tickets for all his south-gimik buddies.

February 13, 2010 Precious Treasures 2

I bead with a story. 

I treasure the story of  each precious treasure I own. . .

This came from my friend named Phone Pal. I have never met her in person. I have no idea how she looks. Perhaps, she was the lady I saw in a newspaper article about beauty queens. They had the same name. Maybe yes, maybe not. But we do talk a lot over the phone.

I met an Indian lady 3 years ago in a bazaar. We talked and talked all throughout the 3-day activity. I learned from her how beautiful and artistically rich India is. I wished since then that someday I would be able to visit her in her homeland and experience the India she passionately talked about. On our last day, she gave me this neck piece wrapped in a handpainted elephant blanket.

Sonyas Garden will forever have a special place in my heart.   This was the very first gift given to me by the girls of Sonyas a few months before I tied the knot.   They have helped me in so many ways . . . from special moments. . . to my beads.

I got to know him during a turbulent time in my former work. Amidst the rubble, I found my long lost young brother. He is now living his dream abroad. He gave me this a few months before he left.

We ended at two o'clock this morning.  Afternoon or after dinner coffee/beer-talk sessions are set when hearts need to be heard.  Our names are the same . . . Patricia.     But SHE . . . a traveller . . . with such a beautiful soul . . .  my kindred "sister".  She gave me this last Christmas.

This heirloom came with a note . . . To the daughter I never had . . .

I was feeling low that day. So, I treated myself with this gift. . . . an arrangement by Get Happy! 

A Moon and Star Pendant. The very first precious treasure given by my husband when we were still single

She was one of my judges in an annual awards event. A feisty TV broadcaster. Got into trouble but survived. She gave me this after our Cebu stint. It is this treasure why By Beaded Story now exists.

February 4, 2010 CELEBRATING 4! CHEERS!

HE:  4th YEAR of this . . .

... and because of that, hopefully HE does not go through this again . . .

SHE: started 4 years ago with this. . .

. . . and now, she has all these . . .

But together, HE & SHE celebrates 4 because of this . . .