Quiapo and T-shirt necklaces

August is when life seems to slow down, probably a result of the ongoing strong rains and widespread floods.  So on rare  August days when the sun is up, I immediately grab and run to my favorite bead street in Quiapo. I've been running low on cords and tiny accent beads.

 

    

Even with trashy flood remnants scattered around Quiapo, I enjoyed my trip and had bought a lot of pretty finds that were not part of my original list. Nothing new. I am usually this way. I buy whatever catches my eye, and thus, end up overspending.  Ugh!

Raw and undone Floral Ceramic Beads and Mother and Child Medals. 

I had intended to hold another garage sale this month.  However, bad weather can absolutely put life on hold.  Ergo, I cancelled and opted to handover my sale stuff to flood victims instead.  Unfortunately, old shirts were scrapped from the list since these have been previously cut and converted into something like these :)

Courtesy of www.buttonsgaloreandmore.com

Courtesy of www.beadinggem.com

I am addicted to making and wearing T-shirt necklaces these days.  A really cool and creative way of recycling t-shirts which I had thought of as junk.  One of these days, I will share photos of my necklaces with you.  But in the meantime, here's an easy  tutorial video which had gotten me inspired and hyped up. No use of glue nor stitching involved :)

Mother Earth

TAAL LAKE, February 2011

How timely that Japan's environmental disaster happens a few days after I talked about flood in this blog.  It is no longer a surprise that yesterday's disaster and all other environmental occurrences are happening now.   Obviously, the long abused Mother Earth has embarked on a route to vengeance.

SONYA'S GARDEN, December 2010

I am fearing on what may happen next.  The wrath obviously keeps getting stronger.  Unfortunately, my llittle recycling efforts are no longer enough to meet the huge demand of Earth. But I am still holding on to a positive mindset that nothing ain't too late, and that there will always be hope ... as long as you and I have the determination to continue life.

But first, learn and live with respect.

Turn your scarf into a BAG

If you haven't noticed yet, on  the lower right of your screen says this ...

Recycle! Why put to waste when you can turn your "vintage" blouses and dresses into pretty beaded cloth necklaces. For queries, email us at bybeadedstory@gmail.com.

2010 marked the year when By Beaded Story paved its way to do its share on saving Mother Earth.  Not only do we serve bead orders in recycled packaging, we have also took bead cloth necklaces a notch higher by using material from old blouses, dresses and scarves.

Last year's order made from a long forgotten dress.

Most often, clients opt to take the recycling route for two reasons:  1)  The obvious reason, to declutter and create more space, and 2) To keep the memory of yesteryears alive though this keepsake.   Dresses, even blouses, are easy to manage and convert into necklaces.  But when faced with baby clothes (especially newborn clothes), creativity and workmanship are put to a challenge.  So far the end result has been good and heartwarming.

But when it comes to a scarf, did you ever know that you may turn this into a purse/bag, a halter top and a belt too?  I usually share this tip from Today's Show with a client before I even take a look at the material.  Of course, minds change. 

Last Sunday, the tip completely slipped my mind.  The talk about Lilet's engagement overpowered the tip. So, I brought home a bunch of scarves waiting to be turned into bead cloth necklaces. 

But not just yet.

The scarves of my friend.

Here's how you can turn your square scarf into a purse/bag.  If you want a more detailed demo, you may watch it HERE.

Use at least a 36" by 36" square scarf.  I prefer it bigger :)

Dull side should be facing up.

Tie two opposite corners  into a knot.

Tie the last two opposite corners of the scarf. 

This will serve as the purse/bag's handle.

Now a purse/bag!

So Mac, a bag or a necklace?   Let me know soon.

Tree Hugger

I love trees!  In fact, I climbed many trees when I was a child ... to steal  pick fruits, to closely watch my brother catch a sleepy spider from its treetop abode or to just simply  HANG  loose. But come to think of it, I haven't had any hugging moment with a tree yet.  I guess this is the closest I can get...

Treehugger pens had me at hello before lunch today.  It is known that I am addicted to all kinds of pens.  So this pen made from old newspaper won't definitely pass me by.

Writes well, according to my liking. Way better than the recycled pens I talked about in this blog, but surprisingly still alive and kickin'.

It works as a highlighter too.  Really cool!

Also, Treehugger's got pencils made from perma-bound newspapers.  Proceeds from purchasing a pack of 5 pencils contributes to the restoration of the country's indigenous trees through Haribon Foundation.

Got a pack for Patti J. who had scratched off another  must do from her bucket list... HUG A BIG TREE :) 

Yay, another one deleted from my Christmas list.  99 to go!

Made of Grass

Set sales aside (hehe), the pharmacy staff has never failed to amaze me.  Over the weekend, they broached the idea of sprucing up the store's one year old Christmas decor.  They must have found it boring, I thought.  No creativity. No pizzazz. 

Well, this was last year's decor...

What do you think? Har!Har!  The photo says it all. Need not say more.  And so, I gave in to the request but with an extra oomph-of-a challenge of course. Besides, nothing comes easy especially when it comes to talking about putting a one year old decor to rest.  No way!  Here was my declaration ... YES to sprucing up  the decor, but NO to any additional expense *said with conviction and a sheepish smile =D 

This morning, I saw this.

Looked like a box-load of trash!  Note: Nothing to be alarmed about.  This was found in our pantry and definitely not where the medicines are stored. But these ain't trash.  These are actually dried wild grass plucked by the Pharmacy boys from this nearby vacant lot.

Apparently, they are in the process of creating a nativity scene for display in one corner of the Pharmacy.

It is still a work in progress but I am speechless and in awe with their creativity, ingenuity and determination, despite the existence of a no budget mandate.  Aside from dried wild grass, the staff also made use of the year-long  bamboo stored in our  pantry.

These bamboo originally came with the floral arrangement displayed during the Pharmacy's grand opening last year.

 Now, I see wild grass in a different light.  To my Pharmacy team, BRAVO!!!

P.S. The boys are in the process of cutting more grass.  I asked for a box of dried grass for my own use as well. I think this can spruce up too the Christmas gifts I'll be handing out soon.

Philippine Tatler envelopes

I'm guilty.  I still use plastic bags when needed.  It does come in handy, most especially on rainy days.  Believe me when I say I try my best to do my share to help save Mother Earth.  I really do.  But today, I wanted and needed A LOT  of plastic bags.  So my collection of reusable bags were deliberately left home as I made my trip to South Supermarket (Alabang) after lunch.

But to my surprise, my groceries were packed in these brown paper bags instead.  The very first time I experienced such in Manila.  Wow!!!

In support of the conservation of Mother Earth, I was told that Wednesdays are non-plastic bag days.  A great enviromental move of South Supermarket regardless of the known fact that Filipino consumers are  much accustomed to using plastic bags.  Thus, I was given a choice between a big box or brown paper bag.  Of course, I chose the latter knowing that I may convert these later on into something else.   Here's more, the "angel" security guard who helped load my groceries into the trunk of my car shared information that  plastic bags will no longer be available in South Supermarket by January 2011 as mandated by the local government of Muntinlupa.  GREAT!!!

On my end, I am not totally plastic-free yet.  But I've been doing these little recycling efforts for Mother Earth...

These boxes made from recycled materials like pizza boxes, old directories are used as packaging for my Tala bead necklaces.  I have talked about these boxes HERE.  But lately, I've been cooking up something else since I'm so much in the mood to organize and declutter.

A collection of Philippine Tatler (plus Yes! and Preview) magazines torn page by page and converted into these envelopes ...

My paper preference goes to Philippine Tatler for its thickness. 

 How it looks inside ...

These envelopes will be used as packaging for my bead cloth necklaces instead of the usual pouch during the December 10-12, 2010 bazaar at Alabang Hills Village.  Each envelope looks slim, chic and may even be used as a gift packaging.  All that needs to be done is to tie a ribbon around it :)

A must mention ... next photo are two envelopes which show the home of Manny Pacquiao in Los Angeles taken from YES magazine :)

Addressed to my two friends/ex-office colleagues, AC and Grace, who are often seen in  Tatler, WELL...I have turned your feature(s) into "smaller" envelopes for rings.   Hahaha!!! 

To By Beaded Story patrons, the regular pouch still exists, but now sold at Php10/piece. 

Or perhaps, it's time that you also make a change for Mother Earth's sake :)

The Journal Box

It's that time again when bead necklaces are due for delivery to Sonya's Garden. 

As I was getting ready for the delivery, I couldn't help but be thrilled for the nth time of the recycled packaging handmade by B=RAVE dude friend  for By Beaded Story.  And as if life wasn't complicated enough, I opted once again to to make it a bit more complicated by unpacking a few stuff and just to re-pack everything a few minutes later. All because of my eagerness  to share the thrill with you. 

Let's start with this.

By Beaded Story's signature box.  The idea to come up with a journal-like box came to mind while at the midst of my blogging.  As what I've said, there are so much stories to share behind the so-called beading. Thus, this journal box I believe best fits the concept.  The cover of the box is accentuated with recycled stickers or craft accessories cut-out from old calendars or stationeries.  To give it a very personalized flavor which I absolutely value despite the presence of computers and high tech gadgets, I hand write each cover with By Beaded Story's name.

And I insert short heartwarming notes that were collected over the years.   Behind each note, I write this ..

This Box...

1.  Made from recycled material (pizza box)

2.  Made by By Beaded Story's good friend, Bien :)

All boxes are 100% made of recycled materials.  The journal box, in particular, is made from pizza boxes and pages from old telephone directories.  Marked as well are B=RAVE dude friend's signature and the date when the box was made. 

But of course, I welcome  all other shapes and forms too. Here's a round one, again made from a pizza box.

Another round box.

A hexagon? 

This ain't foil.  Are you familiar with that silver lining found inside cigarette boxes?  Yes, that's exactly the one used by B=RAVE Dude friend to wrap this box.

Not related to the topic.  Lol.  But I've been busy with making bookmarks lately.  This also serves as By Beaded Story's calling card.  Again, the journal concept runs in my mind.