All about "B"

Busy yet looking forward would best describe my weekends lately.

First, we finally made the Bold move of ending our "sightseeing" and closing the deal.  I'm sure our property specialist felt ecstatic to have closed his first deal ever.  I thought of him as young and fresh from college.  But how timely he was within my reach  while having dinner in Sentro a couple of weeks ago.  I will share more details of this project in a separate post soon.  This is in relation to investments and building dreams.

And like any other weekend, Bikes and at least three hours of Biking are part and parcel of J. Bond's program.  He's thinking of a 4th bike fit to conquer the slippery trek of the Mountain Province of Sagada soon, while I think of possibly opening a (2nd hand) bike shop someday.  Too much bikes, bike parts and bike-related dvds are lying all around. 

J. Bond's "calming" drink, Tsing Tao Beer.  A bottle a weekend is a must, wherever we are.  Have you tried this?  J. Bond prefers this beer over the usual San Mig Light these days.  I think there's not much of a difference.  Both are called BEER and spelled out B.E.E.R anyway =)

Meanwhile, Beads must be part of our weekend program too.  Here's a typical scene of what happens when I meet with a client.  Client goes over my works.  Bugsy runs around, climbs and jumps on the client.  I reprimand, then carry.  He squirms and escapes.  I run after, then we go through the same process. In a nutshell, I multi-task by controlling Bugsy from being excessively hyper and dealing with the client simultaneously.  I have applied a  variety of discipline techniques.  Unfortunately, not even an inch of progress have manifested yet.  At least, he doesn't bark. 

Bold, vibrant and creative are three words I would describe Happy Starchild's owner.  Her handpainted works on fashion garments (shirts and dresses) is the main reason why I regularly drop by Legazpi Park Sunday Market.  I adore and support crafts that are handmade and handpainted.

A bit of info on who Happy Starchild is.

Really excited over my handpainted Jane Austen top.

Amazed and Inspired.  I'll surely make a purchase this weekend for a dear "happy starchild"  friend who is turning 40.  The 40 roll call has officially begun by the way.  Some are in denial, yet some are looking forward.  I fear it, but I look forward at the same time.  But here's what I think of 40...not young to repeat the same crazy mistakes, yet not old to keep building dreams.  I'm sure my happy starchild friend would make 40 Beautiful.

And Before I cap this post, here is the 4th necklace that fall under By Beaded Story's Flora Collection.  Visit Facebook for more details.

Cheers!

BAZAAR 2011 Photos

ERGO, bazaars could take a toll on health.   Here's why...Too much sales talk=Sore Throat. Heat and Rain combined=Fever.  Now,  I'm down with a flu.  Aging, I think, is a culprit too.  This had not happened in the past. So, there you go.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed.  Here are a few highlights.

By Beaded Story's display.

(Super) Early morning set-up.  Focus and full attention required when fixing bead works.  

A few bead necklaces up close.

TALA & HANDPAINTED FLORA

TALA with bead accent

MOTHER'S HEART

Purple BEAD CLOTH necklace

TALA on LASO

I had a  few non-bead goods too.

TAMBOURINE NECKLACES and CERAMIC DECOR

EARRINGS for kids

MESSAGE BRACELETS.  I talked about the bracelets here.

FLAMENCO SHAWLS scattered around

Friends who came over. They were my gunshot deals. Thanks guys!

Since high school

New-found friends

At my beck and call friend, B=RAVE DUDE FRIEND. 

Everybody's "BFF", young and old

Bugsy's FANS

J. Bond's newly discovered sideline, Bantay Bata (my friend's 2 out of 4 kids)...

...and, Bantay Aso (Bugsy and "Bernard")

To a few other friends, a Timezone co-worker and a boss with her not-so-little girls anymore, apologies for missing out on the photo shoot. Those were hectic moments, but I truly appreciate your interesting news. Even amidst the hectic-ness, I was  100% all ears.

To  those who came, patronized, or simply followed By Beaded Story's bazaar-hop this year once again, here's a huge warm Thank You!!! The hop has ended, but should you wish to order any of our collections, post your message on facebook or send your email to  bybeadedstory@gmail.com.

An advance Cheery Christmas to you and your loved ones!

                                                                                           TRIX

Teeth, Numbers and Beads

Who would have thought that after so many years of building our lives apart and marking that niche in this vast world,  that semblance of a High School girl we once knew and shared all together still does exist. 

Christmas 2010.  Coffee-date at Mary Grace.

Not only did we spend our high school days together, we were once in our lives carpool-mates,  coffee-mates, seat-mates, apartment-mates. Name it, we've got it.  Except for the part when I and my-now-dentist friend (in white and green stripes) were requested to quit the pep squad from too much giggling, then headed by the friend in blue, we stuck it out as great friends.  No hard feelings.

Heartwarming menu cover of Mary Grace.

Contracts were back then drafted that stipulated the conditions of having reached the most number of boyfriends first.  The last in line, if my memory serves me right, reaps the grand prize.  I was never part of the deal and instead took on the the role of the witness. Better to play safe but I know I could have won. Lol!   Years after, the contract has long been forgotten (or deliberately ignored).  We have taken on different paths, but a path I believe that sort of intertwines most especially when needed ...

December 24 brunch.

...The husband of my dentist friend spearheaded the dental mission held at the Pharmacy summer of this year. He, by the way, is the dean of Emilio Aguinaldo's College of Dentistry and specializes in dental surgery.  Someone to rely on when the time comes.

There's the dean, as seen on the mirror.  Hahaha!

My pep squad friend, on the other hand, lives and breathes numbers.  An industry I abhor, but fell on my lap for 6 years of my career life.  But, I did survive...and eventually retired early and began living :)

Ergo, the story of the Pharmacy and my beads happened, which actually both involves a bit of financials and an on-the-side dental mission.  I admire both my friends for having chosen their respective fields, in which I am definitely not cut for. Neither "teeth" nor "numbers".  I'd rather be the jack-of-all-trades, with beading taking on the lead role.  And speaking of beads, my friends took a crack at it for the first time while at Mary Grace ...

Their expression is a giveaway, and we're just talking about how to knot here.  Obviously, another "knotting" session is needed. 

Despite the science, math and arts and crafts classes we took in high school together, it is absolutely a case of "to each his own".  We may excel in different fields, but it is the friendship we share that gives each of us a chance to immerse and diversify beyond what we are accustomed to.  Even just for a short while.

Maybe, I'll look into dentistry one of these days.  For now, I'll stick to beading.  Hahaha!

All by myself ...

... well, not really.  I actually had these two lugging behind.

Mwahaha!!! B=RAVE Dude friend and J. Bond enjoying their sweet moment over a small bag of nuts.

But for last weekend's Alabang Hills Village Toys and Gifts bazaar, I have taken the "all by myself" route, leaving my usual bazaar sales troop out of the picture. A deliberate move for interaction purposes, to get to know the market in a much deeper sense and hear from them how they see my designs.  (straight from the eyes of the beholder).  Today, i still hear the "wow" and "nice" words I gathered. A source of inspiration and motivation to get going with the design plan for 2011. Muchos Gracias!

And Thank You by the way to cookbook lady and little bead-kiddo who permanently stationed themselves at my booth and proudly modeled my bead works during the 3-day stint...

So, with me selling...

 ...and interacting,

these ghosts guys were apparently having a grand time...

The pot, a picture with Santa.  Haha.  Not the statue Santa.

More like this Santa...

Santa at my booth and a Photo op with kids.

The pizzas that were delivered "out-of-the-box" for the Pizza Eating Contest.

Literally on top of a "small" delivery box.  Lol!

The hungry pizza-eaters. Guess who joined?

Looking really busog ...

But these three looked as if gorging on a 30-inch pizza is their day-to-day thing.  Pwedeng-pwedeng  pizza endorsers.  Hahaha!

Is that you, water heater? The guilty stare said it all.  Anything for free coffee.

Then, I replied with a "HA?!" when I was told by the Crocs team of  J. Bond's participation in their sponsored Crocs Walk Relay.

Hay naku! May pa-stretch stretch pa before the relay.  To think that this was just a parlor game? ...with kids as his team-mates.  Hahaha!

The "giant" kid in action.
And, their team won!  I bagged the prize. Yay! May pa-High 5 High 5 pa!

My moment with the gigantic Crocs.  One shoe fits two!

I nagged the two to join the donut eating contest too. They claimed that they were already full.  Finally!

But of course, they did not let go of Sunday's bingo socials.

Before the bingo happened, the security team of Alabang Hills Village rendered a macho dance number.  Bravo!!! Haha!

The bingo that started in the afternoon ...

Worked its way til night ...

and, ended in darkness.

The power tripped out on us for an hour.  But thank you to my yearly same neighbor who shared her light :)

How it looked when power was restored.  Pretty!

The Alabang Hills Village Bazaar strongly stays on top of my bazaar list for these reasons: good finds, relaxing shopping ambiance and most especially its strong sense of camaraderie and community. I am missing it right this moment and hoping that next year's run will be much longer.  Maybe a week? 

For now, the time has finally arrived to celebrate CHRISTMAS!