Confessions of a Chronic Crafter

New blog!

2011-11-27T02:18:00.000+08:00

I'm moving! Temporarily. Here's the reason I've been quiet the past few months! www.beadbaby.blogspot.com Follow me there. :)

Letting go

2011-09-16T22:52:00.000+08:00

I have a tendency to hang on to the stuff I make. I have bins and boxes of jewelry I treasure, but I've never worn. Putting a price tag on something you toiled over, and saying goodbye to it is no fun at all. What if I can't make something like it ever again? I'm sure some of you can relate. My hubby says if that's how I feel about the whole thing, I shouldn't be in business at all. I

Trash to Treasure: Green polymer clay jewelry

2011-08-24T02:02:00.002+08:00

The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild's challenge for July was focused on sustainable, eco-friendly polymer clay projects. Titled "Trash to Treasure", the July challenge entailed using polymer clay to give junk a new lease on life. Finding the raw materials (aka: trash) was quite easy. I am a pack-rat, so I had a ton of material to choose from - old light bulbs, tin cans, even blank bullet cases

Crazy Canes

2011-08-23T01:43:00.001+08:00

Remember that slew of late blog posts I told you about in my last entry? Here's the first of many! I went on a crazy caning spree last July. This is a huge deal for me, since I am not a cane person. Ironic, because the first few beads I sold were actually cane slices. Now I no longer work with canes, simply because I am lazy. Reducing canes can be such a chore! Plus, few customers

Kokeshi card holders for Sol

2011-08-22T20:15:00.001+08:00

My clay and crafty stuff are slowly being tucked away in containers and boxes and closets, and I'm not sure when I'll have the time to bring them out again. Yes, I am on another polymer clay sabbatical - self-imposed but necessary. Good thing I have a long backlog of projects unposted since July. Like these kawaii kokeshi card holders for Sol. Expect a slew of better-late-than-never posts to

The Artsy Wife and Cabby Crafter

2011-08-11T10:54:00.000+08:00

I have a looooong list of stuff to blog about, I just can't find the right time to actually sit down and write. Things have been very busy around here lately! To check some items off my list, let me share with you these wonderful, wonderful blog posts about my work and my shop. Thank you dear bloggers for the love! I found a link to this blog post in my inbox last June (yes, that's how long

One Sunday afternoon

2011-07-11T06:00:00.017+08:00

A picnic, a tea party, an afternoon of all things sweet and cuddly. Though yesterday afternoon was a bit dreary because of the rain, I had so much fun taking photos of my new collection! There was no real picnic nor tea party outside these photos, but there was definitely a lot of sweet nothings and cuddling going around. That's because this little one kept me company. That's my little Izzy.

Card holders for Norren

2011-07-10T22:03:00.000+08:00

I made 10 handmade polymer clay-covered card holders in June, and now I can safely upload the photos (these were given as gifts by my customer, so I had to be hush-hush about it last month). The one with the three Kokeshi dolls above is my favorite of the bunch. Here are a couple more of my favorites from this batch: I am making more of these, so if you're interested to purchase, please do

Black and white bead swap

2011-07-06T18:20:00.006+08:00

Our first swap/challenge at the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild involved creating 17 beads out of only black and white clay. You can make any size, shape, and style of bead you want - they just had to be all black and white. I thought the challenge sounded simple enough, but I was sooo wrong! There were so many possibilities, so many designs swimming in my head, that it was getting too

At Home

2011-06-27T18:11:00.001+08:00

I'd like to share with you this quick snapshot taken from the shop. This is our collection of home accessories we've been making through the years. I'm calling it The Beadlady At Home. A few handmade throw pillow cases with pretty prints and tabletop mannequins (for organizing your accessories) are available for purchase. They'll look lovely in your craft room or living area. The vintage

Secret Garden Monograms

2011-06-23T20:06:00.001+08:00

I'm finally posting some new stuff for sale online, after months of quiet. Please stay tuned!

The old air Ozonizer (my first attempt at Steampunk)

2011-06-16T02:53:00.004+08:00

I've always admired Christi Friesen's Steampunk creations, but I never found the courage to try it out. Until recently. Thanks to the creative ladies at the Philippine Polymer Clay Guild, I caught the Steampunk bug. My fellow guild mates Gin Rose Caballero, Ghie Malig, Melody Felipe, and Donna Cruz have all done such a wonderful job with Steampunk that I was encouraged to try it out.

More May Flowers

2011-06-14T10:20:00.000+08:00

These floral pendants were created using the same technique I used for the Feuille de Autumne piece. I love adding the stitched texture to each petal. They're tiny, so it's a bit of a struggle not to squish them while working on them. They're each the size of a finger nail, some a bit smaller! Here's what the texture looks like up close: By just changing the colors and modifying the way

Feuille de Autumne

2011-06-05T21:07:00.001+08:00

The last week of May proved to be quite productive. I just had to scratch my polymer clay itch, as I have not made anything new in a while. I was able to cough up this pendant after a futile attempt to make something intricate. It's quite frustrating - it didn't turn out exactly like I hoped. I have a small collection of scrapbook papers which I never use for scrapbooking. Instead, I use

The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild

2011-06-03T12:46:00.002+08:00

We recently started a local polymer clay guild here in the Philippines - this is actually my 3rd or 4th attempt to form a group of like-minded artists. The first few attempts failed because of technology - either the sites that hosted the groups began charging, or they remained free but were hard to access and manage. Since I am on sabbatical from teaching and production work, I finally found

Blast from the past

2011-06-01T20:04:00.000+08:00

Friendster died last night. I kept putting off saving my data, until I totally forgot about it. I almost had a heart attack last night when I realized I only had 30 minutes to salvage my old photos. When I lost my old Picturetrail account eons ago, I lost most of the photos from when I was just starting to sell my handmade jewelry. So I wasn't about to lose my precious Friendster photos

The name game

2011-05-24T01:24:00.002+08:00

I just realized as I stared at the photo above, now that I'm no longer single, I need to change the name on all my print materials. I have no trouble using my new name in legal forms, mind you. It took some getting used to at first (I would catch myself staring blankly at the nurse holding my medical chart as she summons a Mrs. Del Rosario at the doctor's office), but I'm getting the hang of it

Fairy tales

2011-05-16T14:36:00.003+08:00

A sneak peek at what I'm up to these days.

My photo jewelry on Smart Parenting Mag

2011-05-07T22:46:00.003+08:00

My polymer clay keepsake jewelry and pretty lockets are in this month's issue of Smart Parenting magazine. The article (on page 20) features different ways to showcase those precious photos of your kids. Perfect for mom's day! (Thank you Ms. Anna Chan and the Smart Parenting team for featuring my work.) Happy Mother's Day to all you super women out there!

Everything nice

2011-05-06T22:21:00.003+08:00

I haven't been posting about my work for a while because I am taking a mandatory break from claying and beading, and yes - even teaching. So while I am on sabbatical, let me entertain you by posting about pretty gifts I received from fellow creative souls. This miniature Beadlady Cafe wall art made of polymer clay was a gift from my student, and now friend, Bang Hasegawa aka andeverythingnice.

Too sweet

2011-04-26T16:13:00.004+08:00

It's time for spring cleaning again. It's taking me forever; I keep unearthing lovely treasures from my closet. What's going to delay the process even more is blogging about my finds. Teehee. I love dessert. I love stationery. Put them together and it's going to be hard for me to resist. But what's better than finding dessert-inspired paper products? Finding a pen that matches! I scored this

We got married! (DIY details)

2011-04-11T22:55:00.003+08:00

It wouldn't be my wedding if there weren't any handmade touches. The invitation I don't have a better photo of the handmade envelopes yet We were on a tight budget, so we considered going the easy route and send the invites through email, facebook, or SMS. But being the crafty girl that I am, I couldn't stand not making an effort. I'm not much of a graphic designer, so I knew I couldn't

We got married (continued)

2011-04-11T20:58:00.005+08:00

On April 2, 2011, Marco and I exchanged I Do's in a small civil ceremony in front of our family and a few close friends. It was the perfect wedding for us because : 1. We were both too lazy to deal with all the preparations. I was on the brink of turning into Bridezilla before, I wasn't about to go through that again; and 2. We didn't have a lot to spend, so the cheaper the better! Given

We got married!

2011-04-11T17:13:00.002+08:00

If you've been following this blog for a while, you might be aware that I was planning on getting married two years ago. It was going to be an elaborate Church wedding in the province. There was to be a gown (although I couldn't find what I wanted), an entourage (we were having trouble deciding on who was going to be given what role), souvenirs (I couldn't decide what to make!) - the works.

Clay Fest 2011 highlights: the sculpting contest

2011-03-03T18:57:00.001+08:00

I know I look like an idiot in this photo. That's because I am about to say goodbye to Christi Friesen's artwork. Christi generously sent us this framed set to be given away at Clay Fest 2011. I received it in the mail middle of February, along with my order for her tools and new book Woodland Creatures. (Tools and books now available at the shop! I am the first outside the U.S. to carry

Snooze Fest

2011-03-03T16:47:00.000+08:00

The preparations for Clay Fest 2011 left me exhausted. So the entire week following the event, this is what my darling little Izzy and I were up to: Clay Fest 2011 highlights soon. Meanwhile, add me on facebook (Beadlady Manila) so you can view the pictures from the event!

The 2nd Annual Philippine Polymer Clay Festival

2011-02-22T17:36:00.001+08:00

I am hosting the 2nd Annual Philippine Polymer Clay Festival (Clay Fest 2011) on February 25 and 26 at The Beadlady Craft Cafe and Art Studio. It's happening this Friday and Saturday people, so I hope you drop by! Entrance is free! This year, 16 artists are showcasing their work at the Handmade Exhibit, so it's a chance for you to grab the latest from your favorite polyclay artists! Jennifer

My shop window in a movie!

2011-02-22T17:15:00.004+08:00

My shop window was part of a Pinoy movie that was released in November 2010. This is terribly, terribly late, I know. But still worth sharing! When I say "part" of a movie, I mean it was seen in the background for 20 seconds. Teehee. You're bound to miss it if you don't know what to look for. But since this doesn't happen to someone like me everyday, allow me to excitedly gush. I got a call

Another magazine feature

2010-11-04T18:09:00.004+08:00

Our shop and my polymer clay cupcakes are featured in the November 2010 issue of Working Mom Magazine! We're one of the Cubao Expo shops featured in the Merry Gift Guide. Yay! Thank you to the writer and photographer! If you want to see our previous magazine features, and other media mileage, please checkout the press page on the Beadlady website.

A fresh batch

2010-10-23T00:41:00.001+08:00

The recently concluded Ultimate Miniature Polymer Clay Food Workshop last Sunday produced these yummy treats, and a new batch of miniature artists. From L-R: Velrose, Isabel, Stephanie, and Donna. That's me sitting on the floor. Allow me to be the proud teacher once again, and show you the scrumptious - but inedible! - sweets these ladies created. Mouth-watering brownies you can almost

Little triumph

2010-10-22T22:20:00.004+08:00

One of the photos I styled way back when I still had a day job landed ON THE COVER of a book! Imagine my excitement when I was browsing through books in National Bookstore on Sunday night and saw this on the shelves: I styled the photo on the upper right, with the ladder, pink stool, and robins egg blue wall. It originally appears on a DIY article I wrote about painting a room. I had no

Deck the halls!

2010-10-18T18:52:00.003+08:00

I started putting up some Christmas cheer in the shop last week. I made Christmas tree cookies, peppermint candy, and candy canes out of polymer clay. I was singing carols the whole time I was creating them. Fa la la la la la la la! They were supposed to go by the window, but decided they would go better on the tree I bought yesterday. The tree is still bare, except for a few polymer clay

The real cost of joining a bazaar (Part 2 of the Bazaar Series)

2010-10-06T00:01:00.018+08:00

The article "How to join a bazaar" by Angeli Sobrepena is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at beadladyangeli.blogspot.com. Read Part 1 of the Bazaar Series here. How to join a bazaar Part 2: The real cost of joining a bazaar Renting a small space in a bazaar or tiangge can cost you as little as Php450 to as high as

The Cupcakery reopens!

2010-10-05T21:52:00.000+08:00

My custom polymer clay cupcake bakeshop is now ready to accept Christmas orders! I can only make 24 cupcakes (so 24 slots) this time. Order your batch early before I run out of "magic cupcake dough"! Each cupcake pendant remains at Php350 or $10. I accept Gcash or Paypal payments. Order your yummy polymer clay cupcake pendants through my website.

How To Join a Bazaar - Part 1

2010-10-04T20:51:00.014+08:00

The Ber months are here, and to us entrepreneurs, it means one thing: bazaar season has begun! Since I started selling my handmade work, I have joined more than twenty bazaars (or what you call fairs in the US). I'm lucky to have started the bazaar circuit at a young age - I was in my teens and still in college when I joined my first bazaar. Over the years,

I am a proud teacher!

2010-10-04T18:46:00.008+08:00

Lookie lookie what my Ultimate Miniature Food class made last Saturday! Don't they look scrumptious? Before you drool, let me remind you that these miniature desserts are made of polymer clay and are not edible. :pThe textures and colors look very realistic, don't you think?Chocolate chip cookies, anyone?How about teeny, tiny donuts?Here's the definition of Ultimate Mini Food! Really tiny! "

Wishing bottles

2010-10-04T15:47:00.012+08:00

I was bed-ridden for two weeks, and stuck at home for three because I caught a nasty virus with symptoms that were a lot like dengue. It felt like I was asleep for most of September. I had to reschedule some workshops, which has never happened before. I couldn't be at a couple of editorial photoshoots for the store. I skipped dinner and drinks with some friends. I missed out on a lot last

Like me on Facebook

2010-09-15T16:46:00.003+08:00

Please excuse this self-serving, shameless promotion: like my page on Facebook! :) This is where I post quick announcements about my work and the stuff happening in the craft store.The Beadlady | Promote Your Page Too

Handmade Confessions: Rocky Antonio

2010-09-13T23:44:00.016+08:00

Some people say I am lucky I don't have kids yet - I have all the time in the world to focus on my craft. While that may be true, being a mom doesn't have to mean the end of your crafting days either.Allow me to introduce you to polymer clay artist Rocky Antonio, super mom and crafter extraordinaire (hehe). Rocky is a housewife and a hands-on mom to 3-year-old Liam, but that doesn't stop her

Handmade Pilipinas is back

2010-09-13T22:02:00.001+08:00

Handmade Pilipinas is back on track! I finally got around to interviewing creative individuals whose stories we can all be inspired by. I will be showcasing Filipino creativity and ingenuity from across different industries, in a series of posts called Handmade Confessions.Join me as I get to know more about fellow creatives, what goes on behind the scenes in their businesses, and what runs

Blast from the past

2010-09-06T18:46:00.014+08:00

I unearthed some bracelets I made as a teenager, and was surprised to find them still looking like new. Decided to wear them to the beach a couple of weeks ago. They look funky all stacked together.The beads on the rainbow braided cord are made of polymer clay, handmade by my 18-year old self. The flower is mother of pearl, strung on beaded thread. The blue and green bracelet is beaded memory

O.C.

2010-09-03T12:05:00.005+08:00

How many O.C. people does it take to put up twelve frames on a wall? Answer: Five. One to direct where the frames should go = mom. Two to measure the distances = my boyfriend Marco and I. And two to do the drilling = Daddy and my brother Adam.The night before the Beadlady anniversary party, I asked my Dad to help me put up the framed magazine and newspaper clippings of my media mentions on

Start counting

2010-09-02T20:41:00.015+08:00

For a person who hates math and numbers, I sure do a lot of counting. If you hate figures as much as I do, don't worry, this post isn't about math at all.Please allow me to start counting the number of years I've been "the Beadlady". It's been eight years since I rediscovered beading as a hobby. Seven years since I started selling my trinkets to my classmates. Six since I started selling

August: The month of anniversaries

2010-09-02T19:30:00.011+08:00

I celebrated two huge milestones in August: my 5th year on www.beadlady.multiply.com (my online store) and my craft store's 1st anniversary! I feel so blessed that after all these years, I am still here. Believe me, it hasn't been easy.I could not let these milestones pass without a little celebration. On the last Saturday of August, a few relatives, friends, and clients gathered in my little

Amazing works of art

2010-08-18T17:53:00.007+08:00

I was just watching Ever After on HBO last night - a Cinderella story where Leonardo Da Vinci figures prominently. How timely that I stumble upon this amazing polymer clay mosaic today (through Polymer Clay Daily) created by artist Julie Eakes.Photo from Julie Eakes' blogThe mosaic is made with extruded polymer clay canes. I wonder how many days (months?) it took to finish. This will be

The baby

2010-08-18T17:35:00.004+08:00

What's keeping everyone busy at home these past weeks is my brother's newborn son Daniel Angelo. He was born on a Sunday, exactly 10 days ago. My days are spent baby-watching instead of crafting. Yes, baby-watching, not babysitting. As in watching the baby sleep, cry, and do nothing. Lol.Today I sang him to sleep after his bath, while his mom took a shower. I do not know a single lullaby,

What I made yesterday

2010-08-02T13:53:00.004+08:00

If there's something not craft-related I really enjoy doing, it's creating on Photoshop! After putting it off for the longest time, I finally made posters yesterday for my upcoming workshops. Took me three hours, and five different drafts. It's inspired by the blue-and-white striped walls of my store, yummy cookbooks, and vintage labels.The lovely pink label template I used for my logo was

Hello, I'm Angeli and I'm an insomniac

2010-08-02T02:09:00.003+08:00

Almost every other day, I see the sky turning a delicious shade of pink and orange. Although I never get up before the sun rises, I do get to see it often - only because I am still awake when dawn breaks. Tonight, like every other night, I toss and turn and fret about still being awake at this hour. No matter how tired or sleepy I am, the story is the same.I found this note on my phone, written

I missed you

2010-08-01T01:12:00.002+08:00

Dear Blog,Forgive me.I can't believe I didn't update you about the million and one things that has happened over the last 95 days. You can blame your pal Facebook, who allows me to post short - and sometimes incoherent - status updates. My dear blog, as much as I would've liked to gush about how exciting or boring or out-of-whack the past few months have been, it felt that at the end of the day,

The first ever

2010-04-27T03:42:00.003+08:00

I would like to invite all polymer clay artists in the Philippines to join the first ever Philippine Polymer Clay Festival on May 15-16!Finally, an event that will bring together polymer clay enthusiasts from all over the country. I have been planning this in my head for a few years now. Late last year, I finally found someone to organize it with me! Expect a weekend of workshops, sculpting

Rose's Roses

2010-04-26T16:36:00.006+08:00

I've been quiet lately because I have been super busy with so many things, both crafty and non-craft related. But I'm taking a quick break to post a few photos of the polymer clay roses that my friend Rose ordered.Want your own? My new etsy store Beadlady Manila is on it's soft opening, so please check it out! :)

Washi beads

2010-04-16T16:31:00.007+08:00

I have always been fascinated with Chiyogami Washi. I have a stash of six or seven different designs, the size of gift wrapping paper. I never use these, because I do not want them to run out - they are so hard to find!A few years ago, I made polymer clay kimonos and paper jewelry out of the Washi. I have never used them again since, that is, until yesterday when all my new craft materials

Kato Polyclay now available in the Philippines!

2010-04-13T20:26:00.006+08:00

I am so excited to announce that my stocks of Kato Polyclay have now arrived! If you are a polymer clay artist from the Philippines, you have to check this out! You can order here. The clays are fresh from the Kato factory - not old stock bought from clearance sales - so you can be sure it's not hard and brittle.I prepared a starter kit which includes all 17 colors of Kato, plus a jar of Repel

Workshop update

2010-04-13T18:00:00.001+08:00

Hi everyone!I'd like to inform you that I won't be teaching the April 25 class at Powerbooks due to conflict in my schedule. Instead, Charm Lacdao of Clayzee will be teaching the said class.If you want to join my class, there's another one scheduled for May 2.Sorry for the inconvenience!

Summer Workshops

2010-03-30T12:31:00.007+08:00

Here is an updated schedule of my polymer clay workshops for Summer 2010. I now teach in two venues: at The Beadlady Craft Studio (2nd floor Beadlady Craft Cafe, Cubao Expo, Quezon City), and at the Art Center (Powerbooks, Megamall).These are the available dates for our adult workshops. All 2pm to 6pm. Dates that are fully booked will be in red. Otherwise, dates are still open. Dates that

Cupcakes for Chicago

2010-03-26T01:31:00.006+08:00

I made 50 polymer clay cupcakes in two weeks.Those couple of weeks were hard on my hands (and my sanity). I wanted to create one of a kind cupcakes. I think I have an attention deficit disorder - the idea of repetition repulses me. So I made each cupcake unique. I almost didn't use the same sprinkles twice, but two weeks is too short a time to create 50 different toppings. So out of the 50,

The rose bib

2010-03-15T17:55:00.005+08:00

I made dozens of polymer clay roses last week, and was intending to turn them into individual pendants. But after seeing them bunched together after baking, I realized they'd look pretty neat if turned into a big necklace.This bib took me 18 straight hours to make. Twelve roses - about 81 petals total- each carefully formed by hand. You can only imagine how many squished and deformed roses

Cupcake for Alice

2010-03-09T13:38:00.004+08:00

I loved Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. I'm probably biased, since I love all things Alice. But the new Disney release gave me another shot of creative juice, thanks to the exciting visuals and effects. To be honest, I wasn't paying too much attention to the story. I was busy taking in every minute detail of the Wonderland scenery. I won't say much, for fear of spoiling it for those who

The cart my grandfather made...

2010-03-08T14:41:00.004+08:00

...is on Martha Stewart Weddings - Philippines!It's finally here! This is the magazine I've been waiting for, as blogged here. I've been checking the bookstores everyday since March rolled in, and yesterday I finally grabbed a copy!My "Yummy Cart" was built by my lolo in March 2008, and it's what I use to display my wares when I join bazaars/fairs. Here are photos of the cart in action.August

Bazaar!

2010-03-05T14:32:00.002+08:00

Please come visit The Beadlady at the Rockwell Urban Bazaar on March 12 to 14! We are sharing a booth with Baubles, Bangles n Beads. You can find us right outside, so no need to pay for the entrance fee. :)

Summer's here, I can feel it

2010-03-03T16:47:00.009+08:00

Because it is terribly hot and sticky where I live, it's a bit of a chore to work with polymer clay. But the sunny weather inspired me to make something summery. I am a huge fan of Christi Friesen and Jennifer Morris, and this is inspired by the applique/sculptural technique they are well-known for. I tried to put my own "voice" through my use of shape, color, and layering, and was careful not

More of those pretty little things

2010-03-02T16:13:00.004+08:00

Adorable little polymer clay cake slices, each one carefully decorated and textured. This is one of the selections in the Pretty Little Things line. Aren't they perfect for bridal showers or sweet sixteen parties?

Pretty Little Things

2010-03-01T13:19:00.009+08:00

As promised, I am giving you a sneak peek into the new line I am working on. It's nothing grand, but it's something I've been meaning to do for a few years now.Let me introduce you to Pretty Little Things, a line of cheap but chic gifts, party favors, and souvenirs. They're perfect for weddings, christenings, birthday parties, and special occasion giveaways. When I say chic, I mean none of the

Meet Izzy

2010-02-23T13:45:00.006+08:00

It's time for you to meet my one year old baby - the adorable little Frizzy; Izzy for short.I've been wanting a dog for the longest time. When I met Liebe last year, my brother's girlfriend's cute little Maltese puppy, I decided I couldn't wait to have my own. Liebi was sweet, chubby, and such a cutie that you couldn't help falling in love with her. This is me with her last year:Isn't she

Your reading assignment: Craft, Inc.

2010-02-22T18:34:00.010+08:00

I'm launching a new line in a few days, so it's pretty crazy around here! All the non-crafty details are driving me nuts: pricing, minimums, lead time, wholesale discounts, and other boring stuff. And because I vowed to go completely DIY, I'm also in-charge of all the non-crafty-but-still-artsy little things like designing the logo, taking photos of the pieces, etcetera, etcetera. Good thing I

Can't wait for March!!!

2010-02-16T13:32:00.001+08:00

I woke up this morning and felt intense excitement. First half of Feb's gone, and now I can barely contain the butterflies in my stomach. I have five big reasons:1. My dad's flying home! Yay! (I might take a little break - a short vacay)2. I am waiting for a big magazine to hit the newsstands. I wonder when the new issue will be released. Crossing my fingers and toes. I've been waiting

Happy Hearts Day!

2010-02-14T14:18:00.007+08:00

I am having an awesome weekend!First off, my Hearts A-flurry pendants were featured on Polymer Clay Daily! I'm so happy! :) I love, love, love the other pieces in that post - especially the intricately detailed hearts with flowers. I'm honored that my little flying hearts are in such good company!And because today's Valentine's Day, I'd like to share with you these sweet polymer clay treats

I am loving Blogger

2010-02-12T03:56:00.003+08:00

There's a new feature on Blogger! You can now create Pages! It feels a little bit like building your own website. So many possibilities; I'm excited! For more info, read this post on Blogger Buzz. I wish multiply would allow us to do something like that.

Make rainbows where there are none

2010-02-08T16:10:00.005+08:00

I had so much fun making these gilded polymer clay beads. They're so colorful they're perfect for the coming summer months! No lengthy post today, I'll let the photos do the talking.

Losing my marbles

2010-02-02T17:54:00.006+08:00

I have pretty much lost my sanity - thanks to polymer clay. I worked 15 hours straight (finally falling asleep when dawn was breaking) and made a few , er, marbles. I'll turn them into a summer necklace or something.I made other thingamabobs; I posted a few of the photos on flickr.And while I was taking photos of this latest batch, look who came to "help" me out. Lol!I haven't introduced you

I woke up and it was February

2010-02-01T15:02:00.004+08:00

Handmade polymer clay roses to mark the first day of the month of love.

A heart-warming email

2010-01-31T15:41:00.004+08:00

A couple of nights ago, I received a heart-warming email from one of the students from my Jan. 23 polymer clay workshop. (Thank you Macy!)It reminds me of why I love teaching. As I wrote in another blog entry years ago, sharing that aha! moment with the participant is priceless - that moment when their face lights up and you know they finally got it.Jan. 29, 2010From Macy SagritaloOh, hello. I

I dream of summer days

2010-01-16T00:21:00.005+08:00

Polymer clay cloudsAfter the Christmas holidays, my mind automatically fast forwards to the lazy, sunny days of summer. It's still a couple of months away, but I couldn't help making these cheerful polymer clay clouds.I've recently been to the beach. Last weekend, Marco and I attended our friends' brother's wedding in Laiya, Batangas. Actually, Marco was the designated wedding singer. haha. It

Hearts a-flurry

2010-01-13T04:42:00.002+08:00

I think I finally got a name for the hearts-with-wings collection. I'm calling these "Hearts a-flurry!" Just like that lovey-dovey feeling you get on Valentine's day.I decided both "Angel heart" and "Wings of Love" are cliches. I hope when I wake up in the morning, the new name still sounds good. Lol!

Heart of an angel

2010-01-13T03:44:00.008+08:00

These lovely polymer clay hearts are fresh from my oven... just in time for February! I made seven pieces, all one of a kind. They're tinier versions of the heart collection I made a couple of years ago. A little under an inch tall, as you can see in the picture below.They remind me of the Snitch in Quidditch!The wings are inspired by Christi Friesen's work. (I adore her!) I put a little

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T19:42:00.002+08:00

Hello 2010!Here's our view from the terrace.

New pendants

2009-12-16T17:04:00.004+08:00

Here are new additions to the French-inspired collection, featuring polymer clay photo-transfer tiles wrapped in brass filigree.The images are from my collection of vintage photos and ephemera, taken from royalty-free books and other sources. It took me days to properly process the photos.Each photo is then transferred to polymer clay. After baking, the tiles are sanded and glazed to give them

The secret keepers

2009-12-09T05:24:00.014+08:00

Don't let this cupcake fool you. It's not just a regular polymer clay cupcake.It actually opens up as a locket! Here's the story behind these curious little things...After creating the cupcake locket tutorial earlier this year, another idea hit me. Why not create an entire cupcake out of the locket, instead of just attaching a cameo-like piece onto it?Incidentally, I chanced upon this

French-inspired polymer clay jewelry

2009-12-05T23:22:00.003+08:00

If the Moroccan-inspired jewelry were simple clay medallions set on brass filigree, these new French-inspired pieces feature photo-transfer polymer clay tiles wrapped with filigree.At first, I came up with simple photo-transfer tiles, like the ones I used to make when I was starting out. But I found them boring, and I wanted something new this time.I decided I wanted them to look like delicate

Polymer clay and brass filigree

2009-11-17T20:50:00.006+08:00

It's hard to make polymer clay pieces look luxurious.I found that one way to lend polymer clay that classy look of "real jewelry" is to combine it with metals. You don't need expensive gold or sterling silver.Here I used inexpensive raw brass filigree to set simple clay medallions. I call these my Moroccan-inspired collection.More photos on flickr.

I'm back! (Well, kinda...)

2009-11-10T03:24:00.003+08:00

I'm alive.Sorry if I sorta abandoned this account.I got sick, so I went on a really long vacation and finally got that much needed R&R.Then life got in the way, and I couldn't go back online immediately.So sorry!I'll start blogging again soon. In the meantime, here's what I made recently:A polymer clay tile wrapped with brass filigree.More posts and pictures to come! Thanks for still following

Little Milestones

2009-03-04T17:16:00.008+08:00

The polymer clay blogeratti has noticed Confessions of a Chronic Crafter! I am deeply grateful for all the blog mentions!My 2D cupcake tutorial was featured on Craft Gossip!And my new polymer clay embroidery projects were mentioned in CraftyGoat's Notes!The polymer clay embroidery project also caught the attention of a Russian blogger and crafter, at the Emicraft blog. (Link will direct you to

DIY Wednesday: Cupcake Locket!

2009-03-04T16:10:00.015+08:00

How to make polymer clay-covered/embellished locketsA tutorial for beginners, A Handmade Pilipinas postAll the information below is protected by the Creative Commons license.This article by Angeli Sobrepena is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.I'm trying to introduce regular sections into this blog, so you can look forward to

Entomology

2009-02-27T20:13:00.001+08:00

New stuff I'm currently working on.

Waiting for Mr. Postman

2009-02-27T14:12:00.003+08:00

My mail is taking forever to get here. I am waiting for these extra-yummy cupcakes, from SweetTushies of etsy. There's already a spot waiting for them in my kitchen!I ordered two, and I'm getting another one for free! She's so generous! Can't wait to get my kitchen smelling like butter cream, hot fudge brownie, and cotton candy. Mmmmmmmm.One other package is also lost in the mail system.

Friday Flickr Favorites: Craft rooms/studios

2009-02-27T00:01:00.004+08:00

There are so many inspiring photos on flickr, it's a shame not to share them. Allow me to join the bandwagon and start posting my favorite flickr photos every Friday.This week's theme is white craft rooms/studios.Credits after the jump.1. Shelf, painted and holding paints, 2. growing wall, 3. on my desk, 4. WIP: Craft Room Update, 5. things, 6. Our new chairs at the studio, 7. ~Twinkling lights~

More curiosities

2009-02-26T10:00:00.001+08:00

My craft studio will forever be a work in progress. Here are more pics from my work room.I had the dining room wall painted in green and white stripes.Marco whined that the stripes made the dining room look like a playroom, but these chic vintage posters totally changed his mind. He says it now looks like a cool cafe. Hah! These are really tiny by the way, most are just 4 inches tall.An uncle

When life gets in the way

2009-02-25T22:40:00.004+08:00

Nothing destroys creative momentum like a sudden bout of illness. Not only does it interrupt one's daily craft time, but it bores a huge hole in your pocket too. Boo.Good thing I have blog posts already lined up! Each post is scheduled to go live while I am away. Stay tuned.~Blogged from my phone. I love how I can access blogger while lying down.

Sundays should always be ice cream day

2009-02-22T13:44:00.005+08:00

I had ice cream for breakfast today.Made my own brownie ala mode, but instead of a brownie, I used store-bought cake, and some vanilla ice cream. Yum.Red ribbon chocolate cake and a small scoop of Selecta vanilla ice cream.

This is so engrossing (more polymer clay embroidery)

2009-02-21T18:26:00.006+08:00

180 stitches. 4 hours. Kept stitching till my hands and eyes hurt. Polymer clay embroidery is getting addicting. The possibilities are endless.Unlike needlepoint on fabric, embroidering polymer clay is a lot tougher. The clay fights back! You have to pull the thread harder than you normally would on fabric. You have to use a firm clay piece and very strong thread, or else it won't handle

Take me to the beach

2009-02-21T17:09:00.008+08:00

We interrupt regular programming to make room for a bit of whining.Summer's here. The heat is becoming oppressive. Sticky, prickly heat. My apartment is one huge oven in the summer months - it gets sun at all hours of the day so the walls are as hot as a flat iron.I long for the beach...Sipalay, November 2007Take me to the beach.the secret beach, November 2007

Something new: Polymer Clay Embroidery

2009-02-20T05:33:00.011+08:00

So I went crazy and decided to torture my poor fingers: I embroidered polymer clay.I used to do cross-stitch projects as a child, but I quickly outgrew the craft. Having to count all those squares were too much for me.My interest in needlepoint was rekindled last year when I saw fiber artist Apol Lejano-Massebieau's whimsical, almost free-form embroidery on paper and plushies. I was inspired to

Little curiosities

2009-02-19T17:43:00.006+08:00

A craft room/studio should inspire you to create. So I decided to surround myself with little curiosities that help spark the imagination.The tiny red lantern at sunset. Shadows on my wall. Surrounded by color......and prints.

Cork board, cork board on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

2009-02-19T14:11:00.007+08:00

The last couple of months found me redesigning my workspace: I had the downstairs work area, dining room, and kitchen repainted, I reorganized my stations (not yet close to being finished), and did a few DIY tweaks here and there.Here is one of those DIY projects, an upcycled ornate mirror frame turned into a bulletin board.The lovely frame used to be a mirror, which my old assistant broke. It

What is happening to the world of publishing?!

2009-02-19T13:55:00.002+08:00

Another favorite magazine announced that it's folding!Just like Domino, Craft magazine is saying goodbye due to lack of advertising interest. What a sad sad year for publishing.I adored Craft - it wasn't your ordinary how-to magazine. It was filled with inspiring stories about indie designers, cool DIY ideas that were not the usual cookie-cutter projects, and very useful and practical info for

A sad day for interior design

2009-02-18T04:32:00.010+08:00

One of my favorite magazines is saying goodbye. Sob.From their website:It is with very heavy hearts that we say farewell. Over the last 4 years, in 28 issues, we have done our best to create a great magazine. We started with a real idea—that style is for everyone—and tried to carry it out with stories that provide inspiration and empower you to act on it. From your tremendous response, we know

Cute stuff from newbies

2009-02-18T03:07:00.015+08:00

Part of the reason why I love teaching workshops is the sense of fulfillment one gets after seeing the output of the participants.My I Heart Clay students made these, and a whole lot more. Watch out world, lots more polymer clay stuff are coming your way this year!The workshop was all about roses, hearts, lockets, and fondant cakes, plus some extra projects. There are lots of other photos, I

DIY: Tiny 2D Cupcakes

2009-02-10T18:50:00.026+08:00

All the information below is protected by the Creative Commons license.This article by Angeli Sobrepena is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.How to make tiny cupcakes out of polymer clayPart of the polymer clay series, a Handmade Pilipinas postWant to try polymer clay? Here's a simple tutorial I prepared, perfect for beginners.

Another treasury

2009-02-02T00:09:00.004+08:00

Snagged another treasury on etsy, this time it's a lime green love story. Click click click to view, it's expiring in a few hours!

Confessions of a Chronic Crafter

New blog!

Letting go

Trash to Treasure: Green polymer clay jewelry

Crazy Canes

Kokeshi card holders for Sol

The Artsy Wife and Cabby Crafter

One Sunday afternoon

Card holders for Norren

Black and white bead swap

At Home

Secret Garden Monograms

The old air Ozonizer (my first attempt at Steampunk)

More May Flowers

Feuille de Autumne

The Philippine Polymer Clay Guild

Blast from the past

The name game

Fairy tales

My photo jewelry on Smart Parenting Mag

Everything nice

Too sweet

We got married! (DIY details)

We got married (continued)

We got married!

Clay Fest 2011 highlights: the sculpting contest

Snooze Fest

The 2nd Annual Philippine Polymer Clay Festival

My shop window in a movie!

Another magazine feature

A fresh batch

Little triumph

Deck the halls!

The real cost of joining a bazaar (Part 2 of the Bazaar Series)

The Cupcakery reopens!

How To Join a Bazaar - Part 1

I am a proud teacher!

Wishing bottles

Like me on Facebook

Handmade Confessions: Rocky Antonio

Handmade Pilipinas is back

Blast from the past

O.C.

Start counting

August: The month of anniversaries

Amazing works of art

The baby

More cute posters

What I made yesterday

Hello, I'm Angeli and I'm an insomniac

I missed you

The first ever

Rose's Roses

Washi beads

Kato Polyclay now available in the Philippines!

Workshop update

Summer Workshops

Cupcakes for Chicago

The rose bib

Cupcake for Alice

The cart my grandfather made...

Bazaar!

Summer's here, I can feel it

More of those pretty little things

Pretty Little Things

Meet Izzy

Your reading assignment: Craft, Inc.

Can't wait for March!!!

Happy Hearts Day!

I am loving Blogger

Make rainbows where there are none

Losing my marbles

I woke up and it was February

A heart-warming email

I dream of summer days

Hearts a-flurry

Heart of an angel

Happy New Year!

New pendants

The secret keepers