Turned a Scrap into a Craft

The great thing about crafting is that once you start doing and then loving it, your mind opens to  manifold  ideas. These ideas start crowding the imagination that summon you to realize them and  excitedly, you just want to do it. In the beginning you don't care about perfection. All you care is the desire to create. 

Three scraps of 3/8"plywood were sitting in the closet waiting for a project to be made. Presented with a material and with the confusion of so many ideas, I had to resort to my effective narrowing crafting steps:  http://www.mycrowquill.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-first-craft-was-my-first-sale.html. The plywood was a rectangular shape. I wanted to make a wooden box but I didn't have the tools, so I figured to make a wall decoration out of it. I can not paint and ply is not the right wood to carve on so I ruled them out. Instead, I thought of a useful accessory that can be attached to it.( Take note that the five underlined words described the design of my project. ) I scrambled into my available resources and found canvas totes from a previous project. The front of the totes were silkscreened while the backs were plain so I utilized the plain sides to make the accessory. With all the major materials ready for the set up, I had to pick a client that suited the project.  Definitely, the person who loved style organizing his/her kitchen.

The making took two days including the drying time. Below was the procedure.

First, I made sure each side of the wood was straight. The wood was used and distressed showing off evident nail holes, rough texture and minor paint stains. These were not issues at all because the wood had to be painted over anyway plus moldings covered the holes.

Second, my boyfriend Kevin is an artist. He painted a faux finish that resembled a wood grain.

Third, I measured and cut the moldings around the plywood. Even better, included the front that served as a boarder. The tool I used here was a miter box with a saw. All angles were at 45 degrees.

Fourth, I upcycled unused canvas totes and made them into three  4" x 2" x 6" mini bags with a thin cardboard lining.

Fifth, I painted the moldings and stenciled rows of dragonflies in an alternate in/out position. I let the paint dry before I nailed the moldings to the ply. Then, I brushed the entire wood with polyurethane finish for long lasting protection.

Sixth, I designed the bags with cut utensils out of copper foil. Three different utensils were glued to each  bag. I used both glue and screws, to fasten the bags securely to the wood.

Lastly, I covered the back with a brown paper and attached hooks on each side for hanging accessibility. 

I was very happy with this project and made another one with a similar design (https://www.etsy.com/listing/159542780/handmade-multi-purpose-wall-decor?ref=listing-shop-header-2). With the last plywood, I made it  into a mail organizer which will be featured on the next blog. 

Read more...

Ah! Red Velvet Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Like a child waiting, I get excited when the clock strikes 1:00 am. Fifteen minutes prior, I change into my fave comfy outdoor clothing, jeans and tank top. I sit and relax with my mobile next to me waiting for a text that says "Hi love, I'm at Yankee". That's my cue! I get up, wear my boots, take one last look at the mirror making sure my man finds me attractive when I meet him halfway towards the train station.

Since moving to the Bronx, walking with Kev to the train station  and meeting him halfway when he comes home have become a daily habit. The walk takes approximately 10 minutes. During that short period, we talk about anything from  random person's silly outfit to a serious political issue, whatever thought that pops out at the moment. At the top of the train station  just before he swipes his metrocard, we kiss and wish each other a good day ahead. At night, when he comes home, I meet him halfway and we talk about how the commute went and how work had been. 

Everyday to work he carries the same satchel and lunch bag. But when he comes home, he carries extra, a long stemmed red rose. Once a month, he brings me a bouquet of roses. I always feel special. I feel so much love. The thought that he has to stop by the flower shop at around midnight before he walks into the subway to his transfer train, protecting my rose while standing in a packed commute, that thought makes me think, what have I done to deserve this love and what can I do more to make him feel the way he makes me feel? Growing up, I have observed how my mother and grandmother care for their spouse. They do it passionately. Their patience, being consistent with their care tells me that is true love. They have kids, work, house and themselves to attend to but they put their spouse on top of the list.  Learning from them,  I want to love like that. I want to love passionately  and endlessly. Believe it or not since I was little, I consistently ask and pray for the same three things. To love is one of them. What I have now is an answered prayer. I don't ask for it anymore, I give thanks for it everyday and pray for it to last. By the way, I still get excited every time I get a rose. Funny thing, I notice these beautiful meek creatures also have insecurities. I'm telling later.

So recently, I'm not only getting a rose but also a delightful treat. I wonder if he is loving me more? Then, if he loves me EVEN more, does that mean I get an 8" cake three to four nights a week? Ah, those silly thoughts!! He said, it makes him happy seeing how my smile brightens when I look at the delicious treat. How fast I can finish that cupcake is remarkably outstanding. I can compete and most likely win a sweet tooth competition! I did once against three males thrice my build, I can do it again! The delightful treat that makes me behave like a little girl is the red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting. He gets it somewhere in midtown Manhattan next to the flower shop where he buys my rose. He is a regular customer there now that according to him, the week when he was sick and had to come straight home, the vendor asked where he had been. I guess he is their expected midnight customer.

Always at night on my way to meet him, I scan through the faces of people walking uphill  from the train station. When I see him, I look at his face so our eyes meet. Lately, after I spot him, my eyes travel farther down to search if there is a white plastic bag hanging next to the lunch bag before I lock my sight back to his face.  I'm giggling realizing how this little cake makes me feel so childish. One Saturday, Kev brought me to the bakery where he gets the cake, there were a lot of mouth watering beautifully sliced cakes but I only delight on this red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting!   Another good thing is that Kev doesn't have a sweet tooth so I have no one to share it with. Thank goodness!

Read more...

The Plot

At a certain point in your life, have you realized to stop walking on the path that you are promenading and start looking up towards what is ahead on the road you are trekking? Most of us enjoy the moment and cease to think about the future. When the moment feels good, we always keep that momentum. However, is that momentum driving you to the direction where you want to be or you are letting the bliss of the moment take you wherever come what may? Do you want to be in control or let the moment control you?

Today, I come across an article about 'screenwriting'. It discusses the basic 'how to do's' along with some examples on how to write a story following an outline. I could be politically wrong defining screenwriting as story writing  similar to book writing that is carried out in a motion-picture. Anyway, my point here is not to be a screenwriter but the structure in screen writing described in the article is applicable to real life. If I author my book, this will be the reference of my story.

Following the basic outline from the article, I use my own story to complete the character (written in blue)  and  I come up with this:

Situation:    While building the business and keeping a healthy and happy relationship,
Character:    I
Objective:    want to achieve financial freedom while keeping a  harmonious and loving                                             relationship with my partner. However,  
Opponent:   pride, ego and fear always interfere that sometimes
Disaster:     the fear of failure and financial insecurity push me to be aggressive and                                               innovative. Other times, the frustration keeps me from moving forward. In the    
                    process, I  redefine pride and ego by humility and self-discovery.

Above is the backbone of my story.  The drama happening within the story follows a sequel of rise and fall, and the subsequent course of events become the soul of the story. 

The article narrates two phases: rising phases and falling phases. The rising phases include: goal, conflict and disaster. The falling phases are: reaction, dilemma,decision. Thoughtfully, I elaborated:



Goal:          Achieve financial freedom; enjoy a healthy and loving relationship; and preserve
                   peace of mind and happiness
Conflict:     Learning the game of business through research, experiment, risk  and social organization
Reaction:    Fear of risk, disappointment; failure;  impatience to achieve it sooner and
                   becoming hopeless after several attempts
Dilemma:    Should I quit and settle to what is financially convenient working for a boss,
                   compromise time being with the spouse and still be uncertain of the future?

                                                                       OR                                                                                                                     
                   Don't give up, keep going and learn in the process. Work with the spouse, dream              
                   together, encourage each other and be able to spend more time together. The                      
                   future is uncertain but taking  a noble risk leads to self-discovery and the                            
                   potential of becoming great. The best part is knowing that I am not alone in this                
                    journey.                       

Decision:    To make the  next 2.5 years in New York the most noble life changing event.

After writing down the situation, objective and conflict of my story, I realized what I want. I know that it is possible to achieve the goal and I already made my decision on how to to deal with the dilemma of the conflict. The most important task now is to face the conflict with a positive attitude. Writing these down help me understand the crisis  clearly and more than it is motivating, it is also therapeutic. This journal will remind me to take control of life when problems start to take over me.

If my writing makes sense, I recommend anyone to do the same and write his own story line and work on a day to day journal.

Read more...

Featured Artist

Kevin Corcoran, The Artist

The Artist's Paintings & Drawings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HXVC0Bw4iI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM-idJg4_UY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZJawvSBox8

Read more...

HER Craft

" The journey awakens the soul " keepsake chest. Its a great treasure chest to keep memories and diary of life changing quotes/poems and events that serve as a constant reminder of life's beauty and purpose. The treasure chest is a beautiful wedding gift chest for a couple whose starting a life journey as soul mates or can also be an elegant keepsake gift chest to an individual who loves to collect soulful treasures. 

All naturally hand designed recipe box is hand carved on the sides, top and front. The twisted pair of spoon and fork with a curled tip design is slightly indented and burned to permanence. The label "Bon Appetit" in a cursive fashion is carved and burned in. The over all design has a homey, worn-out & antiquated feel yet possess unique elegance. 

This box, however, is not only limited to a recipe box,but can also be a pastry box. It's perfect to keep your baked mini pastries to bring out to the patio or garden along with your tea or coffee. It can also be a useful gift box to put in baked treats/ candies to give to friends and family.

From exterior wood color to interior design, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary wooden box into an old and rustic treasure chest. The vibrant green patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend naturally with the dull and tarnished brown exterior of the wood. The over all theme is a Vintage Memory treasure box for old pictures, cards, love letters in any occasion from special persons.

Every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary wooden box into an elegant chocolate brown and gold layer treasure chest sprinkled with gold dust flower design on top. The chic design is imperfectly hand painted with a smooth shimmering finish. The over all classy wrap resembles to that of a tiramisu slice. This Tiramisu Inspired treasure case, though not limited to, is a perfect gift suggestion for a chic who loves tiramisu. 

This box will make a beautiful, unique and useful gift box for your girl friend and family. Why wrap your gift if you can box it and let her keep the box as a keepsake memory box.. Make your gift special with this one of a kind wooden box.

The wood is distressed and hand carved with a picture of a nude woman decoupaged on top. It's sealed with a clear satin protective finish. The Inside top and/ or bottom of the box will be covered with your personal message which you will give to me before it's being mailed. If you want it plain, no problem. :)

From exterior to interior wood finish, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary plain wooden box into a home-feel family recipe label box. The vibrant green vine leaf patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend naturally with the earth-brown exterior. 

This handmade mini journal is multi-functional: a notebook, a sketchbook, gift tag, door tag etc. Each page is detachable for various uses and can be hung in different styles.Take this with you everyday for any inspiring subject to sketch, or write your favorite quote/saying or simply use it as a journal There are different ways to use it, hang it and even bind the book leaves however you like it. 

Handmade keepsake gift box for a younger sister turning 16 years of age. Sweet message is printed on top of the box that says:
" When mom told me 
I'll have a little sister 16 years ago,
I was the happiest brother.
I loved you even before I met you. 
Now you're a young woman,
just so you know that
50 yrs. from now, 
you will still be my little sister
and I'm still your older brother!!

I love you, sweetest sister!!! "

This is a sweet and thoughtful gift from a brother to his sister. Put some memorable things you share with your sister or use this as a gift box for your gift. Either way works as a perfect sister's gift.

Thinking of a unique gift box?! Why not have yours something personal, beautiful, useful and one thing that is memorable, Another thing that can be kept and only thing that leaves fun memories that opens with a smile and closes with a laugh! 

Item description: 

From exterior wood finish to interior design, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary wooden box into an old and rustic fun memory chest. The vibrant patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend the faux exterior of the wood. The over all theme is a Vintage Fun Memory treasure box for a special birthday celebrant.

This beautiful handcrafted gazebo bird feeder is one of a kind. Each piece of the six window panels is delicately hand painted to appear a stained glass replica. The inspiration of the design is from the stained cathedral window panels. I'm always fascinated by how lively the colors effected me. 

This piece will surely make your garden look elegant and more colorful. This will also look beautiful as an interior home decor. 

Ill be happy to make matching feeders for your garden or a matching indoor decor or a special occasion accessory. This gazebo feeder has so many different uses.

Old and Classic Granny's recipe box for an elegant Granny who rocks the kitchen with poise and grace.

Item description:

From exterior to interior design, every detail is artistically made by the hand, transforming an ordinary box into a classic recipe box. The pale yellow leaf vine patterns are imperfectly hand painted to blend with the faux finish. The entire interior is lined with elegant floral design. The box is designed for precious granny's recipe collection.

Black and White 2-tier Keepsake Box is coated with a clear satin polyurethane finish for a long lasting protection . This item can be personalized upon request with a monogram in black carved on top of the small box. The smaller top box is glued and screwed to the bigger bottom box so that these two boxes is a fixed pair.

Free initial Monogram carving. 

Check individual prices at www.etsy.com/shop/BellaFinesse
We accept custom orders and bulk orders at great discount.

Read more...

Rugged with Classic Elegance

It was quite a stretch of time.Finally, I finished it! The design is a twisted tree branch sculpted around the body of the box. On top is a decoupaged picture of a naked woman enclosed with two stencil designs carved on opposite corners. It was quite a procedure doing this. Since  it was my first sculpted box, I wanted to keep a memory of this in a blog.

The theme as always was a challenge. But, I'm glad I blogged my previous activity, I'm constantly reminded on how to begin a project. I was already sure of myself that I wanted to sculpt so I browsed on books and looked for a simple design. Walla!!! the twisted tree branch caught my attention. It looked easy yet challenging, so I began.  

First, I applied  faux finish around the exterior of the box. Since I wasn't able to get a picture prior to carving, let me show you how a faux finish looked like  (this was actually my first faux box). It was the same procedure I applied. Instead of the brown color, I used thulian pink. I had to play with different color combination to come up with the color shade. I basically used wood stain, white acrylic, red and white oil paint.

After the faux dried, I drew the twisted branch design around the box. The drawing was my reference for carving. On the right shows my work table.  You can see my Dremel 4000 hanging conveniently in place, clamp light, pencil, Dremel bits inside the blue cases, my unfinished boxes. Now here, I want your attention on the bottom box because that's how the box looked like when I started carving the design. You  also notice my wood burning tool, the one with an orange handle. I didn't do any wood burning on this project, but since its in the picture, I may as well just  introduce all that's seen on the table. Of course, how can I work without my cup of coffee?...... Am i missing anything?
Normally, this table is covered with wood dust when I play with my Dremel.  

After I completely carved around the box, I attended to the top. I wanted to finish it with a classic, vintage appeal. I pulled one of my stencils, transferred it on the box and carved out the negative space. Nearly to finishing it, I focused on a clientele. All of a sudden, I focused on me. How would I have finished it if this was made for me? I was already in love with the carvings, the distressed surface and the color. It looked classic and vintage and generally feminine. Despite the distressed treatment , I wanted it to look soft and delicate. It was absolutely contrasting but can be done. So I picked a picture of a nude woman. I overlaid an oil paint mixture of  yellow ochre, white and orange that blended with the background of the picture and softened the texture on the top. The nudity was a bold expression of womanliness and that's what I wanted the box to possess.  I wanted it to make a statement if it was to be placed on a woman's dressing table. Finally, I finished it off by glazing the entire exterior with a clear satin polyurethane for a long lasting protection.  

If this box is to be personified, she is a beauty with a classic radiance, shrewdly flawed with a  rugged character that epitomize manly traits, however, doesn't overpower her sophisticated femininity.

Read more...

LIMITLESSNESS

"What we call results are beginnings."

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

The final lesson you must learn as you embrace the Ten Rules for Being Human is limitlessness, for that will keep you traveling along your path long after you finish reading this book. Limitlessness is the sense that there are no boundaries to what you can become or do. You learn it when you know that your evolution is never-ending and your potential for growth reaches to infinity.

You were born knowing your limitlessness. As you grew and became socialized in this world, however, you might have come to believe that there are boundaries that prevent you from reaching the highest levels of spiritual, emotional or mental evolution. However, boundaries exist only in your mind. When you are able to transcend them, you learn the lesson of limitlessness.

When I was young, I had a teacher who understood the importance of this lesson. She reminded us every day that we could do anything we set our minds to,no matter how impossible it might seem or how strong the opposition. It is my sincere hope that there is a teacher like Mrs. Carbone in every school around the world, so that our children can know the wonder and power they have within themselves and will strive to access it.

The reason there is no end to the levels you can reach is because you already have infinite potential within you. YOur challenge in this lifetime is simply to uncover that potential by peeling back the layers and remembering this essential truth: there is nothing you can not do,be or have.All is within your reach. Know your limits, not so that you can honor them, but so that you can smash them to pieces and reach for magnificence.

There was a story in the news recently about a man named Valdas Adamkus who proved to himself and to the world that there is nothing a person cannot do. Valdas immigrated ot the United States from Lithuania and, after years of hard work, rose to become a highly decorated government official. He implemented a massive environmental cleanup plan for the Great Lakes and received the nation's highest honor for government officials from President Ronald Reagan. In 1991, Lithuania became free, and Valdas realized he wanted to go back and help his home country the same way he had helped America.

In 1998, at the age of seventy-one, when many people would be retiring, Valdas Adamkus became the president of Lithuania. When asked about his inner process that led him to run for such a demanding office at his age, Valdas replied, "There are no limits in life."

Countless others have shown us similar spirit, proving that a person can do whatever he or she strives to do. The Wright brothers created a machine that flies,despite the doubt that surrounded them. Gandhi inspired a revolution that affected millions of people.

Accomplishments need not be heroic to illustrate limitlessness. Whether it is getting an A on a term paper or putting up the kitchen curtains by yourself, you can prove to yourself that you can do anything at all even by executing the smallest actions. What is important is that you believe that you can do it and that you give yourself every opportunity to succeed.

Each lesson you learn in your lifetime will open doorways to your own sense of limitlessness. There is no limit to your compassion or patience,nor to your willingness, commitment, tolerance or any other pocket of understanding you reach into. You have infinite permission to love, to grow, and to re-remember all the wisdom within you. 

Read more...

WISDOM

" We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us." - Marcel Proust

The ultimate destination of your life path is wisdom. Wisdom is the highest and deepest degree of knowledge, insight and understanding. It provides you with the broadest perspective on life, its purpose, and the lessons you learn throughout your lifetime. When you find your wisdom, you are living in the light.

Wisdom is not a state to be achieved, but rather a state to be recalled. You arrived on this planet fully equipped with the boundless wisdom inherent in all humans; you only need to access that place within you that connects you to the infinite divine source in order to remember it. You are every bit as wise as the Buddha, Aristotle or Confucious - they have simply accessed places inside themselves where perhaps you have not yet journeyed.

Wisdom is not intelligence. It has nothing to do with the level of your IQ or how well you did in school. Rather, wisdom is the highest level of emotional, spiritual and mental evolution, at which you value intuition as much as information, willingness as much as ability, and inspiration as much as knowledge. It is where you synergize your deepest understanding with your everyday actions.

The most direct path to your wisdom is paved with your life's lessons.  By learning the lessons presented to you everyday, you continually bring yourself closer to aligning with what Emerson called "the oversoul" and Carl Jung called " the collective unconscious." These are the universal forces that tie us all together and link each of us to the bottomless source of wisdom. It is quite simple: learn your lessons so that you may find your link to that source and remember your wisdom.

The true beauty of wisdom is that once you recall it, you will then be inspired to pass it along. You will recall the lesson of abundance and know that there is no lack or limit to wisdom. It is like love; the more you give away, the more you get back. Your capacity for wisdom increases each time you share it with another. Those who are celebrated for their wisdom are those who have shared it freely to help others grow.

Elisabeth Kubler- Ross is one who used her wisdom to help millions of people cope with the process of dying. By coupling her wisdom with compassion, she has raised others to her level of understanding and allowed them to see that how we die is as important as how we live.

It is not everyday that we encounter people who we would label as wise. A grandparent, teacher, mentor, someone who emanates a way of looking at life with a broad perspective - for some, way beyond their years. You know someone like this. It may be someone close to you, or someone famous like Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Alber Schweitzer or Jonas Salk. I was fortunate to know Willis Harman, the president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, who for me, possessed this type of wisdom.

When I interacted with him, I felt as if we took a mental helicopter trip above the earth to address conditions below. I felt blessed to be in his presence. I was inspired when he shared his points of view with me. His absence of personal agenda, his complete lack of need or want and his freedom from dependence upon material possessions gave him incredible power. His reflections gave pause from the daily momentum of life. He wrote, "... we are likely to find ourselves involved in a self - transformation that leads us to ultimate trust in the deep Self and in "inner knowing", bringing to awareness the deep sense of purpose and the source of wisdom and direction to be found there, confirming the intention to find our life work and do it..." It was refreshing to bask in his philosophical musings and stretch into the shoes of a reality that I could not yet fill. I am continually grateful for my relationship with him, because through him I experienced those principles to which I aspire.

Think of the person in your life who gave you a peek at wisdom. Ask yourself what attributes you noticed. Then see what you want to emulate within yourself. You will gain a bit of wisdom each time you view your life from a macro-perspective - distancing yourself enough to see what is really going on, beyond the apparentness of the situation.

Finding the wisdom inside you and reaching your highest levels of evolution can be one of the most selfless lessons you can learn. It is the one that will elevate you and propel you along your own path so that you may contribute the results of all your other lessons to the rest of the world.

Read more...