Embroidery Course on Brother Embroidery Machines in Cebu and Davao

Crafters in Philippine cities - Davao & Cebu have reason to rejoice, Go Negosyo and Brother Philippines are holding a free Embroidery Course for entrepreneurs (those looking to seriously get into the Embroidery business. The program is for FREE and is open to all individuals with actual embroidery or embroidery-related businesses (or has strong interest to have one).

How to make a Barbed Wire Bracelet

Here's an amazing Barbed Wire Bracelet Tutorial from Kirsten Nunez of Studs and Pearls. Get your malleable craft wire and craft glue ready :)

Click here for the Barbed Wire Bracelet tutorial

Polymer Clay Shop Philippines

Need to bulk order polymer products as giveaways and gifts? Try Ryjaem Handmade 

Ryjaem hand crafts Polymer clay miniatures. Visit their Facebook Page on how to order

Animal Prints on your Hair: Jean Paul Gaultier Upstyle 'Do with Spots

Be-speckled with leopard spots, Jean Paul Gaultier's Beehive up-dos is hot with jungle fever!

You might think this all tad a few seasons late~ yeah animal prints are like in the bargain bins already. But having the animal spots on your tresses are a different matter all together :)

Crocs Philippines: Crocs Line Boat Shoes

How much do a pair of Crocs Line Boat Shoes cost in the Philippines?



Crocs Line Boat Shoes are available in all Crocs concept stores. It is priced at P4,590

Chanel Pearl Hair Band

"Pearls are always appropriate."- Jackie Kennedy

For that understated bun, ease some elegance into any mess up 'do with a big Chanel Pearl

Chanel Pearl hairband at 155 Euros

Pajamas on the Red Carpet

Only my golden pixie muse Tilda Swinton can rock pajamas on the red carpet.

I call on thee Tilda to bring on the extreme bed hair and Saturday morning casual, quite fashionably on such events.  Gimme some Nyquil and a glass of milk!



Well so does Sofia Coppola, but she should have gone for bunny slippers than heels. But Marc Jacobs wearing polkadot jammies with chucks - just AWESOME!

Jimmy Choo Goes Citrine

Energize your Spring wardrobe with this assaulting shade of green by Jimmy Choo.

Citrine is kinda like a posh lemon and lime color that's sure to make heads turn.

Stella McCartney Hits Asia

My girl Stella McCartney set up shop in Asia's key fashion cities last month.


Checking out the state of her goods in Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Peddling some plexi-glass purses to the hungry trendsettas (yeah, the sort who had double eyelid surgery and gosh awful Gluta skin). I mean who else can afford these Stellas yo!?

 

So far there have been no Stella McCartney knock-offs selling cheap like a buncha fake Tory Burches, bitches!

Stella in Tokyo: The topiary is a nice touch. But they forgot to trim some shrubs to spell 'McCartney'

Rare South Sea Pearls: A Look at Jewelmer's Golden Pearls

Jewelmer is ranked as one of the top three producers of South Sea pearls in the world. The Philippine Jewelry company which runs a pearl farm in Palawan produces the rare gold South Sea Pearl, the Pinctada Maxima.

Pearl formation is a marvelous event. Nature reminds us that greatness can blossom out of modest beginnings - a priceless life lesson from the humblest of life forms. - Jewelmer

Here's a glimpse of Jewelmer's Pearl Farm.

Placing the oyster cages at the start of the season

Harvesting the fully-grown oysters: This happens after 2-3 years.

The oyster cages are placed into the boats then delivered ashore.

The oysters are washed thoroughly and prepared for extraction.

Jacques Branellec, managing director of Jewelmer oversees the extraction process, “Any change in temperature and water conditions can affect the oysters. For 38 years I have been in cultivation of pearls, but I”m always learning something new.”

A single golden pearl - now begins the painstaking process for pearl experts in finding two pearls of the same parallel size, shape and surface qualities.

According to Jewelmer, no two pearls are precisely alike. To find “sister” pearls of similar attributes, a master grader must patiently sift through a bounty of 50,000 pearls.

The chosen pearls are then incorporated into Jewelmer's latest designs.

Pearls are then handcrafted and formed by local artisans into various jewelry pieces.

No longer part of the bivalves, the pearls are now part of a more distinctive piece. This necklace creation by Jewelmer is called the Buona Annata Necklace.

But where do most of the golden pearls end up?

On the necks of gorgeous celebs like Dawn Zulueta and this one looks lovely on Hollywood star Jessica Chastain.

Check out the latest Pearl Collection at Jewelmer website, Facebook and Twitter page.

Minaudière: Fancy a Box Clutch?

The Minaudière, we all have one in our closets right? A fashion staple for evenings out, regardless of the event this little carry-on purse is meant accentuate anyone in full-fashion battle regalia.

Judith Leiber Kitali Pattern Turtle-inspired minaudiere

min·au·dière  (mn-dyâr)

A small ornamental case for a woman's cosmetics, jewelry, or personal items that is often carried as a handbag. As seen on Gala events and award ceremonies. Case in point, Jennifer Lawrence at the recent Golden Globes in a bright persimmon princess-cut dress by Dior Couture.

Jennifer Lawrence Golden Globes clutch: a silver Ferragamo Minaudière

 If you fancy another silver Minaudière, this time with geometric cuts, Filipino NYC-based designer Rafe offers this industrial edge beauty- the Rafé New York 'Maryanne' Minaudiere



At Forever21 Manila, a minaudière menagerie.
For €5,000, you can have your very own Metal and crystal Claire clutch by Jimmy Choo.

How Can You Help Your Groom Look His Wedding Day Best?

Your wedding day is almost here! If you’re like most brides, you’ve spent countless hours choosing your dress, your hairstyle, arranging for a manicure and pedicure, selecting the fragrance you want to wear and attending to many more tiny details, all in an effort to look your absolute best for the big day. While going the extra mile to make the most of your appearance may be obvious to you, it may not be apparent to your groom that he should be doing the same thing. Help him to look his best too by suggesting a few steps to take in preparation for your wedding day.

·         Make an appointment for your guy at a high-end barbershop on the morning of your special day. There’s really nothing quite like a hot lather shave. If your man has had one before, he’ll know what a wonderful experience it can be. If he hasn’t, he’s in for one terrific surprise. The process involves hot towels, pre-shave crème, hot lather shave crème, a straight-edge razor and more hot towels. The end result is a shave closer than you (or he) can imagine, not to mention a very relaxed future husband!

·        Help him choose wedding day accessories. By this time, the groom’s suit has probably already been chosen, as well as those for his best man and groomsmen, but a few additional extras can really add some polish to your man’s wedding day attire. Men’s jewelry is the hottest new trend in male fashion. Sit down with your guy and look through the wide variety of masculine designs on some of the more reputable online jewelry sites. Choose from rings, bracelets or pendants for men in a wide range of styles. Ask your man to choose his own special jewelry for your wedding day and the honeymoon that follows. There is an almost endless selection available in some of the more contemporary materials now used in men’s jewelry. Browse through the assortment of pendants for men made of tungsten carbide, which pairs a handsome look with an affordable price tag. This extremely durable material is used in many attractive men’s necklaces - a tungsten dog tag pendant with a single diamond, for example, is a perfect masculine yet wedding appropriate accessory.

·        Suggest that he have his teeth professionally cleaned and whitened. This is a detail that many men may overlook, but it can make a world of difference in his appearance on your special day. While professional whitening is the most effective, he may also choose to use one of the many over-the-counter teeth polishing products if he’s hesitant to make a trip to the dentist. Either way, brighter teeth will give him the confidence to put on the broadest smile possible for the wedding day photographers.
 

·        Recommend a manicure. You know how pampered you feel when you have your nails done, and your guy will feel just as pampered by having a manicure of his own. Even if this isn’t something he wants to have done on a regular basis, ask him to give it a try a day or two before the wedding. He might be surprised at what a difference it can make, particularly in wedding day close-ups!

The day you get married is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both of you, so why not do everything you can to make sure you both look your best? Although these extra grooming steps may not be obvious to your guy, he’ll definitely like the results. Women aren’t the only people who enjoy a little pampering!  After a hot shave, a manicure, teeth whitening and donning one of the handsome pendants for men available online, your groom will feel great and look his absolute best on the special day that marks the beginning of your lives together.

--

Cindy White writes about pendants for men and other jewelry items for JustMensRings.com

Knitting Workshop for Beginners in the Philippines

CraftMNL is doing a Knitting Workshop this month. Woot! Woot!

CraftMNL will be having its first run of knitting for beginners using the Moebius Knitting method on Nov 24 with Ruby Magturo. The Knit Wit 9am session will be held at Malugay Collective. Like most of their craft activities they will be providing the materials. For reservations please follow this link.

Workshop Fee: P850

5 Wardrobe Items That Can Turn Around Any Guy’s Look

Over the last five years, men’s fashion and accessories have grown by leaps and bounds. Guys have become infinitely more serious about putting more thought into what they wear, whether it’s at work, at play or both. Some men, however, still find themselves struggling when it comes to putting together an outfit that is stylish yet simple.

Fortunately, there are some tried and true go-to pieces that can easily be integrated into any closet and will make dressing fashionably a piece of cake. Here are five wardrobe staples that can breathe new life into any guy’s wardrobe.

A Fitted Work-Appropriate Blazer
A good blazer is one of those wardrobe items that is well worth a little investment and is destined to get used time and time again. Not only should you have a blazer on hand for work-related occasions, but the right blazer can easily transition to nights out over more casual shirts.

Fortunately, these days it’s entirely possible to get a good quality blazer without spending a small fortune. Look for one or two button blazers in classic neutral hues like black, navy, grey, brown or tan, avoiding any materials that are overly textured or shiny. As a final touch, have your blazer professionally tailored (even by a local drycleaner) so that it fits you to a T – it will instantly make your blazer look more expensive and chic.
 

The Perfect Dark Denim Jeans
Despite being another “go anywhere” item that pays to invest in, many guys still fall into the bad jean trap, wearing denim that is poorly designed and/or ill-fitting. What these men don’t realize is that all jeans are not created equal. You’re far better off spending the same amount on a single pair of jeans that fit perfectly rather than three pairs of jeans that look like they belong on your mother.

When shopping for a new pair of jeans, go to a boutique that specializes in denim so that you can try on a few different designers to get a feel for which one suits your style and body type best. If you’re purchasing just a single pair of jeans, stick with a more conservative pair in a dark blue color that are not excessively ripped or whiskered, nor overly decorated or embroidered on the pockets.

Leather-Accented Accessories
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to give your wardrobe a boost is with men’s jewelry and accessories. Even for the most accessories shy guy, leather accents have a welcoming and unfussy masculinity. Leather is also not just for shoulder bags and shoes anymore: leather accents can be found in everything from designer rings for men to cuff links. Some of the hottest current items for leather accessories included smaller portfolio style (or “clutch”) bags, bracelets, statement belts and designer rings for men.

A Statement Coat
‘Tis the season to start seriously thinking about outerwear. Dashing overcoats were all over the Fall and Winter 2012 runways, and for those living in cooler climates, they’re an absolute necessity. Following the same basic color rules as you would for a blazer, look for overcoats that have a certain timelessness yet offer a special detail or two, whether it’s an asymmetrical lapel or interesting buttons. The right piece of outerwear doesn’t always have to mean the traditional overcoat, either. Men’s pea coats are a practical and fashionable choice, as are certain kinds of wool cardigans.

Two Tone Men’s jewelry
Having trouble matching items of fashion jewelry to your everyday wear accessories, like your wedding ring and/or watch? Two tone jewelry is not only eye-catching but extremely versatile. Both silver/gold and black/silver are popular modern color combinations, though the possibilities are virtually endless. Look in particular for two tone watches, bracelets, cuff links and designer rings for men to expand your wardrobe exponentially.

Tanya Zilinskas Naouri is known for her articles on fashion and designer rings for men by JustMensRings.com

Summer Accessories and Jewelries at SM Malls Philippines

The latest beach 'Merch' on sale at SM Malls.


Soft cotton tees, burlap beach hat, cat-eye sunglasses, friendship bracelets, paisley beach sandals

Glad there's an improvement on their selections ~ sana may improvement din on how SM treats their suppliers :p Hah!

SM accessories is on the up-and-up, the merch looks sophisticated without abandoning the signature mass-market appeal SM is known for.

Pretty baubles, indeed. When I was shopping around, I overheard a balikbayan/OFW saying, "Mukhang sosyalan, they can pass off as NOT bought at SM." Oh c'mon! Who doesn't like the SM cheap trinkets and fast-fashion du jour? I agree they have lovely pieces, the only downside to this is- since it's at SM, expect everyone you know is wearing the same shizz.

Golden statement pieces for the beach, bone and wood collar necklace

Pixel Heart Necklace: Happy Valentine's Day!

Have an 8 bit heart good enough to store sweet organic memories of your true love.



Pink Heart Zelda by Milkool on Etsy.com

Jewelry details: Made from two acrylics dual-stacked perspex plastic. It's 6mm (0.2") thick and measures about 3x3 cm (1.18x1.18") comes with a metallic black ball chain which extends to 24" (60cm). Purchase on Etsy.com

Heart Necklaces by Jan Hilmer: Perfect Valentine's Day Jewelry

If your heart beats of metal and throbs for hardcore lovin' this Valentine's Day! This heart Jewelry is meant to swing around your neck



This metal Anatomical Heart necklace is in solid brass and solid sterling silver. Small measures approximately 1/2" x 1/2" and Medium measures approximately 1" long by 1/2" wide.



Sufi Heart Wing by Jan Hilmer
Let your love fly high, let your love roam free, say your feelings through jewelry :)

DIY Jewelry: How to Make a Fork Ring

What happens to a fork when it loses it's spoon? It would be way too lonely for your kitchen ware, so keep it company, turn that remaining cutlery into a fine piece of jewelry. Ideal for sterling silverware ~ Ohlala!



Ingenious crafter Kirsten Erickson has the ultimate DIY tutorial for making Fork and Spoon rings. Check the How-tos in great detail at her site.

Pearls and Shell Mosaics for January 2012

2011 was the year of feathers and heavy embroidered bib necklaces and cabochons swimming in sequins. January highlights what's to come with Jewelry trends- pristine beach Pearls, anyone?



Say bye bye to wearing sewn-on-fabric jewelry

The Dragon Tattoo Collection from H&M

December is sooo Lisbeth Salander... so if you want to fit in these digs, you gotta go thinspo! Almost near anorexic levels like Rooney Mara



The Dragon Tattoo Collection from H&M by Trish Summerville, Costume Designer for the David Fincher film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.



Goth chic fashion on the verge. Check out these fierce leather accessories- black leather bracelets, braided leather bracelets, silver bangles, black dog tag necklaces, black rock rings.