My Precious... Yarns from Baguio Hangar Market

My favorite cake, yarn cakes. Well, of course I specially love the edible ones but don't these yarn cakes just look so yummy? I know knitters and crocheters agree. If you are a yarn hoarder like me or just simply love yarns and you live here in the Philippines, you have probably heard about yarns from Baguio. Last year, I was finally able to visit the famous Baguio Hangar Market where mountains of yarns are sold. 

This is the stall where we bought my yarns. This is the second one we saw and a bit smaller than the first one located near the entrance of the market's second floor where the yarn sellers are. The first one sells acrylic yarns for Php 350 (a little over $7) per kilogram while it's only Php 300 (a little over $6) here in this stall.

I'm so sorry if I won't be able to give you the directions to the market because I honestly don't remember, lol. We just asked the friendly people there how to get to Baguio Central Market and once we're there, we again just asked around where the Hangar Market is.

They have different kinds of yarn, acrylic, cotton, and fancy yarns. It was almost nighttime when we got there so I didn't really look thoroughly at everything, I just went straight to choosing different colors of acrylic yarns. What I really wanted to buy were cotton yarns but they only have black and white available, they don't have hand-dyed ones, so I settled for the colorful acrylic ones. Maybe I'll learn how to dye cotton yarns in the future, it would be a useful skill for me. 

I bought a total of 3.5 kgs of yarn worth Php 1,050 (about $22). This would make lots of afghans, table runners, and more though I'm pretty sure I won't be able to use them all up in the near future. I just want to keep my yarn inventory full.

Each cake is more or less this big and I could make a bulky scarf from this and with a small leftover cake.

I made these Gryffindor and Slytherin scarves using just maybe a quarter or less than half of the cake of each color. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff scarves are still in progress.

Of course, yarns are not the only stuff you can shop for when in Baguio.

You can try this delicious strawberry taho...

... or this strawberry ice cream with lots of chunky strawberry bits. We got them when we were in the strawberry farm.

Also in the strawberry farm vicinity, we got these broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce...

... Sagada oranges and this green pinipig.

Inside that brown paper bag is 1 kilogram of ground Benguet coffee. The aroma in that coffee store in Baguio Central Market where we got this was so intoxicating. We caught it from afar and we were immediately drawn to the place to buy coffee.

And these are the pasalubong stuff. We bought them from the vendors who gave us directions to the yarn stores, we promised them that we'd come back and buy from them after we got my yarns.

These ones, we got from the Good Shepherd store in Mountain Maid Training Center. The 12 oz. Ube Jam we got from the central market was Php 220 and the ones sold from the Good Shepherd store are Php 200, just a small difference.

And what else did we get? Our matching sweaters! Jordana's sweater was only Php 120 (around $2.50) and mine was only Php 230 (a little less than $5).

So cute on her, hihi. 

It was only my second time in Baguio and we're definitely going back. Maybe next time I'll get those white cotton yarns and dye them myself. 

Thanks for visiting. Ta-ta for now!

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DIY Cross Stitch Scroll Frame

I have this cross stitch project that I have started working on last year but I was only able to spend a week or two on it because I had to do other more important stuff. As I’m trying to limit my pending works to a minimum, yes I have a few, mostly huge crochet projects that I needed to leave for a while to make other crafts or just to take a break from the monotony of crocheting, I made up my mind to finish my cross stitch work in progress and not do any other crafty thing for a month or two, I even took a short break from blogging.

I’ve been cross stitching for a couple of weeks and I’ve noticed how hard it is to work on a fabric this size. I rolled it up and only expose the part I’m working on as it’s always done to keep the fabric neat. At first, the rolled up aida cloth was stiff so it was just smooth but as I work on it, I needed to change its position or where I handle it and turn it over and back from time to time, it gets limper so it’s easily folded and bent, now it’s crumpled and has creases all over.

Here it is, to give you an idea how big the fabric actually is and what I’m talking about, see those creases? I’m not really stitching on the whole thing, I have some extra inches on all sides but still, it’s a big cross stitch project, and I’m using 16 count aida cloth so the squares are really small. This might just be easy peasy for avid cross stitchers but this is a bit challenging for me, the last time I cross stitched was more than a decade ago and the biggest I made wasn’t even half the size of this.

With my fabric situation, I gotta admit that the stitch tension is pretty messed up and I’m afraid I might get a not so nice finish. So, I’m in dire need of a scroll frame to keep the fabric smooth and my work easier. Alas, there’s no available scroll frame anywhere here in Manila, I’ve called more than five craft stores and all they have are embroidery hoops which just wouldn’t work for me. I’ve found out about this online shop here selling imported craft stuff but I need to have it pre-ordered based on their pre-ordering schedule then I gotta wait for the shipping time after that so I have to wait for at least two months and it’s not cheap, as well, I need to cough up a few thousand pesos. I tried to just order it from the US myself and have it shipped here and after all the charges, I needed to pay more than 100$. I feel that it’s just not worth spending money on this, I’m not even sure if I’m gonna do another cross stitch or other needlework projects after this, it’s probably going to be a one-time use, anyway. The solution? DIY!

Tada! My very own cross stitch scroll frame and I only spent Php 60 (a little over $1) just for the PVC pipe, I have the rest of the materials in my craft supplies.

Here’s how it’s done. I asked my husband to buy me a pair of 30-inch long PVC pipes, these will be the scroll rods. I want the frame to fit on my table because it’s where I work. My fabric roll is a bit longer than 30 inches so I cut 2 inches from each side to fit the length of the rods. The hardware store sells pre-cut 10-ft long 20mm pipes for Php 60, it was the smallest and the lightest they have. My husband had the pipe cut in the store based on the measurements I gave him, since I only needed 60 inches for this project, I still have an extra that will surely be useful in the future.

I could just use the pipes like that but they look depressing to me so I decoupaged them with patterned paper. 

For the extender bars, I cut out card boards. They’re 12 x 2 inches. I have wood bars that I could use for this but I don’t have a tool for drilling holes. I recommend using wood if available and you have a hole saw or a drill that can do the work.

I carved out holes the size of the pipes on the boards using X-Acto knife.

The card boards are not thick so I had to glue two together to make one bar. I wanted to glue more boards together to make the bar thicker but carving the holes was a lot of work so I settled for two.

Again, not necessary, but I wrapped the bars with patterned paper. What can I do, I love colors! I didn’t smoothen out the paper around the holes to add grip when the scroll rods are inserted into the holes.

Almost ready. 

A knob can be added on each end of the scroll rods but I just settled on adding circumference to the rods by wrapping a rubber band and a few rounds of masking tape so they won’t slip through the holes of the extender bars.

It’s done. Using masking tape, I attached one edge of the fabric to one of the rods and did the the same to the other and just rolled them in. As shown in the pictures above, the fabric just rolls in and rolls out just fine.

No more problem with bending and creasing. I’ve been using this for a week already and I’m happy with it. Regarding the tension, I must admit I couldn’t get the fabric to really stretch and stay tight because my DIY frame doesn’t have a lock system, it stays stretched and straight for a while but would loosen a bit after working on it for several minutes. The key to keeping a nice tension -  large binder clips, I just attach one on the rolled up fabric around one rod, roll in the fabric on the other rod until I get a good stretch then attach another binder clip on it, I use two to four binder clips at a time.

To elevate the frame so I would have a nice space under the fabric where I can get my hand into when I’m stitching, I just put the extender bars on top of a couple of books, so the books serve as stands on both sides of the the frame. I first thought of making the extender bars high so it would serve as a stand as well but I guess it would make it harder to turn it over every time I needed to work on the back of the fabric so I just made them 2 inches.

I love how this turned out. It made my cross stitching moments easier and organized. If ever I decide to do more cross stitch projects and buy a nice scroll frame, I would get the one with a floor stand, with bars to clip on lamps, magnifying lens and the pattern. It’s too pricey for me but I would love to have one, I guess I would be inspired to cross stitch a lot if I have it, lol. Oh, forget about that, I’m not even halfway through this one I’m working on. Focus!

Gotta go, lots to do. Bye!

***Update: I was just able to contact DMC Creative World in Megamall (their contact numbers posted online are no longer available, I called the Focus Global main office and asked for the new one - it’s 625-2651), I had to try again because I have a good feeling about this, it’s just too bad I kept calling them two weeks ago and the lines weren’t working, and guess what? They have a 36-inch scroll frame with table top stand for Php 3,285 (roughly $69), not bad. It’s just a little big for my table. They used to have other sizes, too, but they’re out of stock. I’m happy with the frame I made but I’ll definitely check this out later.

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Books I have Read Last Year

Happy new year! It's a good start of the year for me, only three days in and I'm already halfway through a really nice book. My goal is to read more books this year than I did in 2015. For some, this may not be at all challenging but it is for me, what's with being a mom to a 2-year old girl and my craft projects. Last year, my goal was to read at least 20 books and luckily I was able to finish 25. 

Oh, I remember the time when I was still single and in my 20's, right after work I would just go straight home, have dinner, watch TV, and cap off the night with a good book. I could finish at least five books in a month then.

I'm not a fashionista reader or one who's always updated with what's on the month's bestseller list, I'm still actually catching up with a few classics so I couldn't keep up with the new most recommended books. These classics usually are required reads in grade school or high school in the US and other countries but not here in the Philippines or at least when I was still in school, not sure if it's different now. Anyway, I remember having to read only a few of Shakespeare's and Edgar Allan Poe's works. 

This is my short list. Most were read on my iPad and Kindle, a few are audiobooks I've listen to from my phone, and also a few, I've had the pleasure of reading by holding actual books in my hand. There won't be much of a review here as I've said these books are not relatively new and most are already widely reviewed specially the classics, I'll just say if I enjoyed the books or not.

1. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - This is my sister's book, just a so-so for me to be honest. The plot is good though a bit unoriginal, you know, kids with powers or special abilities living together in a safe place, but it's not a problem for me, and the flow of the story is okay, too, a little uneventful for its genre but I understand because it's intended to be a series, just a thumbs down for those parts that I could already guess what happens next without even trying and knowing who is and what is before the revelation. Getting that feeling of surprise or relief and excitement is something I always look for in a fantasy book. But, I'm still planning to read the next book, Hollow City, to check out the characters' next adventures so I think this is still a good 2.5 - 3 out of 5 stars.

2. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger - If you like chick flicks or at least occasionally watch one, you have probably watched the movie version of this starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. This is one of those rare moments that I can say that the film adaptation is better than the book, way, way better than the book. Hollywood did a fairly great job turning this into a good movie, well, for me. The idea is there, having a dragon lady for a boss, the demands in the fashion world, and whatnot but there is a much needed fine tuning in this novel in my opinion which the movie did so kudos to the one in charge of the screenplay. I was actually surprised I got to finish the book. Let's just say that I'm thankful I only got it for cheap from a secondhand bookshop. 

3. The Fall of Five by Pittacus Lore

4. The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore - The Fall of Five and The Revenge of Seven are the fourth and fifth books in the Lorien Legacies, respectively. I already have the next one which was released last year but still haven't got the chance to read it yet. I must say that these books are actually good, eventful and there's always something new in every book, I'm talking about the whole series here. These are in ebook form.

5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - Ah, now I know why this is a critically acclaimed classic. It's probably on your reading list when you were in school but it wasn't on mine so forgive me if I'm a bit late here and have just read it last year, and yes I'm already in my 30's. Great plot, great characters and even if this was set in the early 1930's, this is the kind of novel that people can still relate to up to this day, well, maybe that's why it's a classic. I just love how easy it was to read, like if I didn't have anything important to do I could have finished it in one sitting. Still I was able to finish it in a fairly short time considering I have a daughter calling me every minute or so to show me something or for no reason at all, and I would always gladly indulge her to do so. I always lower my expectations when starting on a book so I get to appreciate it more or not get disappointed when a friend raves about a book and it turns out to be a train wreck but with this, I kinda have a very high expectation as I always see it on top of almost every recommended books list and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed it very much, there's enough humor thrown in even if it's about a real serious subject.

6. Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella - This is one of the books in Kinsella's Shopaholic series and I honestly don't know why I read it. I've read one before because the first book was made into a movie so naturally, I got curious and it just turned out to be a disappointment. I found some reviews that it was funny so I was ready to have a good laugh but it was just annoying for me, not funny at all and I must say I'm the kind of person who laughs at the silliest jokes. So I was surprised at myself that I read another one from the series but wasn't surprised at all that it's the same as the first one, still the same protagonist, Becky, doing stupid things, I don't know how she still always end up in a favorable situation after all those blunders. I think the writer is trying to make her character light and funny but failing completely, Becky just appears to be stupid, careless, and insensitive to others' feelings and she's supposed to be educated, well-connected with the right people, and was raised in a good environment. So, I don't know how a normal adult person would ship a sand castle from a different part of the world to UK and expect it to arrive there in great shape or make a will bequeathing a list of specific accessories and apparels to a few different persons and contact the law firm to amend the will several times and be surprised upon receiving charges for the services, I mean, come on. These are from the other book I've read, though, not from this one, but still, almost the same style. So just 1 star out of 5.

7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman - This is an enjoyable read, with good humor in all the right places. If you want to take a break from dark fantasies or thrillers, this is a great book to read. This was also turned into a movie and it's equally funny. 

8. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - Another book that I always find on almost every list of most recommended books and rightly so. It is another one of those easy to read books, not the fast-paced unputdownable type, just very smooth and interesting to keep your eyes glued on its pages. It is set in Germany during the World War II and focuses on the life of a little girl and her experiences and surroundings. It's intended for young adult readers but I enjoyed it just the same.

9. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery - This is another one of the classic books that's in my to-read list for a long time and I'm glad that it's one of the first books I've crossed out. It's a children's book but I really enjoyed it. The main character, Anne Shirley, is very talkative but not at all annoying, she's actually really funny and like the other characters in the book, I also loved her for being imaginative, talkative and silly at times.

10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - This is a favorite among female readers and a well loved classic and I really wanted to love it but sadly I didn't love it as much as most people do. I understand the love and appreciation of female readers and their fascination for Mr. Darcy, the book is well written and engaging enough for me to hate and love some of the characters. Maybe the romance genre just isn't my cup of tea.

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series by Michael Scott

11. The Alchemyst

12. The Magician

13. The Sorceress

14. The Necromancer

15. The Warlock

16. The Enchantress - I've found out about this series when I was looking for books recommended for Harry Potter fans. It was one of those with good reviews so I went ahead and got it. I have the ebook form and the audiobook. I started out with the ebook first but I have a craft project I needed to finish so I just opted to listen to the audiobook version of the series so I could work on my project and listen at the same time which worked for me just fine except that there were a few character names and terms that are not familiar to me and sounded unusual so I have to check the right spelling, not necessary, I know, but I'm a bit OC with things like that so I had to look them up. I was hesitant to read it at first because it has 6 books and it would probably take long to finish but I'm glad that I did. I enjoyed it, there were flaws in the characters' behaviors and a few holes in the story but it's so eventful and fast paced that those minor issues can easily be overlooked. The mixture of mythological and historical figures in the story is a good touch.

17. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - I have mixed feelings about this, it was a smooth read for me, entertaining even but I was left thinking to myself, well, is that it? It's simple yet deep and a lot of people probably can relate to the main character, Holden, I don't though as I didn't have the luxury to be that way when I was a teenager. I listened to the audiobook version of this and I enjoyed it very much, I loved that it was read with feelings and conviction.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

18. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

19. Prince Caspian

20. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

21. The Silver Chair

22. The Horse and His Boy

23. The Magician's Nephew

24. The Last Battle - I got this book from a secondhand bookshop a few years ago. It has all the seven volumes arranged in chronological order based on the story but I read them in order of the dates they were published. It is a well-loved fantasy book series and I can see why, it's magical and full of adventures and I would have probably enjoyed it more if I've read this when I was a kid. It's really more of a fantasy for children, wouldn't even recommend it to young adults. It's good and I admire Lewis' rich imagination and storytelling ability but like I said it's not for adults like me, it's not the same as those books that kids and adults alike would love, well, maybe it's just me.

25. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom - Another book I got from a secondhand bookshop a long time ago and just got around to reading it recently. I just wanted to take a break from reading fiction so I picked it up. Okay, so I respect Morrie and his outlook in life and also his view on death, I also believe that this book is inspiring to a lot of people and that's great but it's dragging for me to be honest. I find it overly dramatic and sentimental. My apologies to those who love the book.

So, those are the books I was able to finish last year. I did reread the Harry Potter series but I won't count it, I do it every year, anyway. I'm looking forward to more books to read and more worlds to unlock.

"Why reach for the stars when you can reach for a book and have the stars, the sun, and the moon."

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DIY License Plate Design Keychain

This is a project I made for my husband's Christmas giveaways. I also made colorful beaded wire trees which I will be blogging about soon. Right now, let's check out how I made these personalized keychains.

First, I printed these license plate designs on a white copy paper and cut them out. My husband made the template, that's an acronym for their department in the office.

I then prepared the plates. These are made from air dry clay. I flatten sheets of clay about 2mm thick and cut out rectangles according to the size of the printouts. I just added a little space on the sides. These are about 6.5cm x 1.5 cm. I made holes big enough for a jump ring to fit in for easy attachment to the chain. 

There are other materials that can be used for the plates like wood or a thick and sturdy cardboard.

My clay plates have some rough edges so I had to smoothen them with a nail file. 

The hardened clay has an off-white color so I painted it with with bluish white acrylic paint to match the color of the paper printouts. 

When the paint was dry, I adhered the paper on the plates using Mod Podge, my favorite decoupage medium.

To seal and add gloss, I coated all sides with a thin layer of Mod Podge and let it dry.

I attached the finished mini license plates to the key rings and chains using my ever reliable pliers. 

And they're ready. I made 36 pieces of this design.

I just added this personalized tag and viola! A cute token for the Holidays.

Easy and simple, and I think it would make a nice gift. You can just put on a friend's initials or just any word you like. I hope you like it. Thanks for dropping by!

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