These Days

I am participating in a creativity project for February called 28 to Make, hosted by Creative Live. There are daily prompts and video instructions that encourages participants to do small projects everyday. I joined a little late so I did a lot of catching up last week. I have really enjoyed the exercises so far. And if you follow me on IG, my apologies for posting way more than usual recently. You can find the projects on IG using #28tomake. Draw your beverage, houseplant, favorite album art, what's in your bag. Draw a receipt, 30 circles, scribbles and shapes (with Neil), blind contour self-portrait People-watching mad lib, exquisite corpse (with Rich and Neil), photo doodles and mindmap. More to come! =)

I got a new sewing machine today! This was ordered on Friday night and delivered today, thanks to Nang Lani's Amazon Prime. It feels like my birthday.=) I didn't realize how much I've missed sewing until I unboxed this. I was so excited to start hemming pants, repairing tears or do some projects but unfortunately the threads I ordered will be delivered tomorrow... So one more day until I can test drive my new toy. Projects coming soon! Huge box Here it is!

I am currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and I am inspired.  It’s about the author’s year-long quest to be happier.  It’s purposeful and practical and has lot of tips that I can apply or have started doing. Rubin focused on different areas every month and for May, it was Be Serious About Play.  The author was trying to go back to activities she enjoyed as a child. This led me to also think about a favorite childhood pastime, which was collecting trivia.  The Philippine Daily Inquirer used to run a trivia section by Bong Barrameda and I would religiously cut and paste them onto scratch papers, which I would then collate and read again and again.  Nerd zone! Not only that, I also kept a trivia notebook where I researched and wrote down interesting information like areas of study, capital cities, historical figures, scientists and discoveries, everything!  That was fun for me.  I was about to say they were useless info, ...

Photo credit . I published my first post on this blog three years ago on April 20, 2009.  Before that, I was on blog-city for years as well.  Blogging has been one of my longest-running hobbies and I hope to keep at it for years to come. I blog for many reasons. First, it's just fun and I enjoy doing it .  I like creating content, editing pictures and writing.  It's a creative outlet for me.  I used to paint and draw but I haven't done those in a long time so I blog and take pictures instead. Second, it allows me to review and process my experiences , to think about them in a more introspective manner.  I am able to reflect as I write things and because of that be more cognizant of and thankful for the blessings. Third, it helps me remember .  I don't have a very good scale of time in my head and I find it hard to match events to when they happened.  It's good to have someone like Richard who I get to ask "What year did we sell...

I bought a new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens!  I bought it on ebay.ph on August 11, paid for it on the 12th and received it on the 13th. :)  Cool! I wanted a lens that has a wide aperture.  I also read somewhere that this is the next good lens to buy, after the kit lens.  I have been practicing with it for the past few days.  Getting used to the fixed focal length. Here are my first few shots: I don't know what this flower is called... Neil up-close. Jump! This is over-exposed because I did not have time to set-up. Open area at the condo.

A few months ago, I started to draw again. I don't remember the last time I drew but I just decided to pick up this hobby. It was something I've always wanted to do more consistently.  I've been keeping a stash of drawing supplies at the back of my clothes cabinet. One day I brought them out, and so starts my return journey to drawing. It's something I want to get better at, and practice makes better. :) I have a few books on drawing, bought years ago. I'm rereading 'Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards and this time, also following the exercises. I'm also reading 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron. I've been drawing on and off, depending on my free time.  This is my most recent exercise.  The next assignment is to draw another hand holding an object.  I'm still considering my objects. :)