Photography Workshop with MBP: One Lucky "Me" Time

Aside from crafting, I'm also interested in photography. I like taking pictures of different stuff; People, food, landscapes etc. But I dont just like taking pictures perse, but I want capturing these sights like how professional photographers do. But I dont have DSLR cameras, would that be possible? Of course! As a Tagalog saying goes, "Wala sa camera yan, nasa kumukuha yan. You may have the latest SLR camera model, if you dont have the "eye" for photography, its nothing.

What good way to spend my "me" time is spending it learning new things about the things or activities I like. Yeah, Im not the posh and fash type of mom spending "me" time shopping and going to salon. When I learned about this event, Take Blog-worthy Photos Mini Photography Workshop, by Mommy Bloggers Philippines, I immediately marked my calendar, ME TIME! Just perfect.

I chose the PM session last February 21st, because I have a prior commitment with Q at school in the morning. But the supposedly alone time became a date with Z. The original plan is to leave him with my parents, but due to some construction going on with the house, they cannot accomodate him there. So, I brought him instead with high hopes he will cooperate and will not throw a fit in the middle of discussions when he suddenly feels bored.

Oh dear, but he did. :P

The Venue for the PM session is at Saboten, one of the growing restaurant chains of Raintree Group of Restaurants, located in Glorrieta 5. One of reasons I chose the afternoon session is I love Japanese food. I would love to take photos of this cuisine if it happens to be our subject for the activity.;-) Our lecture started a bit late but it was worth the wait for we have learned so much from our speaker Mommy Joy Domingo - Gurtiza aside from taking home beautiful loots from the event's sponsors.



Basic photography skills, Lighting, Angles & positioning and Importance of props, are among the important things I learned from the workshop. We got a chance to take photos of the sponsored items from Japan Homes and of course the delicious food, well-presented and served by Saboten.

Below are my share of shots applying the learnings from the workshop. I brought and used my 6 year-old and ever reliable point-n-shoot, Canon Powershot SX110. I also tried using the camera from my Samsung Galaxy Tab3. But I really like the quality output of my point-n-shoot so I used it more. I hope Teacher Joy would be proud of me, despite my somewhat poor execution because I had to do it quickly for my date is having tantrums on the side. Big Thanks to the 3 mommy attendees, who happened to be my seatmates, including Mommy Jho (www.thereyoujho.com), who alternately played and carried Z so he would stop squealing while I'm having my turn for the photoshoot, as if I'm nowhere in sight but the truth is I'm just a table away.

Items from sponsor: Japan Homes

Meet my Date, Z

Deep Fried Shrimp, Loin Cutlet, Crab Croquettes and Rolled Cutlets with Asparagus, Cheese and Plum

Grated Radish Katsu

Blueberry Parfait

Strawberry Shortcake

Vanilla and Greentea Icecream

They are all delicious than they look. But I hope the photos made you curious and wanna check out a Saboten branch nearest you.

Raintree Restaurants brings you Saboten, together with other bistros in the Metro: Museum Cafe, Kabila, Chelsea, Mr. Jones, MOMO Cafe, Premier, Stella, Rocket Room and Terraz. Since 2013, it has been bringing top-quality Tonkatsu dishes to be enjoyed with Authentic sides and sauces from Japan

Saboten Branches:

Glorrietta 5, Makati City and G/F Serendra Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

Thank you SO much Mommy Bloggers Philippines for coming up with this workshop; to Mommies Joy, Lanie, Louisa. To all the generous sponsors for our food, venue and take away loots,

Saboten, Glorietta 5 (Museum Cafe for the morning Session)

Japan Homes

Nature Republic

Villa del Conte

Oil of Argan

Henry's Professional

Gouache

in action photos grabbed from Mommy Louisa, Thanks!

But wait there's more! I won in the raffle! My "Me" time turned to one lucky day. Yeah, sounds OA but you don't get a P1,900.00 pesos worth of bag everyday, right? Thanks Gouache Bags!!!

If you're thinking about your next time for yourself, you might want to research for and try activities like this. *wink*

Review for this bag on my next blog.

Bave's Day Out: DMC Handcrafted Art and Crafts Fair

Oh Crafting.... I love crafting. In highschool, while my classmates would, well not really hate, or dread The Home Economics subject, there I was very attentive to every single details about the upcoming projects. Usually, I will take it to my advantage that my classmates did not pay attention, because when the deadline come to a near, I'm gaining "clients". *wink* Yeah! As early as that, Im profiting from my skills. I got skills, they have money, they got a project. Everybody happy. *grin*

Over the years, I have been hooked to crosstitching. Since most of my school projects were taken for exhibits *ehem*, I never had a chance to keep any of my works. So I invested for a crosstitch kit, complete with thread and cloth. My 1st project was a Blue Ballerina, which I wasn't able to keep also because my Aunt ask for it to be brought to UK. So I bought another set, the pink version of the Ballerina pattern, then I sold to a friend eventually

After those projects, I never stopped. I continued crosstitching, taking it to the next level. I made the more complicated and colorful ones, such as the Nuntucket Rose, the girl in the garden. It took me almost 10 years to finish. Been caught by college life, looking for job and eventually working. I only get to stitch during my free time and whenever I feel emotional. Yes, stitching is an effective therapy.

The prices of thread are becoming a challenge especially for the complicated projects. I remembered I started with P7.00 pesos for each thread. Then it became, 10 pesos, then 13. At present, its P17.00 pesos already! Goodluck naman sa mga projects ko! So What I do, I collect patterns for the meantime. Patterns have a tendency to be obsolete, but threads do not. When I see a very good crosstitch pattern, I buy. Im into mythical characters, landscapes especially sunsets and artistict Nude human bodies. At present, Im still working on the 2 Cherubins, its already 8 years old, same age with Q. Im caught by motherhood this time, hahahaha. Sometimes, I check DMC stores for free patterns too. Oh yes! They do have that! Like this "Jump For Joy" Pattern below. Ideal for beginners because it requires 4 thread colors only on a black Aida cloth. Its still a work in progress though.

Today, the unfinished projects are still on pending.Boo! So many things and crafts I wanna try, in such a short time. I just love tinkering on new stuff and trying out other crafting projects. I saw this DIY Fair of DMC and promised myself to check this out, the DMC Handcrafted Arts and Crfats Fair held last January 30 - February 1 at the Century City Mall in Makati. I went there last January 30th and my eyes just feasted with all the handcrafts of some amazing artists. I saw some familiar crafting stores for I have checked out already their online and on site stores, like Hey Kessy and iTRYdiy.

with Mansy Abesamis, a papercut handcrafter, of Hey Kessy in her store at Katipunan, QC

at the DMC Fair with Mikko Sumulong, known for her beautiful friendship bracelets and crafting & DIY online store

Did I mention I was ecstatic at the sight of all the crafts in the Events Area? Upon entering the room I didn't know where to land first. Hahahaha! So I did a selfie in their sort of event photo op booth. Since I went there all by myself, I set up my camera's timer. Then I went to my 1st love, the crosstitching booth, what else. I bought the "Tender Words" crosstitch Pattern, some needles and threads since they offer upto 50% off on all their products.

Checked out the other booths, Some are selling hand made accessories, home decors like the dream catchers and some crafting kits. What caught my attention was this wired bookmarker from Paper Pliers. My jaw dropped (I know its OA) at the sight of on the spot making by Anrea, the artist behind the craft. Doing calligraphic sketches on paper is already hard, what more doing it with aluminum wires and pliers. God has blessed this girl with great talent, that until now I'm still in awe whenever I see my bracelet I bought from their booth.

these words are inspiring me this year. Just Create. Believe that your creations are good.

I also went to Hands Love Paper booth to see up close her papercut products. And boy! They are all so beautiful, more beautiful than the ones I saw on Instagram.

I went hope very happy and so much inspired. Like DMC's motto "Dare you Mind to Create". Sky's our limit. Utilize our God-given talents. Profit from these skills even. I cant wait to start to do a project on papercutting and to finish my pending crosstitching projects and do the crafts I used to love doing in the past....oh, the list is just endless.

Happy Crafting!