cordillera market encounter 2015

i got super excited over the recent cordillera market encounter held at festival mall, alabang.  everything was a delight to my senses.  every. single.  thing.  if money wasn't much of an issue, i would have purchased all the items and brought them along with me.  there were plenty of beautiful abel weaves, leather goodies, wood crafts, home accessories, organic products, native delicacies, and so much more.

at the end of my conscientious shopping, i was able to purchase a bamboo table runner, woven abel table runner, lots of wooden kitchenware, and organic turmeric tea.  also, i really had so much fun meeting some of the many lovely people from cordillera.  they all have wonderful and inspiring stories behind their brands.  i really wish they could get enough exposure so that fellow filipinos could appreciate and easily purchase their products.

bag restoration: faux-electroplated strap buckles

this extremely rare vintage gucci hobo leather bag from the 70s is truly a diamond in the rough.  it's really amazing how a simple change on hardware can make such a huge difference on the appearance of a bag.  i wish i could easily buy gold-leafing pen in the local market as it would make this process a hundred times faster and easier.  they carry this product on amazon.com, but with tax and import duties, i would rather make do with my leftover bosny kt gold effekt in 100% gold.

faded metal buckles.

use tape to cover areas you don't want any paint on.  also, prepare canola oil to remove any excess paint on leather.  try to avoid acetone-based products as much as possible.

cover the remainder of the bag with old rags.

use bosny kt gold effekt no. 183 or 100% gold.

dry completely before inserting your strap.  it will take approximately an hour.

close up shots.

bag restoration: faux-electroplated chain strap

for this diy faux-electroplating, i used bosny kt gold effekt in brass gold.  you can purchase it at any ace hardware store for 280 pesos.  the result is not as shiny as real electroplated metal, but the effect is somewhat similar for a fraction of the price.

old antique-finished brass chain strap.  this color is quite difficult to match on the hardware of my existing bags.

hanging your chain strap as opposed to lying down would be the best option.

give it a double coat of spray paint.  allow to dry for approximately an hour.

prepare your materials.  vintage daks london bag with missing strap, pliers, and your "new" chain strap.

voila!

pretty close match, no?  i'm super delighted with the result.

diy: metallic seashells centerpiece

metallics, especially brass, are having a moment right now in the design world.  for this simple diy project, i gave different sizes of seashells a midas touch with the help of spray paint.  i used bosny kt gold effekt no. 182 or brass gold.  you can get them at any ace hardware store for only 280 pesos.

paint as usual.  drying time is approximately 20 minutes.

arrange your metallic seashells in a large-sized plate or shallow bowl.

voila! trendy centerpiece in an instant!

mail day: 12-inch acacia wooden plates

the natural grains on these acacia wooden plates are undeniably beautiful.  they are like unique pieces of art carefully handcrafted from acacia tree, which is known to be a resinous type of hardwood.

these wooden plates will resist undesirable food stains and malodour.  after using, you can wash them with soap and water just like any regular plates.  once in a while, try to apply a tiny bit of mineral oil or virgin coconut oil for added protection.

these pretty and practical acaciaware can be used as cheese serving trays, fruit trays, or charger plates.  whatever the purpose, they will surely add joy to your everyday dining experience.  go get them at lazada philippines for a super steal price of 399 pesos a piece!

ps:  this is a sponsored post. thanks guys.

mail day: vintage gucci bamboo two-way bag

i still couldn't believe i got this vintage gucci bamboo bag for less than 2000 pesos.  the bag is in ah-mazing shape with absolutely zero noticeable flaws worth mentioning.  the chocolate brown italian leather is extremely soft and smooshy due to age.  the size is just right for me, and it comes with a detachable strap so i can easily go hands-free anytime i want to.  this vintage treasure is from one of my all-time favorite sellers on facebook, ms. lheeze of joanna lheeze shop.  what's so nice about this online shop is that you can be sure you are buying 100% authentic items minus hidden flaws or defects.  not to mention a super-duper nice seller to boot.  this vintage gucci bag is definitely a keeper.

diy: canola oil wood polish

this is by far the best wood polish i have tried in my entire life.  it only requires two ingredients, a bottle of canola oil and essential oils of your choice.  i would rather not touch my stocks of expensive virgin coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil for this homemade wood polish because canola oil provides much better result with less effort and has a longer shelf life.  please also note that this concoction is generally safe to use on all types of wood, however, please proceed with caution on untreated or naked wood items.

materials.

measure 200 ml of canola oil.  depending on the size of your container, you can always estimate this part.

transfer to empty container with small opening.  i did use spray bottle before, but it eventually clogged up the nozzle.

add your essential oils.  i chose orange essential oil for its antiseptic, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.  then, i added citronella essential oil to ward off pesky insects.  you can also substitute lemongrass oil if that is what you have on hand.  use 10 or more drops for each.

shake.

use as usual.  you may buff it with dry cloth after application.  as for me, i like to leave it as is.

voila!