Pin It Pinas! A Community of Content Curators in the Philippines

Hey guys! I just came from an awesome vacation in Guam. I really love it there and I already miss how laid back that place is. But enough about Guam, because today I'm here to talk about Pinterest!

I am pretty sure you already know what Pinterest is, but in case you haven't heard of it, it's a visual bookmarking tool that helps you discover and save ideas.

Sounds fun right? Here is an example of what you can do with Pinterest:

Last year, my sisters and I planned a surprise party for our mom's 60th birthday and I was in charge of the decor. I made a special Pinterest board where I can compile all the inspiration from the invites, to decor, and down to the table setting.

You can set boards on Pinterest as public, which can be viewed by anyone, or secret, which can only be viewed by you and your selected pinners. 

               Follow Catherine Reyes's board Mama's Birthday on Pinterest.    

This board helped me pull together an awesome party for our Mom. And here's the outcome! You can read the article on Katha Magazine.

Pinterest will be featuring my Crafts board on their homepage. You can view my DIY projects that I made in the past, and also my other pins that served as inspiration. When you click a pin, it will lead you to where the site the photo came from so you can learn more about it.

               Follow Catherine Reyes's board Crafts on Pinterest.    

Click here to follow me on Pinterest and if you don't have an account yet, the first 10 people can sign up for an account with this link. This is available for a limited time only.

Happy pinning!

Pouf-a-Palooza with One Kings Lane

Poufs are the perfect accent for the home because it is one of the most versatile furniture pieces that you can find nowadays. It can serve as a chair, a table, a footrest, or a stool. I guess the possibilities are endless.

For instance...

Is it game night? Having poufs in your living room will give your guests enough comfortable seating.

photo via One Kings Lane

Place a tray of drinks on your pouf and it will instantly become a coffee table. 

photo via One Kings Lane

Another thing is that they're soft and "corner-free", which is why they're perfect for the kids' room. If your child can't reach something, then the pouf is sturdy enough to be used as a stool. 

photo via One Kings Lane

One Kings Lane has a huge selection of poufs and ottomans that you can get online. They have it in every color, style, and pattern. I have selected three poufs from the OKL online store, and paired them with their other products to make these mood boards. Let's begin with the Pouf-a-Palooza!

Wanderlust Aztec Pouf

Too big of a crowd and not enough places to sit? This patterned pouf is your answer. Crafted in soft microplush in a trendy tribal print, it comes in handy as an ottoman, a coffee table, and even a night stand.

1. Wanderlust Aztec Pouf, 2. Shine Flat-Weave Rug in Pink, 3. Carmel Sofa in Charcoal, 4. Ikat 20x20 Cotton Pillow, 5. Fiona 20x20 Cotton Pillow

Moroccan Pouf in Grey

Known for its exotic rugs and impressive craftsmanship, Morocco is also recognized for its iconic and versatile leather pouf. Designers and design-lovers alike have embraced this plump accessory, using it as a practical seat for an unexpected guest or even as a tea-time table when topped with a tray. Hand-stitched construction primes this piece to last well into the years to come.

1. Moroccan Pouf in Grey, 2. Cecil Chair in Periwinkle, 3. Geo 22x22 Cotton Pillow, 4. Brahms Mount Yellow Herringbone Throw

Anniston Pouf in Grey/White

Stylish and endlessly versatile, this charming pouf works best as an extra seat but can easily moonlight as a side table when topped with a tray.

1. Anniston Pouf in Grey/White, 2. Morgan Sunburst Wall Mirror in Gold, 3. Lansing 74" Sofa Graphite, 4. Lauren Flat-Weave Rug in Oatmeal, 5. 7 inch Peony in Round Vase, 6. Amber Coffee Table

If you liked the items on my mood board, check out One Kings Lane. 

Yarn-Wrapped Monogram

Hi guys! I am back with an easy tutorial on how to create a yarn-wrapped monogram for your room. Here's a vignette that you can try on your nightstand: 

Materials:
Cereal box
3 balls of yarn in different colors
Scissors
Pencil
Ruler
Tape

Step 1: Use your pencil and ruler to draft the letter on the back side of your cereal box.

Step 2: Cut out the letter. If you think it's flimsy, you can use thicker cardboard or you can also make your letters 3-dimensional.

Step 3: Prepare your yarn. Select three different colors that you like. For my monogram, I chose cool pastel colors.

Steph 4: Bundle up the three strings and tie a knot at the end. Pull the bundle until you get about 7 yards in length (or how long you want it) then trim it.

Step 5: Just wrap the ends of the letters first so they don't look awkward. Cut 3 inch pieces of yarn and use masking tape to secure them.


Step 6: And also use masking tape to secure the starting point of the bundle of yarn that you will be using to wrap the letter. Don't worry, you will cover the tape when we're done.

 Step 7: And then, start wrapping the letter! And watch the latest episode of Game of Thrones while you are doing this. If the bundle of yarn runs out, make another bundle and tie the new one to the old one just to make it continuous.

Step 8: The middle part probably looks weird and loose when the wrapping is horizontal. So you can just go back and wrap it again, but this time vertically.

Step 9: When you are done wrapping your letter, just tie a knot and trim the end.

Step 10: Look at your work of art and slowly clap your hands. If you want to hang this, you can glue a small piece of picture hook/hanger at the back.

And there you have it! Easy-peasy yarn-wrapped monogram.

Spring Fling

This spring, I am leaning towards cottage style or shabby chic with a lot of lilacs and mints. I love how distressed wood, vintage items, and floral prints go well together. And let's not forget the fresh flowers that bring life to a room. I hope you find spring inspiration with this mood board that I made!

1. Lulu & Georgia, via Erika Brechtel

2. Potted plants via Vibeke Design

3. H&M Home Bedding (2011) via Redesign Revolution

4. Dining table styled by Dreamy Whites

5. Spring styling via Vibeke Design

Woven Decor

Ikat and Kilim have been trending in interior design. The bright and vibrant colors of these woven fabric bring a bohemian character to a room. It can be used as throw pillow, carpet, curtain, or even use it for the lamp shade.  

1. Sig Bergamin's Apartment via Elle Decor. Photo by Simon Upton

2. Istanbul Ikat Pillow, Etsy

3. Kite Kilim Floor Pouf, West Elm

4. Kilim Rug, vtwonen

5. Photo by Angus Fergusson

6. Kilim Bench, Wisteria

7. Turkish Pillow Cover, Etsy

In the Philippines, T'nalak is a traditional cloth made by the women of the T'boli from South Cotabato, Mindanao. These women are called "Dream weavers" as the designs and patterns of the  are based on their dreams. It is used to make blankets and clothing but nowadays artists have been exploring the use of this material in furniture and home decor. Here are some examples: (except for number 4, which is a different kind of weaving)

1. T'nalak Round Ottoman, Hacienda Crafts

2. T'nalak Rectangular Ottoman, Hacienda Crafts

3. Large California Mid Century Lamp, 1stdibs (item out of stock)

4. Banig Throw Pillow Case, Kultura

For more information on T'nalak, you can check out One Weave, One Dream.

Manila FAME 2014

Filipino designers and artists showcased their excellent pieces in furniture, home decor, and fashion accessories at the Manila Fame which was held last March 14-17 at the SMX Convention Center. Here are some photos of what I saw in the event:

There were a lot of woven products from lamps to bags to pillows. Manila FAME even highlighted the traditional art of weaving with special demonstrations and installations.

Some of the products were inspired by geometry. The most notable one was Vito Selma as his pieces are always sculptural. This table reminds me of Antoni Gaudi's studies that were displayed inside the Sagrada Familia. 

Also there were quirky products that caught my eye, like these leg planters and troll planters.

This was my favorite piece in Kenneth Cobonpue's latest collection inspired by the circus. 

My favorite for this year was South Sea. I love the intricate veneer work in their furniture pieces. They use materials like bamboo with walnut veneer with pearl, shells and lahar ash.

Manila Fame will have another event this coming October 16-19 at SMX Convention Center, Metro Manila, Philippines. For more information on how to participate as an exhibitor or as a buyer, check their website here.

Elle Decoration's Deco Talks

Co-presented by Proscenium at Rockwell, the first leg of the Deco Talks series will bring together three industry experts to examine how the nation’s growing list of renowned architects, interior designers and furniture makers are helping to redefine the Filipino design aesthetic in our present times, and cementing the country’s status as a hotbed for design talent. The panelists are interior designer Guillermo “Butch” Valdez, architect and furniture designer Leah Sanchez, and architect Anthony Nazareno.

“ELLE Decoration’s Deco Talks series aims to shine a spotlight on the Philippines’ global impact on the design world by highlighting the visionary work of the country’s design stars and rising talents,” says ELLE Decoration’s associate publisher Tom Castañeda. “Established luminaries like architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa and furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue have put the country on the map in the design world; and brilliant newcomers like our panelists Anthony Nazareno, Leah Sanchez and Butch Valdez are doing their part to make sure the Philippines gets the international acclaim it richly deserves.”

“Our Deco Talks program will highlight Filipino artistry and design at its best, providing further context to the Philippines’ growing influence as a design authority in the global market. Each panel discussion will spotlight the nation’s design pioneers, influences and trailblazers, taking a closer look at their visionary projects and their international impact. These talks are sure to influence the next generation of Filipino design stars,” Castañeda adds.

Deco Talks will be held on April 5, 2014, Saturday, at 4:00 p.m. at the Kirov Model Unit at the Rockwell Center in Makati, located near the Rockwell Tent. This event is free to the public. Snacks and refreshments will be available at the venue. To confirm your attendance, somply text your RSVP to Rob Rubina at 0922-8993448.

Bali Adventure Part 5: Tanah Lot

This is my final post about my Bali Adventure. For our last stop, we went to Tanah Lot. Our driver told us Tanah Lot literally means land and sea. He showed us there were three temples located in the area.

The temple called Purah Tanah Lot is standing on rock formations by the beach. It is said to be one of the most important temples in Bali.

A long time ago, a wandering priest named Nirartha told the fishermen to build a shrine on the rock by the sea. It was supposed to be a place to worship the Balinese sea gods.


Of course a lot of tourists and photographers were there to watch and take photos of the sunset. I mean, who would want to miss this sight?

The tide was low when we were there so it was fun to walk around the beach and stand on the rocks.

My sisters and I even saw a couple have their pre-nuptial shoot on the rocks near the temple.

And it was getting dark and windy so we had to go back home to our hotel.

We had a nice dinner in a local Warung. We asked the people not to give us spicy food but it was still too spicy for us. We were so embarrassed because the waitresses were giggling at the corner while looking at our watery eyes and our runny noses.

On our last day, our flight to Manila was cancelled because of a technical problem in the navigation system of the airplane. It took 36 hours to get the plane fixed, but the airport staff fed us and took care of us. We unexpectedly extended our stay in Bali for one more night. And to make up for this, our airline gave us a free round trip voucher that has to be used within six months. So I guess I'll be leaving again this year! And I will be sharing it again on my blog :)