Cake Wrecks features the good, bad and fugly of cake decoration. While icing eyesores roam free and wide in most of its posts, there are also occassional awe-worthy cakes. and I do mean that in a good way.
Observe.
a cake to make Jim Henson proud. Read and see more sides of this cake here.
Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night on a cupcake base. Oh yes, those are all separate cupcakes underneath.
... and a tier cake to rival.
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Muggy Monday
Monday, September 29, 2008
Jonette
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Hello, everyone. It's a Monday, and my body hasn't been a very good friend today. Most people say Vertigo gets triggered by stress and too much MSG. In my case, it's stress and exhaustion. (Oh, shame, shame on me.) I'm feeding myself hot tamarind soup stew with pork and veggies (or simply put, Sinigang in Filipino), and keeping the little portions I eat down. ( Y'hear me, tummy? I mean it!)
Hot soup always makes me feel better, no matter what ails me.
Anyway! on to funnier circumstances. Well... Remember the denim pencil skirt? The one that got stolen? Well, let's just say that I have a lot to thank Ate Diding, our weekly housekeep. She's saved me through a lot of pinches and near-fatal accidents, and has proved once more how she is the awesome Alfred to my Batman.
She found the skirt in the dryer. Where I had given it a second spin, and promptly forgot about it.
*major facepalm*
Here's the skirt. I do so love it.
Things I've learned: 1) Never leave things in the middle of a process when you're tired and/or distracted. 'Nuff said.
2) Aside from making skirts on ladies a lot more interesting, slits are there for a very good reason. The higher they go, the better they let a girl move her legs, speacially when boarding vehicles and other modes of transportation. I had the horrifying experience of hearing a very nasty vrrrrrip from the back of the denim skirt while boarding a Tamarraw FX from behind. (Too-tall vehicles and stairs are the bane of pencil skirts.) Thankfully, the rip wasn't obscene and James was there with me. Once it's washed, all I need to do is to reinforce the "new" slit and give it a much more tailored look.
3) Pencil skirts with heels? Yes, yes, oh yes. Specially on an hourglass figure. While the look can work on weekends, it sizzles best in a work environment. Just keep your Maggie Gyllenhall Secretary tendencies in check, and feel it in your bones that you. are. hot. ;)
“My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything - even if you have no clue what you're doing.” -- Jessica Alba
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Snap-Happy: Toy Kingdom's Life-Sized Stuffed Toys
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Jonette
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And all I really came for were brass=y buttons.
This Saturday afternoon, James had to head home rather early to meet up with a friend who'd help him transfer files out of a sputtering hard drive to safety. I saw it as a perfect opportunity to get out and grab a few brass buttons for another project that was dancing around in my head. I was hoping I'd be able to do some sewing tonight, and maybe finish up a new pencil skirt.
But with a display like this, I guess not. :)
Mouse over a square to expand it, and click on it to view the whole picture.
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But first, shoes.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Jonette
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Webbie Spotlight: Skirts are better than pants
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Jonette
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As seen on A Dress A Day: A simple list of why skirts are better than pants:
1. Drawing your pants legs back from someone in disgust as you pass them is insufficiently scornful.
2. Studies have shown that wearing skirts is 90% effective in preventing VPL (visible panty line).
3. Ditto for "plumber's butt," "whale tail," and "camel toe."
4. Ruffles on a skirt can be over-the-top glamorous. Ruffles on pants are only acceptable if your name is Mary, and a little lamb follows you everywhere you go.
5. It is impossible to smuggle someone in -- or out -- of prison, a masked ball, a hotel room, etc. by hiding them under your pants. (Plus, there is no such thing as "hooppants."
6. When you strap a gun to your thigh in pants, you lose the element of surprise.
7. You don't have to have skirts hemmed differently for flats or heels.
8. Twirling in a pair of pants results in 87% less happiness.
9. The word "skirt" has both a singular and a plural form, usable by all ("I am wearing a skirt today." "Instantly Mrs. Bagnet put some pins into her mouth, and began pinning up her skirts all round, a little higher than the level of her grey cloak.") The word "pants" has a singular than can only be used by fashion-industry people ("Designers are showing a high-waisted, wide-legged pant for fall").
Ask me not how; I wasn't there when it happened either.
I did look for it. It's not among my fresh nor dirty clothing, and certainly not with my housemate's.
Our apartment's backed up against the corner wall of the lot, with my uncle's two-floor house shielding us from the main road to the north and two more similar apartments standing side-to-side with mine to the east. There are two main points if entry into the compound: one, the main gate through which my aunt's family, my housemate and I come and go, and two, the east mini-gate that sees much traffic from the tenants. Both gates are seen to being shut for security -- most of the time.
So here we are, back to a missing, newly-finished, perfect-fitted denim skirt skirt, and a number of flowering plants in full bloom gone from my housemate's garden patch. With states like this, trouble is certainly afoot.
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Ureshii: 1
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Jonette
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嬉しい (ureshii):
To be glad, happy, delighted, joyful, overjoyed, cheerful, pleased, contented, grateful, elated, jubilant, exultant, ecstatic, euphoric, enraptured thrilled (to bits), over the moon... you get the picture. ;)
The coin bank named Froggy.Froggy has been religiously fed with nutritious tens and fivers and has cheerfully kept his post at my work station for the past five months. He's helped me out on slim times, and manages to cheer me up on exhausting, bleak days. Oh, he's also become something of an in-joke among my co-trainers in my area. ^_^ Looking at how full he is now, I'm quite excited. (Here's a shot of how full he was two weeks ago.) One day, I shall take him in my arms, tickle his underbelly, and gleefully eviscerate him. What am I saving up for? It's a secret. ;)
Pinky, the piggy of undecided gender. I found him/her one sleepless morning doing the groceries and shopping for other household essentials. The huge outdoor garbage bin was all broken and brittle, and was aching to be replaced. It doesn't help either that Lord Rat and his minions constantly invade and tear about the its insides. *shudder* I had to get a sturdier bin with a lockable cover, and just that's what I did. Pinky stood nearby, waiting to be seen and brought home, and that's just what I did too. :) She/he now sits near my workstatioin, beaming at anyone who walks by, and is blissfully unaware of his sexual preference. Which might all in all be a better lot for him/her.
Dari Creme Blends in Orange. My new favorite spread. It comes in an adorably tiny tub, just enough to fit in a mom's palm and a kid(-at-heart's) lunchbox. It's sweet, creamy, and just right to sate a breinf sweet tooth craving. Not bad for P25. (which, in my country, can buy you two donuts, or a cold softdrink in a can.) Also comes in Strawberry.
New, DIY denim pencil skirt. Finally! (long sigh) just as I'd mentioned in passing in this post, I set to work on an old pair of jeans that began to be unforgiving on my thighs. The pair went under the seam-ripper last night, and proceeded to be picked off of thread residue, pinned, and sewn up this morning. After fitting the skirt, I really feel quietly pleased with how it turned out. (Not to mention amazed with how bootylicious a pencil skirt can be! XD) It has been promptly washed, spun-dried, hung out to dry further, and is now promptly waiting for me to be folded up. Hmm... the left-over denim panels want to be made too. A corset? Well... ;)
The Fatshionista Community at Livejournal. I love how creative, fun, and supportive the members are here. It's good fashion sense and affirmation for ladies and gents of all shapes and sizes, and everyone is truly beautiful.
Gala Darling's How to Cope with a Quarter-Life Crisis, Parts I and II. Don't you dare laugh; this woman makes perfect sense.
And I leave you now with a little kitten to distract you:
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Skirt Meltdown! Argh!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Jonette
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The skirt! The skirt has failed me! I put the finishing touches on it and wore it to work. It held up pretty ok for the first few hours, but soon started wilting and warping as time went by. By the end of the day, even the waistband went slack, and I had a messy, floral, towel-like thing draped on my hips. Yuck.
Next chance I get, I will take it, chop it up, and make something better out of it. Like a stuffed animal. Stuffed animals are soft and cuddly, and they never fail you. Grarr.
Lessons:
1) Avoid floral patterns. At all costs. Unless you are making it into a one-piece item (like a dress), do not even try touching floral. Hmm...In hindsight, perhaps I should have remembered the pointers in this vid.
2) If you're going to make an underbust-type skirt, and you're on the voluptuous side, use darker material. It's going to flatter your figure, and if you wear a lighter colored blouse for it, it's certainly going to give more oomph to your top.
3) If your underbust is meant to work like a corset, treat it like a corset. Strengthen, structure, and stabilize. If it's going to need boning to keep its shape in the long run, then by all means, use boning, or learn how to use it. Think of feasible, complementary ways to keep the shape as close as possible to something solid. (clasp closures? Ribbon corset ties? )
4) Bias cuts will flatter any female shape, but be very careful with the material and style you choose to use it on.
5) Make your darts love your curves. Darts are there to shape the clothing to folow your body's naturally lovely shape. This means if you're going to put darts on anything, be precise, be cautious, and be diligent. If they're too short, they create unsightly bubbles in your garment, and if they're too long, they'll constrict and simply won't do.
6) when all else fails, recycle, recycle, recycle. If it's still in good shape, rip that invisible zipper and stitch it onto another project. Failed skirt? Make a stuffed toy or a kooky pillow out of it and keep it in your den. Better yet, tie a nice birthday bow on it and give it to the little girl in your family on her birthday. It'll be much appreciated, and the family will gush over just how you got so creative. (and you didn't even have to spend a buck! revel in your good-natured cheapskatedness, and treat yourself to some candy while you're at it. Heehee. ^_^)
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It's mutating!!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Jonette
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Oh, yes. It seems like one of the peculiar traits of any piece I'm working on (clothing and otherwise) is that it tuns into something I never quite imagined would be possible in the first place. And yes, it's happening again.
Er, remember that floral skirt project I mentioned? Well, let's just say that I'd finally drawn the new plan on my design notebook, and sewn in the darts (two inches down) and the waistband. Granted, the waistband was a tad longer than the real waist circumference -- that can be quickly remedied.
However, the metamorphosis began when I fitted the skirt to see if it worked well.
Curses. The skirt gods demand more darts.
After pinning the extra darts down and refitting it, it struck me that if the skirt was to fit well, it would need to be hiked up just a little higher and eventually turn into an underbust skirt. (O.O!!!!!!!!)
Once again, an underbust skirt. Or at least, something that cuts across the middle set of ribs.
the skirt in question.
And the darts... that emphasize the amazing butt! Mouse-over! Mouse-over, I say!
Hehe. That was fun. *griiiiin*
For a lady with rather boisterous and plump -- ehem -- sweater kitties, this may not be a very good idea. (Or is it? I'm no sure...)
the only visible way for me to remedy this right now is to turn it into a dress. Oh wow.
This is may mean buying more material. I've no problem about that, but, well...I've never made a bodice for a dress before.
Option: Right now, the idea is to add a ruched bodice front in eyelet cotton, which I already have (not unlike the bodice of the delightful piece at right -- sans ribbon --, courtesy of Milky Ange) and add elbow-length puffed sleeves. Hmmmmm.
Yeah, I do feel a little timid about this... Suggestions, anyone? I'd really appreciate it.
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Four places I go to, over and over: Aside from work? Alright.
SM Megamall, for sewing notions and other frippery in Carolina's Lace Shoppe. On a much more --ehem-- practical note, for groceries and other sundries.
Robinson's Galleria, for splurging on dates, and the gashaponat Toys R' Us. Do not laugh: to the discerning otaku, one may find treasures here. ^_~*
The Quiapo-Divisoria Circuit, for cheap, cheap, cheap, cheap shopping. These two locales are not for the faint-of-heart nor for the clueless, but as long as you're street smart and have a nose for a good bargain, welcome to the jungle.
Project 8, my second home with James for the weekend. ^_^
Four people who email me regularly:
My Mom and Tito Tom
Joan, a good friend of mine from my first short-lived job
Sir Dong Ampil-De Los Reyes, a journalist-playwright-blogger who I once had the honor to interview as a part of my college thesis
James' home at Project 8 on Sundays. The third paragraph on this entry pretty much says why.
Fazoli's in Eastwood with friends. Good Italian and warm bread at a reasonable price. Plus, I like their concept of a bridge connecting the dining areas on the second floor.
Komoro-Soba in SM Megamall, pre-renovation. Before the glossy giant food prints and the flashy colors, the restaurant had the feel of a true-blue Japanese Ramen eatery, down to the wooden walls and the hanging flags in the doorway, with the characters ラーメン (for Ramen) printed on them. It had Japanese ballads playing from its speakers as you slurped down hot noodles and miso soup. What I loved the most about this place was that the Japanese manager, a man with years on his face and his salt-and-pepper hair, would always come around to check on his shop and sometimes pitch in in the kitchen. Just before you leave after your meal, should you meet his gaze, do not forget to bow in gratitude. He will bow back to you. :)
Good old Jollibee. What would a pinoybe without you.
Four places I'd rather be:
Thailand! One of my dreams is to spend a week in Bangkok, seeing the sights, visiting the temples and The Grand Palace, exploring Chatuchak Market, petting a tiger in The Tiger Temple, and staying the hell away from Patpong.
Bohol, just to get away from it all. It would be great to appreciate the sights of your own country before venturing out to see those of others. Besides, I've always wanted to have a picture taken with a tarsier or two.
Engkantadia, a locally-made fantasy series that aired a few years back on GMA Channel 7. It was the among the first of its genre, and its production value and story were the best of its time.
Four people I'm tagging: at last! April, Tarie, James, and Jo. (If you want to, of course.)
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I'm on a roll again!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Jonette
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I won't have much time to expound on this, but let me just say this for the record: I'm back! I'm back! I got my juice back! And all it took was a fever, an upset tummy, a missing voice, and a sick leave.
Okay, that didn't sound too logical.
I'd been pretty much down in the dumps for the first part of this week. work has been quite testy as of late, and my health had been responding to suit -- like a cranky two-year-old. Lesson: when your body has already been showing signs of illness, it's no use forcing it to exert more effort than it can. End result? You get sicker, and it's off to bed with you.
I'm actually glad about getting sick. It's times like these when you need to stop, slow down, pause that make me think. It's getting in touch again with myself, re-alligning, refocusing. Thinking about what really makes me happy, and remembering why they made me happy in the first place. In a nutshell, it's counting my blessings. It sends me right back out into the world with the thought that, underneath all the frustration, the let-downs, and the insanity Life tosses at me, everything was (and still is) beautiful, and nothing hurt.
And so it goes.
Back to the skirts. As of tonight, I've managed to hem and sew together two trapezoids of that dainty floral fabric you see above, make a matching waistband, and pin two two-inch darts at the back for a comfy fit. I've decided to experiment with a bias cut, just to see for myself how flattering it can really get. My initial idea was to put spaced tucks near the hem of the skirt for embellishment, but now I'm awfully tempted to split the skirt in front, insert a panel of ecru eyelet fabric, and pleat the spliced edges to give illusion of an underskirt. (Because I am shameless, I owe my inspiration to this fine lady. Who's that girl? More on her here. )
Well, a girl can dream, can't she? ^_^"
As for the second skirt, I'm planning to rip open a pair of well-loved jeans and turn it into a skirt. Two options: I could turn it into a pencil-type skirt (instructions courtesy of Threadbanger), or into a frilly-ish fiesta skirt, as suggested by Cafty Daisies. Decisions, decisions. Threadbanger has been a great help with giving me different ideas for my sewing projects. Here's the episode for the DIY jeans skirt.
What do you think, folks? I'd love to hear from you too. :)
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Froggy has been religiously fed with nutritious tens and fivers and has cheerfully kept his post at my work station for the past five months. He's helped me out on slim times, and manages to cheer me up on exhausting, bleak days. Oh, he's also become something of an in-joke among my co-trainers in my area. ^_^ Looking at how full he is now, I'm quite excited. (Here's a shot of how full he was two weeks ago.) One day, I shall take him in my arms, tickle his underbelly, and gleefully eviscerate him. What am I saving up for? It's a secret. ;)
the skirt in question. 
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