FITS AND STARTS: PILIPINAS HANDFAN

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

When I feel like I've had enough spending on various technology screens and would like to unwind, I always revert to creating personalised pieces. This is where my attention would be drawn more to gathering relevant stationery supplies, repurposed decorative rivets, and additional decorative accessories. 

Weeks ago, I started another analogue time project where I bravely transformed an old fan into an additional decorative wall piece. 

The above old fan was once something I kept and never bothered to pin on my “Wall of Fans”. I would say that I do not like it as it was too dull, uninspiring and lacked the vibrant spirit of my beloved birth country, Pilipinas. 

LEAF AND HORSE- DRAWN CARRIAGE 

I tore away the cloth from its guard and inner sticks (fan sticks) to give it a new lease of energy. Then, I cut out the only exciting image and embellished it with decorative buttons, upcycled stones, and painted tiny sticks. 

GUARD AND INNER STICKS (FAN STICKS) 

After removing the cloth (leaf), I was left with its original fan stick. I carefully pulled out, though it did damage in the process, its original pivot pin where I was left with loose individual sticks. Then, I painted each fan stick a few times with the colours available to me. Luckily, I had most of the colours, except the green, that depict the Philippine flag. 

PIVOT PIN AND HEAD 

When all the fan sticks were completely dry, I made a new pivot pin by straightening and twisting a paper clip. This served as a replacement where it holds fan sticks together at the base; it opened and closed smoothly. Then, spruced up its head with a heart button. 

WHITE COTTON STRING

 

I evenly connected each fan stick with strands of white cotton string as a replacement for its original cloth (the leaf). The strings hold the fan sticks together in a smooth arc when the fan opens. I also glued the string as it entwined around each fan stick, and embellished both ends of the strands with upcycled jewellery stones. 

PILIPINAS AND PESO SIGN

I reused the rest of its original cloth to handwrite “Pilipinas” and the “Peso” sign. Then I cut them out and assembled them (glued them together) with my Tboli-inspired remnant cloth. I intentionally frayed the edges of my remnant cloth to give a fringe-like appearance. 

I also added a white rose button to the "Peso" sign, whilst all letters of "Pilipinas" were carefully painted where each letter "i" decorated with a matching pinhead. 

Furthermore, I adorned a couple of rose buttons and a butterfly button above "Pilipinas", and decided to feature my own forgotten label. 

The handfan is no longer functional as it is now a decorative piece on my "Wall of Fans" where the artistry transformation veritably suits my personality. Hence, I am pleased as punch that I pursued personalising it even though it was not a straightforward analogue time project.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CHRISTMAS CARDS

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

When I was growing-up in my beloved home town and the month of Christmas was starting to draw closer, the thought of unwrapping gifts was imminent. I would even dream of receiving envelopes from my godparents containing new bills with a crepitating sound. If ever you would receive an envelope with 500 or 1000 Philippine Peso, a glow of rapture in your face would be seen by the rest of the kids. That is why, my childhood friends and I were always looking forward to the Christmas Eve and the Christmas Day. 

In the past, a week before the 25th of December most children in my neighbourhood would either have bought a new set of clothes with a pair of shoes or would be still searching for the quirkier illuminating attire with animation. Then, by the evening before Christmas Day our loving parents would wake us up to witness the colourful fireworks up in the sky before handing over the most anticipated wrapped gifts. On Christmas Day, we couldn't wait to garb ourselves in our new clothes/shoes and also exultantly looking forward to see each other's appearance. We would then walk as a group with a particular intention of visiting our godparents. They would welcome us into their homes and offer something to eat before handing over either an envelope filled with wads of cash or under the tree present comprised of our dream toys/brand-new clothes. 

My childhood years were filled with meaningful and out-of-bounds memories; which I will treasure until my last breathe on Earth. More importantly, I am very thankful to have been surrounded by cheerful childhood friends when I was growing-up and was generously taken cared of by my parents, until I decided to leave the comfortable nest. 

The children in my home town have all grown-up now and a few have fearlessly spread-out their wings in foreign countries. I am one of the few who has been living thousand miles away from my beloved country. In the years of living in London, United Kingdom I have learnt that there is more to just receiving a well-wrapped presents or a sealed envelope in life. In particular, I have been appreciating more the significance of Christmas cards when the warmth spirit of Yuletide is just around the corner.

The simple thought of sending a card with no manners of pretentiousness has been appreciated more by myself. In connection to this, the gravitational impact of the words written, it may be a long paragraph or just a simple phrase, will always hold dear in my heart. Genuinely, either a simple or extravagant card always brings a warm smile to my face. Its because, people reveal their true sincerity about their view of you in their inscribed words. Shall I say, shielding our selves with gripping and embracing words are the priceless gem of affection and weigh higher than conspicuous tangible things.

Christmas Day has passed and soon, we will welcome another brand-new year. Let us all be reminded that GREETING CARDS are not just customary and biodegradable papers. Veritably, they are worth their weight in gold as the tradition of sending our love and care to another person. Thus, they are not comparable even to high-priced handbags or any luxury items, if you regard less the so-called conspicuous consumption. I doubt it? 

To those who have been appreciating my kindness like our neighbours, THANK YOU! To those who have been valuing the genuine nature of my friendship, THANK YOU MORE! To those who have been treating me as a family member, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

By and large, inscribed words from unexpected senders whether good or bad is an even-steven reflection of who we truly are as a mortal human being in this world!

UNEXPECTED EXCHANGE RATE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

I don't know what to say, surely, I am not happy with the current universal exchange rate!

In the past, the exchange rate good for UK Sterling Pounds to Philippine Peso was very assistive to one's expenses. It was like saving you from debts, if you have one, and/or adding more money into your savings account. Nowadays, the rate is quite bad (pretty low) for us who are always sending money to our old folks in the Philippines. To give you a rough estimate of the diminution, it went down to almost 50 percent and up to now it shows no signs of recovery. What a nasty and unfavourable circumstances for us?

Instead of blaming the United Kingdom's government officials and also, giving myself a hard time and wrinkles. Nowadays, every time I am sending money to my beloveds I am always making sure of their primary needs first before giving them extra dosh for their vices. However and in the past (just to compare), I was just sending £ without thinking twice, it's because the exchange rate before could cover more than their essential needs in life. So, having hesitations in sending money nowadays is inevitable especially that things here, in general, are getting more expensive too.

I am still not loosing hope that one day or within this year, the very 'stabilising' exchange rate of yesterday will revert!

*Photo courtesy of gbp.fx-exchange.com