Who's that girl?

I met up with Nina last Saturday and thanks to her, I got more insights about Pinky:St and I think that I won't regret getting assimilated. ;) Nina brought two of her girls with her. Forgot their names but they're adorable. We were in one of the areas with fake grass in Trinoma and this picture was taken by the plant boxes.

I love the poses. It's as if the two girls on the left were talking about Mikimiki while she's passing by. It's as if they're wondering "Who's that girl?"

Mikimiki is technically my first Pinky. I have yet to receive Arc and Sacchin in the mail. :)

Seasons and creativity

There are seasons in a person's life.

Though I don't think they come in cycles similar to the 'typical' seasons we have like chilly, spring, summer and monsoon. (We don't really have winter and autumn here, I think.) I think that the seasons come and go in varying durations and cycles.

These days I can't help but think that I am in the season to just explore other creative stuff I haven't really been exposed to or wanted to try before but didn't have the resources. That or I didn't have the courage to try them out. Maybe it's because I think I 'missed out' on some other things because I focused on particular interests I had/have.

Some things I am interested in right now didn't appear to be this interesting before. While other interests I have, I still like them but I don't feel like spending so much time on them, if you know what I mean. Like technology, I am still interested in technology but it's not the same as before. I don't think it has died down. It's probably just taking a bit of a backseat for now. Maybe I've tried too hard to keep with it more than what was enough for me. Maybe right now, I might be saturated with the technology because I work in the IT industry and I just feel the need to keep work and play as different things.

Sometimes I wonder if it's because I don't feel that there's a tangible thing to work with when it comes to analysis. I mean, the situations are there, the people are there but I can't hold it physically and I can't mold it physically. I noticed that I've been fascinated with personal projects that give me something tangible or at least immediately visible and the 'high' I get from that is something I missed a lot.

Like poi. I have the poi in my hands and I could spin them in directions and learn new things to do with them and it's nice. I could see the results of learning and practicing poi.

Blogging. I could easily see if my blog's layout sucks, or if my writing is terrible or too verbose.

Now I am getting fascinated with PinkySt dolls and the thought of modding some. That's something really tangible. But I have yet to research on materials.

My creative side is itching to do something different, something I could say is my work and physically see it. I want myself to be reflected in the things I do. Maybe I spent so much time on working with other people's template documents and submitting analysis of other organizations' systems that I am now wanting to just express things in a different manner than before. I don't really know yet because I don't understand what's really going on with me either.

I am just letting all this be part of the season I am in right now. It might pass quickly or it might not. But I am sure that I'd learn a thing or two, somehow.

Sir Igs, the pyromaniac

One of the people who I really look up to when it comes to developing all sorts of skills is Sir Igor. When I was in college I thought he was one of the cool profs who didn't make his students feel bored to death. He was my prof in at least 3 major subjects. I am not sure if I was his student in more classes. I might have to ask Trebs, Marj or Tyran about that. From the classes to his love for anime and J-rock, now I look up to him because of his poi skills. He makes his own fire poi and apparently, even his own LED staff. (Waaah! Inggit ako. Seryoso.)

Anyway, check out his new videos. One shows off his use of the fire staff and his LED staff (both are homemade) and the other shows him using his fire diabolo.

I haven't mastered the poi yet and I have to practice my reverse weave and overhead weaves. I am still sloppy with those two moves. :( And yeah, all the reverse butterfly moves kill my arms too. Waah!

Fixing up the domain

Site maintenance time. I finally put up an index page on the root folder of craftyneko.com -- nothing fancy. I haven't been able to bug my sister to draw because she's been really busy.

Things I've been working on this afternoon:

• Subdomains and the respective blogs - I have to set up multi-author plugins in the blogs. Also, I am looking for themes to use and/or tweak for these blogs on the subdomains.


• The index page on CraftyNeko.com so that you at least have something to read. :P

Personal projects for the summer

There are several things I want to accomplish this summer. I will list them down so I won't forget.

• Create a room for the Pinkies that are coming my way (and my sister's way too!)


• Make new poi with colorful ribbons at the tail.
• 
  
• Get new clothes.


• Make my custom blog layout.


• Spin fire.


• Jumpstart the group blogs JM and I planned out.

My fashion sense

I realized that my fashion sense is more Japanese than anything. It must be the effect of watching all those anime and J-drama all these years. I don't even always check out Fruits or In-style, but it's just the way it is. I may not wear the fashion but when people ask me for fashion advice, more likely than not, I'd give a Japanese style recommendation.

I don't even know what's on tv these days so I don't really know what Filipino movie stars are wearing. I have an idea what Filipino pop and rock artists wear on their videos and I kinda like those clothes. As for office wear, I know what people in Makati are wearing so that's it. When it comes to formal wear, I kinda look at what's in a J-drama or an anime. Sometimes I refer to K-dramas too.

There was a time in college that someone told me that she found the Japanese weird because of their socks. She said that they don't match. Even then I was fond of wearing colored socks. Sometimes they match, sometimes they don't. It doesn't matter as long as I find the combination cute.

Kabuwanan sa Cubao

Oui sent me an email regarding an event in Cubao. If you're going, let me know! I might be in some kind of get-up you won't normally see me wearing so it's better that I warn you about that :P

Saturday, APRIL 5, 2008
10AM onwards

LIST OF ACTIVITIES

KABUWANAN: KOMPETISYON: TULA
An internet-promoted Poetry Competition
whose final best 12 will be read by the poet on the day of the Fair.
The theme will be "Kabuwanan" or "Time of The Moon".

KABUWANAN: KONSYERTO: A 2-part concert:
a. KLASIKAL: Part I: A classical/jazz concert from 6pm-10pm..
b. KABALIWAN: A rock/modern music concert to start at 11pm.

ART EXHIBIT AT THE CUBAO EXPO
Several tents will be put up within the Cubao Expo Compound
where Artist participants will be exhibiting their works
in a no-wall / freestyle manner.
Art pieces will be displayed for the day.

KABUWANAN: KODAKAN!
A major photography exhibit.

FULL MOON FILMFEST

KABUWANAN: KOMEDYA!
Improvisational comedic skits

CUBAO EXPO COSPLAY
Cosplay enthusiasts (individuals who go to entertaining extremes
to dress up as their favorite tv/comicbook character)
will be invited to show their personal Cosplay best during the day.

KOSTUME!!! KOSTUME!!!
Twenty young student designers
will be invited to showcase their fashion+art skills
by having their models walk around Cubao Expo wearing their original
designs.

VINTAGE EXHIBIT
Vintage Volkswagons, Vespas, bicycles & select antique furniture.

POLAR EXPRESSIONS
The poles that hold up the roofs of Cubao Expo's walkways
will be decorated/painted freestyle by participating artists.
Paint will be the primary medium. The theme "The Pull of the Moon" will
prevail. Period of painting/decorating is from March 28 to April 4,
the poles to be finished/ready by April 5.

DRIVEWAY CHALK-ART EXPOSITION
A select group of Artists will be asked
to create several works of impermanent chalk art on the driveway of Cubao
Expo.

AUCTION AT THE EXPO

INSTALLATION ART PARTS REPOSITORY
Participants to the Artists' Fair will be asked
to bring their clean junk to be gathered during the fair,
where interested artists may take what they want for free
to turn into art on that day itself, or to keep for future use.

THOSE INTERESTED TO JOIN,
PERFORM,
HELP ORGANIZE,
OR DONATE / GIVE SPONSORSHIPS TO,
please text 0917-5222100,
or email inquiries at
cubaoexpo@gmail.com

Little black dresses/blouses

It's hard to look for dresses I like. Some dresses are too formal to be worn on a daily basis.

In any case I found some blouses which are long enough for me to wear them as dresses if I dare. :P They are both black and are quite girly. I could wear them with jeans or my black strechy pants. I like it that they could be treated as short dresses. It means more girly stuff for me!

I also found a sleeveless blouse which I plan to wear over my frilly blouse when I try to look a bit gothic lolita for next week's party. Papanda will be my doll. They say he has a morbid look so maybe that should be interesting. Hehe.

Overhead weave

Last night I was taught the overhead weaves from the left side and the right side. It was harder for me to learn the overhead weave from the right for some reason. My planes are wrong and so it looks really bad. :(

I have been practicing the overhead weave earlier. I guess one of my weakness is my upward spin. It's the foundation of the reverse weave and that's where the overhead weaves start from. Aiya~ Ramir even asked me to practice certain movements just so I could get used to it.

One other thing I realized is that my footwork is bad. I am off balance when I turn. I must observe myself better when I spin poi so I won't be thrown off balance.

Why the new blog? Why not make it geeky?

Well, I am geeky and it will show in my blog entries, no matter what. :) I don't want to say that this is a geek blog simply because I plan to write about all sorts of things.

Also, I may prefer Linux over Windows and I may work in a software development company but it doesn't mean I'd have to be really geeky all the time. ;) I know I strive to be excellent and stuff but sometimes I just feel like hanging out and this blog is that place for me. And the name Crafty Neko could mean so many things. I could mean being crafty in terms of arts and crafts. There is also being crafty in the sense of being proud of one's craft or skills in whatever field. And it could also mean 'cunning' in terms of dealing with life. I am not a total geek as other people might think. Sometimes I think it's the influence of people around me that makes me even more geeky, rather than my natural aptitude. :P Some people seem to have that natural knack for things.

So, yeah. Welcome to my blog on CraftyNeko.com :)

Happy neko~ Arcueid is going to me soon

HLJ already sent me the email notice that they are about to ship Arc to me. Hooray! :D :D :D But I'd probably see Mikimiki and Akito first, considering I am meeting Nina some time this month. :)

Anyhow, this will be really great! And there's Haruhi too. At the end of the month, I think that I should expect an email from HLJ about Haruhi too. Waaah! I might see a pre-ordering for Mikuru as well and I might not be able to resist the temptation.

Pinkies~!

Yup. Now starting another hobby. Maybe I've been too serious in college so I am now giving myself the chance to do all sorts of things -- the things people don't necessarily expect from me. So, yeah. I am beginning to like playing all sorts of games these days and I am sort of drawing again. I am trying to practice being more comfortable in doing physical things like poi and expressing myself through art. My doodles are primarily chibi-fied versions of people around me. I like drawing people in chibi and all sorts of clothes.

For some reason, even if they're not exactly chibi, I have come to be fascinated by Pinky Street dolls to the point of looking for some that I'd like to have. I gave one to my sister last January and I just chatted with Nina the other night about buying two of her Pinky Street dolls, namely Agito/Akito and Mikimiki. Agito/Akito is for my sister who enjoys Air Gear. I have decided to try my luck in ordering an Arc one from HLJ and I have yet to receive confirmation if they got my payment.

I want to try modding Pinkies. :) Aside from swapping their clothes and accessories, one day I want to try modding though I know it won't be easy. I haven't really tried playing with 3d stuff before, I just usually drew and colored stuff on paper and on the computer. I wonder how things will be when they arrive. I might bug my sister and make Agito/Akito cross dress hahahaha. XD Teh evil. I know.

I'll be posting images when I get them. I am scheduled to meet Nina next week as this weekend is going to be awesome fun with friends I haven't seen in a while. :)

PS: Amusing trivia - Maki and Mikimiki are rivals. My sister has Maki and Mikimiki will soon join us. Hahaha. This sounds like a fun thing to see! :D

Stuff I still need for this blog (and another two, actually)

I want to make a custom layout, or tweak an existing one so it's more personal. I like this cat though. Anyway, I have a list of things to look into:

• Images of cats


• Drawings of people in chibi mode


• Recover my Flickr password


• Look at multiauthor plugins


• Check out Comicpress


• Check out nice color palettes for the layout


• Decide if a bliki/wikiblog is better for multiauthor stuff or not


• Check out how to make avatars for users of the blog. Something LJ user icons.

If you have any suggestions, it would help me out a lot. :) Or if you want to make me a custom layout, that will be terrific too! Hehehe. *peace!*

Yay! I has the subdomain working properly

Thanks to Rjene, I was able to make this subdomain thing work. I already forgot how to tweak Wordpress... :( And it's been quite a while. Anyhow, I needed to give Wordpress its own directory and still have its index page as the index in the directory of the subdomain.

So yeah, this is my new home :D

I guess that I'd be checking out various things now that I have my own space and domain. :D Maybe more crafting from me hehehe ;) We'll see. I really hope to post a whole lot more stuff than before. Next step is a new layout. Maybe some time during the summer you will see a different layout for my blog.

Another thing is that I need to read up on splitting up the feed by category so that if I post a blog entry with the tag "work" it will be aggregated into the company's planet/rss aggregator. I'd love to work on these this weekend!

One more time...

I have the subdomain thing correctly.  Now what?  I don't know how to make it go directly to this blog.