The Hush Sound

The first song I heard from this band was "Lions Roar" and it was through a REALLY AMAZING typography video that I found on You Tube. I fell for the lyrics and loved the sound, thank goodness this was the first song I heard (Come on, there were words like 'puppets' and 'elephants' and everyone knows how much I love the circus haha). I am proud to say that the Hush Sound was my own discovery (much like my ultimate favorite singer Rachael Yamagata). I was searching for new material when I came across the cover art of their album "Like Vines".

Their indie rock sound is very much reminiscent of another of my favorites, the Decemberists, but the Hush Sound provides a softer and seemingly more innocent feel. Heavy pianos and often times, a mellow tone. Charming is the word to best describe them.

Greta Salpeter and Robert Morris take turns in the vocals and it helps in keeping a good range of variety in their music.

Listening to their sound in the middle of everything was one of the best things that's happened to me this week, and in perfect timing as well. Their sound makes you forget about the world for a bit and takes you to a place where time stands still and people sit and stare as the world flies by.

I haven't listened to all their songs fully yet as of this moment, but here are some of my favorite lines, so far.

"You painted me in pastels, colors that don't tell of any boldness. Cause that's the way you love to see me; so delicate, so weak, so little purpose" -The Artist

"You are the daydream in my eyes, there whenever I wake up. But the colors never crystalize and I never get enough" - Love You Much Better

"And if the timing is right to sneak off into the night, I'll let myself be taken just for the thrill. And if I'm given the chance to be a doll in his hands, I will be sure we shake the mountains while we dance" - The Boys Are Too Refined

Elephant Ride

As many people know, the thing I'm most excited about during my trip to Singapore & Thailand was finally being able to meet the elephants, or who I fondly call the PHANT PHANTS!! Wooo! I was so excited for this!


So last April 6, the day before we finally came home from our early summer trip, we visited the Rose Garden at Thailand to go and say hello to the phant phants. The weather was terrible actually, as it was raining throughout our 1 hour ride from the hotel to the place. Luckily though (and I think mainly due to my grandma's presence, since she honestly prays like crazy every single moment, and thank goodness for that), when the time came for us to ride the elephants, the rain stopped! Hooraaaay!

You had to pay I think something around 20 baht to have your photo taken on the small phant phant. You get to sit on his leg, yeheeey! Whoever said I can't hug elephants can kiss your unbelieving butt buhbye because ha! I was able to do it!! Heehee.

I self-proclaimed that the elephant's name was to be Michelle. I kept calling it Michelle already until one of my brothers pointed out that I was so stupid because the phant phant had tusks, which obviously meant that it was a boy. What was I thinking?! Haha! So I renamed it to Mark. I don't know why I name him Mark. I just did. Haha! My brothers were laughing at me because I was talking to the elephant.

Anyway, super happy! I finally got a chance to ride the elephant as well! My love for elephants overpowered my fear of heights so hooraaay! The ride was super short, but it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

Crossing out another item in my things to do before I die list!

Soundtrack of My Summer: Part 2

View the original Soundtrack of My Summer entry over here

This picture showcases the entire collection so far. I have a feeling I'm going to be drawing more soon but people might get tired of it so... haha I dunno. Here's the second part of the collection I guess (together with the first one). 5 new drawings starting from the brownish one with hanging clouds! Click the link above for the story behind this collection.

It is officially summer and so far, I'm having a great time. I've been going out, bonding with elephants (haha), hanging out with my friends, planning stuff with my co-officers at Celadon (my organization) *which I totally enjoy, just to make that clear* and more drawing. I'm trying to learn new things too such as sewing and more origami stuff haha. Folding more cranes as well. Ah, cranes...

My favorite from the latest batch is the one with the slow dancing theme. I may not look it but I'm a fan of unsaturated color schemes. And I love the white bubble dress on this one... wish I had one. And the boy looks particularly cute here... and they're slow dancing, what other explanation can I give? Anyway, the last one, with the silhouettes, is also something special since it's my first time to draw silhouettes and I think it makes a great 'last picture' because it truly encompasses summer. I have to say though, the boy's arms look funny here haha.

Still playing this playlist over and over. Still drawing drawings of you. Still as inspired as ever. Why...

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Songs from left to right top to bottom: "On Top of the World" by Boys Like Girls, "Coffee" by Copeland, "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls, "Simple, Starving to be Safe" by Daphne Loves Derby, "Better That We Break" by Maroon 5, "Three Cheers for Five Years" by Mayday Parade, "Burn This City" by Cartel, "You Be the Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground I'll Be the Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds" by Mayday Parade, "Tonight" by FM Static, "Jamie All Over" by Mayday Parade

3 am

I didn't notice this until one of my good friends, Christiane, pointed it out to me; 3 am is my inspired hour.

For the past weeks I've been having this very annoying and irregular sleeping pattern. I still sleep at my usual bedtime 10:30 pm (still kiddie! nuu!), which I fondly call my "meme time" but I've been waking up at very odd hours and couldn't sleep again. The usual routine goes like this: sleep form 10:30 pm, then I wake up at 1:30 am, try to get back to sleep and finally gives up after an hour or so. If I'm lucky, I can get back to sleep again at around 4:30 am but if not, hello deeper eye bags.

So you might be wondering, what is an entry regarding my stupid sleeping problem doing in my happy blog?

Again, 3 am = inspired hour. The first time this happened to me over the past weeks, I immediately sat down on my desk and popped my ipod (after trying for hours to get back to sleep). Then I took out my pencil and started doodling away. The result was my Soundtrack of My Summer collection (Part 1!). Then again the other night, I gave up again around that time and started doodling, and I drew another 'inspired' artwork (which I will never post anywhere, I'm quite sure, guess why, haha!). And sometimes, I would just stare blankly while listening to my playlist and I'd get really ... i don't know how to describe it because I don't want to use the word emo HAHA. Uhm, but something like that. In a good way though. Like I'd get really inspired to create things, and it's such a positive and wonderful feeling. :)

My Drawings in Necklaces

I had these necklaces made from Personage by Stazas Inc. I saw their booth at the Celadon Biz Fair last January and knew that I wanted to have an item or two made.

We had a few problems at first because the first item they sent was damaged but all's well since they offered to replace it for free and have my second item discounted, which explains why I have two items! The drawings I sent were the Sakura and the Pag-Ibig na Dakila drawings because I think they're the most vintage-y looking drawings I have (not really THAT vintage but at least... hehe). I'm sure these will match well with some of my outfits! Yey! Thanks for the great service.

I want to sell products like this one but I have no contacts for the suppliers and all the shiz haha. Maybe someday I'll be able to though, and I'll open up a store having necklaces like these on the shelves. I have to think of more products and designs! Yehey!

Soundtrack of My Summer

It was 3am in the morning and I couldn't sleep. I took out my battered Ipod and started playing the songs on my recent playlist... and sketches just came out of nowhere. Boys Like Girls. Daphne Loves Derby. Even some Maroon 5. A lot of the songs had very strong imagery and how I wish I could draw them exactly the way they look on my mind, but my noob skills permit me from doing so. Instead, I suffice myself to drawing those scenes as accurately (at which, I think I failed, but all the same...) as I can imagine them in my mind using my usual cartoon style. It, of course, helped that I was inspired during that time.


Back to the drawings. I started to sketch, like I said, some scenes as they were playing in my mind. I sketched so much more than what I ended up finishing and was inspired by more songs than what I ended up using. All the same, it was great practice for me. I will probably continue the rest of my sketches soon (especially since it's summer already) and create a second batch of love-sick, emo drawings using songs from Secondhand Serenade and from my all time favorite pro-depressant musicians Rachael Yamagata and KT Tunstall. But I'm trying to avoid my depressing songs lately. I need to keep being happy, especially since it's summer!


I named this collection the "Soundtrack of My Summer" collection, after the lyrics from one of the songs by Boys Like Girls ("Thunder"). I'd like to thank my good friends Jed and Abz for always singing songs like these during our emo sessions and car trips home. I hate telling people I listen to emo songs, but I just can't deny that I love these. Most especially, thank you Abz for "Coffee". It wasn't summer yet when I drew these and started listening to these songs, but I was thinking of summer so... I hope that counts.

My mom always begged me to draw more 'couple drawings' as she'd call it. She said I drew too much single girls , so thanks mom, I'm following your advice! I do hope that as you wish, I'd be able to find someone just as romantic as the boy in my drawings. Haha. To make things even better, I drew the girl to look like me (hopefully) with the outfits all resembling actual outfits that I wear regularly! My friends and classmates found the clothes all-too familiar, which was of course, the goal of the idea, so on that level, I guess I had succeeded. So yes, that's supposed to be me with my imaginary boyfriend in imaginary settings doing imaginary things. My boy has funky hairstyle.

And lastly, I guess I just want to say that... if you don't go looking for it, sometimes, it finds you.

Also, you don't know it's you, you probably never will, and you will probably never read this anyway, but thank you all the same for the inspiration! *clap clap!*

Read Soundtrack of my Summer: Part 2!

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Songs from left to right top to bottom: "On Top of the World" by Boys Like Girls, "Coffee" by Copeland, "The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls, "Simple, Starving to be Safe" by Daphne Loves Derby, "Better That We Break" by Maroon 5.

The Face Shop: Nail Stuff

With school almost over in a few days, expect new entries! Yey! ... not that anyone bothers to check this (except for Milka haha!) but all the same!

I am so addicted to the smell of this particular nail polish remover (wait. before you freak..) because it's strawberry scented eeeeeep! I love strawberry! It smells so good! I went to the Face Shop the other day, not expecting to buy anything really, but then I saw the yellow nail polish and tried it on my un-polished nails. I loved it instantly and grabbed one, then I took the polish remover tester to take the paint off and the smell was so amazing,

I just had to get it. I used it today and just a few drops (would you believe that?) removed the black polish I had on. It works well, smells good, and it's PINK! I also love the nail polish color selection of the Face Shop. I think I'll go get some more colors in the future... plus, they're not as expensive as other good brands are. Good find! My yellow polish is perfect for summer!

I sound like an airhead in this entry... eep, sorry. But shopping recently has been a great stress reliever... hehe. This IS my "happy blog" after all.

Music from the Tea Lands

I'm downloading new music again, and to add to my "cool" music collection (Milka will comment on this I'm sure hahaha), I downloaded three Putumayo World Music albums and so far, my favorite is this one, Music from the Tea Lands. It's time for a tea party!

I was first drawn to the charm of Putumayo because of the cover art designs. The artworks are created by Nicola Heindl and the style features a fusion of folk lore and contemporary. For those who are strangers to Putumayo music, Putumayo World Music is a record label which specializes in featuring upbeat and melodic music from different parts of the globe. They specialize in African and Cuban music but they are also great in selecting music from all over. According to the Wikipedia article, a large portion of their target market are people with an interest in culture, travel and the arts. People like me! Amazing!

Music from the Tea Lands particularly impressed me because of its melodic Asian sound. It contains music from China, India and Turkey (only to name a few). I really enjoyed the music because I feel transported through time and space. Asian culture has been a growing interest of mine and this music makes a great accompaniment! Makes my room feel like a cozy little tea house. I love it.

I've been thinking up of a concept for my future store (thinking WAY ahead, Sheena, what the hell) with a cultural, artsy kindda theme and for sure, Putumayo Music will be playing in the background.

Barbie Silkstone Collection

When I was a little girl, I loved Barbie dolls, not because it was a great toy, but because I loved the different outfits. Dolls served more as a display for me rather than a toy (except when cousins or friends would come visit and ask to play with them), and I loved them that way (Here we see the beginnings of my obsession with pretty things haha). Recently, I have been surfing the net for new references for different costumes when I came across a Barbie website arranging dolls according to collection. The Silkstone Collection was the first thing that struck me and I was completely drawn to the unique style of the dolls.

The facial features of the dolls is the most impressive detail in this collection. They all look so sophisticated and elegant. Reminds me so much of Audrey Hepburn! The costumes also feature a wide range of outfits with the theme of high class society women.

The elegant midnight gowns are so entrancing and even the casual outfits were so well designed! There are times when I wish I lived a life as such, and these dolls only heightened this desire! Such lovely lovely costumes! So vintage and so classy!

As some of my close friends may have already guessed, my favorite among the dolls is the Equestrian doll, officially known as the "High Stepping" Barbie, simply because I have always been in love with the culture of old style tea-parties and polo matches on a Sunday afternoon.

I think I'd post more entries about other Barbie doll collections which I find wonderful!

Maggie Parr

I was first introduced to Magie Parr's artworks during my visit to HK Disneyland, and back then, I wasn't aware that she was the genius behind the paintings. I distinctly remember walking inside Banquet Hall and seeing the Snow White painting, I squealed like a little girl and rushed to it to take pictures. Then I noticed that there were other paintings beside it with the same art style and I felt like I was gonna die of excitement. Haha.

What struck me at first about her paintings was the colors and lighting. It gave out an air similar to that of old renaissance works of art. I love how she made the Beauty and the Beast artwork most especially because it's so early century-ish! Belle looks a bit huffy here though at first glance, hehe.

I was lucky to have come across a website once which accurately provided the artist's name, since I really had no idea who did these paintings. So I researched more about her works and found out that she was in fact commissioned to do a lot of portraits for the different Disneyland Resorts. I was able to gather some samples of her works as well.

Probably my favorite series is the one where she imitates the styles of famous pieces like the Mona Lisa (which she wittily named Minnie Lisa) and one of my personal favorites, The Swing. I have already had ideas of creating a similar set (actually I've already started before, with my Last Supper drawing), but I wasn't able to push through with the plan, partly because I felt that my flat colors wouldn't do the paintings justice. But maybe I shall get around to continuing that idea next time.

Funny London Pics

I was browsing through our pictures a while ago when I came across these! I don't know if you'll find them funny but when I was trying to remember those particular moments, it really made me laugh. Haha!

So first, this set. Me in front of the Royal Albert Hall! Uh, I don't know why we took three pics? Hahaha! But this was just really funny. I don't remember this much, like why I took off my jacket in steps, but I did, so there! I look like an Eskimo in the first one, haha I love it! This is one of my favorite jackets. So comfy!

This second one is another silly picture which I remember very well! I was squealing because of the cute squirrels all over the park and I was bugging my brother to take my picture with a squirrel. But the problem was, the squirrels ran away every time I tried to get near them (I think they were scared cuz I was too hyper, boo).

So my 'brilliant' plan was to move slowly, one step at a time, sideways, so that I can fool the squirrels into thinking that I wasn't going to take a picture with them. -.- Don't know what I was thinking! HAHAHA!

Anyway this pictures shows me, trying to exectue my plan, but as you can see, the squirrel got away. :( Damn. I need a plan B.

Hahaha ok, that's all! I was just so amused at the pictures. I think I'll go find other funny pics from our other trips!

January Celadon Events!

The Ateneo Celadon is an organization that I actively participate in at school. I really love my org and I'd like to give the entire story why, but that's another story. For this entry, I'd like to share two Celadon events which I participated in this January; the Business Fair and the Spring Film Festival.

The Biz Fair took place last January 19-20. I was there even before the event started and got the opportunity to use Retcher's DSLR and be our official amateur photographer (haha) for the day, beginning from the ribbon cutting! Heheee! I took most of the pics that day with the DSLR (which I wish I had instead!). I also tried helping out as much as I can the entire day from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm! I had tons of siomai which I absolutely adore! I had such a great time helping out for such a great event. The heads have done a very good job with this and I am very proud to have been part of the event, even if I just played a small role.

It was also a very memorable experience because of the funny fact that I was at the advertisements! One of the four 'models' haha! I honestly didn't expect that it was going to be that big of a deal until I saw posters hanging above the escalators. Freaky. Fed my vanity though. Hahaha! But it was really funny because obviously I'm not really a model of any sort and this was my first, er, shoot, I guess. But it was fun! My friends were teasing me about it. For the first time, I wasn't the one designing, I was the model! I think I prefer designing though... haha!

Spring Film Fest was one of the most interesting projects for me which is why I immediately signed up for this. It's our annual film festival wherein we feature 4 Chinese movies subtitled in English. As I am a big fan of foreign films, I already knew from the beginning that I wanted to participate.

I submitted a design for the promotional materials and luckily, the project heads liked what I did and used it as the official design. I'm very honored. This is my most widespread design though and again, I was surprised at how much of a big deal they made this! This is the largest tarp design I've ever done, it was as long as three floors, I think, and at Trinoma too! Huge mall! o.o And the posters and flyers were distributed everywhere inside and outside school! I worked very hard on them, editing the format dozens of times because of the different layouts needed and after all the revisions (Da knows... haha!) , but in the end, after I saw everything at Trinoma during our Gala Night, I realized it was all worth the pain.

Speaking of Gala Night, I was also there and I served as an usherette! It was really fun cuz we got to dress up in semi formal dresses and suits. I was also the one who held one of four scissors for the ribbon cutting. HAHA ok, that wasn't a big deal, but it made me happy. Funny! The movie we watched was really nice, it's called "Getting Home". I already had a bias for this because I'm totally in love with foreign films (as you might know already) and I've recently been having a love affair with Chinese culture (I must write about that soon). But really, it was a funny movie and I loved it. The people I worked with the entire time were great people too so great job everyone! My co ushers (they were all guys) made the night really fun and it was all great!

I love Celadon very much (I just have to stress that fact) and I'm looking forward to more events in the future! Yey!