crafty crafts for the holidays

The combination of returning to our childhood hometown and being surrounded by family - especially for the holidays - sure exercises the crafts part in us.

Having many parties and lots of entertaining to do can amp this tendency up as well.

season's greetings

Greetings and blessings this holiday season...

...from us and ours at wonder | wander | women ...

...to you and yours. 

Peace on Earth & goodwill to all our relations

The key to looking good as you get older is, it all comes from the inside. You have to do what you like to do. . . .I created that. No one will do that for you. So why not just be alive and free in the truth of what you are? ~ Sharon Stone 

Happy Holidays! May you find happiness and fulfillment in the truth of your BEing-ness this holiday season and forever more! X X X #wonderwanderwomen

Charles Lahti: Cebu Exhibit at 856 G Gallery

With half of ‪#‎wonderwanderwomen already back in the Philippines for the holidays, we opted to reblog the latest post written for Kate's Paperie and Charles Lahti Studio. 

Read all about it here - http://katespaperie188.blogspot.com/2014/12/charles-lahti-his-cebu-exhibit-at-856-g.html?view=sidebar

Congratulations Charles! 

Springtime Hair

Dolce and Gabbana are not usually on the wonder | wander | women's radar; we're more interested in fashion on an aesthetic level and don't keep up with the couture brands. But once in a while a past or new collection will catch our eye and spark a new project.

The Spring/Summer collection of 2014 featured some of our favourite things: Greek and Roman influence, cherry blossoms, and light floaty dresses. But what really caught our eye was the hair: braided updos twined with tiny white flowers and decorated with antique-looking coins.

Someone else was inspired...this Internet artist digitally coloured the models' hair with pastel and spring colours, and in turn gave us this idea.

Inktense coloured pencils and Winsor & Newton watercolours on heavyweight cartridge paper.

The Trending Black and White Challenge

In case you follow any of Mahala's or my posts on Facebook, you'll see what's trending is black and white photo challenge among photo buffs.

Most don't really post actual black and white images, choosing to use instead a convenient phone app.

Mahala decided to add her own twist to the challenge - opting instead to do her own black and white illustrations.

Here are a couple.

Cafe' Dreams from Messy Nessy Chic

#wonderwanderwomen love the ambiance of a cafe'.

As artists our dreams and designs are at times fueled by indulgent caffeine imbued binges.

The Grounds - Alexandria, Australia

We most definitely sway to the keen of Messy Nessy's siren call.

"Everyone needs to find their own café– it’s an identity thing."

Take your pick from these 10 Inspiring Cafés Around the World! 

London Is My Boyfriend: a love letter to the city

We often tell ourselves little fairy tales about the cities we live in, casting them as major characters in our life story. Paris can be a beautiful woman, full of mystery and elegance. Venice might be an artist, energetic in the daytime and contemplative at night.

"He can be stately and dignified."

One half of the wonder | wander | women has an unusual idea of London: for her, London is like the ideal man. He has spent many years working out his identity and place in the world. He has rough spots, but his handsomeness and accomplishments outshine them.

"He understands the poetics of space."

London Is My Boyfriend is a half-joking, half literal love letter to the city. It started with photographs of a few famous landmarks, then of curious art and surprising buildings, happened upon during the blogger's daily life.

"He's prone to flights of imagination."

What you "see" is what you get.

Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our Lives

by Maria Popova

How to fine-tune the internal monologue that scores every aspect of our lives, from leadership to love.

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

Psychologist Carol Dweck states in Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, “For twenty years, my research has shown that the view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.”

shroom boom

The challenge with depicting mushrooms is capturing its fleshiness. 

They need to look the way the word mushroom sounds. 

Pencil, various pan watercolours. Lettering and borders,
Noodler's Lexington Grey in extra fine fountain pen.
Fabriano small artist's journal.

Mahala's art featured in her sketch art blog, Peregrinalia. 

on the topic of books: Brain Pickings

Illustrating a children's book, especially one with shades of autobiography, presents a unique window into a writer's mind. We can see the things they love and look back on, and maybe confront our own self-doubt. Maybe it's our chance to try art that is new and challenging, to us as well as readers.

On the topic of illustrated children's books, we were reminded of one of our favourite blogs: Brain Pickings.

Brain Pickings is the blog of writer Maria Popova, collecting inspirations, reflections, and creative processes from the world's greatest minds. The blog often features unusual, lesser-known, or especially beautiful illustrated books. Read their retrospective of Alice in Wonderland illustrators, or this child-friendly primer on how babies are made, for examples of Brain Pickings's eclectic taste.

Mahala's illustrated book

The eagerly anticipated book of Mahala’s illustrations is finally out. Published by Tahanan Books, the launch was held Wednesday, September 24 at 3:30 p.m. at the Manila Polo Club in the Philippines.

The title of the book is WHAT MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD ME: Practical Wisdom from Spanish Proverbs and Sayings, written by Maria Paz (Chiqui) Weir. It is a compilation of original family anecdotes in Spanish and translated in English.

ATTN: "Friends" die-hard fans

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this popular TV show, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and Eight O’Clock Coffee partnered to re-create the Central Perk coffeehouse.

At a pop-up across from Kate's Paperie at 188 Lafayette Street, New York NY 10013.

They opened recently and are drawing long lines of eager visitors. There are plenty of reasons to check it out  - besides the free coffee.

travel for therapy

Many of us travel for therapy. But mostly we mean fun and fantasy escapades from our daily grind. Even when in pursuit of expansion and education. 

Visiting classic ruins of Europe or Asia may preach elegant and fascinating lessons of culture and history. What about visiting the ruins of a recent devastation - God, nature or man-made? 

Who among us would voluntarily spend time, effort and resources on a crash course in short-term error? 

http://www.brenontheroad.com/25-tips-making-first-solo-trip-around-world-unforgettable/

joint project: NYC journal

New York City is enormous in its every facet. 

The famous New York City skyline.

Love it? Loathe it? We all want a bite of The Big Apple! 

It is in our collective consciousness. 

It has inspired so many for many many years in so many countless ways.

public art: the city

London is generous with its culture. Many of the museums allow free entry and there are seasonal events that cost nothing to attend and enjoy. But it's London's public art which provides some of the richest sources of inspiration for me. It's the element of surprise that does it.

Christopher Le Brun, City Wing

I usually don't set out to find these monumental works. I turn a corner on foot, or come down the street on the top deck of a bus, and am arrested by the sight of a wing sprouting from the pavement or a strange sunburst of flaming tentacles made of glass.

Dale Chihuly, The Sun

inspiration file: doors

As we go on various trips we have been collecting pictures of doors. There is a symmetry and potential to doors that call to us all. 

wonder|wander|world is here

wonder | wander | women draws most inspiration from our lives and experience - our conversations and collaborations, together and separately 

Our experiences involve absorbing a lot of different things under constantly changing circumstances, cultures and situations.

We travel regularly, are avid book readers, and both of us are film majors and trained artists.

We're always thirsty for inspiration and stimulation from all sorts of sources. Here are some of our favourite resources.

This new blog - aptly named wonder | wander | world - shares our current projects with you.

Messy Nessy Chic

Brain Pickings

Bren on the Road

This Is Paper

TED Talks

This Is Colossal 

The Jealous Curator