Satchmi : Good Ol’ Days Are Here Again

Father would play music on his black turn table back when I was still a wee lass. My first ever memory of us living with my grandparents was this big black disk, spinning on a rectangular box. A pin was placed on top of it and I’d watch as it circles around, the record cover in dad’s hand. I was on the floor watching his appreciation for music. Now I think I got my tastes from him cause at a very young age, sweet tunes were always present specially during mornings. Up until now, as I write this, he is downstairs, playing his Christmas songs. But gone are the days of the huge vinyls played via metal wicks. But not all of them.

Joining my friend Yna for a little Christmas shopping with her sister and mother, there is this huge Christmas bazaar called Shop @ The Fort where all these amazing items were for sale. Though one booth in particular took me back to the times were I first remembered ever appreciating music.

Lined in all awe were these records, not off old titles but new ones like Adele’s 21 and The Killer’s Sam’s Town and a dozen more titles were placed inside a fruit-box. A beautiful Motorino leather black turn table was on display. (check it out here: https://satchmi.com/Product/372/motorino)

Satchmi was to blame for this wonderful revival of 20th century titles in a classic musical medium. Excuse my term but seeing these in a bazaar full of foreign goods, these old-school products was rather orgasmic in visual and in experience!

Not too far were classic SLR cameras made into Ipod docking stations.

Neckties in designs and colors that really caught my eye. They were all originally made and were not found anywhere else.

Me Dusa plastic pressed hand bags of different hues were also lined up.

Rings and Necklaces in variety, crafted in such attitude that you’d love to buy them if you fancy cupcakes with wings, ram skulls, and others that looks like ancient talismans.

Fragrances in small bottles each hand made and is 100% vegan. Nice one!

The overall brand concept is what caught me. Each creation were tagged or labeled as to who (their respected artist) and from what country each originated from. One perfume was made by an artist named S.Anthem from the US while another, Pavel Sidorenko from Estonia reinvented vinyl records into clocks of famous icons.

If your trip is as the same as mine, drop by at their booth at Shop @ the Fort in Bonifacio High. See Satchmi, the curators of functional luxury. http://www.facebook.com/Satchmi

Literally highlighted. Old kid bike ride?

The neon colors of our study markers. Seems ages ago when I last used these on my books. And funny how I’ve only noticed that this dominated my look on one particular sunny bike ride. And one that drove me back into a time where drinking pop while listening to a boom box was rad!

It ain’t neon but the strong vertical reds dominated both my sweet wheels and my outfit. It was unintentional, but funny the least.

This Black Sheep top was in an old kid’s 80’s fade. Red stripes were of course, a signature of one childhood icon…hey wait, “Where’s Wally?!” (Seems Kimchi took an interest)

As I looked down at my shoes, the same patterns emerged via my laces. Comfy sneaks by Spice Fashion.

And since we’re talking about childhood icon’s, who’d ever forget Betty Boop and her big “power puff” eyes?  Although unbranded and was bought off a small shop, still this timepiece is classic!

Who’d ever forget them bottle cap collections? Pepsi still seems to be a side street favorite compared to it’s top predecessor. This little thing however is an item I bought off in an Ukay-ukay that sells old toys. Seems Pepsi took a marketing turn to feature their bottle cap designs and make them button pins in Japan.

So a time warp bike ride? A girl can still make believe right? 🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside a Swiss pocket watch

Rummaging through my father’s collection of old and discarded things is a Swiss pocket watch. Scratched with a broken glass, I took it out entirely to make sure that no shards will get through any skin. The seconds hand was missing and the digits incomplete, faded from use.

The details of the back were nicely embossed.

And of course inside was the littlest battery I’ve ever seen!  I wonder what other treasure my father keeps tucked away?

DIY Diana Strap Marker For Measuring the Distance of Your Close-Up Lens!

In this tipster, learn how to make a DIY Diana close-up lens marker by making use of little trinkets and colored cloths that compliment your camera strap!

Also check this at http://www.lomography.com
 

Let’s add a little beauty to the usual Diana strap marker! For this tip I’m using a Diana F+ with a close-up lens. It’s okay if you’re using something else since you can also do this with any camera strap!

What you will need:

1. A piece of thin cloth in any pattern or color
2. Your choice of colored thread
3. Sewing needle
4. Ruler
5. Button / trinket you want to customize your marker with
6. Pushpin

 

Step 1:

Get your ruler and measure 6 inches from your close-up lens. For other cameras and distances, just run a pushpin through the area where you want your marker to be.

Step 2:

Cut a piece of cloth at about an inch or 1.5 inches. Take out the pushpin and fold in the cloth onto your strap. Once done, run the pushpin through the marker to hold it in place. Since my camera strap is in black, brown and white, I preferred to chose earth colors to suit its whole look.

Step 3:

Get your needle and thread and sew in the cloth. Also it’s better if the thread color compliments the cloth’s color too to make it look extra nice!

Step 4:

Get your little trinket to personalize your marker. For this one I used a small heart shaped piece. You can use other stuff too like small buttons or tiny beads.

Step 5:

Sew this in; making sure that it covers the rest of the first thread so it doesn’t look too messy. Lock it in place and you’re done!

It’s not just about marking the distance with your strap but making it look good too! Nothing better than customizing your own gear as soon as you step out of your home to take amazing pictures!

Handmade leather crafts anyone? Amazing shoes and bags by Glenmore

Old souls are said to collide in a life time. This meeting however was not of dusty records and past events but of a modern music I was surprised to hear. It was a regular weekend down at Metro walk. I have accompanied my best friend on her usual eyelash extension trips when I decided to go shop searching for anything interesting. Indeed from the farthest corner was a white-bricked shoe store. I was quickly taken by what I saw and slowly made my way inside.

The mood was quickly set. There were classic pieces on the opposite side of the wall, which reminded me of my father’s old bottle collection. It felt a lot like the sixties with its perfect chandelier and old school chime clock on the shelf.

 To my surprise came the unexpected music.  It was a track from The Camerawalls, an indie band I’ve been listening to live and on record for the past years. Only a few would come across this music. So I stayed, looked around the many bags and shoes lined on every corner. The shop owner, Adam, asked if there was anything I wanted, then I said, only simply to confirm, “What song are you playing?”

It got off from there. Glenmore shoes, as I later found out, is a leather goods store that started back in the 1960’s. What’s more is that this was a family business. With its years on it, it was more of a tradition. The best part for me was the idea that their pieces are hand made.

See the details on this baby! Hand made to last a lifetime! Visit Glenmore and see more of their amazing footwear, bags, belts / leather goods. If you get lucky, you might just meet the very guy who created these!

Crafted and customized for the buyer by hard working hands. If you’re looking for something different, not off the market, really sturdy pieces and customized at that, give Glenmore a visit. There’s one shop on the 2^nd floor of Metro walk that truly out shined the rest. 

visit them at http://www.glenmoreshoes.com

Vintage! The essence of life

Two awesome discoveries down at SM Accessories Fairview! A Tony and Sons Vintage Car Service pouch and a Vintage! The Essence of Life key ring. Yes they are all literally old school both in look and in branding!

Tony and Sons printed in silk-screened brown against a nice demin texture with a nice bronze clip and synthetic leather hand strap.

The Key ring has the same hand strap but lighter in color with a number of bronze key clips and a cute little alarm clock for added detail! It also has this orange circle that says Miss 100 degrees. Hmm…never really got to why it said that but it’s still a good design! And besides, it’s a nice and stylish way to keep keys organized!

Let’s enjoy the Trunk Show!

A visit down at the Trunk Show, TriNoma is always a treat! With their clothes and footwear’s in limited stocks, their shop has that  nice individualism of the not-too-commercialized retail market. Concept shops always offer something else entirely. This I must say is one of my favorites.

As I enter, naked light bulbs hang from the floor within individual cages.  Everything seemed tastefully vintage. With a few minutes before the whole mall closes, I eyed two particular key chains that says TRAVEL and one in WEEKEND.  They were stamped in nice leather and accommodated with 2 iron bronze pieces. I fell in love with them right away despite the idea that I was going to buy only one. Quickly browsing while my purchases were still at the cashier, a couple more people entered. Looks like I’m not the last one who’ll close their sales today.

The next day I wanted to shoot these little trinkets right away! And the light was just perfect. I propped up my mini foldable wooden studio just outside the garage to give these guys some natural lighting.The usual lens I use is the prime lens for some dramatic DOP. But if I’d like to get some really nice details on it, specially for small items, I just switch back to my kit lens. It is better for decent close-ups.

Mr.Stuffies Found a Home

Okay well maybe lonely little bear is a bit depressing but there he was amongst all the other bear piles in the Stuffed Toy sale department. It was next to “bargain books” so it was likely for me to find the one I’d call Mr. Stuffies.

All the other bears we’re in nice clothes. Red bow ties, plaid suits, some in Christmas hats and some were sporting the usual Teddy bear out fit everyone would love. But there was this one Teddy, simply brown, with the usual black-rounded eyes. It did little to the phrase dress to impress. I picked it up cause it was different from the bunch. It reminded me of a rather classic teddy back in the 60’s were people are more “naturalists” when in comes to their trinkets. A stuffed-toy bear is as good as a real one that you’ll likely find in a park. It did not wear a jumpsuit nor was it holding a honey jar. It is what it is, and its simplicity was a draw to my old-school loving bones!

Sneaked a shot inside Artwork’s dressing room. I couldn’t resist! The lighting was good and Mr. Stuffies was right beside my camera. The idea just came to me and next thing I knew, right after fitting a few razor backs, my new bedtime buddy and I are looking at the mirror, fingers on the shutter button as I get a good shot.

You’ll never really know what bargains you might find. And their value is really up to you!