I admired her fashion so much that I wanted my wedding gown done by her, but due to budget considerations, I didn’t even ask, hayyy.

That was more than 9 years ago and at the Manila F.A.M.E, who should I chance upon unexpectedly???

It was exciting to see the artist skillfully do the folds herself. Seeing her gather the abacca ends into loops, without any apparent direction or pattern but merely falling into the rhythm of the fabric is just simply inspiring. I realized, just how much of her style has also inspired me in mine for my flowers.

The long awaited meeting was just an exchange of a few words, but I was starstruck.  Imagine, finally meeting somebody you admire not only for their work, but also their ideals?

Here are just some of her works for those few people who are yet unfamiliar with this lady’s artistry.

The one on the left is the wrap Dita recreated on the runway. The one on the left is Php4000+, so it can be a bit of investment. But since you can wear it in so many ways, its like having more than one outfit, doesn't it?

These shawls are made from abacca fiber and can be handwashed, not really scrubbed and it will last for years.

Since these are made from natural fibers, it will turn moldy when stored in plastic. It's best that these fine pieces be stored unwrapped and hung in a well ventilated place (inside the closet will do). One should be careful that it is hugh with the folds running they way it should, otherwise it will lose it's form entirely.

Being a bag lady, I couldn't resist her bags and clutches. This one runs for about P900+.

On real people (albeit, not the average person) here is how these elegant wraps can be worn.

One of her assitants told me, her work is really categorized as Modern Filipiniana. With this piece, I can really see why. Now that's a modern terno young Filipinas can carry.

This wrap shows how it can be very versatile and the wearer is just limited to her imagination.

This wrap skirt was displayed as a wrap in the exhibit.

If you would like to see more of her work in person, she will have her High on Silver 25th year Fashion Gala.  This will be on May 30, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the A-Venue Antel Lifestyle Center, Makati.  It will celebrate her eco fashion, sustainable living as well as her Ilocano Heritage, which would make it even more interesting, considering that she kicked off her career featuring abel iloco in her debut collection.

They say her collection is Modern Filipiniana, but for me its more about being a Fearlessly Modern Filipina.  I guess its either you have it in you or these will bring it out, which one will it be for you I wonder?

—————————-

Dita Sandico Ong
35 Wilson St., Greenhills, San Juan
www.ditasandicoong.com.ph

Be happy.  Be Healthy.  Be Whole.

Make the Quaint things count,

Theresa

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That was a first since I usually end my work for the year either on a 21 or 23, last year was an exception (lucky I know!)… and I was excited, why???

It was the first REAL GREEN WEDDING for 2010 for me! (maybe for the whole Manila even!) as in Eco-friendly, environmental, earth-friendly wedding and the couple wanted it that way!

A bit of jade for good luck...

So you can just imagine my excitement to make their wishes come true for their special day!

So how did we do it?

We used…

ORGANIC FLOWERS (see Green Wedding Idea#3)

A bit of queen anne's lace to soften and add some green to Anne's bouquet, which incidentally, also means sanctuary... isn't appropriate for a earth-friendly theme.

Of course, there’s nothing better than organically grown flowers for a GREEN themed wedding!  The couple’s colors were white and green, so it was quite easy to get flowers in their motif.

Green Wedding Idea#8

ECO GLASS VASES

Could you have guessed that this vase came from pieces of broken glass?

For the container for my bride’s bouquet, we use glass vases from recycled broken bottles and glass materials.  I have been using this supplier for years, almost from the very beginning because of the right mix of quality and price.  And I was just pleasantly surprised to find out they were into the Eco movement before it became the fashion!  Talk about ingenuity!  Leave it to Pinoys to come up with Eco-Pinoy fabulous products that are not only functional, chic and environmentally friendly!

(I should show you the containers I make to transport my bouquets next time…)

Green Wedding Idea #8

LOCAL FLOWERS

A touch of green for Benjamin and of course some more luck...

In true green fashion, the couple requested all flowers be locally sourced to reduce the carbon footprint for their wedding, and of course I was just as glad to oblige.

The lovely maid-of-honor, Irene, with her clutch of beautiful local flowers.

It has been some time that I have had this romantic notion that maybe someday, Filipinos would embrace local flowers just as readily and as enthusiastically as they have embraced delicate Lilies of the valleys and tulips that have travelled thousands of miles to grace their beautiful weddings.

Maybe that time may soon be here.

and of course the cute flower girl delicately carrying her prized bear... after some gentle coaching from me to handle the little teddy carefully : )

Green Wedding Idea #9

REAL PLANTS

Mixing live and cut flowers and foliage is a win-win to get a lush feel while staying true to being earth-friendly and keeping costs friendlier.

Yes we used real plants for the church!  As a win-win, we filled up the arrangements with cut flowers and foliage.  While the real plants were later donated to the church to green their surroundings even more, now that’s recycling!

Green Wedding Idea#10

MINIMAL FLORAL FOAMS

We used perennials like Aglaonemas "Marian" (the ones with white centers) and Spathiphyllums that totalled to more than 100 plants!

By using real plants, we not only helped green the church but we also kept the use of non-biodegradable floral foam to a minimum.  We effectively brought it down from 2 1/2 to 1 brick for this type of arrangement!

For Anne and Benjamin, my best wishes for your union full of promise and hope, for a future that is blessed as it was on that day, as it was in the beginning, so it will be ’til the end, 01.02.2010.

Now that’s starting the New Year right!

(That’s just for the entourage and the church… I hope to get more pictures from the couple of the reception to share with you.)

Be happy.  Be Healthy.  Be Whole.

Make the Quaint things count,

Theresa

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Check the following for:

Green Wedding Ideas #1-2
Green Wedding Ideas#3-4
Green Wedding Ideas #5-7

Just one word... YUMMY!

I am so happy that one of our dedicated GREEN flower growers are really taking the initiative to greater heights and are planting more colors and flower varieties to, (hopefully in time) serve all our wedding needs and beyond.

Here's the bridal bouquet in shades of coral with a nice touch of local magenta rice flowers to bring some accent to the whole arrangement.

So when one of my nicest brides Bianca (I seem to have a lot of those, I’m just so lucky) came to me with the sweet recommendation of my cousin-in-law Stella (also just the sweetest) with a CORAL color theme, I knew I can give her the best flowers literally and figuratively.

Green Wedding Idea #5:

HANDTIED BOUQUETS

Consider hand-tied bouquets rather than those bouquet arrangements requiring plastic bouquet holders to execute.  It is just as beautiful, more contemporary and you are so much kinder to the earth.

Of course here's a little something you can keep of your lovely bouquet, wouldn't be the same without it. Don't you think?

It may also be a handtied bouquet, but colors, size, flowers, accents, fillers and leaves will change the whole look and feel of every bouquet.

Here is the bouquet for the Maid-of-Honor, with friendly gerberas and twists of green lace to add that little playfulness in the design.

Green Wedding Idea #6 :

USE REUSABLES

My brides also like the idea of using these lovely teddy bears for their little flower girls.  Yes, the bears are not biodegradable but it definitely will not be thrown out in the trash!  Sometimes, being earth-friendly means that while you try to used biodegradable as much as possible, you also use materials that will have a life even after the wedding.

How about this little teddy? Nothing like a teddy to give a little more cuteness for the lovely flower girls... and keep them busy at the same time.

Green Wedding Idea #7

Hairbands vs Headdresses

When you think of flower girls, the first thing that comes to mind are humongous headdresses.  Personally,  I don’t like them too much (gasp).  At the risk of thinking the unthinkable, is it really that cute?  like make-up on the little darlings?  I like them as simple, innocent and lovely as they are.

So just a simple sided flower headdress would do more for them than having them wrestle flowers bigger than their tiny heads!  Imagine 2 or 3 year olds with just wisps of baby hair holding on to those flowers, believe me you’d rather not.

In that line of thinking, why not use a hairband instead?

Think how easy it is for your flower girls to put this on and be just as cute.

Three reasons why I like it:

1. It stays put, no matter how old or how young they are.
2. It’s easier for the moms to put it on the little darlings.
3. You can use it again! Just remove the flowers when its wilted of course.

Thank you Bianca for being so nice, I’m still waiting for copies of your pictures : )  My best wishes to you and your husband.

Be happy.  Be Healthy.  Be Whole
Make the Quaint things count,

Theresa

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Email me at myquaintlife@yahoo.com

This is actually a variation of the wedding flowers that I made for Pam and Dexter. But this time, I used hematite stars to match with the wedding theme.

Their colors are silver, white and blue. So rather than obsessing on getting blue flowers especially right after Ondoy. By using star clusters with blue lace and feathers to mimic galactic formations that were scattered startegically around the bouquet, we were able to pull it off.

The groom’s boutonniere was not spared from the “heavenly” treatment as well. With stars across his boutonniere, he is forever tied to the stars that brought him to his wife in this match made in heaven.

Shooting stars to wish upon ...

To add some playfulness and a play on the theme as well. The shooting star wand is not only supposed to be pretty but its represents the wish granted for their love’s ultimate wish on a falling star.

on a wand to make it come true.

So in case you find yourself “wishing” for your wedding that inspires you. Look up to the heavens and you might find the stars smile down on your favor and grant you a match truly made in Heaven.

Bridesmaids carry stars as well.

I actually did not meet the bride nor the groom for this project, I just discussed the details with the sister of the groom, who was also their coordinator. It was not until I delivered the flowers that I met the bride. I was so happy that she loved the flowers, and her comment “oohhh… I don’t want to cry yet” reminds me why I do the work I do.