Frameworks Homefront

I was pretty busy last Saturday - my building, Park Terraces, had its first staff outing in Los Banos, Laguna. However, I still found time to drop by Frameworks Homefront to pick up the 3 small paintings I wanted framed.

A couple of weeks ago, I had finally decided that it was time to have my mini-paintings, which I placed on small easels, to be given proper frames. I researched which frame shop I would go to. Rotech, although it has been quite affordable with positive results, already closed their branch in Sta. Lucia. I didn't want to brave the crowd in Megamall to go to the Rotech branch there.

I chanced upon the advertisement of Frameworks on OLX, which directed me to their Facebook page. Their shop was quite near where I live - so I called them to set an appointment.

I left the paintings there and they asked me to come back after two weeks. Finally, after much anticipation, I have the frames in my office already!

The Birdhouse by Renee Avila seems like its floating. I had it framed similar to a painting I purchased in Gintong Sining in Glorietta. I had an inkling the result was going to be spectacular, since the green is so vibrant, the black frame made it pop even more.

ANG Ink's Merm was quite a challenge, being such a small painting. To make it seem quite original, I also placed it on a predominantly black background to make the color vibrant - but I angled the mermaid so that the canvas would turn into a diamond shape. The frame's inspiration is from my 2 Anjo Bolarda wood blocks which I had framed in a similar fashion.

Miguel Toni's blue blossom - I couldn't really decide how to frame, since most of the frames we tried on it looked washed out. We finally decided to use a silver wood frame to accentuate its black and blue motif without making the painting look drab.

I have two Blanco paintings which I will be bringing to Frameworks - the owners are quite hands-on. They were the ones helping me decide on the matting and frame, they were giving good suggestions for each painting.

Should you need the services of a frame shop, why not give Frameworks a try? Prices are very competitive, and they make the frames in their shop right behind their store.

FRAMEWORKS HOMEFRONT
#46 Kamuning Road, Quezon City
telephone number: 02.4264482 / 0917.826.4482

Art in the Park 2016

I visited Art in the Park 2016 with a mission in mind. Last April 3, 2016, Kim and I braved the drive from the suburbs of Quezon City and Antipolo to Makati, and looked for parking. Quite a challenge to find a good parking spot yet again, and we ended up parking in Paseo Center, which was a good block away from Salcedo Park. I was insistent on going to Art in the Park because I wanted to visit the booth of Ang INK and purchase more magnets for my reminders board in the office. I was able to purchase quirky magnets last year for PhP 70.00 each.

When we got there, I headed straight to Ang INK's booth, but they didn't have any magnets. What they had though was my Ateneo batchmate's, Jomike Tejido's, Sanctuaries coloring book. It features about 30 coloring plates based on his banig paintings.

His banig paintings by the way were sold out before lunch.

Jomike was also there so I asked him to sign the 2 coloring books that I purchased. Yay!

Kim and I went around - I'm quite relieved that they have multiple cashiers this year. Last year, we had a challenge waiting in line for the painting, canvas bag, and magnets that I purchased.

In support of Museum Foundation of the Philippines, I purchased a nice fan from their booth. Keeping it in the car in case I have to wait in a parked car with the windows down.

We also passed by the booths of Vinyl on Vinyl where I looked for paintings of Anjo Bolarda. I was never able to move on from being unable to purchase Anjo Bolarda's Harmony of Change from the Silent Auction in Greenbelt last 2014 - and all because my car broke down on me in EDSA. How hateful. Unfortunately, Vinyl on Vinyl had none of his paintings for the event.

Two stalls down was Cevio's Art Haus, and they had paintings of Keith Paras which were priced rather good. A small painting of his was around PhP 12,000.00++ with 5% discount of the list price. I was particularly interested in a larger piece which was at PhP 19,200.00 without the discount.

I have been wanting to own a Keith Paras painting and I would have purchased the larger piece, had Kim not stopped me. He wanted me to purchase a watch that I have been looking into buying for 3 months already.

He hurriedly dragged me out of the park, and practically pushed me to drive to Glorietta to go to Meridien to purchase the watch.

Merm by Benedict Reyna of Ang INK

Here's my proud purchase from yesterday's Art in the Park. This could be possibly the most affordable painting in the event yesterday. I visited my Ateneo high school batch mate, Jomike Tejido, in the Ang INK booth and that's where I met the artist, Benedict Reyna, and saw this cute painting of his:

The painting is acrylic on a 6" x 6" canvas. Very very cute! Now all I need is a mini easel, and I can prop it up next to my other small paintings!

Va Bene in BGC's Central Square Mall

Lunch last Friday with my favourite Serendra resident was in Va Bene. I had already eaten in the Va Bene branch located in Petron Dasmariñas Village before, and this branch opened just last year. I was also able to try their catering service for an event in Serendra last 2014 - Valentine's Day dinner. I was able to meet Chef Massimo and his wife Carolyn, and they were able to help me with the heart's day event in Serendra.

For starters, we ordered Arugula Salad with Chicken Milanese. The salad had a light balsamico dressing. I took a picture of it, but after reviewing it on the laptop, it was quite fuzzy.

We ordered two types of pasta. The first one, which was such a hit with me, was the Veal Cheeks Ravioli with portobello mushrooms, veal juice, and fresh parmesan cheese.

Our 2nd pasta was the Black Ink Tagliolini, which had mixed seafood, marinara, and light tomato cream sauce. We had it topped with fresh ground pepper and minced chilis to give it an extra bite.

Va Bene uses fresh pasta, which made all the difference. Their pasta was just superb. I remember they used to sell fresh made pasta in the branch in Petron Dasmariñas Village before.

We had such an appetite for lunch, because that morning we went to Shaw Boulevard, to Jelly Bellies, for a meeting regarding the party we're organising for April. The theme of the party is Strawberry Shortcake, which is so retro, but apparently has been revamped for 2014-2015.

Please feel free to visit Va Bene in Central Square Mall, and do try their delicious fresh pasta.

Va Bene Pasta Deli
Cinema Level, 3rd Floor
Bonifacio High Street Central Square Mall
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
tel. no. 0917.722.5780