2016: The Heartbreak Kid

Photo by @annstreetstudio

The New Year easily is a minefield of emotions for me.

I find myself sitting at our dining table at 1AM trying to figure out how to calm the many thoughts circling above my head --- like the seats of the flying fiesta ride spinning fast with screams coming from every rotation. Being left to my own thoughts is a personal assault.

Where do I travel to next? What film should I watch? Which freelance work should I do first? Why am I writing this blog entry after so many years? Do I have enough money to go to my next beach trip? I should lose weight! Seriously need to lose weight. Should I have gone to Amsterdam? Could I have been less honest? Should I drink coffee at this hour? Why am I still thinking about that Isabel Marant dress I cannot afford?

So many questions, no concrete answers.

I remember same time last year, I was deleting a shitload of emails, unsubscribing to many newsletters, and just working so hard to physically create a semblance of moving on - moving on from what I no longer need.

If what they say is true that what you are doing at the start of the year continues throughout, then  I am reluctant to report that the multitude of events that took place in 2016 strengthened my skills in moving on - a lot of friends from the office have left, best friends have moved to other countries, there is now a larger belly in place of my previously smaller belly, and most surprisingly just a few days before the new year, a boy made an impact in my life and then left feelings of great possibilities hanging dry.

This brings me to 2016's biggest lesson of all - everything is fleeting.
You're lucky if you're able to recognize and acknowledge things while they're there.

So, 2017, I just want you to know, I will be more present in life just so I catch all the magic bits and pieces that you'll bless me with. Probably why I'm writing this now.

Haven't said this before, but this will be the year I find myself --- the best of whoever I think I am.


That was odd.
Bye.

SFM


Listening to: The Fire by Kina Grannis

Will we burn
From the fire will we learn
To be mindful and keep away from the words that ignite the flame

Being Your Own Boss Problems

I wrote this early this year and found this again today. There have been a lot of changes in my life and the most recent one relates to this. I could not have reread this in a better time. Thanks, me!

When being your own Boss means being your own employee too: a letter to myself.

Dear Coy, 

I have been trying to write about this days ago at the time when I was (we were?) dreading to commute to Makati with 45 pieces of planners to restock in bookstores. I couldn’t find the time because 1) we were so busy with the shipments that happen everyday, and 2) we have a day job that we love and decided to keep.

Facts:

1)    20 hard bound pieces of planners are already heavy…

2)    We live in Fairview

3)    We don’t have a driver, much more a car and

4)    I am my own boss but I am my own employee (You are my Boss, and you are my employee? Haha. Hope this does not develop a second personality. We can't afford therapy!)

When our dear friends-turned-business-partners and we decided to get serious about our start up business, I would like to think that I absolutely knew what I was diving in to: that having our own business would entail work on top of our current one and that it will not be easy. Looking back now, I think I knew and in fact I was scared.

Anyhoo, I commuted to Makati with whatever number of stocks I could physically carry. I got through the day unscathed and realized that the determination we had when we were much younger is still here. Huzzah!

And so I end this short note that serves you two purposes: 1) is to remind you that some things are really not easy but it probably is worth working hard for anyway, and 2) being your own boss (when you’re still a small company) means you are your own secretary, assistant, delivery guy, PR person, sales analyst, web designer, community manager, production line employee, and janitor all at the same time.

Happy Tuesday! 

KEEP ON GOING!

You'll most probably make it! :) 

P.S. I'll probably read this later and realize that my trail of thought is wack and this definitely lacks structure and flow. Why am I thinking/writing in fragments?

A Study of Kois

I've been thinking about tattoos lately.
This afternoon, I decided to design one for myself should I have the guts to get one. Haha.

This on my nape.

Maybe. When I'm ready.

I wanted to make an artwork out of the line drawing of the kois but I can't quite finish it:

Midnight Swim

It's been ages since I posted an artwork of mine here. So, here you go.

This is inspired by the song Midnight Swim of Incubus. What do you think?

SLATE 2013 PLANNER CALL for CONTRIBUTIONS ★

The Slate 2012 Planner featured several works of art from people all over. To be the channel that shared excellent word to the world was such an exhilarating honor!
The Slate Team was so impressed by the entries, so for our Slate 2013 Planner, I would personally like to invite you to be part of this continuous sharing of creative passions.
If you're interested to have your works featured, whether they are literary or visual, send the over! There's no limit. If you're 5, reading this and have a sketchbook full of quality works, please send them over, and we'd love to share them with everyone!
CLICK HERE for details information on how to contribute and get featured! :)
All the best and thanks!

SFM

News and Current Affairs

It's sad that I rarely get to update this site. 

And the flat title of this entry is hinting that there is little inspiration around me. Haha. I use to frown upon on people who claim they are uninspired and therefore cannot function well. This is a tough pill to swallow. I am being frowned upon by myself!

After Google+ came and in confusion deleted the whole shitload of photos I have in this blog, I admit that I have lost the drive to write as much here. I'm finding myself wishing that I'll find time and try write more. I saw a print out inserted in my planner and it says, "Just do it anyway" and that is what I'm doing now.

Anyhoo, on a happier note, I am just over the moon to announce that Slate is doing pretty well. We are now available in select Bratpack stores and who knows in the near future, we might be coming out with other products other than planners. Well, that was the goal so I'm hoping it all pushes through. I am stoked for growth but I honestly feel a bit pressured. Growing Slate means I have to put in more time and effort and give everything else in me that's left after work. Madness.

Our trip to HCM/Cambodia could not have come in the best time. I need a break so bad.
Sana this trip is the inspiration that I have been looking for. Please. Be. It.

All the best,

SFM

♫ Listening to Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi.

MAKE YOURSELF

If I hadn't made me, I would've been made somehow.
If I hadn't assembled myself, I would've fallen apart by now.
If I hadn't made me, I'd be more inclined to bow
Powers that be would have swallowed me up but that's more than I can allow.

If you let them take you, they'll make you paper-mache
At a distance you're strong, until the winds comes
Then you'll crumble and blow away.

You should make amends with you, if only for better health
But if you really want to live, why not try, and make yourself?

I hear you, Brandon Boyd. I hear you.

It’s just hard for to make a decision right now.
Let me breathe for a second here.

SLATE 2012 ★

To say that a lot has happened in the past months is an understatement.

But lets not get into that now.

I've great news!

The Slate 2012 Planner will be out in a few weeks and it will also be available in selected Fully Booked stores!

I am so happy. We all are.


We started working on this earlier than we did last year and we're back stronger and better than ever with the best publisher! It's no secret that the biggest problem we had last year was with the printer. The name of that printing house is not even worth mentioning. It's ridiculous. It did give us a mightier back bone in dealing with people so for that, thanks. Haha. Anyhoo, here's your first look at Slate 2012:

Sign up for news & updates for the Slate 2012 planner will you please? Click here. :)

LIVE CREATIVELY!

SFM

 

♬ Listening to: The Good Natured

What you see us what you get.
Now you can see my skeleton!

Support my Sub at Threadless!

First of all, YEAH I NOTICED THAT ALL OF MY OTHER PHOTOS ARE GONE. I wish I can just go cry in the corner and wish all the photos re-appear but that will never happen according to this link: Blogspot Users Lost All Their Photos. Seriously pissed at Google+!

Anyhoo, please score my Threadless design sub and help it get printed! There will be 10 winners for this contest and I am praying that I be one of the 10. I seriously need the prize money to pay for the productions of the Slate Planners for 2012! So, you're not just scoring my sub, you're being very supportive of my business too! Haha :)

Score this design: "Le coeur de Manille!," to help it get printed on Threadless!

"


Salamat!

All the best,
SFM

No Rest & Peace for the Wicked!

Just got back from a trip to Singapore. It was fun, tiring and expensive. My friends and I ate, rode all the rides we could and walked some mighty miles and then got lost many times.


Today, I'm back at the office, working...and you know what they say, "The people who need a vacation the most are the people who just came from one". Goodness! I really feel like those 5 days went so fast. I wish I had a half a year's worth of sabbatical! 




SFM




♬ Listening to Caged Elephants' No Rest For the Wicked (HOW VERY APT!)
There ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed
There ain't nothin' in this world for free


I know I can't slow down, I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
Oh no, there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good~

Light Force~

“Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes.”
-Yoda

Random Break~

Hey all!

I made a Tumblr account for all my recent illustrations! I didn't realize I have so few done this year!
I should finish one more before June comes! I should, I should!

Also, I've updated the Planet Slate blog! Look how alive it is now:

I'm gonna work on the layout some more when I find time.


All the best!
SFM


♬ Listening to Coldplay's Death and All His Friends
No I don't want to battle from beginning to end~

Oh, Mom ♕

My Mom absolutely finds Mother's Day cheesy and refuses to celebrate it! Hahaha. Before this cheesy celebration ends, I just want to put it out there that I love her and that I admire her so much for being the mother that she is to us! (Isn't my Mom so beautiful?)
Anyhoo, let me end this very short post with a line from one of the many bands she doesn't know about:

You don't know how cool you are to find ways to love me without shame~ (Down Towards the Healing, Lovedrug)



Happy Mother's Day!
SFM

P.S.> Dad, you totally picked a winner! *pat on the back*

On Coming Together & Everyday Wins~

Some -if not most- of our mornings are consumed by thinking of ways on how to go about the coming day that is already full even before we went to bed the night before.

A Nebular Escape

'Nebular', An illustration~

 The feeling of sand in between your toes

The sun’s rays touching your toasty skin
The cool breeze that goes through your hair
Take me to the beach, take me!~

TypoGraphic!

The past weekend, I tried to update my portfolio and realized, it is basically non-existent.
I mean, the last few works that I have there are from 2008 (from when I was in art school)!
And so, that weekend, I tried to make something relatively worthy to put in my portfolio. I came up with this:

"Good bye! I Will Swiss Miss!"

I suck at goodbyes. I really do. Especially ones when you know it’s bye bye time and you have to face it. I blurt out stupid phrases like, When you get back, cervezas on me.

Who says that?
An idiot.
Me!

Phrases like it ruin the memory of when you last saw this person. Like today for example…

Read, Dream, Soar~

A month ago, I stumbled upon Isaac Salazar’s book art on flickr and got inspired to do this.
I used one of my most favorite nebula (after The Eagle Nebula), The Orion Nebula as background. Here are the close ups:

For the Kid In You: A P35 Black Book!

via Planet Slate!

coloring book, n.
- a picture book with line drawings intended to be colored with crayons by children
- a type of book containing line art for a reader to add color using crayons, colored pencils, marker pens, paint or other artistic media

When I was a kid (which I still am btw), I loved coloring books! The smell of crayons got me excited every time. Even when I was already in college, I still loved pulling out a book and have a coloringfest! I just cannot resist coloring in (and out of) the lines and go through the whole book page by page. So y’all would understand why I just had to buy these:

You Are Wanted!

Hello Kids!