CHANGE OF ADDRESS

After a great time here in my old home -

I am excited to invite you to my new virtual address!

Check out my new and improved blog.

Here's a photo of my old bridal house and flower shop at The Oasis Manila.

I was here for a good six years.

Welcome to my new virtual address!

toccataweddings.com

Come join me at my new and exciting blog.

It's time to move on to bigger and better things...

On that note, here is my new boutique, Bonne Bouche at swanky Greenbelt 5, Makati.

I love this new boutique - everything about it smells top end.

(Telephone 02 729 0486)

HOT SUMMER SHOES FOR EVERYDAY

My second daughter Christiana kept reminding me that

I owed her a prize for making it to outstanding student this trimester.

All she wanted was for me to take her to Regina's at Shoppesville.

She wanted more stickers for her fluffy sticker collection - summer's here!!!

This was my ultimate fave collage amongst her purchases today.

Meanwhile, I made a purchase of my own,

a pair of Zontary's 'Habana' sport platforms

How can four inch platforms be so easy to walk in and be sooo comfy?

Looks like girls of all ages have a collection to complete. Have a great weekend!

ESSENTIAL SUMMER PIECES: IT'S ALL ABOUT FEELING GOOD!

Summer is definitely here! You can tell as the heat is on.

The grass in our garden is fast drying up, and our

little Amanda is chasing butterflies, barefoot and restless...

It wasn't a planned shopping day (it never really is),

but summer is a time to shed all those heavier pieces- time to wear easy and breathable ones.

This kicked off my impromptu summer shopping:

At 10.00am I found this lovely summer tote at

Shoppesville, Greenhills (only P1000),

it is made from woven yarn.

I ended up giving it to Amanda's yaya who loved it!

At Podium, I finally got a Jason Mraz CD. (We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things)

I remember a summer at Pagudpud sipping Kapuluan Martinis, watching the sun set over the Ilocos Norte Mountains.

I keep playing Jason Mraz over and over.

I have a crush on the track 'Live High'.

And my kids keep repeating the track 'Butterfly' over and over - they've choreographed a dance for that track.

This album is definitely a feel good one.
The very next day, I bought two pairs of shades last week from the ever gracious ladies at George Optical, Shoppesville Greenhills.

I took so long to choose! It wasn't easy... So I did the 'high-low' thing - I bought a pair of

Ray Ban Wayferers, in faux turtoise shell.

And a pair of aviators by Sprinto. I can take a few of these Sprintos to the beach and wouldn't kick myself if I lost a pair.

Here is my lovely linen White Orchid Dress.

I shot it before shipping to Andrea Bell in Springfield, Massachusetts.

This piece made it to the maiden issue of Love Sewing Magazine. Woohoo!

MAD ABOUT THE BETTY DRAPER LOOK

Ever since my gal pal handed me a copy of Vanity Fair with the article of Mad Men in it -

I was hooked (yes I admit I am a late bloomer!)

I had my husband buy Season 1, 2 and 3 of Mad Men.

Okay, okay, at first I kept watching the show thanks to hottie and dapper Don Draper.

But the fashion was another thing I fell in love with. I love that everybody seemed to be dressed in 1962 - after all the show is about the New York advertising scene in the 1960's.

Here's Betty at a store window. Photo courtesy of AMC's official website.

Here is my version if Season 2's necklaces.

My version is made from keishi coin pearls in grey.

More of this fab piece in here.

Have you noticed Betty Draper's coin pearl earrings?

I have seen it quite often in Season 1 and 2.

Here's a dress I designed with Betty in mind.

It just sold last night at Bonne Bouche Greenbelt 5!

HOW TO MEASURE : AN EASY MEASUREMENT GUIDE

After years of accepting orders for customized pieces from clients overseas -one most popular question stands out: How do you take my measurements?I have decided to create an east how-to guide that is easy to follow. So ladies - here it is! Your east to follow measurement guide.

It's easier than you think!

You must follow this to the T though if you want to get great results.

CIARA SOTTO'S WEDDING GOWN

I am simply crushing on Ciara Sotto's exquisite corsette wedding gown

by the popular multi-tasking young designer - Mich Dulce.

There is nothing ordinary about this gown-what a fresh take!

I must say Ciara looked picture perfect on her big day.

Photos courtesy of Mango Red Photography

The handsome couple:

Ciara Sotto and longtime beau Joe Oconer wed January 17, 2010.

And here it Ciara's fab wedding gown designer - the multi talented Mich Dulce.

I lurve the fascinators Mich!

(Photo courtesy of Mich Dulce)

RICA PERALEJO'S WEDDING DRESS

Don't we just love beautifully intimate weddings?

Most especially when the bride is a lovely young celebrity?

Actress and much loved TV host Rica Peralejo marries

brilliant young pastor Joe Bonifacio in an intimate beach wedding, January 29, 2010.

Recently so many bride's inquiring for a customized wedding dress have brought up how

Rica Peralejo's wedding dress was so unique.

It was created by popular wedding gown designer

my good pal Rajo Laurel - and he calls this his spider cobweb dress.

I think Rica got away with this incredibly modern style.

She's so pretty that she could pull off absolutely anything!

Photos courtesy of Lito Sy.