Author Archives: Gizelle Faye Creative Studio

Hi, my name is Gizelle Faye. I am an artist, florist, stylist, calligrapher, letterer, mum, and wife to Harry. I am a bohemian risk-taker who fell in love with an old soul. Three months before our wedding in 2012, I went cuckoo and left my corporate job to pursue my dreams and founded Cuckoo Cloud Concepts. For about a decade, I was the creative director of Cuckoo Cloud Concepts, dreaming up unforgettable and picture-perfect moments from a tropical island called Cebu. I specialized and honed my skills in photo shoot styling, product styling, floristry, calligraphy, and lettering. During the pandemic, I rediscovered my love for painting amidst the dark times. The universe proved a lot more cuckoo than me and sent me and my family on a journey that will find us in Camden, New South Wales. But I vow to always bloom where I am planted. Today, in this new city, I host art workshops and offer social media content styling and creation, and other creative services for small businesses. Here, you will find an archive of my paintings and other works of art inspired by nature, scenes, architecture, and BTS, as well as art events I run in different venues in Sydney.

GIVEAWAY: Shop Yapi & Vanilla Ice Cream Gives Back!

it’s really been a while since i’ve hosted a giveaway here so as a comeback, i’m giving away awesome items (yes! it’s prural) for my blog readers and Facebook followers, locally and internationally. this is also a way to give my gratitude to my 900+ Facebook followers. i started that page to get to know equally awesome people outside my personal circle and i never expected to have such a following there. so for everyone, here’s my way of saying THANK YOU!

general giveaway mechanics:

as this is a giveaway to thank followers,

you must be a follower of Vanilla Ice Cream on facebook and/or the blog. ♥

giveaway runs from June 13 – July 4, 2011

FOR MY LOCAL READERS:

Facebook Giveaway:

A GIGI Pleated Floral Dress with matching INEZ Turquoise and Wood Necklace

how to join:

♥ must be a Vanilla Ice Cream follower on Facebook.

♥ post a statement on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream. something like:

“i want to win a Shop Yapi dress and necklace at @Vanilla Ice Cream”

(make sure i can see your entries on the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page)

For Blog Followers via Google Connect or Bloglovin’:

a YEDDA Green Handbag and a 20% Discount Card for Shopyapi.com.

how to join:

♥ must be a follower of the blog via google connect or bloglovin’

♥ leave a comment indicating: your name, e-mail address and blog site where i can contact you and how you followed Vanilla Ice Cream. here’s a sample comment:

name: gizelle faye

e-mail address: gizellefaye(at)yahoo.com / http://www.gizellefaye.blogspot.com

i follow the blog through Google Connect

extra entries: tweeted about the giveaway [link] and posted the giveaway on my FB wall [link]

extra entries — make sure to give me the link of your entry:

♥ follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway

“i want to win a #ShopYapi YEDDA bag by @gizellefaye”

♥ like the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page and post the giveaway on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream

“i want to win a #ShopYapi YEDDA bag at @Vanilla Ice Cream”

INTERNATIONAL READERS: A Paige Triangle Swimsuit

how to join:

♥ must be a follower of the blog via google connect or bloglovin’

♥ leave a comment indicating: your name, e-mail address and blog site where i can contact you and how you followed Vanilla Ice Cream. here’s a sample comment:

name: gizelle faye

e-mail address: gizellefaye(at)yahoo.com / http://www.gizellefaye.blogspot.com

i follow the blog through Google Connect

extra entries: tweeted about the giveaway [link] and posted the giveaway on my FB wall [link]

extra entries — make sure to give me the link of your entry:

♥ follow me on twitter and tweet about the giveaway

“i want to win a #ShopYapi PAIGE swimsuit by @gizellefaye”

♥ like the Vanilla Ice Cream Facebook page and post the giveaway on your wall tagging @Vanilla Ice Cream

“i want to win a #ShopYapi PAIGE swimsuit at @Vanilla Ice Cream”

oozing with 90’s goodness

i’ve had this blazer for a while but never had the chance to photograph it til’ now. i love that it’s linen so it’s not too warm and that it oozes with 90’s goodness because it’s over-sized, shoulder-padded and has these awesome bronze buttons. just perfectly reminiscent of the original 90210 and Saved by the Bell, huh? would you believe i got this blazer for only PHP 50? That’s $1 for you. i planned to write another thrifting entry following the art of thrifting post i did last year that illustrated when i started thrifting and my experiences that came along with it. i wanted to write about good spot for thrifting or ukay-ukay here in Cebu but decided against it. after all, even if everyone does it nowadays, there are still those secret spots we’d like to call our own. if you do want to really know, hit me up with an e-mail and i might just tell you. ♥ ♥ ♥

speaking of the 90’s, don’t you miss the original X-MEN and ninja turtles series with the deliciously sketched characters? i don’t know about you but nothing beats the good ol’ cartoons. the digital version of X-MEN right now just doesn’t do it for me — just lacked details and color depth. just saying. LOL.

and ooh, i’m brewing up a giveaway for all of you, especially my 900+ Facebook followers. thank you is not enough to tell you how grateful i am for continuing to follow my blah blahs. wait for it. i might post the giveaway on Sunday! ♥

navy blue linen blazer – thrifted

leopard-printed chiffon dress – bangkok find

brown studded wedge booties – shopyapi.com

studded bucket bag – bangkok find

rings: turtle connector – shopyapi.com | armor ring & skull ring – carbon finds

necklaces: elephant tusk – bangkok find | angel wing – DIY

courage + acceptance

although summer was supposed to be the time for taking breaks, i hardly had the chance to because of the back pains from my spinal disc bulges + work + nonsense questions to myself + i don’t know. so last saturday, the boyfriend and i took a much need break from everything and just disconnected ourselves from the world. i think it’s definitely healthy to have those much-deserved alone time with each other and just have fun without worrying about anything else.

now, you all know i’ve been feeling utterly disappointed at myself because i don’t know exactly i want to do with my life and have been all over the place. i’ve realized though that it’s just the fear talking and that i can take on anything i set myself to. everything happens for a reason and we just need to be courageous enough to accept it. of course, i need to make sure that i set my priorities straight.

i’ve hated waking up for a routine everyday, whether it be school or work. even as a child, there wasn’t a morning where i didn’t drag myself out of my bed. i wanted to be in control of my time and didn’t want to have to follow a certain schedule that constrained me. although i was scared as hell, i finally decided to take control of my time. i’ve decided to dedicate my full time on our wholesale business and have writing jobs on the side and that i’ll now only be working part time for the advertising agency that i’ve been working for. so far, i’m on my 2nd week of this arrangement but i am loving every minute of it. i decide what time i attend work as long as it’s 4-5 hours and i get to spend most of my day, in my room and writing or sorting out clothes, shoes and bags for my store and our wholesale business.

they say i might get bored with this arrangement. i fully understand that and recognize that someday, i might decide to find work that’s structured or even decide to be a stay at home mom. it took me a great deal of courage to admit this but life is unpredictable. i am unpredictable and i don’t know what’s going to happen to my life or how to get to what i want in life. but to hell with it, for now i’m gonna do what i enjoy and do what i want..RIGHT NOW!

printed mini-dress used as top – thrifted

white pleated skirt – thrifted

teal belt – robinson’s dept store, dumaguete

nude suede wedges – gold dot

bangles: purple wood – bangkok find | orange polka resin – gifted |

red coral – boracay find | pewter bangles – carbon finds

rings – bangkok finds

style blog journey: why i still do it

why do i blog? why did a start blogging? why am i still doing this after 19 months?

why i started my own style blog. i was enthralled by Karla de Rass of Karla’s Closet and Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast that i checked their blogs every day. i soon found other amazing bloggers like Tieka of Selective Potential, Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky, Alice of Alice Point and Alice Xue of AliceX in Wonderland that my bookmark list was filled to the brim. i’d count the hours at work so i can go home and sit once again in front of another computer and blog hop. it was my escape. it felt really surreal to me checking ladies with real personal fashion, taking themselves out their and making a statement with the way they dress. soon after, i found local bloggers, Denise of Denise Katipunera and Dane of Trust Me It’s Paradise and i ultimately made the decision to start my own. i thought, if i spend 30 minutes to an hour a day just deciding on and composing my outfit, might as well document it right?

how i started. it would be hypocritical of me to say that i didn’t dream of getting recognized and getting my name out there when i first started. most of us belonged to the MTV generation and ultimately grew up with reality TV that it’s hard to deny that we want to become famous and rich one day. be honest, didn’t you dream of the same thing as a kid? i was adamant about getting more hits to my site that i spent hours visiting other blogs, even ones i couldn’t relate to and signed up for other social networking sites like weardrobe, chictopia, bloglovin, etc. to get more exposure. blogging soon became a chore. although i thoroughly enjoy posting my outfits but i became pressured at making a good post that people can relate to. ranking numbers started to frustrate me. blogging became something i had to do and not something i do when i wanted to.

what i realized along the way. i took a step back and reminded myself why i started blogging in the first place — because i love fashion. because i am an advocate of personal style over trends. my blog is simple and has little fuss. what i gained along the way is something i never thought i’d have more of if i didn’t start blogging: amazing new friends and a readership following of real people.

people ask me if i want to become a model because i style blog. no. not at all. i have given up that aspiration 15 years ago when i didn’t go past my 5’2″ height contrary to my parents’ belief (because my sister is 5’7″). i do aspire to be a fashion stylist though but i know that’s something i have to work towards to and not through blogging.

so you see, fashion blogging is not about the fame and fortune nor is it about getting free stuff or invites to exclusive events or parties. if they do come, then i consider it a blessing. it’s not even about buying the most expensive piece of clothing because it’s what is on trend. it’s about being real and expressing our passion for fashion through our personal style.

ruched cotton top – thrifted

grey crocheted cardigan – mom’s closet (thrifted)

black leggings – random

grey flats with embellishments – bangkok find

cutout pewter cuff – shopyapi.com

skull ring | layered necklace – carbon finds

boater hat – bangkok find

till we meet again

i can’t believe it. summer has ended. as cliche as this may sound but time does fly so fast. a trip to our province, a few long road trips, a couple of visits to the beach, 3 doctor visits, 1 MRI and dozens of lazy mornings later, it is June. till we meet again, Summer.

on another note, i spent my weekend catching up on my favorite blogs and going through my link list when i was utterly heartbroken to find two of my favorite bloggers deciding to discontinue or delete their blogs. Kate of Postcards From…, and Eunice of Hey Fancy Pants — you will be terrible missed. i started this blog nearly the same time you guys did. you were one of the few ones out there who blogged to simply share what you were passionate about — your personal style and whom i found were real and genuine people. seeing how your style flourished with every post and reading about your life helped make the world a lot smaller for me.

chambray top – shopyapi.com

sheer printed maxi skirt – thrifted

braided double belt – shopyapi.com

tassel earrings – DIY

silver cuffs with pink stones – props

gecko ring – pink pussy, bangkok

bow ring – carbon find

swallows my flying sorrows

just when i thought i had everything figured out, i wake up one morning with utter panic and pangs of confusion as i realize that i am completely lost. they say 27 is the age of confusion. i didn’t realize it could be true or this hard. as of now, there’s a 70% possibility of doing a complete 360 on my career. all my life i’ve always aimed at being streamlined, knowing what exactly i am doing and being able to strategically plan out my next steps. i grew up being the daughter that worked hard in making her parents proud but i’m afraid i’ve become a slight disappointment. as of now, i have this strong urge to just throw caution to the wind. spend my life savings. travel. bum at the beach. be careless. study fashion design. eat out. do nothing.

tomorrow this can change but life’s been unpredictable and so are my feelings. i’ve been an hour late for work everyday for the past 3 weeks but i woke up early today and came in on time. so we’ll see.

swallow-printed maxi skirt – thrifted

white tank top – random

black long cardigan – thrifted (& overused..haha!)

gold metallic ballet flats – bangkok find

oversized dream catcher necklace – gifted from Sweet

black grommeted belt – bangkok find

faux gold bangle – props

Between The High Eighties and The Low Nineties FM

“And her voice is pure and soft,
Oh, when she stumbles on her words.
And every boy in town is pretty certain he deserves to marry her.
Someday soon.

And that’s not all; that Elouise,
she just got a Jazz Master guitar.
And her band got a blurb in the Stranger and they’ve just been submitted for a tour.

And her tone is deep as night,
when she plays her minor chords.
And the rhythm section’s tight,
but they’re always ignored.
Always ignored.”

— Say Hi, “Elouise”

Photos taken last weekend on our second family beach trip to Tabuelan, Cebu. Milking summer for sunny skies and clearer waters.

printed cotton dress – Bangkok find

knitted shawl – thrifted

wide-brimmed floppy hat – shopyapi.com

color clash | texture tango

summer will end in a mere 2 weeks and i’ve only been to the beach once. such a waste of summer, don’t you think? with summer coming to an end and with new trends on their way to knock on our style-hungry hearts, i had to try the biggest trend this season — color blocking. you didn’t think my feeble attempt at it last month was it, did you?

so i pulled out the brightest skirt i have — this bright blueish / periwinkle electropleated skirt that i thrifted months ago and looked for another bright colored item to pair with it. deep in the knitted and crocheted section of my closet, i found this green kimono type blouse that i was thankful i didn’t give away. voila! color blocking.

anyway, physical therapy to correct my spinal disc bulges are going well. i was skeptical at first because the first two sessions caused me terrible headaches but as i progressed (i’m on my 6th session), the pain eased bit by bit and i stopped taking my depression-inducing neuropathic meds. my life is almost back to normal. by next week, i wish to take Zumba classes again. for now, i’ll just concentrate on not only with the therapy sessions but waking up early enough not to be late for work. *wink*

ps. thank you for the well wishes you guys sent on my last post. your sweet comments definitely helped me through this ordeal.

crocheted kimono blouse – thrifted

white tank top (used underneath) – random

blueish / periwinkle electropleated skirt – thrifted

gold metallic ballet flats – bangkok find

LOVE ring – giveaway win from lee

star ring – props

necklaces: angel wing – sm dept store | elephant tusk – bangkok find

white oversized bag – mongkok, hk find

my little clone and i at the beach

…and no she is not my daughter. LOL. she’s my niece, my little curly-haired fashion doll — Audrey. i taught her the cross pose but no, i didn’t teach her the ‘don’t-look-at-the-camera’ pose. isn’t she just a cutie? welp, she’s a cutie as much as she’s a bratty. *peace*

so my family, a handful of relatives and i visited our favorite beach house last weekend as a post-celebration of my dad’s birthday and as a mom’s day celebration too. i will never stop saying this — i will never grow tired of going back to this place. our annual trip to this beach house is one that i look forward to every year. not only is it a chance to bum at the beach at our own privacy but it’s always filled with craziness and laughter. this year, our relatives from Dipolog came to visit and the trip was filled with oldies boogieing to oldies music. such a treat!

neon printed monokini – shopyapi.com

chambray top – shopyapi.com

beige wide-rimmed floppy hat – shopyapi.com

yellow flip-flops – roxy

yellow scarf used as turban – thrifted

tie-dyed in the middle of nowhere

what do you do if you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere after the car you’re driving overheats and conks out? for starters, get the guys to search for nearby houses and ask for water. second, take a deep breath and appreciate the scenery. third, take photos. oh yeah, i forgot, i called my dad too. LOL. he’s in that car doing a u-turn while i posed for photo.

on my first long drive, around 3 hours to the north of Cebu, my car overheats. typical. this happened on the way home. we left the beach house at 3:30 PM and could have been back in the city by 6:00 to 7:00 PM. instead, we got home around 8:30 PM, very hungry and grumpy. well, i’ll just charge this to experience. next time, check water on the way to the destination AND upon going home. *duh*

pink tie-dyed ethnic printed top – thrifted

denim shorts – props

yellow flip-flops – roxy

wide-brimmed floppy hat – shopyapi.com

yellow printed scarf – thrifted

wooden bangles – carbon finds + gifts from WAGW

mondays all throughout the week

poor Monday. everybody hates it. it’s not as if Monday did anything to us. it’s just coincidentally situated after a weekend and is just a strong reminder that we have to go back to work or school. i don’t know when i’ve ever been excited for a Monday. maybe in college when i couldn’t wait to see my crush.

lately though, i’ve been having Mondays all throughout the week. as i look back on my previous posts, this laziness and almost-lethargic state that i’m in started on Christmas break. not only have i been sick with my herniated disc acting up, i’ve been unmotivated to get off my bed. it definitely is not helpful for my suffering salary and work. i’ve been finding myself utterly confused about what to do with my life and whether i should be where i am. one thing i only know is how intent i am to marry Harry this year or by early next year. that’s it and i’m lost with the rest of my life. i discussed this with Harry yesterday after visiting the doctor and he noted that i get like this every year. i pondered on it and realized that i do. i hate to admit it but with the slew of lazy days from Christmas break to summer gets me reflecting and over thinking about my things which leads to unhealthy realizations or nonsensical questions and doubts. gaaah, drama! so i’m soldiering on and just hope to get past August, where things usually start getting okay for me. *praying hard*

anyway, just got back from the doctor yesterday and had my MRI results read. as it turns out, i have a few (yes, not just one but 4) mild bulging discs on my spine which is causing me numbness and pain on my neck, arms and legs because these bulging discs pinch my spine. on my MRI, my spine looks like it has a few ridges because of the bulging discs. aside from that, my MRI showed that this bulging discs are also degenerating — something that’s not supposed to happen until i’m in my 60’s. oh well, that’s what i get for working night shifts for 5 years, sitting in front of the computer for hours on end and playing flag football for 4 years from sleepless nights.

white graphic tee – bangkok find

cream pleated trousers – shopyapi.com

camel strappy heels – forever 21

camel braided belt – shopyapi.com

fringe tassel earrings – DIY

shopyapi.com is on sale with selected items at 10% – 20% off! check it out now!

Levi’s Roadwear Party

i have to admit, i used to be what you’d call a ‘party girl’ as you saw in my previous post when i went down memory lane and pulled out photos from way back. right after graduation though, i worked at a call center and wasn’t too privileged to have weekends off. that totally ruined my night life and had to disconnect from my friends. i hated it until i got fixed weekends off and realized that the night life isn’t all that. right when i turned 24, i traded blasting hip-hop or house music for dvd marathons at home and dancing until 3AM with friends to lounging and talking with over dessert.

so the Levi’s Roadwear Party was one of those rare nights that i became that younger version of myself. i couldn’t resist Eden‘s invite even i wanted to because i’ve declined too much of her invitations, including Inquirer’s Fashion Face-off (which i regret), that i owed her this. yeah, it was awkward at first because i didn’t know too many people but after a couple or so of vodka shots, the party became a blast! it was indeed a pleasure meeting Ana Kalaw of the Philippine Star’s Ystyle, Jeff and Christine from Thinline advertising and spending time with other cebu bloggers too — Eden, Nym Wales, Dale Wesley, Yves and Kristin Roa. til’ next time girls! maybe in 2 months when i get over the hangover i got from this night.