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.

sponsored post: selecting your wedding shoes, advices


It’s a well known fact that women give a great importance to their shoes. Surely, when it concerns such great day as wedding, everything should be perfect, including shoes. Since shoes can have a huge impact on a woman’s behavior, any bride should think ten times when buying a pair for such special day as wedding day. The shoes should enhance the beauty of the bridal dress and at the same time, make the bride feel very comfortable, so she could enjoy in full her special day! If you are making a beach wedding in Florida,the choice of shoes will also be of crucial importance. 

Selecting Your Wedding Shoes, Advices

 If you still think that fashion and style are the only criteria that matter in choosing wedding shoes, you are wrong. First of all, before selecting the shoes, look at the wedding venue and the season weather when the wedding is taking place. Thus, if the wedding is about to be held outside in the summers, shoes like sandals with straps will suit the best, while pumps on high heels can stick into the ground, making you feel discomfort while walking! Respectively, if the wedding is in winter time, choose closed shoes, they will protect your feet from the cold. 

 Depending on what kind of wedding you are about to have, so will your wedding shoes. For example, if you are making a beach wedding or, flip flops, which today are available in various designs and colors, will be the best choice for your wedding dress. But if your wedding is formal one, taking place in church or restaurant, then it’s better to choose classical, elegant, high-heeled pumps or sandals on heels. 

 Second, when you have already on your wedding gown, choose such shoes that will look nice with the wedding dress. When choosing the shoes, bring a sample of your wedding gown fabric with you to the store, so that the shoe color could match exactly with your wedding dress color. One more thing to pay attention to is a type of embellishments that will be on the gown. If the dress is too lacy or has got embroidery or crystals on it, then combine it with plain looking but still festive shoes. However, if the dress is pretty simple, go for fancy shoes with embellishments, to make the image smarter. 

 Last, but not the least, choose the material of the shoes very accurately. If you want a very rich and a bit funky look, choose leather shoes. If you still wish to look very feminine, get shoes in tender tissue like silk, velvet, satin or lace but make sure it coincide with your wedding gown. And remember that even on a gloomy day, give the woman a pair of sexy high heels that she will like, and all her blues will vanish immediately in the air!

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dreaming of fall

floral midi skirt – thrifted | pink metallic cardigan – borrowed from mom | white tank top – forever21 basic | giraffe-printed wedge booties – shoe etiquette | tan fringe leather bag – urban originals | green studded belt – primal rave | black wide-brimmed hat – cotton on | spiral-esque cuff – primal rave | brass necklace – downtown find | rings: lion and armor rings – downtown finds, laminated wood – props

the one good and bad thing about living in a tropical country is the tropical weather. ironically, we use the tropical weather as an excuse to wear as little clothing as possible all year round but also need to do so otherwise we die of dehydration. our weather can be bipolar and would be sunny in the morning and be rainy in the afternoon. take for example the day these photos were taken. an hour before leaving the house, the sky was grey and seemed to incessantly pour rain. the moment we got out of the house though, the sun came out and it got so humid, it got hard to breathe. two hours later, it started drizzling again.
oh how i wish we can experience fall, at least one month in a year. just a month in a year where the breeze is a little colder despite the sunny atmosphere and the colors of the rest of the world are lovelier and more surreal. unfortunately, we only get to experience sunny – rainy – sunny – rainy – and so on every year. just like how i do with elephants, i’ll just experience fall in my dreams.

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to feeling lighter

black and white striped leotard top – primal rave | red jeans – primal rave | polka dotted gold flats – primal rave | red studded bag – shopyapi.com | collar necklace – downtown find | gold spiral-esque cuff – primal rave | octopus ring – bangkok find, gift from mom | oversized black ring – forever21, by sweet 

…and saying no to cancer. my friend told me last night that stress is the number 1 cause of cancer. i knew stress caused several people to die due to heart problems but i never knew it could be much worse. good thing though i’ve decided to let go of the stress. disconnect from it before i end up getting sicker than i was over the last 3 months. only a few days after my official decision to get off the roller coaster, i feel lighter in so many ways. for one, Harry is happy that i’m singing light and happy songs again. cheers to a stress-free life! ♥

p.s. if it’s not yet obvious, most of the items in my outfit are from primal rave — the wholesale business my mom, sister and i own. we still have a lot of chic items up for grabs. 10 items or more get wholesale price — it’s never too early for Christmas shopping! *wink*

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sponsored post maximizing the maxi dress

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One of the hottest trends of this season has to be the evening maxi dress. This simple yet stylish ensemble is both feminine and fun and has proven to be a popular wardrobe addition for some time.
There are a number of evening maxi dresses hitting the style radar this year, all of which have been created in an array of designs, fabrics, prints and colours.
Prints are especially big this season, regardless of the pattern. Floral, striped and tie-dye maxis have all been seen adorning an array of models at this season’s runway shows and such a style is the perfect choice for a variety of occasions; including weddings, christenings and graduation ceremonies.
The beauty of this ensemble is the fact that it remains quite demure whilst still showcasing an on-trend and up-market style.
One of the maxi dresses many virtues is its shape. When teamed with uber high heels, this style has the ability to lengthen the torso. It can, however, be worn with flats and wedges which is great news for those who intend to stay on their feet for the majority of the evening.
There are endless selections of evening maxi dresses at Isme.com. Dressy maxi dresses tend to come in materials such as satin and chiffon. This season is exhibiting an array of printed styles which create an edgier look that is certainly not suited to the shy and retiring wallflower.
Those that wish to invest in a simpler yet equally attractive style may wish to try a block-coloured piece. A simple hue can be dressed up with a variety of accessories including a statement clutch, killer wedges and a metallic belt.
Hues working their way into this season’s palette include purple, black, gold, red, turquois, cobalt blue and orange. The Grecian style maxi dress is a great option for those that wish to create a stylish, high-trend look perfect for a wedding or engagement party.
This style boasts a full length cut, sweetheart neckline and more often than not, pleated panache detailing. Pleated maxi dresses often come in an extremely feminine fabric, including chic chiffon complete with a satin panelling at the bust.
There are an array of outstanding options available today, all of which are impeccably suited to those extra special occasions.
The best thing about a maxi dress is its versatility; even the dressiest options can be toned down with the likes of flats and a pashmina, allowing you to get as much wear out of them as possible. 


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catching up: choosing sanity

polka / ruffled top – thrifted | printed chiffon shorts – props | black faux snake skin wedges – pill at the ramp | faux ostrich red satchel – shopyapi.com | leopard fringe earrings – downtown find | rings: armor ring – downtown find, oversized black ring – forever 2, gifted by sweet | black studded belt – props

the last of the catching up posts before i get back on track (or at least not have any posts due 2 months ago as i still have ones taken in the last 2 weeks). my cheeks being chubbier definitely indicates i was not as stressed with work then as i am now. i guess the decreasing size of my cheeks is the only upside i’ve gained from the toxicity of work. mental warfare and an emotional roller coaster were definitely not part of the contract when i signed it last year. 
oh well, i choose sanity so let’s see how this goes. 

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catching up: running errands

navy blue jumpsuit – props | dark chartreuse cardigan – thrifted | blue belt – props | multi-colored sandals – bangkok find | necklace – downtown find | bangles and bracelets – downtown finds | leopard connector ring – downtown find

i wish running errands in real life were as stylish as how Andrea Sachs ran errands for Miranda Priestly in the Devil Wears Prada. of course, Andrea Sachs had a team of stylists and make-up artists in the background and i don’t. haha. 
my days are now divided between working my ass off for 9 – 13 hours during the weekdays, salvaging what little weekend Harry and i have and of course, planning the wedding. every thing is almost a blur now and ice cream is the best way to get us back to our senses. 

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catching up: ketchup and mustard

art deco black top – props | red multi-striped skirt – thrifted | cerulean blue belt – props | mustard platform shoes – centropell c/o zalora | faux ostrich red satchel – shopyapi.com | bangles: red wooden bangle – bangkok find, brass bangles – downtown finds | rings: cross connector, leopard connector – downtown finds, orange howlite ring – dane’s giveaway | peacock feather earrings – downtown find

another catch-up outfit post taken almost 2 months ago. i have 3 more to go until i’m up to date. *crossing fingers*
i scored these awesome platform shoes at zalora.ph. i was at a bind because it came in orange, red and mustard and ultimately my decision had to be based on what color i’d most likely be able to pair with most of my clothes. mustard is definitely more of a classic subdued color. i have to admit the first time i wore these, i was limping on the way home. it needed breaking into — the cross-straps needed adjustment to my chubby feet and the sole was a bit hard. i was ready to sell this pair or park it on my shelf solely as an eye candy. thankfully, i didn’t find time to sell it because the second (and the third and fourth) time i wore it, it was already broken into and is now one of my favorite pairs. you could say, this pair is on the top shelf of my shoe rack. 

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catching up: tagaytay in june

okay so my last post in july was apologetic for not being able to blog for a month and it contained a promise that i will blog sporadically. it’s already september and i’m as sorry as ever. 
not just sorry to my readers (whom i hope are still around) but to myself as well. over the last 2 months, i’ve let work take over my life. i finally understood why my former manager was always frantic and seemingly all over the place because i’ve just become her. i’ve lost any grace  and is constantly overwhelmed with things to do, it’s no longer humorous. i started blogging to take a break from work and i should’ve kept going. this is me, moving forward. 
CATCHING UP: this was the day after bloggers united when my relatives, mildred and i visited tagaytay. it was my first time and i fell completely in love with the place. i wish we didn’t have to leave. i imagined myself living the laid back life — opening up a small cafe with a small collection of my favorite books to read and a little corner where i can sell clothes. oh tagaytay, i hope to see you soon. ♥ ♥ ♥
chiffon leopard mini-dress – props | black cutout cardigan – bangkok find | pink satchel – props | black tights – metro ayala | black studded belt – props | gold lace-detail necklace – oasap.com | bangles – borrowed from sis | rings: cross connector and armor ring – downtown finds

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the bloggers united three

i know, i know, this a super overdue post — i bet some are even over it. i’m not and never will be. ♥ it was hella fun and is always a pleasure to be a part of blogger united. ♥ 
the preparation
my sister came with me this time — not that i forced her and texted her all morning about it prior to getting the tickets — but because she wanted to help out and we wanted to bring lots of items to sell. we were late for the prep though. we got lost and didn’t have any GPS to guide us and our driver (thanks to my tita) from marikina to makati. thanks to kuya randy, we managed to get our 2 suitcases and 2 balikbayan boxes from the first floor to the 3rd floor where the event was held — there were no elevators! mildred and eden were already there and we immediately began prepping once we arrived. our plan, which we found effective last year, was to place all the pre-loved clothes on the table — we managed to steal 1 more even though we were only allotted one. the rest were on the clothes racks. (note: check out the aftermath of the shoes below)

the fab shoppers

the place was smaller (but a lot sophisticated with the chandeliers and carpeted floor) so it was easily packed. i wish i could have taken a photo of the line outside because it went from the 3rd floor down to the first and it was raining really hard. the fabulous shoppers were as stylish as the bloggers — i could say, even way more stylish than me. they were young and passionate about fashion and shopping. i could say, i was jealous — i wish i’m still as young as they are.


the last photo is not a shopper but my sister who kept avoiding the camera. a shopper even asked to have a photo with her which she awkwardly & laughingly declined because she said “she’s not a blogger” LOL.

stylish friends: old and new

it’s not just being able to sell and live through the bloggers united shopping experience that i look forward to, it’s being with stylish friends whom we’ve had the pleasure of meeting in the blogosphere. 

with the kookie buhain of death by platforms — her velvet bell-bottoms are to die for and i was super jealous that she pulled it off like a rock star!
 
with the down-to-earth and friendly bloggers united organizers, aisa ipac and sarah tirona.


with fellow bisaya-speaking fashionistas from mindanao: mariel of wicked ying and stephanie of fashion bandwagon (stupid me for being so star struck — i was in awe of stephanie’s hair and her chic outfit. i asked her if i could have a photo with her because “my friend loves her blog…” which was awkward & idiotic because i do too. *peace*)

the asian blogger sensation, anastasia siantar of brown platform, who was flown in by the BU team. oh so envious of her hat and her shoes and her hair and oh well, her outfit — gah!

one of our shoppers, lia delfin of wear is mela, who sent me a photo she took of us — it was so embarrassing because i looked really haggard and had money tucked in my skirt like a palengkera. LOL.

 of course, with my lovely stylish friends from cebu who’s there with me — vanessa of one frozen margarita, mildred of dred reveris and eden of chic in the tropics

the aftermath
we tried to re-arrange everything every once in a while but gave up by the 3rd hoard of shoppers. as long as everything is sold, they can stay that way. of course, we had to get the clothes that fell to the floor. the ruckus that was in our booth was both delightful, exhausting and funny. for the first 2 hours, all four of us were standing up and dancing along “starships” while we entertained customers. by 1PM (and by the nth replay of “starships”), we took turns sitting down and looked so haggard, it wasn’t funny. LOL. at the end of the day, we had a price drop — we sorted items in 2 boxes, P50 and P100. we were the last of the sellers to leave. *bow*

the outfit
i just realized — i am not creative at all because for two BU events, i wore a simple top and a maxi skirt. boo! nevertheless, i wanted to be comfortable because i knew it was going to be chaotic.

tribal-printed top – props | jersey maxi skirt –  props  | neon pink thin belt –  props  | turquoise bohemian necklace – zalora.ph | wooden bangles – borrowed from sister | studded booties – jeffrey campbell ticks (a steal from divine lee’s booth! a dream come true — long have i swooned over these babies ♥♥♥)

 rings: turquoise connector ring – downtown find | white armor ring – oasap.com

a special note to my readers: it’s been a month, i know! work was (and still is) hella crazy, i underwent another round of physical therapy for my neck and all i wanted to do when i get home from work is lie down or eat magnum or brownies to inject enough endorphine to my system and forget my aching neck. the neck brace is still on — more frequently than i hoped for it to be. i promise though to get back on track and not post sporadically. *scout’s honor* (only i was never a girl scout…LOL).

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sponsored post: how to get the 80’s look

 
(top to bottom, left to right: betsey johnson spring rtw 2012 – looks 1 & 2, jeremy scott spring rtw 2012 , alice + olivia spring rtw 2012, moschino cheap & chic spring rtw 2012, betsey johnson fall rtw 2012 – looks 6 & 7, l.a.m.b. fall rtw 2012)
(photo credits: style.com)

Remember the heady days of Madonna, Dynasty, Kylie Minogue and those outrageous neon legwarmers? It may all seem a long time ago (30 years, in fact!) but now you can relive the 80s with the up-to-date styles currently springing up on the high street – from acid wash jeans to shoulder pads and leotards, there’s something for everyone.

Bodycon dresses
One of the most popular dress styles of the 80s was the bodycon – figure-hugging, with a low neckline and ultra-short skirt, these dresses were worn from day to evening. Nowadays, of course, we’re a little bit more conservative and generally reserve them for nights out, but if you’d like to adapt the look for daytime, shop for bodycon dresses in subtle pastel shades, or with floral patterns and lace embellishments.

Shoulder pads
A major player in the power-dressing trend, shoulder pads grew in popularity during this decade, largely owing to iconic TV shows like Dynasty and The Cosby Show, and a keenness for women to make an assertive impression in the workplace. These days, you’ll find shoulder pads in structured jackets and blazers, as well as in the above mentioned bodycon dresses.

Leotards
A craze for fitness and dancewear swept fashion in the 80s, partly due to 1983′s Flashdance and the popularity of Jane Fonda’s workout tapes. Leotards were at the forefront of the trend, along with the infamous legwarmers. In recent years, celebs like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Jessie J have all shown off their curves in an array of sparkly, metallic and colourful leotards. If you’re brave enough to wear one, opt for a plain leotard that you can layer underneath shorts or a skirt for a glamorous night out.

Neon clothing
One of the biggest trends from the 80s that’s now re-emerging is fluorescent, neon colours. Garish pinks, acid yellows and bright greens were all the rage – think Cyndi Lauper – not only on clothing but also accessories, including fingerless gloves and the much-loved ‘jelly’ shoes. This spring you can get a similar neon fix with colourful acid wash jeans, vibrant wedges and sugary chiffon skirts.

If you’re planning on injecting a bit of 80s flamboyance into your wardrobe this spring, an American Express credit card is the ideal shopping companion. Amex have variety of card options to choose from, each offering unique membership benefits, you can make your next trip to the high street even more rewarding.


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shopping by the ocean

silk blazer – thrifted | floral skirt – thrifted | white tank top – thrifted | strappy wedges – people are people, gifted by Harry | neon green belt – props | collar necklace – downtown find | gold bangle – stolen from sis | turquoise connector ring and boho armor ring – downtown finds | pink satchel – props
sharing with you guys the awesome and laid-back shopping experience that was during Zalora‘s press launch in Cebu. when i got the invite for its press launch, i pictured a presentation with the usual question and answer segment and i’d be out of there in just an hour. to my delight, i got there to an intimate and chill environment, greeted by Zalora’s marketing manager and immediately given  a brief that we are each given shopping coupons to use and actually get to know the Zalora shopping experience.
long tables were lined with Zalora laptops — all ready for us to scour the shopping site. fellow Cebu Fashion Bloggers — Eden, Vanessa, Alex, Jeemah, Rabsin, Marco and Kristine were already there, making the event more fun. (mind you i missed my appointment with the designer for wedding gown and was super late for the photo shoot my sister and i planned for Props.)
thank you Zalora PH for inviting us! i now live in Zalora‘s website and go through it everyday. my hands are itching to get your new heels from centropelle. *self-control faltering*

my apologies for the hiatus ~ after the trip to Manille for the much-anticipated Bloggers United 3 event, i got back drowned with backlogs at work and my stupid back started acting up again. boo! i had to wear the very un-fashionable neck brace while typing away at my work computer. tried to cover it with a leopard print scarf and someone actually asked if what i’m wearing is really a neck brace or a fashion statement. LOL. oh and a photo of me in a neck brace is something you guys won’t see soon. *peace*

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sponsored post: how the right underwear can boost your confidence

Confidence is a funny thing. When you’re full of it you feel like you can take on the world, like nothing can stand in your way and that you can overcome any obstacle.
But when you’re lacking confidence, even the smallest set-back can become a big deal. It’s a mercurial and mysterious thing, and nobody really understands how it works. If you could discover the secret and bottle it, you would be very rich indeed.
You Deserve to Be There
Yet despite the intangible nature of confidence, there are certain things you can do that have been proven to help you feel more confident. The most important aspect of confidence is to feel comfortable. This can be in terms of your surroundings, the people you’re with and even the clothes you are wearing.
If you feel at home and comfortable then you are more likely to be yourself, and with that comes confidence and charisma. Tell yourself that you belong and that you deserve to be in any room you walk in to. It also helps to realise that no matter how people present themselves, deep down they are all going through something similar.
Of course, feeling comfortable in what you are wearing can also be a massive boost. If you know that what you’re wearing suits you and works with your shape, then it can relax you and put you in the right frame of mind.
But it’s not just what you wear on the outside that can make you feel comfortable. Underwear is also very important for making you feel good about yourself. If you have supportive and well-fitting underwear then it’s a great starting point for overall comfort.
Comfort and Style
There is no hard and fast rule that says comfortable underwear can’t be sexy. Getting the support you need in the right places is great, but that shouldn’t have to mean looking like you’re wearing a bed sheet.
The lingerie collection for larger figures from Elomiis designed with precisely this in mind. It offers comfort and support where it’s needed and still makes you feel glamorous and sexy. Knowing that, even if no one else is going to see it, is still enough to give you a confidence boost in any situation.


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