Gantsilyo Guru on ANC Shoptalk

Last May 1, I had the opportunity to talk about my little online yarn store, Gantsilyo Guru Selections, on ANC Shoptalk.

This is me bring proper and all :p

I'm a fan of the show because I always get inspired by the stories of their guest entrepreneurs. I would learn a thing or two about starting a business from every episode. It was my turn not only to talk about my business but also to bring crochet "out there." I am happy I get to share this craft to a bigger audience.

Photo taken by rytphotog

I brought some of the yarn and supplies from my store, as well as some sample projects.

Photo taken by rytphotog

I've been watching this show for quite some time, but I only found out days before the shoot that it's a live telecast! I always thought every episode was taped.

I also had a mini crochet demo with the host, Ria Tanjuatco-Trillo. We only had a few seconds but we pulled one off by having her do some chains!

If you want to check out my interview, click the image below to be directed to the video from ANC. Super thankful to ANC Shoptalk for guesting small entrepreneurs like me!

Shoptalk is shown on ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel) live every Thursday, 7:00 PM, on Channel 27 at Sky Cable.

Gantsilyo Guru in Solar Daybreak

Exactly a week ago, I got interviewed on live television at Solar News Channel's morning show, "Solar Daybreak." To be honest, I had the jitters before the show. This was live television (unlike the feature I did with Good News, which was recorded)!

I had to overcome my nerves because it was a great opportunity for me to talk about my passion - crochet! And of course, yarn!

Here are some "behind the scenes" pics.

Yes, I was crocheting while the producer was setting up. We held the shoot just behind Pino Resto Bar and Pi Breakfast and Pies along Malingap St. in Quezon City. Super thankful they allowed us to shoot there! The place is practically my second home for crochet since I hold some of my workshops just upstairs at Pipino Vegetarian.

Getting some shots of me crocheting. I think I went too fast for the camera! I had some of my favorite projects in front of me and some of the yarn I offer in my online store.

I was interviewed by Pia Bonalos. I was surprised to find out we were given around 10 minutes for the feature! That sounded pretty long for live airtime. Pia was very engaging. Even before the live interview, she made me feel at ease already because we started chatting about crochet and yarn. The live interview just felt like an extension of that conversation.

Thank you for this opportunity, Solar Daybreak!

[L-R] Dewayne Jay Ramirez (Cameraman), Danny Tamayo (Field Producer), Pia Bonalos (Segment Host), Michael Aguilar (Assistant Cameraman)

After the interview, I got super hungry and ate at Pi Breakfast and Pies. They're open as early as 7:00 AM! I got this huge omelette. Good thing they give choices on what to put in your omelette. I only like cheese and tomatoes in mine :p Let us pause for a moment and stare at this heavenly omelette. Yum. I want one right now, suddenly.

And here's the interview. I tried, guys. I really tried! Hope I do a better job next time!

This Is What Happens When A Crocheter Attempts...

...to model her work. This post is so vain. I know :p

So I wanted to show off the cowl/infinity shawl I crocheted with Hamanaka yarn by wearing it. I was with my boyfriend Rob at his office holiday get-together. I was wearing the crocheted cowl, so I decided to have some pictures taken with it. The experience was so excruciating. It's so hard to get a decent picture!

I was sort of going for some "look." The image in my head, well, remained in my head. Man, I'ma get me a model to do these things for me.

This may be the most decent one, out of 35 shots Rob took of me on that wall.

My right foot leaning against the wall is Rob's idea, by the way. I don't really know what I'm supposed to convey in this picture. As long as the cowl looks good, I'm good. Actually, it probably would have looked more awkward without the cowl.

By the way, if this post made you want that cowl (miraculously), go HERE for more details :)

Gantsilyo in Health Today Magazine's July 2013 Issue!

You won't regret going through this entire post. A reward awaits you at the end of this entry :p

I want to give a shout out to Maan D'Asis-Pamaran for including Gantsilyo in her article, "Money-making Home-based Hobbies: Easy Business Ventures for Newbies" for Health Today's July 2013 issue! Thanks, Maan!

This is an excerpt of the article. Grab a copy of this issue and check out the entire article on pages 71-73. It features other home-based businesses (Gantsilyo included, of course)! I just gave a few tips on how you can jump-start your own crocheting business :)

Congratulations, here's your eye-to-eye moment with Mr. Ramsay :p This should be reason enough for you to get this month's issue.

Mr. Ramsay will not disappoint :p 

When In Manila: Crochet! Or Better Yet, Attend My Workshop! :)

Thank you for the feature, Run Nurse (Ivy) for When In Manila! Super happy my workshops are reaching a bigger audience and that crochet is becoming cooler (I think :p), especially in the Philippines! Hooray for crochet!

Screen grab from When In Manila Website

You can check out the entire feature HERE.

Susan Bates® Crochet Hooks Are Here!!!

It's official! Susan Bates® crochet hooks are already in th Philippines!

The first offering is a set of 6 pcs. of Silvalume® aluminum crochet hooks. A set is PhP 460 (exclusive of delivery). Email me at gantsilyoguru@gmail.com if you are interested to get your own set.

Here's a description of this special line of hooks from the Shop Redheart.com site:

"These hooks have the broadest size range within the Susan Bates family of hooks. Made of lightweight aluminum; each Silvalume hook undergoes a special anodizing process that etches away all surface impurities. In addition; each hook is heat treated for strength and durability and polished for a velvety smooth finish. Each size is color coded so you can find the size you need at a glance. Our famous in line head helps reduce wrist motion for fatigue free crocheting and helps you maintain a more consistent gauge."

The set already comes with this vinyl case. As you can see, one set includes the following sizes: US F5, G6, H8, I9, J10, and K10.5 (3.75mm, 4mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm). If you're curious about conversions, go to this link to check the different crochet hook sizes.

My Crochet Haven in Cosmopolitan Magazine's May 2013 Issue!

Remember the do-over my old brother's room went through so it can be the awesome room I wanted to have for my crochet? It got featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine's (Philippines) May 2013 issue, for their Cosmo Life segment, "At Your Place." Thanks for the feature, Cosmo!

Text and sittings by Camyl Besinga. Photos by Miguel Nacianceno. Makeup and hair by Carmel Villongco.

You can see the full-page feature (with more pictures of my updated room) in this latest issue of Cosmo Philippines. It's Solenn Heussaff on the cover for their 16th Anniversary Special!

Photo grabbed from Cosmopolitan Philippines' official site.

Check out the do-over of this room in my old blog entry here.

Gantsilyo in Cosmopolitan Magazine's December 2012 Issue!

Thank you, Cosmopolitan Magazine (Philippines), for including my crocheted earrings in your December Happy List! You made me happy!

I can see the earrings!

Yey for Number 8!

Loving the term, "earnaments!" The December 2012 issue has Angel Locsin on the cover.

You can also check a previous blog entry I made on these earrings here.

These are made to order pieces. Right now, I only have a pair of each color and design of these earrings available for sale.

To be able to purchase, click on this link that will direct you to my Facebook page. Just leave a comment on the picture if you are interested to get them.

The Awesomest Bed Throw In The World!!!

At least in my own point of view :p And unfortunately, the pictures I have are not taken on a bed :p

But it's still awesoommmmeeee!!!

This is how it was packaged before I gave it to the owner.

I really won't say much about it because I have said a lot about it already in my past blog entries. Check out my old entries (in order of my progress) about it here, here, here, and here.

And here it is!!! Tadaaaaaa!!!

The pictures are outtakes from the shoot with "Good News Kasama si Vicky Morales" (GMA News TV) early this month. I was sensitive about it being on grass, so I required that a thick cloth be placed underneath it and those who touched it had clean hands!

I've never seen so much attention given to a bed throw :p

Here is a model holding the bed throw. I should have volunteered to hold it, but then she had long flowy hair and was made up :p I, on the other hand, was very oily and sweaty.

They just can't get enough of this bed throw.

I'm sure to post another blog entry when this bed throw gets a picture on an actual bed.

Here's the video of the segment we shot for GMA News TV.

Good News Kasama Si Vicky Morales: Going Gantsilyo!

Gantsilyo in the limelight! Woot! Woot! The segment was shown earlier in "Good News Kasama Si Vicky Morales" on GMA News TV.

Got the (surprise) call more than a week ago about the feature on gantsilyo for this show. We shot my segment just last Monday. I'm happy that gantsilyo is being featured!

Here are some "behind the scenes" pics. Can't believe my more than a minute part took almost 5 hours to shoot! We shot the scenes in the La Mesa Ecopark.

All-out for all of my crocheted creations.

This is me attempting to explain how to make a crocheted flower petal. Since explaining and demonstrating a pattern on video can take so long, my line was practically reduced to just "crocheting a chain and single crochets" to make my spiel fit the limited air time.

The segment (on the last part) also debuted my crocheted African Flower Bed Throw! Although it was already shown in the video, I'm still holding back from showing pictures in its entirety (as if I have not killed the suspense already).

Thanks to the "Good News Kasama Si Vicky Morales" Team of GMA News TV for the feature! Thanks to my brother Genesis as well for being our impromptu production assistant for the shoot.

Here's the video! My segment starts on 0:34. You can also see my African Flower Bed Throw on 4:35. This segment also features crocheters Shannen Chua and Milli Reyes.

Another hooray for crochet! 

Blast from the Past: Crocheted Earrings & Accessories 2006

The first time my creations were actually sold in the market was in 2006. My friend Alessa had an idea of selling crocheted accessories through her line, "Accessories by Alessa." We brainstormed with patterns and colors and came up with great pieces. I didn't think I could make money out of a hobby, well, it didn't really cross my mind that people out there would be interested in what I was doing :)

It was definitely a successful run. Thanks as well to Alessa's network in the fashion industry, it got featured in magazines such as Preview, Mega, Yes!, and Girlfriend.

Even Pia Guanio wore one of our earrings for the Enervon ad. All pictures courtesy of Alessa Lanot.

I started working on a new collection under my own line. Watch out for the new pieces in the near future!