I can't begin to describe how cute The Paper Stone is. And no, I don't mean it's in any way ugly…read moreyet appealing. Appealing yes, but by no means is it ugly! I loved browsing the shop and asking about every single product they had. They offer a wide range of stationery, from magazine holders, to pens, to gift wrappers, to journals! They may be a bit pricey though, which breaks my heart because they all have such adorable designs! The stickers are my favorite. I remember spending around 15 minutes (or more) just looking at every sticker design they had, trying to choose which to purchase. (I settled with cute bunnies). For those, like me, who can't resist cute things, you'll probably spend the same amount of time I did browsing their collection. The Paper Stone is a good place to buy gift items for your girlfriends, or your nieces. Trust me, boys.

Cute items and this is the store I never fail to visit whenever I'm at UP Town Center but the sales…read moreassistants are too clingy! I wish they'd give shoppers more personal space.

For artsy people who like to make things with their hands and like to support artsy people who make…read morethings with their hands, The Common Room is a very welcome addition to Katipunan. On the heels of the growing craft scene in the Philippines, The Common Room describes itself as "a place where makers gather." I love it because it's true! You'll find everything here from wallets made from old comic books, hand-sewn patches, pins, perfume, plushies and succulents! When you step inside, you'll wish you had money to buy everything in the store (or maybe I'm speaking only for myself). My favorite brand they carry is called Tweed and Twine, which makes pouches out of really beautiful fabric. It's also located right next to Go! Salads, so when I'm there for my daily green smoothie, I can't resist the call of all things handmade, pretty and shiny, and have to exercise great restraint not to come out with pretty new stationery, magnetic pins, and other lovingly handmade things I didn't think I needed. I love it!

Deovir is an artist's heaven…read more This could actually be my only statement and it would pretty much sum up Deovir. They have so many items available for use of artists which cannot be found in bookstores. Being the premiere art supply store, they have a wide range of products, from brushes, paints, paper, pencils, etcetera. This goes for even supporting materials such as thinners, binding mediums, and other art-related needs. Being not so familiar with and not comfortable in exploring painting mediums, I recently called them to ask for advice as to what I can use for an upcoming project. I needed to use a paint that would adhere well to textile, will be permanent despite washing, but needs to likewise have the correct consistency for brush calligraphy. With a short discussion of my options, I knew what I needed and even had my orders prepared already for payment and pick-up. Indeed, it pays to go to a specialized shop for, well, special art needs.

For me, a trip to Deovir is always entertaining. I've been known to stay for more than an hour…read moreinside the small space, just browsing through different art and craft materials without a specific agenda in mind and thinking about the creative possibilities. There are canvasses of all sizes ready to be spread with acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels, etc. There are reasonably-priced, artist grade brushes. There are craft foams, polymer clays, charcoals, and a lot more. If there is something that I need for a craft or a project, I immediately look for it in Deovir. And I get a sinking feeling if I cannot find it in their shelves, because that means that I am unlikely to find it anywhere else locally. The staff are very helpful, and they know what they are talking about. There was this time when I was assembling a painting kit as a gift, and a friendly salesperson gladly discussed the comparative pros and cons of acrylic and oil, and why the former might be better suited for a novice than the latter. Seriously, I look for excuses to visit this store even though I know that it's not good for my wallet. They also have an online shop but sadly, the online inventory is very limited.

Being a craftsy and artsy girl, it was but natural for me to fall into doing a little styling after…read moredoing events for almost ten years. One of the first online suppliers I ever bought anything from was Mansy Abesamis of Hey Kessy. At that time, she already has a website set-up, and it was one of the hardest purchases I had to make in a while. Nope, it wasn't her, nor her website. It was the pretty and adorable designs of her washi tapes that made it difficult for me to choose what I needed (or was it wanted?) to buy. Upon placing my order, I promptly got an email confirming my order and informing me of how to proceed with my purchase. In less than five days, the whole process was over and I got a little nifty package, sealed with a washi tape (of course) and it even came with a cute note. Will I buy again? Yes. Will I really NEED what I will buy? Maybe. Hahaha!

Arts and crafts, DIY, calligraphy... all these and more are getting more and more popular nowadays…read moreespecially to young teenage girls. Craft stores have started popping up, and one of which is Hey Kessy. Hey Kessy is an uber cute store that sells various products ranging from watercolor palettes and washi tape to brush pens and temporary tattoos. It's small, but noticeable from the outside because of all the window decors and the word "MAKE" that stands by the doorway. They had so many washi tape designs that I wanted to have for myself, but I had to fight the urge because I currently have a lot at home. Not as pretty as Hey Kessy's though! They also had ZIG brush pens which are, to me, the best brush pens you could buy. Okay, I confess, I'm not really great at handmade things. I dreaded Art and Home Ec class in Grade School! I'm more of a digital artist, but this handmade movement has got me hooked. They only have limited supplies of certain things though despite the variety. I hope they restock with more colors for the brush pens soon!

Many stars of the 1920s-1970s have become icons of certain qualities. Elvis Presley for rock n'…read moreroll. The Beatles for revolutionary music and charm. Frank Sinatra for cool and suave music. Audrey Hepburn for chic. Marilyn Monroe for sexy. Grace Kelly for classy. Greta Garbo for femme fatale. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for dancing. Now, you can capture the faces and poses of these icons, through the decorative framed pictures of Frame Plus. If you are like me who enjoys staring at iconic pictures for leisure, then you better start buying some items from Frame Plus. Already hanging on the walls of our home are Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and The Beatles. Each one reminding us of a creative, glamorous period that, I am sure, many of us often look back to. The black and white color of the pictures, like the faces of the icons, lend a touch of class to an otherwise simple home.

Embroidery and knitting may not be a very popular hobby nowadays. Even I, who enjoyed doing it in…read moreschool, cannot set aside time to create a cross stitch. But, for me, embroidered crafts remain a beautiful home décor. You can buy them framed in Dreamscapes so, even if you don't have time to make one, you can still have these beautiful handicrafts in your home. But, if you do get inspired to do embroidery, materials can also be bought at Dreamscapes. They have many spools of Anchor threads and needles of different sizes. They have cloths for cross stitching and even patterns which you can follow. They also sell other types of small handicrafts and decorative items. The last time I visited Dreamscapes I bought one of their hand-crafted cards made of dried leaves and twigs. The card was lovely. The positive reaction of the special person to whom I gave it was proof enough of its beauty.

I first noticed that my interests had shifted from buying new clothes, makeup and other frivolous…read moreitems to picking up pieces that would beautify my home and personal space when I hit my mid-20s. Now that I'm pushing 30, the same applies. Hence, I love entering places like Gourdo's. Gourdo's is actually one of my go-to places for when I'm on the prowl for potential wedding gifts for friends who are soon to tie the knot. They present their customers with a vast variety of kitchenware selections to choose from -- from the most celebrated brands in the industry to some lesser-known ones that remain competitive with regard to quality. Gourdo's also has some very interesting trinkets and unique items that are season-based. Whether you need to spruce up your kitchen, pick up a last minute wedding gift, or simply need to kill time in the mall, come through.

Gourdo's is beautiful!!! I love entering this place because my eyes just sparkle with all the…read moregorgeously designed kitchen items, and not to mention also super useful. Although Gourdo's may be a bit pricey the items are of really good quality and will certainly last you a long long time. Not to mention a great addition to your house aesthetically! The designs of items at Gourdo's are flexible for any taste or preference, you will certainly have difficultly choosing what to buy! I did not expect to like Gourdo's as much as I did but being a food lover and a feeling-chef I was so excited (for my mom) to buy all the great kitchen goodies. I think that the kitchen is definitely the most important room of the house and should be treated well enough and stocked with great equipment and decor and Gourdo's is the perfect place to get all that.