Fun Friday: Batik Dyeing Workshop

Third Friday of the month:  Events / Crafts and Recreation

Paisley is one of my favorite prints. It's swirls and intricate details make it more alluring and kinda exotic. This is the print I wanted for my first batik dyeing project. I was actually not supposed to be at the event due to conflict of schedule, but unexpectedly, it freed up and I immediately asked if there was still a slot left for me 'coz I really wanted to attend. To quote Paulo Coelho, "and when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." So, I made it, and I even won the contest! Meant to be? I believe so!

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Why Wear the Wedding Ring on the Fourth Finger?

My husband always says I have a lot of "useless information" stored inside my head every time I blurt out some random answers, trivial facts or information. Important things I forget, trivial things I remember.  Go figure! Even my friends ask me (in amusement, I hope!) where I get those tidbits of info that I occasionally blurt out mid-conversation.  My answer is, I don't know! I really don't.  I like trivia.  I read up on what interests me, and maybe they just stay dormant in my memory until needed. =)

Anyway, here's another trivia I got from my Inbox and I thought it would be interesting enough to share here. Though I'm pretty sure many of you might have received this already, or have read it somewhere, feel free to skip this post and read more interesting wedding-related posts here.

I am re-posting the exact content of the email, and the image below. I don't know the origin of the text and photo so I cannot credit them to anyone.


Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger?
There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese:

Your thumb represents your Parents


Your index finger represents your Siblings

Your middle finger represents yourself

Your ring finger represents your Life Partner


Your last (pinkie) finger represents your Children


Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together -- back to back. Then open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb tip to tip.  As shown in the below:

Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing your parents) if they will open - because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong and have to leave you sooner or later. 


Please join your thumbs as before and separate your index fingers (representing your siblings) they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now, join the index fingers and separate your little fingers (representing your children) they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own someday.

Finally, join your little fingers and try to separate your ring fingers (representing your spouse).

You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT, because husband and wife have to remain together all their lives -- through thick and thin!

(Anonymous source)

Gorgeous Cartier wedding bands - http://www.bridal.cartier.com/

I'm sure you're trying it as you read this. (",)  Were you able to separate the ring fingers? Do you believe this is a good explanation?

I've tried doing this several times in the past as a hand trick, without knowing there's a possible "meaning" behind it. I was able to separate my ring fingers just very slightly for a few seconds. Maybe because I dropped my elbows a bit. I can tell you it really is almost impossible to separate them unless to bring your wrists closer together that your fingers will naturally open up and separate easily.

Do you know another story behind the ring finger? Share your trivia here. =)

p.s. Thanks to reader Czjai for reminding me about the more rational reason behind the ring finger -- how could I forget this:  the ring finger is where the vein connects to the heart, ergo, the best finger for the wedding ring
I was simply amazed by the philosophical reason above :)))

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Of Diamond rings and Weddings

TGIF!

My blog day.
A tiring yet satisfying day for me, it started with bringing my boy to his summer art class, with my girl and nanny tagging along for the hour-long lesson. We're home by lunch time, and a simple meal of Filipino-style spaghetti and garlic-butter toast is waiting for us. Slurp, slurp, crunch, crunch. Then off to the kids' first visit to the dentist (now that's another blog altogether). The dental check took longer than expected. Just a few more hours and it's dinner time. My day is almost over.

So what's the connection to diamond rings and weddings? Read on...

"Mid-afternoon power nap" -- I thought to myself. Not happening. I logged on and had a brief YM chat with my aunt, who sent news that my cousin just bought a diamond solitaire ring for his lady love. That's one very lucky girl!

Wedding plans are in the offing... or so I thought. No date, no details, no ideas. Just the ring - for now. As the mom of the groom-to-be, she's trying to get a bigger picture of how they will plan this dream day from miles away (the downside of a long-distance affair). And so my day goes from kids stuff to wedding stuff. And I still want a power nap.

I have planned and coordinated weddings intermittently since '99, though I never went full blast with my services because my work (was into advertising and events) and family came first.

I got serious with the profession after I planned and orchestrated my own date to the altar. And I am fortunate to have friends and relatives who trust me enough to help them with their big day, and even recommend me to their soon-to-wed friends.

With all the details of an engagement or a wedding, I am most passionate about choosing the gowns, the flowers, and the rings -- diamond rings to be exact. There is just something about diamonds that mesmerizes me. And for sure, I'm not alone in this.

Before the wedding plans, choosing the right engagement ring is quite taxing especially for a typical guy who has zero interest in rings or diamonds, or any form of jewelry for that matter.

So I was quite impressed that my cousin, in his mid-20s, has decided on this specific ring. And to get his mom, my aunt, involved in the process.

"The ring", I was told, is like the iconic Tiffany diamond engagement ring, with a 1-carat brilliant-cut solitaire mounted on a 6-prong white gold frame. I guess it's a no-brainer for my cousin to choose this design because it's timeless, perfect for his Ms. Right.


Aside from the prospects of planning a wedding, I think as a mom, my aunt expressed mixed emotions about this upcoming engagement. Excited, maybe, about the planning and having a daughter-in-law; nostalgic that his first-born son is moving on to a new phase in his life by starting a family of his own. And to being a lola (Tagalog for grandma), "I'm ready", she said.

This ring is a promise to commit to a lifetime of togetherness. I think it's sort of a rite of passage for a man to choose and to give this symbol of love. And I think my aunt is very blessed to have a son who love her, and respects her enough to involve her in this life-changing moment.

And soon, the wedding plans.

(Emerald-cut diamond Tiffany ring)
This is my dream engagement ring, long before Carrie got a similar one from Big (in 'Sex and the City').

(Brilliant-cut with Pear-shaped side stones from Tiffany)Another favorite dazzler.

Ladies, you don't need to wait for a man to give you one. And guys, no occasion required to surprise your woman.

Choose from these popular diamond shapes

(Michael B. ring design)
I had my engagement ring re-set a few years back, with the consent of my husband of course.
I referenced this design to create an illusion of a bigger center.

Update: If you want to see the 'improved' ring, I featured it here.

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