MY PLATE IS FULL - OF HERITAGE
(March 4 Saturday)
How can a plate tell a story on your table? This is always foremost on the mind of Michelle Asence-Fontelera, founder and CEO of the fine homeware brand Casa Juan. “I hope to bring pieces of Filipino life to every home,” she says. And through unique plates and tablescaping accessories, she wants to put Filipino culture and heritage on the table.
Casa Juan says: “We celebrate the stories, dreams and legends in Philippine culture. The brand captures these through stunning prints, artworks and imagery that tell tales of life in the archipelago.”
And recently, Fontelera was able to weave stories on Casa Juan plates through a collaboration with Marga Nograles of Kaayo, a clothing brand that focuses on the vivid colors, textures and crafting culture of Mindanao.
“Community is an integral part of the Casa Juan with communities around the country.”
Casa Juan’s pairing with Kaayo expresses “an enduring commitment to support and amplify the voices of Philippine artisans. Plates from the Casa Juan x Kaayo collection feature the patterns and colors of fabrics hand-woven by Mindanao’s artisans. The limited-edition set includes dishes that take on the form of Ikat prints from the Mandaya communities of Davao Oriental. Other plates feature the south’s intricately carved chests, or baul.”
“More than just an interpretation of these textiles or crafts on our plates, this collection is an ode to modern Mindanao and the communities who have kept the vibrant weaving tradition alive,” says Fontelera.
The Kaayo team adds: “Inspired by this spirit of storytelling through design — a value which Kaayo and Casa Juan share — the collection hopes to bring Mindanao to your homes. We hope these plates become vessels of heritage.”
*** The Casa Juan X Kaayo Limited Edition Collection is available online at https://casajuan.ph/ .
Big Cat Weekend The Leo moon blows up the weekend like a balloon inflating to near maximum capacity. The pop of the full moon will happen early next week, so these are the hours of delicious tension and anticipatory glee. The theatrical cat is in a mood to play, exaggerate and participate unapologetically in the bold drama. Rev up your maincharacter energy.
ARIES (March 21-April 19).
You’ll tend your relationships like you would a fire, poking around a bit. This isn’t nosiness or teasing; rather, it’s a sign of your caring. You’re learning how to get the optimal warmth and light from the arrangement.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). While it may be true that you are not getting everything you need from a connection, it’s still possible. Focus on what you want and try to communicate in the style of your listener to get it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The people in your life who share a similar sense of humor are the treasures who can sparkle up any old situation. You may spend money to do fancy things together, but you never have to. Just walking around together is fun.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There’s no single answer to why you love who and what you love. It’s a complex and individualized experience beyond reason and, often, consciousness. Today a multitude of factors will pull your heart down a particular path.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). New people come into your world. A casual connection will take a turn. It’s like you’re being interviewed for a position. What do you think this person needs? What is all this curiosity pointing to?
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The same thing that brings out the best in you also causes the stress in you. Setting your limits and expectations well will keep this balance in check. Being a little uncomfortable is good
for you, but not a lot.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Even when you feel like you’re at the top, you still feel driven to heighten your game. It has more to do with letting go of resistance than with adding anything more. You’ll become sleek as an arrow.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).
Sadness is a dark room. Happiness is a light switch. It can be hard to find those in dark rooms, but they are usually in the typical places, so if you get sad, don’t overthink it. Search near the door.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). Jupiter, with its massive gravitational pull, sucks many asteroids into its orbit that might have otherwise been a danger to Earth. There’s a person who will protect you in much the same way.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You intend to radiate goodness but end up radiating a complex mix of goodness, badness, curiosity, beauty, excitement, trepidation and more. This, it turns out, is the optimal radiation for the day.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).
What you need is a friend who is like a coach, or a coach who is like a friend. This way you can have loads of fun while also figuring out what you need to do to go to the next level.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20).
You’ll consider how to make people happy because you’re a thoughtful, caring person. But really the best way to inspire their smile is to take charge of your own. If you only had to worry about delighting yourself, what then?
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March
4). Your interpersonal skills shine in this year shaped by love. You adjust to accommodate and be accommodated by another. Soft comforts and exhilarating events are featured, and you’ll be inspired to build and reinvent. More highlights: a map to treasure, a celebration at altitude and luck in a realm of serious business. Gemini and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 24, 3, 39 and 16.