Lovingly fashioned by Alessa’s hands

Alessa Libongco loves to create things with her hands. You only have to look at the crocheted and beaded beauties on this page, fashioned, yes, By Alessa’s Hands, to believe that we’re not just telling you a yarn. She learned art on her Lolo David’s lap, as he’d let her choose a book to read together. Always, she would pick Michelangelo’s book of artworks. "Of course, I would only look at the pictures then and I can’t recall much of what I saw in the book," she recalls. "But it was one of the reasons that got me drawn to art even as a child."

Nurtured amid a lush art environment at home by loving parents Alex and Rose Libongco, the art-smart Alessa easily took to the crafts. Says Alessa, "My first formal lesson played a big part in getting me interested in the crafts. I had one-on-one lessons every week with my neighbor, who was an art teacher. I was only five years old then. What was fun about that workshop was that aside from art techniques, my teacher also introduced me to a bunch of different things like calligraphy and sewing."

Yes, Virginia, Alessa was so hooked on crafts that every Christmas, she’d ask Santa for arts and crafts kits. "I asked for a paper quilling kit when I was seven years old, I think," Alessa fondly reminisces. "I just love creating stuff. Paper, pens, crayons, scissors, and glue made me a happy kid."

Happy is an understatement; delirious is more like it.

To further feed her hunger for art, her mom gave her a set of 24 slick paints when she was only six years old. Armed with the tools of the trade, Alessa was approached by neighbors to design their bags, shirts, and sneakers – and she even got paid doing it.

It certainly helps a lot that she has super supportive parents. "My parents have always encouraged me to do what I love to do," Alessa notes. "They brought me up to be somewhat independent, and that helped a lot. They’re both business-minded – my dad runs a restaurant and my mom has been in sales and marketing, so they give me lots of tips on how to promote and improve on my businesses. I’m thankful for that. I’m really glad they’ve allowed me to follow my dreams."

Showing the makings of an entrepreneur even as a schoolkid, Alessa got into her first profitable crafts when she sold the paintings she made in third grade as part of a Math class, where they were supposed to learn about money. "We were tasked to make products and then sell them for play money," Alessa relates. "Even if I really didn’t earn anything from that, I remember that I just felt so proud that someone else appreciated my paintings."

Having taken up art lessons for two years, Alessa learned most of the things she now knows through self-study or through her Home Economics and Art classes in grade school and high school. She’d read all the art and design books she could get her hands on. Among her favorite reading fare were the Childcraft’s Arts and Crafts volume and other art encyclopedias she’d find in the shelves of her lolo’s library. She also attended workshops.

Soon, what started as something she did for pleasure became a business. "My initial investment for jewelry was maybe about P3,000 to P5,000," she computes. "For graphic design, my investment was more in my education and my computer. I took up graphic design classes in college and after that, I also took some courses at NYU and Parsons in New York."

Of course, her mom was her first client. "Even until now, I still feel like a little kid, proudly showing her artwork to her mommy every time, hoping for a smile of approval," says Alessa. "Then, of course, there were my titas, cousins, classmates, and friends. In graphic design, my first clients were my friends. They would ask me to make logos for their school projects, and I also designed resumes for some of them."

Part of what she earned she saved to make her business grow. She points out, "But actually, for me, every accomplishment leads me to the next dream. I have an extremely long list of things I want to do, so I save/spend my money on those, my other dreams and passions. I spend it on traveling, sports, books, and workshops."

And now, to share her talent with other people, Alessa has put up Art Adventures, where she takes her students by the hand into the colorful world of art. "I started Art Adventures in the summer of 2000, right after my high school graduation. I started with the five to 12 years age group. Today, we conduct classes for preschoolers (three to six years old), kids (seven to 12 years old), teens (13 to 18 years old), and teens/adults (13 years and above).

For teens/adults, Art Adventures is teaching basic jewelry making: learn jewelry making techniques and create fashion accessories using many different metal and non-metal materials. Students will learn wire crocheting, beading, making beads and pendants with polymer clay, and creating jewelry from recycled and found materials. Your imagination and creativity will be tested as you create your own jewelry collection.

The five-session workshop started last April 29 and will run for four more Saturdays on May 6, 13, 20, and 27 at The Ortigas Foundation, 2nd floor, Ortigas Building, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. The workshop fee is P3,750 for five sessions (three hours per session, inclusive of all basic materials).

Art Adventures also teamed up with Camp Rocks for an exciting creativity and leadership camp that really rocks. While exploring new outdoor adventures, budding artists learned new skills in photography, painting, T-shirt printing, papier-mache, and clay modeling.

Alessa enthuses, "My sister Aia, my love for the arts, for kids and for learning inspired me to put up Art Adventures. I want to see children excited about their works, and I want to encourage creativity and resourcefulness."

Last year, Alessa launched her crochet collection, some pieces with bells and beads, at the Rockwell Vintage Bazaar. She observes, "But the market wasn’t familiar with it yet – unlike now, where you see crocheted stuff everywhere. But what’s different about my designs is that I try to make them look as if they’re not really crocheted. The stitches are finer. You won’t see any of those crocheted balls that you see everywhere. Also, my jewelry teacher before told me that I was good with colors (she used a lot of bright, bold colors when she was starting)."

Alessa tries to create something new every week, producing full lines every three months for her collections. Among her valued clients are girls who love themselves and love life, dreamers and travelers and, yes, accessory-addicts like her.

This young entrepreneur is just so full of plans and dreams, "I’d love to take up glass blowing and learn how to make fine jewelry. I’ve got a T-shirt line in production with my friends Yoya Gueco and Marielle Yulo. I’d like to expand my accessories line. Right now, Art Adventures is what I call a Mobile Art School, and even though that setup still works for us, I’d like to put up a studio soon."

Alessa’s certainly got her creative hands full.

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Check out more of Alessa’s accessories at www.alessabyalessa.multiply.com and more about Art Adventures at www.artadventuresph.com. Send e-mail to alessalibongco@gmail.com.