African Tulip - Spathodea campanulata

African Tulip trees are very common in Singapore - but one rarely gets to admire their beautiful flowers that close up!

in between the silence...

the thoughts I share with you in this post are personal and not necessarily related to my work - but always close to my heart

I have to admit that this year so far has been unusually quiet …in stark contrast to 2008 which was full of hectic activity and actions and personal tragedies


the loneliness of developing, designing and patenting a planting systems and products all by myself mutated into a bit too much of a solitary experience…


despite quiet some efforts and contacts to introduce the concept to major players in the market all over the world, finding a producer for the patented plant container solution prooves a difficult task indeed!


the patent for the inventive planting system/concept came along nicely and I will need to file nationally within November of this year - whether- and even more importantly, where - I will attempt the actual filing is still up in the air…mainly because finding a producer for the 13 strong product line has been elusive so far.

so many brilliant ideas and solutions on design and products – any takers?


nature is –besides the love of my life – the centre and source of my well-being: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve walks refresh spirit and "green cleans "the soul, and the familiarity of the botany in the gardens exudes a deep sense of peace, calm and groundedness...

so much of our lives is constantly floating and changing - and this instability rattles me more often than not...

we traveled to New Zealand, a country we hope to call home one day, where I would like to establish a little farm and “return” to the simple life I’ve always dreamed about – a life which would bring full circle the happiest times of my childhood: working in the gardens with my grandmother Louisa, whom I loved most in my entire family.

the first half of 2009 was spent - sensibly and enriching, I believe - to read and learn about food, herbs and spices, medical plants and herbal medicine, about essential oils, its applications in holistic body care as well as its medical benefits; autodidactic learning process in the healing properties of plants and its essences.

while one can’t really prepare for living on and off the land through books and research, spending time in the National Library and on the "ever so clever" internet expands dreams and hopes and aspirations - and seeing some great real life experiences while traveling and visiting organic farms and sustainable businesses in all aspects of life keeps the dream well alive!



keep yours, my friends!
happy weekend - Gabriela

just a little note on the validity of a great idea...

the orange shelf seemingly made it – albeit without my knowledge – into a high end interior design & architecture magazine in Indonesia and New York… well done then, right?

let's hope the lava stone cubes attract somebody else attention, too...

what an ingenious use for ping-pong balls...!!!

pipajo seating/light/storage display

the last few months of 2008 I created new products with a local natural stone importer and design company.

we converted lava, granite and travertine slabs into “boxes” with cover lids and drilled decorative patterns into them, inserted colorful glass, metal mesh or… nothing.

the stone boxes – for in- and outdoor use – function as seating, storage, lights, display space –whether on or in the box, a beautiful potted plant gains instant centre stage!

they are currently displayed outside the showroom at Sophia Road/Trinity Church Artist Centre Singapore and will also be seen and sold at the Emily Hill Creative Art and Research Centre from March 09 onwards

Trinity Church Showroom (on a windy, rainy day…)

we hope to establish a small cottage industry using and combining recycled and/or rest materials and create new, useful and interesting products, engaging and employing the handicapped and other disadvantaged people of our small society.

pipajo furniture desgin

side feeding shelf unit with décor cover - for oversized books & magazines

in february 08 we introduced the first of our furniture designs - a shelf unit for the over-sized coffee table books and magazines not fitting into standard shelfing units

functional but beautiful - with a decorative panel covering the " boxes" behind

it adds interest and fun to a very practical solution!

please contact us at info@pipajo.com for more information

happy notes for every day