HOW MY ‘WILD CARDS’ EVOLVED

So I’ve pledged to do some card /craft things on this website, if you’ve noticed.

Disclosures:

  • I don’t like to spend $6 to $8 or more for commercial notecards.
  • I am old-school and still write hand-written notes – meaning cards – to send birthday cheer or get-well wishes, or for any other occasion. Yes, emails get there swiftly; you can create original e-cards with clip art, or enlist on professional e-card companies that create wonderful graphics, animation, and music to mark any occasion. What you can’t effectively do is scribble out a note.
  • I create original handmade stationery because I enjoy the process. Started years ago, when I sought a Hallmark card to send a personal note with a precise vibe. Couldn’t find one, but the one beaut   might have bought had a message that didn’t reflect my sentiments.

That’s how my Wild Cards were born. I secured reams of assorted paper, of vellum quality so they have crisper and durability than standard paper. I sought out art paper stores on numerous trips for resources that gad more glitz and zest.

But I also do notecards relying on washi tape, colored pens, paints and various other media – wire, felt pieces, wrapping paper, rubber stamps, stick-on alphabets, and good old-fashioned hand-lettering with pens of many colors – and then work out motifs. With a paper cutter, scissors, doubled-edge tapes and X-Acto pens, I let the imagination go wild.

Here, I share a couple of simple cards anyone can create. One uses stickers of dogs, the other of cats. The exclamation point for me here are the hand-written captions.

I won’t engage in DIY make-a-card instruction here – that’s not my role — but perhaps you might find some inspiration to make your own, then send someone a hand-written note, too. You don’t know the joy you’ll bring to the recipient.

MOTHER’S DAY FACEBOOKING

Drew and Colton Bright, sons of Clarke and Jade Bright, sent their mom a special, lasting floral bouquet for Mother’s Day.

Jade Bright, with Mother’s Day Lego florals made by sons Drew and Colton

‘Twas fashioned from Lego bricks, so it took some time and effort to shape and make. Proves that the Bright siblings are not only stage-savvy, but they’re also adept in plastics, too.

Of course, proud grandma Mo Bright, widow of the beloved stage director Ron Bright, posted a pic of the creation on Facebook. …then Jade confessed that she provided the kit for her sons. Hey, if it works, why not?

Glenn Medeiros, Saint Louis School president, was at home on Mother’s Day, at his keyboards. So why not serenade and singing and self-accompany himself, rendering a sweet version of “Where Is Love,” an appropriate but underrated ballad from the musical, “Oliver.”

He’s still got his pipes. And charm. Check it out on Facebook. …

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After Medici, New York

Entertainer Shari Lynn is prepping for another gig at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace this month. She takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 21, at the Manoa Marketplace venue. Doors open at 6 p.m. for pre-performance dinner.

Shari Lynn

Tickets are $59, include dinner, plus a handling fee. Visit https://medicismanoa.com for tickets.

By the end of May, Shari and hubby Michael Acebedo will be celebrating their wedding anniversary with a romantic lakeside dinner at Central Park’s Boathouse restaurant. It’s a belated 45th celebration, since they wed in June, and the trip had to be delayed because of the pandemic. So the dinner will be an early celebration for No. 46 this year….

For Shari, this won’t be a theater-watching visit since the bulk of the Broadway reopenings won’t be ready till fall. Still, when you’re in The Big Apple, there’s still a lot to do and engage in. …

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Strumming duo

You never know who shows up and presents an unplanned mini-concert.

When Rick Ornellas was at the Kahala Mkt recently, he encountered a first-class ukulele performance by dual strummers Jake Shimabukuro and Herb Ohta Jr.

Visitors-diners s at the MKT’s restaurant were treated to an impromptu performance – a lucky happenstance, natch.

Shimabukuro recently was on Henry Kapono’s Blue Note tribute to the late Don Ho, and the strumming doubled as a trickle-over post-show salute to Uncle Don. Yes, we remember him, too. …

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Got tidbits? Share ‘em…

I’ve been getting emails from folks who wonder how to get into this rebooted column.

Best way: email me at wayneharada@gmail.com, with notes and quotes you deem interesting to share with peers and readers. Or put together a graph or two, if you’re doing a concert or project. Submit items a week to 10 days before an event, to allow time to publicize here; data may be included in occasional Date Book calendar listings. This still is a work-in-progress website. Mahalo…

And that’s “Show Biz”: …

A CHERRY COLA WAR IS UNDER WAY

Have you been addicted to, or at least in the know, about cherry cola?

I used to periodically drink Coca-Cola’s cherry Coke, till it disappeared years ago.

It’s now back, in a new cola war with Pepsi-Cola.

So I bought a bottle each of Coke’s cherry soda and Pepsi’s wild cherry soda.

Disclosure: I’ve favored Coke over Pepsi over the decades. My fave now is Coke Zero (and Pepsi has its version, too).

In an unofficial and unscientific taste test, I can reveal that I liked the Pepsi over the Coke cherry-flavored soda. Was it because of the “wild” adjective? Hmmm. The flavor was “wilder,” so maybe.

Let me know if you agree, or disagree, or even care…

JOHNSON’S ‘YOUNG ROCK’ EXTENDED

Dwayne Johnson’s “Young Rock,” the sorta doc-sitcom on NBC, has been renewed for a second season.

Dwayne Johnson

Johnson, a Hawaii native, is up there in popularity; “Young Rock” is rated the No. 2 comedy in the valuable 18 to 49 demographics, and surely, his stature as a Hollywood Big Name is the key to the success of this giddy venture.

The series explores the youthful years of the dude who would become The Rock and then the centrifugal force of cinematic action dramas laced with a bit of comedy.

Doesn’t hurt, of course, that he appears on “Young Rock” and also is part of the producing team with tongue firmly in cheek.

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Name game

Laprete

Laprete, formerly known as Aidan James and also Aidan James Powell, continues to Wemerge as an actor, musician, composer, instrumentalist, recording artist and TV star. With quite an expanding list of credits, it’s amazing that he’s only 19, though he’s been strumming ukulele since he was a toddler.

Named after his mom, TV producer Angie Laprete, he will be seen in Amazon Prime’s “The Wilds,” Season 2 of the YA survival series, filmed in Australia,  previously with females, soon to be focusing on males.  Laprete will appear as Henry Tanaka.

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Horace Dudoit III

All in the ‘ohana

Horace Dudoit III and his Ho’okena group will be heard harmonizing and lending vocal support to country music star Josh Turner’s holiday album this winter.

Turner enlised Dudoit and his buddies to guest-sing on “Mele Kalikimaka, My ‘Ohana,” one of the tracks on Turner’s album.

The connection began when Turner asked Dudoit for kokua, to assist with some of the Hawaiiana in the holiday song.

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And that’s “Show Biz.” …