Chrysara NEST in Mandaluyong

I first discovered Chrysara, a Pampanga-based export company specializing in home decors, accessories and gift items back in October 2012, at Manila FAME. 

There were so many booths that I fell in love with then, and as you can guess, one of those booths was Chrysara. I loved their vintage-y toys, home decors, religious icons inside bell jars, I even ended up buying these doll busts right on the spot.

When I asked them if they had a store I can visit after the exhibit, they said they had none, but I could go visit their factory in Pampanga. 

Not wanting to make the trek to Pampanga, the following day, I just had to go again to the SMX Convention Center to pick up a mermaid lamp that I put on reserve. I truly was smitten.

Ever since then, the Chrysara booth has always been a pit stop for me every time Manila FAME rolls around.

Sometime last July 2013, I found out that my ballerina friend Rhea Dumdum Bautista was consulting for Alice Reyes Van Doorn, Ballet Philippines (BP) founder turned creative director of Chrysara (who named her company after her kids Chris & Sara). 

Rhea had invited me to the private sale of the newly opened flagship store in Pampanga, and I was like, "OMG, I can totally see myself going to Pampanga just to shop at their store!"

Lucky for me, by November of 2013, I didn't even have to go all the way to the North.

Because Chrysara Nest opened a store right here in Metro Manila, on Col. Buenaventura Stree in Addition Hills, Mandaluyong.  

The store is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm, and by appointment on Mondays.

As expected, it is chock-full of finds, and you can easily pick up something interesting for you to decorate your beach house, kids' room and restaurant with, in one fell swoop.

"Weather worn" oars, surfer dudes, and 20s bathing babes for your Batangas beach house

Vintage-inspired toys for the boys' room

Oriental-inspired decor for a modern Chinese restaurant

It was also fun seeing their pieces, such as the fat lady here...

...in a Wisteria catalog, dressed just a bit differently. Chrysara has been exporting their wares to specialty home stores for close to 30 years now. They even supply my favorite home store Restoration Hardware.

1920s Classic French Glass Cloches, as seen on the Restoration Hardware Catalog, are handmade in Pampanga, by Chrysara

A version of the glass cloche with angel wings ala Restoration Hardware

The santos that Joseph Altuzzara talked about in the New York Times?

Chrysara has versions of that too. I want one, or maybe three. I would totally do an Altuzzara and have these ladies wear my necklaces when I am not wearing them.

Apart from busts and santos, I found that they make gorgeous sunburst mirrors too, that can be customised to a client's specifications.

As well as dome glass jars. Chrysara NEST has these in all sizes, with the medium one costing Php3,500 only.

These are just but a fraction of what you would see in the Mandaluyong store, and practically a drop in the bucket of their Pampanga flagship store, but at this rate, it's hard pressed to walk away without a couple of these gorgeous, and yet surprisingly affordable pieces for one's home, office or store.

For more on Chrysara, visit their website, http://www.chrysaranest.com/ or email chrysara@chrysara.com.

Chrysara NEST Pampanga
Angeles Industrial Park
Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm (closed Sunday)
Tel: (02) 246-8347 ; (45) 636-6036

Chrysara NEST Mandaluyong
776 Col. Buenaventura Street (formerly East Street)
Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-7:00pm (closed Monday)
Tel: (02) 724-0172