Five Things for June

Let's hear it for the month of June!

June means road trips and weekends at the beach. The wind in my face, the scent of sunblock and salt water, and the warmth of sunshine really turn regular days from blah to TADA! 

Whenever I go to the beach, I make sure to bring a paintbrush. I use it to brush off the sand that sticks to the beach chairs, umbrella, and folding beach table that we take with us. It works on sandy flip-flops, too. This little hack minimizes the amount of sand in the car when we load all of our beach things...TADA! 

Back in the day, ladies and gents would take a handkerchief with them for various purposes, from dabbing sweat to wiping away the tears. I've made it a habit to take a small towel in my bag. These ones are thin but very absorbent. I use them to dry my hands (I've never been a fan of the hand dryers in public restrooms). I love that they are reusable -- no need for paper towels. Small steps like this are very helpful to the environment...TADA!  

Summer for me also means learning something new and having time for creative endeavors. For the past several years, I've been attending Workshop Week, a series of free online art classes. This photo shows the dance party on the last day (these are just some of the many instructors). I highly recommend it! Workshop Week is scheduled on June 3 to 7 and you can find more details here...TADA!

Father's Day is also this June (June 16) and if you're looking for craft ideas for the dad in your life, you can find some here, here, and here.  Happy Father's Day to all fathers and father-figures...thank you for all that you do to turn our lives from blah to TADA!

Wherever adventures take you this June, may they be fun and fabulous!

Block Printing Basics

Today, let me tell you about Indian Block Printing, a craft that I learned recently.

Block Printing is like stamping, but instead of rubber stamps and an ink pad, wood blocks and paint are used. It's an ancient handicraft that finds its origins in India and the skill is not learned in school but passed on from generation to generation. 

I learned the basics from a class at our local library. 

Each participant was given this Block Printing kit.

Here are the contents. Notice the little stamps (bird, tree, border)? These are the wood blocks. They are hand-carved using teakwood or rosewood and treated with linseed oil. I'm in love and impressed with the intricate details! 

Due to the current pandemic, the class was done virtually. Our teacher Seema enthusiastically showed us all we needed to know. 

The first step is to cover your work surface with a few layers of newspaper. This will protect your table and functions as a cushion when stamping.

The next step is to prepare the paint (water-based like watercolor or poster paint). Put a small amount of paint on a plate or plastic food container. If the paint is too thick, you can add a tiny amount of salt to make the paint runny. Don't use water because it will only water down the color. 

On top of the paint, position a small piece of the printing pad (sponge). Using one of the wood blocks (design facing downwards), tap the sponge gently all around so that the paint lifts to the surface of the sponge.

This will be our ink pad.

Keep tapping the wood block on the sponge until the design is saturated with color.

Test the print on a piece of paper. This will tell you where you need to apply more paint.

Do the same process for all paint colors you intend to use.

Once satisfied with how the print registers on paper (ex. color is even and details are visible), we're ready to print on fabric.

This handkerchief was also part of the kit. Seema says cotton is the ideal fabric to use. Now is a good time to plan your design. Will you have a pattern (ex. linear or alternating) or will it be a repetition of a single print?

When you're ready, find the center of the fabric and start from there. Apply the freshly-inked block print, press down a few seconds, gently roll to the side and lift up. Keep repeating the design, making sure to ink the wood block before making a new print on the fabric.

With the first print as reference, stamp alternately from left to right so that we end up with an even number from the center.

No need to use a ruler, just eyeball it. The imperfections add charm. 

This is how my design came to life. 

With the art of block printing, I turned a plain piece of cloth from blah to TADA! 

It's my first try and I can't wait to keep practicing. Thank you for hanging out with me today!

A Bundle of Fun

Hey guys! Today's craft is inspired by these little bundles:

They're filled with all sorts of fragrant and luxurious bath products. Perfect for gifts because they're already wrapped!

TADA! Here is my version. 

I used the Japanese art of furoshiki using a bandana. A vintage handkerchief is another option, too.

When it's unwrapped, here's what you'll see inside.

I followed a Japanese theme. There's a face mask, a very useful book that I want to pass along, green tea, some panda-shaped biscuits and a chocolate bar. TADA!

I hope my friend who receives this will agree that it is a bundle of fun!

Furoshiki Fun

Furoshiki is the Japanese art of gift wrapping using a piece of cloth. Let's take a look:

via Ecoshiki

via One Million Women

via Ecoshiki

via Ecoshiki

via Omiyage Blogs

Aren't they beautiful? There's no need for scissors, tape or paper. You just need a piece of fabric like a vintage scarf, antique handkerchief, or fabric scraps that can be used over and over again. An impressive craft that turns blah to TADA!

Present Perfect

I hope you'll agree with me that handkerchiefs are lovely vintage treasures. You may have some hiding in your closet and there are many waiting to be purchased at flea markets and thrift stores. In the past two weeks, I've shown you how you can play around with these hankies and today I've got another idea for you.

We'll use these to package a few presents!

Put your gift in the center of the hankie.

Wrap the gift by neatly folding the edges and making a tight knot.
No need for scissors, tape or ribbon!

Embellish as you please!
Here, I added a rose-print button.

Or put on some bling like this brooch that compliments
the color of the handkerchief.

Complete the present with a gift enclosure and

some cheerful wishes.
Now you've got a pretty present inside & out!
Plus gift wrap that can be used all over again.

More Hanky Panky

Happy Monday Everyone! I hope you had a nice & sunny weekend.

Last week, we played around with some vintage handkerchiefs that any blushing bride can use at her wedding. I hope you gals who aren't brides-to-be didn't feel left out. Good news! This week on blah to Tada!, we'll get into some more hanky panky...the wholesome kind of course!

I have this stack of floral handkerchiefs sitting inside my sock drawer. In a not so distant past, every lady carried one and I bet, if these hankies could talk, they'd be muttering, "Bring us back in style!"

Part of that stack is this handkerchief I got from a pink & green swap. Isn't it pretty? The pink rose really grabs your attention.

I love it so much, I think it's worthy to be framed.
It brightens up my desk, giving me the feeling of having
a vase of flowers!

Heirloom Hankies

Horay it's Friday! Let me cap wedding week with a final blah to Tada! transformation dedicated to the bride and all her best friends.

Here's the blah...an old handkerchief.

Here's the Tada!...an old handkerchief, but one that's personal & sentimental.

It's meant for best friends to share and pass on.

Each lady's name and wedding date are written (or embroidered) on the handkerchief.

It marks that special day when she was a bride.

Then it's passed on to the next bride!

This has all the elements a bride needs for her wedding day:

Something OLD: the handkerchief
Something NEW: the NEW bride's name & wedding date
Something BORROWED: the handkerchief that's passed on
among friends
Something BLUE: the embroidery thread

The current bride keeps it in her care until a new engagement is announced. It can be presented to the bride-to-be at the engagement party or bridal shower.

This handkerchief can also be a wonderful heirloom piece from mother to daughter or shared among sisters.

Who says new wedding traditions can't be created?

Have a Tada! weekend everyone!

A Bride's Buddy

Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful things a woman can go through. Too many lists to make & cross out, so many details to think about. So to all the brides out there, I'm offering to you this vintage handkerchief...

Not to wipe those tears away, though!
We're turning it from blah...

...to Tada! -- it's now a bridal pouch!

Just fold the handkerchief in half, then in thirds.

Sew the edges and add a button with an elastic loop to the flap.

The blushing bride can use this to carry the important things
she will need for her big day like
tissues & blotting paper (no shiny faces!).

Add a small bottle of cologne, a compact, lipstick and a sewing kit.

Let the maid of honor hang on to this -- she'll be there with you
for touch ups and small emergencies.

Here's wishing you a wedding that's truly Tada!