Art in Bloom

Happy Monday! April is here and its first few days have been rainy and gloomy. But as they say, "April showers bring May flowers". 

And after our unrelenting winter, I can't wait to see the first buds of spring! 

As a preview of the new season, let me take you on a little trip.

We're going to Macy's in New York City.

They just concluded their annual flower show with the theme "Art in Bloom".

Here are the store windows:

The main display was on the first floor.

It's like a botanical garden was transported inside the store.

There were flowers in every turn.

The bouquet of the day changed every two days. Different designers like Martha Stewart, Polux Fleuriste and Kenji Takenaka each made a display. This particular one, blending hard and soft, modern and classic, was made by Oliver Giugni. 

The show "Art in Bloom" was the marriage of fresh flowers and art history.  

This is a tribute to Picasso.

A nod to Contemporary art.

The scenery of the Impressionists.

The solid colors of Modern art. 

 The comic touch of Pop art.

The Surrealist's view of the world.

The Renaissance garden.

A replica of the statue of David in one of the entrances.

Colorful images were projected on the white statue.

This was a light and sound show. The globes changed color to the beat of the music.

I loved this pocket garden by the escalators. They should make it a permanent fixture. It's a soothing spot in busy midtown Manhattan.  

It's no surprise that the merchandise like perfume, bags, and...

...dresses have a floral and flirty spin on them.

I hope these photos have inspired you to make your own paintings, create a flower arrangement or plant a few flowering seeds. 

Enjoy the coming week!

Easter Greetings

Wishing you all a beautiful day! Happy Easter!

Bunny Crafts

Happy hump day! I thought I'd share a bonus craft today, something anyone can do for Easter.

Remember this bunting I made two weeks ago? It was an afternoon of crafting where I taught some adorable kids how to design their own t-shirt.

With some bunny stencils, fabric paint and pompoms, we transformed plain t-shirts from blah to TADA!:

Aren't they cute? This craft technique is so versatile, it can be used on any surface.

The bunny patterns are all from the internet. I printed them on card stock and cut inside the design with a sharp pair of scissors. 

I thought plain table napkins would be something fun to jazz up especially for Easter entertaining. 

If you ever venture into the clearance section of home stores, they'll sell napkins for $1 to $2 a piece. The colors and prints are usually one-offs and don't match. But adding a design surrounding a certain theme (ex. Easter, summer, fall) will provide cohesion.

Here are some other materials we'll need: fabric paint, a foam paint brush, masking tape or painter's tape, and pompoms.

After washing, drying and ironing the napkin, determine on which part you'd like to add the design. Then, put a piece of cardboard underneath the fabric so the paint doesn't seep through the other layers. Tape the edges of the stencil onto the napkin with masking or painter's tape so that the stencil stays in place as paint is applied.

Using the foam paintbrush, add the paint inside the stencil with a pouncing motion.

Use several coats of paint (at least three) and set aside for a few minutes.

Gently peel off the stencil and allow this to fully dry overnight.

Once dry, attach a pompom for the bunny tail by sewing or with fabric glue.

This adds a handmade and festive element to your dining table. TADA!

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

Dreaming of Paris

Happy Monday! Let me tell you where my day dreams are taking me lately -- to Paris. I would love to rent an apartment, visit the markets, get lost in the museums, and try out a new patisserie each day. 

I guess I don't have to explain. Paris is magic. 

And while I can't pack my bags and leave, I'll let a crafty session take me there for now. 

I'll turn this blank card from blah to TADA!

I'm using some watercolor...

...and my newly acquired alphabet punch set.

I like it a lot because it gives me neat letters. 

And more importantly, I can use it to recycle scrap paper.

Tweezers are a handy tool to apply glue and place letters onto the card.

"Happy Birthday" in French.

 Fill it with sentiments and lots of amour.

Here's another version in fashionable black and white.

And a cute way to say  "Many Thanks".

In case you're working on a Parisian-themed craft, you might want to join this contest (it ends tomorrow). The prize is a trip to Paris!

Insta-Bunting

Hi there! I found another way to turn an old book from blah to TADA!

I turned the pages into a bunting:

Over the weekend, I taught a craft class (we made Easter t-shirts). I thought it would be fun to decorate my work space. It not only told participants the venue, it attracted new kids and their parents to sign up for the class.  

I made this with pages from a old book, punched out hearts from construction paper, and letters that I painted on. I used baker's twine to hold them all together.

Maybe this will serve as inspiration for a sign you can use for your next event, craft fair or bake sale.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Look Ma, I'm Weaving!

Yesterday, I showed you a craft that I was working on. I'm proud to say I've finally completed it and so delighted to try it for the first time.

I learned how to weave!

I got the inspiration from the pages of the current issue of Uppercase Magazine. And lately, I've been seeing a lot of weaving projects around the web like here, here and here.

I followed this tutorial on Etsy.

I like the simplicity of materials. I didn't have to buy anything at all. Cardboard turned into a basic loom, kitchen twine, and colorful yarn from my stash...all blah to TADA!

A popsicle stick acted as my needle to weave the yarn up and under the twine.

I used my fingers to secure the loose ends and also to push the rows tightly together.

I secured my handwoven tapestry onto a twig for a more natural look. 

TADA! I can't wait to make more.