How To Make It

I have a new discovery that I just need to share! 

It's this beautiful book called "How To Make it" written by Erin Austen Abbott. 

In the book, Erin interviews 25 creative entrepreneurs from all over the United States and Canada. They include stationery designers, leather crafters, painters, a party goods designer, and print makers, and they all dish out advice on "how to make it" from maker to business owner.

It's an easy read (I read it from cover to cover) with lots of pictures. Here are my favorite parts of the book:

A section featuring "A Day in The Life" because, hey, owning a business is a 24/7 job! It shows how they layout their day and how they achieve a work-life balance. 

They also recommend a playlist...I'm all for new music suggestions!

And there are generous pages filled with easy how-to craft projects if you're still at the "maker" part of the spectrum.

In the dedication page, Erin says, "This book is for all the makers, crafters, artists, and working creatives who get up every day and pour their hearts into their work because they simply love what they do. You are Making It."

Awwww.💕

Please stop by tomorrow...I'm making a craft from the book!

A Jewelry Dish

Hi and thanks for stopping by! A few weeks ago, I experimented with polymer clay. I had some clay left over to make a new craft.

I first kneaded the polymer clay and rolled it out. Some kitchen tools I used were a flexible cutting mat, a rolling pin, a round biscuit cutter, an offset spatula, and a sharp-edged tool (this triangle one is for fondant work) for detail.

 I cut out a circle with the biscuit cutter.

Then I embossed some ferns using a rubber stamp.

I let the clay sit on a cup of a muffin tin so that it bakes like a bowl instead of a flat plate.

I baked it for 25 minutes in a 275 degree Fahrenheit oven. The baking time varies depending on the clay's thickness. The clay has to be hard (not dough-like) when you take it out of the oven.

Here's what it looks like after baking. I like that the edges have a slight ruffle.

I painted on some blue watercolor with a brush but dabbed the clay with a paper towel which resulted to this marbled effect.

Then I added a layer of green paint in the center using the same technique.

And a final layer of yellow paint. Let the paint dry for an hour. 

And here it is, my adorable little jewelry dish. TADA!

Pretty Packaging Design

Last July, family visited and they came bearing gifts! One of those gifts is this artisinal chocolate bar:

It's carefully made in the Philippines by a small company called Tigre Y Oliva. 

This bean to bar chocolate is full-bodied, flavorful, and has a good snap. It was gone in one sitting!

And can we talk about the packaging?

The paper is from Italy and this particular one reminds me of colorful tiles on a wall or floor of a villa. Wrapping like this must not be thrown away.

Here's what I did to preserve this pretty package:

With this pack of self-laminating tags, I'm making my own luggage tag!

I carefully took off the sticker labels.

Then stretched out the paper.

Using the information card as a guide, I cut out a piece of the wrapper. 

I glued this onto the back side of the card.

Then I sandwiched the card in between the plastic (after filling out the information with a pen). 

Here's what it looks like.

My DIY luggage tag...TADA!

As an alternative, you can use a laminating machine or ID tags. 

I'm ready for my next adventure with this luggage tag that's sure to stand out.

Updating Clothes with Embroidery

Over the past couple of months, I've been seeing this trend on clothing and shoes. Have you observed them as well?

It's adding a touch of embroidery, instantly turning plain wardrobe essentials like blouses and jeans from blah to TADA! 

I think it's a cool way to update old clothes.

Today, I'll try the look with this shirt.

Because hand embroidery is a bit of a commitment, I'm using this iron-on patch instead.

The heat of an iron allows the patch to adhere to the fabric and can withstand many washes.

It's a cute and easy revamp. And yes, sometimes, I like to wear my heart on my sleeve. TADA!

A Beautiful Bag Charm

Hello and thank you for visiting today.

We can find inspiration everywhere! I was leafing through old Anthropologie catalogs and I saw this:

It's a bag charm. Wouldn't it be a fun afternoon project?

I found all the elements in my jewelry-making box: a hook and chain (from an old bag), a plastic round pendant, beads strung together with pin head pins/eye pins with the help of pliers.

I first made the initial on the pendant. This can be done in many different ways like marker calligraphy or a computer print out using a favorite font. I cut out a letter from a magazine and glued it on the pendant. Then I added a layer of this dimensional glue for a glossy, glassy dome finish.

I attached the beads on the chain. It has a good mixture of faux pearls, diamonds, and crystals.

I added some pink beads because I thought it needed more color. 

I added the initial pendant to personalize my bag charm. TADA!

Make one for yourself and another for your best friend.

The 100 Day Project: Some Reflections

For the past two weeks, I've been talking about the #100DayProject. I only heard about it a few days before it was to start. My instagram feed (of mostly creatives) was flooded with photos and declarations that they were participating. It was like they were in on a secret. So I investigated. And I joined on a whim. This write-up sealed the deal:

It's a celebration of process that encourages everyone to participate in 100 days of making. The great surrender is the process; showing up day after day is the goal. For the 100-Day Project, it's not about fetishizing finished products—it's about the process.

The 100 Day Project has been one of the highlights of my year so far. Here are the reasons why:

My Mom passed away early this year. I've been feeling lost but I have been forcing myself not to fall into a hole of depression. Thus I turned to my anchor: crafting. It gave me something to look forward to, a distraction for loneliness.

Many times, tears flowed while I crafted especially when I made something nostalgic like painting my favorite dresses when I was a child. Or drawing the pairs of shoes I wore to school because these were tied to memories with Mom. I went back to the books my Mom read to me like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" which resulted in my sewing of three bears: 

It was heartbreaking and then therepeutic. It made me feel connected to my Mom since we did a lot of crafts together.

The great Carrie Fisher once said, "Take your broken heart, make it into art." 

Each of us has a benchmark, a way in which we measure that this day was a "good day". For me, it's when I made with my hands and produced something that I was proud of. And the #100DayProject encouraged just that.

We live in a time where self-expression can take on many forms. Isn't that exciting? My preferred methods: "crafts" and "confections". There are many new crafts that I tried like making a mandala, working with polymer clay, and tyring out bounce calligraphy. And the same is true with baking and making desserts -- there are so many recipes and techniques to try and eventually master.

By getting out of our comfort zone, we are rewarded with breakthroughs and bravery.    

I finished the #100DayProject and I did it everyday...TADA!

There were days I was tired and busy. There were days I had to give up my crafting space because of houseguests. And there were days when my mind drew a blank saying, "Yikes! What am I making today?" There could have been many excuses not to go on, but I still did.

Half-way through the project, our cheerleaders and project organizers Elle and Lindsay sent this message: "I am creating at my own pace. I will finish my #100DayProject in my own time. I trust myself."

On Day 100, Elle posted this photo:

My favorite line: "You shared your work openly and vulnerably, you took risks."

And now that the #100DayProject has ended, here's what I'll do:

"So keep showing up. Keep creating. What you make matters."

Creative Everyday

In a photo story last week, I showcased the crafts and confections I made for The 100 Day Project. I was able to craft every single day for 100 days. Something I enjoyed but it was quite the commitment! I've written down some thoughts on how I did it. Can I share them with you?

Start with a list. I like lists because they always keep me organized and on track. I make a "To Do" list everyday, I have a "Grocery List", a "Craft Store List", a list of books to read, a list of new recipes to try, and so on. I just love the satisfaction of crossing off the items on my list with a red pen.   

Before embarking on "The 100 Project", I made a list of "easy crafts" and "crafts to try". The "easy crafts" took 10 to 15 minutes of my day and were very familiar. The "crafts to try" required more time to understand instructions, room for hits and misses, and to develop my own style. This includes baking because of the prep time involved.

This combination of "easy" and "intermediate/advance" crafts kept me on my toes. For busy days and days that I just wasn't in the mood to create, I could draw or make a small watercolor painting. For days when I had more time, I was ready to experiment. Whether the results were successful or not so, I still felt a sense of accomplishment because I tried.  

Have your tools handy. It's easier to make stuff when you have the tools for it. If I want to try a new recipe, I know that my pantry has to be stocked with flour, sugar, butter, and eggs. If I want to build a scrapbook, paper, glue, stickers, and photos should be within reach. 

I find that a "project pouch" is useful whether for home or travel. It's just a small bag filled with basic supplies for your craft of choice (ex. crochet hook, yarn, a pair of scissors; or brushes, a sketchbook and paint). I can take it with me anywhere, craft when there's some free time, and I won't have an excuse not to craft.    

Create a dedicated craft space. I wish I had a craftroom or a she shed but apartment living has its limits. I've made do with a table that doubles as a craft table and where I do the photography for this blog. It's usually piled with supplies and current projects, but I always gravitate towards it. It's where my imagination comes alive. It's my happy place.

I hope this has inspired you to make crafting part of your everyday. TADA!