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!

Reusable Snack Bags

I'm so happy to see you today!

This Thursday is Earth Day. But why limit this occasion to just one day when we can make every day "Earth Day"? All we have to do is be mindful of our responsibilities to the environment. We can do our share in preventing pollution and the destruction of wildlife in small acts.

One way is to minimize or entirely stop the use of plastic.

I found these reusable snack sacks at a home store (this isn't a sponsored post!). They are made from thick but food safe material and they have adorable designs. I wash them, by hand or on the top rack of the dishwasher, after every use.

I pack my snacks in them -- sandwiches, cookies, fruit. I even keep one in my bag for non-liquid leftovers from a restaurant (no need for a Styrofoam or foil box AND a plastic bag). I also like giving this away as gifts and everyone who has received it appreciates it...TADA!

Here's another version. It's smaller and the mason jar design is just irresistible!

I like to fill them with salt, pepper and cooking spices. I take them to picnics, camping trips or vacations in rental properties where there's an opportunity to cook. Label appropriately with washi tape and a marker...TADA!

Let's do our share to protect the one planet that we have!

Pop-Up Cards

Around the same time last year, the whole world was just in the thick of a Coronavirus pandemic. Everyone was required to stay home and practice social distancing to avoid getting or spreading the virus that had no vaccine nor cure yet.

Stay. At. Home. 

That was the most basic requirement from all of us. And while we had all the comforts of home and being able to work from home, I felt helpless. And anxious.  

So I made these cards:

I tuned-out the news and made time for crafting for an entire afternoon. Doing so lowered my anxiety levels and I felt very purposeful. Because these cards were for a good cause.  

My neighbor Tara sent out a request on our neighborhood Facebook Group. She was thinking of all the seniors living alone or in senior homes who might feel afraid and isolated. Maybe the kids can make some drawings for these seniors to cheer them up? 

"Count me in, Tara!"

Even if I hardly qualified as a kid, this was a worthy endeavor. I made some cards and dropped them off at the designated collection site.

Can I show you what I made?

I used card stock so they're sturdy even without envelopes. I decided not to put any ribbon or tape to seal the cards. I wanted them to open easily, considering that some seniors may have arthritis.

When we open the card, there's a surprise.

It pops-up! Each one is decorated with cardboard cut-outs, coloring book pages, paint, and positive wishes written in brush lettering...TADA!

Here are the other designs that I created:

I hope I was able to bring smiles to some seniors. I also hope to continue making more cards that I can take to senior homes, turning their day (and mine) from blah to TADA!

While we already have vaccines and many have been vaccinated, let's not let our guard down. Let's be safe and continue to take care of each other.

 

The Art of Ikebana

Hello and Happy Easter! I'm pretty sure you'll agree that flowers are one of life's greatest pick-me-ups, whether you buy them for yourself or given to you as a token of affection. 

Over the years, I've taken some lessons in flower arranging.

Here is a very ladylike arrangement with roses, tulips, wax flowers, hypericum berries, and lavender in a simple vase.

This one reminds me of a bouquet picked from a meadow. It's composed of sunflowers, dahlias, salvia (purple), solidago (yellow), gomphrena (small red bulbs), and celosia (cockscomb flower) carefully placed in a mason jar.

This one's a spring arrangement in a soothing pink palette. 

*****

One of the most mind-opening classes for me was when we learned Ikebana.

Ikebana ("living flowers") is the Japanese art of arranging flowers. It's an ancient tradition where flower offerings were meant for altars. Ikebana eventually found a place in homes and interior spaces, encouraging spiritual reflection and nature appreciation.

The basic materials include an utsuwa (shallow container with water) and a kenzan (flower frog) that keeps the flowers securely in place.

Of course, flowers and stems are required but in a very small variety. We're aiming for minimalism, an awareness of shape and line, balance, and a lot of open spaces.

Ikebana follows very specific rules, the most important of which is that the arrangement should form an asymmetrical triangle. The three main stems of the triangle are called Shin (heaven), Soe (earth), and Tai (man). 

To determine the length of the stems, add the width and height of your utsuwa (container). The tallest item is the Shin (1.5 to 3 times the combined width and height of the utsuwa), followed by the Soe (2/3 the height of the Shin), and the shortest is the Tai (2/3 the height of the Soe).

Angles are an important element, too. This is the basic style diagram when positioning the stems: Shin (10 degrees), Soe (40 degrees), and Tai (70 degrees). The pin-like teeth of the kenzan keep the stems at the required angle.

This is my first try at Ikebana and it was initially stressful to remember all the rules, measurements, and really limiting the amount of flowers used (the arrangements I made up top follow a "more is more approach").

Creating the arrangement should be done in silence and the meditative process results to calm and inner peace -- the union of Shin (heaven), Soe (earth), and Tai (man).

After all is said and done, I did arrive at a calm state, especially when I look at the piece I made.

And this is how I turned some simple materials from blah to TADA!

Happy Easter

Hello there and Happy Easter!

I found these vintage greeting cards at a used bookstore. Aren't they sweet? While some people still exchange cards, very few still do. I miss the whole ceremony of picking out a card at the store, writing on it, taking it to the post office and in return, receiving something in the mail, too.

I wish you all the beauty of new beginnings!

The Golden Egg

Easter is this Sunday and I've been thinking how much of it is centered around children -- the candy, the Easter egg hunts, and the bunnies. Well, grown-ups can celebrate Easter, too! And while we're still in a pandemic, we can have a small gathering with our quarantine-TEAM or for those who've been vaccinated, a slightly bigger but still responsible soiree.

Today, I made these paper mache' Easter eggs and painted them gold. I like the imperfect finish that almost resembles gold leaf. If paper mache' is too much of a process, you may, instead, paint hard boiled eggs or plastic eggs. 

I picked up these goose feathers from a park nearby and washed them with warm soapy water and let them dry.

I gathered the eggs and the feathers into a neat bouquet (held together by hot glue and string). 

I tied it around a cloth napkin and positioned them on each place setting. 

Now I'm ready to serve Easter brunch!

And of course, I'll give away Easter treats like these dark chocolate cookies...TADA! 

Today We Declutter!

Yesterday, I heard the birds chirp for the first time after a long winter. I also saw some purple crocuses, the first blooms of the season. Spring is here and on the top of our list: spring cleaning! Even if it's something that we do regularly, it can be quite daunting.  

I read a few books recently on smart ways to keep an organized home in a few, easy steps. Let me share with you some of what I learned.

"Outer Order, Inner Calm" is Gretchen Rubin's book about taking control of our stuff so that we feel more in control to our lives. Here are my favorite tips:

• Ask the questions, "Do I need it?, "Do I love it?" or "Do I use it?" when deciding what items to keep. Then ask the question, "Where does it belong?" because every thing we own must have a specific home.
• Identify your beneficiaries when you're ready to give away your stuff like an organization that will accept toys, books, clothes, or old furniture. That way you know that there will be people who will appreciate and find use for them.
• Make a "mock move". Pretend you're moving to a new home and determine if the things you own now you are willing to wrap in bubble wrap and take with you or if you're ready to get rid of them. Toss and recycle those things now. 
• "Don't put things down. Put them away." How many times have put jackets and clothes on a chair with the intention of sorting through them later? Next thing we know the chair is covered in a pile of clothes. 
• "Put things to good use. Spend out."  Many of us like to save our nice things for special occasions like wedding china, a fancy bottle of perfume or a candle, pretty stationery. Don't wait for someday. Use them today.
• "Everything looks better arranged on a tray." Belongings like cosmetics, accessories, and cooking ingredients look like a collection when grouped on a tray.
• Turn clutter clearing into a fun event. After a dinner party, fill a small table with gently used things and announce, "Help yourself!" Guests get excited over the freebies and you give a new home to the things you no longer need.

Similar to Miss Rubin's last tip, Reese Witherspoon, in her book "Whiskey in a Teacup" provides this idea that involves the family or group of friends: 

Items gathered from spring cleaning can be a good excuse to throw a White Elephant Party. Here's how it works:

You bring a gift -- it could be ridiculous or wonderful -- and put it on a table. Then you pick a number, say 1 to 20 (based on the number of guests), and then whatever number you get is when it's your turn to pick a gift from a pile. You can keep and item or give it to someone else in exchange for the gift that he or she picked.  

Or you can just do a more informal version where you bring clothes that you no longer want, put them in the middle of the table, and take something else you can use (handbags, books, houseware).

I think this is a good excuse to get together (in small groups given the current circumstances, or something to look forward to when it's safe to gather in large groups) and find a new home for your unwanted belongings...TADA!

"Minimalism" has been a buzz word in the past couple of years. In "Goodbye, Things" by Fumio Sasaki, he defines Minimalist as "a person who knows what is truly essential for him- or herself, who reduces the number of possessions that they have for the sake of things that are really important to them." He also explains, "For a minimalist, the objective isn’t to reduce, it’s to eliminate distractions so they can focus on the things that are truly important. Minimalism is just the beginning. It’s a tool. Once you’ve gone ahead and minimized, it’s time to find out what those important things are."

Below are a few more insightful quotes from the book:

• I was thinking about what would happen if I passed away, or something serious happened to me suddenly. All my possessions would become a burden to my loved ones. Yet because I had minimized most of my belongings, I realized I had also minimized the trouble I would cause others in such circumstances.
• Seriously, minimalists have no possessions that they are scared to lose. That gives them the optimism and courage to take risks.
• When we let go of our possessions, our ability to concentrate improves. Why might that be? Things don't just sit there. They send us silent messages. And the more the item has been neglected, the stronger it's message will be. All of our possessions want to be cared for, and they tell us that every time we look at them.

I hope these thoughts have inspired you to begin tidying and de-cluttering. Here's hoping all our homes turn from blah to TADA!