High Five, Mommies!

Celebrating all you wonderful moms! If you still have a mom, tell her you love her today. If you're a mom, take the day off and enjoy!

Shoes for Spring

Hi everyone! Did you guys ever see the movie "The Devil Wear Prada"? It's a behind-the-scenes look on how a fashion magazine is put together. It stars Meryl Streep as the feared editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as an idealistic assistant.

In a brainstorming meeting, Meryl Streep/Miranda Priestly, with great sarcasm, delivers one of the most iconic quotes from the movie: "Florals? For spring? Ground breaking."

But it's true! What shop does not carry clothing and accessories in the most colorful floral prints? 

Even shoes have a touch of blooms! Look:

Inspired by these sandals, I decided to make a pair of tiny flower brooches. 

Instead of leather, I'm using felt sheets in different colors.

With thread to match and a pair of bar pins.

I cut the felt into thin strips and shaped the ends with scallops and fringe. I also made a few leaves and flowers with the remnants. 

To create a flower, I sewed on a running stitch on one end.

I pulled the thread and guided the felt to roll into itself to form a spiral. Then I sewed the ends with several stitches and finished with several knots so that the flower doesn't unravel.

I added a pearl to the center as a dainty detail.

I also experimented by sewing together two colors of felt.

Here, stacked flowers in different sizes then attached together with a glue gun.

Planning how to layout the flowers on the bar pin.

I added the leaves to the bar pin also with a glue gun.

Then I attached the flowers to the bar pins with more hot glue. Instant flower brooches...TADA!

I can now update the look of a pair of sandals from blah...

...to TADA!

I like how a small and crafty touch can quickly transform what's already in my closet, extending its use from season to season.

Thank you for visiting today!

Staying Sane at Home

Holy cow, it's already the last week of April! How are you guys doing? 

Personally, I still get bouts of anxiety every now and then. There seems to be no end in sight to this pandemic. Going "back to normal" will not be the normal we are all accustomed to.

I'm really trying to channel my worries into a more optimistic state of mind...you know, blah to TADA! Here are some of the things I've been doing:

1. Prayer and Meditation - it's very helpful to read reassuring verses, envisioning positive thoughts, and do some deep breathing to calm me down. 

I was even moved to make this sketch from scripture: "So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you." -Colossians 3:13

2. Making Art - there's a saying that goes, "Let art get you through the dark". Time and again, making something with my hands has worked as an anchor whether the seas are calm or turbulent.  

I'm participating in "The 100 Day Project" and I'm currently on Day 21. I've shared some tiny paintings on Instagram and I'll write a post about my progress in the coming weeks.

I've also been tuning into various live drawing and watercolor workshops on Instagram with illustrators that I admire like Jordan Sondler, Jessie Kanelos Weiner and Jennifer Orkin Lewis/August Wren. Watching them work is so soothing and it feels good to have some kind of human contact even if I see them but they don't see me.

3. Crafting - while I love doing this, it's been a struggle to start a new project.

I did make my own face mask using a bandana and elastic bands following this tutorial.

I also made a few pop-up cards for our elderly neighbors. I hope it cheers them up and makes them feel less alone.

4. Listening to Music - what better way to feel uplifted than with songs and very talented singers?

Broadway shows had to close their theater doors to help with social distancing measures. I do miss it, but the actors have been getting together to perform on-line. My favorites so far are Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and The Phantom of the Opera. 

And how about that moving solo performance of Andrea Bocelli? 

5. Cooking and Baking

Who isn't cooking these days? It satisfies a need since we can't eat out, but it's quite therapeutic and creative, too. 

I've also been baking a lot, making cookies, cakes, and quick breads.

And every afternoon, I'm at Baking Club with Christina Tosi.  She's the positive energy that we all need right now.

6.Virtual Parties - one thing I'm very grateful for is technology. It keeps us informed, educated, entertained, and connected.

I've been attending a few virtual parties with friends from across the globe via Messenger, ZOOM, and Google Hangouts. We've  been checking in on each other and swapping stories, shows to watch, and recipes to try.

Over the weekend, our family had a party for my little niece who turned one year old. We all made signs that we showed to the camera when we took a photo. That way when she gets older and looks at her old birthday photos, she'll see what a unique celebration we had for her. We had balloons, decorations, a mascot (just a drawing), a chocolate cake with a candle, and we sang "Happy Birthday". We each brought a snack that we were currently eating (ex. pizza, fried chicken, cupcakes) to "share" during our virtual potluck gathering. A real party would have been nice, but like everyone marking a big event, we did the next best thing.


How about you? Care to share some coping strategies? 

I wish you all good health, safety, and a peaceful week ahead!

The Flower Ladies

Springtime has always been magic for me. It's a miracle that I get to witness year after year when the earth comes back to life after a lengthy, somber winter.

I'm inspired by all the blooming bushes and trees outside. What a shame that we can't fully appreciate them because we have to stay home to stay safe. I continue to hunker down and I made a few paintings. 

I used these stamps by Jane Davenport.

I mounted them on acrylic blocks and inked with a stamp pad to create this series I fondly call, "The Flower Ladies":

The sketches are my humble way to preserve the flowers I see, as well as to admire our beautiful nature.  

I hope these will encourage you to make your own work of art...TADA!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Hey guys, nice to see you today!

Did you know that April is "National Letter Writing Month?" It's very old-fashioned but that's where the charm lies. The ritual of choosing stationery and a fine pen, expressing your thoughts on paper and in your handwriting. Signing it, sealing it, and taking it to the post office for a proper stamp so the letter arrives to your beloved.  

I love writing letters and I love receiving letters, too! Even at this time where technology is at our fingertips and on instant voice command.

I was reading this article entitled "What's Your E-mail Sign-Off?" and I found it quite amusing. It also received a lot of reader comments...boy, it's a hot topic!

It made me pause and think of how I signed my correspondence. 

Here's what I often use:

I sign with this most of the time because it's very celebratory, regardless of my relationship with who I'm writing to.

I use this if I'm signing a formal note, a business transaction or if I'm writing to someone I do not personally know.

I end with this if I'm writing to a very dear friend. 

via Etsy

Inspired by the red seal found on Chinese brush paintings, I thought I might add a little something extra to my handwritten letters.

A cute stamp like this one:

I bought this set of cuddly panda stamps at the craft store.

I mounted them on an acrylic block for an easy grip.

With a generous amount of ink, I stamped them on paper and added a signature:

Hopefully my friends receiving the letter will feel all warm and fuzzy...TADA! And I'm pretty sure they all need it right now until it's safe to meet and hug again. 

Maybe we can write some cards and letters while we're social distancing? It will cheer up those feeling isolated and will help the post office tremendously.