One Crafty Mama

New Blog: Orange Polka Dot

2009-04-17T04:04:00.001-07:00

We moved to Barcelona and I started a new blog to chronicle our journey. Enter stage right: Orange Polka Dot. All new posts will now be at www.orangepolkadot.com.

Today you will find my latest Friday Find of two great travel games for children (adults will like the games as well!).

In the next week, I will post a backlog of blogs from the first month of our move while I was developing my new blog site, www.orangepolkadot.com.

Thanks!

Friday Find: Kids Craft Weekly Christmas Crafts

2008-12-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

Winter break is just around the corner and you need some ideas for stopping the kids from saying, “Mom, I’m bored.” Right? Well, I’ve got the answer and it is just five bucks and a download away... Kids Craft Weekly’s Christmas Crafts Mini Book.

You can thank the crafty and clever mom, Amber Carvan, from down under that puts out Kids Craft Weekly every fortnight since 2006. If you haven’t heard of Kids Crafty Weekly, you can subscribe to Amber’s email newsletter organized by theme and filled with fun, educational and affordable crafts to do with your children.

The Kids Craft Weekly’s Christmas Craft Mini Book has 20 pages overflowing with holiday-related activities. Forget buying wrapping paper and gift tags for your holiday presents. Put you kids to work – old art makes great wrapping paper and you’ll find gift tag ideas in the Christmas Craft book. You’ll also find neat ideas for Christmas tree ornaments – not only great for decorating your tree, but also for kids to give as gifts.

So, hurry up, the kids are almost out of school. Download Christmas Crafts, gather your craft supplies and get your little elves crafting!

Don’t forget to let me know about your favorite holiday crafts!

Friday Find: A Toy Garden

2008-12-05T00:34:00.000-08:00

Whether it is birthday presents, stocking stuffers or art supplies, A Toy Garden is the first place I look for that special gift. Store sound familiar? Perhaps you have seen A Toy Garden featured in issues of Mothering.

A Toy Garden has a wide range of toys and art supplies that encourage open-ended, imaginative play. Worried about the safety of the toys under your Christmas tree? The toys are made from natural and eco-friendly materials, with many fair trade and “made in the USA” choices. A Toy Garden’s collection of unique and exclusive products separates them from many other online stores touting natural, Waldorf toys that seem to carry all the same brands. Be prepared to be delighted and inspired by the well-edited selection of toys, books and art supplies that your children will fancy.

Here are some of my favorite items from A Toy Garden.

These two puzzles make a great present for a toddler – intriguing enough to hold their interest, yet simple enough for them to piece the puzzle together.

Do you have a box of broken crayons? Try Stockmar beeswax crayons. A bit more expensive than the average box of crayons, but we have yet to have a broken one.

A Toy Garden has a great book selection with wonderful children’s titles, parenting and art/craft instruction books. If you are looking for books to help you integrate Waldorf practices into your family, you’ll find book to help here. Malena and Lautaro love hearing the adventures of fairy Tiptoes Lightly and her woodland friends.

Do your children want to help you while you sewing or craft? My two love working on their projects with their sewing machine, sewing toys and hand sewing kits.

Have you discovered the endless possibilities of playsilks? Most playsilks from A Toy Garden had dyed by work at home mothers. Their silks are sold at an affordable price compared to other playsilk sellers because they believe that all children should have playsilks. In our home, playsilks are used to build tents with the addition of wood clips, for dress up, scene backdrops for dramatic play, and on and on.

A Toy Garden is run by Sonya Bingaman, a work at home mother and social worker. She places a priority on buying directly from artisans or larger manufacturers with high ethical standards. Her business is based in Fair Oaks, California – fast shipping for all you West Coast readers. Be sure to register for her newsletter to receive store coupons and notices.

Friday Find: My Book is Now Available! Itsabelly's Guide to Going Green with Baby

2008-11-14T00:12:00.000-08:00

Finally! Last week Melissa Moog and I received the first shipment of our new book. It took us a little over a year to pull this together, which is fairly fast in the publishing world. It meant that we spent many nights after the kids were tucked in bed writing and collaborating until 3 AM! We lost track of how many phone meetings were cut short because one of our kids was having a meltdown moment (usually mine). So, if you are curious why I was not consistent with my Friday Finds, here is the reason. You can buy the book directly from our online boutique. With the holidays around the corner, our book makes a great holiday gift for your pregnant sister, daughter, friend or new parent.

Book At-A-Glance:

Itsabelly's Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to evaluate eco-friendly baby gear and to educate parents about organic and natural family living. We'll tell you why it is important to go green, how to do it without breaking the bank, and give you a list of mom-approved green products for baby.

More than 300 product reviews of eco-friendly baby gear and necessities. We cover it all from slings to strollers, bottles to skin care products, clothes and nursery furniture.
Expert opinion and insight on living a more natural life, including articles by Dr. Sears, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Under the Nile, The Soft Landing and Organic Exchange.
Simple and practical Eco-Mom Tips from real mothers practicing green living.
Discover how to go green on a budget and what products are important to choose natural.
Learn about non-toxic feeding products, organic apparel, sustainable wood and natural skin care products.
Make shopping for eco-friendly products easier.
Decipher product labels with our green dictionary, green label and organic certification chapters.

Advance Praise:

“Here’s an insightful guide by moms for moms (& dads) to help you choose the best green, healthy gear for your new baby. It is full of valuable resources and product recommendations that all parents will be thankful to have!”

- Christopher Gavigan, Author of Healthy Child Healthy World.

“Finally! A guide to help every mom-to-be easily welcome her new baby into a “green” world. I was so lost trying to create a green registry—where to start? Thank goodness for Itsabelly! Melissa and Jennifer made it very easy and their suggestions saved me so much time. This guide is a must-have for every mom-to-be!”

- Leslie Barber, Co-Founder, NutraBella

“Itsabelly’s Guide to Going Green for Baby has helped me figure out how to do the natural thing without going crazy. Thanks to all the great product recommendations and tips, I’ve figured out how to go green where it counts, and without going broke!”

- Kira Krieger, Managing Editor, The Bump

More Book Details:

More than 30 eco-mom tips.
Hundreds of resources in 18 baby categories with web sites listed.
52 product categories with brand suggestions and web sites listed.
An acronym cheat sheet and green dictionary to make sense of all-things green.
A green registry for easy shopping

The book is also available from online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Friday Find: Weir Dolls

2008-10-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

In the past few months, Malena’s interest in her dolls and playing “mom” has totally spiked. I loved playing with dolls when I was a child. My Friend Jenny and Mandy plus a doll I found in the garbage and I appropriately named her “Garbage” were my favorites. Finally, Malena took a strong interest in her dolls, so I could pretend to be a kid again! Seriously, though, it is such a pleasure to see her taking care of her dolls and being a kind, gentle Mommy (maybe I am doing something right!).

As many of my readers know, a few years back, I made Malena a Waldorf doll, using a fabulous kit from Weir Dolls. Now that Malena is playing with her doll more, I thought a doll wardrobe expansion was a necessary birthday gift. I wrestled with the option of buying clothes or sewing the clothes myself. Sewing won and of course, with just a week to finish (Why do I always wait until the last minute?). I still have a few pieces to complete, but Malena was thrilled with her new mini wardrobe.

As I started cutting the fabric, I wondered what I got myself into. I am hardly a seamstress – I only have sewn some simple dresses, smocks and skirts before. Doll patterns with arms, legs and elastic necklines scared me! The Weir Doll Clothing Pattern and Instruction Booklet made sewing teeny tiny clothing fairly simple for a beginner. There were a few parts where I had to spend more time figuring out the instructions. However, I think that is only because I had never sewn pants or shirts before. And even then, I was still able to figure it out and correctly sew it. I made the sweetest little doll lace-trimmed undies, a sundress, a shirt and a long-sleeved dress. The pants and apron are still on the back burner.

PS – Look forward to more Weir Dolls posts about making Waldorf Dolls.

Friday Find: Lauress Pure Mineral Makekup

2008-10-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I started converting to natural-based cosmetics. I had a difficult time finding natural alternatives that I liked and fit within my budget. I was also interested in the new mineral makeup but was totally confused by the different brands and ingredients.

I recently reconnected with my college friend, Lauren Sheahan, and discovered that she created Lauress, a pure mineral makeup line. My problem was solved! Lauren took a lot of time to talk with me about her line’s ingredients, explain the benefits of minerals and how to use mineral makeup. She even made some product recommendations for me based on my skin tone, hair and eye color.

I was relieved when Lauren assured me that Lauress does not use nano-particles. It was one of my hurdles with mineral makeup. I had read the dangers of nano-particles, which can be found in some mineral makeup (see links at the end of post for more info on nano-particles). Lauren does not use nano-particles because of the lack of long-term studies and concerns about the ability of nano-particles to enter your body. Following Lauress’ commitment to healthy beauty, Lauress does not use Bismuth Oxychloride, also found in many mineral makeup brands. Lauress, a signer the Safe Cosmetics Compact, stays current on the latest developments in the health and beauty industry.

Yes, I was a bit worried about choosing colors online. Fortunately, Lauren found a solution to that problem – sample sizes! All Lauress products come in samples that are affordably priced, some as low as $1.50. I bought quite a variety of eye color samples and a few face powders. Trying all the different color combinations makes me feel like a little girl playing with mommy’s makeup – only with much better results. And isn’t that what applying makeup should be – fun? I have received lots of compliments while wearing Lauress makeup. Recently, I visited the filming of one of my husband’s commercials. I knew I found a great looking makeup line when the makeup artist always remarked on my great eye makeup!

Here are a few helpful tips from Lauren…

· If you love shimmer, select Gem Lights eye colors. If you prefer a more matte eye color, go with Star Lights.

· In makeovers, Lauren often starts with a Pearl or Star Light base color and adds a darker Star Light or Gem Light for contouring and a wash of a sheer Gem Light over the entire eye.

· Lauress also has specific product application techniques that are useful when using mineral makeup.

Lauren’s current “go-to” natural look is Cheers Star Light from Lash to Brow, Rendezvous Star Light in the crease and outer corner of the eye, then Graceful Gem Light brushed across the lid and over the Rendezvous, then line with Double Espresso or Chocolate.


Cheers Star Light	Rendezvous Star Light	Graceful Gem Light	Double Espresso Liner

For a bit more drama, she often uses the Simply Sultry combo.

One Crafty Mama’s favorite combo is Fascination Gem Light all over eyelid, contoured with Murmur Gem Light and lined with Bombshell liner. I also love Soirée Gem Light, contoured with Heiress Gem Light and lined with Fervor Gem Liner.


Murmur Gem Light	Bombshell Gem Liner	Fascination Gem Light


Soiree Gem Light	Heiress Gem Light	Fervor Liner

Don’t forget that you will need some quality brushes to apply mineral makeup. My favorite brush is the flat liner brush – it is a snap to use and gives your liner a more blended appearance.

For more about mineral makeup, check out this article from the Environmental Working Group. Here is an article from Dr. Andrew Weil speaking about mineral makeup in the Calgary Herald. Enviroblog’s article also discusses nano-particles in mineral makeup.

Friday Find: Valon Earth Arts

2008-10-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

This summer, my parents went on a road trip from Spokane, Washington to Glacier National Park. One of their favorite stops was Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They were lucky to spend time in this lakeside town during the Farmer’s Market. And I was lucky to receive several gifts purchased from the Farmer’s Market. My mom knows how I much I love finding treasures at local markets and her gifts did not disappoint.

My favorite goodies are a Lemon salve and a Rosemary-Lavender salve from Valon Earth Arts. Valerie, owner of Valon Earth Arts, creates all of her products with inspiration from nature. She also makes Orange Rose and Sage-Mint salves. I love using my salves for soothing dry skin, nails and lips. I even tried putting a light layer on my face before going to bed. I swear my skin looked more refreshed and smooth when I awoke. A great find for a tired mama!

All salves are created during the season when the required organic ingredients are fresh. Valerie uses fresh plants that have medicinal benefits that aid the skin and muscles. The Valon Earth Arts website will soon be revised, so please note that her products now use organic canola oil, not soybean oil.

Now that the leaves are changing color (just barely out here in the California foothills), dry skin weather is fast approaching. Be prepared and pick up a few salves from Valon Earth Arts to soothe and heal your skin. And if you don’t happen to be visiting Coeur d’Alene any time soon, no worries, you can always buy some online.

Friday Find: Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef

2008-08-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

Malena and Lautaro recently attended their friend Gloria’s fourth birthday party. Her birthday bash had a sea creature theme, so what better book to give as a gift than Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef?

Author Marianne Berkes cleverly wrote the book to the tune of the children’s favorite “Over in the Meadow.” Through the catchy song (sheet music is even provided in the back), children are introduced to animal families and counting concepts. Children learn about each sea creature’s traits and habitats. The mama pufferfish encourages her babies to puff and baby octopi squirt at the request of their mother. As you progress through the book, the number of babies increases – reinforcing counting through song and visuals. Your child will be singing the song in no time and demanding, “read it again! Read it again!”

I love using illustrated children’s book as an opportunity to expose your children to different art media and techniques. Artist Jeanette Canyon’s amazing illustrations using polymer clay are so beautiful to look at and really bring the book to life. Your child will be tempted to touch and grab the clownfish and seahorses. Jeanette’s work adds vibrant color and whimsical texture and dimension to Marianne’s wonderful lyrics. Jeanette gives readers an informative description of her work and artistic philosophy in the back of the book. After reading it, parents will reexamine the book and wonder – sliced clay rods? How did she do it??

Jeanette even suggests ways for parents and children to create their own works of art with clay. Here are a few other ways to extend the book through activities with your children. Find another illustrated book of sea creatures (if you don’t have another sea creature book, any will do fine) that uses a different art or media technique, such as pen and ink, watercolor or collage. Compare the books with your children and discuss the differences in technique and how the pictures look different or similar. Remember to keep it age appropriate, however, even the youngest reader can notice differences and describe it. Get out some of you own art supplies (paint, clay, playdough, tissue paper) and make sea creatures together. This story would also make for a wonderful flannel board adaptation. You can cut the sea creatures out of felt and ask your children to help you decorate the sea creatures and use Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef for inspiration. And you will definitely want to read this book before any trips to the aquarium or tidepools.

Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef has won numerous awards, including: Learning Magazine's Teachers' Choice Award in 2006, the National Association for Parenting Publications 2005 Gold Award and the 2005 Publisher's Marketing Association Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Interior Design.

Children ages 2 to 8 will love hearing and reading Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef and parents will enjoy reading it over and over. Publisher Dawn Publications is currently offering 10% off all online orders. The book is also available in board book format for younger readers. You can also find Over in the Ocean, In a Coral Reef in the One Crafty Mama Recommends Amazon store.

Friday Find: The EC Store

2008-08-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I think it is official – I no longer have children in diapers! Malena started using the potty consistently at 13 months. Lautaro has taken longer and has been using the potty consistently for the past few months (although he was first introduced to it around his first birthday). So, what a better time for me to tell you about some of the products that helped us get to this important (and happy) moment. As luck would have it, when I decided to write this Friday Find, The EC Store, decided to have a sale to celebrate their re-designed website. The EC Store is my favorite online store to buy all things related to helping your child learn to use the potty.

First Stage: We used cloth diapers from birth (but you can start anytime and achieve the same results) and practiced Elimination Communication. I didn’t learn about EC until Malena was one. We started practicing EC methods then, but it wasn’t full time. With Lautaro I started a little bit earlier, but was less consistent and even less full time. I think using cloth gave them a more acute awareness of when they were wet and thus uncomfortable. They quickly made the connection that if they are changed they are comfortable again. I think introducing EC methods showed them there was an elimination method that was not uncomfortable. I bought several Baby Bjorn little potties and placed them around the house. A quick run to a nearby potty reduces accidents. I even keep a potty in the back of my car – definitely a cleaner option than a public bathroom! I love the simplicity of the Baby Bjorn potty – no licensed media characters, no jarring music plays when you child pees into the potty. The design of the potty also seems comfy for children.

Second Stage: Once my children were using the potty more frequently, they used cloth training pants. We bought an assortment of Bright Bots, Gerber Training Pants, SIMPLYCloth, Under The Nile Training Pants and Imse Vimse Organic Training Pants – all from the EC Store. They did not use pull ups (except on rare occasions like a plane trip, long car rides, birthday parties when they used Seventh Generation). I still don’t understand the point of a pull up – aren’t they just like a diaper, unless they let your child know they are wet? Bright Bots are very trim and have an absorbent and waterproof liner – making these training pants our go to training pants for days out of the house. We used Gerber and Under The Nile training pants around the house because I could afford to buy more and they were comfy for my kids. We used the Imse Vimse Organic Training Pants at night – they were a bit bulky for my kids and they are more expensive than other training pants.

Final Stage: We started using panties/undies (or mackies as my children call them – who knows where this came from?) when Malena was fairly confident using the potty. We are still using training pants with Lautaro. Since Malena was wearing panties before she was two and she is super slim, it was difficult to find panties that fit. Fortunately, The EC Store sells a selection of tiny undies. We also introduced Baby Bjorn potty seats that adjust to fit snuggly on your toilet. Once again – no licensed media characters. The seat is contoured and was more comfortable than other potty seats that are flat-shaped. I also liked that the seat is removable, so adults don’t need to fumble with a potty seat when it is their turn to use the potty!

The EC Store Sale: Currently, almost everything in the store is marked down 10%. Use coupon code NEWSITE to get an additional 10% off any order of $50 or more. Check out the clearance section for items 40% off. The EC Store also sells Baby Legs, EC-friendly clothing, Sigg water bottles, baby carriers and nursing bras. One of the best nursing pads I ever used was from The EC Store. I am so glad to see they selling these thin, contoured and absorbent pads again.

For a little extra reading… some interesting facts about diaper and potty training historical usage in the US from Mother Jones and Diaper Jungle.

Friday Find: Firestorm Drill

2008-08-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

So, it isn’t my usual type of Friday Find. But, I just had to tell you about this handy power tool that my Dad gave me for my birthday. It is a Black and Decker Firestorm cordless drill and I love it.

In 30 minutes, I was able to fix all the little projects that I have been nagging Diego to fix. Well, except for one, which involves changing a closet rod that is too cumbersome to hold and drill at the same time. I used my new lightweight power tool to drill holes in several walls to insert wall anchors before screwing hooks into place. Awhile back, in an effort at better organization, I screwed hooks into Malena’s closet to hang her collection of dress-up purses and into bathroom walls for hanging potty seats. I was lazy and didn’t insert wall anchors first because that would involve using Diego’s heavy-duty drill. Of course, a week later all the hooks had fallen out of the walls! Argh… drywall! The Firestorm cordless drill comes with rechargeable batteries. Changing the drill bits is really easy – no special tool needed like other drills!

And if like me, you’ve had a long week, be sure to check out my friend Ilina’s cocktail hour drink recipe at Dirt and Noise’s Friday 5 PM. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t need to be a long week to enjoy one of Ilina’s tasty concoctions. Just don't drink too many of these Mango Lassi's before doing your DIY projects!

Local Eggs

2008-07-23T00:44:00.000-07:00

I never would have thought it – but I found a place to get fresh eggs locally. A nice retired couple that lives about two to three miles away (which is really around the corner where we live) have a chicken coop with 12 hens and one rooster. Another bonus is they are Portuguese (my Vava would approve). Once I mentioned that my family is also Portuguese, my arms were loaded with freshly picked kale and homemade linguiça, so I could go home and make my family a “good Portuguese soup.” Malena loves to go pick up eggs, because Mary won’t let her leave without some chocolates for the road.

These chickens are fed chicken feed and lots of greens from their huge veggie garden. The eggs are delicious – they really taste like eggs! The yolks are bright yellow – almost an orange hue. Oh, I forgot… these chickens have a comfy pad… Joe even built a mister for them to keep cool on hot Lake Don Pedro days.

The couple also grows apricots, kale, tomatoes, fava beans and yams. Not the yams we get in the super market. I am told these need to be cooked for five hours and were brought over as seeds from the Azores. Like any good Portuguese lady (at least the ones I know from my family), their flower garden is filled with plants grown from clippings made during trips. Each plant has a story of where they got the seed or clipping and how they got it to grow out here in our difficult soil.

Friday Find: Lunapads

2008-07-18T01:56:00.002-07:00

I finally made the switch to reusable, natural menstrual products. So, probably some of you are gasping “too much information.” Why is it so taboo to talk about something all women experience EVERY MONTH? I just don’t get it.

For my birthday, my mom gave me a Lunapad Starter Kit. For the past six months, I have been telling myself that when I run out of the disposable stuff, I am not buying anymore. My birthday present was perfect timing because I depleted my disposable supply the month prior. Ever since using cloth diapers with both of my children, I have felt guilty about using disposable products myself.

Did you know that 12 billon disposable feminine products are used annually? Like disposable diapers, these products aren’t decomposing either. The average woman may toss 250 to 300 pounds of disposable pads, tampons and applicators during her lifetime. This disposable waste ends up in landfills or sewage treatment plants. And even more disgusting is that tampon applicators from sewage outfalls are commonly found on beaches. So many in fact that artist Jay Critchley created a 13’ sculpture of the Statue of Liberty from 4,000 plastic tampon applicators found on Cape Cod beaches.

Many Lunapad devotees rave about the change in their attitude toward their period after making the big switch. Menstruation is a powerful force for women – without it we wouldn’t be able to bear children, another quite powerful force. Shouldn’t we honor that power as women? This happy Lunapad customer says it all:

“As I rinse my Lunapads, I think, I am releasing all the old energy from the past month and making way for the new. I like being more aware and in touch with my cycle and with what is actually happening in my body.” Renee S.

Lunapads are made out of soft cotton (much better than plasticy, synthetic feeling disposable pads) and come in a variety of fun prints and colors – even organic cotton. The pad (looks like a wing-shaped pad) snaps around your panties. Depending on absorption needed, you can add liners. You can change the liner without having to change the pad. I did find the maxi pad a bit bulky for daytime use, but great for night. I loved the minipads with or without the liners. I think for my next order, I will get some pantyliners (no option for adding liners) and the DivaCup. The Lunapanties also look interesting – a bikini undie with a built in pad. Check out Lunapads’ kits and easy to understand selection guide to get you started.

So, some may call me a treehugger, but I know that I won’t be using disposables anymore. I bet if you give cloth pads a try, you will be surprised to agree with me.

* All pictures are credited to Lunapads.

Where's The Beef?

2008-07-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

All my vegetarian/vegan readers should stop reading now. Last week, my mom and I went to a meat locker in Turlock to pick up our ¼ share of a steer (about 150 pounds of beef). Kelly at Bauer Family Farms organized the beef share.

While our beef is not totally organic, it was raised and produced locally. I hope the steer had a happy life as he was roaming around the Sierra Foothills and Yosemite. At least I know the meat was not factory-produced and that he was raised in the same area that we live. By picking up the meat myself, I was able to see the facility where the meat was processed. It was very clean and small scale.

The beef is delicious and I love that for all the cuts we received I paid less than $3 a pound! Last night, I made this super yummy (but probably not that healthy) Flank Steak recipe from Simply Recipes. We have also made hamburgers on the grill with homemade buns and t-bones, also on the grill. Diego is right, a little too much beef for one week, but I can’t resist it is so tasty.

Friday Find: Farm Shares

2008-07-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

We are finally joining a local CSA (community supported agriculture)! Eager to find a local farm share/ CSA (community supported agriculture) program, every now and then I check the Local Harvest website (usually after my friend Liz mentions her yummy farm share in Santa Cruz!). As luck would have it, I finally found one in our area. The Bauer Family Farm, in Snelling (about 10-13 miles away) is starting their first CSA this year. There are farm shares in Sonora or Modesto, but I don’t want to drive an extra 90 miles a week just to pick up a farm share.

Yesterday, I drove out to the Bauer Family Farm to meet the family growers and check out their veggie garden. In addition to starting a CSA, their main business is raising organic chickens.

As we walked out of the car, we were greeted with hugs from the adorable and friendly youngest daughter who is the same age as Malena. The girls hit it off and were holding hands and picking strawberries together within minutes. Two heritage turkeys gobbled hello as we walked to the garden. Of course, I forgot my camera in the car. I promise pictures of the two Toms next time – they are beautiful.

Kelly, the vision behind the Bauer Family Farm CSA, walked me around their growing garden. She showed me their new plantings as she discussed her future plans for the CSA. She has a great vision of a CSA that gathers products from local farmers – natural honey, organic chickens, heritage turkeys, eggs, butter, produce and even beef. She is a Sonoma County native, so it is no surprise she is so supportive of local grown produce. Family farmers like her are exactly what this area needs!

We live in the foothills east of California’s Central Valley – one of the most important growing regions in the country. I had such high hopes visiting Valley farmer’s markets when we moved here. I was so disappointed by the size and lack of product diversity. Although, I must say they seem to be improving – it was nothing compared to the farmer’s markets in the bay area or Sonoma area.

So, join a CSA/ farm share and support a local farmer. What a great way to celebrate Independence Day! Happy Fourth of July!

Garbage and Recycling

2008-06-30T14:05:00.001-07:00

So, while I was writing on the weekends, Diego spent a lot of time with the kids outside. They have been swimming, weeding, eating homemade Popsicles, reading and going for long walks. Here, Diego is reading to the kids on our back deck. They are reading Where Does Garbage Go? An easy to understand book that describes what happens to garbage and how recycling can help reduce waste. My oldest couldn’t believe that we have landfills, “where we just store garbage under the ground!” She is totally right – it is absurd. The book also discusses how paper, aluminum, glass and plastic are recycled.

Out in the sticks where we live, we don’t even have city/county garbage pick up. A private, small company picks up our garbage. We are allowed a 25-gallon (I think, maybe it is 30) container. Ours is rarely full – usually about halfway. Mariposa County has a transfer station in the area that takes cardboard, glass, paper and plastic for recycling. Although, it doesn’t accept as much as my mom’s curbside recycling in San Jose, at least it is something. Every Monday, on our drive to the bookmobile, we drop off recycling at the transfer station. When we get to the Lake Don Pedro market and gas station, we recycle our beverage bottles (glass and plastic) for a few bucks at the new CRV recycling station there. Then, we hit the bookmobile, check out a few books, hear a story and bring home our books in our cloth bags.

I just heard about EnviroMom’s One Can a Month Challenge. The goal is to reduce your garbage to just one can per month. EnviroMom will be offering lots of tips on their blogs for reducing your garbage.

We already do a lot to reduce our waste and recycle everything we can. Recycling, using cloth diapers and pads, cloth grocery bags, using homemade cleaners and using cloth rags rather than paper towels to name a few. I even wash and re-use foil and Ziploc bags! Composting could be the answer to reducing our waste further. I need to look into worm composting more. I am worried that it may be too hot here (100 degrees during the summer) for the worms. I also worry about the heat and the smell of the compost. Oh, and the other thing – I don’t have the dough for a fancy compost bin. I’d love to hear some tips and suggestions to start composting.

I’m Sorry!

2008-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe it has been over two months since I last wrote a post! My apologies to those of you that came here over that time and saw the same post over and over. Well, I no longer have any excuses because I turned in our manuscript to the graphic designer this weekend.

For the past two months, anytime I was at the computer, I was working on the book, Going Green with Baby. I don’t even want to count the nights that I put the kids to bed at 8 PM, fell asleep in their bed, woke up at 11 PM and stayed up until 3 or 4 AM to work on the book. It is impossible to get any work done with an almost 5 year old and a 2-½ year old running around.

To make up for it, I have lots of pictures, posts, Friday Finds stored away in my mind that I need to start writing. Maybe even a summer contest soon – hint hint…

An Early Friday Find: Going Green with Baby

2008-04-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

I couldn’t wait to announce this week’s Friday Find. For the past six months, I have been hard at work writing a book!

Itsabelly's Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to provide a simple resource for evaluating eco-friendly baby gear and to learn more about organic and natural family living. We offer mom-tested product reviews and tips to raising a healthy baby and creating a happy planet. The founders of Under the Nile, gDiapers, TheSoftLanding.com and Earth Mama Angel Baby provide insight on why choosing organic and natural baby products is important to creating a healthier lifestyle. Going Green with Baby features personal product recommendations from eco-minded moms Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog. Jennifer is a writer and mother of two that has long practiced green living. Melissa is mom to a toddler, writer and the founder of Itsabelly Baby Concierge, a premier baby planning agency that specializes in going green with baby.

Going Green with Baby will be released in the Summer of 2008. To pre-order your copy, please send us an email to info@itsa-belly.com or call us at (503)799-5719 with your name and contact information. We will contact you when the book is available for purchase. Wholesale inquiries are also welcome.

A Peek Inside...

Plan your baby registry with the best mom-tested reviews of over 300 eco-friendly baby products. We cover all your baby’s needs from slings to strollers, non-toxic bottles to safe skin care products, organic baby clothes to eco-friendly diapers and sustainable nursery furniture.
Learn why going green with baby is important for a healthy baby and happy planet. Our panel of eco experts weighs in on the importance of organic apparel, sustainable wood, non-toxic feeding products and natural skin care products.
Discover our simple eco-mom tips to raising a healthy baby and protecting our planet.
Decipher the meaning and standards behind eco-labels. What does organic mean anyway? We make your trip to the store easier with a useful guide to common eco-labels and organic certification standards.
Gain valuable tips on going green on a budget. From our own experience, it may not be financially feasible to turn your household completely organic. We give you tips on how you can make green choices that are right for your family.

Friday Find: Bum-Ware Cloth Diapers

2008-04-11T02:24:00.000-07:00

As a cloth diaper addict, I have tried to curtail my purchases over the past year. I kept telling myself that my youngest would learn to use the potty anytime just like his sister went diaper free at 15 months (Lautaro is now 26 months). Well, as any mom of two will tell you, each child is totally different. And I am finding out that teaching potty use to a boy is a little trickier than teaching a girl, for me at least.

Using toddler-sized prefolds with a cover seemed too bulky for size 2t clothing. Today’s clothes just aren’t cut for cloth diapers. I feel guilty that I have been using Seventh Generation or Tushies disposables while out of the house. So, I finally accepted the fact that I should buy some new cloth diapers. After all, buying disposables is expensive! I did lots of research on toddler-sized trimmer cloth diaper options on Diaper Pin and the Born to Love cloth diaper Yahoo forum. Lautaro is about 35 pounds, which is where most cloth diapers seem to have as their max weight suggestion. I received rave reviews for Bum-Ware diapers.

I learned that All in Ones seemed to offer the trimmest option for cloth diapering. An All in One (AIO) is a cloth diaper that works like a disposable diaper in terms of ease of use and style. The diaper and cover are sewn together making the diaper one piece, hence the name All in One. Using a cloth AIO is definitely faster for changing a squirmy toddler! Bum-Ware is the highest user-rated All in One diaper at the Diaper Pin.

I am delighted with my purchase of Bum-Ware Easy All in Ones. After measuring Lautaro, I ordered a large (23 to 40 pounds) AIO in orange and another in Saturn blue. The inside lining is cozy and soft. The diaper is extremely trim – fits well under all Lautaro’s pants. You can’t even tell he is wearing a cloth diaper compared to a disposable! The diapers are very absorbent and we haven’t experienced any leaks. The diapers wash well and dry within one cycle.

Bum-Ware AIO Features

Hook and loop fasteners for a perfect fit.
Serged for superior durability.
Hidden elastic around the legs to keep everything in.
Two inner body layers of cotton flannel.
Four layer flannel soaker pad or contour snap in soaker, your choice.
Polyurathane laminate (PUL) outer.
Fold back laundry tabs to prevent diaper chains.
Fully washer and dryer safe.
Each diaper comes with a 4 layer flannel contour doubler
You can customize your Bum-Ware diapers with a wide selection embroidery designs.

In 1998, the creator of Bum-Ware diapers, Izabela first fell in love with cloth diapering when she worked as an Early Childhood Educator at the YMCA in Ontario, Canada. “A few of the infants and toddlers were in cloth diapers, and I was blown away by their cuteness, but mostly by their reusability,” said Izabella. “I am into anything that’s environmentally friendly.”

Friday Find: Mushroom Pate Recipe

2008-04-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.

A wonderfully simple and sophisticated cracker spread for parties. This recipe originated from one of my friends in Washington D.C. I have added cumin and coriander to the recipe to add more flavor depth. If you do not like those spices, you can eliminate them and the spread will still taste great. Friends and family have told me that I am not allowed to attend their parties without this spread!

Ingredients:

16 oz mushrooms – cleaned and de-stemmed. You can use regular button/white mushrooms or a mixture of different types. I like to do half button and half crimini.
1 medium yellow onion
3 tablespoons butter
8 oz cream cheese
Salt & pepper
Ground Cumin
Ground Coriander

Clean and de-stem mushrooms.
In food processor, chop mushrooms and onion to small pieces.
Heat sauté pan on medium heat and melt butter. Add the mushroom and onion mixture and sauté until all the liquid evaporates. Season with cumin, coriander, salt and pepper to taste.
Add cream cheese and stir well to incorporate into the mushroom/onion mixture.
Spoon the mixture into a shallow baking dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Serve warm with crackers. I prefer water crackers.

Thanks to my Dad for suggesting this week's Friday Find.

Friday Find: MiniBlissCakes T-Shirts

2008-03-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

In a search to find non-stereotypical boy’s t-shirts for Lautaro, I discovered this adorable double decker bus stencil t-shirt made by MiniBlissCakes on Etsy. Since visiting London was Lautaro’s first trip abroad I had to buy it. Sarah, the creator behind MiniBlissCakes didn’t have Lautaro’s size listed, but she was able to quickly make me a custom shirt in his size. She also made a custom sparkly seahorse for Malena.

Sarah, a stay-at-home-mom to twin boys started stenciling two years ago. She learned to stencil from a friend and immediately thought of the cute stencils she could make for her son’s clothing. Sarah and I share the same problem of a lack of cute boy clothing! She is also a breast cancer survivor (three years and counting- YAY!!) and stenciled pink ribbons onto her family’s Race for the Cure tees. Friends saw her shirts and started demanding shirts for their kids and her business was born.

Yeah, you read right – Sarah is a mom to twin boys. They turn four this summer. As a mother of one boy, I don’t know how she does it! Lucky for us (and her) she is able to work on her cute shirts during her boy’s naptime and her Mothers Morning Out twice a week.

Sarah’s boys are the source of her design inspiration. “There really aren't enough cute-but-not-babyish things for toddler/preschooler boys out there, so I'm always thinking - what would my boys like to wear to school today?”

Sarah is a transplanted Yankee and diehard Red Sox fan that is happily living in the very Southern and artsy town of Oxford, Mississippi.

"I wish more parents-to-be wouldn't find out - it's one of life's best surprises!" - Jennifer

Visit her Etsy shop and blog to find out more about her business. And if you have any idea of a stenciled shirt, let her know. I am sure she could create it for you!

Easter Felted Goodies

2008-03-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, the kids had an Easter Egg hunt and found some felted eggs with surprises inside from the Spring fairies. Last week, the kids and I felted the eggs. During one of our walks, they collected smooth “egg-shaped” rocks. We wrapped wool roving around the rocks, and then I secured the wool by putting the rock inside an old stocking. They then wet-felted the rocks with hot water and soap. The stockings helped keep the wool in place and made it easier for them to felt the eggs.

Once the eggs were done, the fairies took the eggs in the middle of the night and cut the sides to remove the rocks. In place of the rocks, they placed felted chicks (a baby and a mama), hair clippies and a felted dog.

Welcome Spring!

2008-03-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

Well, if has felt like Spring around here for the past couple weeks, but now it is official! Here are a few pictures of what Spring looks like in the California foothills where we live. Recently, the wildflowers have really started blooming. Everyday, the children and I go on a morning walk to pick flowers and listen to the birds. It is amazing to notice the growth, changes and new appearances of the wildflowers each day. The oak trees are sprouting new leaves and the hillsides are a beautiful green.

During the weekends, we have been spending a lot of time working to reduce our pallets of landscape materials. Last Sunday, Diego built this beautiful shade and privacy structure outside our bedroom window. We planted some jasmine in the planter that he also built. I can’t wait for the jasmine to climb, bloom and fill our room with its beautiful fragrance.

Diego also built another planter for tall grassy plants to hide the underneath of the deck. We have two more planters to fill with dirt and plants– one near a deck corner. The other is underneath the laundry room next to our stone patio, which Diego also built with my Dad’s help. Diego will also build another jasmine shade structure for the planter underneath the laundry room. I never would have imagined when I married Diego that I would use his name and the word “built” so many times in one paragraph!

Friday Find: Soft Star Shoes

2008-03-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the Five Finger Vibram shoe Friday Find when I mentioned a great flexible shoe for children? Well, here it is – Soft Star Shoes (and they aren’t just for children anymore)! Be sure to read the Soft Star article about their design that promotes the healthy development of growing feet.

Both Malena and Lautaro love their Soft Stars. I will be ordering new shoes for spring/summer. I think I will order a custom designed Mary Jane with distressed leather for Malena and a playtime shoe for Lautaro.

Soft Star shoes come in a wide variety of models: suede moccasins, leather moccasins, mary janes, boots, playtime, sandal, saddle, classic and the new rambler. They even make moccasins for adults (from size 5 to 15!). They offer in-stock versions of their shoes or custom design shoes. With 22 different leather colors, 19 suede colors, and seven motif patterns the possibilities are endless! Soft Star offers some vegan models using micro-suede and a non-leather material.

Soft Star moccasins are truly different than other similar baby soft-soled shoes. They have a cushy sheepskin inner sole that wicks away moisture and also protects baby from sharp objects. Soft Star has been making soft-soled shoes for over 20 years. The shoes are handcrafted in the US with all leathers coming from US-based tanneries. There are no formaldehyde or heavy metals used in the tanning of Soft Star leathers.

Tim, Founder Soft Star Elf

The Soft Star Elf workshop is in Corvallis, Oregon (another reason I love this company). They support Kids for Kids, in which an inspiring seven-year-old girl Cassidy Lynn and her friends create cat toys, "Playful Pancakes," from scrap leather and donate the profits to helping kids in Sudan. Buy one of her Playful Pancakes and someone receives one goat in Sudan. Soft Star also supports Waldorf and Montessori schools and La Leche League chapters across the country.

You can order your own Soft Star shoes on their website. I have seen Soft Stars at baby boutiques, but couldn’t find a list of retailers. Custom design shoes usually take 3-5 days ship. And don’t worry about ordering shoes over the web – their sizing charts are the most detailed I have ever seen on a website.

PS – for you crafty mamas, they also sell leather scraps and a fun star craft kit.

Friday Find: Chocolate and Steel Jewelry Design

2008-03-06T19:10:00.000-08:00

My husband and I love mid-century modern furniture. So much so that on our last trip from Argentina, we returned with an Eames lounge chair that has been in his family since original production. When I found this necklace on Etsy, I couldn’t resist hinting to Diego that I found my perfect gift.

Chocolate and Steel designer Christine Street created this sweet little bird pendant from the Eames House Bird. She even designed a necklace inspired by the Eames Lounge Chair Wood (LCW) that is next on my list (the chair too).

Chocolate and Steel’s collection of necklaces, rings and bracelets currently focuses on five categories: Carved and Sculpted, Bold and Colorful, Cut and Paste, Branding and Set in Stone. I find her work so appealing because it is understated and simple with a clever twist.

“I wear jewelry because it makes me feel present,” said Christine. “I hear the *clink* of my ring against the table or the faint *ding* from my necklace pendant sliding down the chain. I make jewelry for myself and for the pure enjoyment I get from making it and wearing it.”

Her jewelry is made using precious metal clay that is shaped and designed before being fired in a kiln at 1650 degrees Fahrenheit! The piece then undergoes an oxidization process and a final brushing and polishing treatment. It is quite a labor-intensive process in which Christine works her magic!

Chocolate and Steel is based in Los Angeles. You can find her jewelry in her Etsy shop, Dawanda, Home Grown Market and Boutique Coquette. She even does amazing custom work. Check out her blog post on a custom pendant she did based on a client’s picture of a helicopter!

Friday Find: Five Finger Shoes

2008-02-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

My husband, Diego, insisted that I use his new shoes as this week’s Friday Find. He saws these shoes in a store window on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale a couple weeks ago and he had to have them. When he returned, he was so excited about these “shoes with spaces for each toe” that he quickly ordered a pair over the Internet.

Diego's Shoe Model

Vibram creates “Five Fingers” for “barefooting” to give you the “joy of going barefoot without leaving yourself exposed.” Vibram traditionally makes high quality soles for shoes and has now taken their sole technology and created a breakthrough minimalist shoe. The sole of “Five Fingers” is a thin rubber sole designed to protect your foot. The unique “Five Fingers” design with spaces for each individual toe allow your foot to be in its natural state therefore giving you more grip over terrain.

You can use these shoes to go “barefooting” just about everywhere – in your backyard, hiking, running (check out C hiRunning – another recent book purchase of ours) and watersports. The shoes are perfect for protecting your feet when you really want to be barefoot – like walking on a rocky beach.

According to Vibram, wearing “Five Fingers” shoes “deepens your connection to the earth and your natural environment.” The shoes help improve your balance and agility by making you more aware of your body. Wearing “Five Fingers” gives you the health benefits of walking barefoot while protecting your feet. Doctors tell new parents that it is important for children to be barefoot as much as possible. Children should wear flexible shoes to allow their foot to be close to a natural state. (Look for an upcoming Friday Find on a great shoe that does just that!) If “barefooting” is recommended for children, why shouldn’t adults?

Diego loves to be barefoot and would be barefoot all day if he could. “Five Fingers” are a perfect shoe for him. Cheers to “barefooting!”

From an Acorn

2008-02-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

While gardening with the children today, we discovered these wonderful acorns sprouting into a tree! Malena was so excited to find this beauty of nature. In the foothills, we live surrounded by oak trees. I am slowly starting to learn about these amazing trees.

Oak trees can start producing acorns when they are twenty years old. (I wish people who want to cut down oaks to improve their view knew this!) The trees produce acorns in the fall, although not the same amount of production each year. Heavy acorn production may only occur every four to ten years. I heard that this year seemed to be a heavy acorn production. I believe it. The ground below all the oak trees around our house is completely covered in acorns. I have also heard that few very acorns actually become trees. I wish I could find the statistic somewhere, because it is pretty amazing. Probably hungry rodents and deer eat a lot of the acorns and seedlings.

Friday Find: H.O. Foose Tinsmithing

2008-02-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

In the birthday goody bags, I included dog or bone cookie cutter that I bought from Foose Tinsmithing Cookie Cutters. When I found their site, it was hard to resist buying more cookie cutters – they have an amazing selection! If I had a bigger kitchen with more storage space, I am sure I could have justified the purchase of a few more Foose cookie cutters.

Since the 1970s, making cookies by hand has been a family business. Foose now employs twenty people, including family members and local retirees. The cookie cutters are very well made and carefully packaged for shipping. The pride they take in their product is evident. They even added a cute miniature squirrel cookie cutter as a little freebie. (I need to find where my daughter has hidden it!) All of the cookie cutters are tin and made in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania.

Given my husband’s industry, I think I should order the wine bottle cookie cutter. And couldn’t you just see Martha baking cookies with the beehive and honey bee cookie cutters? For my politically active friends, I will be buying the peace symbol and the awareness ribbon cookie cutters. Foose has a wide selection of fun miniature cookie cutters perfect for playdough play or your child’s kitchen set.

And for the hard core DIY gal, you can now make you own cookie cutters with Foose’s cookie cutter crafting kit.

Lautaro's Second Birthday

2008-02-19T21:31:00.000-08:00

Lautaro turned two this past Saturday! We hosted a small gathering of family and close friends at our house. Luckily, the weather cooperated giving us a beautiful, sunny day. We held the party on our back deck. To keep it simple, I made chili and served hot dogs. I apologize to everyone for not making the chili spicier. I shouldn’t have tried a new recipe for a party! When we had leftovers later that evening, I add some salt and spices and it made a world of difference. I hope people are willing to try my chili in the future – it will be much better, I promise!

For the kiddies, I made pigs in a blanket from another Martha recipe. They were yummy and I should have made more – let’s be honest… who doesn’t love pigs in a blanket! When I have more time, I’d like to make my own puff pastry dough. I was working at the last minute, so I opted for the plan B store bought puff pastry dough in the fridge.

I think the cake turned out well. Except for the fondant crack that appeared in the middle of the cake. The bottom layer of the cake was a chocolate chip yellow cake. The top layer was a rich buttermilk chocolate cake. I used homemade vanilla buttercream frosting around the cake and for the filling.

The children had a great time cooking and catering their own birthday party. I wish our yard were fenced though! It was a little hard to relax and chat when all us Moms had to watch for kids sneaking around the side of the house to pick flowers and other “vegetables” for their party spread.

The night before the party, I stayed up until 5 AM cleaning, baking and stitching the final stuffed felt doggies. Of course, I forgot to give the children their goody bags upon departure! I also included a bone or dog cookie cutter in the bags. Check out this week’s Friday Find for more details on the cookie cutters! I will soon post a picture of the goody bag contents.

Friday Find: Lucina Jewelry

2008-02-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

In December, I won a contest from Ideal Bite for registering for their new San Francisco Local Bite edition. I was so excited when I found out my prize was $250 worth of eco-friendly, fair-trade jewelry from Lucina Jewelry! For a little background on the importance of fair trade and socially conscious jewels, check out Amnesty International's site.

When I chose my jewelry, I told Lucina founder Shauna Alexander Mohr that I would wear one of the pieces at my husband’s company Christmas party. Shauna offered me a special wholesale-only necklace that would be a stunning accessory at the party. Shauna selected a perfect necklace for my style and personality. I was so impressed with her selection that I am tempted to wear it everywhere. And, I really could wear it everywhere. It is just as fabulous with a little black dress or a black tee and jeans. The necklace can be worn long or various lengths when wrapped. I even wore it as a bracelet!

This lovely and 26” long necklace is made from a fair trade Balinese silver chain with alternating Bali silver "sugar" beads, luminescent clear quartz nuggets and Brazilian citrine nuggets.

Lucina is named after the Roman goddess of light and birth. Lucina works with fair trade jewelry importers and developing-world artisans to find beautiful handcrafted beads, gems and silver. A piece of Lucina jewelry is truly global. Materials are sourced from Afghanistan, Colombia, Ecuador and Indonesia. Be sure to read Lucina’s Artisan profiles for more information about the artisans that make the materials. American designers Ronda Kelly and Scarlet Chamberlin design the final piece of jewelry. You can buy your own beautiful eco-friendly jewelry on Lucina’s site or in person at one of these retailers.

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T01:47:00.000-08:00

Children's Valentine Cards

2008-02-14T00:51:00.001-08:00

A basket of Valentine's ready for the preschool party.

This past weekend, we made handmade Valentine cards for Malena and Lautaro’s class party at preschool. I used a coin envelope template to make 46 sunflower seed packets. My mom helped me assemble the packets; otherwise I may have never finished. For the cards, I cut strips of red and pink construction paper and labeled the “to/from” information. Malena and Lautaro placed the stickers and “wrote” on some of them. I hole punched through the packet and card and tied with a ribbon. In my effort to spend less and use what I have, I only used supplies in my stash (my apologies Paper Source!)

Construction Cake

2008-02-10T08:41:00.000-08:00

Today, I delivered the second cake that I have made for someone paying me! The cake was for the second birthday of my friend’s son. He loves construction vehicles, so I made a construction scene cake. I was a little nervous, because I have only made a few cakes without fondant and never anything scene-like.

On Tuesday, I went to Edwards Cake Supply in Modesto and found some fun construction vehicles. The cake is two 9” x 13” layers. Both layers are white chocolate pound cake with a filling of homemade dark chocolate ganache. I made homemade chocolate buttercream for the construction scene and orange-colored vanilla buttercream for the sides. The piles of “rocks” are chocolate candies and black sanding sugar was used for the “fresh dirt.”

I really love the construction scene. It was so fun to create. My kids were begging to poke their fingers in the frosting or play with the trucks. Who can blame them? I let them have few licks of the frosting bowl after I was finished. I do need more practice on frosting the sides of cakes. It was hard to get it even and without any crumbs (even though I thought I de-crumbed the cake and used a gentle touch). I’d love any cake frosting tips!

Friday Find: Just Another Day Stationery

2008-02-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

One day browsing for gifts on Etsy, I came across Just Another Day’s shop. I couldn’t resist buying a pack of hip notecards. I love finding unique stationary. You never know when you will need to send a quick thank you or birthday note. This set of four colorful flower notecards and envelopes are perfect for those emergency situations. The cards are blank so you can inscribe your own message. Although the designer, Courtney, will inscribe a custom message if you desire. The cards measure 5.5"x4.5" with rounded corners and printed on French Paper Company cover stock.

Courtney told me she is able to find inspiration in the everyday items that surround us. “When you drive down the street, just any plain old street, look around, you can see all the different shapes and typography on signs, the patterns the roads, buildings and earth make,” said Courtney. “Really inspiring stuff!” Her Minneapolis sketchbooks are a great example of her design philosophy.

She loves to look through old vintage books and ads. “I am kind of obsessed with the twenties and thirties era,” said Courtney. “It is slowly but surely seeping into my design work.”

Courtney lives in Minnesota. During the day she is an Art Director at a magazine publishing company. In her free time, she creates stationary and jewelry. She hopes that someday she will be designing her own goods full time (and so do I!). She has been creating her goods since January 2006. She actually started designing and selling jewelry first. She loves to metalsmith! On a whim, Courtney listed some stationary in her Etsy shop and it sold well. Soon meeting the demand of her stationary sales left little time for jewelry design. She hopes to add a second shop to showcase her metalsmith work in the future.

In her Etsy shop, you can find valentine and wedding collections, cool notecards, sketchbooks and gift tags. I really love her notecards with bird designs. For those of you looking for unique personal stationary, Courtney offers a custom monogram notecard. She also sells prints of her work - sure to brighten any wall!

Be sure to read Courtney's blog for her latest news.

My Helpers

2008-02-06T22:26:00.000-08:00

As I do my household duties, like cleaning, laundry, doing the dishes, I always encourage my children to participate in the activity. I feel it is important for them to see and value my work at home. Malena and Lautaro both love to unload the dishwasher or help fold laundry. Yes, it takes longer. Yes, it is not completed perfectly. That is OK with me. They have such pride in the work they have done to help me. Malena beams as I put away the clothes as she folded it. I do not believe in the toys and games marketed as “enriching” for young children. For my children, I believe the sense of self and rhythm they develop from participating in my cooking and housework is far more enriching than an “educational” toy.

I must admit though that our daily rhythm has been faltering lately. We don’t have a complete Waldorf home, but I try to incorporate elements that work for our lifestyle. I really notice a difference in the children when we do things like sit down to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the same times, go outside frequently and spend quiet time reading together. I try to allow them to stay “in” their imaginative play. Our toys are made of natural materials and open-ended (with a few exceptions).

When there are tasks that Malena does not want to do, I try to make a game out of it or sing a song about the activity. If Malena is pretending to be a ballerina and I would like her to pick up the mounds of scarves and books off her floor, I sing or tell her something about ballerinas needing a clean stage before performing. And, I must make a confession, the kids do have a few videos, but they are limited and very tame (especially considering what is “acceptable” these days!). I really believe in limiting media exposure, especially television (we even bought our flat screen without a tuner and don’t have cable), due to the commercials and inappropriate subject matter. I have realized also that I need to limit my listening to NPR in the car. This has been really difficult. During our 45-minute drive to school, it is so tempting to change from “ballet” (classical) music or stories to my favorite NPR station to hear the latest happenings in the World. But never fail, there is some report about the war and I suddenly have to deal with a whole range of questions that I don’t know how to answer appropriately for her age.

Weekend Work

2008-02-05T00:27:00.000-08:00

Last week, we had 12 pallets of landscaping material delivered from Rolleri Landscaping in Angels Camp, California. They have an amazing selection of rock from all over the country. The staff is excellent and extremely knowledgeable.

My wonderful parents drove from the Bay Area on Saturday to help us make a dent in our landscaping work. My Mom watched the kids all day while Diego, my Dad and I slaved in the yard. We finished our rock path that connects our back and front yard, added rock to the front ditch we have between our front yard and the road, added rock in-between stepping stones on back patio and added mulch to some of the flower beds. Fortunately, the weather was in-between storms, so we had a clear but cold day. On Sunday, we had quite a bit of hail.

This coming weekend, we will work on the other side of the house to finish it also. We still need to plant in our back yard once the weather warms.

Friday Find: Painted Map Pendants

2008-02-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been into bird-related accessories. I think the influence stems from my children. “Bird” was one of the first words for both of them. Although, their first actual reference to birds was calling them, “pee-pee” (like a chirping) along with a bird hand sign.

This necklace is made by Rachel Austin in Portland, Oregon. The square pendant has two birds on a wire over a field of poppies that are painted unto a map and sealed in resin. The pendant came with a 17” ball chain necklace. I get so many compliments on mine. Lautaro loves to point at my necklace and say “bird.” I also bought one with one bird for my children’s preschool teacher, and she loves hers as well.

Rachel’s Etsy shop features her unique artwork that has a simple and alluring style. In addition to the map pendant jewelry, she also does canvas size paintings on maps. She has a watercolor aerial farm series, which is a modern take on crop circles. Her vibrant oil paintings on wood panels feature abstract shapes and textures. My favorites are her layered paintings scenes, such as birds or a field of poppies, on top of maps on wood panels and her new seed drawings.

You can also visit her website to see more of her artwork and find out which galleries and locations feature her work. Be sure to read about her recent Hotel Project.

Thanks to Rachel for providing the great photos.

Preparing for Lautaro's Birthday

2008-01-29T12:25:00.001-08:00

I am finally making Lautaro’s birthday invitations. I hope to finish the cards tonight and mail tomorrow. Once again, burning the midnight oil. I think I enjoy procrastinating and working at the last minute. Maybe it is because 1 AM is the only time my house is quiet!

Here are the details on the cards. I didn’t have to buy any supplies to make these cards. I was determined to use only materials that I already had on hand.

Lautaro LOVES dogs – so we are going with a puppy theme for his second birthday! Thanks to Mama Plum, I found a cute puppy template from designer Anna Maria. What a find! In addition to some fun freebies, she also has an interesting website and online store. Best of all is her beautiful textile design work. Her fabric is such eye candy that it makes you want to start sewing. Very inspiring! I cut the puppies from a very thin denim fabric. At first, I started stitching the pups onto a piece of Paper Source red cardstock. The stitching was a little too cumbersome. So, now I am hand stitching near the edge of the puppy and then gluing the puppy onto the card. The red card is then pasted onto a kraft paper card. Today, I worked on making cards while the kids made art projects with packaging peanuts.

Mrs. Fix-It

2008-01-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

Since buying our first house a few years ago, I have become quite the Mrs. Fix-It. I have changed showerheads, replaced hardware for curtain rods, painted doorframes and trim, and assembled furniture on my own. I even installed an extra toilet-plumbing feature so I could spray the cloth diapers rather than dunking. And this summer, I repainted the bathroom with the help of my two kids while Diego was at work. There is something very rewarding about being able to do a home improvement project on your own and using a power drill. One of my favorite childhood memories is knocking down a wall in our house with my Dad and Brother.

Right now we are spending a lot of time putting the finishing touches on our house to prepare to sell it. This past weekend, I painted some doorframes and baseboards. Today about 12 pallets of landscaping rock, dirt and mulch were delivered. I think I better stop typing and start assembling the new wheelbarrow I bought at Lowe’s yesterday.

Friday Find: Valentine’s Crafts

2008-01-25T18:41:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Valentine’s Day! I think it is my favorite holiday, along with Halloween. I just adore all the red, pink and purple decorations. Could there be a more girly and cute holiday? I really don’t care whether or not I receive a Valentine’s Day gift (although chocolate always delights). I really love Valentine’s Day for the crafts.

I used to make handmade Valentine’s cards. Now, since Lautaro’s birthday is two days after Valentine’s Day I am not making cards anymore. Well, actually, no Valentine’s crafts at all. I hope in the future, I can be more organized about his birthday planning and set aside some time for gluing paper dollies and glittering hearts.

So, for those of you who do have time to get out the scissors, glue and sewing machine…

Sew Mama Sew Valentine’s Ideas

And for those of us, who don’t have time to sew, check out Etsy Valentine’s Showcase.

Quiet Book

2008-01-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to find 26 Lively Letters by Barbara Williams and Carol Grundmann at the Friends of the Library shop at the Tuolumne County Library. One of my favorite keepsakes from my childhood is the quiet activity book that my Mom made me. Each mom from the co-op preschool I went to as a child made a page for the quiet book. Each mom had to make enough versions of the page for each child in the class. When they were finished, each child had a unique quiet book created by all the moms working together. I love the idea of the moms crafting together to create a book. I love my cloth book that reflects the craft style of the late seventies and the individual work of the different moms. There are cloth pages with felt appliqués to practice sorting, tying shoes, learning the alphabet and using buttons and zippers.

As I got older and thought about having kids, I couldn’t wait to make them a quiet book. My only problem is that I don’t have twenty other moms to work on the project with me! So, I talked my Mom into working on it with me. I am going to try to make a few pages for Lautaro’s birthday. Why do I always wait until the last minute to do my projects?

Friday Find: DIY Wine Charm Kit

2008-01-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

Starting today, every Friday, I will post my “Friday Find.” These may be unique little goodies and trinkets that I have purchased recently or would like to buy. Thanks to the Internet, artists are now able to market their work to a much broader audience. I love finding interesting jewelry, stationary and other accessories from these independent designers.

For Christmas, I gave my Aunt Doreen this funky DIY Wine Charm Kit from RobinsEggBlue on Etsy. My aunt and her husband love to try new wines with their friends and families. My aunt also loves to do crafts and DIY projects when she can find the time. I thought this all-inclusive kit would be a great gift for her. The kit came with everything to make unique wine charms. It is a simple project with lots of flair that she will love showing off the next time the gals come over for a glass vino.

Kit Contents:

Cool Packaging for Gift-Giving:

RobinsEggBlue’s Etsy shop features a funky assortment of beads, decorative treasures and fun little bead kits. She is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her shipping was super fast and packaged well. Click here for the Wine Charm Kit. If this kit is not available, be sure to visit RobinsEggBlue on Etsy. I bet that she could come up with a neat little kit to suit your style!

Photos are from RobinsEggBlue.

Homemade Pasta

2008-01-08T23:40:00.000-08:00

On Sunday night, we made pasta from scratch. Making your own pasta is really simple and the taste is amazing. Soon, I will include a recipe. I don’t have anything written down because Diego usually makes it from his family’s recipe. We changed the recipe a little and replace some of the flour semolina. This makes the pasta a better al dente firmness. Although on Sunday we were out of semolina, so we made an all flour version. Out of laziness, I throw all the ingredients in my bread machine to knead and mix the dough. We roll the pasta sheets and cut the pasta by hand. Someday, I would like a pasta machine. I just love kitchen gadgets!

Lautaro’s Waldorf Doll Finished

2008-01-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

Here is Lautaro’s adorable new friend. I can’t wait to find out the name Lautaro gives him. Although, it may be awhile, right now he is referred to as “bebe.”

So, my idea of tracing Baby Doreengi’s clothes to develop my own patterns, almost worked, but I was short on time. One of the arms was two narrow and I couldn’t figure out the elastic. So, I put the shirt on backwards and wrapped some thread around the waist to make it look like a little kimono, which I think is cute. Malena graciously lent a pair of Baby Doreengi’s pants for Lautaro’s baby. I will have to wait for my parents to visit and bring me the patterns to make some more clothes.

Happy New Years Card Making!

2008-01-05T22:40:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years! We are experiencing a huge storm in Northern California. Spending time inside, drinking hot chocolate, watching movies, making bracelets with Malena is such a nice treat from all the yard work we have been doing lately!

On Wednesday, UPS delivered my card making supplies from Paper Source – nothing like doing things at the last minute! That night, I traced 81 envelopes onto star-printed vellum paper. On Thursday night, I was a one-woman sweatshop cutting out, folding and gluing the envelopes and hand writing the address labels and messages.

And what would I have done without my dandy little adhesive roller! Every time I rolled the tape across the envelope or picture, I thought, “what a great invention and please don’t break on me now!” I have had bad luck with these contraptions in the past. This year, I tried a different brand, Therm O Web (I love their craft adhesive products.) that worked flawlessly. Whew, what a timesaver.

Family Photo Mass Production

2007-12-30T22:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a little section of the drying 55 family photographs that Diego developed in his darkroom this afternoon. Rather than a family Christmas card, we will mail a New Year’s card wishing our friends and family the best in the New Year. I hope that tomorrow a little package from my favorite store, PaperSource, will bring me my card and envelope-making supplies. We will put the photograph on top of a red A6 flat card. I am hand making the envelopes out of vellum sprinkled with silver stars.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T14:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a package that Malena wrapped and created for Uncle Matt using recycled goods. I was inspired by the resourcefulness of my friend Yolanda at Perfecting Imperfectness. She sent me her family’s Christmas card in an envelope made from a recycled PaperSource catalog.

Because of her eco-friendly envelope, I wrapped the majority of my family’s gifts in kraft paper that was previously used as packaging material when I ordered the presents and grosgrain ribbon that can be reused.

Waldorf Doll in Progress

2007-12-23T15:34:00.000-08:00

I am almost finished stitching together the body of Lautaro’s Waldorf doll. Today, I finished attaching the body and I am now working on perfecting the feet. Later, I will add hair and facial features. I totally forget that this little doll will need clothes! My mom has the original patterns and I forget to cut my fabric while I was visiting her. So, I will trace around Baby Doreengi’s clothes (Malena’s Waldorf doll) to create patterns for Lautaro’s doll.

I really have to hustle the remaining bits of this afternoon and tonight. I have to finish Lautaro's doll, sew doll clothing (i should probably make Baby Doreengi an outfit while I am sewing.), wrap presents and clean the house. I was hoping I would have time to sew some matching family stockings, but that will have to wait until next year at this rate!

Happy Winter Solstice!

2007-12-21T11:50:00.001-08:00

My first cake that someone paid me to bake! As a fundraiser for my children’s co-op preschool, I offered my cake decorating skills and someone actually took me up on it. For a winter solstice party, I baked a carrot cake with an orange cream cheese frosting filling. I covered the cake in Satin Ice fondant. Then, I painted the fondant with a silver pearl dust. I covered the cake with fondant snowflakes dusted with glimmering silver dust. I also made white chocolate snowflakes to scatter around the base of the cake on the dessert table. I bought my cake decorating supplies at Edward’s Cake Decorating store in Modesto, CA.

Retro Swirly Cupcakes

2007-12-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

Another big hit from my Dad's 60th birthday bash. These cupcakes are a throwback to one of the forbidden Hostess treats of childhood. I don’t think I ever had one in my life! Although I can’t compare, I am sure that these cute cupcakes from Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos are a 100 times better and without all the mystery preservatives that make them last on the 7-11 shelves for a decade.

Homemade Crème Sandwich Cookies

2007-12-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

My Dad recently celebrated his 60th birthday. My Mom threw a fun party at their home to celebrate the big occasion. For the dessert table, I made a homemade version of one of my Dad’s favorite cookies, Oreos. I found several recipes online. After reading through several, I selected part of different recipes that highlighted what I thought would result in a crunchy chocolate cookie and a creamy, yet firm vanilla center. I was also short on time, so I wanted to create a simple recipe. The cookies received rave reviews; “even better than Oreos.” These are a yummy treat when served with a cold glass of milk, organic of course! Here is the recipe that I created:

Cookies:
· 1 (18 oounce) package chocolate cake mix
· 2 eggs
· 2-3 tablespoons water (first add 2 tablespoons water, if mixture is too dry, add the 3rd.)
· 2 tablespoons oil (I used canola.)
· ½ cup cocoa

Blend the cake mix, eggs, water, oil and cocoa. Form the dough into a ball and let stand for 20 minutes. Roll the dough into ½ inch balls. Grease the bottom of a smooth-bottom drinking glass. Dip the glass into the cocoa and flatten a ball with the glass bottom. Dip the glass into the cocoa before flattening each dough ball. Place the cookies on a parchment cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove cookies immediately. Flatten any that have puffed with a spatula. (None of mine did, though). Let the cookies cool for about 20 minutes before frosting.

Crème Center:
· 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
· ¼ cup butter
· 1 tablespoon vanilla
· 4-6 cups sifted powdered sugar

Blend all of the crème ingredients together until smooth. If the crème is too soft, add the additional cups of sugar one cup at a time. Frost the bottom of a cookie and add another cookie on top. Viola! Enjoy!

Christmas Gift Tags

2007-12-12T00:29:00.001-08:00

I just finished an assortment of Christmas gift cards. I started these several weeks ago at my "Ladies Activity Club" with Maria at MamaPlum and Yolanda at Perfecting Imperfectness. The paper is from a PaperSource Scrap Bag. A PaperSource boutique opened in Santana Row, not far from my parents house in San Jose, California. Everytime I visit, I sneak out for an hour browsing all the beautiful paper and inspiring ideas. The waxed twine from Martha Stewart's old catalog. I bought the twine ages ago. It is great to work with - if anyone knows of a source, please let me know!

Face Cupcakes

2007-12-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

I just had to share the lovely sand cupcakes that Malena baked outside this past weekend. Our hillside backyard is scattered with oak trees, which provided the necessary cupcake embellishments!

Fun Holiday Gift Guide

2007-11-28T14:49:00.000-08:00

I had plans to create a holiday gift guide with my favorite products for children. Fortunately, one of my favorite sites, CoolMomPicks already did the hard work for me! Their categories are a hoot (yet, totally useful); from “for the kid who’s starting to play with the coffee table and chopsticks” to “For Your Friend's Fashionista Tween Who You Have No Idea How To Shop For.”

And if you are just searching for great children’s toys, CoolMomPicks already did that one too.

Thanks to the fabulous moms at CoolMomPicks.

Thankful for the Beach

2007-11-25T21:59:00.000-08:00

As luck would have it, our Thanksgiving tradition is for my entire family to meet in Cayucos, California to celebrate for a few days. Cayucos is on the central coast, near San Luis Obispo and an easy meeting point for our families scattered across Northern and Southern California.

Here are a few photos of how we spent our Thanksgiving Vacation… flying kites with Papa (Grandpa), collecting shells with Vava (Grandma), drawing in the sand, building fairy houses out of beach treasures and best of all, going for long walks along the ocean with Papi (Diego).

MomMade Play Dough

2007-11-19T01:43:00.000-08:00

This week we made play dough – a favorite activity for my children. Our best recipe is the one that my Mom used to make play dough for my brother and I when we were little kids.

Making your own play dough is a simple “cooking” activity to do with your children. Then they have a nice fresh batch of play dough for creative play. Another bonus of play dough is that it smells nicer (you can even add aromas to your recipe) and all the ingredients can be found in your pantry. Play dough will stay fresh if you keep it in an airtight container. I also keep mine in the fridge. It is also fun to add glitter for sparkly play dough.

:: Mom’s Best Play Dough Recipe ::

1 cup flour
½ cup salt
3 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
Food coloring – number of drops as your prefer

Put all the ingredients in a pan and mix with a wooden spoon over medium heat until it forms a ball. Viola… you’re ready for a play dough playdate with you kiddies!

Oh, the tools in this picture are a Melissa and Doug Modeling Clay Tool Set.

A Walk in Fall

2007-11-19T01:06:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, we went hiking and mountain biking at New Melones Reservoir. This is Diego’s favorite local mountain biking spot. He drives there every weekend for his weekly mountain bike ride. Occasionally, the kids and I will accompany him and take a little walk/hike on a quiet trail near the lake. It was a beautiful California Fall day – sunny, a little crisp, a few leaves changing color, tons of acorns on the ground and a sparkly lake (extremely low – we need rain!).

We started out with Lautaro in the jogging stroller, “bici stroller” as the Malena calls it, and Malena walking in front. At the end, after meeting Diego, I was holding Lautaro while he nursed resting on the handle bar of bici stroller. Malena was on Diego’s back as he slowly rode his mountain bike. OK, not the safest modes of transportation, but you do what you have to when the kids start whining and you’re a mile away from the parking lot.

A Waldorf Doll In The Making

2007-11-16T00:37:00.000-08:00

Today, I received the supplies to make a beautiful Waldorf Doll for Lautaro. He loves Malena’s Baby Doreengee that I made for her third Christmas, so it is time for one for him. Baby Doreengee will have a little brother. Oh, Malena derived Baby Doreengee’s name from my Aunt Doreen.

I ordered the doll making supplies from Weir Dolls. For Malena’s doll, I ordered one of their kits with a pre-made doll head, pre-sewn body and crocheted cap for the hair base. I worried that if I did the doll completely from scratch, it would look a bit non-human. The Weir Doll kit is wonderful with simple, easy-to-follow instructions. All the items necessary to make a beautiful doll are included and packaged nicely. No machine sewing is required if you buy the kit and select the pre-sewn body. I like buying the pre-made head, because I questioned my ability to create a realistic-shaped head using only wool, cotton tubing and embroidery floss.

Making Malena’s doll, I quickly understood, why an already-made Waldorf doll is so expensive. It takes a lot of love and time! It is a simple, yet time-consuming process. It is such a wonderful feeling and experience to be able to make your child’s first doll. I know that this is a doll that my child will treasure forever and be able to give their children. I believe that all the love put into creating the doll shows in the doll’s personality.

I would rather my child have one special, high-quality doll than many plastic dolls. Many people complain about the price of wooden toys, Waldorf dolls or play silks. If you buy less, yet high quality toys it probably equates to the amount one would spend on plastic toys that break and need to be replaced. Not too mention one of my favorite reasons for fewer toys – less clutter. Plus, if a wooden stacking toy is left on the living room floor, it doesn’t look as obnoxious as a plastic Dora the Explorer plaything.

Oh, if you are feeling really brave and crafty, like my friend Maria at MamaPlum you can check out this blog entry about making dolls from scratch. Darling and inspiring!

Yummy Pannycakes

2007-11-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

In honor of my Vovo, I have tweaked a few pancake recipes and created my favorite recipe for PANNYCAKES – as my Vovo (grandfather in Portuguese) used to say. These are traditional, American-style pancakes. I have another recipe that is a crepe-style pancake that merges a Dutch & Argentine recipe that I will post soon.

Here is the recipe. We love our pannycakes with real maple syrup (no worries about high fructose corn syrup), local honey or homemade jam. Let me know if you try the recipe and how it tasted.

1.5 cups all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur's Flour or Gold Medal Harvest King)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1.5 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla

1. Sift dry ingredients into bowl.
2. Make a well in center. In the well, pour liquid ingredients.
3. Mix well and cook on griddle until golden brown on both sides.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

I love Halloween. It is one of my favorite holidays, next to Valentine’s Day. I think it is because of all the fun decorating possibilities. So, one would think our house would be decked in ghosts and goblins. But, no, we just have pumpkins on the front deck. Inside we have mini pumpkins, gourds and these beautiful glass pumpkins. These are made by Tom Stanton at Holy City Art Glass in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Every year the Los Gatos High School has an art glass pumpkin patch fundraiser. Amazing pieces! It is unbelievable how many women are in line to buy their yearly glass pumpkin. Last year they raised $17,300 for the school to use as they wish! Quite impressive!

Here is the beginning stage of Malena’s costume. She wanted to be a “hugging witch.” The dress is made with a black satin. I made a cape and sash with glittery black fabric on one side and sheer purple with fuzzy scared cats on the reverse. The glittery fabric I found as a remnant at half price! I love pinning the pattern to fabric. The feeling of the tissue paper pattern tautly pinned to the fabric brings back memories of my childhood. My mom was always sewing dresses for me. She always made our Halloween costumes also. It is so much fun to make costumes for my own children.

Lautaro is going to be a spider, again. Since we didn’t get a good picture of him last year, I am going to try again this year. I will wear a white dress and white shirt embellished with black ribbon to look like a web. I hope to have a good picture to post!

Unfortunately, the kids are home sick today, so we don’t get to go on the preschool walk in our costumes. Plus, since we are so far out in the country, there is nowhere to trick-o-treat and we won’t have any Halloween visitors. It is all retirees and vacation homes in our neighborhood.

Recycled Sweaters

2007-10-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

I am currently working on this piece to sell (I Hope, although, I don’t know if I can part with it!). In its former life it was a Brooks Brothers sweater that I could no longer wear (I hope because it shrank and not because I have had two children!).

So, I threw it in the washing machine in a pillowcase while doing a load of whites (I don’t want to waste water in my craftiness) to full it. Next, I took scissors to the shrunken sweater and reconstructed it into a bag. I embellished the bag with a needle-felted pattern that is my take on a cross-section of an egg. I found these vibrant orange purse handles at Britex Fabrics in San Francisco that I think will work perfectly. It took me months to find the right handles. When you spend so much time to make an item unique you must be willing to spend the time finding the right accoutrements for it, right? (Or maybe it is just a good excuse for my procrastination?)
Anyway, I am waiting for the weather to cool (Will it ever? I think it was 85 degrees today out here in the Sierra Foothills) and I can start felting again. I am not sure why, but felting seems like such a fall and winter craft. I have a bunch of felt beads that I am also trying to finish to add to jewelry and hairclip pieces. All summer long, I have had a pile of thrifted wool sweaters sitting in my laundry closet. Now, I can finally get to work and revamp these holey sweaters into purses. So, c’mon autumn weather – I am waiting!

What we are snacking on this week

2007-10-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

... Beautiful organic pomegranates! A mom at my children’s parent coop preschool is selling these delicious pomegranates. When ripe, pomegranates open to a most beautiful shape. At least that is what I am guessing because they were all open and I don’t see how you could cut the fruit this way. It is so fun for Malena and Lautaro (and me too!) to pick delicately each tiny pomegranate seed and experience an explosion of flavor when you pop it into your mouth.

I Heart Etsy

2007-10-13T18:26:00.001-07:00

Here is a super-cool tee that I bought for my son, Lautaro on etsy from rockpaperscissorsart.

It is so dificult to find a decent boy's shirt that doesn't advertise a licensed media character, a typical American sport or an ugly monster truck. Etsy seller miniblisscakes custom-designed London Double Decker bus tee for Lautaro and a sparkly purple mermaid for Malena. I plan on doing most of my Christmas shopping on Etsy this year. Soon, I will also start posting some of my handmade products on etsy, in addition to my website, www.orangepolkadot.com.

Quick Catch-Up

2007-10-13T01:08:00.001-07:00

So, I am going to make a real attempt at keeping this blog current. Heck, maybe I can even get someone to read this thing…

Here is an updated list of my latest projects:

1. Minky Blanket – silk in an paisley pattern on one side (brought in Los Altos at Thai Silks and purple super-soft minky from Minky Delight). Both pieces were short ends, so I got a bargain! Minky is difficult to sew with though… I have read complaints about people being covered in fabric fluff while sewing, but that isn’t my case. The minky from Minky Delight, doesn’t seem to shred much. However, I can’t keep the two pieces evenly together. The minky streches so much, even though I pin a lot, by time I get to the next pin, the minky is bunched up. I would love any tips on sewing with Minky.

2. Malena's 4th Birthday Cake - Malena wanted a mermaid theme for her 4th birthday. I was this close to making a cake with a fondant mermaid on top. But then the reality hit that I only had a few hours in the middle of the night to decorate the cake. Thank Goodness! I made a two-layer cinnamon cake with cinnamon buttercream, at her request. I decorated with lime green fondant and handmade white chocolate shells. She loved the cake.

3. Mermaid Quilt – Based upon a Cuddly Quilt Kit from JoAnns. However, the original instructions were basically a patchwork blanket. That would have been fine, but I had to take in one step further and make it into a REAL quilt. I added a natural cotton batting, hand-quilted stars and a batik binding (which I made in the proper quilting technique). I bought those materials from Siri’s, who actually lives less than a mile away from me. I am lucky and can drive over to her house and browse her garage-turned-warehouse-store for fabric and notions. What a find out here in the foothills. I never would have finished the quilt in time for Malena’s 4th birthday. Oh, due to a cutting mistake, I had to replace some of the plush turquoise fabric for the center border. I found the perfect bright pink minky dot at Minky Delight as short end. I think the quilt turned out well for my first one. Although, I am not sure I am a quilter at heart. It takes considerable amounts of patience, mathematical skill, precision and dedication. I wish I could have all of those qualities! I don’t know how my Vava has made so many beautiful quilts. I can truly appreciate her work now!

4. Sundress for Malena – It is so much fun to sew for a little girl. So many patterns out there for cute little dresses and accessories. This summer, I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to sew a sundress. I even tried making a version for myself. I won’t post the results of that project. Let’s say, I am just going to stick with clothing for littles for now.

5. Smock– This was a quick and easy project. The pattern instructions were very clear. It provided a great introduction on sewing with seam binding and had useful tips to improve the process.

Denim Bling!

2006-09-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

I have decided that plain denim is just so boring and predictable. Everyone is wearing uber-expensive jeans feeling they are unique by buying an elite pair of jeans. Well, I have had enough with it and have started embellishing my denim to reflect my personal style. Now, I will truly have a pair of unique jeans - taste and style are things that money cannot buy.

Sew Outdoors!

2006-09-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I decided to sew outdoors on our new deck. I had to sew ten flannel playclothes for Malena's Waldorf nursery school. Today, I washed, ironed and rolled them. They look so soft and inviting for play! Lucky kids!

Doesn't the deck look awesome? Diego designed and built the deck all by himself! It took him one weekend and a few weeknights after work to complete it. I applied the water sealant on it. This weekend, Diego started building the back deck - by himself! We also have a new wooden hot tub to install that we ordered from, Sea Otter Wooden Tubs in Alaska. We didn't want to be soaking in a big tupperware container filled with hot water, so we opted for the safer wood option. The people at Sea Otter were extremely helpful with choosing our tub and explaining the benefits of a cedar tub. The tub smells wonderful! I can't wait to get in it once it is built. Ohhh... it has jets too! (for a good, informative article on endocrine disruptors, such as the chemicals used in plastics or cholrine, read this article published by a colleague of the renowed Dr. Christine Northrup. Check out her site for information on women's health and wisdom.)

Malena's Third Birthday

2006-09-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

Well, Malena is officially three years old! I can't believe that my little baby was born three years ago. And to top it off, she begins nursery school on her own this Thursday! When did she become so grown up?

We threw a birthday party for her at our house this weekend. We mainly invited family with a few friends from our local Waldorf school.

Of course, I made the cake. I love working with fondant. It is so simple to create such an impressive cake.

Felting... Finally!

2006-07-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to felting (using raw wool to create fabric) through my daughter's Waldorf school in Jamestown, CA. We used needle felting and wet felting techniques to create play balls and storytime scenes. I loved this hands-on the technique, how involved I can become in making a textile piece of art and yet how flexible the artist must be to the whim of the medium. There are so many variables in creating felt- water temperature, use of needles, pressure applied during rolling process, length of rolling process, type of wool fiber. The possibilities and variations are endless.

This past Saturday I took an Embellished felting class at the "Dixon Lambtown USA Festival". As luck would have it, my brother and his new wife live in Dixon within walking distance to the festival. What a sign!! I met several wonderful women during my class. We had an enlightening discussion about allowing yourself to make a mistake when creating art. It was very freeing for me and I could not wait to get home and get to work. Ideas brewing...

Projects...

2006-04-21T11:36:00.000-07:00

I always have a list of ongoing projects, and many that never get accomplished. But I do not get discouraged, as I always hope that I will have time to finish this project. One example is my daughter's baby album. She is 2.5 years old, I have yet to start it!!

Yes, I finished it.

2005-10-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

For those of you wondering, well actually, no readers yet, so no one is wondering. I did finish Malena's birthday dress. My first knit garment. It was so much fun to make. It looked darling on Malena. I will post a picture when I can find the CD and download it.

Finally... a post!

2005-09-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

AGH. Well, if this isn't annoying! I just typed my first post in one year and I just lost it when I tried to spell check.

So, here is the short version. Moved back to California. We are living in the Sierra foothills, near Sonora. We are expecting another baby due in Feb. 2006.

I really wanted to knit my first sweater this season, but with a big pregnant belly, I don't see it happening. So, it is a bolero. Any good bolero patterns out there?

2004-09-17T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Back of Malena's Birthday Dress.

Lost Knit Project

2004-09-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

For Malena's first birthday, I wanted to knit her something monumental - like a sweater (something more difficult than a baby blanket). Since, unfortunately, we live in Florida, I decided to knit her a cotton sundress. I started in June, so I would finish by her first birthday on September 11 (yes, 9/11). I completed the front half in the end of July while I was visiting my parents in California. Just as I was finishing the straps, Hurricane Frances decided to arrive on Florida's East Coast. We had to evacuate inland to a barely two-star hotel near the Miami Airport. One day we went downstairs while our room was being cleaned. I took the knitting in progress, leaving the front half of the dress in a grocery bag upstairs (along with my extra skeins and notions). Two days later, I noticed that my knitting was missing and it was too late to find it! I guess that is what I deserve for leaving it in a grocery bag! In my defense, I must not have been thinking clear with the stress of a hurricane approaching. So, now I am starting the front half of the dress AGAIN! The part that makes me the most mad, is that the dress wasn't ready for her birthday.

I'll post a picture of the dress and WIP as soon as photobucket lets me log in. Anyone know a better site to host images?

My First Post

2004-09-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. I am eating leftover pasta from last night and surfing craftster.org (my favorite site) while my one year old daughter, Malena plays with her books. I have wanted to start a blog for awhile, but I haven't had a lot of extra time to devote to the task. One thing I have learned as a new parent, is that tasks get accomplished in baby steps, so I had better start now or never! Ok, Malena wants to play chase, I'll be back in a few...

Malena's First Birthday!

2004-09-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

She is wearing a dress that Diego bought her in Ecuador and playing with a ball from VaVa and Grandpa.

Here is the cake that I made for the adults. Although, Malena did have fun peeling the fondant circles off our cake. I made her a healthy organic cake. Needless to say, it was not as attractive as the sugar-laden one for the grown-ups.