Recent gifts

I am rather proud of a few things I have made recently so I wanted to share them.
The first was a Christmas Eve inspiration for my husband. When he cooks or does dishes he puts on his headphones and listens to his ipod, so.... I used a black pillowcase and made him an apron. The colors and map of Africa refer to his reggae obsession. The pocket has a side perfect for the ipod to go in.
The second is a thank you to a friend who loaned me her sewing machine for an entire year! She is a wonderful artist, and I tend to get quite inspired making customized pot holders (who knew, this could very well be my niche!)
Fun fun fun! My New Years goal is to make more things for my own house (no more craft sales for a while), but there seems to always be a birthday or thank you present to make. But it pleases me immensely to be able to make people things. And customize them to their interests. Which gives me an idea: any creative people want to do some bartering?
I am making small attempts to have Lupe not grow up in a consumeristic way. I hope that she will grow up remembering her mom announcing an upcoming party and heading to the sewing machine. Not that there always needs to be presents, but making them is a good thing. I have spoken to a lot of moms recently who are all on different points of the scale between fullout buy buy gift giving, to none at all. I think the best is to feel comfortable with where you are at personally and to have small goals if you want.
I got a Barbie Dream House as a kid and I turned out all right!

Rainy Day Crafts

For almost a month now lupe has been playing with her tiniest animals in a Leggo house. They are there for a fiesta, and have been waiting for their pizza for a LONG time, alas, it is always too hot to eat.
So that inspired a craft today, while we watch the rain that never seems to stop!
Materials: Tin can lids, construction paper, scissors, hole punch and glue.
The hole punch makes easy and tiny tomatoes and olives, shredded paper for the cheese. They were really tasty!

Grandpa has promised to make a kitchen for Lupe, but xmas is too soon, so it'll probably be a birthday gift in May. Meanwhile, I saw a cool kitchen on the web (I think it was Family Fun mag), made from cardboard boxes and plastic lids.
If I can find a dry box, that's our next project!

Gift wrapping and Holiday Creativity

It's been a while since I have posted- we all have that Holiday excuse to give, but I have an additional one: every day I fall asleep putting Lupe down for her nap, and every night I fall asleep when she goes to bed. Why? Have you guessed already? Yes, Lupe is going to be a big sister and the first trimester is EXHAUSTING! Or maybe it's just my two year old who is exhausting!
Yet still, I have managed to finish a couple of gifts, and wrapped them. I knew there was a reason I have been saving cereal boxes (a weater fit nicey inside a box of Cheerios) in a kitchen cupboard, and tp rolls (perfect size for a couple of flower pins I made) under the bathroom sink! They are all being used now to wrap presents. So, REUSE the cardboard instead of RECYCLING it, have your child go crazy with the paints (I used old life drawings from my college days), and you have fab gift wrap!
Another thing I did was use those mailers that come from craft stores telling you about all their Xmas deals on fabric, ribbon, scrapbooking, etc and cut them up into little flowers with leaves (can you see this detail in the pic?)
One of the childhood Christmases I remember most was when I was about 12 I think, and we used old paper we already had, and went crazy with litter and glue, each package had a unique design. I don't even remember what I got that year, but I have a picture of the boxes under the tree.
I made one gift splurge for my husband, but other than that, I have made them all mostly. And today I found building blocks, a toy house, books and a video at the thrift store- Lupe's gifts, all for under $7! This makes me feel good, not just cause I'm poor, but gifting this way is MORE CREATIVE!!

What is your most creative gift idea you have given/received? What are you doing this year? Respond to this post, and I may just make something for you!

This weeks events

Buenos Dias Ninos is now weekly! Join us at EcoBambino for fun Spanish playtime, EVERY FRIDAY at 11 am.

Also, do NOT forget, UpcycleSLO's Eco Craft Bazaar is THIS Sunday from 9am to 1 pm.
1068 Pacific St at Santa Rosa St in Downtown SLO.
Coffee cup cozies, silverware caddies for camping or your bag, reusable snack bags, and the coolest clothing and accessories ever!

We are benefiting the Women's Shelter, and we have a contest for YOU!

Bring in any of the following items and be entered in a RAFFLE TO WIN a hand-made item by yours truly. You will either win a silverware caddy (perfect for camping, biking or keeping your silverware clean in your purse when you take your lunch to work) OR, a personalized cloth banner (come to the sale and you'll see what these are!)

WHAT THE SHELTER NEEDS: Diapers (size 3), pull-ups and wipes. Also, with the holidays fast approaching food cards, Visa gift cards and even frozen turkeys or hams are always needed.
See you SUNDAY!

Buenos Dias Ninos

This posting is rather late, but, tomorrow is my first event at the new store EcoBambino.

BUENOS DIAS NINOS

11 am Friday November 5, 863 Monterey St

I have been doing a Spanish Story and Song time at the SLO Library for over a year now. Being once a month however makes it easy to forget or have other commitments come up. If this new gig takes off, I hope it can maybe be a weekly opportunity to introduce children, and their parents, to the Spanish language through both familiar and new songs and stories.

The first presentation is free! Afterwards we will initiate some kind of donation system, similar to music time at Booboos. (A mom's gotta make a living!)

So, come tomorrow, manana, and tell me what you think!

Here's my girl! Dr. Lupe at your service.

Thank you for Salad

I'm changing things up a bit! I want to share withyou a salad that MY TODDLER LOVES! If you are a parent I know you will keep reading this post!

Broccoli Slaw: Cut up or shredded broccoli, carrot, purple cabbage, raisins, sunflower seeds, plus a little mayo, vinegar and pinch of sugar.

Mmmm! I actually saw my 2 year old picking out the broccoli and cabbage and.......eating it!

(in the photo it's a little heavy on the carrot-myou can change the veggies according to what you have)

When we were sitting down for dinner, Lupe put out her hands and said "amen" reminding us to say grace. So I asked her, "What are you thankful fo Lupe?" And she answered, "Mmmm......quesadillas........salad!"

And I am thankful for THAT!

Sunday Novemeber 21
9am to 1pm

HOLIDAY CRAFT BAZAAR
brought to you be your local eco craft collective UpcycleSLO
Check out www.upcyclelso.blogspot.com for more information.

Clothing for women and children, jewelry, kitchen and household items and more!

UpcycleSLO is a creative collective who's aim is the creation of crafts and items using mostly repurposed materials and encouraging the ideals of green consumer behavior while supporting local artists and crafters.

Back in the day

My dad finally cleaned out the attic. This days been coming for a long time, I mean years. I was scared to bring home the van full of boxes, I mean memories, to Pedro. What? More stuff? It's a bit overwhelming. Old yearbooks, artwork, letters letters, letters.

Do you remember those days, of writing letters? I am lucky enough to have some very creative friends, who not only decorate the envelopes and write on funny found paper, but their actual writing is funny (shana and manj, this one goes out to you!). Kate's coffee stirrer thoughts. And the collages we made!

And journal entries, social dramas and unrequited love. And some more

unrequited love. And zines. I started making zines in high school and spent a lot of time at Kinko's. With all the blogs around, does anyone make zines anymore? I sold zines at Zine Shops in San Francisco and the East Bay, I bought other zines and had written correspondance with other rebel girlz expressing themselves through words, pictures and snail mail. I reread a letter from a punk girl who admitted to liking raves- ah! Scandalous!

Does anybody remember Gillman St? Are there still shows there? Spitboy, Bikini Kill, Jawbreaker, Dead Milkmen. Speaking of Dead Milkmen, found an autographed picture of them, dedicated to yours truly.

ANd going even further back, I found a digital print portrait of myself and Michael Jackson, inside of a heart with some mushy words about true love....Ha! I think it was from Universal Studios. Too bad I can't find my red pleather and zippered jacket!

Okay, the toddler queen of the house needs breakfast, enough reminiscing for the day!