Short Hiatus

This blog will be on short hiatus starting today through the first week of January. After that, things will start up again with regular posts and interviews with fun artists.

I hope you'r holidays are fab!

Pantone 2013 Color of the Year

Quotables

In order to take a rightful seat at the head of the banquet table of our lives, we have to accept the rightness of our feelings and desires and act on them strongly. - Mama Gena

Quotables

Each of us can add a little fun to our lives, even in small ways, and the result can be a hugely entertaining life. - Mama Gena

Thoughts on Wrapping it up Green

I love wrapping presents. It gives me time to think about the person the gift is for and how to wrap it to reflect something about them.  It's also a creative challenge to repurpose things around the house or studio into pretty eco-gift packaging.

Make the effort, it's worth the time to have a unique looking package. Gift bags are a cop out. There, I said it! They are the drop and run solution for people who think they are all thumbs at gift wrap. Give gift wrapping a try, you may surprise yourself. Here's a quickie tutorial on how to wrap a present, so you can keep those corners neat.

One of my fave papers for gift wrap is brown kraft paper. If you have a few brown paper bags lying around -- try it -- it looks fab -- and you can dress it up any way you like! Just cut the bag at the seams and flatten it out. It's fun to draw on the inside of the bag first or after you've wrapped your package. Try gluing on a picture of the recipient as a kiddo or a picture of a place you know they'll like.

If you have an herb garden, have a look and see how you can work some herbs into your gift wrap. If your gifteé is a foodie, maybe wrap their present in a lovely dish towel and tie a little bunch of herbs on top. It will look pretty and smell good too.

More odds and ends and ideas...

You know those little white doo-dads that you pull out to open a carton of milk or juice? You know, the ones that you can't recycle? Wash them off and save them up -- they look fun on packages too! I like to investigate my tiny junk drawer. The gold baby from the Mardi Gras cake could make a darling gift topper. You're sure to find all kinds of hidden treasure in the junk drawer! :)

For the kiddos, I love to wrap things in cartoon pages from the newspaper. It's colorful and fun and kid oriented.

I enjoy adding texture too. On one package I cut a little strip of bubble wrap I had lying around to add a little texture and color.

I hope all your packages are beautiful!

Quotables

Always remember: your feelings are right. Your passion is part of your genius. - Mama Gena

Getting in the holiday sprit!

Today I stumbled across some of the cutest holiday wallpapers I have seen in a long time. Best thing about them? They're free! Hop on over to West Elm to see and download them for yourselves! There are sizes for all your gadgets – desktops, tablets & mobile.

I hope you're getting in the holiday spirit too!

Food Trucks in Dallas

 The food truck trend has exploded in Dallas.There seem to be all kinds of trucks – everything from desserts to exotic entrees. This is not the roach coach of years past. These modern food trucks are serving up original fresh, yummy satisfying foods.

During my week downtown last month for a conference, I had the opportunity to try a few out. My fave hands down was Rock and Roll Taco. The people in the truck were super nice and the food was fresh and delish. Check out the truck schedule here.

I appreciated that the tacos were small -- more opportunity to try flavors. One could easily have two or three as a meal and not feel overstuffed or like you missed out on anything.

Do you have food trucks in the area where you live?

Eco Finds

Eco Friendly Plush Doll by mypetmoon. Cuteness!

Quotables

Nothing is difficult to those who have the will. ~Motto of the Dutch Poets' Society

Klyde Warren Park - New in Dallas

A new park recently opened in the Dallas downtown area. I had seen pictures and drawing and it looked great. That was nothing compared to actually checking it out in person!

I checked out the park last weekend after I went to the Nutcracker Ballet with friends. It's beautiful! There's a dog run, putt-putt golf, a stage, ping pong, a mini playground and the food trucks were there. It was walking distance from the new Winspear Opera House.

The mini playground was recently yarn bombed by a group here in Dallas. It looks like a happy party. I don't know how long that will be up but it's really pretty and colorful!

With the 80 degree weather this weekend, it's a great time to get out a see it all. Check out a list of events here.

Eco Finds

8 Natural Linen Napkins by TallPineStudio. So soft and pretty!

Quotables

Your dreams, your desires, are not too big for you; they are exactly your size. - Mama Gena

Eco Finds

Eco- friendly upcycled coffee sack burlap messenger thecoffeebagcompany

Such pretty colors! :)

Quotables

If you want glow, you have to have fun. That is the equation, and, yes, it is that simple. - Mama Gena

Free Shipping for Two Days

I'm offering FREE SHIPPING in my etsy shop on November 23 & 24 -- just use code FREESHIP and get some of that holiday list taken care of!

Cheers!

Eco Finds

Eco Tammy Messenger Bag by ReclaimedWreckage

Quotables

Treasure yourself, and the world will treasure you. - Mama Gena

Win One of My Eco Happy Pouches!

YAY!! Today is the last day to enter to win one of my eco happy pouches! Enter here.

THANK YOU!

When I was a kid, I remember going to the polls with my mom to vote. Being behind the little fabric curtain made me giggle. It was hard to be patient but there were always elephant and donkey cookies and coffee on the way out. As a kid, I thought voting was really cool. I didn't really understand what the animals represented but I knew it was an important thing to do.

Now that I'm a grown up (at least on the outside) we vote digitally. We are moved through the line like cattle, an electronic key activates the tablet where we vote and there are no cookies afterwards. I can't lie, I miss the cookies. :)

I have to say a big thank you to all the suffragettes, soldiers and so-and-sos that came before me that made it possible for me to have the right to vote!

Texture Tuesday

Eco Finds Friday: Swan and Stone

Love this wool cloche hat from Swan and Stone

Texture Tuesday

Eco Finds Friday: Milleta

These look perfect for the season - 100% wool yard socks from Milleta

Texture Tuesday

Meet The Artist Behind: Lu and Ed

Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff, fun stuff. 

My name is Cody, and I live in Kansas City, Missouri. I moved here about 4 years ago from the East Coast and I still think it's pretty weird here, haha. I moved here to be with my fiance, Trace. :) We have known each other for like 13 years now! I have a young son, and when he's in school is when I do most of my monster making.

Apart from creating things, what do you do? Do you have a day job? 

I am really lucky to be out of the corporate day job world. All of my past work history is in customer service and marketing, and every job I have ever had I was quickly promoted into either supervisor or management positions (probably because I am an over-achieving workaholic), and while I LOVE that type of work, I enjoy what I do now way more. That experience though... It definitely reflects on how I operate with Lu & Ed - I pour my soul into my work and love every single moment of it!

What first made you want to become an artist?

You know, if you had asked me this a year ago I would say I had no idea. But now I realize I come from a really artistic and crafty family! My dad quilted and sewed, my mom sewed our clothes, canned foods, and made all kinds of homemade treats like fruit rolls and stuff, my oldest brother is a wood worker, my other brother a ceramics artist as well as a calligrapher, my sister is amazing at embroidery and cross stitch. And it goes beyond that. My cousin went to school for graphic design and also culinary school to decorate cakes, she also sculpts, paints, and makes huge wire sculptures. My uncle is also a wood worker, and my other cousin is a hair stylist, and another cousin is a jewelry maker. I have been creating as long as I can remember, starting with hand quilting when I was about eight, embroidery, cross stitch, painting, ceramics. I actually entered some juvenile ceramic competitions when I was about 12 and won a few ribbons. :) I started sewing with a sewing machine three years ago this month - when I made my very first Mon-stor!

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

I am a very inspired creative person - when I am creating I typically have music on and I completely and totally zone out. To select fabrics for Mon-stors I typically grab one fabric that is screaming at me to be used, and toss other fabrics on it until I have a THE match. Then I set in to 'em with a pair of scissors, pin 'em, and crank up the tunes and get lost in my thoughts. The entire process is exciting for me, when I start seeing the monster come together I start telling myself how awesome it is and how cute it's going to be. I don't plan anything about monsters, it all just kind of flows and jives. When it's time for the face I just start cutting pieces, shaping them, placing them, sewing them down. When it's all done I am always thrilled and excited by what I have created!

What handmade possession do you most cherish?
 
Oh, that's a tough one! There are a few. One of them is a rainbow necklace from The Mollie Shop that the owner sent me as a gift because I wouldn't shut up about how much I loved it haha! Another is also from The Mollie Shop, and it's a goodie she tossed in with my latest order - a super duper cute Mon-stor bow made with an image of my mascot, Gabos! There are a few pieces of handmade jewelry I wear very frequently, a rainbow ribbon ladder necklace from Streeter, Ltd, a rainbow seed bead bracelet from Melli's Trinkets, and a clay heart pendant made by a dear friend of mine.

What makes you giggle? 

Punny stuff, most definitely. And my kid. He is hilarious, seriously, one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life.

What inspires you? 
My kid, he is as much of an art enthusiast as I am. And I don't mean I stand there and scratch my chin while I gaze at art, I get REALLY excited by art. If I see something that I love or that excites me I get all bouncy and start talking (read, exclaiming) how awesome it is. My son is the same way, when I show him a monster I've made and he starts bouncing and talking about how cool it is I know I've done something right! I'm also really inspired by color and patterns. :)

What’s your superpower?

If I had to name one, I would have to say optimism and positive vibes, I shoot them like lasers. ;)

Wishes for the future?

Lots of monsters! :) I'm not much of a planner so it'll be a surprise. More of a fly by the seat of your pants kinda gal. I never thought Lu & Ed would be where it is now, but it has grown and changed so much. I love it! Can't wait to see how much more it evolves in the future.

Eco Finds Friday: Hippie Kingdom

I love these fun fall eco earrings from Hippie Kingdom

Texture Tuesday

Texture Tuesday

Happy Dance!

I'm happy to share that I was nominated for an Etsy Besties on the Sipping Lemonade Blog. Please take a minute to pop over to her blog and vote for me! It just takes a second! :)

Voting is open until midnight Thursday! :)

Colors for Spring 2013

Pantone has released the Spring 2013 colors! YAY! Aren't they pretty? We'll be seeing more of them soon. Read all about them over on the Pantone site.

Meet Artist Paula Mitchell

Although White Rock Paper Scissors was on a rainy weekend, it was all sunshine inside. I met lots of fun artists, including Paula Mitchell.

I had to show you some of her work -- it just oozes fun energy! She does lots of cool stuff -- her pet portraits just jump off the canvas.

I hope you love her work as much as I do! Get in touch with her, on her website! :)

Texture Tuesday

The Legacy of the Plumed Serpent in Ancient Mexico

I recently saw this exhibit at at the Dallas Museum of Art and was really wowed. At the entrance, you'll be greeted by a giant pair of feet wearing sandals with toes as big as your head.

If you can't wait to get to the museum, take a sneak peak here from the Dallas News.

The attention to detail of the mosaics and the beautiful details in carved rock without modern tools is really incredible. The other thing that really stuck out was that not all the pieces are from the same area -- they are from various areas with bit of striking resemblance.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Texture Tuesday

Trash to Treasure Thursday

'Trash to Treasure' by nkarma77

Recycled goodies :)

Plantable Seed Paper Hearts ... KaBloomz $13.00	Strawberries and Cream -- Re... KnotYourNeedle... $18.80	Eco Friendly Candle holder -... TheDesignPalle... $52.00	Single Metal Flower CWMetalWorks $19.00
Recycled Glass Doe and Fawn ... HirosHeart $20.00	Upcycled ALeXA fanny pack. B... 5thseason $36.00	Cashmere Reclaimed Yarn Recy... SassyNansBouti... $11.97	Wood Sculpture with Hooks - ... moderntextures $140.00
3d Art block. Mixed media on... moonandlion $66.00	ON SALE Square Industrial St... urbanchandy $350.00	Bent Stool - Counter Height ... CreamStreetSho... $155.00	Re:Post Society - Three Mont... LaAlicia $58.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Texture Tuesday

Mark your calendar!

White Rock Paper Scissors

Sept 29-30
9a-4p daily

530 Northlake Drive
Dallas, TX 75218
Map

Backyard Sale
Paintings & Antiques
Letterpress Cards
Christmas Decorations
Handcrafted Books
Limited Edition Prints
Earth Friendly Frills
Handmade Jewelry
Unique Craft Supplies
Cool Funky Junk

Participating Artists: La Alicia, Studio 204, Wannabees

VIB: Very Inspiring Blogger

Thank you to Rori for giving me this award - I was totally taken by happy surprise! :)

Seven Random Facts About Me

1. I really enjoy maps

2. Going to the museum is a fun escape for me

3. I like to try new recipes

4. When I had my wisdom teeth out -- they did all four at once

5. The only semesters I didn't work when I was in college were the first and the last

6. I used to have a hedgehog as a pet

7. I'm a closet Hello Kitty fan


15 Blogs
I'm nominating for this award! They're all excellent and I'm sure you'll enjoy visiting their blogs!


In Love with Handmade

Holly Rocks

Reduce Footprints

The Mum and the Rose

Mami Made It

Cooking at Cafe D

I AM THE LAB

Craftypod

Herban Lifestyle

Rebirth Recycling

Erin Bradley Designs

Eco Karen

Embergrass

RikRak Studio

Lu and Ed

There are four MUSTS to accepting a VIB Award: Post a link to the blogger who nominated you. Post the award image on your page. Share seven facts about yourself. Nominate 15 other blogs.

Texture Tuesday

Interview with Craftypod

I had so much fun with my image only answers to the questions Diane from craftpod's questions. See the whole interview here. :) Please leave a comment!

Texture Tuesday

Eco Monday

Fairy Tale + Origami = Fun!

I recently babysat for a friends little girls and we had a ball reading fairy tales and making origami. Their favorite was Goldilocks and the Three Bears. So we made an origami bear, house and bowl. (we used magazine pages...you can click on the items to link to step by step instructions)

I was thrilled to realize that the bear head also doubles as a finger puppet. That was great for an extended conversation on bears and just general silliness.

Which fairy tale is your fave?

Texture Tuesday