Cath Kidston Desktop Wallpaper

Anyone else a Cath Kidston fan?  I was poking around the site the other day and discovered these pretty desktop wallpapers.  You can download them for free at the here.  There are some other prints to choose from as well.

Side note:  You may have noticed there have been fewer posts than usual along with no new craft tutorials.  I've been busy with a combination of things, a large project (can't share about it yet) and entertaining sick kids (the youngest just got over the flu, now the oldest has it).  Hope to be back crafting soon.

Jessica

Child Twin Chefs

Have you heard of the twin chefs Lilly and Audrey Andrews?  I only recently learned about them after my mother gave us this signed copy of Sonoma Magazine. Lilly and Audrey are ten year old twins who love to cook.  Their goal is to become the youngest children to attend cullinary school.  They've made appearances on Good Morning America and Ellen.  I found their story inspiring and charming.  The article is a good read but if you can't get a copy of the magazine, you can find out more about the twins on their website, Twin Chefs. 

As a mother of two, reading the article made me reflect on how I encourage my children to cook in the kitchen.  My children aren't preparing foie gras appetizers but they like to make pancakes (with supervision).  I've found they also appreciate a meal more when they have a hand in making it.

Do you let your children cook with you?  On their own?  What are their favorite things to make?

Paper Craft Stop Motion by Odland

This charming paper-craft stop motion video was directed by Vincent Pianina and Lorenzo Papace for the french band Odland.  Without trying to sound cheesy, this video is absolutely dreamy.  I hope you enjoy it too.

Happy Weekend

Japanese Design Within Reach

Illustration by Naho Ogawa

Ever discover a really unique product from Japan you just have to have?  Only there's just one problem,  the product is only available in Japan and you don't live in or near Japan.  Look no further, your Japanese design coveting days are over.  Spoon & Tamago have found a solution to the problem by offering flash sales.  Each week they will offer a product that is usually exclusive to Japan.

This week they're offering these silicon polar ice cups.  They'll be available to purchase up till June 24th.  Then something new will be up for grabs. Fun!

Even if you're not interested in the flash sales, I recommend visiting Spoon & Tamago.  Primarily, it's a blog dedicated to sharing about all aspects of Japanese design.  I've been following the site for years now and can always count on them posting something unique and inspiring. 

Giveaway: Food Origami Book

I purchased this origami food book at Daiso a while back thinking it would be fun for a giveaway.  I liked that it was a little different from the traditional origami books I normally see.  The book features both American and Japanese food with directions in English.

On to the Giveaway. . .one  lucky reader will win Origami of Delicious Food. To enter, please share a food you would like to see as origami. One entry per household. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. The last day to enter the contest is Sunday, June 24 2011. I'll announce the winner Monday, June 25 2012 on this post. If I do not hear back from the winner after two weeks, I will choose a new winner. Open to everyone.

Contest now closed.

Congratulations to Sarah who said she would like to see a meatloaf origami with all the trimmings!

Thank you to everyone who entered, I enjoyed reading all you creative origami food ideas.

 

Printable: Father's Day Card

Joy from Creative Mamma has a new free printable available, just in time for Father's Day (June 17th).  Personally I like that the theme is neutral with no baseball, fishing, or golfing images. Lets face it, not all dads are into those hobbies.

To get the free download, visit Creative Mamma.  While you're there, check out her other work.  She makes a lot of cute kokeshi doll illustrations too.

Citta Design Tote Bags

Today I'm mixing things up with a tote bag review for Citta Design.  I rarely write reviews but I was so charmed with the Citta Design site.  It's designed well, pretty and has some very unique items.  My personal favorite is the origami tea towel but I'm supposed to be talking about the tote bag so lets move on.

 

 

Citta design sent me the Floridita navy/aqua tote bag from their 2012 summer collection (pictured above).  Above is a photo of me with the bag so you could see just how big the tote is.  Even though the dimensions were stated in the description I pictured it smaller.  

The tote bag has some nice details with the leather handles and leather trim on the sides.   I also like the mint and navy combinations (mint is right on trend for this summer).  It also has a small zippered pouch sewn inside for keys, phone and a wallet. One thing that surprised me about the bag is that it's a light-mid weight canvas.  I just thought the fabric would be heavier.  The base of the bag is composed of three layers for shape and sturdiness.

I'm planning on using this bag as my new pool/beach bag.  I like that it's a little larger which will be perfect to hold towels, clothes and snacks.

If you're interested in learning more about Citta Design you can find the collection on their official site or check out Shopping Moa for purchasing the product.

Pom Poms & Finesse

I finally got a chance to make some of the projects from that pom pom book I posted about last week.  Even though the book is in Japanese, the directions were easy to follow.  The hardest thing about the projects was the finessing.  For me, finessing is sculpting, molding and manipulating a craft project to look its best.

It occurred to me I've never really talked about this final step in the crafting process.  The truth is, I don't really think about finessing when I do it so the step gets left out.  Once in a while I might mention in a tutorial, "needs a little finessing" but that's as far as it goes.  I guess the best way to explain finessing is with a few pictures of how I made one of the pom poms.  This is not a tutorial.

First I started off with a pom pom maker and wrapped and layered the yarn around the ring.  I added this picture in because I know some of you were curious on how the pom poms were made.  It's basically all done with layering different colored yarns.

Once I cut the yarn off the pom pom, it looked like this.  In most craft books it would say, trim down to an apple shape.  The reality is it's all about trimming and finessing.  When you see that perfect project in a craft book or blog, chances are there was some finessing involved.

Big difference from the last picture, right?  Here's where the finessing comes in.  First I did trim the pom pom down to an apple shape.  But then I realized that where the red and white met on top needed to have more of a widow's peak shape.  Since the white part was receding too much, I had to trim down the white yarn much more than the red. Then I combed the red forward to overlap the white a little.  I also had to trim the white yarn on the sides shorter than the red.   Besides that, the seeds were too big.  I had to cut out quite a few of the brown strands and push the white yarn over some of the brown yarn.  While I was doing all this trimming, the white yarn was getting all over the red yarn and I had to keep picking it out.

Any time I follow a craft tutorial I assume there will be finessing involved and make adjustments accordingly.  Curious, do you strictly follow the directions or do you modify the project as needed?

Soft Serve Origami

Can you tell I have a case of summer-itis?  Last post was summer reading, today ice cream cones. For some reason, I feel like the summer break can't come quick enough.  I know summer-itis is a student thing, but it can affect parents too, right?  Please tell me I'm not alone.

If you feel like making something to celebrate the warm months ahead, this project might be for you.  The origami soft serve ice cream cone is a quick and easy to fold.  It's also a good project for kids just learning origami. All you need is a yellow piece of paper and an orange marker to get started.

1.  Starting with a yellow piece of paper, have it face wrong side up like the picture in the left.  Fold down the center to make a crease.  Fold left and right flaps to meet in the center.

2.  Your paper should now look like the picture on the right.  Fold left and right flaps down so they look like the picture below.

3.  Fold left and right flaps back on dotted lines so they wrap around the paper.

4.  Your paper should now look like the image on the right.  Flip paper over.

5.  Fold left and right flaps on dotted lines to meet in the center.

6.  Your paper should now look like the image on the right.  Now you are going to make a pleat fold on the white solid lines.  Fold the top of paper down on the bottom line and then up on the top line.

7.  Your paper should now look like the image to the left.  Now you're going to make a second pleat fold on the lines you see at the top.

8.  Your paper should now look like the photo on the right.  Flip over.

9.  Your paper should now look like the photo on the left.

10.  Draw lines to make it resemble an ice cream cone. 

For different color combinations, fold with two pieces of paper stacked on top of each other. For example, start with a yellow and pink piece of paper to make a strawberry ice cream cone.

Summer Reading List

Who's looking forward to those lazy days of summer?  I know I am.  The first thing on my agenda is reading, lots and lots of reading.   Here are a few of the books on my list:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean Dominique Bauby - Just started reading this and I'm hooked.  I'll probably finish it tonight.  The book was written by former French Elle editor, Jean Dominique Bauby.  He suffered a massive stoke leaving him completely paralyzed.  His only way of communication was by blinking one eye and he wrote the entire book this way.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer - A Cinderella story about a cyborg name Cinder. 

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzzane Collins 

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: (A mostly true memoir) by Jenny Lawson 

The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business by Charles Duhigg

What's on your reading list this summer?  Have any recommendations?

Japanse Craft Book: How To Make Pom Poms

 How To Make Pom Poms ISBN 978-4-7661-2282-4

My husband tells me he's tired of going to Japan Town but I think that's code for, "I'm tired of you buying Japanese craft books". Last weekend at the Kinokuniya bookstore, I stumbled upon the most charming Japanese Craft Book, "How To Make Pom Poms".  All the projects were so fun and pretty, I couldn't let it go to waste sitting on the store's bookshelf.  No, this book had to come home with me and live happily with all the other Japanese craft books I've acquired.   

Here are a few of my favorite projects from the book.

Amazing right?  My mind is racing with ideas for these apple pom poms.

Who can resist a babushka?

Pretty accessories. 

Your eyes do not deceive you, that's a hamburger pom pom.

In case you're wondering, I haven't made any of the projects in the book yet.  I've been occupied with work projects, end of school activities, baseball... and the list goes on.  You might have noticed that posts have been sparse the past couple months and that's why.  I'm hopeful the summer will bring more time to relax and craft.

Craft Camp

Today I'm over at Skip To My Lou sharing how to make a pretend-play sash with badges.  There's even a free printable for the badges.  Please stop by Skip To My Lou to get the full tutorial.