My Mexican-inspired take on Martha Stewart pom-pom tissue flowers

In honor of the Cinco de Mayo holiday, I'd like to tell you about a project my kids did after attending a piñata-making workshop with a local artisan. Piñatas, usually filled with candy and small toys, are intended for kids to hit with a stick until the piñatas break open and spill the goodies, but I instead decided to hang two tiny piñatas my kids made as decorations for my home office.

Like many of you, I enjoy crafting with my kids, even more so when the craft is something we can use to decorate our home. The craft then becomes a reminder of fun time spent together, while also adding more character and beauty to our home.

The tiny piñatas, which I'm calling my Mexican-inspired take on the Martha Stewart tissue pom-pom flowers, nicely complement a lantern I bought at Chinatown recently and add a nice pop of color to what is perhaps the blandest corner of my home office.

At this point, I should come clean and confess that this project, which is really quite simple, took us several months to complete. We created the newspaper shell soon after going to the piñata-making workshop in February 2010, decorated the piñata in May 2010 and then I let the piñata sit in my office unhung for a whole year! In a burst of inspiration, I hung them up yesterday. My poor kids didn't remember the little balls were piñatas and instead called them "balloons," but were thrilled that I finally hung up their creations.

Here's how you can make your own tiny piñata:

Step 1: Blow up a balloon. Make a homemade paste using about 1/2 cup of flour mixed with about a cup of water.

Step 2: Using a small, thick paintbrush, begin gluing torn strips of paper onto the balloon.

Step 3: Cover the balloon completely except for a small hole at the top that will help you hang it or that you can use to fill up the piñata later. To make sure you've pasted enough newspaper to the balloon, hold the balloon up to the light to make sure you can't see the balloon. The more layers, the stronger the piñata will be.

Step 4: Wait two days or so for the piñata to dry completely. If you are planning to use this for an actual piñata that will be smashed open by kids, you will want to repeat the process of adding more newspaper strips to make it stronger. Otherwise, pop the balloon while holding a piece of it so you can pull it out through the hole.

Step 5: Begin decorating the newspaper ball with tissue paper or any other decor of your choosing. We used tissue paper we had cut up using a circle punch, but the traditional method is to use strips of tissue as I showed you in this post.

You may wish to add more tissue paper to completely cover the newspaper, though my kids were satisfied with doing just one layer. Here are the finished piñatas, hanging in back of my desk in my home office. (Please disregard the messy desk.)

The most time-consuming part is waiting for the newspaper to dry after you've glued it on, but as you can see, the project is simple enough for kids as young as two and four years old, which is how old my kids were when they made these piñatas. It really made me so happy to do this project with my kids since I remember making my own piñatas as a girl though not for Cinco de Mayo. It may surprise you to know that, for all the hype in the United States every May 5, most people in Mexico don't celebrate the holiday at all. You can read a story about this phenomenon that the Christian Science Monitor published today here.

Nevertheless, I think making piñatas is a great project for kids any time of the year, either for a party or for decoration. The piñata can be as simple as a tiny ball like the one we made or as elaborate as your imagination wants it to be.

What do your cherished belongings reveal?

"Ah, the wonderful thing about a house is not that it provides us with warmth and shelter, but that it slowly builds within us a reserve of contentment, shaping, deep in the heart, the immense darkness from which dreams emerge, like water from a spring ... "

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Dear friends,

Forgive my absence in the blogosphere lately. Much has been happening in my life, some of which I will write about in the coming days.

For now, I wanted to share with you a little box that is near and dear to my heart. It is a wooden box painted with Mexican folkloric icons. I picked it up at a souvenir shop in Mexico City a few years ago. I collect Mexican artesanías (folk art and crafts), many of which I've picked up during reporting trips throughout Mexico. That particular trip was quite full with interviews and other work duties so, instead of leisurely browsing cute shops, I found myself looking for a jewel in the rough amid a bunch of trinkets at a store near my hotel, just minutes before I hopped into a taxi to take me to the airport.

Here is the box filled business cards from people I met in Mexico City, a reminder of challenging days spent reporting in a foreign country and, more importantly, the city where I was born. I share it with you today because I often wonder the story behind other people's treasured objects. I know that even my own family doesn't know the story behind many of my most cherished belongings.

I was thinking about this because I recently stumbled upon the most delightful book while browsing at an Anthropologie store. "My Mother's Clothes (An Album of Memories)," by Jeannette Montgomery Barron, is a photographic record of clothes belonging to the author's mom, each page revealing a different layer of a life well-lived. Absolutely captivating.

It occurred to me that, just like our clothes, many items in our homes are also a testament to the many journeys we've taken and the people we've become.

Look around your home. What stories would your treasured objects say about your life? Does your family know why these are so beloved to you?

In future posts, I will share some more of the treasured items I've gathered throughout the years.

Literary pleasures: a feast for the soul

The crowds thronging the Los Angeles Times Book Festival at UCLA seem to get thicker every year. Or perhaps it seems that way when you're trying to navigate your way through thousands of people while pushing a stroller.

More than 130,000 people attended this year's event, but not even the crowds or traffic can deter me from rounding up my husband and two kids each year to head out to this literary bookfest that features more than books, as you can see in the photos I took last weekend.



The Nuevo Cielo folkloric dance group was a definite highlight of the event for my kids, who were mesmerized as they watched the young dancers and singers swirling around the stage in their colorful costumes while making beautiful music.

Other highlights of this year's event:

Though there were plenty of celebrities on hand, Eric Carle's Hungry Caterpillar held his own, with a long line of kids and parents constantly waiting to take their picture with him.

Book-lovers were invited to write on a wall mural titled "What are you reading?" A computer took snapshots of people while recording the names of the books.

Toward the end of the weekend, only the very top of the "grafitti wall" remained blank.

Sadly, very few attended the readings held at the poetry stage.

Yes, we'll likely return next year, despite the crowds.

Beauty in the midst of ugliness

All of the artwork I have chosen for my office inspires me in some way, especially my beloved painting of Frida Kahlo and the framed, beaded folk art piece next to it. These are a reminder of time spent working on one of the most significant projects in my journalism career.

Shortly before I left daily newspapering, a colleague and I wrapped up a year-long project reporting on the disappearances and killings of women in Ciudad Juarez, a Mexican city bordering El Paso, Texas. Our on-site reporting was limited to six weeks, so we spent most of our time conducting long, intensive interviews.



The few times we forced ourselves to break away from work chores was to shop the few artesania (folk art and crafts) shops near downtown. Walking along aisles adorned with colorful handcrafted wares was the best way we knew to relax and forget about the ugliness of the violence surrounding us.

I think about this now as I hear news about the latest drug-related violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. This time, three workers from the U.S. consulate in Juarez were killed, setting off a maelstrom of politicking on both sides of the border that is sure to snarl any efforts to solve the killings.

One of the things that always struck me about Ciudad Juarez (and many other Mexican cities) is the constant juxtaposition of the modern with the traditional. A perfect example are Tarahumara Indians, who are seeking to preserve their way of life in rural communities, yet needing to interact with life in the city.

Tarahumaras are known worldwide for their competitive runners, but I hope they eventually get recognized for their crafts, as well. The beaded art piece that now hangs in my office was created by Tarahumara women for the Artes Indigenas de Chihuahua (Indigenous Arts of Chihuahua). The non-profit arts group has helped Taruhumara and other indigenous communities in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where Juarez is located, sell their wares. I remember being pleasantly surprised when I found some of the group's artwork for sale at a boutique in Santa Fe, New Mexico last year.

This "tortillera," a specially designed cloth to keep tortillas warm, features four of these little beaded dolls. I think it's too nice to use for its intended purpose so I'm thinking of framing all four, keeping one and giving the rest as gifts to people who enjoy folk art. (I would love to hear if you have any other ideas for ways to better enjoy this beaded folk art.)

I've always believed that the arts are one of few nuggets of hope in any community struggling with problems like violence and poverty. I certainly don't think these are the answer to such ingrained problems, but a way for people in the community to express their creativity and to earn some much needed money.



As for my Frida painting, I bought it at a restaurant in Juarez aptly named, "Frida's Restaurant." The food was delicious and the service great, but what I remember most was the Frida-inspired decor. Despite much traveling throughout several Mexican states, I have never seen a restaurant quite like Frida's Restaurant. I wonder now whether it receives enough business in a city that even most Mexicans are afraid to visit nowadays.


Here I am standing outside Frida's restaurant while working in Juarez in 2003.

The ceiling inside Frida's Restaurant featured this great mural.

Living and working in Juarez for a short time allowed me a chance to discover some hidden gems in a city that is forever in the headlines for its never-ending violence. The Tarahumara's beautiful handiwork. The entrepreneurial spirit that pushes business owners to believe a restaurant like Frida's can flourish in a place like Juarez. The feistiness of ordinary people who press on with their dreams and goals in the midst of such violence.

Today, I look at my Frida painting and my beaded art by Tarahumara women and I remember that these are the kind of things that eventually define a city and not the headlines.

World Arts Day

My son's favorite musical instrument is the drum. No surprise, I suppose, since he's four years old and I've never met a four-year-old who doesn't love the drums. It was a given then that we would go to an event called "World Arts Day" just because he would be able to take part in a drum circle like they do in Senegal.


My son and daughter here are exploring Rangoli, traditional sand art in India.

The big surprise is that World Arts Day over the weeekend turned out to be a hit with my son not because of the drums but because he discovered dancing. And not just any dancing. Folkloric dancing.



Instructor Jesus Mejia led an energetic group of youngsters at California State University, Los Angeles through more than an hour of vigorous exercises and dancing. My son appeared to be the youngest but that didn't dampen his enthusiasm for the traditional dances from Mexico.



Still, he wasn't too tired to want to create his own piñata when he finished dancing and happened upon the scene shown above. Piñatas are fairly easy to make, but are so much more fun when you have an instructor to show you exactly what to do.

Here, the instructor is showing me the base that my son and I used to build our piñata so that we can recreate it at home with our own cardboard to make more piñatas.



The best part of making a piñata is that most materials are likely already in your home, headed for the recycling bin. This next photo shows our piñata as it looked after the cardboard base was covered with newspapers using a flour-water mixture. Next to it, is a finished piñata that has been decorated with red and blue tissue paper.



Later, my kids and I were on our way to buy our weekly dose of pan Mexicano (Mexican pastries) at a Mexican supermarket when my son squealed with delight at the sight of these:



He and my daughter excitedly broke out in chatter, pointing out the ones they liked and want to make. It looks like we'll be making more piñatas in the months to come.

A sensational mix: French and Mexican decor

The combination of French and Mexican styles is quite stunning, even more so considering these are homes designed with the needs of a family in mind.



This is a dream-come-true combination for those who admire the look of "rustic elegance" that the design house known as Casamidy is known for. The above photo combines furniture and accessories that are included in their 2010 collection.



Casamidy is most known for its modern-looking furniture and accessories whose design is rooted in tradition going back hundreds of years. I do love admiring the detail on the headboard here (even more watching a video of how tinsmiths in Mexico create these).

I stumbled upon them while reading a blog post on the Canadian House and Home magazine web site about modern Mexican style. I found out Casamidy started a Facebook page just a few months ago and enjoyed seeing so many beautiful interior shots of the homes created by the creative powers behind Casamidy: wife-and-husband team, Anne-Marie Midy and Jorge Almada.

According to information on their Facebook page, Anne-Marie, whose father is French, grew up in Paris and the south of France. Jorge, who was raised in Sonora, Mexico, had a Mexican father. Both of their moms were from the Midwest in the United States. Anne-Marie, a former art director at Martha Stewart Living, and Jorge met in the United States while pursuing design interests.



I mention their background only because they draw heavily from their experiences and cultures in their designs. The photo above shows their Paris home (which is available for a weekly rental of $1,850).



The couple have two little boys, as reflected in this charming vignette with the awesome view of the Paris skyline.



Casamidy has showrooms in Brussels, Belgium and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, shown above.
All photos: Casamidy

A dose of magical realism in politics

If you lived in a place like this peaceful tree-lined street, wouldn't you want to keep it this way?

Yes, says writer Laura Esquivel, who does live in this neighborhood. In case you hadn't heard, the author best known for the book and movie "Like Water for Chocolate" is running for office in her native Mexico City. She officially kicked off her campaign to help govern the neighborhood of Coyoacan last week. In her web page, she writes that she is saddened by the fact that the plaza where she used to take her daughter for walks is not the same as the one where she now walks with her granddaughter.

In an interview with W Radio in Mexico City over the weekend, Laura said she is running for local office because she wants to help stop the decline of her neighborhood, an artsy and touristy area that for many years escaped the violence and other urban ills attacking other areas of the giant city.

Let me show you what's at stake in Coyoacan:

Beautiful architecture with breathtaking detail

Colorful buildings that house interesting and unique stores and museums, attracting tourists from all over the world.



The "Blue House," where artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera lived for many years. It's now a museum, but the neighborhood still attracts writers, artists and other creative types.

It's also home to ordinary people like you and me. In recent years, however, Coyoacan has been unable to ward off problems like:

Litter

Vandalism

And, of course, traffic. I have known grown men to cry over the horrible, bumper-to-bumper, horn-blaring traffic jams in Mexico City. Worst of all, the violence that permeates the city has also tainted this neighborhood.

So what's a writer to do about all this? More to the point, what makes Laura Esquivel think she has a chance to correct any of this?

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She tells W Radio she is willing to put her writing career on hold to offer a new perspective in local politics and to offer residents an opportunity to have their voice heard at the national level.

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She says, "What makes me think I can do this is that I've dedicated my whole life to education, to art. Art gives you all the wonderful tools to imagine reality, not just as it is, but as it can be. It's all about analyzing problems and finding the right solution. (As a writer) you have to fully analyze a character's situation, his personal history, know the crisis that caused him to have a dilemma, and find a solution for it."
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You may remember that Laura Esquivel's breakthrough novel, published in 1989, deftly used magical realism to highlight cultural and political issues that tore two young lovers apart. Cynics may very well say, or joke, that she will need some magical realism to set things straight in Coyoacan (or elsewhere in Mexico City for that matter.)

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Laura Esquivel also wrote the screenplay for "Like Water for Chocolate"

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Only time will tell. I rather think her biggest obstacle will be voter apathy. So many times traveling throughout Mexico as a journalist, I got used to hearing people from all walks of life talk about how tired they were of politics and politicians doing nothing more than helping themselves. Specifically, I remember a young man who laughed heartily when I asked whether he believed in the ideals of the Mexican Constitution. It certainly wasn't the first time I'd had such a reaction to this kind of question. In any country, many young people can be quite pessimistic about politics, but this young man just seemed so tired for being so young.

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Maybe seeing a new face enter politics will renew interest among those who've lost hope.

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You can listen to Laura Esquivel's interview (in Spanish) with W Radio here or listen to another interview she's doing Thursday morning (May 28) here.

A street in Coyoacan

Image credits: Laura Esquivel website, Flickr users: Blacknell, Daniel Kaempfe, distra, Gustavo Bando, LouisL, Matt.Wegers, scrunchlface, starobs, telojuroporMadonna