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.

My first estate sale

I had to resist the urge to put an exclamation mark at the end of the title on this post. First of all, I was so excited that I actually got to go to an estate sale, something I'd read about only on other blogs while salivating over other people's thrifty finds. Then, finding so many lovely things at my first estate sale made it almost impossible for me to contain my excitement.

Most estate sales in my area are typically held on weekends, when I'm usually out on family outings, but the stars finally aligned and I found myself sans kids early one Sunday morning. Off I went to an estate sale that I'd read about in my local Craigslist.

The home was small and the main rooms had been cleaned out almost entirely by other bargain hunters on the previous two days of the estate sale. Undaunted, I began inspecting every nook and cranny. I was amply rewarded when I found dozens of crochet hangers in a closet, even more so when the seller promised to give me "a good deal" if I took a bunch of them. I collected 30 of them and practically hugged everyone around me when I was told the price would be three dollars for all of them. (OK, I am again resisting the urge to put an exclamation mark after this last sentence.)

Even at thrift stores, these "granny chic" crochet hangers usually go for at least a dollar each. I don't crochet so I have no idea how long it would take to make one of these, but I do appreciate the thought and care that went into creating these, especially with those adorable pom poms.

This brings me to my next point, which is that I first had to get past the uncomfortable feeling I had rummaging through the belongings of someone who had only recently been alive to enjoy them. I finally reasoned with myself that I would love for my things to continue to be appreciated after I've passed on and my kids have had their pick. Also, I do believe that even the smallest utilitarian item can find a new home, thus preventing further adding to our landfills.

I might have mentioned before that I have a fondness for vintage office supplies so I had fun picking out a few items for my office. I fell for those small gummed labels shown above and have been using them to label files and other things around my home.

I also found a Pyrex lab glass and an unlabeled little box full of envelopes, each containing one or two dozen silver little letters. I can think of so many uses for these uniquely shaped letters, which came with a small bottle of adhesive. By the way, the striped black-and-white paper you see in the photos is part of a large roll of vintage gift wrapping paper, one of a handful I bought.

I also picked out a roll decorated with blue birds and bird cages. Both of these were quite hefty rolls and I do have projects in mind for them. As you can see, I also added to my dictionary collection and found a few other odds and ends. The wheeled magazine rack you see below was was part of the Craigslist ad, which prompted me to pick this particular estate sale. I had low expectations of finding it on the third (and 50 percent off) day of the sale, but I did and was able to take it home for $17.50.

In all, I spent about $30 for all the things I've shown you here and a few others. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been thrifting far less and found that an estate sale offers a more focused way of thrift and vintage shopping since most estate sellers offer preview photos of the goods they are selling.

Have you been to an estate sale? I do love the randomness of thrift stores but was so happy to finally hit an estate sale, one where I found so many things that I love.

Anthropologie: Daily inspiration for Earth-friendly decor

This time of the year, I always get inspired reading all the wonderful blog posts about Earth-friendly decorating ideas, but my favorite all-time source for innovative home accessories using recycled materials is Anthropologie.

Cozy yet eclectic, the interiors styling at Anthropologie always amazes me with its creativity and resourcefulness. The styling combines all the elements I love about modern decorating, with vintage, rustic, handmade, colorful and other seemingly disparate items all forming appealing vignettes throughout the store.

Take a look at the bedroom above. The silvery brown of the reclaimed wood perfectly juxtaposes with the wild mix of colors on the bedspread and bench at the end of the bed. The zigzag design on the wood nicely complements the colors, but the true artistry is revealed upon closer inspection.

The colorful design on the reclaimed wood is composed of strips of fabric stretched out on the wood using nails. Simple ingenuity at its best, and a modern take on string art popular in the 70s.

The display shown above immediately caught my interest because I've been obsessed with paper flowers recently. I had been thinking of creating paper flowers to put in a vase or even to make a wreath, but never thought of putting them on a wall. And yet, why not? I stood a while in front of the paper flower display, imagining it on a wall in a children's room or even in a space used not just by children. It would definitely add a touch of whimsy to an entry, a hallway or even a family room.

Up close, it looks like something that anybody could create using materials already on hand. I would say the true genius of the styling folks over at Anthropologie is how they often use the simplest materials to create such breathtaking displays.

The ball shown above is part of the stores' 2011 Earth Day displays showcasing artwork created using corks. Click on this Anthropologie Facebook link to see more photos and read more about how the stores will help recycle the corks used in the displays so they can be used as flooring, paper pulp and other products.

What I love about Anthropologie is that their Earth-friendly style goes well beyond the month of April. I can step into an Anthropologie store anytime to find displays created using recycled or vintage materials. Most of their props such as tables, vintage locker baskets and other items are for sale, though usually at prices beyond my reach. Many of you already know, of course, that thrift stores, Ebay and Craigslist offer a treasure trove of similar items for far less; it just takes a little searching.

I'm always tempted to replicate some of the Anthro projects I see in my own home, but it's far more satisfying to take the inspiration and add my own twist to make them my own if I can. It definitely helps that my nearest Anthro store is less than 10 minutes away, with a few others within an hour's driving distance, so I am often browsing the displays and sale racks.

Do you have a favorite store you like to browse for inspiration?

Emma Cassi: the art of everyday styling

As much as I adore my home decorating magazines and books, I do not for a minute believe that most people live in homes that are perfectly styled the way they appear in these books and magazines. Real life is just not so .. staged. Real life, as we all know, is messy. Quite messy, if you have kids.

Today, I came across some images, which I found completely captivating because they provide a glimpse at what a real home looks like. It's a home belonging to an artist who's done styling for companies such as Milk magazine in France.

Anthropologie

The studio belongs to Emma Cassi, who creates beautiful jewelry out of vintage materials. The photo was part of a behind-the-scenes peek provided by Anthropologie, which is currently selling some of the designer's jewelry. The photo may very well have been styled since the designer also does styling work, but I do think it captures the messiness of a project in the works. For me, the lovely part was that it seems to create a story.

Anthropologie

Photos like these make me wonder about the person who works there and what she's like. If I get really carried away, I even imagine the details down to what she has for lunch.

What do you think a photo of a corner of your home would say about you? Would a photo of your desk or work area reveal the true you?

10 Easy Christmas crafts from Marie Claire Idees

One of my favorite activities at this time of the year is looking for crafting ideas throughout my Christmas books and December magazines that I've collected through the years. With two little kids afoot most of the time, I have to be realistic and tend to choose super-easy projects that deliver instant satisfaction.

One magazine I constantly find myself going to for ideas and inspiration is Marie Claire Idees. Today, I was thrilled to discover many of their projects in an online photo gallery. Here are a few of my favorites from their Christmas gallery that I thought I would share since I know many of you love homemade but are pressed for time even if you don't have young kids around. Clicking on the link below the photo will take you to the page online with a more detailed description.

Christmas card advent calendar

1. This Christmas card advent calendar offers a wonderful way to recycle and display those beautiful cards or gift tags that you just can't bear to throw away.

An alternative wreath

2. The decorated clothes hanger above is a great alternative to the traditional wreath and looks super easy to make. I know I always have a few ornaments that I'm not sure what to do with after I'm done decorating the tree. Perhaps I'll make two of these using a couple of my kids' smaller wooden hangers to display some of their favorite ornaments in their room.

Simple cloth ornaments

3. The simple cloth ornaments above can easily be machine or hand sewn, or dare I say it, glued together. I know my kids could spend hours gluing things together, but it's also a simpler way to do this project if you are really pressed for time. A few sprinkles of glitter or beads completes the project, or you could dream up more sophisticated ornamentation.

Felt ornaments

4. These felt ornaments are a perfect craft for kids. Since my kids are so young, I would first cut out some felt shapes for them and then have them decorate the ornaments with glitter, beads, ribbons and whatever else strikes their fancy.

Personalized store-bought ornaments

5. This is another super-easy craft that would be perfect for my two little kids, though the results might not be as professional as these. It's also a great way to recycle those ornaments that just don't fit your decor anymore. Or you could just go to the dollar store for a package of simple ornaments that you or your kids could dress up.

Paper Angels

6. Paper art and crafting always appeals to me because of my love for paper goods and vintage ephemera. In the example above, simple white paper is the perfect look for the angel, but you could easily use a different color to fit in with your Christmas decor color scheme.

Paper Trees

7. These sweet little trees really drew me in. Again, these are simple to make and a great way to recycle cardboard and paper. These trees could be used to dress up your mantel, as place cards at the dinner table, or as a gift tag in lieu of a bow.

Paper Flowers

8. These colorful paper flowers could be joined together to make a pretty garland for your mantel or a wreath for indoors.

Gift tags

9. These gift tags, yet another simple craft for kids, could be saved by the recipient as a memento or bookmarker. Or make them a little smaller and use them as tree ornaments.

Silver star garland

10. The silver star garland is an easy afternoon project that would serve well as a Christmas or New Year's decoration.

Handmade cards

11. (A bonus craft!) I included these beautiful handmade cards in this round-up though I know these kind of cards can take a bit of time to craft but they are so pretty that I couldn't bear to pass them up. Just think how sweet it would be to give one of these handmade cards to someone special like your child's teacher, grandmother, mom or a best friend?

You can find more of these simple craft ideas, as well as more sophisticated projects if you're an advanced crafter, at Marie Claire Idees. I think the magazine recently revamped their web site to include images and ideas archived from 20 years worth of Marie Claire Idees. It's a real treasure trove where I got lost for a couple hours, just enjoying all the handcrafted goodness.

Will you be doing any Christmas crafts this season? Where do you turn to for inspiration to decorate your home for the holidays? Do share.

Store tour: Handcrafted and vintage goods

The minute I walked into Reform School, I knew I would not be immune to its charms.

All sorts of handcrafted goodies beckoned everywhere, perched ever so stylishly on vintage pieces throughout the store, located in the trendy Los Feliz neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles. The store is exactly what I imagine it would be like to walk into a gallery created just for Etsy store owners, a sort of tribute to imaginative crafters and artists who bring beauty into our everyday life.

The store is owned by a couple of women, friends since high school who always dreamed of opening up their own shop. Above all, they believe in sustainable design and green living.

What could be more apt in such a store than organizing and displaying with vintage containers?

So many things caught my eye, like this row of globes all standing at attention atop a wooden bookshelf displaying a variety of wares. It was obvious that each item had been carefully considered and chosen, together forming a beautiful tapestry of handcrafted offerings.

My secret thrill was seeing so many file cabinets with drawers galore, since I have had a crush on these kind of cabinets for as long as I can remember. Perhaps the mystery of not always knowing what's in each and every drawer is the appeal for me.

Let's get a little closer, shall we?

In this case, this collection of library or index card holders displayed various notebooks. Let's take a look at another file cabinet.

And get a little closer again ...

Oh, the delights in this store were definitely a joy for anyone who loves unique items. I found myself studying vignettes such as this one:

Below, the sweet pillows seemed to be waiting patiently for its rightful owner to come claim them.

Yes, there was definitely plenty to peruse in this shop, including a variety of cards and journals.

Of course, I spotted a smattering of books here and there. Not surprisingly, some were ones I already had, like "Making Stuff for Kids" (excellent, crafts for and with kids of all ages).

This is also a home for artists of all kinds. I was smitten with the custom portraiture in the style of a high school photo by artist Nancy Julson-Rieley. Or if you preferred ...

a portrait of someone else all ready to go.

It was definitely hard to walk away from this store, since I kept discovering new things in every corner. A repeat visit is definitely in order.

The shop also hosts a photo club and offers some crafting classes. If you don't live in the area, the store has a web shop here.

Reform School is at 3902 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Phone (323)906-8660.