a little help

Like so many others, I am heartbroken by the recent events in Japan.  In the face of such tragedy, it is difficult to find a way to help, but I have been inspired by the efforts of those around me.  The students in the middle school where I teach have raised $868 to donate to the Red Cross.  Many of my fellow crafters have also jumped into action.  A Tennessee grandma (and EtsyKids member) immediately organized a collection of handmade items for children to be sent to Japan with Save the Children.  And Namoo and Tarabu of the Baltimore Etsy Street Team are auctioning off a package of pillows and cuddlies to benefit the victims of the earthquake.  I had an opportunity to see these items first-hand and they are exquisite!  I loved that Namoo used Japanese linens in her pillows and that Tarabu's cuddlies had little bento-box inserts in homage to the country they are seeking to help.

I have decided that I will follow suit.  In my etsy shop, I have two bags made of Japanese designer Etsuko Furuya's gorgeous Echino Patchwork.  One is a lovely pleated Lucia handbag and the other is a large shopper.  I will donate 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these two items to Doctors Without Borders, an organization that has sent medical teams to support the tsunami and earthquake response efforts in Japan.

Please consider purchasing one of these items--not only will you be the owner of a chic bag, you will be supporting a worthy organization in its relief efforts.  And every little bit truly does make a difference.

a cheerful treasury

Woke up to find that one of my invites had been included in this fresh and pretty treasury by The Bitsy Beau.  Yellow and gray are so nice in the early spring, when everything is just waking up and the color riot that is about to start is still biding its time.

gearing up

Just checking in quickly with an update on the party prep.  Like I said in my last post, we are keeping it very simple.  The nautical theme that was launched by the preppy whale invites has now morphed into a color scheme with a nod to the nautical in some of the details, including the kids' food, the favors, and the cupcake decorations.  The color scheme consists of a range of blues, white, and a nice kelly green.  Cal (the birthday boy's big brother) and I have been working on a banner that we'll use to decorate. 

We are using my Cricut to make the letters that we are using on both the banner and the cupcake flags.  I love the Cricut and thought I got a good deal on it, though every time I go to JoAnn's I have to avert my gaze from the ones they have on sale and tell myself they're not as nice as mine.  Cal really, really loves using the Cricut, and (with a LOT of supervision) it is easy enough for young children to operate. 

I'll post a tutorial on the banner and cupcake toppers when I have a spare moment.  It is simple but graphically pleasing, and I love the idea that the big bro is helping get ready for our little one's party--even if I do suspect that he's in it for some peripheral gifts.

thinking like ahab

photo by momp photography

So, my little one is turning two, and we wanted to have a small family party for him. When it comes to the kids' birthdays, we normally seize the opportunity to really go nuts and fill our house with a million people. For Brooker's first birthday, we had a music theme. All of the children decorated little wooden tambourines and had a an epic game of freeze dance. I made two (!) ice cream cakes that we decorated like drums. My friend Kim of a little party made beautiful upcycled garland that we strung up all around the house.  It was homespun with very little fuss, but it was a rager.  I think it's safe to say that a good time was had by all.

preppy whale invitations

This year, we decided to keep it extra low-key and only have a handful of family members over for a nice lunch.  The theme is nautical, and I am definitely not sure what exactly that means, but I'll be blogging about it all week as I figure it out in time for next Saturday's party.  The theme was set by the invitations we used, my preppy whale invites.  I really think that even if you are only having a small party, it's always nice to send out an invitation that lets people know what to expect.  So far, I am thinking of doing a big bright pennant banner in blues and greens and something extra special for the favor since there will only be a handful of kids here.  The ideas are starting to percolate!

a sweet blue treasury

I do love a good etsy treasury and this one is full of soothing blues.  Brace yourselves for more treasuries on the ol' blog now that I've figured how to add them AND keep them clickable thanks to the Craft Cult peeps!