Making a Plaster Baby Belly Cast

Remember back in April I bought this belly cast kit at Marshalls?  Well, since we are so close to my due date, we decided to do it the other night.  Plus I had my External Version the next day, so we figured we better do it...just in case I had the baby then.   Ernesto is a paper mache master, so he was in charge of everything and did a great job.

It was quite easy!  It only took us 45 minutes, start to finish. In the kit you will find a few rolls of pre-plastered gauze, jar of petroleum jelly, a pair of rubber gloves, a drop cloth and the directions.

You will need to cut the gauze into strips.  Longer for the belly and shorter for the breast area. 

Mommy needs to rub the jelly all over her belly and breasts so the plaster will easily pop off.  Have a bowl of water handy to dip the strips and start placing them on belly area.  Place the strips in all different directions to make the cast stronger.  Here is our progress after just 15 minutes.

Here we are pretty much finished after 20 minutes.

I sat here for about 10-15 minutes under the fan.  I would recommend that you stand or sit straight up when getting the strips applied to make sure you get the proper shape/hang of your belly and breasts.

I love how it turned out!  What a great memory of my beautiful pregnant belly!!

 

It has been drying now for a few days, and it is ready to be sanded down.... or not.  I haven't decided what I will do with it.  I was thinking gold leaf! Have any of you tried a belly cast?  Did you decorate it or leave it in a rough state?

Jewelry Bust Project

It all started with this post on DesignSponge.  That blog inspires me so.  Kate Pruit, an artist from CA wrote about several jewelry storage projects and this wood bust really grabbed my attention.  I am happy to say I finished this project with Neto's help of course!!  They are so damn cool I want to make more!

The directions are clearly written out here, but I will give you a quick abridged version.  You can print out the template, but Neto thought it would be more personal to use a "well known" silhouette. ha! We blew it up to 140% on a copier and traced it onto the board.  (a pre-treated pine shelf from IKEA. It is big enough to make 3)  We also bought a $4 piece of thin cork board at Home Depot and made two bigger busts with it. 

You can find an inexpensive jigsaw at home stores for under $30.  Instead of using the blades that come with, we bought smaller finer blades to make sure they could whip around the curves and tiny spaces.  It was incredibly smooth and took no time at all to cut 5 of them.

 

We lightly sanded the wood before adding a primer and finally two coats of semi gloss white paint. What do you think?

I was so excited with the finished products, I set up a table in the garage just to see what they all look like together! 

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Sew Cindy- 1st Sewing Project

Finally! I got started with a project on my new sewing machine. Its funny what inspired me. My parents stopped in Atlanta for a couple days on their way home from Tampa last week and my mom and I went to Forsyth Fabrics. I have been hunting for something cool to recover my dining room chairs. (The boys went to the Albert for the delicious smoked wings)

As soon as we stepped in the door, there was a "free" box at our feet full of fabric sample books.

As you can see to the picture, we may have gotten a little greedy. We walked out with 13 books. ("waste not want not," as mom always says)

Our creative juices were flowing, and we knew we could somehow make use of these scraps. There was much laughing [at ourselves]. My dad just shook his head when we lugged it in the front door.

The first idea that popped in my head was to make a patchwork blanket for all the picnics E and I will be making this summer.

The books arranged the swatches by color. I went through and cut the ones that I liked, mostly cotton. I also arranged them by color and in piles of 10. Greens, tans, reds, pinks, black and white, and blues.

My mom taught me a lot about sewing back in high school, and a lot of it stuck! I started by sewing together each color pile length wise. I stitched each seam twice for strength. I will continue to sew all the squares into rows and then sew the rows together into one big square. I will finish by adding a durable canvas backing and border on the edges.

I will be sure to post pictures of the finished product. Have you ever taken something from a "free box" just because it was free? (mom, you don't have to answer)

Color of the year for 2010: Turquoise!!!

Pantone names Turquoise the color of the year for 2010!

Pantone (the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries) announced PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise, an inviting, luminous hue, as the color of the year for 2010.

"Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing."

"It is universally flattering, has appeal for men and women, and translates easily to fashion and interiors. With both warm and cool undertones, Turquoise pairs nicely with any other color in the spectrum. Turquoise adds a splash of excitement to neutrals and browns, complements reds and pinks, creates a classic maritime look with deep blues, livens up all other greens, and is especially trend-setting with yellow-greens. In fashion, Turquoise makes a statement that can look elegant and dressy in fine silk and gemstones, or casual and fun in cotton and athletic apparel. Because of its versatility, Turquoise is a great accent color in jewelry, purses, shoes, hair accessories and even nail polish for women, and ties, shirts and sportswear for men."
(source: Pantone press release)

And E told me to get a new color! Ha!

Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos (or Day of the Dead) is an annual holiday in Mexico celebrated on November 1st and 2d. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It celebrates the dead with joy and humor rather than mourning. It coincides with the Catholic All Saints Day. Family graves are cleaned and decorated, and home altars are embellished with offerings like candles, photos, foods, flowers. Special holiday breads and sugar skulls are baked, and charmingly colorful folk-art skeletons engaged in a variety of activities.

I still have not been able to experience this tradition while in Mexico, and who knows when I would be able to since this time of year is prime time for The Christmas Light Pros

We saw the Day of the Dead stuff everywhere in Mexico. The Skeletons that are dressed up [fancy] were so cool. Ernesto were on the hunt to bring one home with us. However, the best one we saw would have been a little hard to transport. It was made of paper and stood about 4ft tall. Usually the males are wearing a tux and the women have fancy dresses. This particular one wore a blue dress, feather boa, and huge hat. Ernesto was really inspired by these katrinas, as they are called in Mexico, so he decided to make his own mask and wear it for Halloween. I was so impressed by his creativity. I always knew he was good at drawing, but he just doesn't do it very often. He started a few weeks ago with a balloon. He did paper mache over it, and then painted a traditional design on it. So cool!

When he put on the mask, along with the tux [I bought him at a consignment shop] it was one of the best costumes I have ever seen. Here he is standing with Cleopatra.

Smita gets great outfits every year; she loves Halloween. She takes time to think of what she wants to be, and I like to not think too much about it. That is why I wore her Cleopatra outfit from last year. She was a geisha this year and her outfit was great. In addition to the kimono and face paint, she added the accessories, which really made it authentic. (sandals with socks, paper umbrella, and fan.

We were invited to a party Friday night and it was so fun. There was a DJ outside and we danced the whole night. It felt exciting to dance with this new mysterious man.

Preparations for Zafiro Jewelry's Debut

I don't know how many times I can say this, but my mom is THE BEST!!  While in Mexico this past month,I learned  I had been accepted to the Candler Park Fall Fest art show in Atlanta October 10-11.  My parents helped me out by mailing the application  while I was traveling and low & behold, I was accepted!  My first jewelry show of 2009!!!  Actually, it will be my first show under my new name Zafiro Jewelry.  

While I was in Mexico, I met Gonzalo.  He has a printing business in Guadalajara and with my design that was partially done by a designer in San Diego/and then finished off by Ernesto's cousin Mario, I was able to get them printed for a great savings (compared to US prices)  He is also printing matching price tags for my pieces. 

(stay tuned...pictures of cards, booth design and website coming soon)

So much preparation needs to happen before the show, and when I want to get things done, my mom is my perfect partner.  I can bounce my ideas off her, and she always, always comes up with great ways to make them happen.  Her energy never dies, I always get so much done with her.  We are great at brainstorming, and together we designed a new booth for Zafiro Jewelry.   I flew to Ohio last Wednesday, after returning from Mexico, and we worked for 2 days straight.  Here is my mom sewing a key piece for my booth.  (final pictures will be posted from the show) 

My mom bought me this bust at a garage sale for $5.  Here we use spray adhesive to add cream colored burlap cover.  It looks really nice with the new texture.  Very professional!  

I bought several of these necklace displays from NILE.  They were inexpensive, so I was able to experiment.  My mom and I covered them with a linen material, and Im so happy with how they turned out.

While at Joanne Fabrics looking for curtains [for the tent] I saw these cardboard letters.  

I thought I was going to sew a sign on my tent, but then I started thinking...wouldn't these letters be cool if I painted them to look like a copper patina? I like the old world feel of aged copper and I love those colors too! 

Ernesto said he would help me, so we will see how they turn out.  If you have ANY tips for this faux painting, please leave in the comments.  Pictures and progress updates coming your way soon. 

A Cross Stitch Project

It's not that I need another project.   I wanted was something I could do on the road.  My sewing projects aren't portable, my jewelry is not accessible, the blanket I'm crocheting has lost it's novelty (+ its too big), and decorating a house is out of the question right now.

So, I saw this cross stitch project at Joann Fabrics.  I know, I know, cross stitch? But I imagined it framed on a wall in my house and I began to like the idea. 

I'd like to introduce you to: 

Yes, the Mona Lisa.   Leonardo da Vinci painted this classic back in the 15oo's and she is still around.  She has history, she's international (born in Italia lives in Francia), and I think she would look nice against many paint colors.  

Mona and I go way back.  Back to an unbelievable time in my twenties.   I was on a backpacking trip through Europe with my brother Brrrian.  I have been to Paris probably 4 times since then, but only went into the Louvre on that first trip.  Discovering art, the art of traveling, and essentially who I was as a young adult.  I can't see her and not be reminded of this trip.  I have been buying a lot of art/textiles for my future home on my travels the last year and  think this will be just as special. 

The other thing, the most important thing, is that my Mona Lisa will be 100% handmade by me during a [yet another] memorable period of my life.  A time of volunteering, traveling, discovering and spending quality time with family.

So thank you Joann Fabrics for taking me down memory lane and doing it for only $9.99.  

Half price off. 

18" x 12" and comes with all the thread. 

Let's see how long it takes me to finish. Any bets?

This was my Beautiful Life Friday.  Check out more on the Inspired Room.

Time Goes By....So Slowly

This weekend was a welcome change from the constant traveling and influx of visitors we have had in the last month.     We had nothing to do and it was wonderful!  I worked quite a bit on crocheting my afghan.  Look how big it's getting.  Both Saturday and Sunday we woke up at 6am...but we didn't get out of bed.  We drank coffee and Ernesto read to me.  We are reading the book, Kitchen Confidential.  It's written by Anthony Bourdain, you may know him from his  show  "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel.   The book  is quite entertaining, we are learning many new French words and laughing at his graphically detailed descriptions of  his  "adventures in the culinary underbelly"  during his career as a chef in NYC.  We are only about half way through it, but so far Im loving it.  

I took my camera out because I had been wanting to take a picture of this.  I can't say its a sign of spring (since there is no winter here) but this tree outside our apartment has been blooming for the past week or so and it is so gorgeous!  I wish I new what it is called...anyone? mom?

There are bunches of bright yellow flowers that hang like bunches of grapes.

When I panned out my lens, it wasn't as pretty since someone had left bag of trash, which was then quickly torn apart by dogs, or the man who sleeps there on the strip of grass every night.  

Did you have a good weekend?  Were you lazy like me or did you do something exciting?

Even the Mannequins....

I had to laugh (and stop to take a picture) the other night when I was walking downtown and saw this mannequin in the window. Have you ever seen a mannequin with a boob job?

I can honestly say that I have never seen as much cleavage as I have this year in San Jose. 

I Met my friend Ana from my "knitting club" downtown  the other night at Regis, a fabric store.  Yes, I have a new hobby!  I have been inspired by Ana, she is sewing up so many cute things for her new label UrbanaWear.  Plus all the blogs I read are promoting artists (mostly on Etsy)  and I keep thinking, I can do that!  I need to stop saying that, I know.  I have so many ideas in my head, its hard to get it straight what my next project will be.  All I know is that I have so much inspiration in me that I could burst at any moment.  Im going to buy a sewing machine as soon as I get to the states!  The material is cheap here and I saw some fun prints that I couldn't resist buying. Look how cute! For some reason I keep thinking of aprons.

What projects or hobbies are you feeling inspired to start in the future??

PS.  I don't know how I will get all my stuff on an airplane?!  (oh wait!  yes I do...$$$...BUT  if any of my Delta friends would like to come here in late May to check a couple bags for me, that would be greatly appreciated!  I promise to show you a good time for the favor!)

Getting Creative with an Easter Egg Tree

I have a list of creative projects so long that I will take me forever to get to them all. (Yes, I am just like my mother) I wanted to start (and ideally finish) something this weekend.
Project #1 Coloring Easter eggs and making a tree
Coloring Easter eggs has always been a tradition in my family. Its a fun time. We make solid colors, but also we write things on the eggs with a little wax candle that makes each other laugh. Nicknames, little sayings of my dad. It's always about humor in my family. The more silly it is - the better. Well, this year I will miss out on that activity at my parents house, but I still wanted to color my own batch of eggs here in Costa Rica. "Yellow and blue make green." Do you remember what brand made that famous? Well I was so happy I remembered it. I only had to buy yellow and blue food coloring so I could make my favorite colors...rich yellow, blue and green eggs.
It was Glad by the way.The process was not as fun as if I was in my mom's kitchen, since I was coloring them alone. (Ernesto was home, but on a business Skype to CA) I was also making us steak sandwiches for dinner at the same time.I must say though, that the colors turned out more beautifully than I expected.I always think of my Aunt Bobbie when coloring Easter eggs. She puts together an Easter egg tree every year. I had been thinking about this since Christmas. During a walk in the park, I picked up some nice branches that inspired me to get started. This was the fun part! It really looks great against my white walls. Don't you think? My Aunt Bobbie has her tree in a gorgeous turquoise vase that was my grandma's. So special. I have mine in a wine bottle. Not so special. Re-purpose and recycle, right? I'm excited I will get to enjoy cheery display for the next month, maybe longer. I may not want to take it down after Easter. It really makes me smile. Do you like it? What Easter decorations, if any, do you like to use?

Project #2 Not yet ready for viewing, but should be coming your way this week.

New Year: Keeping Busy in the Evenings

When I was home over Christmas I racked my brain for crafts that could occupy my evenings in San Jose. I learned to crochet a long time ago and thought that would be perfect. I bought a bunch of yarn (in my favorite color) knowing I would never the same color here. So wierd, that week Lauren fwd an email of a knitting club she found on Craigslist! Tuesday night we hitched a ride with a co-worker to San Pedro and met Ana y Yessenia at Cafe Sol. Ana and I (in the middle) already know how to knit and crochet and brought a project to work on. This was just the inicial meeting to get acquainted. I have to say I am so happy that we went. I love meeting new people and it was actually a surpirse that they were young (like me!) We hit if off right away and the best part is that it was in Spanish! Love it! We are going to continue to meet on Tuesday nights and feed off each others ideas. Inspiration is in the air.

Featured Photographer-My friend Andres

Thursday night, my friend (and co-worker) Andres Valenciano invited me to Glazz Sports Bar #1 to see his cousins band Ojo de Buey, (an awesome reagge-ish band that I will definitely be going to see again) but more importantly #2 to see a collection of his pictures that he has taken over the last few months. I totally admire his work, and I will copy him by buying his camera (ok, really it is on my very short xmas list....thanks mi amor) Isn't imitation the most sincere form of flattery?? Andres? Please say yes! Not that I will be able to duplicate the creativity of his pictures, but the quality is so amazing. I wanted to share some of the pics from his debut:


....and one of my personal favorites........from our trip together to Chorti in Honduras!
Thanks for featuring ME in your show! You Rock Andres!!! Wait...was it because of ME or the kids?? Either way, it is a great photo!