Friday, October 8, 2010

Better Earth

Look around you. We just don't realize it but POLLUTION is a problem that is mostly created by daily human activities. Pollution harms the Earth's environment and it's inhabitants in many ways. It can either be industrial, commercial, agricultural or even more so, domestic activities. Don't you agree? To some degree, it is too big to even conceive but awareness makes such an important impact to reduce pollution. As an individual or even as a Business, we can buy less and throw away less by reusing and recycling materials (for example: dye materials to put them back to life, reuse old skirts and turn them into pillow cases, etc., etc. etc.) The possibilities are endless if you put your mind and heart to it.

Locally, I've been working with companies that have the same mission. I've been using materials that are organic and recycled. I've been using organic cotton materials for my scarves and shawls, clorine free wool, and recycled polyester for a softer feel. Less trash...more treasures. Please check the my collection at www.GirlyGirlzShoppe.etsy.com. Let me know what you think...

I also love doing voluteer work. My daughter and I volunteered last two weeks ago for the Beach clean-up in Ventura, California. We met very intelligent and interesting people. I am just proud being a part of it. Thanks to my daughter's school for inviting parents over to help.

This is the evolution of GirlyGirlzShoppe. I am currently busy reusing, recylcing and restringing. Just REWARDING!

Hope you enjoy this short blog. I am open for any feedbacks, suggestions or even add your own experience on saving and helping for a BETTER EARTH.

Peace, love and Success to All,
Anne

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

How about a 100 pound sack of peanuts or bushel of apples from the Elephant Tooth Fairy?

Not from this one-of-a-kind Tooth Fairy Pinky. All you'll get is LOVE from her pink heart. She is a fun addition to your child's loose tooth adventure. She is soft, cuddly and big enough to snug!

I originally made tooth fairy buddies for my younger kids (11 and 10 year olds). But recently, I found out that the same appreciation is the same with our teenagers. She is so funtional, she can hold love notes, gift cards, checks or cash. The tiny wings made this Tooth Fairy Pinky more adorable!

I can also insert a personlize card and poem for your little ones to read. I will post the card as soon as I get done.

Made of 100% recycled materials, clean and ready to go.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Did you reuse, restore or recycle today?

I just washed grandma's old polyester clothing collection from the garage. We are making bathing suits today!!!

How about you? Did you reuse, restore or recycle today?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

How do you get inspired as an artist?

We all have creative spirits within us. We often find our richest resources of creative inspiration through our travels, meeting other people and reading. I keep all my ideas in a binder. I cannot remember everything but creativity can really go a long way if we just put our minds to it.

I was motivated to write this subject and I would like to share my thoughts to everyone because my daughter got the Most Inspirational Award in Rio District today. The school district is consist of eight schools with 500 + kids. So, to be one of the 20 kids awarded for this award is such a blessing and honor. I was inspired when the Superintendent read this composition by Mother Theresa that is called, "Do it Anyway" :

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are succcessful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. "

As an artist, we sometimes struggle, get discouraged or we get "information overload". But don't give up. Just keep on going. What we create today could be someones inspiration.

How do you inspired as an artist? Let me know what you think...

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

How are homemade arts and crafts surviving in the modern world?

I remembered admiring a beautiful handmade Christmas ornament when I was around 4 or 5 years old. It was a plastic ball covered with red straw like material with red, green and gold sequence. My grandma caught me investigating the ornament. She asked, "Do you like that? ". I said "yes" with a smile. We sat at our yellow and avocado green couch and talked for hours. She even showed me how she made it!

Although everything was made simple then, it was the past that really made us better today. I believe that homemade arts and crafts is making a big impact. The internet played a big role for without it, we would not be here today discussing about the past arts and crafts nor see other's self discovery. This trend created so many websites that catered to "handmade" buyers and sellers all over the world.

What are the advantages to you as a customer for buying handmade arts and crafts? There is a level of individuality or "one-of-a-kind" benefit that you will never find on a mass production warehouse. Each artist brings their own creativity and it takes a lot of thinking and LOVE! (Yes, I am a very sentimental person). That's what makes it UNIQUE! When you pour your heart into everything you do.

That is why I love custom orders. A good example is my co-worker. She have triplets who are 5 years old now. She asked for me to make her kids the Tooth Buddy Owly. She would like to have pink for one daughter, purple for another daughter and sports theme fabric for her son. I like it! I was so excited that I made sure that they get their nicknames hand stitched on every Tooth Buddy Owly.

Surely, arts and crafts really evolved. There are some exciting things about the handmade movement. Please come and join me at http://www.girlygirlzshoppe.etsy.com/. You'll be surprise of what you can find. That special someone in your life who have it all, might not really have everything after all.

I hope you enjoy my updates. See you soon!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Owly Tooth Fairy Buddy

100% Recycled materials: Old sweater, old blouce and old buttons. Now the tooth fairy can handle the TOOTH!

Sleepy Owly Eye Mask

Here is one of our creations. Very easy to make...

Found Art

"The term found art—more commonly found object (French: objet trouvĂ©) or readymade—describes art created from the undisguised, but often modified, use of objects that are not normally considered art, often because they already have a non-art function." Marcel Duchamp

Where I live (California), our "recyled" trash can is colored periwinkle. Every Wednesday, we have a full bin of bottles, cans, milk containers, cereal boxes and sometimes old papers from my kid's backpack. A brief history of our country recycling: Curbside recycling began in Baltimore in 1874. In 1897, the Benedetto family created the first "recycling center" in NYC. Interestingly, as a country, we have been recycling for 136 years.

A year and half ago, I came across Craigslist. A section called: "free stuff" captured my eye. I cannot believe what people give away in my neighborhood. I was ecstatic! I was picking up books, yarns, yards and yards of fabrics, tables, chairs, paints, office supplies, canned goods, dogs (yes! I currently have three dogs Tank, Peanut and Jelly). Anything that says FREE and within driving range, I get it. One day, I was reading a magazine and there was small article about famous people recycling their belongings. It is a group website sponsored by yahoo called FREECYCLE. You must have a yahoo account to join this group. This is somewhat similar to craigslist but more exclusive due to membership. I tried it and found more stuff. Then, my husband noticed that we cannot open the garage door anymore because it's full of somebody else's junk. I told my husband that I will be needing this things someday but he thinks that I am too busy to make something or repaint my acquired furniture. So, we called an art teacher from his school. She picked up 90% of our stuff.

Last month, my daughter had a huge project in hand. It's called FOUND ART. We were asked to create art out of recycled materials from our garage. Did I said to my husband that I am gonna be needing those stuff one day? Now, my garage is clean and I do not have materials for this project. That's when I started researching. I looked online to find some ideas about how other people create art out of recycled materials. I found some junky and funky looking stuff. Then, I found www.etsy.com. There are some very good artist that something out of nothing. What an inspiration! Needless to say, my daughter got an "A" on that project and we started to do more things together. We even made it to our first art show two weeks ago. I wasn't expecting to make money and have orders too. But we did!

I would like to share some information about our current projects. We know you can do it too! Let's do it! First, say "hi" to spring and "goodbye" to clutter...