It's been a while since I last got this excited about a project. Seeing the fabric coming out of the printer was just wow, so much fun. This is one of those easy projects, that cam make quite the impact. As I love everything gift wrap related, I used most of the printed labels as gift tags and some of them as labels for the boxes I store my fabrics in. All you need for this projects is: 

• cotton fabric  (something that isn't too thick)
• a printer (preferably the ink jet kind; it also works with laser jet, but the result doesn't fix as good on the fabric)
• sticker paper (or you can use a fabric glue spray to glue the fabric on a piece of paper to provide stability to the fabric)
•  labels, texts, images to print (I used the very pretty labels by Madalina Andronic and the birds by Becca Kallem ) 

1. Cut the fabric to match the size of your paper (I used A4 sheets). 2. Glue the fabric on the paper and make sure it is evened out. This makes the fabric more stable and it allows you to put it through the printer. 3. Now it's time for the fun part. Put the fabric sheet in the printer and print! Watch the magic happen. 4. Let the ink dry for a few minutes, while you admire the result. 5. Peel off the sheet of paper and cut the labels. 6. Use them in your creative projects or offer them as gifts.

I hope you will try the little project and have some fun with it! Hugs, Anca

If you're happy and you know it

I believe you know the famous 'If you're happy and you know it...' and you even clapped and turned around singing it... a long time ago. I know, me too! As our son is three and a half I had the chance to remember it and play it again. At first I smiled, then a warm, fuzzy feeling tingled my body and my smile got shinier - could it be that enjoying life is so easy? (Yes!) If you're happy and you know it clap your hands?! It's amazing how the simplest things are the most powerful too.

I was working on some cushions, making buttonholes for the first time, sewing while lots of ideas of what to make next run through my mind, when - I don't know why - I thought of the Romanian version of the song. It rhymes, but the translation is something like 'If you live happily, smile to one another'. Great. I could see it written all over a tote bag. If one wears it in Romania, it would make people smile, relax and be happy, if one is in London, for example, like me, even more interesting - people would wonder what it means and start a conversation. And then smile, relax and be happy.

I sent one already to Romania, but I'm planning to make more... They're consciously made, roomy and versatile, and I love when fashion becomes ecological, as I don't have to use the plastic bags at the store and contribute to toxic waste. I use it as a park bag too - it's our best carrier for sticks, rocks and small treasures, plus extra clothes and other accessories that somehow appear vital. Just stuff them in there, without looking weird and impractical.

A lot of people ask me lately how do I do it, how do I manage to have a kid, work at home, have the time of my life + everything else... well, my answer is we make a mess! It doesn't mean we don't live in a clean house, but the expectations that my place looks just like in a magazine are unrealistic to begin with, not to mention while raising a kid or two. I don't worry with keeping things tidy, especially when I'm working/playing. To tell you the truth, I try not to worry at all - it's a blissful feeling to be surrounded by a creative chaos. Don't take my word for it, try it!

You know how you see around the Internet those perfectly set up, coordinated workspaces or lounges and you think how do they do it?! Relax. Those are just pictures.

This is how a normal day looks.

Woodland blanket/playmat

... our first project together, that's if we're not counting the awesome presents we've gave each other (mostly Anca) over the years. She wanted special gifts for two of her friends & Babies, so we came up with sweet blankets/playmats. I wanted to make pillows, T-shirts and tote bags (to hold treasures like pine cones, leaves, pebbles and many more), and all in one day if possible. One of the themes was woodland (remember the sketches?), I made one side, sent it to Anca and she sewed the actual sweetness - the fluffy side. So, here it is. I'm happy to hear the cosmic mama and Baby are enjoying it as we speak, making up wonderful stories in the hope to weave a better reality for the future.

I painted the stars, some of the leaves and animals with water-based acrylics, cut the tree and leaves shapes from dotted fabric and stitched everything onto a 1/1 m piece of soft cotton canvas. As I said above, Anca assembled the other side too and bam, one magic carpet, sorry, blanket coming your way!

Anca, thanks for the inspiration and patience, hope to make more of these!

If you are interested in having a 100% customized-handmade-outstanding quality-baby friendly-storytelling blanket/playmat, let us know by using the contact form on the right. Or just say hi!

Forever happy truffles

Not your common truffles. Not because of the new and ground-shaking recipe or due to any secret ingredient, but simply because they are made with love and shared with generosity (as all desserts and food should) with dear ones, family, friends or even more importantly, with someone who needs it most. 

I love making these, as they are healthy, quick to make, delicious and quite playful, allowing so very many variations.

As far as ingredients go:

- 15 dates, pitted

- 100 gr. shredded coconut

- 100 gr. almonds (or any other kind of nut; you can even add a mix of your favorites)

- 2-3 tbsp. peanut butter (or coconut butter)

- 4 tbsp. cocoa powder

- 2 tbsp. water

- favorite spice or flavor (such as cinnamon or vanilla extract)

Mix all the ingredients in a food processor, put it in the fridge for about 10-15 minutes, form small ball with your hands and roll them through chocolate sprinkler, shredded coconut or nuts. Store in the fridge. Share and enjoy!

Bon appetit!

Never Give Up (Ever) - A handmade T-shirt, a story and a prayer

Hi, friends! It's morning, not sunny here in London - how surprising, I know - but the sun is out there helping to keep our faith strong. We all feel under the weather sometimes, we become ill or terrible accidents happen, but life spins and revolves continuously. We merely take a moment to contemplate, some of us say a prayer too, but then we all go back to what we were doing. It's amazing how everything changes and everything stays the same.

Yesterday, a man passed away at the gym where we were, just like that, training. He isn't here anymore. Over 6,000 were gone too in the recent earthquake in Nepal, and millions of people fight diseases and terrible conditions every second. One brings a baby into this world, one opens a photo album and remembers all the good times are eternally somewhere. Life is now, so fragile, but complete.

When the noise of thought, doubt and fear ceases, we find something everlasting in our hearts, something that's always peaceful and stays the same. Compassion, friendliness, hope are beyond making sense, they just feel right.

I made a commitment to myself to say a prayer each morning and each evening (hope troughout the day too). It can be in the form of positive thinking, meditation, painting, dancing, smiling or anything really - even making breakfast - as long as it's the soul creating the intentions, not the ego.

Dear One or I and I or God - what's in a name, right?! - I am doing this right now because I celebrate life. Thanks for being and making all of this possible. I wish joy and laughter to each of us!

 
Edited: We went to our first Handmade Fair here in London, just as visitors for now, we had cake and sat next to a lady who admired the T-shirt Sean was wearing (the Never Give Up, Ever showcased here), she started to tell us her story and a few magic minutes later she ordered the same T-shirt for her six months old great-grandson. I even got paid, just like that. 

On my way back I told the story over and over again in my head, just as I imagined I would write it here, but I swear I can't seem to put it into words. It was so natural, as if we went there specifically to meet. And guess what, it was her first fair, too.

I also met a whole bunch of talented people, smiled a lot and came home flying. Good night, friends. Prayer, repeat.