Sew, Mama, Sew! and JCasa's Something Special Vday Card tutorial!

So as I was traveling through the 'crafty' blogosphere (as I am known to do), and I encountered two delightful entities, the website Sew, Mama, Sew! and JCasa's Jennifer's handmade blog tutorial for a special kind of correspondance.

Imagine what kind of a wonderful world (or VD day...oh, uhm I meant Valentine's day) it would be to get your 'love notes' like this!!

JCasa's Something Special Handmade Card

If you go to Sew, Mama, Sew! you'll see an exceptional high quality tutorial that clearly illustrates step by step procedures to simply make both this fabric envelope and the 'love note'.

JCasa's Envelope with a sample note from tutorial Another sample of JCasa's Envelope and Card from Sew, Mama, Sew!tutorial

Better yet, as part of their February True Love Series, if you try your hand at one of JCasa's fabric envelopes and cards before February 12th and post it on the Sew, Mama, Sew! forum you can win one of these awesome prizes!!

Regardless, its just so much fun (and inspiring) to check out all the versions that have already been posted on the Forum!

I think I may have to try one!!!

After you make the basic card + envelope as a foundation piece you can then embellish, embroider, quilt, print… Do something to make it unique! Mix things up, and personalize your card to make it the perfect something for your special someone.

-CIAO! AMARETTOGIRL

A Quick Winter Illustration

cold girl

Kanzashi

Kanzashi Flowers have been all the rave on the crafty internet in recent years, but it seems I've just come around to it. Kanzashi is the Japanese art form of folding fabric the way one would fold paper in origami. Inspired by the new book Kanzashi In Bloom by Diane Gilleland I got really into exploring the medium. I thought I'd do a review of the book while I was at it, so here goes.

Kanzashi In Bloom by Diane Gilleland

PROS- The book is written in a very clear and effective manner. The history of the craft is done respectfully and eloquently. The instructions for seemingly complex folds are excellent, with photos linked to each step smoothly and very clearly. The projects in the book are attractive, feasible and open to enough interpretation to inspire unique work.

CONS- However my one gripe is the book only shows how to do three folds, and where that is good for a beginning crafter, it leaves craft junkies like me hungry for more!! I actually googled 'Kanzashi' images and saw lots of pieces made with a wonderful petal fold that was not in the book that thankfully I was able to teach myself! See the images below for what came from the book and what did not.

Kanzashi flowers I made from instructions in the book.

However the image below is of a necklace that I'm making with a Kanzashi flower fold that was not in the book.When I 'googled' images of Kanzashi flowers many were made with a unique petal fold that left one side of the fold in double layers. I sat down for a while anad played with the fabric and eventually taught it to myself!

Kanzashi necklace that I'm making detail shot click to see

So I have found that I like the silk fabric of abandoned men's neck ties for Kanzashi the best (though cotton patterned fabrics are fun too). There is something about taking a very masculine fabric (neckties) and converting them into such feminine flowers.

Kanzashi is addictive and very meditative much like crocheting or knitting. You will however need a thimble if you plan on making a bunch.

I like using both fabric covered brads (in the scrapbooking section at the craft store) or covering my own buttons with matching fabric.

Kanzashi Flowers made from one of my bosses 'vintage' neckties!!!!

I am planning on creating a tutorial for this fold here soon so stay tuned!--Amarettogirl

Marie Antoinette Ladies Dinner

Interested in Marie Antoinette?? Read on for major inspiration!

handpainted napkins by my hubs and me inspired by Marie Claire Idees

Marie Claire Idees French Magazine Before the holidays I planned an evening in which I invited some of the ladies from my sewing group in Sugar Loaf NY over to my home for a ladies dinner. I decided the theme for the evening would be Marie Antoinette - of course!

So I got busy sewing a new tablecloth, placemats, centerpiece and... My hubs and I hand-painted some Parisian Patisserie inspired fabric napkins with fabric paint (as seen in image above). We used the French magazine Marie Claire Idees for reference.

For any of you who are so inclined to host a Marie Antoinette dinner I thought I would share some of the results and research with you.

First of all for future reference a good date to host a Marie Antoinette dinner is in November since her birthday is Nov. 2nd.

Some Chocolates on display and my sewing group ladies, Sylvia, Linda and Manon!

A great website to go to to be inspired to design a dinner on any night of the year is a site called DINNER EXPLOSIONS. It takes a bit of time to load but it's beautiful and whether you're a cook or not you'll be happy you went to this internet gem with ideas for music, decorating and food.

My Table

If you google Marie Antoinette QUIZ, you'll get a whole lot of fun quizzes you could use at your gathering for a give away, like I did.

Marie Antoinette Inspired Cookies of corsets, fans and shoes by guest Sylvia Williams! My handmade table runnermy table- click to see larger My centerpiece- click to see Dinner Activity - Kanzashi Brooches

We ended the evening with a sewing activity - ofcourse! I got a book (which I will be reviewing next post so stay tuned) on the Japanese craft of Kanzashi flowers. So we got busy and made ourselves some brooches to commemorate the evening.

The menu: Salad Greens with Lemon Curd Dressing, Apple and Beet side salad, Vegetable tarts, Beef Apricot Stew, Dessert Wine, Sparkling White Grape Juice and Linda's chocolate raspberry supreme and Sylvia's cookies

Apron Mania

This past holiday season I decided to make many of the domestic divas in my family aprons to suit their personalities. Like many a crafty chica, I began to feel drawn to these seemingly outdated pieces of fashion and wanted to try my hand at it.

However, tonight after eating the awesome pearl cous cous, shrimp and lemon cream dinner my hubs just made me I'm beginning to think I need to make some man-prons!!

Anyway thought I'd share these with ya'll

An Apron for my mom the bird lover Bird Lover Apron by marisol diaz So Sassy Cherry Apron for my cuz Crystal by marisol diaz Woodland Creatures Apron for MOI!My Apron by marisol diaz The too sexy MILF Apron for my cuz Mimi

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows part II

So here is the second round of Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. After the last round, I'm sure you'll all agree that the artistry in the windows is undeniably superb. Still this round has some of my all time favorites. So here they are:

All Queens Play The Game Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Her Tower of Cards Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Curiosities Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Uprooted Home Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz

And we're not done yet! Stay tuned for another round with mirrors, monkeys and galloping topiary horses!! Hope you're inspired...-Amarettogirl

Bergforf Goodman's Holiday Windows part I

So as promised, here are some of my fave Bergdorf Goodman holiday window photos. The artistry in these windows reminds me why 'window-dressing' was one of my life's ambitions when I was a student at the high School of Art & Design in NYC. Well it was the 80's and the movie Mannequin was quite popular but...in all honesty I think window -dressing was the first form of Installation art and we just didn't know it yet! I hope you enjoy these as much as my fam and I did this holiday season.

Alice? Bergdorf Goodman Window 2009 photo by marisol diaz Everything of Paper Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Paper, Paper, Paper Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz Bergdorf Goodman window photo by marisol diaz Bergdorf Goodman Window photo by marisol diaz

Fifth Avenue Luxe - Bidding 2009 Farewell Window Dressing Style

For the past few years I've enjoyed taking photos of NYC windows; specifically during the holidays when shops like Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman go all out with artistry. I hope you enjoy these window shots as much as I do...these are of Henri Bendel's window's but next post will be Bergdorf Goodman's so stay tuned!

Say Goodbye to 2009 - 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Lets get the Party Started! 5th Ave Henri Bendel Window photo by marisol diaz Blogging Through the Holidays 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz Say Hello to 2010! 5th Henri Bendel Avenue Window photo by marisol diaz

Happy New Year!!! -Amarettogirl

French Macaroons at Starbucks!!! Limited Time Only!!

Open package of Starbuck's French Macaroonsdifferent flavored macaroonsme at Laduree 2 yrs ago

During my last visit to Paris, I was in a vehicle and passed by a shop with a line a folks outside all carrying small mint green bags. The shop's windows were stacked with pastel colored baroque like boxes and I knew something edible was being featured as an art form inside. I made a mental note to return that spot on my free time to see what all the fuss was about.

The shop turned out to be LADUREE a very well known bakery and cafe/ Patiserrie. In fact, Laduree was the shop commissioned to make the cakes for Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette film. On that Parisian trip I fell in love with macaroons.

When I returned to the US I tried to get macaroons from Paris here and it was futile. Laduree has opened some shops in other global cities and there were plans to open one in NY, but that still hasn't come to fruition. For my fortieth birthday I discovered that there are places in our east coast area that make delicious french style macaroons like Dean & Deluca and my new favorite bakery La Promenade here in Tenafly, New Jersey (they placed macaroons on my BDAy cake for me!!)

Package is $9.99 for 12 French Macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc

So yesterday I was on line at Starbucks (to get myself my fave seasonal Caramel Brulee Latte) and lo and behold sitting in the refrigerated counter section were four boxes of French Macaroons! For a box of 12 macaroons made in France by Chateau Blanc you'll pay $9.99. They are slightly smaller than typical French macaroons but you'll get 2 of 6 flavors -Chocolate, Coffee,Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla, and Lemon.

BUT DON"T GET TOO EXCITED rumor has it that these babes will only be around from Dec. 13th - Dec. 24th - So GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!! They make an awesome gift too!

-Amarettogirl

Mai Sweet Shop Treats Return - Craft Fair '09!

There is a small annual faculty craft fair at the

Dwight Englewood School: 315 east palisade avenue,englewood NJ 07631 on Sunday December from 2-5pm

that I participate in - if you're around swing by and get some one of a kind, hand-made gifts! Some of my new Mai Sweetshop line products for Craft Fair '09New Mai Sweetshop Lipgloss!The return of the hot-cocoa ring!The Classic CupcakeThese rings were so popular last year they sold out in the first hour and half!

Tis year I also made some ZAKKA style cases, that I like to call the Bunny Pouch! Direct from one of my favorite craft books Zakka Sewing comes this bunny case pattern. I made 15 different fabric styles. Their tales are the closed sipper pull, they fit pencils and pens, sewing supplies, your glasses, etc.,

Zakka Style Bunny Pouches by m.diazOne of my faves...might keep this one...more Bunny Pouch styles

So if you're around Bergen County NJ -stop by! If not,

NO WORRIES you can always contact me via this site or check out my ETSY shop for pieces your interested in!!

- Amarettogirl