Wooden Pencil Holder

The stylish, easy-to-make desk accessory formerly known as "piece a junk".BY INA AMOR MEJIA

SORRY MARIE KONDO you're magical. But there are times my inability to declutter has served me well. Take for instance, this semi-large piece of thin wood that I just could not throw away. A piece of garbage really, except for its natural, smooth grain that worked well with paint or on its own. I made a clock with it, a little shelf for Caroline's toys, and the pencil holder you see above.

For the pencil holder, I simply had my carpenter friend cut three equal pieces to make all the sides, I glued them together using wood glue. Finally I filled in the corner gaps with wood filler, and then sanded the living daylights out of them. This pencil holder is a totally hard-working member of my desk right now and will remain so in the future. 

Get the step-by-step in the downloadable September issue of Hopefull Magazine, where this DIY appeared first. And here's the little shelf I made for Linny. 

Thanks guys!

Lessons from two years of gardening

How I went from 'black thumb' to "Oh my God you grew that?!" BY INA AMOR MEJIA

ALTHOUGH I GREW UP in a family of farmers and plant lovers, it took about eight years before I would bring plants into my own apartment. How this was even possible, eight long years with no green here except for dried moss, I don't know. But two Christmases ago we got a succulent as a present and it changed everything. Soon I was buying plants like a crazy person, pouring over gardening how-tos, making my own organic fertilizer and pesticides, and crying and rejoicing over plants in equal measure. I've learned so much in between. Here are my best lessons so far... 

3 beauty recipes

We tried three beauty DIYs with coconut oil as the main ingredient. 
The verdict: easy, healthy, and they actually work. 
BY INA AMOR MEJIA

WHEN I THINK OF COCONUT OIL, I am reminded of my grandmother's beauty ritual. Every month, before 'cold-processed' was the method of choice, her beloved hairdresser would come to extract the oil by heating fresh coconut milk, filling the house with that creamy, nutty scent, and then massaging it into my grandmother's scalp. Though she kept it short, my grandmother's hair was glossy and thick, and it stayed that way until her last days. 

Today, I'm always looking for ways to use coconut oil at home. Recently, I tried three DIY beauty recipes that are not just easy, healthy, and fun to make---they actually do the job. My grandmother would have been proud...

A Handmade Home

Crafting and my perpetual inner struggle. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

SOME WEEKS AGO I was tasked to create this hammock chair for Craft, the DIY section of those lovely magazines Northern  and Southern Living by Hinge. Though the prospect was daunting at first (I'm making a hammock what), this project turned out to be one of easiest and most rewarding yet. It is at this point that crafting moves beyond just a hobby and into the realm of, "Wait a sec, I'm going to DIY my entire house."

Basic Himmeli

The traditional Finnish craft I love more than Angry Birds. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO THANK FINLAND FOR. Among them is the Finnish Sauna (there are reportedly three million saunas in the country), and Angry Birds. That ubiquitous game released in 2009 which, nearly a decade later, remains one of the most popular in the world, next only to Candy Crush and Fruit Ninja. Sorry, I've never played any of those. But to be fair, I'm not much for games, or apps for that matter. But crafts, yes! Just in case you haven't noticed. 

Himmeli is traditional in Finland, they've been making them for centuries. But only a few years ago has the art of stringing pieces of natural reed into geometric shapes been embraced everywhere, with modern versions taking Himmeli to the next level.

I shot the photo above late last year, as part of a feature on ornaments for my friends at Northern and Southern Living magazines, and was quickly enamored. Instead of reeds you can use plastic straws, copper or brass tubing, you can make them into planters, desk accessories, light pendants, or elaborate sculptures. So much Himmeli, so little time!

Here's a simple tutorial to get you started.

And thanks for reading!

How we like our eggs

An engaging Easter experiment with natural dyes. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

WE'VE HAD A LOT TO DO WITH CHICKENS LATELY. One day, Gabby and the crazies came home from a school fair with a baby chicken in their hands. The kids were in tears. The chicken was acting hysterical---sopping wet from an accident in the car. It seemed like everyone was yelling, me most of all. We're not allowed to have dogs in our apartment. Poultry is out of the question. I gave my husband the stink eye. You enabler how could you do this. You know what's going to happen next. 

The Inspiring Home Office

Six rules for creating a workspace that works. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

IF  YOU WORK FROM HOME like I do, you know this to be true: there is nothing more demotivating than the prospect of working in a disorganized, uncomfortable, and artless home office. We can forgive the mess from time to time (just for you Steve), but not a workspace that inspires nothing. Devoid of character, or any sense of style.

Take a hint from these lovely (and organized) home offices and get to work on yours, with a little effort, some imagination, and these six basic rules...

This Year's Calendar

Mark your days with a calendar that's so simple, it's sublime. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY to buy a calendar. Yes I know we're nearing the end of February, but cup half full, we've got ten months to go. At the beginning of the year, I always slave at my computer and try to make my own calendar. And every single year Gabby will tell me, "Why don't you just buy one?". And that's exactly what happened. 

This calendar ($4.42) by the Etsy shop Typographing is minimalist at its best, but with a nice hand-painted font for the months, for some warmth. All of you who need some warmth raise your hands.

It took little effort to print these out using our home printer and some white card stock, cutting them, and then finally resting them on a small cork board secured with a clip. And even if you are home printer and scissor challenged you'll find that it's worth it. You will be staring at this beauty for an entire year. (Ok, ten months).

So go give our friends at Etsy some love. Calendar heaven awaits.

*Photo by Ina Amor Mejia. More calendars: Constellation Calendar, a colorful floral calendar,  and an artful (and free) watercolor calendar .

For the Weekend

Three kitchen to-dos, one new craft, and a lot of reflection. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

I'VE GOT SOME EDIBLE PROMISES to keep this weekend, starting with the yogurt Caroline has been bugging me to make. Yes it's true, it's really easy and tastes incredible. I also promised Gabby some hummus, made with dried garbanzos this time, so we'll see how that goes. And a twist on the Spanish Fabada.

  

Also happy to share with you the latest DIY I've done, the faux leather catch-all tray you see above, which is now up on this great new site Preen. You've probably seen similar trays somewhere on the web, and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. This tray was made without any special leather crafting tools whatsoever. Check out the DIY here. 

Finally, I'll be thinking about some recent events in the news. Especially about that little Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi, who drowned with his brother and mother and other migrants desperate to escape the horrors of war. I'll be thinking of his father, who survived, and all the stories like his that unfold tragically as we speak. In my heart I believe, as I know many of you do, that we must all try and help those who suffer, anywhere in the world. We simply cannot ignore it.

Here are 5 practical ways you can help refugees find safety in Europe. 

I wish you a thoughtful, peaceful and restful weekend. And here are more links from around the web. 

CHECK IT OUT

Why there's more to life than being happy

LOVED THIS SHORT FILM

How to take a detox bath

A BEAUTIFUL COVER PHOTO OF A YOUNG ACTRESS

Can you guess how many trees there are in the world?

THIS SMALL HOME IS SO BEAUTIFUL

Proof that Kanye West is always sleeping

AND 20 FASHION MISTAKES YOU MAKE IN YOUR 20s 
(hello number 5)
line

Thanks for reading!

Moody Craft Shoot

Soy candles with herbs, aloe vera gel, and a fun technique for marbling. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

THESE LAST TWO MONTHS I did another round of DIYs for the Craft section of Northern and Southern Living Magazines. The editors wanted moody images, which I love. And I also tried out some new DIYs for the first time. If you can grab a copy of the May and June issues, you'll find DIYs on Sea Salt Spray for beachy hair (not pictured), Aloe Vera Gel, Soy Candles with Herbs, and Marbled Paper.  I learned quite a bit making these wonderful crafts...

Candle-making

Candle-making is something I've always wanted to try, and it's so much easier than I thought. You basically just need to be careful that you don't burn yourself melting and handling the wax. You don't really need a thermometer. And if you can't find those wax pellets, which are sometimes only sold in bulk, just grab old candles and grate them for melting (wick and all).

Marbling
Marbling is so trendy right now. Using different marbling techniques, crafters have found so many great ways to use marbling in art, interior design and decor. I used shaving cream to create the marbling effect on the envelope liners and bookmark above. I thought it was the easiest technique by far. Not to mention fun!

Aloe Vera Gel

I normally don't use aloe vera gel, let alone make it at home. But the Aloe Vera gel was quite the lesson. If you ever cut open an aloe vera leaf and notice some yellowish liquid with a funky smell---that's the resin, not the gel. Let the resin drain first and you'll have that clean, clear (and not smelly) gel waiting to be scooped out. 

Again, hope you find copies of the magazines for the full instructions on all these crafts. 

Thanks, and keep making! 

Painting a Door Black

Tried and tested tips on color choice, prepping, and that unnerving scratch test. 
BY INA AMOR MEJIA

WE'VE BEEN REDECORATING these past few weeks. Just a few things here and there, and mostly DIY. The biggest To Do was to repaint the entire interior of our three-floor apartment. That's done, but there's still so much to do. And boy do I have a post for you.

May you live long and prosper

I need to tell you something. I've been bitten by the plant bug. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

WE GOT AN ASSORTMENT of such wonderful presents over the holidays, including this group of succulents from my cousin-in-law Rica. I somehow felt a kinship with this thing, and it stirred a longing for a proper garden of my own somewhere in my three-storey apartment. Growing up my siblings and I had the run of my grandmother's large garden. I still dream of the ivy-covered walls, the manicured lawn, the lush orchids and the massive star-apple tree that lorded over everything. As the sun fell, my Dad would take a rock and hurl it at the tree, and we watched in awe as the flock of birds on its branches flew away, Hitchcock-style. My Mom seems to have inherited that elusive green thumb. One time she kept a rose garden where the blooms grew to the size of small plates. And curiously, we had a small pet cemetery behind it. There lay at least one dog, a lizard, a couple of spiders, and one other undefinable creature buried in a matchbox.

I had plants once, in my living room, and they all died. I didn't talk to them enough. Or maybe I have the Black Thumb of Death. I've named our succulent, Sucky.

Dear you, may you live long and prosper.

Update: I've repotted Sucky to three separate pots and moved them up to our deck for some fresh air and full sun. I've also decided to water every four days (against expert advise). So God of Succulents help me. Been reading Gardening Succs and Succulents and Sunshine and they're great. And thanks for reading!

Gilded Geometric Votives

Give plain glass votives the gold treatment. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

DIY PROJECTS THAT ARE EASY, pretty and useful are my favorite. This is one of them. And after an afternoon of making, I now have something handmade to give to a couple of good friends (and myself). These votives look amazing unlit, with their simple but stunning gilded triangles. They might lend some modern whimsy to a tired old coffee or dining table. Drop some scented votives in them and light them up, whether you're with company or not. They are super simple, you'll see.

Lights on a string

For years I've been lighting my tree the wrong way. That's about to change!
 BY INA AMOR MEJIA

WE ALWAYS HEAD HOME to my folks for the holidays. We're big on Christmas and we long to be together. But we've been doing a lot of traveling this year, and it's been eventful to say the least. So for the first time in five years, we're spending Christmas and New Year in Manila. It's going to be a bit lonely all around. But I'm also a bit relieved that I don't have to subject myself and the kids to the stress of holiday travel. The traffic, the hauling, the flights in bad weather. And it means another thing too. I need to be serious about putting the tree up this year. So let's begin with the lights. This is a funny story...

Creepy photo

SO I WAS SUPPOSED TO get some work done today, but guess what happened. It must be all of this Halloween buzz going around. It's got me. It always does. Last year we made some bat silhouettes out of black card and taped them unto our windows. The kids had store-bought costumes and trick or treat. And Gabby and I watched reruns of Insidious. Darn it, James Wan! I still cover my eyes!

We really planned to rock homemade costumes this year, but this crazy schedule is making that sort of impossible (more on that later). So I thought we'd just jump right into all the creepiness and share with you our very own haunted image. To create this photo I took several shots of my son reading a book in the living room. And to our sheer horror, that creepy Samara-like girl just showed up in one of the images.

I'm kidding. 

That's his nanny Che-Che. Who is actually very lovable and kind, and thankfully, nothing like Samara (except for her long, thick black hair!). And my son who's always so game to pose and is such a great little actor in the making. I propped the camera on a tripod to keep it steady. Took some shots of Jamon, and another one without Jamon but with Che-Che doing that thing. And then on Photoshop, I layered the two images on top of each other, and just brought down the opacity of Che-Che's photo to get that vanishing effect. I duplicated her layer so I could 'vanish' her hair, but not her hands. 

Boo!

What are you doing for Halloween? And thanks for reading.

* While we're at it, more creepy photos from the web! This, this, this,  and especially this.       

Finders Keepers

Picking up the pieces and what to do with tree stumps. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

A TYPHOON HIT US about two weeks ago. And we all thought it was stronger than expected. I was up at 2 in the morning when I heard that whistling sound. By 5 am, the winds were really packing it, and the whistling had turned into a full-blown howling with various levels of creepiness. A bit like a contralto in an opera about vampires. Then, the next day, we saw the trees.

Pablo is in the house

WE  ORDERED AN ART PRINT online and we waited. After a month, Pablo Picasso's Rest finally arrived and we promptly took it to a local art gallery where they did an awesome job block mounting the print. Everything about it is sexy. The rawness of the strokes, the colors, the subject. It is Marie-Therese Walter, Picasso's French mistress and the mother of his daughter, Maya. She figured in a wrestling match with his other mistress, the photographer Dora Maar. Knowing all that, Rest doesn't make me feel particularly tranquil.

DIY Gilded Note Cards

Revisit the pleasure of note writing with hand-drawn cards. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

AFTER CATCHING MALEFICENT last Saturday, we picked up a canvas for Caroline and a gold marker for myself. I've been meaning to do this after being inspired some time ago by this genius DIY by Ez Pudewa of Creature Comforts. I needed to replenish my stash of custom note cards so I thought I'd use the marker for that purpose.

DIY Shabby White Votives

A simple technique brings a soft, golden glow to any room. BY INA AMOR MEJIA

ANY CRAFTER WILL KNOW THE FEELING of being curiously lost in a DIY project, and the satisfaction they get when it's finally done. Major projects equals major doses of those feelings. I get nostalgic about wedding crafts for instance, or the cardboard Christmas village I made when I was ten. But there is also something to be said about the little projects for everyday. Especially when they're lovely yet functional, and hard to get wrong. These DIY candle holders are exactly that.

A few old things

I'VE BEEN LOOKING at the old things in my Mom's kitchen and I'm suddenly seeing them with new eyes. These old plates, cups, and glasses that we grew up with, packed and unpacked when we moved cities and houses, and put lovingly on new shelves and cupboards that would be their home. Like many people, Mom lost a few things in last October's earthquake, but not these. Thank you to the God of old things, because someone has plans for them.