Handmade Home Decor « oh my! handmade goodness

Handmade Home Decor

DIY Menu Planners – A Simple Way to Simplify Your Day

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. There is a simple thing which you could be doing which will save you time, money and stress.

If you’re like me, you run your small business out of a home office (or if you’re really like me, your office is also your kitchen!) This means your day is probably full of distractions – dirty dishes in the sink, someone’s socks on the floor, figuring out what to make for dinner. When we work during regular hours, but also at all hours, it’s difficult to strike a balance between work-work and house-work. I’m going to admit that I haven’t got it all figured out yet – my worktime spills into my life long past 5pm and, unless I actually schedule it in, the floors don’t get mopped quite as often as they should.

But there is one thing I’m getting right! I menu plan. Do you?

I’ve actually been doing it for so long now that not doing it seems strange. Once a week, I sit down with a cup of coffee, my menu planner and I figure out what we’re going to eat for the next week. Then I use that plan to make my grocery list.

It means going to the grocery store once a week and way less impulse purchases. It means no more “what’s for dinner?” stress. It means way less food goes bad in the back of the fridge. It means healthier, more balanced meals and way less take out! And, if you weren’t convinced yet, all of that adds up to less money spent on food!

Less stress, healthier food, better finances = happier you!
Happier you = more time and energy to devote to your business and your life!

And, of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that a great looking menu plan is a great addition to your kitchen! Here are a few DIY versions for inspiration:

Top Left: Chalkboard Menu Plan – Whipperberry

Top Right: Recipe Board Menu Plan – Better Homes and Gardens

Bottom Left: Wipe-off Menu Board – Make & Takes

Bottom Right: Magnetic Menu Planner – Omiyage Blogs

So that’s my secret! What’s your secret for saving time and reducing stress while managing a business and a household at the same time?

Heirlooms in our homes

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Heirlooms almost always add personality to our homes. If they were handmade by someone you love they add a personal story.

We are in the process of planning a renovation of our 90 year old home. Planning niches to display treasured collections is very important to me as part of this process. After all, I am a collector. Instead of planning for “out with the old, in with the new” I am trying to incorporate the old with a fresh new twist.

antique photo albums

I’ve always had a love for antiques. I remember my grandmother telling me the story of her beloved Irish Belleek and how it had been passed down to the eldest daughter of the family for many generations. One day, I would be its caretaker and I would need to understand its importance. Its value lay in the story of all the women who loved it. Luckily, I do love Belleek, otherwise I would be plotting guiltily of how to hide it away!

Belleek Vase from Vintage Song on Etsy

I come from a family of makers, so heirlooms are plentiful. But to me, heirlooms come in the most simple forms: a cherished handwritten letter from my grandmother, a teacup my mom always drank from when visiting, a hand illustrated baby photo album, or a book I read as a child that I now share with my children.

letter from my grandmother

Recently, I made a pillow for my daughter. It was a special gift that my mother had wanted to create for her birthday. Before she died she described her gift to me. In June, I gave the pillow, made with love, to my daughter for her birthday as my mom had wished. It’s very simple – a cupcake hand-stitched on a pillow with her name, but every stitch I made represented the love my mom had for her family and her desire to leave that love behind in a tangible form. The desire to make something that will be here when we are gone is, I believe, part of human nature.

a gift for Isabella

Some heirlooms I display, some I use daily, and some I have hidden away. But I do enjoy finding ways to share my family’s story and I’m always looking for creative ways to display my treasures. More importantly, I try to share the stories behind the treasures, large or small, with my children so that they too will have a sense of their history, a link to the past, and a love of handmade.

a more than century old clay pot from Malta

Budding Makers: Creating inspiring spaces for children to make

Thursday, June 16, 2011

by Debra Norton of Vintage Paper Parade

It’s no surprise to most who know me that both my children love to create. I come from a family of makers. Some of my earliest memories are of my Mom teaching ceramics classes in our basement and my father patiently teaching me oil painting techniques. My mother was a talented artist. She loved to dabble in different genres and seemed to excel at most. She and my father have always encouraged our children’s creativity.

Today some of my children’s most vivid memories of my Mom, whom we lost to cancer last August, are of crafting at her kitchen table. There was always a big basket of craft materials to inspire and giggles with Grandma with each visit.

Creating a space in our home for our children to create is important to us. We live in a small house but have managed to carve out a corner.

Desk:

We created a desk area for the kids using Ikea drawer units and a tabletop.

Storage:

Colour pencil crayons, markers, paintbrushes and other supplies are stored in vintage mason jars. I find they make it easy for the kids to keep their supplies organized.

A portfolio for kids art corrals all the doodles, drawings and paintings we just can’t part with. At some point , I know I’ll have to pare down this collection, but until then it keeps it safe.

I love the idea of photographing the kids’ art to keep as a memento. I’ve seen companies who offer this as a service. You send them the art and they send you a beautiful collage. This would also be an easy D.I.Y. Maybe a summer craft project?

Display:

A shelf showcases our most important art.

A bulletin board and a vintage enamel tray serve as display pieces that allow the kids to pin-up notes, photos, doodles and to-do lists.

My daughter’s current passion is Fimo. To house these tiny creations my Dad Ikea hacked some cubbies out of frames.

Ideas for organizing art and supplies:

From Smidgebox a sweet fabric storage bin.

This is a great idea from Martha Stewart for using mailing tubes as storage.

Lost Road Vintage has this great vintage sorter perfect for supplies or storage.

Clothes pegs from Jelly Beans Studio plus twine = art display

One of my little makers has been asking me for months if she can open an Etsy shop of her own. After a couple of appearances at school bazaars and numerous requests from friends for her creations, at the age of 10, she wants to sell her Fimo creations to the world. She has started to photograph and write descriptions in an effort to convince me she is capable. Another summer project perhaps?

Debra Norton designs stationery and paper goods for her business Vintage Paper Parade. She loves hunting for vintage treasures, sharing her love of handmade and producing and styling events to share via her blog.

Creating a Nest: Handmade Rooms for Children

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

by Debra Norton of Vintage Paper Parade

I remember the days when I was pregnant with my children and the excitement of creating a warm, welcoming nursery. It was so much fun to plan and shop for their spaces. I loved pouring over the pages of Martha Stewart Baby (how I miss that magazine!) for decorating ideas.

My children are a little older now (ages 7 & 9) and we have updated their rooms to suit their stage in life.

Their rooms aren’t small they’re cozy. Filled not only with objects they love, but also with treasures created for them by the people who love them.

I love to use vintage pieces as well as a bit of modern to keep it fresh. My daughter’s room is furnished with a mix of vintage, handmade and Ikea. However, what makes it special are the personal items: the dollhouse made by Grandpa and the treasured Josef Original figurines collected by my daughter and my Mom on trips to antique markets.

In my son’s room we have used mostly vintage furniture. It is a cozy 73 square feet. The dresser was made by my grandfather and used by my mother as a child. The spindle bed was a gift from a friend (his childhood bed) that we painted a cheerful red. The desk is a find from a favorite thrift shop near a cottage we spent time at for many summers when the kids were small. The handmade reproductions of vintage airplanes that hang from the ceiling are extra special … they were made by Grandpa.

I don’t see a child’s bedroom just as a space to sleep but a place to dream, play, create, laugh and cry.

Debra Norton designs stationery and paper goods for her business Vintage Paper Parade. She loves hunting for vintage treasures, sharing her love of handmade and producing and styling events to share via her blog.

{Tutorial} 3D Stamp + Cut Paper Garland

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

by Guusje Wannet of Ontwerpfabriek Appeltaart

I love making garlands. They are festive, fun and easy to make. They make a great gift and you can customize them really easy. In our house stars, rockets and spaceships are a favorite, so I made a garland in this theme but you can choose whatever you fancy. Anything goes!

You’ll need:

Cutting board
Scalpel/blade (or scissors)
Stamps (I made my own, but you can use any you like, preferably symmetrical)
Ink pad
Good quality craft Paper
Needle and thread & a cord

Cut out your prints with a scalpel and print the back too.

Take two identical prints.

In the first print,
you cut a vertical line from center to top,
in the second print from centre down.

Fold your cut out prints together.

The easiest way is to hang a cord in the right room and on the right place where the garland is supposed to be.
I used a fancy knitted cord and I used a shiny thread, both pale blue.

Assemble together & done!

Thank you Guusje for making us this amazing tutorial! Learn more about Guusje & Ontwerpfabriek Appeltaart by visiting the blog & checking out the beautiful prints in her shop. This is Guusje’s first guest post on OMHG so be sure to give her some love in the comments!

The Fine Art of Mothering & Business

Friday, May 6, 2011

Editors note: As part of our May theme I invited Angela, the talented artist & creator of The Artists’ House to share her story of learning the fine art of balancing art, business and mothering. I feel like motherhood is one of those topics that needs to be shared in stories and it is powerful how many things we all have in common. These are the threads that tie us together as mothers and I have to thank Angela for sharing so openly the words of her heart.

by Angela Flicker of The Artists House

About eight months ago, I had a book publisher interested in me and my work. I was ecstatic. Not many people were interested in little old me –a stay at home mom, who was trying to make money on the side by quilting, designing, and teaching. I put my entire heart into the book proposal, which involved designing 10 original quilts, and making 6 of them, along with writing up a few chapters of the book as well. I had about 2 months to get the proposal done and off to the publisher. I stayed up during the nights and worked while my family slept, often working until 2, 3, sometimes 4 in the morning. During the day I would watch my daughter, and try to take care of our home. The workload was difficult, but my heart was in my work –both the work I did at night sewing, and the work I did during the day watching my daughter

I remember one morning, about a month into my work, my daughter woke up around 6 a.m., right after my husband had left for work, and only a few hours after I had gone to bed. I was exhausted and annoyed to say the least. As an attempt to get just a few more minutes of sleep, I brought my daughter, who was almost 1 ½ at the time, back to bed with me. After a bit of nursing, both of us feel back to sleep. I woke, a little later in the morning, still comatose, to find my daughter still sleeping next to me, but this time cuddling with one of my high heel shoes. As strange as it was, my heavy eyes won, and instantly I drifted back off to sleep, with my daughter and a high heel shoe in my arms. A little while later, I woke again, still unaware of the time, to a clunk, clunk, clunk noise rhythmically dancing around the hardwood floors in my room. I rolled over, and with all the energy I could muster; I opened my eyes to see my daughter, in her PJs and wild bed hair, walking around my bedroom, wearing a pair of my high heel shoes. This was the first time I had ever seen her do this –mimic me by wearing my shoes. As tired as I was, my heart warmed, and a huge smile made it’s way onto my face. I grabbed my daughter and hugged her tight –as tired as I was from working in the evenings, I loved being home with my daughter during the day for these little moments.

As adorable and sweet as the previous story is, in all reality, as time went on, things just got more difficult and I was struggling. A toll was taken on both my family and myself for sure. I felt like neither a good wife, nor a good mother. I was however able to finish and submit my book proposal, while at the same time caring for my daughter every day without help. I sometimes taught in the afternoon after my husband got home from work, and I also prepared and attended two holiday craft shows for a little extra cash. All in all, we survived, and slowly things went back to normal, as I anxiously waited to hear back from the publishers.

A few days before my 30th birthday, late in the afternoon after my daughter’s nap, and about 4 hours before a big party that was being thrown in my honor, I finally heard back from the publisher, “The team really felt that your work is excellent, but that the book would have limited appeal as a collection.” I was declined and heartbroken to say the least. I started to cry. My daughter came to my side, wrapped her arms around my legs, looked up at me, and asked, “Momma, you sad?”. I picked her up, and hugged her tight, and as sad as I was in that moment, I knew I was ok because I had the love of my daughter, and truly nothing in the world was greater than that.

Being a stay-at-home-mother and running a creative business on the side is hard –a rollercoaster really! Nothing is consistent or predictable. Orders come in, children get sick, and deadlines hang over your head. Business slows, business booms, rejection, and good news are all part of the game. And on the good days, and the bad, when nothing seems stable, one thing always is, the love you have for your children. I’m sure I’ll continue to experience the ups and downs of running a business at home, but on the other hand, I have the consistency of a loving child who is with me each and every day. Though I know my business is not progressing as fast as it could if I devoted my time solely to my work, I will never regret or forget these wonderful years at home with my children.

Angela Flicker specializes in machine appliqué quilts and creates customized, truly unique quilts, sewn together one piece at a time –quilts that are “only the best” for you and your loved ones. Along with quilts, she also creates unique fiber wall art and other home decor items using quality turned-edge machine appliqué techniques, quilting techniques, and wool appliqué techniques. Angela makes things that make a house not just a house, but a home. You can shop The Artists’ House on Etsy and follow her fabulous sewing blog where she offers up many free patterns and tutorials. OMHG readers get 15% off all items in Angela Flicker’s shop with the coupon code “OMHGROCKS”.

Get Crafty With Your Cleaning! DIY Craft Storage Ideas

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

by Stacy Altiery of InkSpot Workshop

Idea: Down and Out Chic

With each year that passes by my collection of arts and crafts supplies seems to grow all on its own. Add in my also expanding collection of supplies that I use for InkSpot Workshop and I’m forever on a quest it seems to get all of these loose items situated into one handy place, without looking too cluttered here in my workshop.

I was happy that Jessika wanted us to talk about spring cleaning so I thought I’d share a recent popular post from my blog on this topic. Retailers like The Container Store and Organize.com are a few of my favorite places to go and hide for a few hours. It’s fun to walk up and down the idles, or browse the categories online and stretch my imagination for item uses beyond what they are projected to be.

I did a little Googling and found some cute and unique ways to store your do-dads with everyday, run of the mill items. Have you discovered a unique storage use for an everyday item? Please post a comment here and tell us all about it:)

Idea: Budget Wise Home

All Above Ideas: Better Homes and Gardens

Idea: DIY

This last idea I came up with all myself! While shopping at Ikea, I spotted this Table Top Paperholder and had a light bulb moment! How great would this be to hold my gorgeous collection of baker’s twine from The Twinery? Voilla, there you have it! Just need to buy a few more as my twine collection also is multiplying at the pace of little bunnies.

I also just discovered this great site for organizing called Simplify 101 and subscribe to their newsletter and get tips sent to my inbox on a regular basis. Check them out!

Stacy Altiery
Owner/Imagination
InkSpot Workshop – Hand crafted paper goodies that make you :)
Come check out my blog, hang with me on Facebook and tweet with me on Twitter

5 Steps to a Beautiful Workspace: Vintage Inspired Studio Makeover

Monday, April 18, 2011

by Debra Norton of Vintage Paper Parade

There really is a great sense of satisfaction gleaned from a good de-clutter.

My studio had become a bit, shall we say, chaotic of late. Even my 9- year old daughter had offered to help get me organized.

The space was lovingly carved out of a corner of our basement last spring by my hubby and my Dad. When I finally “moved in” to my new space, I was a bit unmotivated to get it properly organized. My focus had shifted away from my business and towards spending time with my mother, who was battling breast cancer.

Slowly the clutter seemed to creep into my tiny 6×8 ft space…

Organizational experts will say that certain areas of a house become a hotspot of clutter and that there are often emotional reasons why you just can’t seem to get to it. My studio had become that spot. Underneath some of the piles of stuff that needed to be sorted, organized and purged were several items that needed to be archived. These items were connected to my mom and it was difficult to put them away.

Business is good and I’m involved in a variety of creative projects that require their own spaces. So I needed a plan and I needed one quickly.

Here is my 5 step de-clutter plan that helped me “make-over” my studio space into an organized, efficient and happy space.

Step 1: Motivation

There is nothing like a commitment to do a “before & after” article to get you motivated!

Determine what will get you motivated and how you envision your space. My vision is for my studio to not only be functional and tidy but cozy and full of the things I love.

Step 2: Organize

You need a plan to efficiently de-clutter your space and keep it that way. Get yourself some bags, boxes or bins and label them. I used: stay, garbage, recycle, and archive. Think about what you have and what you need. Maybe you can donate some of your items to a thrift shop.

Step 3: Space Plan & Prioritize

How do you use your space? What items do you need to stay in your space for day-to-day use: computer, packaging supplies, paper goods? Do you need to have special zones dedicated to tasks: assembling, packaging, shipping? Make a list of these items or tasks to help you plan for your next step.

Ask yourself what items are you willing to do without in order to make your space more efficient? What items have to stay for less than practical reasons? For instance, I have a collection of Martha Stewart Living magazines dating back to 1996 – yes, I really do. I know it takes up a lot of space but I cannot part with them. I refer to them often for inspiration. I insist they stay and so they have a dedicated bookcase. They are organized by month and then by year. I know, a bit obsessive but that’s another topic.

Step 4: Storage Solutions

Divide your space into zones. My zones are: desk, paper storage and display.

My space is quite small so I don’t have the luxury of having distinct spaces for my tasks. It has to multi-task.

I use my desk to sketch out new designs, plan and communicate. It houses my new Mac computer (which I love!) and other small office/art supplies. My chair, from Ikea, is on wheels and I use them! It allows me spin around to pick up my packaging supplies and ship out an order.

I store my paper and packaging supplies in an Ikea Malm dresser I picked up for a steal in the as-is section. It was less expensive than buying dedicated office furniture but provided the storage space I needed.

Display space is important for me for two reasons. I spend a lot of time in my little space and I want it to be comfortable. Second, I’m a visual person and so I like having things that inspire me to be visible and accessible. An open shelving unit stores craft and art supplies, vintage books and cards that I collect, as well as some utilitarian items such as shipping supplies.

I love vintage boxes, bins, cubbies and mason jars. They make great storage pieces for a workspace. I’ve incorporated some of them into my office but I have a few more stashed away and ready to use. I find vintage storage pieces hard to resist at a thrift shop, yard sale or antique market. I use them throughout my home to organize and display treasures.

Step 5: Come up with a plan to keep it this way.

I’m still working on this one. I think it might help to go back to step one where you thought about your motivation. Think about where your clutter hot spot tends to be. For many people it is the desk. Mine is the floor. That’s where I have extra space.

Now when I come downstairs to my studio, I feel a sense of calm. It makes me happy. However, it is still a work in progress. I need to inject more colour and utilize the vertical space more efficiently.

Have I come up with a plan keep it this way? No, I’m just focusing on the sense of inner peace that has emerged since the de-clutter. So my plan for now is “if it comes in the door, don’t let it touch the floor!” I’ll let you know how that works.

If you are feeling the urge to organize here are some vintage finds to inspire you:

old metal baking tin from havenvintage.etsy.com
vintage ceramic poodle planter from impulseart.etsy.com makes a whimsical container for pens, pencils etc
red industrial metal chest from fishbones1.etsy.com use to store paper and stationery
vintage metal flower frog from frenchbydesign.etsy.com great to display
metal film canisters from falconandfinch.etsy.com
industrial wood drawer from havenvintage.etsy.com
vintage soda crates from bluebonnetfields.etsy.com make fun cubbies to display treasures or prettier supplies
antique printers drawer from sarahanntiques.etsy.com to store small supplies that you want to remain visible and easy to reach
vintage bread pan from jaanasvintage.etsy.com for art supply storage

{Inspiring Interview} with Meytal + a cute to-do list printable!

Friday, April 15, 2011

by Jessika Hepburn, Editor

Today I am happy to showcase the creative businesses of Meytal Ron the creator of Jolinne, HoneyBoo & BabyZoo on Etsy! Her work is full of sweetness and captures the innocent joy of childhood and creating. Meytal’s shops offer a range of handmade wall art, printables and decor for children as well as inspirational prints. Meytal’s story as a small business owner who turned her hobby into a full time job is also inspiring for those of you who are dreaming of quitting your day jobs.

Meytal joined in our Spring Cleaning theme and created an adorable to-do list printable for you to help make all those chores a little bit cuter….

Download your printable to-do lists here

And now for my interview with the lovely Meytal + a peek at her creative workspace….

Hi Meytal, I am excited to have you here on OMHG! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself & your shops?

Hi! My name is Meytal, I was born and raised in Israel, Tel Aviv. My professional career began as a 3-dimensional graphic designer for a high-tech company. Through the years I have changed companies and positions, gaining more knowledge and skills in digital graphic programs and designs along the way. In parallel I started inventing some art designs, and that’s how I came to create ‘Jolinne’. Art was always inside of me. I’ve loved drawing, painting and illustrating as long as I can remember. In many ways “Jolinne” is the child in me: I can see myself through her, the colors I use represent my feelings as a child and the things she does are things I did or imagined as a little girl.

I love painting, I love creating. I love dreaming and fantasizing. I love meeting new interesting people. I love learning new things. I love music. I love to love. My paintings are inspired by all of these.

My shop, Honeyboo, is the other side of me, which I’m expressing mainly through colors and positive thinking. It is designed to make people smile and feel optimistic.

My new shop BabyZooArt offers personalized nursery wall art and door signs. I love creating the clean simple yet too cute designs!

What is a typical “day in the life” for you?

I usually wake up around 7 a.m., sit on the porch and enjoy 15 minutes of early morning air and my bowl of cereal.
I then get dressed, turn on the radio and my computer and begin my work day by communicating with my customers, answering convos, replying to emails, checking the Etsy Forums and blog, commenting on Facebook and renewing 1-2 items from my shops.
After I finish wrapping and packing new orders and getting them ready to ship, I go over my endless list of things to do and decide what to do first.
I spend the next few hours implementing that check list, working on my design projects, and reading important things I’ve bookmarked that can help me market and grow my business, all the while constantly checking for new email — a habit I must get rid of!
Lunch and then my walk to the post office.
Only a few more hours until my work day is over and my husband (as of a week ago :) returns home from work. We then spend our evening together, eat dinner, talk, maybe go the gym, and watch TV. In our time together I try to stay away from my computer and only renew a few items and check for new convos and emails before we go to bed.

Our theme this month on OMHG is Spring Cleaning, how do you (or don’t you!) keep your creative workspace organized?

Oh my! I try, really try, to keep it organized and still, my desk always looks like a Tornado has just passed through!

The “organized” version of my workspace (like in the photo) never seems to last long enough! :)

You have been selling on Etsy since 2009, what are a couple of the biggest lessons you have learned about being successful selling your work online?

Although I have an accountant to help me with all financial stuff, I didn’t realize at the beginning how important it is to be organized with financials on a regular basis. I was overwhelmed with the amount of time I needed to invest in order to track everything at the end of the year. Now I do my best to track and keep everything financial organized on a monthly basis.

Besides that, I learned that a business has to have a business plan! At first I just wanted to paint and sell my art. It was more like a hobby than a business. As my business grew I realized a business plan was in need! So I brainstormed with my husband and we came up with an organized business plan. We set our goals, decided on a spending budget, and we keep track and reevaluate according to the business growth.

What inspires you to create?

Well, I’m inspired mostly by every day life! I love music, I’m inspired a lot by music, by nature, by emotions, by little boys and girls naivety and happiness, by my own fantasies and by small, simple things in life that happen every day…

Learn more about Meytal and her work by visiting her website, following her on Twitter and liking her page on Facebook

Handmade Here: My Name is Panama

Friday, February 18, 2011

by Mayi Carles of Heartmade

When Jessika first announced the theme for this month, Handmade Here, I panicked. What was I going to talk about? My first thought. Panama has a nearly non-existent handmade scene. My second thought.

I turned to hubby for help with this one, as I was obviously feeling stuck. He quickly brought clarity to my crazy girl senses when he just said: “Talk about the mola”. Brilliant hubby thinking in action right there.

So this is exactly what I’m going to talk about today. To tell you the story of the mola.

Said to have originated about 200 years ago from body painting, the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Islands in Panama developed the mola, a textile artwork embroidery + applique that depicts tropical flora + fauna + ease of island living in the tropics. French missionaries in Panama imported fine cotton poplins for the Kunas to cover their bare bodies. Victorian properties aside, the Kunas maintains some of the last + most beautifully crafted remaining indigenous textile art forms in the world.

The artistry of a mola reflects a synthesis of traditional Kuna culture with the influences of the modern world. Mola designs are often inspired by modern graphics like political posters + labels + books + TV, as well as traditional themes from Kuna legends + culture. It’s a juxtaposition of the old with the new, beautifully executed.

Many many hours of careful sewing are required to create a fine mola. The ability to make an outstanding mola is a source of status among Kuna women.

If you ever find yourself down here you might be curious to know that the quality of a mola is determined by such factors as:
•   number of layers
•   fineness of stitching
•   evenness and width of cutouts
•   addition of details such as zigzag borders, lattice-work or embroidery
•   general artistic merit of the design and color combination.

But one of the most magical things I leaned about the molas growing up is that when the Kuna women get tired of a particular blouse, they actually disassemble it + sell it to collectors. Since mola panels have been worn as part of the traditional dress of a Kuna woman they often show signs of wear such as fading + stitch marks along the edges of the panels. And these “imperfections” indicate that the mola is authentic + not made solely to be sold to tourists.

This is why molas are often sold in pairs, the pair consisting of the back + front panels of a blouse. The two molas are usually two variations on a theme. Matched molas complement each other + should be displayed or used together for the greatest impact.

Mola panels have many uses. They can be framed as art or made into pillows, place mats or wall hangings. Some people even make them into bedspreads or incorporate them into quilting projects.

And today’s story doesn’t end there. I actually want to share with you some amazing ways crafters are using molas + incorporating them into their designs. The result is a beautifully orchestrated + exquisite mix of an ancient art form with the modern. Take a look at some of my favorites:

Each THRED pillow blends the mola with the subtle design + color of nature + the tropics. A portion of each sale goes to a foundation to sustain the culture + artwork + traditional lifestyle of the Kuna Indians.

The main material used in South Industry’s line of accessories is the mola.  The molas are reclaimed + reused to make accessories mixed with vibrant colors of leather creating a blend of the past tradition + a contemporary look + technique.

Mola Mama offers ultra high quality + hand stitched, reverse applique Kuna Indian mola fabric folk art with a New Mexico twist. The lively designs are all about the animals + bold + rich colors.

There you have it folks. You now comprehend how off I was in my initial assumptions about handmade culture Panama, don’t you?

A hope that this little glimpse into Panama’s most treasured art form was fun + inspiring + educational. I feel so blessed to have been able to share a tiny piece of who I am + where I come from with you.

xo,

Mayi Carles

Mayi Carles is a Panamanian multi-passionate artist + avid eco-friendly designer + heart behind heartmade blog + creative coach on a cupcake sugar rush. Mayi’s on a mission to build her very own creative empire + empower other creative hearts to build theirs too. To connect with Mayi, follow her tweets at @mayicarles.

Image Credits:

Image 1: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TradMola.jpg

Image 2: http://www.lolabeachpanama.com/attractions.php and http://www.news.com.au/travel/world/destination/panama

Image 4: http://www.thredpillows.com/

Image 5: http://www.etsy.com/shop/molamama

Image 6: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthIndustry