Crafty Tourism: Mayan Mexico Edition

Vive Mexico! I recently had the privilege of visiting Mexico to attend the Adventure Travel World Summit as part of a tweet up (as the Prudent Mamas on facebook and twitter followed along). I have always been a passionate lover of Mexico, having traveled there many times in many different ways throughout my life - from driving over the border down to Puerto Nuevo for spiny lobster feasts, to beaching it up with girlfriends in Puerto Vallarta, to art walks through the rich cultural mecca that is Mexico City. But in all my trips to Mexico, I've never had an experience like this one. I had heard people say that Chiapas is the most beautiful state in Mexico, and after my time in San Cristobal de las Casas and the surrounding highlands, I understand why. I could do a travel write up exalting over the delicious regional foods we ate, the pyramids we climbed, and the sights we saw, but I feel like there is something very special about this area that the Prudent Mamas will enjoy much more: the crafts and textiles of Chiapas. I think we shall found a new kind of travel: Crafty Tourism. Behold...








Chiapas is home to about 4 million people, approximately one million of whom are part of indigenous communities. While there is so much to know and learn about the different cultures, languages, and traditions of these Mayan descendants, in my short time there I was (of course) particularly taken with the textiles and the women that make them. Let me show you what I mean...

Read more »

Make a Doll Suitcase

Does your Dolly need a place of her own? Boy do we have a great tutorial for you all today. Just wait until you see the magic inside this simple green suitcase.

Stacy from Hart + Sew is here today to share a wonderfully imaginative and creative tutorial with all of you. Stacy's inspiring ideas do not stop there. Hop on over to Hart + Sew to check out her other creations such as the Animal Ear Headbands she surprised her daughter with for Christmas. Or check out her daughter's first sewing project and get a peak inside her girls' darling bedroom. Along with creating her blog, she also has a Vintage clothing store for babies and toddlers.


How much do you want to make this burst of creativity in a suitcase? Stacy will take you through each step after the jump...

Read more »

Jacinda and Jaime's Adventures in Television

Jacinda and I don't get to see each other too often these days, what with her shacked up in Dallas and me homesteading in Los Angeles. But every now and then a fun opportunity comes up for us to get together in another city and enjoy champagne and craftiness and eating cheese until 2 a.m. in hotel rooms in our sweats. So when PBS invited us to head out to Cleveland and do some sewing tutorials for their awesome TV show It's Sew Easy, we jumped at the chance!


But first we had an incident while getting prettied up for TV. As I said on facebook, I need a caption for this picture but I was (and still am) laughing too hard... suggestions welcome. I think that so far "Bless You" is my fave...


We are still unable to take a picture in which one of us is not laughing and staring off into space.


Backstage we got to play with a whole suite of fancy-schmancy Brother Sewing & Embroidery Machines (I'm totally into the new Laura Ashley Limited Edition Isodore that we sneak-peeked)...


Also shooting the same day were some amazing ladies and gentlemen, including Trish Preston from Two Peas in A Pod designs, Eileen Roche from Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine, George and Virginia Siciliano, AND we got a pro lesson in embroidery (and scrunchie-making tricks) from Brother's very own expert and prudent-mama-in-charge, June.


The magical sewing table was rearranged for each of our projects to accommodate two sewists (or one sewist and one Prudent Mama cracking jokes while the other one tried to sew)...


I so wish I could tell you about the amazing super-adorable tute Jacinda prepared for the show, but alas I am sworn to secrecy! You best check your local listings for when It's Sew Easy is on in your area, and we will keep you posted on when our segments will air!

My Summer Vacation: More than Piña Coladas. But also Piña Coladas.

I was recently invited on a trip to Mazatlan, Mexico sponsored by the Mexico Department of Tourism. Originally, I was going to bring along the boy but realized at the last minute that he didn't have a passport. That is when my little trip to Mexico actually turned into a true vacation BUT with that freedom came a bit of responsibility.You see, I have been working on some creative projects that require more hours and inspired productivity than I can muster lately. When it turned out that I would be on my own, I knew that I had to take advantage of the change of scenery and free time and get to work. It turned out that Mazatlan was the perfect spot for making creative progress and it got me thinking about working vacations and how to get the most out of them. Mexico was ideal for my little "artist retreat" but you could even do this in your own hometown. Jaime takes her book writing to Palm Springs. If you could get away for even a day, don't you think you could be inspired to get so much done?


Here are 5 ways Mexico got my juices flowing (and many, many photos...)
Read more »

In Dallas...

...and loving it. Jacinda, Clare, Quinn, Scarlet, and I read through all of your Dallas-with-kids-tips, then decided to take your advice and head to the Dallas Aquarium.

It was wonderful...I mean, how many aquariums have a jaguar? We're having a blast and looking forward to hopefully meeting some of you Prudent Mamas tonight at the Prudent Advice Book Party. There will be champagne, sweet treats, gift bags, raffle prizes, and books to be signed. So bring friends or come alone and meet your friends Jaime & Jacinda there. Here's the deets:

Where: Little Bean Shop, 5308 Junius St., b/t N. Henderson Ave. & N. Augusta St. (214-370-9111).
When: Friday, November 5th, 6-8 p.m.
Hosted by: Little Bean Shop | Dallas Child Magazine | Small Magazine
| Kartell | Bows & Arrows | Tart Bakery

See you tonight!

You're the Meaning in My Life...

...You're the Inspiration ... dadada da da da...

I'm off to Chicago today for a book signing and a ridiculous night of debauchery with a bunch of MILFy woman I'm online-acquainted with (oh, now i've said too much). I hope you can make it to the Sulzer Library to grab a copy of Prudent Advice with a dorky autograph by nerdy me.  While I'm there I'll be taking in the sights (it's only my second visit to the windy city), drinking some champagne, hanging with my amazing sister-in-law who is flying up from Nashville, finally hooking up with the fabulous and amazing Nicole of Making it Lovely, and of course hoping to bump into Oprah, while she's sitting in a cafe reading a copy of my book, contemplating including it in her favorite things show (ha, a girl can dream, right?). Here's the deets on the book signing (it was even mentioned in DailyCandy Kids Chicago this week!):

I'd love to get some tips on what to check out while I'm in town from any Prudent Mamas native to the city.  When you shared your San Francisco tips I ended up having a blast so i really, seriously, from the bottom-of-my-heart, mean it when I say that I need your comments and suggestions.  So lay it on me ladies, what's the deal with fabulous, fun, and crafty Chicago for a mom-about-town and her friends?

And keep in mind, your useful travel tip could win you that half yard of luscious Nicey Jane oilcloth!

P.S. you know that song is stuck in your head right now.. YOU BRING FEELING TO MY LIFE...
Image of Navy Pier Lighthouse above from the awesome Chicago Photo Blog.

Crafting Community Vacation

Last weekend Scarlet, her BFF Niko, myself, and Niko's Mama all headed out to the Ace Hotel Palm Springs for Crafting Community Weekend put on by Kimmel Kids and Kid Concierge, and we had a BLAST.

It was a weekend of swimming, playing, and crafting, with stations set up all throughout the day for kids to make all sorts of awesome crafts like succulent gardens, necklaces, mod podge pots, felted rocks, crochet, etc. etc. etc.

We had barbecues, smores, jumping on the bed, swimming till we could swim no more, and drinking wine on the patio after the tots konked out. It was a total blast.

Totally worth the trip - really the best vacation a crafty family could imagine. See more pics and get inspired to do some crafts with your kids after the jump!

As usual, leave a comment and you could win this week's prize, an awesome 1/2 yard of nicey jane oilcloth!

Read more »

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Thanks ladies for all of the great San Francisco tips you shared!  I followed a bunch of them and want to say thanks - and point you towards some amazing stuff. Like Maple Glazed Bacon Donuts...

And piles of $1 cuteness...

And mostly just to share my vacation photos because I didn't make anything all weekend (sorry). But the good news is, leave a comment on this or any post this week and you might win yourself that crazy cute socktopus pictured up there on the left!
Get the full scoop on our Bay Area blast after the jump...
Read more »

San Francisco Here We Come!

Happy Anniversary to Me and C! Isn't he the dreamiest? Four years of wedded, ahem, bliss. To celebrate, we're packing up the kiddo and taking a road trip! First stop: Meemah and Papa's house. Next stop: FREEDOM!

Remember I told you about our tradition of Unromantic Valentine's Day? Well the price C pays for that is a Romantic Anniversary, which he must plan. And from what I can garner he's done it up right! Three days in San Francisco - where we both lived in college (same school even!) and never met. It's going to be great fun to head back there together - I can show him the baby gap & clinique counters that put me through school and then we can cross the bay bridge to Berkeley and he can show me the dorm he got kicked out of for setting a girl's doorknob on fire.

So, with no set plans (other than some fancy eats) I think we'll be doing some walking, some shopping, and some museums for sure. I might even drag him to alcatraz because i love it so much. So do we have any bay area readers? Any new crafty spots pop up in the last ten years that I shouldn't miss? Delicious grub that we must consume? Please let me know in the comments. You might even win that awesome fat quarter up there on the left!

DIY Nap Mat/Bed Roll

My little baby Clare is off to pre-school this Fall and now she will be all ready with a brand new mommy-made nap mat. But will I be ready? I'm already making up excuses for why she should maybe stay home. I'm out of my mind, right? Anyway, nap mat, so cozy, want one for me, for napping, while daughter is at school. Ok, I'm back on board.

Click here to get the full Nap Mat DIY.

And don't forget, any awesome comment you leave this week might win you that sweet wool-blend felt up there in the corner. 

Read more »

Wisconsin Woo-Hoo!

I ain't gonna pay no dollar for a corn muffin that's half dough!

I'm heading to Wisconsin on Sunday for a little worky work and I just can't wait.  It'll be my second visit, I learned the sentence above on my first visit to the Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls/Cadott area.  I was told saying it five times fast will produce a pretty good Wisconsin accent.  It's seriously the cutest thing ever.

So this time I'll be heading through Rhinelander to Three Lakes.  I won't have a whole lotta downtime, but I'd love to know if any of our readers are familiar with the area and can share some must-sees or dos!  You know I can't wait to drink a Liney and grub on some fried cheese curds.

Share with me your Wisconsin tips and remember, leave a comment on this or any post this week and you might win the awesome ABC paper cups from Pint Size Social pictured up there on the left.

Cincinnati here we come!

And by "we" I mean my husband Rick, who doesn't stop the car. ever., three year old Clare, 14 month old Quinn and me, Jacinda...  for 962 miles. Each way. So the drive should be fun. But after that we have a day to explore before attending a family reunion and then turning around. SO, I'm making the most of that day. Here are my thoughts...

Start off the day at Findlay Market to sample the local goods. I'm all over The Goetta Danish. My husband is a Goetta purist so he is a bit offended by the liberties taken here but I'm all over adding buttery pastry, apricot jam and cream cheese to fried meat product. I just gained a pound typing that.

From there it's over to the Contemporary Arts Center to see the Shepard Fairey exhibit and to take Clare to Family Saturday: Street Art They say: Join local artists from ABLE Projects as they demonstrate how to make your own street art inspired prints. Sounds fun, right?

Unfortunately, that means we will miss the Snoopy appearance at the Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore and de-Café which could not seem cooler. Snoopy, you ask? Clare has an Aunt who loves Snoopy, so Snoopy is #1 in our book too. Maybe we can swing in for look anyway.

And lastly, I'd love to stop by one shop. It's just one! It's MICA. Doesn't it look great? Have you been? Is it awesome?

And then we're off to the Ball Game!

Natives of Cincinnati, am I on the right track? Please leave a comment and let me know what's up!

It's a few years old, but I pulled most of my itinerary from the Design•Sponge Cincinnati Design Guide

And stole the Shepard Fairey Mural photo from Jessica at A Little Gray. Tho whole "OBEY" just seemed too perfect for 30 hours of driving with 2 toddlers.