Painted Baby Clothes

I'm at that age when all my friends are starting to have babies, including my sister-in-law. I just found out I'm going to be an Aunt to a little baby niece! She's due in January which is exciting because Jan 6th is my birthday. I'm really enjoying all the new love that's entering the world around me.

I've started painting babies clothes to give away as gifts to all the new little ones. Each piece is made of organic cotton that I've hand-painted with textile paints that are heat-set so they can be machine washed. My painted baby clothes won't be for sale. They take so long to make I'd have to charge outrageous prices, but they are perfect for gifting to all my new momma friends. I'm taking requests so let me know if you'd like an outfit.

Tying the Knot--Creatively

My brother, George was recently married. No one ever believes that he's younger than me--but I've got 2.5 years on him. He and his new wife Julie had an awesome blow out wedding. I don't plan on having a traditional wedding myself, but I enjoyed all the lavish celebrations and friends and family around at theirs. Not to mention, it was the best dance party I've ever been too. That's George and I swing dancing. But just take one look at my mom pictured below and even total strangers will have to agree. Weddings are really a time to let your inner self shine through. Now I'm talking about brides, not controlling wedding guests-bitches. If I ever were to decide to throw a big wedding bash, I'd want to do it with the help of fellow artists and crafters. Everything thing would be unique, one of a kind, and have a special touch that reflected my personality (oh yea, and the grooms, sure, whatever). I think many other women feel the same way I do. There are so many awesome possibilities at your fingertips. It only takes a little exploring to find the perfect pieces. Who knows, with such incredible work, I just might end up having a wedding myself. Take a look at what I've fallen in love with on Etsy:

Soapy Suds

I've been a huge fan of homemade soaps ever since I discovered Etsy. Just one read of homemade soap ingredients compared to store bought soaps and you'll start wondering how the mass produced soaps are even legal. For example:
These are the ingredients for Lever 2000 soap Pure Rain:

Sodium tallowate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium cocoate, water, sodium isethionate, stearic acid, coconut fatty acid, fragrance, titanium dioxide, sodium chloride, disodium phosphate, tetrasodium EDTA, trisodium etidronate, BHT, FD&C blue no. 1, D&C red no. 33.

Eww..do you know what that first, main ingredient sodium tallowate is? It's what's created when you combine sodium hydroxide (lye) with beef tallow. That's right folk. ANIMAL FAT! GROSS. And how about Stearic acid. Any idea what that is? It's a saturated fatty acid that's usually derived from tallow or lard. For those greasy animal fatty soapy suds we all love. The rest of the ingredients are mostly petroleum products, synthetic preservatives and synthetic detergents many of which are proven irritants. Feelin' clean yet?

Now, lets take a look at some homemade soap ingredients:
This is a beautiful bar called "Pink Grapefruit"from Etsy seller Besem Naturals Scents

Ingredients: saponified oils of olive, palm kernal, coconut, rice bran, castor oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, rose clay, pure essential oils and fragrance.
Also, 10% of profits are given to orphan relief.

And rather than smelling like chemicals it smells like sweet, ripe grapefruits. I'm not missing the beef tallow. Would you?

There are so many wonderful choices when it comes to buying handmade soaps. You can buy organic, vegan, completely free of dyes or any scents, and you can buy handcrafted soaps for specific ailments you have that I promise, will do wonders for your skin that beef tallow, stearic acid and trisodium etidronate couldn't even touch. Pictured above are a few of my favorites. Make the switch!