The One About Joujoux

When I first started teaching preschool, there weren't a lot of instructional materials available that were of good quality.  I remember the first teaching material I made then was a felt jacket with a letter "J" patch (J for jacket).  I had sewn it using our old sewing machine (it was de-padyak pa!  I still love that oldie, though, and had my mom swear never to dispose of it.) and I punched holes on it so it could be a lacing activity tool.

When I developed a deep love for making beautiful things, I would find myself browsing websites for toy and learning materials projects.  I had a long list of To-Makes which is still long, by the way, but I would always promise myself to getting around to making them.  

It could be the serendipitous marriage of my job as a teacher and my passion for crafting that led to the preference for toys and learning materials that are well-created and of great value.  Toys that are open-ended and provide hours of endless entertainment.  Toys that children love so much that they treasure them until they reach adulthood and pass them onto their offspring.

Hence, the birth a new "baby" for me and my husband -- Joujoux Playthings & Teachables.  Joujoux is French for toys and it is a very lean startup born out of love for well-crafted toys and educational materials.  We are starting off with the felt food sets that were sold last November at the Cebu International School Bazaar but we already have a lost of ideas brewing in mind for the next products.

Manila-based people can finally get their hands on these lovelies on February 28, 2015 at 3rd Mom Pop Up at Fully Booked at Bonifacio High Street.  Apart from the playthings, we'll also have our tunic dresses, kimonos, and a few wrap skirts to sell (our next clothing collection is in production!!!).  The clothes are still under the Little Miss Pinay Crafter label.

And so, here's to love for teaching and the handmade goodness that transpires from it.  Here's to Joujoux, to the old-school kind of entertainment it brings, to its educational value, and to treasured memories that it will bring forth to the young.

The One About Mom Pop Up Rockwell

Save the date!  Wicked Crafts will be popping up here once again!

Come craft with me!

The One About Paper Pom Flowers

Paper pompom flowers are super easy to make that I don't understand why some crafters ask people to fork out at least a thousand pesos to teach them how to do it in workshops.  Sheeessshhh!

Anyway, I made a couple of these flowers as decorations for Mom Pop Up.  Want to learn how to make them (without spending, of course)?

 Start with a pile of 10-12 sheets of tissue paper.

 Then start folding from the bottom of the sheets.  I did about an inch to an inch and a half fold.

 It should come up to this.

Find the middle of the strip and tie a thin wire around the middle.  The ends of the wire, you twist it and form into a hole.  This is what you'll use to hang the pom flower.

Cut the top into a curve.

 Then start fanning it out.

 Begin to delicately - DELICATELY! - pull out each sheet of tissue paper to the middle of the strip...  

 Until the flower begins to poof up.

See?  Easy peasy!!!

Happy crafting! :)

The One about Mom Pop Up!

Last July 27th, my small, happy, crafty biz participated at the first Mom Pop Up event at Kensington Place in Bonifacio Global City.

I held arts and crafts sessions with kids while their mommies shopped at the select brands at the intimate function.  I was accompanied by my cousin (cousin-in-law, actually, but nobody uses that term, right?) and my seven-year-old niece who both such big help! :)

 The table set-up. :)

 I also made the paper pom flowers. :)

 This girl got her craft on!

 We made cupcake keepsake boxes and glitter magnets. 

I had loads of fun that day.  Well, I always have fun when I work with my hands so the crafter in me was doing somersaults (inside) the whole time!

Happy crafting! :)

P.S.  Thanks to my cousin, Val, for the pictures!

Weekend Tidbits

Snapshots from a lovely weekend that was...

 Wicked Crafts at the Mom Pop Up event (more details in a separate post soon!)

Breakfast at Ally's All Day Breakfast Place.  Hon-some and I still dream about that French toast with strawberry cream cheese.

Dinner with my family at The Cake Club by Manila Diamond Hotel:  Orient Pearl tea, Beef Pastrami sandwich, cheesecake, gooey chocolate cake, and truffle fries :)

And with these, my summer vacation has come to an end.  It was a fun one, with most of the items in my summer bucket list crossed out.  I'm back at work, gearing up for the first day of school.  Will still get crafty on weekends, of course.  Gertie awaits, you see.  For now, have a wicked week. :)

The One That's Uber Exciting!

Here's something I've been excited about these past few weeks...

 

Yep!  You read that right!  My small, happy, crafty biz, Wicked Crafts, will be at the Mom Pop Up event!  I will be doing - what else??? - arts and crafts for kids.  I hope to see you there!!!