shak-shuka

Fracas for the Holidays

As you can imagine, we're a bit late with everything these days now that we're a house of Baby Shuka. So things that involve the holidays are usually started with a "oh no! I totally forgot that" moment. Case in point: holiday cards. Whoops, we (didn't) do it again!

It's hard to find just the right holiday card that isn't too cheesy (think Bridget-Jones-style-sweaters) or boring (can you think of anything more unique than "Happy Holidays"? c'mon!). I am L-O-V-I-N-G these cards made by Fracas Cards that feature vintage stamps and that have a great story behind them. You can see the available desings on their Etsy shop or Facebook page. And if you're lucky enough to live in London, you can swing by Liberty to pick yourself up a pack...or two....or one for me too!

DIY: Tissue Paper Window Collage

We are lucky to have a south-facing home so when/and/or/if there is ever sun, it drenches through the windows and we all lie there and soak it all up. The only "problem" (doesn't happen often, but still...) is that when the summer sun really does being to blaze for a month or two, it gets seriously hot in the playroom, since we never made up our minds about what kind of window treatment we would put on them, in any. The entire wall and side is made up of nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, which is gorgeous and gives a kind of "greenhouse" effect, but that also means you're sweating more than a hothouse tomato when the sun really shines in.

By chance when I was flipping through my daily read of blogs, I came upon this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G "stained glass" tutorial that I thought would be perfect for our window treatment dilemma. Created by the genius mother at Filth Wizardry, Tissue Paper Window Collage is seriously jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Not only would it shade us from the sun, but I really love that kids can get involved and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I've already collected a ton of colored tissue paper, now just trying to figure out how I can get some of those fancy glue stick pens that used - seems like much less mess and hassle, especially for little fingers. Whatever the case, you'll know when you've reached our house when you see the giant "stained" glass windows complete with sticky child attached to the window! :) Also make sure to check out the other brilliant craft ideas that Filth Wizardry has, there seem to be not limits on her imagination - totally jealous!

DIY: Salty Rainbow Tutorial

I don't know about you, but I feel like our house needs a breath of fresh spring air, and not just in the form of flowers or (more) spring cleaning. I'm thinking a pop of color....but yet, it would be so much better if it was something that me and Lil'Miss could do together, so that she can show everyone who walks in the door the fruits of our labor (and potential ego-stroking for me too!).

Leave it to Twitter to show me the way. Since we at Shak-Shuka are lovahs of all things Daily Candy Kids, we saw that they tweeted about this amazing salt tutorial from Flax & Twine. Of course I had to check it out (since DCK are the gurus of all things kid-friendy+cool), and was amazed at the results. Anne Weil is the mastermind behind the "Rainbow in a Jar" tutorial, and if the end result doesn't get your crafty in the knees, just take a look at her photos for the "how to" and surely you'll be a convert. I love that it incorporates two of our favorite household items: summer-friendly sidewalk chalk (which we happen to have 2 buckets of!) and salt (which I love to eat, but LIl'Miss likes using it like sand). Who would have guessed that those 2 things would be a match made in heaven? Flax & Twine did! So grab your chalk, salt and empty baby-food jars (or something more glam) and get a rainbow in your home!

Arts+Crafts Go Eco

I love it when a company seems to read my mind. Actually, I might even get a bit jealous like "hey, I should have thought of that! That makes so much sense and now that I've seen it, I HAVE to have it"! Luckily this sentiment doesn't happen too often, so my wallet is spared...

Lollipop Designs is one of those companies who read my mind: what a child that is 2 years+ needs, is stimulation, a project and an end result that will last longer than their attention span! If you don't already know of this great brand, you'll see the entirely new range here at Shak-Shuka which we just got in stock and are bursting at the seam with excitement. Rubber stamp sets, marbled biodegradable balloons, book stamp sets, and by far Lil'Miss' favorite: (organic) Coloring T-Shirts. I have never had a bad response when I give these things as gifts, instead it's met with lots of "wow" factor. I love that each product is made with such care, from fairtrade, organic and sustianable materials. I mean, just look at this "build your own" Bunting Kit that is made from fairtrade, organic cotton and eco-felt made from recycled plastic bottles! Like I said, pure genius I wish I had thought of, but even if I didn't, I'm glad that Lollipop Designs answered the prayers of eco-minded families everywhere with their amazing range of eco-friendly crafts for toddlers, kids and parents!

For the Bird(house) Lovers

On Sunday I was tipped off to hit a great design market near our house. That hit both of my Sunday requirements: 1) markets - which I love 2) nearby - because I'm inherently lazy. Bingo! We had Sunday plans and before I knew it, we headed off in the chilly, but sunny weather to discover some treasures.

By far one of my favorite finds at this indoor/outdoor market with tons of great stalls from independent designers (who are the best kind to support IMO), was a Cardboard Birdhouse that both Lil'Miss and I fell in love with at the same time. I'm not sure if it's clear from the products that we sell at Shak-Shuka, but we are all about the recycled/recyclable-ness of cardboard, and this little ditty of a Birdhouse is just that! Made from water-resistant cardboard, and it comes packed flat, kids and adults have a ball painting, decorating, and then easily assembling the birdhouse together. It even comes with this adorable little wooden dowel for the birdies to stand on when they're going in and out! After becoming a happy customer, I inquired about the company who makes these, and it's Kikkerland - a design company that makes a slew of other "green" products, of which I am currently obsessed with the Rainbowmaker, Solar Disco Ball, and more. Kikkerland isn't just making our family and our outdoor birdies happy, but the environment and design-lovers everywhere!

Hol(e)y Sweater? Woolfiller to the Rescue

There are times when I really enjoy living in the Netherlands: passing by tulips fields on the train headed for Amsterdam, riding my bike everywhere and anywhere, and the Dutch design that is available in stores and in magazines. I really have to say I quite like modern Dutch design - it's not as rigid as Scandinavian design, and it has a rustic, almost goofy edge to it. I'm not an artist or designer by any means, I just know what I do/n't like!

One of the goofiest, coolest things that I've seen in a while popped up on my screen (and from the NL) a few weeks ago: Woolfiller. It is just like it sounds - it fills the holes in your (woolen) sweater with, well - wool! I don't know about you, but I have nearly a drawer full of sweaters with varying degrees of hole-y-ness, and yet I can't seem to manage to get rid of them. Maybe I've been waiting for Woolfiller to come to the rescue? I can't properly do it justice by writing about it, so it's best you just watch the video for yourself. Think of it as a rubbing, pricking way to get a fuzzy woolen patch (in a variety of colors) for the hol(e)y sweater you've been treasuring - and gives it new life as a kind of "geek chic" look. Perhaps not for everyone, but I sure think that Woolfiller does a great job of making the landfill a fuller place - that gets two green thumbs up from me!

 

Fun Valentine's Day Ideas

 

I'm making a Monday exception and instead of writing about my Obsession of the Week, I'm going to share with you some great (last-minute for those of us, eh-hem, that are on a time crunch) V-day ideas. Yes, none of them are mine (surprise surprise!) but I intend to try my hand at most of them in hopes that in the end someone will feel the love and at least appreciate my effort.

If you love the look of handmade cards, and would like the kids to make some for their friends, this is a great alternative to store-bought. You could use some old pics and I just know there is not a child alive that could resist a glitter/glue combo.

Leave it to none other than the reigning Green King himself Danny Seo to make those horrid perfume pages in magazines cool and chic. Skip the trashy bouquet at the 24 hour store on the corner, and whip up a batch of Perfume Flowers with the kids as you rummage through your old Vogue and In Style mags.

Of course, the only part of Valentine's Day that I really like is that dinner part. Now that we are a plus one family though, that means we're dining a la trois. No problem, I'll whip up a nice dinner, and make these delicious looking Peanut Butter Bonbons. Even though we're in a Triscuit-free country, I plan on making these babies with none other than my fall-back item: matzah. Oy yeah.

 

Kitty Critter Crayons

As many of you know, retailers (guilty! us too) have already been pushing holiday gift ideas on us/you. Part of me really dislikes that the holiday season starts so early, as it seems to drag on until the moment it's really here, all you want to do is holiday bash and get it over with. Alas, I will not get in the Scrooge spirit yet and instead stay upbeat and share some fresh holiday picks!

Lil'Miss Shuka is currently obsessed (putting it mildly) with drawing. With anything. On anything. We have the full selection of markers, crayons, scissors (kid-friendly, don't worry!) and paper in every size and shape imaginable. Sometimes though, you just crave something a bit special - case in point: Kitty Baby Love's upcycled crayons in the most vibrant colors, with a face even a dog-lover could grow to love (that's me). The size is chunky which is great for young artistes like Lil'Miss, and they really do last much longer than your average crayon. As a gift, I personally love this set of 4 nestled in their little egg crates ready to get some artsy-fartsy fun started! Non-toxic, upcycled, and long-lasting, these crayons get a serious thumbs-up from the Shuka family. For the mamas+papas, there are even equally adorable beeswax candles which just might have to make an appearance at the new Casa Shuka!

Plush Alphabet Tutorial

So we've dropped the ball a bit with the blog, but life has gotten away from us a bit. Sorry! We're pretending that we're really really important and that you notice when we're away......if not, no problem, as we're back with a vengeance today to remind you why we're here!

I think you'll all be pleasantly pleased with this find that I discovered last week. A craft project that involves using up what every crafter has: scraps! I remember the bags upon bags of excess scraps that I collected over months of projects and would beg people to take off my hands. Begging no more! This Plush Alphabet tutorial by the hilarious Chez Beeper Bebe is not only easy to follow with its great photography, but I love the candidness of the writer. I am not a precise cutter by any means, so I love that this "rustic" cutting technique fits right in with this Plush Alphabet, if not makes it look even more "shabby chic"! I didn't even realize it until it was (almost) too late, but you can include magnets on the inside to make for some refridgerator fun. So go forth: grab your excess scraps, and get to Alphabet makin'!

Washi Tape Holder 101

Besides my obvious interior design obsession that is peppering all of my posts, I have had an obsession for something else that if you've ordered from Shak-Shuka you may have even seen! Washi tape. And lots of it. Wide, thin, patterns, plain - any kind of washi tape has to be mine - and NOW! If you're not familiar with washi tape, it's a delicated Japanese paper tape that can be used for everything from taping things together (don't try and use it to tape a box to send in the post.....already tried with bad results!) to decorating shelves, pottery, etc. I haven't been that inventive with my washi uses, keeping it more simple and paper-based.

The one issue I have with washi tape is the adorable little rolls seem to roll all over the place! Ugh. What to do? Buying a regular tape holder doesn't make sense (as I would need probably 20+ of them), and buying a proper washi tape holder is insanely expensive. Alas - the geniuses behind Apartment Therapy have answered my paper prayers! A DIY Washi Tape Holder. Doesn't need much more description than that - except I love it - especially the "teeth" cutter at the end of the box to hold and rip off the tape. So go forth: obtain a washi tape obsession, have a stash of tapes, find a suitable cigar-sized box and whip up your own washi tape holder! I'm already on the hunt for a cigar box.....