Art, Like Bread

A Wise, Organized Woman Once Said

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:45:00 +0000

"If you want to be organized, you have to limit yourself to one hobby."
What? One hobby? Are you serious?

I get it. Crafting takes space. It takes time. Neither of those are infinite. And, certain crafts are not all that portable. That's why I've been so into crochet lately. It can be taken almost anywhere. In fact, I think I need to ease off a bit. I've missed some beautiful scenery.

But I've been thinking about what this wise woman said. One hobby. What would I chose? My top two are crochet and card-making. Then I've got the jewelry-making, sewing, and scrapbooking. I can leave scrapbooking behind. It's fun, but it's a cumbersome craft for me. Maybe if I had a kid I'd feel differently. Scrapbooks make great gifts, but I can't see it as a daily hobby for me right now. There's too much to deal with. It also encourages hoarding.

My jewelry supply stash doesn't take up much space- really. The rubber stamps for card-making are abundant, but I feel like I can't bare to give any of them up. I have to come to terms with the fact that I keep returning to the same stamp sets over and over and I am happy with them. I might demount my wooden stamps to make them more portable. We'll see. Then we have to deal with ink and paper, too. It does get bigger and bigger!

Paper is heavy, expensive, and abundant. It does take up a lot of space, too. It's also not easy to find once it is in your stash. I am sure that there is a bunch of gorgeous paper hiding within a stack or folder that I am not using. Then we've also got the crazy paper embellishments. They're so cute, don't get me wrong, but haven't you ever noticed that sometimes you can be more creative with fewer supplies?

Anyway, I'm going to be dealing with this issue over the next week. Organization or bust. And I'll likely be selling off a bunch of my supplies. Paper-lovers, stay tuned. I'll keep you posted.

Do You Love DoubleStitch?

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Who are DoubleStitch?

Are you serious?

They are only the coolest, sweetest, and most talented crocheting twins out there! Erika and Monika Simmons have an amazing book, titled Doublestitch: Designs for the Crochet Fashionista, which I picked up at a craft fair in Chicago. Oh, did I mention that THEY SIGNED IT? :o)

This is me and them! They're so nice!

If you are sick of frumpy crochet designs, or spending $18.00 a skein on yarn for a pattern that requires 9 skeins, then check their book out! They use the mesh design quite a lot, making the designs versatile, easy, and quick. They also use normal, affordable yarns. How refreshing! This is a case where the finished product really looks like a garment that would have cost much more if you'd bought it in a store. And you don't feel like these take forever to complete. You can be wearing your amazing new garment in a week or less.

There is so much to tell about DoubleStitch. I am sure I can not fit it all into one post. Therefore, I'll leave you now with my version of their "Versatile Spring Wrap," which I learned to crochet from one of their free videos on the Virtue Radio Network. I did one up for myself and one for Mom. Of course, you can make these up in any color to go with any season. There are many ways to wear it!!

Wrap skirt front^ and back.

Cover-up front^ and side.

Capelet front^ and back.

Mama Bird

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:07:00 +0000

I went to a friend's house the other day to meet her new baby. I had to whip up a quick tag for the gift, and I found these Mama Bird images from Doodle Factory in my craft room. Perfect! I made the tag for her, and this card and tag set. I think it would be great for a baby shower. It's non-gender specific. :o)

The paper is American Crafts. I had a slip of leftover paper, so I made this more sophisticated tag. I love the stamp set. I use it all the time. I wish I could remember the manufacturer.

In case it isn't obvious, I added an eyelet and brads to the tag as well. I used the crop-o-dile for the eyelet setting. Easy & quick!

The Mary-Kate

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:14:00 +0000

OK, OK, I did order Vickie Howell's Pop Goes Crochet from Amazon before it was available in stores. And yes, I did open it hastily and devour the contents like a giddy child. What did I find inside...? A lot of diverse projects. At first glance, I can't say that I wanted to make every pattern in the book, but it actually grew on me. I'm loving the accessories. There are some great felted purses in the beginning of the book. I totally ADORE the Heidi scarf. It's amazing and I can't wait to make it. I'm searching for the perfect yarn for that one. It's clear that Vickie paid attention to the entire family, because there's definitely stuff for everyone in this book. And Vickie has posted a free pattern from the book in her pattern shop. Look for the "Doris Scarf". You will love it!

I was looking to use up some stash yarn, so I flipped through the book and came upon the "Mary-Kate". My acrylic is not nearly as glamorous as the yarn in the book, but I think it came out alright. See what you think.

When I finished the hat, I tweeted “I made the "Mary Kate" from _Pop Goes Crochet_ by @vickiehowell today. It's cute but if you style it wrong, you look like a huge mushroom.”

See what I mean? I feel like I'm in Mario Brothers!

Then Vickie Howell tweeted “VickieHowell@artlikebread Mushrooms are the new black. ;). I'd love to see a pic of your finished Mary-Kate beret!”

Um, what? Vickie Howell tweeted at me? Well, alright!! So I tweeted back, “@VickieHowell OK! I'll post one on my blog!! :o) It really is cute, and it was fun to make, too. Thanks!”

The best way to wear it is with a Mary-Kate attitude.

WWKIP Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:40:00 +0000

Crochet is a form of knitting (or so I've been told), so I won't be left out of the fun on World-Wide Knit in Public Day!!! Mis chilangas are pretty ravelrous, so I'm sure that I'll be KIP-ing over these weekends!!

Knit in Public on June 13, 14, 20, & 21.

El Expo Recap - Crafty Icon Revealed!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:02:00 +0000

To be honest, I was intending to do an individual post on each of the stands I visited at the Expo two weeks ago. I decided that might be overkill. I'd like to show you some of the highlights- pictures to show the work and supplies I appreciated.

Yarns of Color at the Omega Booth

Circular looms like this one were all the rage at the Expo.

The tube shape is definitely a trend in Mexican fiber craft.

Hairpin lace at the La Rueca booth. Hairpin lace is an upcoming challenge for me. I wish I had a book to help me learn, but I'll have to settle for internet tutorials for now.

This open-weave crochet at La Rueca reminded me of Double-Stitch!

Need any paper to scrap your 1980s photos? Decor Crafts has got you covered.

And there was plenty of stuff like this... (It's safe to say this was not my favorite booth.)

But this was!

The Rebecca Pick booth was full of fresh, stylish designs in beautiful colors. This is just a quick example of her gorgeous designs. Check out all of the crochet motifs on the left!

And my crafty partner in crime, Jenn, and I were able to meet Ms. Pick herself. We were starstruck. (Yes, she is as nice as she looks!) Great necklace, too.

Crafter Statement

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:54:00 +0000

I have no delusions about what it is that I do. I am a crafter. I craft. I love it. What troubles me is when art is defined as that which belongs in a frame on a wall in a museum. I eschew that elitist attitude. That is not to say that I don't adore gazing at framed works in museums. On the contrary, I spend hours contemplating such masterful work. But my mind is open. I see art in the every day. I am inspired by the sidewalk, a puddle, or the way that vendor is singing in the metro.

Most of my work is internal. I have hundreds of creative ideas, projects, and compositions in my mind. By comparison, I produce little. Most of what I do produce is mere replication. Yet I joy in the process of creating. It is a meditative process that honors those who invented the methods I use. It is liberating and invigorating. Do I want to design? Maybe sometimes. Have I ever been an artist? Definitely. But today I define myself as a crafter.

Public Art at the Anti-Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:17:00 +0000

On my recent trip to L.A., baby, my dear friend was nice enough to bring me to all of the awesome malls that help make Southern California famous.

These photos were taken at the "Anti-Mall". I guess it's just a cool gimmick for people who don't want to admit they like the mall? I don't know, but I definitely enjoyed the public art there. These are from a mosaic wall. It looked like lots of different people contributed. I bet they had fun smashing the dishes.

Then they got all peaceful.

A serene fountain and seating area. I don't know.
There was something beautiful about it.

How beautiful are these bottles?

These were inside of the Gypsy Den Cafe. I love the U.S. for its good coffee and this place has great service, too. Awesome menu. It was very enjoyable. It reminded me of the Helsinki Cafe in Great Barrington, MA. *sigh*

Mexico Is Crafty

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:09:00 +0000

There was a horrible rumor that was imparted to me when I first moved to Mexico over a year ago. Someone (who shall remain nameless) told me that Mexico didn't do crafts the way we do them in the United States. She said that people usually made things here because they needed them, not as a hobby or pastime.

Well, in a way, I thought, 'What's the difference?' But also, I was sad, because I thought I'd never again encounter my beloved scrapbooking supplies. And what about my beloved craft stores? The closest I could find to Blick Art Supply was Office Max. My JoAnn Fabrics became Telas Parisina. I still have yet to find my Archiver's counterpart, but my crafty friend, Jenn, assures me that there ARE scrapbooking stores here in Mexico.

As a matter of fact, I have kind of moved on from scrapbooking (in case you didn't notice) and I've been exploring the wonderful world of yarn (or "estambres" if you're Mexican!) I can see there's no dirth of yarn here. There may be a shortage of natural fibers, but crafting with acrylic is okay by me.

I've since frequented Fantasias Miguel (my Michael's sub), thanks to the wonderful ladies in the Mexico group on Ravelry. Mexico is so so so crafty. At Fantasias Miguel, you can buy a bag full of gorgeous, fine glitter the size of a bag of sugar! Often, said glitter is applied to styrofoam shapes for holidays, however, as a scrapbooker, you'd be able to will most of this glitter to your children and grandchildren!

And, mi crafty amiga, Jenn, also told me about the crafting event of the year, the Expo Merceria y Manualidades, at the World Trade Center in Mexico City. (This is the advantage of living in the city!!!!) This is like my CHA. It's a huge crafting fair for consumers and retailers.

I went today! It was a lot of fun, and I'll reveal what went on little by little over the next week, ending in my special surprise... WE MET A CRAFTY ICON! :o) Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, excitement!!

Purple Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:35:00 +0000

Obviously I am unable to stop crocheting hats. I made this open-weave creation from a beautiful purple cotton yarn. It's cute and perfect for summer. It's a modified version of "Kinky Reggage" from Get Your Crochet On. Love that book. Definitely worth the money!

Tulips at Old Orchard

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:35:00 +0000

On my recent trip to Chicago, my sister and I were on a mission. A shopping mission. So where did we decide to go? The mall!!!

mall plants

My mother tells me that Old Orchard in Skokie, IL was the first mall in the country. It's a gorgeous, open-air mall. This is where you can tell that it was one of the first malls: Who in their right mind would plan an open-air mall in Chicago? Lovely in the spring, as you can see here, but the winter...?

I've been lucky lately. I love traveling to the U.S. I don't usually get to travel very often.

photos by Cami

LOOK!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sun, 17 May 2009 07:20:00 +0000

Wow! Check out that mouse!

I'm just so stylish that I happen to have the latest designer wireless mouse from HP and Vivienne Tam, courtesy of Morningside Mom! This talented and accomplished blogger held a contest a while ago, and I won! Well, because I tend to have stuff sent to the US and just pick them up when I get there, I didn't meet this mouse until I visited LA last month. So- this post is late, but it's not the latest I've ever been with a post. :o)

If you haven't visited Morningside Mom yet, you really should. She's an insightful, intelligent, engaged citizen of the world. Oh! And she's up for an award as the Best Local Blog in Tampa. You should visit this site daily until July 15, 2009 and click on Morningside Mom. Why not?

Thanks for the opportunity, Caro, and thanks for the mouse, too.

"you like me. you really like me."

Jellies: Living Art

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:01:00 +0000

photo from www.huntermuseum.org

I'm not the only one who's in love with Jellyfish. The Hunter Museum is opening "Jellies: Living Art" today! If only I were not thousands of miles from the museum- you know I would be there!

Check out the information here.

Eye of the Needle, Eye of the Heart by Elias Sime

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:46:00 +0000

photo from BergamotStation.com

When I walked into the Santa Monica Museum of Art, I didn't expect to be so affected by what was inside. Two friends and I decided to take in the exhibit when we found out that LACMA was closed that day. We had been looking forward to exploring the new contemporary building there, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum. Instead, we were delighted by the powerful exhibit Eye of the Needle, Eye of the Heart by Elias Sime.

photo by Cami

The exhibit was "co-curated by Meskerem Assegued, a revered Ethiopian curator and anthropologist, and visionary theater, opera, and multi-disciplinary arts impresario, Peter Sellars, is comprised of more than 100 works in a variety of mediums, scale, and forms."

- quoted text from http://www.dexigner.com/art/news-g17033.html How interesting! The exhibition hall was spacious and open, with many sculptures of various sizes found in the center.

the artist, Elias Sime. photo from LA Times

These sculptures were along the back wall if I remember correctly.

I was immediately drawn to the intricate, wall-mounted works. What at a distance appeared to be a blank canvas, upon close inspection was revealed to be a painstakingly hand-embroidered, abstract work of art. There were subtle variations in color and it was calming to look it. To me, it evoked waves, or swirls. It's hard to put into words the feeling I got. I felt comforted, protected, and understood- just looking at the first work.

Here's a more representational piece that illustrates the calm waves in the upper half of the work.

photo from ssmoa.org

In the lower right-hand corner of almost every work was a flattened bottle cap, with holes poked all along the edges, sewn onto the fabric. My friend speculated that it was possibly a signature of sorts.

What is Love?-1 (2007) photo from media.phoenixnewtimes.com

Finding transcendent beauty in ordinary and found objects was a recurrent theme throughout the exhibit.

This work is made of clothes, paper, peanuts, and oil paint. photo from huffintonpost.com

If this were a local exhibit, I would have returned over and over to stare at the hypnotic works, think about the time and vision it took to create, and draw inspiration. Unfortunately, I was unable to take any pictures inside of the exhibit, but I'm glad I got to share these images I found on the web with you.

Mewled (2006) photo from nytimes.com

It's hard to choose a favorite from these phenomenal pieces, but I loved the vividly-colored mosaic of sorts made of hundreds of gorgeous buttons sewn into an abstract pattern on the canvas. I was touched by the piece. It's significant to use buttons in art, as they represent the garments that they were once a part of, and by extention, the people who once loved those garments. In a way, these buttons, sewn together on this canvas, were a testimony to their lives, and how interconnected we all are whether we realize it or not. Sime himself was quoted as saying "they have a story. Like the old buttons I use in my work, I can feel the people who wore them." (http://www.ethiopianreview.com/news/2009/02/for-ethiopian-artist-elias-sime-every-object-tells-a-story/)

The other impressive part of the exhibit was the curation. The curators chose to include a varied body of work, almost a retrospective of this artist's life's work. One could certainly see a progression in the works, and also appreciate the variety of mediums.

This is an example of one of the many sculptural pieces. photo from ssmoa.org

The exhibit also included a technological component. Patrons were able to see the artist's hometown of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia through a video projection. The video speed could be controlled with a touch, allowing patrons to scan the video carefully, or simply watch at normal speed. There was also a video of the curators and the artist, so one could follow the creative processes and even peek into the artist's home. It was clear even before the video that community and environment were strong influences for Sime. One of the coolest parts was when they showed him mixing mud and straw to build up a column on his house. His hands molded the base material into something visually interesting and incredibly useful. It was the same material used to make all the little figures that lined the floor. (As seen in the third picture above.)

I wish I could go back. I wish I could own every work. Yet, alas, I will have to settle for my memories now. Watch out for this artist- he's amazing. And if you ever get the chance to see his work- GO!

For other perspectives on the work of Elias Sime, click here.

Polluter No More!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Are you sick of that old car sitting on your lawn, just taking up space?

photo by http://www.ethancrenson.com/images/eeaa03.jpg

I mean, it's never going to run again. Tow trucks just cost too much.

Why not do what the artists from Farm Lab at Santa Monica's Bergamot Station did?

Turn that old car into a planter!
(Yes, they are artists, but not the artists!)

Think about it... It's the perfect way to turn a huge,

gas-guzzling pollution machine into a friend to the environment.

Be greeted by greenery instead of gas fumes!

Shotgun!

This gives me an idea... take it a step further and grow edible plants in your car!

Driver-side foliage

It's a sun roof and a rain roof now.

A trunkful of goodness.

Although it was the first time I saw a car planter, apparently someone else had the same idea... Here's a similar post from Apartment Therapy. Trend? Learn more about the "Junker Garden" project at Farm Lab.

For Jennie!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:12:00 +0000

Does this look vaguely familiar?

Yes, this is the complement to the purse I made for Erin.
Jennie is one of my oldest friends and an AMAZING, AMAZING artist.
I wanted to show her that I really missed her when she was away and give her a pretty, handmade gift to welcome her home!

It's National Scrapbooking Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:19:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

Did you know that today, May 2nd,
is National Scrapbooking Day?

It's such a fun holiday. One year my friend Sherri and I went to a local store for an all-day crop. Wow! It was so fun. I don't think I'll be scrapbooking today, but check out some of my favorite embellishments.

I love the die-cuts from K&Company. These are the "Eliza" collection, but they have several sets. I've used them for many craft projects, mainly card making. They are very pretty and they make it easy to have a fun and professional-looking project. The best part is they are cheap, at only $4.99 for 120 pieces. They also last forever. I got these at Target, but I purchased two other sets from Archiver's. You can also buy them from the K&Co. website. Have fun, and let me know if you do scrapbook today. Maybe it will inspire me!

Crocheted Hats from Get Your Crochet On!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Remember when I told you I was on hiatus, but I had been crafting a lot? Well, here's one of the hats I made.

Teal and red is my new favorite color combo.

This one is called Kinky Reggae from

"Get Your Crochet On: Hip Hats and Cool Caps"
by Afua Ibomu.

***

You may be wondering why this man is smiling so much. Is it because he lives next door to someone with a grill and hummingbird feeders? NO! It's because he's wearing a freshly- (and I do mean freshly *snap*) made O.G. from Afya's book.

This hat is worked in puff stitch. It's interesting and fun. I learned some new techniques and worked with Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. I found the yarn a bit hard to work with until I got used to it. This is the third hat I've made from Afya's book and I find the patterns to be fun and well-done. I'm impressed with her creativity and design ability. This is also one of those books where you just want to make every single pattern and you could imagine yourself doing so- for yourself or gifts.

"I got a gift!"

I've made four versions of Lively Up, which reminds me of the classic LL Cool J kangol from the late 80's. In my final version, the only mod I made was using soft, flexible acrylic yarn and leaving out the elastic. I loooove the final hat. I feel so cool when I wear it. I'll take a picture when I get the chance.

I also worked up Mellow Moods, in purple and pumpkin. It's my fourth GYCO creation. Pictures to come!

Taxco Tianguis!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:13:00 +0000

When my mom was here visiting, she convinced my sister to drive us out of the busy city into the gorgeous mountain town of Taxco. It's the same place with the bead market, and yes, I did purchase some gorgeous beads again this year. But I wanted to show you the pottery market. Look at all this amazing pottery! They have a lot of other stuff, too, but when I get into a place like this, I get sensory overload. I decided to focus on pottery alone. Enjoy!

Yarn Theory Exhibit at PS 122

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:02:00 +0000

I love going to art exhibits. It's one of my most favorite activities. I can not tell you how excited I am about this particular exhibit! Yarn Theory is running April 25 - May 17 at PS 122 in New York City and "highlights the vibrant and deep interrelationship between the sciences, mathematics, crocheting and knitting."

"Included in Yarn Theory are artists, scientists and practicing mathematicians. The work exhibited here references the worlds of geology, geography, topological mathematics, fractals, geometry, animal behavior testing, probability, human and marine biology, and physics." (http://ps122gallery.wordpress.com/)

Are you totally excited yet? Here's why I am:

I just got back from my Californian vacation and we visited the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was totally amazing!

The forms and the color combinations were unusual and gorgeous!

It wasn't until after I took the photo that I realized that the exhibit was reflected perfectly against the still water on the top of the tank.
I could watch jellyfish ALL day. They're completely mesmerizing.

After I left, all of the trees looked like coral to me!

And of course, seeing the real coral reefs reminded me of the crocheted ones!

Also, ever since Mr. Sauve's pre-algebra class in the 7th grade, I've been a math geek. I love it! I really do. Check out my previous math posts here.

The sad thing is, though, that I won't be able to see this exhibit in person! Thank you to Lion Brand Blog for posting about it, and Yarn Thing and The Crochet Side for posting the coral reef video. At least through the miracle of the internet, I can enjoy it from afar.

Majestic Trees!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:16:00 +0000

We were walking in California and feeling really green.
And this gorgeous tree greeted us on the way.

hello

beauty

Thanks, tree!

What you can do with all those extra condoms

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:39:00 +0000

You expected to get lucky, but didn't. Don't throw the condoms away! Make them into a fairy costume. Promote safer sex while looking colorful, whimsical, and fun!

Or feeling more demure? Keep it zipped up and safe with this little number.
He'll never figure out how to get you out of this.

Tubular.

Fairy Costumes for the "Book of Tink" designed by Alethia Moore

On display at UC Irvine, Irvine, CA

Crocheted Purse

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:15:00 +0000

I whipped this up for my best friend to say thanks for having me at her home in Irvine for two weeks! We had so much fun together. I loved the way this purse worked up. It's done in a half-double herringbone stitch, which gives it the delicate look. I got the pattern from Stitch N Bitch The Happy Hooker. I modified it by making the handles of yarn.
It think it worked really well, and Erin loves it.

Anthropologie

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:19:00 +0000

I know I'm not alone when I say that I'm totally inspired when I visit an Anthropologie shop. On my recent visit to Irvine, my best friend and I stopped in to browse and I found it to be very stimulating. :o)

How clever that they faced the teardrop-shaped beads out by using jump rings. And, they are stringing the beads on t-shirt material. This makes a possibly cumbersome necklace comfortable!

I love the idea of applique and embroidery on clothing, but let's be honest- there's a fine line between hip/creative, and dowdy. I love what they've done with that sweater up there. Interesting, intricate, timeless, and stylish.

These will be future projects!!! I'm thinking about bookbinding, but I'm not actually binding books. However, here's the embroidery/applique thing again. It's done with fabric, paper, and felt. Maybe this picture will propel me forward!

Think you could hack this gorgeous arrangement for your home? I'm not exactly at liberty to decorate much in mine... If you become inspired and do it, let me know!!

And finally, this chandelier is completely amazing. It's cool to have the natural element of seashells. (And I'm not one for seashells in home decor, usually!) I was thinking I would photoshop this into an interesting piece of clip art. Hmmm... When I figure out how to do it, I'll put it up as a freebie!

I'm actually gonna sell some stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (Cami) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 17:51:00 +0000

I've been wanting to do an Etsy store since I learned about it. Well, not long after that, I moved to Mexico and things got more complicated. Instead, I'm working with a friend who has a store up in Door County, Wisconsin, and my mom is doing some craft fairs in the Chicago area. Since I have tons of free time on break, I'm making an Art, Like Bread line of jewelry for these outlets. Here's a sneak peek of some of my earrings. :o)

I made the packaging from a Sugar Babies box! I cut up some more from other packaging. It's so fun and free!!