There is six more days left until people can sign up for Viva La Frida Craft Swap. To add some excitement as sign up days are coming to a close and in hopes of motivating people to sign up that are still unsure, we decided to spice things up with a Frida Kahlo giveaway.
Have you spotted Mexico's iconic female painter, Frida Kahlo, in your city? Capture her with your phone (you can be included in the picture too) and share your siting on Instagram using the hashtag #findingfrida. Let Bee Creative Swaps know where you found her. For example, "I spotted Frida in Austin!", "Frida's visiting Hollywood!”, or "I'm dining with Frida!"
For posting your sitings of Frida, you will be automatically entered into a random drawing to win a homemade Frida Kahlo inspired zippered pouch with Frida goodies inside. This prize is brought to you by Emily, from The Morose Bee, as she went searching for Frida Kahlo in Austin, Texas.
Emily and I will post our favorite findings of Frida on our individual blogs on Friday for Friday Frida Favs. Multiple entries are welcome. Winner will be annouced Monday, June 1st, 2016. Remember to add the hashtag #findingfrida. We look forward to seeing Frida Kahlo in your town!
“Counting with - Contando con Frida” by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein is the perfect first Frida Kahlo themed book for any child. It's a board book, making it durable without worrying about your child tearing the pages out. It's illustrations are simple and well designed without overwhelming your little reader. Better yet, your child is learning two languages, words and numbers, while unknowingly learning about Frida Kahlo. This book embodies what we love in our household, Frida, reading, and teaching Lily Spanish.
“Counting with - Contando con Frida” is actually one of my favorite Frida Kahlo themed books. If I didn’t have Lily I would have probably purchased it for myself. What I love about this book is the objects used to represent the numbers are related to Frida’s life. For example, for the number 5, there is five framed portraits of Frida which are based off of her paintings. Frida is well known for painting self-portraits of herself. Frida’s paintings “Self-Portrait with Loose Hair”, “The Two Fridas”, “Frieda and Diego Rivera”, “Self-Portrait as a Tehuana”, and “The Wounded Deer” inspired the ones illustrated to help represent the number five.
“Counting with - Contando con Frida” is published by Lil’ Libros (which means little books in Spanish), a company which publishes other amazing bilingual books with Mexican themes and educational concepts. Other great titles they sell are “La Llorona” which teaches counting down numbers, “Loteria” teaches first words based on the Mexican game Loteria, “Lucha Libre” (Mexican wrestling) teaches anatomy, “Zapata” teaches colors based on Emiliano Zapata’s life, and “Guadalupe” teaches more first words based on the Virgin Mary’s life. Lil’ Libros is currently in the works to release two more books, “Cuauhtemoc” and “Un Elefante!” We are looking forward to adding them to our Lil' Libros bilingual book collection.
We were introduced to Lil’ Libros books last year, when Lily received “Counting with - Contando con Frida” and “Loteria” from my friend Maria. We have been hooked to Lil’ Libros books since then. I got Lily “Guadalupe” for her Easter basket this year and purchased other titles for my nephews for Christmas. You can purchase Lil’ Libros books and prints on their website, here and on Etsy, here. You can follow them on Instagram, here. They usually have sales during the holidays and you can get their discount code if you follow them on Instagram. I have seen “Counting with - Contando con Frida” books in Target stores, but not on Target online.
I’ve always loved reading. I was in a bookclub called, “The Bookies” for a few years. I started reading to Lily from day one and I’ve seen how rewarding it is for both of us. She has books everywhere. She has a basket with books in our bedroom and in the living room and a bookshelf in her bedroom. Lily will choose a book over watching cartoons anytime. She knows how to say book in English and Spanish. “Counting with - Contando con Frida” book has helped her learn how to count to two.
Sign ups are still open for Viva La Frida Craft Swap. If you haven’t signed up, there is still time. If you get paired up with someone with a little one, Lily and I highly recommend buying “Counting with - Contando con Frida” for them. It will be a gift both child and parent will enjoy, promise! Also, don't forget to swing on by The Morose Bee blog to see what Emily as posted for Friday Frida Favs.
Sign ups for Viva La Frida Craft Swaps has been open for a few days and I know our participants are probably searching for Frida Kahlo inspiration, D.I.Y.s, and goods. To help them out, Emily, from The Morose Bee, and I have decided to dedicate our blogs to Frida on Fridays with Friday Frida Favs.
We have given our swap participants the option to also purchase Frida inspired items as well as making Frida crafts because we know sometimes life happens and plans to make things fall through. We are encouraging our swappers to support independent local businesses as they shop for Frida items. One of the biggest on-line shops to find lots of Frida crafted goods and support artists is Etsy.
Here are my top 10 favorite Frida Kahlo items on Etsy, under $30.
Not only does this seller make kids headbands but adults too. Lily and I could totally be twinsies. You can find headbands with a half watermelon print on them too.
I am a proud owner of a Frida and Diego shirt from this seller, which I got at Olvera Street a few years ago. You can follow him on Instagram. He also has great gifts for those who support him through Kickstarter.
I love this cross stitch pattern, simple yet beautiful. This is something I could totally get away with hanging in my bedroom that my husband would be okay with because of the neutral color scheme. VIVA LA FRIDA printed cross stitch pattern from TheSnowflowerDiaries; Cost: $10.62
Spice up any boring name tag with this name badge holder. A guaranteed conversation starter for sure! I wish I would have had this when I was an assistant manager at the theater. The seller makes these to order and you can even choose the color flowers you want. Frida Kahlo badge reel by TerraMaya; Cost: $10
On our Viva La Frida Craft Swap questionnaire we asked participates what their favorite Frida Kahlo quote is. Of course, I had to include this Frida Kahlo inspired quote, watercolor painting, print. I absolutely love the flowers painted on the legs and the red painted toe nails. A4 Print Frida Wings by esenciacustome; Cost: $9.44
These Frida Kahlo inspired items above are a few of hundreds that can be found on Etsy. Love these items? I have more in an Etsy folder here.
This swap, brought to you by Bee Creative Swaps, honors the great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. We are celebrating her life by creating and/or purchasing art and goods inspired by her.
Is swap is perfect for everyone, even if you know nothing about Frida Kahlo. This is a great opportunity to learn about her. You have no time? No problem. You can buy Frida themed art work and goods instead.
Emily from The Morose Bee and I will be posting "Friday Frida Favs" on our own blog to help you out with some ideas and see how much Frida has inspired others. Can't wait? Click here to see Frida posts I have posted on my blog.
Rules:
1. Sign up by May 21, 2016.
2. You'll receive details of your swap partner on May 31. Feel free to say hi/hola via email, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
3. Create, gather, paint, construct shop for a Frida Kahlo themed gift, personalized for your swap partner based on their likes. Amount $25 - $30, not including shipping. We encourage shoppers to support independent local business. For example, sellers on Etsy.
4. Swap gifts in the mail no later than July 1st, that way we would all receive a gift to open on Frida's birthday week. Tracking is highly recommended.
5. Optional: Send sneak peek pictures of your progress work to Bee Creative Swaps on Facebook Messenger so we can post them on BeeCreativeSwaps Instagram account.
Wow, yes I know it has been two years since I last blogged! But, I am really passionate about this upcoming swap brought to you by Bee Creative Swaps. Emily from The Morose Bee blog and I began Bee Creative Swaps because we enjoy sharing handmade goodies with others. After a long absence, we have decided to return with a bang - a Frida themed swap! You heard right, a Frida swap!
Before, we spill all the beans, you know all the details, we need your help naming this amazing swap because it will be amazing! I promise. Sorry, I'm getting a little too excited over here. Emily and I have narrowed it down to two swap names, United Unibrow Artist Swap and Viva La Frida Swap. Once we named this baby, sign ups will start on May 1st. Will it be United Unibrow Artist Swap or Viva La Frida Swap, click on the link below and make your vote! Voting will be open until the end of April.
On a side note, I am excited to be back to the blog world and share my new life with you!
