Working like a Beaver.

I'm working pretty hard to make new organizers designs, some are already available in my shop. I'm having fun creating new goods. I'm also preparing the shop for this Saturday. There's a craft show in Windersmere close to Orlando. Bululu Studio will be there showing all our products.

I also want to inform you that I have some items with 30% off great deals for those unique holidays gifts that you won't find anywhere else.

Thank you so much for all those readers who are always supporting this blog and for all your comments I really appreciate them.

I'm very sad :(

This week our guinea pig, one of my grandsons suddenly died. I was cooking when my cousin ask for Toto, where's Toto? He said. I said he's there inside the igloo. Let me see, I said.

When I noticed he wasn't moving, not breathing. I touched him, then I yell Oh my god Toto se murió. No!!! ( Oh my God Toto died). I started screaming oh no, no. I ran to call my hubby by phone and told him the bad news.

Toto was a gentleman, a very sweet boy. Long time ago, I made a post about him, I was very excited to be his "grandma" but this time I'm announcing a sad moment for all of us. Yes, all of us even my hubby cried for Toto. Toto was an secret agent from G Force.

Best wishes for him, Rest in Peace.

Guest Blogger :: GoodToGoEco

I read this tutorial on the EcoEtsy Blog a few weeks ago. I loved it. So I asked GoodToGoEco for permission to post it here and she gratefully accepted.

Here is what she wrote:

Eco Tutorial: Repurposed Containers.

by GoodToGoEco
Visit the GoodToGoEco web site

Have you started a collection of those large plastic containers that held fruit & snack mix? We get ours from the membership clubs that sell in large quantity. We end up collecting those jars, but we were never sure what to do with them.

So I took on the challenge: Repurposing! On first one, the taller jar, the label peeled off wonderfully! Then I cut the top off, just as it bent in, slicing a starting point with a serrated knife, then finished off using scissors. (You could mark it with masking tape first to make a cutting guideline.) This made a large enough opening, and the slight curve inward gives a small finished detail. Simply add 2 or 3 rolls of TP and it's done! Keeps them clean, yet easy to grab when needed!

Second challenge: the shorter large mouth jars. Those labels don't come off easily at all, and mine had 2 labels! So, I cut same size 'labels' from chalkboard contact paper, and covered the original labels. The contact paper is very easy to use; in fact the adhesive is almost the repositional kind; very forgiving if you don't get it perfect the first time. I put my jars on my craft shelf above washer/dryer, storing spools of thread, notions, ribbons, etc. If I wanted to, I could actually use chalk labeling what's inside! This would work great for kids' craft supplies as well!

If you would like to read more about GoodToGoEco check her blog.

Eco tips::: Homemade Remedies for Insects and Disease Control on Plants Part II

As I said in a previous post, I'm sharing a huge list of homemade remedies for your garden. Most of the ingredients you already have them available at home.

Homemade oil spray for insect control on plants:

Ingredients:
Mix 2 tbsp of cooking oil, and 2 tbsp of baby shampoo in a gallon of water.

This remedy controls insects like: aphids, spider mites, thrips, whitefly, lacebugs, scale and mealybugs.

Note: DO NOT SPRAY IN SUN! Also, this may injure hairy or waxy-leaved plants like squash and other crucifers. DO NOT use oil on orchids. Thorough coverage of the pest is necessary so spray both sides of the foliage until it drips from leaves. Test spray on a small area of the plant, wait 2 - 3 days and check for damage. It's always a good idea to water the plant the day before you spray. Spray every 5-7 days as needed.

If a fungus is also present then add to the above formula 2 tbsp of baking soda and shake well before and during application.

If the weather is humid or the treat of disease is high, spray every five to seven days. Spray both sides of the leaves thoroughly at the first sign of disease. Always test any spray on a small area of the plant. this solution can be used against blackspot and mildew on roses, powdery mildew on summer squash, early blight on tomatoes, and alternaria leaf blight on melons.

I hope you can put in good use this tip for your own garden.

Guest Blogger::: Piruli

This time is Piruli's turn...yep she kindly agreed to write an article for Bululu's blog.

Here is what she wrote:

::: 5 Ways to Shop Eco-Friendly With Etsy :::
by Piruli

From vintage to re-purposed goods there are many ways to bring eco-friendliness to your home and closet. Creating eco-friendly shopping habits helps to reduce waste by making shoppers not only conscious of how their desired items were created, but also help inspire creativity using many items we already have instead of throwing away. Vintage Dust Pan and brush from GarageInc • Antiques/Vintage: The best way to start is to reuse what you already have, but if you are like me, we can’t resist shopping for fun items and love to collect interesting things. The whole idea of antique shopping lends to being an eco-friendly practice, reusing items that will not contribute to a landfill. This goes for clothing as well. Vintage items have proven their durability and relevance. Etsy shoppers know, both are in abundance and are easily found by searching through the Vintage categories. Upcycled Paper Drunk Owl Hook Organizer by BululuStudio • Repurposed Goods/ Upcycling: It is a world of its own to see the various art forms crafted from using bits and pieces of everyday items we no longer use. From sculpture to interesting fashions upcycling invokes wild imagination to invent new purpose for items to prevent them from spending their remaining days in a landfill. • Natural & Organic: Shopping for items made of natural and organic materials helps our Earth since purchasing these items promotes using non-toxic replenishable materials (such as cotton or bamboo) and non-toxic methods for producing these materials (sans pesticides, etc) • Ethical Sources: Not only are human rights issues a large motivation for companies to look to obtain materials from ethical sources, there are also conditions where harvesting/mining materials can do considerable damage to the environment. Ethical sourcing includes companies that comply with high standards for human rights and are conscious of harmful environmental practices that can cause danger to human life. Tea Mug Cozy in Blue with Flower by KnitStorm • Recyclable materials: I concluded with this as a separate section to promote sellers whom use recycled paper and other materials. I commend sellers whom use recycled materials for creating and crafting, or even for packaging, which is often not the most economical choice, but indeed safe for the earth to cut down on chemicals and other various forms of waste used to produce the equivalent at the expense of, for example, cutting down trees to make new batches of paper products. For a list of Spanglish Team members following these eco-friendly guidelines check out the latest Spanglish Team blog shopping Eco Friendly In Spanglish Team! If you would like to read more about Piruli check her blog.

Animal testing on cosmetics labels

I have one brother and one younger sister, my sister forwarded me an email last week, she's vegetarian, she doesn't eat anything that has eyes (he he that's the way she explains it) and she loves to protect and defends animals.

Now I want to share this horrible cruel video with all of you. I think this is a very controversial topic and I invite you to discuss it here, if you want... For those who doesn't know about PETA is an acronym that refers to: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

It's an organization that advocates to protect the rights of animals and prevent cruelty on them. There's a bunch of celebrities that are activists of this organization. Peta is against circus with animals, they say is the cruelest show on Earth. You can Google it for more information.




Next time, when you buy cosmetics check the label if it says "tested on animals" DO NOT buy it. Well that's just my opinion at the end you're the one who decide...so think about it.

Eco tips::: Homemade Remedies for Insects and Disease Control on Plants

I'm all about tips, I enjoy using and learning new tips and especially if they are Eco friendly. I found a huge list of remedies that We all can make at home to treat insects and diseases on plants. This time I'm going to share them with you little by little, so this post would not get so long and boring, ...he he:

Bululu's garden

Home-made soap solution for insect control on plants:

You'll need:
Baby shampoo
Water
Empty gallon bottle (you can reuse the empty gallon of milk)
Empty Spray Bottle

Instructions:

Mix 2 tablespoon of baby shampoo in 1 gallon of water.

Water the plants the day before the soap spray application to prevent damage. Test the spray solution on a small area of the plant. Wait 2-3 days and check for any damage. reduce potential injury by rising plant with fresh water a few hours after the soap spray application.

Note: Use a maximum of 6 tbsp. per gallon on water. Through coverage of the pest is necessary. Avoid using soaps on plants with hairy leaves or with very thin waxy coverings on the leaves.

I hope you can put in good use this tip for your own garden.

1 of 100 The World's Most Influential People

My hubby was reading the TIME magazine May 11, 2009 Edition. And that called my attention of who are this year's 100 Most Influential People?...and I started to go through page by page, to my surprise I saw a young man that I admire a lot...of course he's from Venezuela.

His name is Gustavo Dudamel, he's a very talented man, dedicated to teach classical music. His career has skyrocketed. This fall he will become the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He's in the list among others like Michelle Obama, George Clooney, Penelope Cruz and the Twitter Guys.

Gustavo Dudamel

He has an unlimited talented and charisma, Gustavo has invigorated the sometimes staid world of classical music. His performances are very alegre, where the audience can't resist the infectious joy.

Gustavo Dudamel's musical passion was nurtured in his native Venezuela, where he participated in the country's classical-music program for children. He's using that model for a program in the U.S.

When Gustavos made his own New York Philharmonic debut a year and a half ago, the Times declared, "Once this kinetic young conductor took the Philharmonic' podium, the comparisons with Bernstein were obvious... He delivered teeming, impassioned and supremely confident performances. Clearly, the Philharmonic players were inspired by boundless joy and intensity of his music making."

I posted a video of him and his passion, enjoy it as much as I do.

And the winner is...

Drum roll please, #51 yay! HEATHER!!!...Congratulations Heather you're the lucky winner, I'll be in touch with you so we can make the arrangement .

And thank you so much to all the participants and supporters for made this giveaway so special...See you next time my dear Bululians and stay tuned for more future giveaways...like my father in law used to said "It's better to give than to ask".

Celebrating Paper Anniversary?

My Dear Bululian, nice to see you here visiting us. Yes, that’s right, we aren’t nuts. Paper is the symbol of our second anniversary. Please join us in celebrating Second Etsy-versary on Etsy! We would like to thank you for making BululuStudio a success. In honor to the Paper and our mother nature, we are giving away an Upcycled Paper Poppy Flowers Rack Organizer, the giveaway runs from today through next Saturday 22^nd until 12:00 am! The winner will be announce on Sunday.

Contemporary Poppy Flower Reclaimed Wood Organizer by BululuStudio
(click the picture for item description)

Enter to win this gorgeous organizer, here are the rules:

• Just say hello each time you stop by this post. (1 entry)
• Sign up for our e-mail updates with feedburner up on the left column. It’s free and if you change your mind later, you can always unsubscribe (1 entry)
• Go to our shop and leave us a note as to what you liked there. (2 entries)
• Tweet about our giveaway, shop and follow us on twitter. (2 entries). Come back and post it here.
• Send us some good loving fans to our facebook page. (1 entry) come back let us know.
• Bring a friend to our blog and have her/him leave us a note saying who referred her/him. (1 entry) Let us know here.
• Please leave an email or where to contact you, in case you’re the luck winner.

Note: Limit seven entries per person.

Want to know the other materials for your anniversary click here.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Don't throw it away!

Lupita the Robot (upcycled home decor and collectibles)

While browsing, I found this site TerraCycle. It offers a great way to REDUCE the waste that goes to the landfill and at the same time helps you raise some money. Also We must find great uses for new objects, upcycling is a new way to reduce waste. Now Terra Cycle can help you raise funds for your favorite charity or school by helping them collect waste. It’s easy and the shipping is free. Here are some examples for the items that you will be pay for:

o Soda Bottles, Yogurt Containers, drink pouches, energy bar wrappers and more.

For more details check out their website: terracycle.net

I'm having a Poll

I want to hear from all of you, what are your favorite topics on my blog.

Please vote so I can have an idea what interest you. I'd really appreciate it. I'm also hearing suggestions.

Don't throw it away, Give it away.

Two weeks ago my sister suggested me a group on facebook, it's call "The Free Market of Melbourne / Palm Bay, Florida". So I read the description of the group and of course joined it. I love to support these kind of activities. The Market take place at Holmes Park (manatee park) in Downtown Melbourne; every last Sunday of the month from 1 to 4pm.

I went there and take with me some stuff I've been collecting like old kid's movies, cd's, some cellphone charges for the car and a pair of brand new sandals. Now I got some space at home for new stuff that I want to buy, and I bet other people did the same thing. I'm pretty happy with the concept of this activity and I congratulate Adam the founder of the market for this wonderful idea.

Now I decided to spread the word. If you want to know more about the group. Here is the link.

Guest Blogger... Ecogeneration

Coffee, Tea, or be eco-friendly? by Ecogeneration

If you are like me, there’s nothing like a strong cup of coffee in the morning. But for me, after one cup of java in the morning, I switch to Green Tea, Black Tea, English Breakfast Tea, Earl Grey Tea, you name it, I have them throughout the day. Of course, freshly brewed tea is so much better than using tea bags but I use tea bags too. So what do I do with all those used tea bags or leaves? Here is what I found out about using used tea bags.

1. Water Your Plants - split cold used teabags and put them into the pots with house - plants, especially ferns and roses love this.
2. Soothe Your Eyes - you've done this, I'm sure, but cool used tea bags reduce swelling around the eyes. Great solution for those of us who are "women of certain age."
3. Cure Warts - I know! Can you believe it? Tannin in teas helps cure warts. Press used teabags onto the wart, remove it, and let the skin dry naturally. Do this for a few days.
4. Dye Fabric - great for white cotton or muslin. Use strong tea for darker color. It is a natural dye that won't run or wash out. (I used an used tea bag to stain paper for my daughter's school project to make it look old and antique-ish. It came out perfect!)
5. Scent a Drawer - take a few used teabags that have been dried and add a couple of drops of essential oil. You can use it to make a sachet for drawers. Lavender or lemon oil work well with this.
6. Marinate Meat - use cold tea to marinate meat to tenderize.
7. Remove old Polish - soak a couple of teabags in boiling water. Allow the water to cool for a while and then soak a soft cloth in it. This can be used to wipe away old polish and dirt from furniture. Great for refinishing old furniture.
8. Clean Mirrors - Cold tea will bring a great shine to mirrors and tiles.
9. Soothe insect bites - put a cold used teabag on insect bites. The tannin will neutralize the sting.
10. Make Ice for Iced Tea - Why use ice for iced tea? Freeze leftover tea as ice cubes and use them the next time you want to make iced tea. Pour the tea over them for instant chilling.

Thanks you so much Karen :D

Take a peek of her shop

Eco placemat flatware carryall

You can check more goodies by Ecogeneration shop here.

A very special friend...

Last Friday I was talking on the phone with Lolos as usual planning all the activities for our Spanglish team, she mentioned that she's was going to Orlando for shopping on Saturday. And I said wait...where? Orlando? You're going to be so close to me and we are not gonna meet each other? no way... All the plans begins to unfold... yes you read it right... we finally, almost after a year since we met on an Etsy lab... see each other eyes, face to face, cheek to cheek hehe...we laughed a lot that day. I met her husband and daughter, she met my daughters and husband also.

Lolos and Bululu

We spent the afternoon and part of the night chatting, laughing, joking. It was a rainy and stormy day. What a wonderful person she is, I'm very glad that I met her and her family. I believe this is the beginning of a new friendship.

Gracias Lolin :D

Frida Kahlo Birthday Challenge

I'm participating in the Frida's Challenge hosted by Spanglish Team and the Etsy Owls Team. We are celebrating the 102th Frida's birthday. It has been a very enjoyable week, working on this organizer. Hope you like it.

If you want to vote for your favorite Frida click here. You can search the tag on Etsy: "frida challenge" to see more wonderful items from my teammates.

Here is my version of Frida Kahlo.