BARAKAH LIFE handmade

NID's Book Launch

Press Gifts

Oriental Inspiration

 

I recently worked on a fund raising event and was blessed to collaborate again with Su Pittam. We created the event programs, favor tags, and gift bag stickers. Our inspiration was a beautiful photo of an oriental rug which we used as a border for all the items.

Zaytuna's logo was created by Abdul-Latif Whiteman.

Scented Favors

The homeschooling co-op that my son will be attending this year had a brilliant idea for a fund raiser. They recently found a new site which is located in a very peaceful area and the building itself is a warm and soothing space. So before all the children's items get moved in, the idea was to have a Women's Spa Day which they are calling "Tea and Time Away". The event will have 4 different areas,  High Tea, Spa treatments (by professionals) Swimming and a lounge area with henna and some light massage. My part in the event is the decorating and creating the ambiance of a spa in the four different spaces of the event. Since this is an event that people are paying to attend we wanted to make favors for them as a little thank you. Keeping the vision of the spa in mind I decided to make scented bath salts to give to the attendees. The favors above are made with Rose Geranium essential oil.

Ingredients

• 3 cups Epsom Salts or Sea Salts, the two may be blended
• 1 tablespoon of oil for moisturizing
• Essential Oils 15-24 drops depending on the strength you prefer

Directions

• Pour the salts in a glass bowl
• Add the moisturizing oil and mix well, then add the essential oils and mix again
• The mixture can now be packaged for giving or kept in a tight fitting jar.

Happy Summer

   Simple Children's Bubble Favors

Betsey's Favors

                       

My niece Betsey just got married and I had the pleasure of making her favors. Once I saw her pretty invitation I decided to use it as inspiration for the favors. My hope was to stylistically create a minimal but elegant favor and to that end I created two different styles, one made with a box lined with velum and wrapped with the copied image from the stationary. The other style I made by sewing the velum and card stock together. I actually liked them both but decided to go with the box. I made 150 of them and then sent them on their way to Betsey. I was so pleased that she liked the little packages. Since I was not able to attend the wedding the making of the favors was a way for me to be with her in love as well as spirit.

                                   

Celebrating with Favors

Silk Favors
These favors were made in silk with 5 different shades of green and are tied with a rayon grosgrain ribbon.  Sewing the favors in tandem is a quick and easy way to make them.

                                                                                                                                                           

Fruity Scented Fun

Kool-Aid Play Dough
It's surprise dough.
The ingredients are all white until you add the hot water
and then you have an explosion of color.

1/2 Cup salt

2 3/4 cups flour
2 packages Kool-Aid
2 cups boiling water
3 T cooking oil
Mix Dry Ingredients
Add oil and water and then knead, add more flour if needed.
Store in the refrigeratorr in a airtight container.

Detou loved making the dough and is giving the play dough
as a little favor to friends at her party.

 

 

Sweetness of Giving

Treat Bags

 

Often I make favors for friends, family and community events. I find the whole process appealing, from the dream stage to finally arranging all the favors as a focal point for an event. The sweetness of a  favor is that it is a little gift for all who are present. It is care, generosity and a little sharing of the style of the giver, all wrapped up in a little package.

I made these wool bags for an upcoming family gathering. I'm planning to add lots of little gifts to the bags all wrapped in bright tissue.

Favors For A Friend

A dear friend is expecting a baby any day now and another friend graciously honored her with a baby shower. I had the pleasure of contributing the fun bit, the favors.

The timing was great as I had taken an outing to my favorite fabric store earlier in the week and bought some rosey wool felt and ribbon. I had no plans for them they were just too pretty to not take a bit home. The online invitations had trees on them so I took the inspiration from that for the tags.
                         
Spicy red hearts and chocolates fill the bags.

I took a few cookies as well, these are cookies that I usually only bake for Eid and baby showers. They are very special to me as they were made once a year by a women that was an Auntie, mentor and friend when I was a girl. So for all my special occasions I think of her.