Michelle Obama and her youngest daughter Sacha enjoyed a European Vacation in Spain recently. I thought perhaps you might like to take a virtual trip to the land of las pampas and Paso Doble, the Reino de Espana. This first item is the perfect travel tote, whether you’re roaming the streets of Barcelona, or jet-setting in Marbella, which is where the bag’s designer, Martina Masini, resides.

Crochet is definitely one of those arts that can veer into the not-hip-at-all category of the world of handmade. A toilet paper roll cover made to look like a skirt with a plastic doll on top comes to mind. This is not the case with this cool brooch by Paz of Monicacaros.

I am a collector of brooches, old and new, and this one would be a very nice addition. Monicacaros is a made-up name, but the shop has some very real treasures—including a mouse named Roberto (he is Spanish after all).

My daughter is an animal lover, and horses are at the very top of the list. She gets that from her mom. I am terribly allergic to anything with fur, but I still ride horses whenever I get the chance. Thus, anything with a horse on it always gets my attention. I found this drawing by Olga Gal especially captivating. The colors are so simple but the composition is quite beautiful.

I am certain Michelle Obama and Sasha did some shopping, with Secret Service detail in tow, of course. Maybe if they had brought something back from their trip for the conservative media, they wouldn’t have been given such a hard time for stepping foot outside of the United States. How about one of these cute, handmade, plushies by Vega Lyrae? Seems like a good gift for the childish media personalities raising a ruckus. Seriously, Spain did win the World Cup–for goodness sake, shouldn’t someone congratulate them in person?