Happy almost new year!! I’m not going to say it, how I can’t believe that the year is already over, and how time just moves too quickly. Those words are so contrived. Instead, let me just say that 2015 was a pretty great year for me, and I owe it almost ALL to my followers and fans….
Search Results for: summer
Homemade Rainbow Soap with Kids
This past summer in art camp we tried something totally different and new: soap making! I researched heavily, relying on the trial and error of other bloggers. I loved the goat milk soaps made by the kids at Purple Twig – especially with their use of flowers and herbs – but ultimately I decided to…
Art Educator Interview: Samara Caughey from Purple Twig
I have wanted to start a new series on the blog for ages. About two years ago, I decided that I needed to become an art teacher. It just felt like the right next step in my creative journey. Having no background in teaching, other than a few classes on early childhood education in college, I relied on…
The Book That Shaped My Parenting
Today I want to share with you a book that I have read, re-read, dog-eared and scribbled side notes in for the past 10 years or longer. I am not getting paid for this post, it’s not a review. I just wanted to share a philosophy that has been my north star through almost all…
Shibori Dying Technique with Kids
Shibori is a Japanese tie-dying technique. There are an infinite number of ways one can bind, stitch, fold, twist, or compress cloth for shibori, and each way results in very different patterns. We delved into shibori at art camp in July and it was epic!! I had eight kids that week, ages 5-7, and each of them took…
DIY Dream Catchers Made by Kids
I’m so excited to finally get this post up!! We made these dream catchers during art camp in July and the kids were so into it. They really loved making all of the different elements: taping, wrapping, sewing, beading, painting and pom-pom making. It was a very busy three hours. I was SO proud of everything they…
Paper Mâché Mobile with Kids
In the summers I teach art camp, as you may know if you read my blog. We do lots and lots of very cool things which I photograph to death. The photos get downloaded to my computer, and then I forget about them because life moves fast. I just recently found these photos of a project we did…
Bubble Wrap Roller Printing
In my art class there are many days where I plan a collaborative art experience. I actually love these projects more than anything else. Since I teach mostly four and five-yr olds, collaboration is a natural way to promote creativity and exploration because at that age every experience is so rooted in socialization. They love to…
Family Vacation Idea: Boston
Road trip! Last summer we decided to take a spur-of-the-moment drive up to Boston. We live in southern Connecticut so it’s about a three hour drive. My kids had never been before, and I will admit that they weren’t super excited. Since it was a “surprise” I think they thought that the next words out of…
Creativity is Messy // Let Them Explore!
Creativity is messy, but oh so important for the exploration of self. A little about me As I child, I was always making. My mom taught me to sew when I was six, on an old Singer that had a hand crank. I would sew pillows and bags and, eventually, my Halloween costumes. I also…
