Hello! It’s been a while. I have been working so much on The Creativity Project that it’s been hard to find the time to write over here on Art Bar. But I have things to share! As you know, I have been facilitating open-studio classes at our local library over the past year (I’ve written... Read More The post Mixed-Media Exploration with Wood appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

Our family went on a trip of a lifetime to Tuscany, Italy last summer and finally, I am sitting down to write and share all about it. We had been planning this trip for what feels like a decade. Every year we would do all the work creating the itinerary, but then be too overwhelmed... Read More The post Tuscany Travel & Inspiration appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

We experienced another successful community art table! This time, I set out leaves with fabric scraps, tempera paint, glue, and colored construction paper. I had a prompt at the table, but children could use the materials however they chose. The results were pure magic. I love every single piece! [ I am a participant in... Read More The post Leaf & Fabric Collage appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

I’m back with another community event at our local library, and this time, I made cakes from recycled materials and set up the table for still-life paintings. Children used oil pastels and liquid watercolor (my favorite combination) to draw and paint what they see! Supplies needed for Still-Life Cake Paintings: ~ Recycled cakes (I’ll go... Read More The post Still-Life Cake Paintings appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

I am doing classes again! It’s been 4 years, but I am back. This time, my classes are at our local library, and they are for families with children of any age and ability. I am calling them workshops because I’m not really teaching how to do art as much as I am facilitating an... Read More The post Flower Still-Life Table appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

I’ve been wanting to make some yarn wrapped wire words for FOREVER! I saw one years ago which you can see here and which I saved on my “Handmade Ideas” Pinterest board (along with one thousand other things I want to make in this lifetime!). There are also these wire initials which use fabric scraps... Read More The post Yarn Wrapped Wire Words appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

Last month I was invited into a local preschool’s Makerspace to do a project with their 4 and 5yr olds. I decided to use the materials they had collected for the space, which was lots and lots of recyclables, plus I brought in a few of my own goodies and we made recycled collages! Let... Read More The post Recycled Collage Making with Preschoolers appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

These paper luminaries began as a project for our December “Solstice” guide. I was so inspired by how they turned out that I ordered a star hole punch and just kept making more! The idea started as a simple cutting and hole punching station for children using construction paper. In our December guide, we also... Read More The post Paper Luminaries appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

We carved pumpkins as a family for the first time in years! It used to be a family tradition, for the 13 years we lived on a cul-de-sac and got over 400 trick-or-treaters every year. But then we moved and now we don’t even get one! This weekend, though, our carving mojo came back and... Read More The post Pumpkin Cottage appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more

I took a walk in our local park this week on the most perfect fall day. Temps were low 60’s, sky was bright blue, there was a slight breeze and just the smell of autumn in the air. The trees have been turning for two weeks now but on this day, with the breeze, leaves... Read More The post Leaf Wreath appeared first on ARTBAR ..read more