Clementine Art

Conscious Baking

2011-11-29T14:56:00.008-07:00

Refined white sugar has been linked to myriad health issues including cancer, obesity and premature aging, among others. As a lover of baked goods and sweet treats, I set out to teach children how to enjoy baking and the cozy reminders of childhood (chocolate chip cookies?) without overloading on white sugar.

My latest challenge has been to replace cane sugar with healthier sweeteners for a children's cooking class. Here are my favorites, in order...

Caramel-y rich, sticky, and actually, less sweet!
Can be substituted for any other liquid sweetener in equal measure.

Stevia in the Raw (cup for cup). 

Normally, Stevia is such a powerfully concentrated sugar replacement, you'd only use a fraction of the sugar equivalent, which can be confusing in recipes. Stevia in the Raw is measured cup for cup in place of white sugar. Pretty great.

Erythritol is a plant based sweetener that can be used as a sugar substitute in most sugar-free recipes. Erythritol is present in foods such as pears, melons, grapes and mushrooms. Erythritol is 100% pure and derived from corn.

Abes Market Live Features Clementine Art

2011-03-30T11:49:00.001-06:00

Abe's Market Live wants to know more about Clementine.
Learn the story from Clementine founder Diana.

What Your Child Already Knows.

2011-02-16T14:18:00.016-07:00

Our complex world is struggling under the weight of disease, war, Global Warming, poverty, hunger, and vanishing resources. We expect the world’s population of approximately 6 billion to become 12 billion by 2054 if the current rate of growth continues. A great deal of creativity will be required to respond to these challenges. We need citizens with big ideas here.

The potential consequences of a decline in American creativity are far-reaching. According to Newsweek, the necessity of human ingenuity is undisputed.

A recent IBM poll of 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the No. 1 “leadership competency” of the future. Yet it’s not just about sustaining our nation’s economic growth. All around us are matters of national and international importance that are crying out for creative solutions, from saving the Gulf of Mexico to bringing peace to Afghanistan to delivering health care. Such solutions emerge from a healthy marketplace of ideas, sustained by a populace constantly contributing original ideas and receptive to the ideas of others. -Bronson and Merryman, The Creativity Crisis

Divorced from the formative and developmental experience of creativity as a part of everyday life, children are losing the ability to create. US creativity scores have been falling since 1990, and children from kindergarten through sixth grade exhibit the most serious decline.

Although most young children are very creative, it is estimated that creativity diminishes by 40% between the ages of 5 and 7. At these ages, formal schooling begins, and there is some agreement that education inhibits the transformation of early talent into adult creativity. It may be that schooling emphasizes logical rather than divergent thinking, or that schools and families value conventional behavior, well-defined problems, and good grades.-Sandra Kerka, Creativity in Adulthood

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, implemented in 2001, was designed as an education reform movement dependent on high standards, and measurable goals in core curriculum areas. Even though the arts are a designated subject of this core curriculum, it has been reported that since 2007, almost 71% of schools have reduced instruction time in subjects such as history, arts, language, and music due to NCLB’s greater emphasis on reading and math.

Creativity has slipped as a priority in our homes as well. Television, technology, and video games have replaced engagement in the creative process. On average, children spend as much as 7 hours, 38 minutes a day in front of a screen, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation last year.

At Clementine Studio, the evidence was clear. Young children approached tables laden with colorful art supplies begging to be transformed, and inevitably started their work by asking, “What am I supposed to do here?” It didn’t take long to discover that modern children require a well-defined program of support in order to reconnect with their innate ability to think in original ways.

A Culture of Correctness

What’s the problem with logical thinking, conventional behavior, and good grades - outcomes that have long been heralded as the pinnacles of educational purpose, and the goal of mainstream schools? Unfortunately, the emphasis placed on the importance of ‘one right answer’ is often at odds with creative development and original thinking.

American children are heartily rewarded for following the rules. At home, school, and in sports and social settings, a child who strives to do things right is a parent’s joy. Standardized tests have right answers, sports teams, community activities have well-defined norms and rules, and peer pressure is strong to have the ‘right’ clothes, hairstyles and friends.

Mistakes are often undervalued. At Clementine Studio, I regularly witnessed the evidence -- young children dissolving in puddles of frustration because they weren’t able to make something ‘right’ on the first try. Engagement in the creative process requires confidence, tenacity, flexibility, and follow-through -- all processes that gain momentum when children are challenged by a mistake.

This unique combination of factors (emphasis on correctness, and reluctance to make mistakes) helps create children who avoid taking creative risks. Of almost 38 million children enrolled in US elementary schools today, more than 66% of these children like to make art. Unfortunately, only 30% of children think they are good at it. This widespread insecurity leads children to abandon their creative aspirations. A perfect score on a test, a flawlessly executed piano piece, or a realistically drawn horse are valued markers of achievement at home and at school, causing young children to distance themselves from the uncertainty (and messiness) of creative, and original self-expression.

The natural state of childhood is open, inquisitive, fearless, and creative. It isn’t until judgment, comparison, and the concept of correctness enter the conversation that children begin to shut down creatively, with often-irreparable damage done to any existing creative confidence and willingness to take risks.

Children, Watch Them

Here’s my dirty little secret: I don’t think of myself as a creative person. That I have spent my life as a creativity junkie, fixated on art and self-expression, makes little sense. During my double decade drive on the creativity expressway, it has been widely assumed by people I meet that I am also an artist; perhaps a painter, potter, or musician whose vibrant skills explain why in the world I am so infatuated with the idea of creativity. With amazing regularity, I hear the lament; “You must be one of those lucky creative types…It’s a shame only some people are born like that…I don’t have a creative bone in my body.”

There is a name for that lucky creative type – the “Big C creative.” The “Big C creative” moniker is reserved for those extraordinary creative minds among us who have made a profound impact on life and culture; people like Picasso, The Wright Brothers, and Steve Jobs whose profound and far-reaching creative vision knocks our collective socks off.

Alas, I’m not that person. I’m a creative wannabe. I’m drawn to observe the process of children’s art for many reasons, not least that it infuses me with a glimpse into the workings of the authentically open, fresh, and developing mind. Working with children as models for the creative process helps me to understand that I (indeed anyone) can pick up some of the seemingly effortless, creative dash of children.

The “little c creative” type is more my style - the type of person who shows creative ability through problem-solving (stretching a very tight budget), innovation (making modeling dough from spinach when the chemicals in regular clay grossed me out) and self-expression (making up songs in the shower) – “Little c creative” potential is present and available in all of us.

Over the years I have developed certain know-how on the subject of children’s creativity and why it is so staggeringly important. I preach from my Clementine Art bully pulpit every day: practice creativity or else! So why have I gotten so tangled up in my own creative process? Why are so many potentially creative souls tangled up in theirs? The answer has many parts, and applies to everyone who has declared herself lacking creative bones.

Find Your Voice

Since children are developmentally limited to a worldview that puts the self on center stage, it’s not surprising that children know what they want, and will try many different approaches until they’ve discovered the most satisfying way to say it.

When is the last time you put your self in the spotlight with an invitation to express yourself creatively?

Fearlessness

The creative process takes courage. It takes guts to form a vision and see it through. Children haven’t yet developed the self-consciousness that comes from a critical eye. Their innocence starts with simple clear seeing, and goes from there. Their vision is then grounded in the fresh, unspoiled interpretation of what is in front of them, unhampered by fear of the outcome.

Confidence

It takes resilience not to judge yourself a total disaster after you make your first mark. By watching children, I always learn something about the childlike state of mind that goes something like this; what I’ve done is good enough to tape on the refrigerator. I don’t even notice, or care that the picture of my dog looks exactly like my picture of my dad, with extra legs.

Divergent Thinking

It takes a visionary and a problem-solver to dream of sending a cardboard box rocket to the moon. Don’t you remember having ideas as a child that could have changed the world? As an 8 year old in the early 70’s, I waited impatiently in the car one morning while my mother stopped into the grocery store. I was itching to have a friend over, but couldn’t contact her.Wouldn’t it be great if there were phones in cars, I thought?

When did we stop dreaming? Any more importantly, why? Just think what any of us could have come up with if given the encouragement and tools to form, develop, and follow-through on our biggest and best ideas.

I believe every soul has the potential for creativity, and every human life can be made richer by engaging in the creative process. The creative spirit only needs to be approached with respect, and a sense of possibility.

Pomplamoose: Another Day

2011-02-06T09:01:00.001-07:00

It is amazing what two talented people can do. So creative!

She might be my new fave.

Winter Clementines

2011-01-30T19:20:00.003-07:00

my friend susanna from paper scissors oranges sent this today.

it made me smile. have you had your clementine today?

Clementine on the Daily Grommet

2011-01-26T10:52:00.001-07:00

Paper Village

2011-01-14T12:02:00.005-07:00

Most of the time, I am inspired and amazed by children. Sometimes, I am really inspired and amazed by them...

Imagine some old boxes sitting around your house. Mine would end up in the recycle bin. Some folks might jam 'em in a closet, or under the bed.

Here's what my dear young friend Audrey did with the old boxes at her house:

She used paper, scissors and glue. That's it.
The trees are folded - origami-style.

I love the walkways and her mix of patterns.

Don't the windows look cozy with the yellow paper behind?

I'd like to live in this neighborhood. Magical!

The Clementine Cookie

2011-01-13T11:04:00.022-07:00

Recently, it became clear that we needed to thank all the lovely people we work with for all that they do for us, and with us, everyday.

Holidays are a good time for that, so I rolled up my sleeves to make a zillion clementine sugar cookies with citrus glaze. They are golden, light, and a little soft, with a refreshing, not-too-sweetness about the glaze.

Here's the recipe from Martha Stewart:

Ingredients: Makes 2 dozen
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons brandy, or milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies, optional

Directions
1. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar; mix until light and fluffy. With mixer running, add egg, brandy, and vanilla; mix until well combined. With the mixer on low, slowly add reserved flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
2. Transfer dough to a work surface. Shape into 2 discs, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
4. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes, and transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch in between. Leftover dough can be rolled and cut once more. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes; do not allow to brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
5. Decorate with Royal Icing, optional.

Since I like my icing a bit softer than Royal Icing, I skipped the meringue powder, and made my icing like this: 

2 c powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
Annatto Paste for orange color (to liking)

The idea is to make it thick enough to stick, and thin enough to cover the cookie without having to spread each one. I just held the cookie upside down, over the bowl, and dipped/rolled until I got the coverage I preferred. You can make the frosting with water instead of lemon juice, but it's much tastier with the citrus hit.  

Here's how they looked while the icing was setting overnight:

My goddaughter Audrey took this shot. 

Pretty good eye for a 9 year old, yes?

Stacked tall in cellophane bags. A dozen to a stack. 

Add a handmade card and a ribbon. 

So many thank you's. 

Thank You!

Winter is Here

2010-11-17T10:19:00.006-07:00

Brr. It's cold outside!You might be looking for a sweet winter art project to do with your children. This one is gooey, messy fun.

Make a Winter Snowperson to keep you company this season.

Start with some newspaper strips, Clementine natural glue, a handful of flour, and a bit of water. Make a thin paste (think pancake batter), and begin to dip and wrap the strips around balls of newspaper until you've got 3 balls, of various sizes. Let them dry.

Attach them together with skewers, or a hot glue gun. Paint them white, or lots of colors with Clementine natural paint.

Sprinkle with natural confetti or glitter, let dry.

Start embellishing. Add a jaunty hat, some button eyes, a dough nose, and some wooden bits for buttons. Add some arms made from outdoor twigs, and a broom if you like.

viola! your sweet winter friend.

Mod Fairy House

2010-11-16T21:30:00.007-07:00

do you believe in magic and fairies? i do.

so does my friend audrey.

she made this incredible, mod fairy house using only natural materials; clementine glue, markers, glass beads, handmade paper, an inexpensive wooden picture frame, fabric and some unpainted wooden bobbles.

here are some of our materials.

first, she glued down the rugs.

she made a chair that she 'upholstered' with paper.

look at that curvy bed. i want one like that!

what a great fireplace!

she even decorated the tree!

ready to move in.

the artist, age 9

The Nag Factor

2010-10-20T10:01:00.002-06:00

Marketing to children is creepy.

The film 'The Corporation' reveals some serious manipulation on the part of children's product manufacturers to perfect the 'nag factor', that is, marketing to children to encourage them to nag their parents to purchase something. Video via Elephant Journal.

Have you ever wondered why Clementine packaging is so clean, lovely and sophisticated? It's designed to attract the eye of the parent. We left off the characters, chaos and noise because we believe that simple is best for children and that our colorful art materials should speak for themselves.

Green Your Halloween

2010-09-23T22:45:00.010-06:00

"Halloween candy sales this year will top $2.23 billion" - LA Times

Let's painted-face it. Halloween is big business. A 5.8 billion dollar business in the United States alone.

Of the 43.4 million children ages 3-12 years old in the United States, 9 out of 10 will go trick or treating, consuming 600 million pounds of Halloween candy. With each trick-or-treater outfitted in a costume, at an average spend of $23 each, US consumers shell out more than .8 billion dollars on largely disposable children's costumes.

The crazy joy of running about in a cape, fangs or a crown, not to mention the cheerful extravagance of a pillowcase full of candy aside, it's worth noting that our modern celebrations have some significant downsides on the health of children, and the health of the planet.

More than 1/3rd of America's children are overweight, with more than 17% of them considered obese. One in three children born today will get diabetes, and 2 million children suffer from high blood pressure. This adds up to a generation of children with a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

In addition to the added calories and sugar, conventional candy can contain any of 6,000 chemicals that are used in the manufacturing of processed foods, artificial dyes accused of causing cancer, and a variety of synthetic additives that have been linked to hyperactivity disorder and other ailments. Non-organic coco beans used for chocolate that are grown in full sun (as opposed to shade) are susceptible to disease and therefore require heavy doses of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

The news gets worse. Pippa's sparkly polyester princess dress, complete with a bejeweled plastic tiara, may contain phthalates, cadmium, lead or other toxins. A recent test of multiple brands of face paint found detectable levels of lead inevery one of them. According to UNICEF, coco-bean plantation owners are notorious for child slavery, and paying low wages to farmers due to market deregulation.

Enter Green Halloween

These downsides weighed heavily on Corey Colwell-Lipson, a Seattle area mom, in 2007. In response, she founded Green Halloween - a non-profit community initiative to create healthier and more earth friendly holidays, beginning with Halloween. Working with her local Whole Foods Market in Bellevue Washington, Colwell-Lipson approached individuals, businesses, and other local organizations to help make Halloween in Seattle more sustainable.

Colwell-Lipson hit a deep chord of discontent. Almost overnight, her grassroots Green Halloween movement spread from Seattle across the country through wide-spread media exposure, word-0f-mouth marketing and online buzz.

Now in more than 33 cities across the US, Green Halloween activities and events are being coordinated by volunteers with the help of local and national sponsors like Larabar, Cascadian Farms, HGTV, KIWI magazine, Celestial Seasonings, and Whole Foods Markets.

Volunteers set up family-friendly events to support the Green Halloween goals of the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Green Halloween events replace conventional candy on trick-or-treat trails with healthier snacks like popcorn, nut bars, organic chocolates and natural gum; focus halloween activities on candyless fun like spooky games and pumpkin painting; and sponsor local costume swaps for a low-cost way to recycle and reuse last year's Halloween costumes.

The message seems to be catching on. An increased number of PVC free costumes, lead free paints and reusable trick or treat bags are on the market, organic candy offerings are up 170% since 2004, and conventional candy companies like Cadbury are exploring the organic and Fair Trade markets.

Visit www.greenhalloween.org to learn more about Green Halloween events in your community. If Green Halloween hasn't reached your community yet, perhaps consider volunteering to help get a local movement started in your town!

Note: For residents of Boulder, Green Halloween and Clementine Art are partnering with the Downtown Boulder Association to green our very own Munchkin Masquerade on the Pearl Street Mall, October 31st. Look for the Green Halloween logo in the window of mall retailers for healthier treats! Contact info@clementineart.com to get involved with our local Boulder Green Halloween efforts.

Are You a Helicopter Parent?

2010-08-21T09:27:00.006-06:00

The decision to have a child is momentus. It is the decision to forever walk around with your heart outside your body - Elizabeth Stone

As a child, my parents were unflappable about safety. I played, unsupervised, with a posse of neighborhood kids, rode in seat-beltless cars, skated near fragile ice over frigid pond water, and walked to and from school (gasp) alone! My parents weren’t lacking love, care, or responsibility, but were reflections of the Mad Men era – a time when smoking, littering, and a laissez-faire attitude toward child rearing was the status quo.

I’m not suggesting that we take up smoking, littering, or neglecting children, but besides the obvious risks, there were surprising benefits to a hands-off style parenting style. I learned to test the ice, fight my own battles, and navigate my personal threshold of fear. Because I was allowed to play both sides of a limit, I developed an internal compass that has pointed me toward (mostly) good, safe decisions since.

Was I just lucky?

The world can be a dangerous place. More than 12,000 children are killed each year in car, suffocation, or drowning accidents. Parents must manage the threat of predators, environmental toxins, and disease. In response, modern American parents have tipped the balance on child safety. We’ve got car seats, nanny cams, and a dizzying array of safety gadgets that have, industriously, made a significant dent in the number of injuries to children by preventable and tragic accidents.

They have also scared parents to death, and created a new kind of beast. The emergence of the term Helicopter Parent, for parents who hover, like helicopters, close to their children, whether or not they are needed. Ironically, over-parenting makes children less safe, as it is responsible for the development of emotionally fragile children who lack independence, problem-solving skills, and confidence.

Danger is real. Precautions and common sense attention to safety is needed. Hyper-vigilance, however, can be paralyzing to children and parents alike. We must work to find a balance between keeping children safe, and allowing them the space to grow into confident, independent and empowered beings.

Freedom with Supervision

Allowing children freedom doesn’t mean letting them play in traffic. It means creating safe spaces in the yard, in the park, in the house, to make their own choices, decisions, and yes, mistakes. This is the foundation of learning how to be safe, and developing the critical skill of problem solving and self-reliance.

Choice with Limits

Allowing children to make choices doesn’t mean that they can choose never to eat another vegetable. Caregivers can allow children to make meaningful choices - the kind that empower and nourish them. Let children be in charge of their art, their music, their clothing, and their games. It’s great way to dissolve power struggles, and engender confidence at the same time.

Responding to Toxins

We are lucky to live at a time where we have access to information about what’s contained in the products we purchase, where and how they are made, and what harmful effects on humans and the environment might be associated with their use.

Since I’ve started paying attention, I find myself feeling continuously compelled to push myself toward better, healthier, and more informed choices. All I had to do is pay attention. New legislation called CPSIA (the Consumer Product Safety Information Act) has regulated testing for lead and phthalates in all children’s products.

Other toy, clothing and product information is widely available on myriad websites like Healthy Child, Healthy World (healthychild.org) and Mindful Mama (mindful-mama.com). These informative sites have a wealth of information, articles and discussions about healthy choices for families and the environment.

Keeping children safe while still encouraging healthy development is about informed choices, thoughtful consumerism, and for caregivers, finding that deliciously sweet spot between terror and complacence.

I Do Art

2010-08-05T23:46:00.004-06:00

Via Round Bottom Baby on the super cool website poppytalkhandmade.com

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

2010-08-01T20:13:00.002-06:00

I need her as my life coach.

A Music Lover's Guide to Children's Tunes

2010-07-23T09:12:00.001-06:00

I grew up a music nerd.

Just like the worn cliche, I was a member of the family that sang every folk song known to man in our beater station wagon on long, sticky car trips, and belted out Christmas carols by candlelight around our small-town tree. More unusually, we also sang grace in five part harmony around the dining room table. I even had a barbershop quartet practicing in my den. By the time I went to college, I had graduated to stiff, aching acapella harmonies every night of the week. Even today, I find myself peeved at the religious right for humiliating my experience of the Christian church as a place to sing sacred music for it's own sake.

Nerd or not, I loved music. It only took a few minutes out west for my musical tastes to evolve toward the freedom and heart of the independent musician. Under countless influences including the Boulder Theater, the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and my own experiences on the Boulder singer-songwriter scene that defined the 90's for me, I tuned my guitar, and showed up for Open Mike Night at Penny Lane more often than my friends wanted to come.

When children are steeped in music, it enters the bones, the skin, the breath, and the memory. It lifts, soothes, explains, and comforts. Honest music spreads the stories of life before us like a book. Love, absurdity, loss and joy ask children to connect in an authentic way with the musician, the music and each other.

The power of music was transforming to me as a child. After my grandfather's stroke, we found he could no longer speak, but amazingly, he could still sing. We all experienced a blessed moment of relief from the excruciatingly frustrating loss of communication with only a few lines of music. Just last weekend, it only took a single bar of song, a sampling from the Barbershoppers Harmony Festival on the Pearl Street Mall, for tears to spring to my eyes for my late, barbershopping papa.

Music runs deep.

I am always on the lookout for music with meaning. With integrity. With a soul. For children, these qualifications are especially important, and even harder to come by. I believe that the makers of music for children underestimate them; underestimate their ability to sense complex rhythms, word play, and real feelings. I like my children's music to be real, and sweet and important to them.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

1. Woody Guthrie: Songs to Grow On. This album is simple, rhythmic, percussive and funny. The songs are just plain sweet, and about as stripped down and under-produced as you can get.

2. Elizabeth Mitchell: Catch the Moon. I love her style. It's soothing, playful, and multicultural in an effortless way. Her voice is like honey. I could listen all day. An added bonus: Lisa Loeb is a guest artist.

3. Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas. I've heard tell that the executives assigned to updating 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' wanted to pull off the classic jazz soundtrack and substitute something more 'child appropriate'. I'm glad someone talked them out of it.

4. Jerry Garcia and David Grisman: Not for Kids Only. Drawn from their vast knowledge of roots and folk music, the friendship, humor and genius musicianship in this album is unmistakeable.

5. Various Artists: Daddies Sing Goodnight: A Father's Collection of Sleepytime Songs. A charming collection of world class bluegrass and folk musicians (who also happen to be daddies) like Townes Van Zandt and James Taylor (performed by the Seldom Scene) makes for a heartbreaking, lovely collection of almost all original tunes.

5. Dan Zanes: Rocket Ship Beach. A former member of the Del Fuegos, Dan Zanes and Friends perform family music with humor, energy, respect and groove. He mixes children's songs with traditional folk, bluegrass and world music.

7. Bev Bos and Michael Leeman: Come on and Sing. These two are the king and queen of the teacher's conference musical workshop (more nerdiness, I know), but they are responsible for making tens of thousands of teachers sing, laugh, cry, and learn songs to sing with children. That's pretty cool.

I'm sure we'd all love to hear about what music you've enjoyed listening to with your children, what music was important to you as a child, and what makes you want to dance, so leave a comment and join the conversation.

Create Your New School Year: Vision Boards

2010-07-08T15:57:00.011-06:00

Intention is a force in the universe that allows the act of creation to take place.

- Dr. Wayne Dyer

Sometimes I create things that I can hold in my hand. Other times, I create things in my life that I can't literally see, like the outcome of a dear hope or wish. I'm a believer in the maxim "positive feelings will attract more positive circumstances" and what you put your mind to, tends to show up.

The start of a new school year can set the tone for how that year will turn out. The concept of a vision board (also known as a goal board, goal map, or treasure map) has been around for generations, but it’s gained a renewed interest and popularity after they were featured in a DVD documentary movie called The Secret.

I love the idea of making vision boards with children. The concrete images make their hopes and dreams very clear. The process provides children with a creative opportunity to self-reflect, dream, set goals, and creatively express their hopes through intentions. As an added bonus you're creating a 'snapshot' of your child in scrapbook form that will create great memories for both of you.

The first step is to create a list of intentions. These are the intentions of a young friend of mine...

Next, we found visual images to go with them. I love to scour the flea markets for the best vintage postcards, trinkets and other symbols of the intentions on our list.

To accompany the images, I pulled out decorative handmade paper scraps, pretty stickers, and Clementine Natural glue. I arranged all these items on a blank white background (white's not necessary, I just like it).

I let it dry overnight. Stay tuned to see the embellishments with Clementine natural paint and markers tomorrow.

Suncatchers with Colored Glue

2010-06-29T13:35:00.003-06:00

Clementine natural glue works perfectly with color. Add a teaspoon of Clementine natural paint and stir until the paint is incorporated. I made a whole set!

Squeeze colored glue on a clean, plastic deli lid. Make swirly designs, dots and patterns.

Let dry completely.

Pop dried glue out of the lid.

Punch a hole, and hang on a string in the window.

Catch the Sun with Crayons

2010-06-29T12:49:00.009-06:00

Use those pesky crayon bits and ends to make a luminous suncatcher.

You'll need: waxed paper, crayon bits, and an iron set to warm.

Break up the crayons and sprinkle them on waxed paper. You can use a grater if you like. Thin and light pieces are best.

Place another sheet of waxed paper over the crayon shavings and press gently with a warm iron.

When your suncatcher is cool, cut it in any shape you like, punch a hole in it, and hang it in the window with a pretty ribbon.

Groovy Scratch Art: Clementine Natural Crayons

2010-06-25T15:16:00.008-06:00

Remember Scratch Art? Many of us enjoyed revealing the rainbow colors hidden beneath smooth, dark paint.

Simply color (hard!) on a piece of heavyweight paper with Clementine natural crayons until the whole sheet is covered.

Paint a layer of dark blue, black or purple paint over the crayon and let dry.

Unfold a metal paperclip or use a wooden skewer to scrape a design into the dried paint with a crayon layer underneath.

Circles and Dots

2010-06-25T14:14:00.009-06:00

Young children and major, modernist painters have more in common than you might imagine. Shapes, color and a fresh way of seeing ordinary objects is a start.

Peter Reynolds has written a darling children's book that is a must for every budding artist's library. The heroine in this story decides to paint dots. In fact, she paints a whole art show full of them.

Wassily Kandinsky made lots of dots too.

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter, and art theorist. He is credited with painting the first modern abstract works.

For circles at home, make watercolor paint with Clementine natural paint + water. Use Clementine creamy crayons and crayon rocks to make more circles.

For the Little Who Likes Trucks More Than Painting

2010-06-25T11:17:00.003-06:00

If your little is more interested in cars and trucks than painting, here's a great way to combine the two! I found the funniest little vintage car at the flea market. When you roll it, the money in the back pops all around.

Splat some paint onto a blank sheet of paper and drive the car right through the paint! The wheels make all kinds of groovy tracks.

Endless entertainment.

What children learn: color mixing, cause and effect (wheels make tracks in paint), inquiry, troubleshooting (too much paint), pretend play, observation.

Colored Sandies: Sand and Glue Painting

2010-06-24T15:26:00.008-06:00

Sand Painting is the art of pouring colored sands, powdered pigments from minerals or crystals, and pigments from other natural sources onto a surface to make a painting.

Sand Painting is a part of many indigenous cultures including Native American, Aboriginal, and Tibetan Buddhist.

All you need to make sand paintings at home is some colored sand, Clementine natural glue, and some heavyweight paper.

A second option is to sprinkle sand on a sticky surface such as clear contact paper (above).

What children learn: color mixing (blending), the properties of materials (sticky, grainy), how things work (glue is sticky), design and planning.

'Don't Forget Me' Journal

2010-06-24T11:35:00.011-06:00

A truly special vacation should live on in memory. Making a travel journal with your child is a way to combine art, early literacy, and scrapbooking all in the same meaningful activity.

To make a pretty journal you'll need: heavyweight cardboard, recycled white paper (for the pages), pretty paper (for the cover), ribbon, hole puncher, Clementine natural glue, a paintbrush (for the glue) and embellishments.

Brush the back of your paper with glue and center the cardboard in the middle.
Snip the corners and fold the paper carefully over the edges until the paper is flat and smooth.

Repeat with the front cover. Place a stack of paper between the covers and punch 2 holes with a heavy duty hole puncher.

Bind your journal with pretty ribbons or a circle clip.
Embellish the front with stickers, drawings, paintings or writing.

Once you have your journal, then collect the following:

Writing and drawing tools: markers (thin and thick tip), crayons, colored pencils
Camera (Polaroids are fun for immediate gratification)
Glue stick
Envelope—for collecting special treasures — a feather, a ticket stub, a note from grandma
Each day, you and your child can pick one or more memories to record. Children younger than 5 will likely draw their memories and tell the accompanying stories verbally. Parents can record the child's words (preferably verbatim), underneath the drawings in caption or story form (book format helps literacy development). Let your child take the photographs and glue special treasures in the book as well.

At the end of your trip, you’ll have a delightful collection of child-centered memories to look back on. Don’t forget to have your child ‘read’ it to you before bed.

Summer Fireworks: Bingo Bottles

2010-06-23T12:41:00.004-06:00

Clementine natural paint in a sponge topped bottle. They're called Bingo Bottles and available at www.discountschoolsupply.com.

Fill them with 1 Tbsp of Clementine Natural Paint
and 2 Tbsp of water.

Turn the bottles upside down and splash on the paper.

Summer Fireworks

What children learn: cause and effect, the properties of materials (splashy, liquid, drippy), color mixing, design.

Crayon Flowers: Recycled Crayon Bits

2010-06-22T13:03:00.009-06:00

Don't throw out those crayon bits. Make them new again!

I am thrilled when I discover a great way to recycle and reuse what I already have, and that happens to be a large box of broken crayons and a very sweet antique mold from the flea market.

I'm going to wrap these in cellophane with a pretty ribbon and tag and give them to someone I know who loves crayons. 

Swirly Circles: Marble Art

2010-06-22T11:51:00.010-06:00

Have you ever actually played the game of marbles? I'm not sure I ever learned the rules, but I'm still drawn to the weight and colors of marbles and like to use those pretty glass orbs as paintbrushes instead!

Marbles grab the paint and make trails behind, leaving the most interesting designs. Mesmerizing to watch.

Just gather together a pan (cookie sheet, brownie pan, pie plate), some Clementine natural paint, heavyweight paper and a bowl of marbles.

Scoop some paint onto the paper, add marbles and roll!

What's Different About Clementine?

2010-06-18T10:39:00.003-06:00

Magic Watercolors: Crayon Resist

2010-06-17T10:18:00.006-06:00

I loved invisible ink when I was little. The idea of being able to pen secret messages only to be revealed later with a top-secret process fueled all sorts of imaginative play scenarios - all quite mysterious.

All you need to make invisible, magically revealed watercolor art is Clementine natural paint, watercolor brushes and paper, and a white crayon or candle.

Start by drawing a secret design on the white paper. Since it's white-on-white, it might even end up being a surprise to you!

Then, mix 1 T Clementine natural paint with 1/4 C water. Shake or stir well. Use watercolor, (soft bristle) brushes to paint over your hidden design.

What children learn: 2 step process, properties of materials (oil vs. water), resist technique, self expression, discovery. 

Make A Mess: Summer Outdoor Art

2010-06-16T12:44:00.010-06:00

The sun is shining and the days are long. It’s time for you and your little  one to venture into your backyard to try some juicy, messy and fun art projects  that you might not care to have in the house.

Messy art gives children a sense of freedom, control, and possibility that  they don’t get from more tightly controlled crafts. Children explore gravity when  plops of paint land on their toes, experience sensory stimulation by painting  with their hands and feet, and discover color theory by sheer trial and error. This  kind of joyful, messy, and limitless play allows children to grow and develop  by integrating the whole child; mind, body, and spirit.

Play-based, messy art explorations can be daunting for parents, but with these tips  you can set up, manage, and clean up play based art explorations for your child  with ease.

Set-Up
Choose your  spot. The driveway, backyard, and the picnic table are great choices. Shady areas  are most comfortable for your child to work. Tape or pin up paper on the  backyard fence or tree for an impromptu easel.
Protect your picnic table with a machine washable, naturally coated splash mat like the one from Mimi-the-Sardine.  (They also make gorgeous aprons from organic cotton fabric imported  from Sweden.) If you need a quick solution, slice a garbage bag  lengthwise. Sponge the table with clean water before you spread out the bag so that it will  stick.
Paint on an old cookie sheet. It contains any spills and you can send it through the dishwasher. Rimmed cookie sheets also work well as trays to store art materials and  carry them outdoors when ready to make art.
Old baby food jars make excellent paint containers. Lids keep paint fresh between uses.
Keep oversized old t-shirts handy for rags and cover-ups. Button-up shirts are great to put on  backwards, so that when they get messy they don't have to pulled over  your little painter's head. Better yet, slip your child into her old bathing suit and water shoes.
Put up an outdoor clothesline for drying art in the sunshine. Dripping dry over the grass  is good too.
Basic Project Supplies
Large roll of easel paper or newsprint. Painting on old newspapers makes an interesting background  for a change of pace.
At least three to six colors of washable children’s craft paint. Primary colors (blue, yellow and red)  are fun to mix into more vibrant choices for your child. Adding white makes  pastels.
Three to six large, round brushes. House painting brushes are fun too, but you’ll use more paint.  Dish and bath sponges, old toothbrushes, and dog toys make great, unique paint brushes.
You can order bright, washable materials: paint, markers, watercolors, and lots  more from Discount  School Supply. Some great paint choices are: Clementine Natural Tempera Paint from Clementine Art,  or Colorations Liquid Watercolor paint from Discount  School Supply. This highly concentrated, extra vibrant watercolor paint can be used  straight from the bottle as paint for paper or wood, a dye for rice for the  sensory bin, a coloring for play dough, and much more. Try the Tropical Colors set, eight 8-ounce bottles, $24.
Spray bottles. Fill with water and several tablespoons of liquid watercolor paint. Spray on paper mounted to a tree or your back fence.
Save your old cardboard boxes and hot glue or tape them together with your child to make  rockets, castles and trains. Cut windows and doors with an exacto knife (parents  only), then paint and decorate. This one keeps children playing for hours.
Clean-Up and Storage:
Add a drop of dish soap to tempera paint to make clean-up easier.
Use one brush per color of paint. The paint won’t get watered down or muddy. It also creates a  matching game for young children.
Cups or old mugs with warm water keep brushes pliable until wash time.
Old shoeboxes make great storage for markers, pencils, brushes, and paper. Just take a digital  photo of what’s inside and stick it on the end; Your kids can find everything  easily and independently.
Untangle the hose. The best part of outdoor art is that you can just wash it all away.

Natural Paint Monoprints

2010-06-11T13:53:00.006-06:00

Clementine natural paint monoprints are simple, fun, and exploratory!

So many different outcomes, so many different tools, lots of learning.

Begin with Clementine natural paint, a plexiglass sheet (or cookie sheet, mirror, or styrofoam tray), some paper and some painting tools (brushes, dish brushes, dog toys, anything textured;
toothpicks and combs are fun).

Paint right on the plastic sheet to your hearts content.
 Use your unique tools to make designs and patterns in the paint. 

Press a sheet of paper over the wet paint and rub gently. 

Peel back gently to reveal your monoprint. Notice that it's a mirror image of what you painted. 

Perfect Little Abstracts: Melted Crayon Art

2010-06-09T14:14:00.017-06:00

Creamy natural crayons + warm surfaces = melty lusciousness

All you need is a warming tray, paper, foil and Clementine natural soy crayons.

First wrap foil over the warming tray and set it to LOW.

When it's warm, draw on it with crayons.

Then press paper gently over the melted wax. 

Use a rolling pin to evenly soak up the wax and lift off warming tray with tongs.

Safety Note: Watch your child's fingers, and don't touch the foil or the warming tray

Enjoy your abstract expressions!

What children learn: the properties of materials (hot, melted, cool, hard), printmaking (mirror images), color mixing, self-expression, discovery and how to keep their bodies safe using real-life tools (warm tray).

Tweenager Art

2010-06-02T15:20:00.025-06:00

From very special guest contributor Kristin Fitzgerrell

I was beaming with pride this past  Mother’s Day. All three of my children were part of the same art  opening. Emma wrote poetry. Jack presented the cutest garbage fish on  dry land, and Kate was commissioned to make some sweet scrap-paper  dolls. 

As an artist/mother (www.studio22art.com), I am busy squeezing my own creative work into every spare sliver of time I can find, steal and sneak. Nothing could be more joyous for me then when my two professions overlap. Now that my children are becoming, well, BIG, the very best part is watching these three develop their own creative practices, narrow their focus and devote time and energy developing their own art.

Here are a few of my best hints to encourage your teens/tweens to get back to the creative exploration we saw occurring so naturally when they were four!! And what better time than summer to try these:

Don’t suggest it: Just mysteriously leave things in obvious places: A postcard notice of a unique event that might pique their interest: a film festival, a fashion show, a concert. Happen to leave new box of colored pencils or a lump of fresh clay somewhere obvious (on their keyboard? :) Even simply an art book from the library picturing some interesting or thought provoking new work to make them wonder (or laugh!)

Do suggest it: A visit together to the art museum where they bring a friend and choose the lunch spot. A trip to a vintage car show. A class together where you both learn a new creative skill or learn to look at life through new and creative eyes. If you live in Boulder or Denver, how about a trip to the botanic gardens or First Friday evenings (every month) in Boulder/Denver galleries.

Provide a dedicated space and tools/supplies: Provide basic art materials and suggest looking beyond an art supply store for inspiring materials. Your local resource yard is a great (and green!) place to get inspired for 3-d projects. Provide the stuff for artmaking the same way you provide food and shelter. Wood scraps, paint, wire, paper, cardboard, fabric. . . the list is of course endless. Create a place where your favorite artist can write, think, draw, sculpt and tinker uninterrupted. Creative practice needs a home.

Support: Not approval that a particular piece of their artwork is good or worthy but rather constantly humming the theme (no words!) that creative pursuits are time well spent. Develop and nurture your own creative practice to model for your teen/tween the intrinsic benefits of incorporating creativity practices as a part of everyday family life and a crucial part of personal development.

If you live in or near Boulder, CO, Check out the above-mentioned show, Resurrections, at the Canyon Gallery in the Boulder Public Library, Boulder, CO through June 30. It is curated by Jennifer Heath, and features some very creative artistic work by local artists of all ages utilizing garbage/recycled materials. A great show for the whole family, sure to inspire some creative summertime exploration of the recycle bin (and beyond) at your house!!

Note from Diana:

I am so pleased to introduce guest artist Kristin Fitzgerrell, Boulder mom and creativity guru extraordinaire. Kristin went from making scrappy art (age 6) in Boulder, to designing not-so-scrappy book jackets (age 26) in Brooklyn, to making bigger scrappy art with better adhesives (age almost 46) in Boulder. Look forward to her insightful perspective on art, creativity and children here, and view her incredible artwork at her website www.studio22art.com or at www.openstudios.org.

Clementine art celebration

2010-06-02T12:46:00.001-06:00

Clementine Art teamed up with natural snack company Snikiddy to celebrate children's art. See it here.

Clementine art celebration

View more presentations from Mary Schulman.

Appreciation Bouquet

2010-05-29T13:39:00.008-06:00

My friends Amy and Anna are getting married today.

I wanted to get them a toaster, but instead of presents they asked for appreciations.

Here is the appreciation gift I made for them.

The little tags are tied onto the flowers with hot pink raffia, and each card

contains an appreciation like "I love Amy's giggle"

Speaking the truth on a deeper level

Our speech is one of the most important ways we can take into the world the lovingkindness, or metta, that we develop in meditation .

I’ve said already that mindful speech should not only be honest, but should be meant kindly. One of the most effective means of being kind in our speech and of helping others is to express appreciation of them.

This is an excellent practice.

From Wildmind.org

Summer Paintsicles

2010-05-25T11:49:00.008-06:00

Summer is almost upon us and the weather is heating up.

Keep cool this summer with natural paintsicle painting with Clementine natural paint.

All you need are some popsicle molds (or an ice tray and tongue depressors) and some Clementine natural paint.

Pour the paint in the molds and freeze overnight.

Dip in a warm water bath to demold.

Paint on heavyweight paper. Outside is a good place.

ART Revolution: In the Spirit of Jamie Oliver

2010-05-20T09:23:00.005-06:00

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution was a chilling look at the state-sanctioned junk food we have been feeding our children in America. In three months, an energetic, passionate chef from Britain made deep inroads into the supremely heart-clogging, processed food habits of 'the unhealthiest town in America,' sparking a glimmer of optimism for the health of our nation's citizens.

Sir Ken Robinson is my Jamie Oliver. What Sir Ken lacks in celebrity, he provides in substance. He believes that our children are in trouble; that our schools are doing children a disservice by favoring convergent thinking. He believes that creativity should be taught with the same vigor as the basics; reading, writing and math. What is missing in our schools is a deep appreciation and support for the creative process. Regular engagement in the creative process stimulates rich child development, and will provide nourishing, and innovative answers to our global dilemmas in the same way that fresh, healthy foods will nourish our growing children.

In his book Cities and the Creative Class, Richard Florida discusses three main prerequisites of creative cities; Talent, Tolerance and Technology. Art and creative explorations foster all three. Creative cities are important, he argues, because they are economic and intellectual hubs of activity and growth.

We need an Art Revolution inspired by Jamie Oliver and Sir Ken Robinson. Why not start at home? Boulder certainly doesn't qualify as the 'least creative city in America.' On the contrary, by Richard Florida's definition, we might even meet the prerequisites for one of the most creative cities (at least according to the New York Times). But there's no place like home.

I'd start by tossing the tests. Standardized tests are an ineffective measure of what children know, and a waste of precious time. I'd replace the tests with portfolio assessment - a multi-layered and holistic assessment tool that requires children to engage in goal setting, creative expression and problem solving. Second, I'd hire an art teacher for every school so children can do more art. Once a week art classes teach creativity as effectively as once a week reading classes teach children to read. Finally, I'd get out the paints (mess be damned), set up the art space (or art corner, or folding card table), and start making stuff!

No excuses. The fate of the future is in our children's hands.

Let the Revolution begin!

Crayon Bits Begone!

2010-05-11T16:35:00.007-06:00

The Wax Melter Crayon Maker might be my favorite new product. Who doesn't have piles and piles of broken and nubby crayons around the house? What are you supposed to do with them? I always feel wasteful throwing them away.

This awesome contraption allows you to make super, new crayons! Pretty enough to give as gifts. It's $49 at Discount School Supply. What an idea...

Or, if you're not into thingamajiggies as much as I am, you can always use mini muffin tins and warm them in the oven. Don't forget to pop 'em in the freezer so they'll release easily.

Happy crayon recycling.

How to Grow A Creative Child (for the Planet's Sake)

2010-05-10T17:11:00.006-06:00

My contention is that creativity is now as important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.
-Sir Ken Robinson

Cultivating a creative child is oddly similar to gardening. You heartily prepare your soil, sprinkle some seeds, choose your tools, tend with love, and cross your fingers for a bountiful harvest. The difference lies in the fact that for many, a backyard garden is a labor of love. Oh, if that could only be the case for creativity.

We must support creativity. Not for it’s own sake, but for the sake of our increasingly complex world struggling under the weight of disease, war, Global Warming, poverty, hunger and vanishing resources. We can expect the world’s population of approximately 6 billion to become 12 billion by 2054 if the current rate of growth continues. Every ounce of innovation, problem-solving, and divergent thinking will be required to bear this load.

The ‘one right answer’ approach (think: children spending the day shading ovals in number 2 pencil) is not sufficient to tackle these grave, global issues. One May 10, 2010, The New York Times proclaimed ‘The Battle Against Aids is Failing,’ while an estimated 3.9 million gallons of oil has spewed into the Gulf since the April 20 explosion. We need citizens with big ideas here.

Sadly, our children are being educated in another direction. Mainstream schools, led by No Child Left Behind legislation, and US cultural trends promote direction-based thinking. I fretted over evidence of this fact every day at Clementine Studio. Inevitably, a child would approach a table laden with inspiring and colorful art materials and ask “What am I supposed to do here?” afraid to make a step in any direction but the ‘correct’ one.

In order to balance the educational and societal trending toward like-mindedness and objectivity, and to encourage the development of creative thinkers, we must start with our youngest citizens. Art experiences provide rich, developmental opportunities for the development of creativity. Since art is an open-ended and unstructured activity, it requires independence, decision-making, problem-solving, and the creation of something new, all essential components toward the development of a creative mind.

What if we tackled the beast with a trowel? I love the idea of merging a sense of urgency with a labor of love. Applying the very same careful and disciplined techniques used in a bountiful garden also work to inspire creativity in children. Learning to think creatively is accessible to every human mind, and requires patience and practice. Most of the work of growing a creative child has to do with adjusting our own, perhaps uncreative habits, judgements and expectations. Here’s how you can get started:

1. Prepare the Soil: Create a space for creating where your child has room, independence and permission. Think of it as a space of possibilities. Help your child to stock it, maintain it, and use it. Resist the temptation to use stencils, craft kits with directions, and rubber stamps.

2. Choose Your Tools: You can set so many creative examples by reusing, recycling and reinventing old materials, trash and other ‘art’ supplies. Corks and paper rolls can be sculpture, fruit trays and vegetables can make prints, and old tin foil can be a costume. Resist the temptation to use overly processed art supplies. It’s the same idea as food. Simple is healthier.

3. Fertilize Your Garden: Children will develop independently, but think of how much more rich the outcome when they receive caring, but non-judgemental support. When children begin to make art to please you, you’ll know it’s time extract yourself, and give them some space to please themselves. Resist the temptation to judge or name your child’s art. That’s a job for the artist.

4. Enjoy the Harvest: Celebrate your child’s art! Hang it up in your home art gallery, make it into a ‘book’ at the copy center and read it, and with permission, give it away! Also, don’t limit yourself to visual art. Perform a play, sing a song, and dance with scarves. The more you encourage creative thinking and self-expression, the more your child will prefer it. Resist the temptation to edit or ‘fix’ your child’s art. That is also a job for the artist.

Drawing Dreams Foundation

2010-05-07T15:04:00.007-06:00

These images were created by children, sick with cancer, who had the opportunity to express themselves through a non-profit called drawingdreams.org.

Check out their gallery. There are so many excellent children's paintings.

'Wish for the Earth Flags'

2010-05-02T22:22:00.006-06:00

In honor of Earth Day, we made 'Wish for the Earth Flags' inspired by Tibetan Prayer Flags. In Tibetan culture, these flags are printed with woodcuts on colorful fabric and hung high in the mountains of the Himalayas so the wind will spread the prayers far and wide.

The Garden School Foundation Party

2010-05-02T21:56:00.010-06:00

Clementine Art products attended a very pretty party in Beverly Hills in support of the Garden School Foundation, an organization that brings nutrition education to inner city children through community gardening, one of our favorite green initiatives.

Supermodel Amber Valetta gets into the Clementine paint.

Mother's Day Gift: Citrus Peel Soap

2010-04-23T15:43:00.013-06:00

Calling all dads and children looking for a sweet homemade gift to make for Mother's Day this year. All natural citrus peel soap smells good enough to eat, is rich and nourishing to the skin, and is easy to make. So gather up the ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and head into the kitchen with your little one. This soap contains Olive Oil, rich in vitamins and antioxidants to reduce free radical skin damage; citrus peel, a natural exfoliant and fabulous source of vitamin C, also a strong antioxidant; and lovely essential oils to provide moisture and soothing aromatherapy. Mom will love it.

I always delighted in giving my own mom handmade noodle necklaces, macaroni frames, and giant lumps of fired clay in the shape of ashtrays (she didn't smoke). The homemade gifts were the ones she kept. Long after the gilded spritzer of perfume from Christmas was carefully stored away, the awkward and crooked homemade gifts were the ones permanently displayed on the coffee table. She must have felt the love in them.

You'll Need:

1 lb block soap (olive oil, glycerin, goat's milk are all good choices; available at craft stores)
Molds (mini loaf pans, muffin tins or special soap molds are good choices)
Turmeric powder (available at herbal and health food stores).
Lemon and orange essential oils
Fresh lemon and orange
Zester
Pretty paper and ribbon for wrapping

Try it Now:

Cut a block of soap into approximately 4" x 2" chunks and place in a microwave safe pitcher or bowl. Warm for 30 seconds to one minute, taking care to catch it before it foams over.
Remove from microwave and add 1/8th teaspoon turmeric powder. Stir with a spoon until dissolved.
Add 2-4 drops of orange essential oil until you are satisfied with the smell
Grate 1 tsp of orange zest into the mixture and stir until combined.

5. Pour into selected mold. Let set for 45 minutes and freeze for 10 minutes more before demolding.

6. Repeat with process for another bar of soap with more or less color. Use just a tiny speck of powder for lemon soap and substitute lemon zest and essential oil for orange. Make as many bars as you like.

7. Wrap in pretty paper or tissue and tie with a ribbon.

Zen and the Art of Childhood

2010-04-14T23:19:00.005-06:00

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment, wisely and earnestly.
- Buddha

Children know this already. I am always amazed by their natural and effortless awareness. Watching a colorful mobile spin can be endlessly mesmerizing, and banging a spoon on a pot is pure noisy experience. The transition from meltdown to contentment might be as easy as a cheesy snack, and conflicts over ownership last for a matter of seconds. I can learn a thing or two here.

When my mind isn't racing around lamenting my lack of discipline, regretting a glowering lapse in compassion, or planning supper, I might realize a blessed moment of stillness. Maybe I'll feel the warm sun on my face, relax in traffic when I'm late for an appointment, or notice that i've already eaten plenty of chips. Maybe I've chosen to spend so much time with children because they are better at this than I am, and they provide a little-fingered tap on the shoulder back to the present whenever they're around.

I was lazing around in a hammock last Sunday, with my small friend Isabelle. While I was wondering if I shouldn't be home cleaning the bathroom, she reminded me that we were having a very nice time by chanting "This is fun" at least once every ten minutes. With the effectiveness of a gong, I came back to the hammock and the bathroom faded away.

The learning doesn't stop at mindfulness. Children are jolly good at reminding me of other precious nuggets too:

Curiosity: A child's curiosity is natural and unbridled. Somewhere between asking "What makes it rain?" and "Can I borrow the car?" I lost my obsessive interest in the details. When I remember to pay attention, I begin to remember that I really do care about the spider in my bathtub and if she'll survive in the flowerpot on my porch.

Joy: When was the last time you sang into a hairbrush pretending you were the only girl in the Beach Boys, did cartwheels in your underpants, or laughed so hard you snorted your beverage? For me, it's been double-digit years. That seems like too long. I like to hang out with kids to get back in the swing of joy.

Creativity: Children don't really get that there is a box, so it's easy for them to think outside it. Trees can be purple, grass is sometimes orange and at least one of them has dreamt of launching a cardboard box rocket to the moon. I need to remember where I put those drawings...

Art Space 101: Kids in a Candy Store

2010-04-12T12:13:00.015-06:00

photo from Amy Atlas, event planner NYC

Remember that feeling of going into a candy store when you were little? Bright, shiny colors, endless possibilities, and all you wanted to do was get started! Those are the elements I like to keep in mind when setting up a children's art area. You don't need a whole extra room available — a well-thought out nook in the corner, the basement, or under an umbrella in the garden will do. When designing an inspiring art space for your child, keep these ideas in mind:

Inspiration

Creating an art area that is convenient, pretty and manageable is easy if you keep inspiration (for yourself AND your child) in mind. Choose colors that you both love for the walls and furniture, find beautiful, simple and natural materials, and remember to keep open spaces that will make room for new ideas. I frequent blogs like paper scissors oranges and Bloesem Kids for juicy new ideas.

Independence

To encourage your child's artistic independence, it is important to let go of any expectations for the outcome. For young children, it's the process of creating that is richly developmental. Encourage your child to make choices: the project that lights up their eyes, the materials they fancy, and the final outcome (that part is the hardest for most adults). Arrange art supplies in containers that make the contents visible to your child. Choose safe and age-appropriate materials (child safety scissors, splat mats under the workspace), so that all art time doesn't require such close supervision. A little space goes a long way in creating an independent artist.

Organization

Clean and well-organized spaces are respectful of children. They let your artist focus on her ideas, and provide a sense of calm and order to the project at hand. This is not to say the space won't get messy, but your art area will be easier for you and your child to maintain when everything has a proper place. Art messes like spilled paint and glue are also less likely.

Choose clear jars for organizing materials by category (markers, crayons, paint, collage materials). I love the 'candy store' look. Or, scour yard sales for baskets, bins and tubs that can be used for art supply storage.
Tape a photograph or drawing of each item directly onto your art shelf. Even young child can return items to their proper place by matching the item with its picture.
Arrange safe materials at child-height for easy and continuous access

Use Recycled/Found Materials

Your personal recycle bin, community recycling/up-cycling center, or backyard are great sources for art materials. Here are some ideas for items to save/collect/recycle: corks, bottle caps, bubble wrap, leftover kitchen tiles or scrap wood, paper rolls, clothes pins, newspaper, gift boxes, rocks or pebbles, seashells, acorns, popsicle sticks and tongue depressors, pinecones, twigs, leaves, tin foil, ribbons, broken jewelry, used wrapping paper and tissue, shoeboxes, glass jars, string and thread, fabric scraps, yarn and previously enjoyed greeting cards.

Choose Safe Art Supplies

Always make certain that the art supplies you choose are certified nontoxic. The package should be clearly labeled with "conforms to ASTM-D4236," our national, nontoxic standard. I always encourage the use of the most natural and clean art supplies you can find. Clementine, Lyra, Stockmar and Eco-Kids are all terrific, all-natural brands that replace synthetic chemicals and preservatives with only natural ingredients.

Keep it Simple

Children don't need a lot of bells and whistles to participate in the creative process. In fact, simple and easy choices are often the most inspiring and filled with possibility. Cardboard, glue, scissors and a variety of found objects can be the building blocks of the loveliest collage, and a simple sheet of white paper paired with colorful, unique drawing tools may surprise you.

Set the Tone

Independent artists work to please themselves. Children should be encouraged to do the same. When responding to your child's creative efforts, try objective comments like, "Wow! I see you used a big circle of yellow in that painting." Your child will see that you are engaged and paying attention, but will be free to experience her work according to her own set of criteria: emotional response, expressive freedom and personal satisfaction.

Keep it Fresh

Even children get tired of the same old choices day after day. A box of half dried out markers and crumpled sheets of notebook paper fail to provide inspiration and freshness for any artist. Remembering to rotate art materials — putting out crayons one week, and markers or pastels the next — can bring a new interest and attention to your child's art space.

Mix the Arts

Who says art, music, theater and dance can't happen together? Try playing a variety of music (upbeat, classical) in your art area, or making sock puppets for a family show. Surrounding your child with all kinds of artistic mediums and opportunities heightens emotional connection to the experience, and shows children that art can be both purposeful and joyful!

Celebrate

Don't forget to show your child how much you value his artistic expression by celebrating his artwork. Make a home gallery, create a scrapbook, or 'publish' works of art into books at the copy center. Your artist may even give you permission to turn a few pieces of art into gift-wrap, greeting cards, or gifts to share!

Groovy Spin Art: Kid Powered, Planet Approved

2010-04-10T08:33:00.010-06:00

Remember when battery powered Spin Art was the craze? I remember making psychedelic, groovy swirls by dripping paint onto a swiftly rotating sheet of cardstock until I was dazzled, or the batteries went dead, which was more often the case.

Our version is stripped-down and kid powered; no batteries required. Spin art allows children to explore cause and effect, patterns, color-mixing, and centrifugal force through play. It's also invites the use of the whole body; great for coordination, timing, strength and balance.

Try It Now:

Collect:

Salad Spinner (often available at yard sales for pennies)

Squeeze bottles (I like to reuse my agave, mustard or honey bottles)

Paint (try Clementine all-natural paint)

Heavyweight paper or cardstock squares

Put the paper in the salad spinner and drip, drop and squeeze paint on top. You may want to limit your colors to 2 or 3 for a more interesting result, but don't take my word for it. Try it yourself.

After the paint is to your liking, put the cover on the salad spinner and spin away! Be sure the spinner has come to a full stop before you open it to prevent pinched fingers. I love turning the final result into greeting cards, postcards, or mini collages in flea market frames.

Artcycling: Whirligigs and Windmills

2010-04-06T15:17:00.008-06:00

Vollis Simpson, a retired farm-equipment repairman, has a found an incredible

use for scrap metal, and a second career as an artist.

I'm so happy to know the story of this inspiring man, via the New York Times.

Curious George

2010-04-06T15:04:00.009-06:00

Everyone's favorite little monkey is on display.The exhibition

"Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey"

is on view at the Jewish Museum. This vintage artwork brings

me right back to my childhood. I remember being enthralled

with Curious George; especially with how fearless and naughty he was.

Hope Wish Prayer Flags

2010-03-24T13:33:00.011-06:00

I love these children's Prayer Flags from Future Craft Collective. The traditional Tibetan prayer flag is a colorful panel or rectangle of thin cloth in many colors and strung together. Traditionally they are woodblock printed with prayers in the form of text and images. They are often found strung along mountain ridges in the Himalayas to bless the surrounding countryside. The thought is that the breeze blows through and around the flags thereby spreading the prayers far and wide. This prayer flag project is a great way for children to send well-wishes into the world.

Celebrate Spring with Naturally Dyed Eggs

2010-03-22T09:38:00.008-06:00

With April just around the corner, signs of spring abound. The first, shivering crocuses are starting to bloom in my flowerbeds, and my resident woodpecker has taken up his knocking anew. I love to celebrate the coming of spring with natural art projects at Clementine Studio.

Coloring eggs has long been a favorite. Recently, I’ve been exploring natural dyes for my eggs. I was amazed by the vibrant colors I got from simple household vegetables, fruits and spices.

Use this egg dying chart below from Lakewinds Natural Foods to get perfectly vibrant colored eggs with natural dyes. Use hard cooked brown or white eggs. After eggs are cooked, quickly cool the water or rinse in cold water. This helps to prevent "greening" of the yolk. Natural dyes take a bit longer to color the egg, so plan on extra time, or leave the eggs in the refrigerator overnight.

Natural Colorant	Egg Color	Directions	Hints
turmeric powder	bright yellow to deep gold	Put -1-2 tsp. ground turmeric powder in heat proof cup. Fill 2/3 full with boiling water. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.	Works quickly. Turmeric stains. Wipe dusty spice residue from eggs.
chopped red cabbage	blue/teal	Put 2-3 tbsps. chopped red cabbage in heat safe cup. Add boiling water. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.	Let sit overnight. Avoid excess handling.
onion skins, yellow	light peach to gold/orange	Use 1 large handful of onion skin for each cup of water. Simmer 20 minutes then add 1 tsp. of white vinegar.	A perennial favorite. Easy.
grape juice	blue to purple	Add 1 cup frozen juice concentrate to 1 tsp. vinegar.	Eggs may be simmered right in the juice to cook.
grated red beets	magenta red	Put 2-4 tbsps. freshly grated beets in heat safe cup. Fill 2/3 with boiling water. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar.	Speckled design. Dye may be strained before use. Orange beets may be used to obtain saffron color.
red cabbage & turmeric	green	Pour scant tsp. of turmeric and 2-3 tbsps. of chopped red cabbage in a heat safe cup then add boiling water.	Speckled design. Wipe vegetable off with damp cloth.
red cabbage & beet	purple	Put 2 tbsps. grated beet and 2 tbsps. red cabbage in heat safe cup. Add boiling water.	Striking and intense.
onion skins, red	pale celadon green	See directions for yellow onion skins.	Allow long steeping time.

Creativity, School and Your Child

2010-03-09T07:56:00.003-07:00

This fascinating video featuring Sir Ken Robinson is about how school can hamper the development of creativity. He suggests creativity be taught with the same urgency as reading and math. It's Clementine in a nutshell. I encourage you to have a look.

Recycled Bubble Wrap Prints

2010-03-03T20:58:00.010-07:00

I always have piles of used packing supplies in my recycle bin. This colorful project is a great way to reuse what you might ordinarily throw away. It is a simple introduction to printmaking and can be done with children as young as two. Printmaking encourages the child's understanding of color-mixing, cause and effect, and multi-step processes. We did this project at Clementine Studio recently with a class of toddlers.

Set out large brushes or rollers with brightly colored tempera paint.

Tape bubble wrap to your table cover. Newspaper or a reusable, coated tablecloth work well.

Paint on the bubble wrap until you feel happy.

Press a sheet of paper on top of the paint and rub lightly. Peel off the paper to reveal your print.

Voila!

Creative Spaces

2010-03-03T10:35:00.009-07:00

Supporting a child's creativity includes providing a well-stocked space for them to do their thing. When designing an art space for your child, keep these elements in mind: Independence, Organization, and Inspiration.

Independence

To encourage your child's artistic independence, it is important to let go of any expectations for the outcome. For young children, it is the process of creating that is richly developmental. Encourage your child to make choices; the project that lights up their eyes, the materials they fancy, and how the project looks at the end (it's hard, I know). Arrange art supplies in containers that make the contents visible and accessible to your child. Choose safe and age appropriate materials (child safety scissors, splat mats under the work space), so that all art time doesn't require such close supervision. A little space goes a long way in creating an independent artist.

I love these interlocking floor tiles from www.skiphop.com. They are made of foam and washable!

Perfect for protecting floors from messy artists.

Organization

Clean and well-organized spaces let children focus on their ideas and provide a sense of calm and order to the project at hand. This is not to say that the space won't get messy, but your art area will be easier for you and your child to maintain when everything has a proper place. Also, art disasters like spilled paint and glue are less likely.

1. Put your child's art up on the wall (I love the cable and clip system below).

2. Choose clear jars for organizing materials by category (markers, crayons, paint, collage materials). I love the 'candy store' look.

3. Tape a photograph or drawing on the shelf of the item that goes in that spot. Even your young child can return items to their proper place.

Inspiration

Creating an art area that is easy, manageable, and pretty is easy if you keep inspiration (for yourself AND your child) in mind. Choose colors that you both love for the walls and furniture, find beautiful, simple and natural materials, and remember to keep open spaces that will make room for new ideas. You won't want to wait to start creating.

I love this chalkboard wall in this garage art space. Talk about freedom!

Clementine Natural Paint

2010-02-19T23:10:00.001-07:00

Watch us make recycled bubble wrap prints with Clementine natural paint and other simple and recyled materials.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Leaves in Winter

2010-02-19T09:41:00.001-07:00

I love these leaf prints from Jessica Baker in New York City. She works with copper too.

A little fall in the middle of snowy winter.

Urban Craft Center

2010-01-29T15:14:00.005-07:00

I think I'd like to live here.

The Urban Craft Center is in Santa Monica and they offer the greatest classes.

So groovy.

Needle Felting

2010-01-29T14:45:00.004-07:00

All you need to make this sweet bunny is a needle and some wool.

You'll turn it into felted wool by poking. These awesome kits are available at the Fancy Tiger's Etsy shop.

JD Salinger

2010-01-28T15:08:00.005-07:00

What really knocks me out is a book.

When you're all done reading it, you wished the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.

- Holden Caulfield, Catcher in the Rye

EcoArt Tips

2010-01-28T14:43:00.006-07:00

Clementine Art and Elephant Journal teamed up to teach old artists new tricks.

Check out some of our ideas for making your art healthier!

Clementine Hunter

2010-01-26T19:33:00.002-07:00

Clementine Hunter (1887 – 1988) was an African American self-taught folk artist born

around 1886 at Hidden Hill plantation, near Cloutierville, Louisiana.

Flip Flop

2010-01-26T10:26:00.004-07:00

Recess before lunch. Genius!

Children are calmer, eat better, and learning improves.

via the New York Times Wellness Blog

Eva Zeisel

2010-01-20T19:30:00.004-07:00

Designer Eva Zeisel is 103 years old.

These vessels are from way back in 2003 when she was only 95.

Aren't they lovely?

Miss Magoo

2010-01-16T16:12:00.004-07:00

My friend Megan has an Etsy shop called Miss Magoo. She makes the sweetest, most vibrant handmade skirts, baby clothes and burp cloths you've ever seen.

Awesome fabric, one of a kind, and truly special.

Help Haiti

2010-01-16T09:48:00.003-07:00

Click the link to find organizations you can support to help suffering Haitians.

Anything helps.

(via Elephant Journal)

Sweet Clementine

2010-01-07T21:25:00.002-07:00

I am all about chic consignment shops. What a sweet one.

I am partial to the name.

White Wonder

2010-01-07T14:14:00.002-07:00

The bedroom of my dreams.

From This is Glamorous.

Moomah

2010-01-06T15:15:00.002-07:00

Moomah might be the greatest place ever. Now I really wish I lived in NYC.

Part cafe, part art studio, part gallery, part wonderland. You must look.

Child's Play

2010-01-04T20:06:00.002-07:00

I love that this organization arranges for important art to be hung in hospitals. Rxart.net.

What better to promote healing?

They also sell toys made by artists, like this nifty puzzle.

Simplicity

2009-12-30T15:06:00.008-07:00

Clementine simplicity can be applied to anything.

Even pretty grey dresses and leather sandals.

This shot is from www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com

Vegetannual

2009-12-29T19:57:00.007-07:00

Barbara Kingsolver and her family lived as locavores for one year. Better for health, better for the planet, not to mention better taste. Read about it in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It will have you craving summer heirloom tomatoes and planning your summer garden patch.

Let's Go Everywhere

2009-12-17T14:52:00.004-07:00

Medeski martin and wood are groovy jazz musicians.

Now they've made a very nice children's cd.

What is the What

2009-12-17T14:23:00.006-07:00

Dave Eggers is my hands-down favorite writer.

The courage, resilience and strength you read of will inspire you.

It is a gift for the season.

Stuff a Stocking

2009-12-16T21:31:00.003-07:00

Mod Market

2009-12-07T16:38:00.012-07:00

Mod Market is my new fave place to grab lunch in Boulder.

Their flatbread pizza has whole wheat crust.They've got fruit infused sparkling water flowing from their soda fountain, and they offer receipts that display the calorie count and nutrition information
for your meal. I also love the super groovy, white setting.
They're doing something new; healthy, modern and delicious.