I couldn’t be more excited for Art in the Park this weekend! I’m hoping to see your familiar faces — and some new ones too! It has been wonderful to hear fond studio memories from those of you who shared with me that you miss being able to drop into the studio to create!

Part of my vision when I transitioned to a mobile pop-up format was to bring my studio back to our community for open-ended art at the park, creativity and fresh air just go together! What better park than the one across from my old studio location- Bernice Bennett Park in Westlake Village.

Drop in anytime between 2 and 4pm on Sunday at Berniece Bennett Park (31800 Village Center Rd, Westlake Village) to create.  I’ll have my signature bins of inspiring recycled materials for open ended creating!  I’m also particularly excited that my friend Sharon from Heart4ART will be joining me to share some of her wonderful artistic techniques with you! This is a free community event ( any donations to benefit our non-profit, CReATE ON YOUR CAMPUS are welcome).
Drop by and share the joy of art with us.  We look forward to seeing you in the park! 

Warm Regards,

Jemma

Owner/Founder CReATE STUDIO

I am so excited to offer a free, family, creative event with my friend Sharon from Heart4Art. Ever since going mobile, people have told me that they miss just being able to drop into the studio and create — well here we are! We are creating a pop-up studio session just for you! It’s our gift to the community!  I’ll have everything you’ll need for open-ended creating with my vast assortment of recycled materials, Sharon from Heart4Art will teach some of her favorite art techniques.  So whether you’re looking for open ended creating or a little more structure, we’ll have options for your creative exploration.  We are just thrilled to share the joy of art, imagination and creativity with you! 
Stop by Berniece Bennett Park in Westlake Village (31800 Village Center Road) anytime between 2pm and 4pm on Sunday, July 31st and create.  Can’t wait to see you in the park!  

Jemma W.
Owner/Founder

During my themed camp week; Camp CReATE we’ll make art with sustainable art flair! Each day will include a guided theme with a recycled material base and plenty of time for open-ended creative expression with my collection of reuse materials too! No artistic experience necessary.

I’ve also got a full line-up of unique, creative and eco camps lined-up throughout the summer! Check them out here.

See you this Summer!
Jemma W.
Owner/Founder

Last year’s Eco Dollhouse Camp got rave reviews, so I’m doing it again at the Agoura Hills Rec Center. Design your own 3-story house – to decorate and fill with sustainable furniture!
I’ve got a full line up of unique, creative and eco camps planned for this summer! Check them out and join me.

I am so excited to be doing field trips again!
Creating with a class of students during a field trip really resounds the “Art Fun for Everyone” motto in my head! Next week I will be visiting Oakwood School with all my eco art materials to make Arthropods with 2nd graders! Giving students a unique art experience where they create a physical project that they come up with is applying the learning they have culminated over a number of weeks to flush out their animals- yes, Arthropods are animals! They’re thrilled to KNOW that they need certain components to make their creations real , a certain number of legs, eyes, and even body structure because they’ve learned all about them. What a creative hands-on way to bring that learning home!
Learning is listening, reading, writing and of course, making!

Learning fun, here we come.

Jemma W.
Owner/Founder

On Mother’s Day, I focus on play. I’m looking forward to spending the day with my family, where everyone else does the actual “work!”  I’m envisioning lots of outside activities — with plenty of room to run off energy and minimal clean up necessary.   Maybe we’ll fly a kite?  Or, take a hike — even if it’s just around the neighborhood!   Arts and crafts in the backyard.   A picnic lunch.  With my “To Do List” on-hold, this is the day I soak up why I wanted to be a mom in the first place.   To reconnect, to laugh and to wonder at how the baby girl I held in my arms is growing into her own.   

I hope you have a joyful Mother’s Day!

Warm Regards,

Alora C.

Sustainability Planner

Last Saturday I hosted a Family Art Day at CMATO – my fav local contemporary museum. Participants from age 4 to 80+ worked together to create three canvas cast-off collages using some of the CReATE collection of materials I provided. We glued and painted, explored and played.
It was so good to be together, talking trash (literally) and all things mother earth. Everyone was in-tune to the Earth Day message and talking about what we can do to help our planet as well as the fun and frolicking spirit that art moments allow. The common ground we shared for a few hours fed our spirits and the colorful canvases brightened our hearts.
I love that CMATO provides Family Art Days where art and connection are always intersected.

Jemma W.

Owner/ Founder

I am always amazed at how our earth regenerates itself.  How even after a devastating fire, the green returns the following year.  Or how after a strong storm, the next day will be bright and sunny; bushes that bowed down the day before, now standing tall.  I think, too, of weeds cropping up in sidewalk cracks.   Nothing seems to keep that life force down.  How resilient mother earth is!  How persistent.   This earth day, I’m thinking about ways I can be a little more regenerative, a little more life-giving.   Like, planting an herb garden, so I won’t buy herbs in plastic wraps or throw out half of a large bunch from the farmers’ market that I never seem to finish. In my backyard, I can just snip what I need.   I also think love has a regenerative property, that grows exponentially, like so many things in the natural world.  We humans need love to grow!  So, I’m going to work a little harder at spreading that love around.

Happy Earth Day!

Warm Regards,

Alora C

Sustainability Planner

Time is flying by! It’s already time for Spring Break and that means Camp CReATE’s Spring Break Sampler!
I am really excited to spend the week with community kids and creating. I’ve got a great week planned with a new project each day as well as plenty of time for open ended eco-art, my personal favorite! I cant think of a more fun way to honor Mother Earth than to spend time using our imaginations and expressing our creativity through the reuse of recycled materials! We’ll be painting rocks, making a cardboard T.V, make mason jar terrariums and of course, slime not to mention painting, taping, gluing, building and generally making whatever comes to mind. Let’s create!
No artistic experience is necessary. Click here for a detailed description of each days session.

See you Monday<

Jemma W.
Owner / Founder

Check out these easy eco tips for baskets, fillings and eggs:

1. For baskets, think reuse!  Take a basket you already have and place a dish towel, large cloth napkin, or piece of fabric, inside; then fill with Easter treats.  Or, invest in a sturdy basket your children will use year after year, preferably made of a recyclable material. You can also make eco-friendly baskets by weaving your own out of paper grocery bags; or make smaller baskets by weaving ribbon through plastic berry baskets. 
2. The grass — think biodegradable.  Try shredding craft paper or recycled tissue tissue paper.  (Even better if you can re-use scraps of paper or repurpose some of those St. Patricks Day decorations!). Or, line the basket with real wheatgrass — you can grow your own (it takes about 7 -10 days) or purchase it.  You can also place a green cloth in the basket.  Edible easter grass, is another alternative, though I can’t vouch for its taste!
3. The eggs — please don’t buy more plastic eggs!  I know it can be tempting, but this year, consider hiding more decorated hard boiled eggs than the plastic variety.  If you’re looking for an egg you can fill, opt for paper or wooden eggs.  Or,  hide something else altogether (e.g. clementines) which children can “trade-in” for candy with mom.   If you must use plastic eggs, consider those that are made from recycled plastic.  If you already have plastic eggs — keep reusing them!  And if your kids are aging out of Easter hunts, consider checking with a local church if they will accept donations of your cleaned plastic eggs.

Above all, have a happy Easter!

Warm Regards,

Alora C

Sustainability Planner