Category Archives: Spotlight

Make A Paper Gift

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

I came across an old Kid President Pep Talk video the other day. It’s message was right on cue for the challenges we’ve been facing this year. He said something that really got me thinking, “what will you create that makes the world awesome?” I immediately though of making a gift for someone. Giving someone something hand made is special and makes the recipient feel special too. This works for grown-ups and kids. Chances are, when we do something nice like making art for someone, they will feel good and feel happy to do something for someone else. Paying it forward-that’s awesome.

Since CReATE STUDIO is spotlighting paper this month and it’s probably the most accessible material to make art with while your at home, why not use it to make art for someone. To keep it simple I offer the idea to paint or draw a picture. They make amazing gifts that come right from your heart. Creating something that makes the world awesome can start today with a a piece of paper and a small investment in doing good. Thanks to Kid President and Soul Pancake for the Pep Talk and the idea to create something that makes the world awesome.

Shining A Spotlight

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

This month we spotlight Ceramics of all sorts.

“Spotlighting” as we call it is our way to explore materials we receive and provide for reuse at the studio.

Through the donations we receive we get broken mugs, chipped plates and cracked bowls from time to time. I have long seen value in reusing them for artistic explorations.

After the 1994 Los Angeles Earthquake I ended up with a fair amount of broken plates and the like. Even back then I thought there must be something else to use them for so I started making mosaic pots for indoor and outdoor plants. I even started collecting scrappy dish ware from thrift stores and garage sales. I was such a fun outlet for y creativity the value of reusing broken pottery has stayed with me. It has been a material on our Donation List.

Nowadays ceramics of all sorts has become one of the materials we explore each month. Follow CReATE on instagram to see curious looks at this material and its wide range of forms that are sometimes china, sometimes, ceramic and sometimes pottery. They may all come from similar beginnings. We’ll explore how they are made, what source of the earth they come from and whether or not they can be recycled. We’ll also see who is getting creative with them near and far.

I enjoy exploring the materials we reuse and I look forward to sharing my learnings with you.

Jemma W.
Founder & Owner
CReATE STUDIO

Creating at home with fabric

Monday, July 13, 2020

In last week’s blog I introduced our Spotlight series on Fabric.
We had a chance to explore the tip of the ice berg on what fabric is made from and how.

This week I thought it would be fun to share a recent creating at home project I put on YouTube, making Homemade Hacky Sacks using socks. I categorize socks in the fabric family as part of the clothing we wear for comfort and protection. Socks are notorious getting lost or going missing in households everywhere, usually leaving a solo sock behind.

Thinking of ways things can be reused through our creating at home series is a passion for me. Turning socks into puppets are always fun but hacky sacks are something different. They create a whole different level of engagement with the creator for more physical fun. Using a few stray socks to make a hacky sack to play alone or with someone else gives those solo socks a unique sense of purpose and of course, reuse.

Fabrics aren’t always recyclable in their original states, (TerraCycle can help route the items that can), but they are reusable in many ways. I believe we do important work at CReATE, reusing things, inspiring other ways of reusing things and the mindset that everything has potential to be used again. It’s important to reuse, we are already taking so much from the planet then throwing it away. I want you to have fun exploring your creativity. When you do, it eases some of the pressure our planet carries.

We spotlight different materials each month to create space for awareness, curiosity, creativity and responsibility. I am so glad your here.

Let’s create!
Jemma W.
Owner/ Founder

Let’s explore the world of Fabric.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Sock Friends

I am a curious person by nature so my propensity to wonder where things come from is natural. I find myself thinking, Let’s explore the world of…fill in the blank.
Developing the Spotlight program here at CReATE allows me to share my curiosity findings with you. Each month I explore where the Spotlight materials we use at the studio come from. Casting a little imaginary light creates space for more inspiration and awareness about the things around us every day.

This month we focus on Fabric. Of all the genres we look at throughout the year, Fabric is the one that spans such an array of manifestations. From ribbon, to shirting, to coats to shoes to carseat covers, fabric has us covered.

As for where fabric comes from, the old category breakdown of Animal, Vegetable or Mineral seems to fit as the root sources. I found a short YouTube video from Don’t Memorise that provides a good overview on Fabric.

Stay tuned throughout the month at I explore the Fabric and it’s realm through our creative ways to reuse.

Jemma W.
Owner

Painting rocks with our activities means extra summer fun

Monday, June 29, 2020
painted rocks

This summer make painting rocks top notch on your activity list, but that’s not all. Let painting rocks lead to continued family fun.
Explore our list of activities for added learning, playing, exploring, connecting and discovering this summer. Let them continue throughout the summer to truly enjoy the simple gifts they have to offer.

  • Learn about the history of painting- who painted first? Hint- they used rocks.
  • Learn about how rocks are formed by the earth and what rocky varieties there are.
  • Paint rocks to create games like tic-tac-toe or hop scotch that can be played throughout the summer.
  • Turn your painted rocks into a garden sculpture for the whole neighborhood to enjoy.
  • Hide your painted rocks around the neighborhood for other people to find. Use a sharpie to mark the back of your rocks with the city you live in such as @westlakevillagerocks
  • Try painting rock pets that each family member can care for over the summer. Talk about those processes over dinner.

The great thing about painting rocks is how it’s fun for any age. All these activities are thoughtfully made with toddlers to seniors in mind.
I hope they create feel good summer memories for your family.

-Jemma
Founder/Owner

Pinspiration

Monday, February 11, 2019

I have recently been inspired to reconfigure our Pinterest account to align with our Spotlight attention on twelve different material genres each month that focus on we have and use at the studio.
Pinterest is a fantastic resource tool I find myself turning to often. As a virtual “pin board” it allows me to keep a paperless connection to all of what would otherwise be “tear sheets” (as my dad used to call them during his Illustrating days). My dad had a huge collection of magazine and book page inspiration that he used as a go-to resource library of sorts which is exactly what Pinterest is!
Our spotlighted boards allow us to collect and share ideas and ways to reuse things that would otherwise be thought of as cast-offs by many.
This month we are Spotlighting Yarn and String at the studio. Check out our Pinterest Board of the same name to see what we make with yarn at the studio, what artists make with yarn, how it is being “recycled”, as well as where it comes from and other interesting things to know about yarn and string. As the month wares on our board will surely grow with ideas galore about this creative medium and it’s extensive reuse options. I am so excited!

Spotlighting Yarns

Thursday, February 7, 2019

As we Spotlight Yarns (and String) this month we wonder, Is yarn or string recyclable?
When we searched, we found that there is awareness about yarn and the concept of recycling with websites that sell recycled yarn , we haven’t found current information that yarn can be recycled at a recycling plant so lets keep re-creating with it at the studio! We’ve also got a fun resource of ways to reuse yarn on our Pinterest account. Check out our Spotlight on Yarn page for inspirations.

Family Activity

Friday, November 30, 2018

We have one last Spotlight on Natural Things to share before November ends. On this fall day make a family moment to head outside for a walk and look for an item from nature; a pinecone, a branch or a leaf and really look at it. You’ll see order and intricate details that must be magical. It is the simple things that make life sweet.

Cardboard Fun.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

This month we put a spotlight on Cardboard at the studio, taking a look at how it’s made, what artists do with it and how we use it.
We get lots of boxes that we cut up for reuse.
Cardboard is a go-to at the studio for getting parties started and for troop visits. In both cases we make these mini cardboard canvases with popsicle stick easels.
Kids love to paint their own mini masterpieces to showcase at home.

Spotlighting Yarn

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Our spotlight on Yarn continues this month with this cool kid made wall hanging.
It’s a two material creation with just yarn and a branch.
What a statement piece!