Category Archives: Weekly WOW

Molded Plastic

Monday, December 30, 2013

Ever wonder what the strange molded plastic packaging from a purchased item can be? Zack thought a Jet Pack made sense. He and his mom spent their studio time exploring the many options the jet pack could entail and it was fun by all accounts.
They put just about everything on the pack minus the kitchen sink. CD’s, felt scraps, juice lids, a carabiner, an apple sauce lid, hard drives, a pin and lots of other stuff made the cut so Zack could step into fantasy play and travel to far off planets with a flick of his imagination.

Jet Pack
Zack
6yrs

Weekly Wow!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

It’s an extra wow when we get a donation from a business that is looking to find a re-user for a material that is not recyclable but has so much potential.

Skyworks in Newbury park receives giant foam squares weekly from goods that are shipped from another of their facilities. What an awesome material!

With a little ingenuity some of the foam squares became sleek, soft armor. After all, wearable, functional art is where it’s at. Playing in this suit will no doubt bring hours of exploration, laughter and foster even more imagination to keep the wheels of invention turning…

Cork

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Corks are like building blocks, they take on whatever they are a part of with ease. They can be the stones of a structure, components of a sculpture or in this case bodies for little ladies. They remind me of the little Fisher Price People from my childhood.

At a birthday party for Grace this weekend several of the girls got inspired to make cork ladies.  They were anywhere from 5- 8 years old but found such a common thread in this creative endeavor. Fabric, embroidery floss and a few bits of this and that turned a plain wine cork into a pretty lady in no time. Ah, what it is to be a kid…

Weekly Wow!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Isabella is moving to Switzerland with her family in a few short weeks. She is very excited about this adventure and wants to be prepared for all the fun possibilities. Cardboard is a good material for possibilities so why not snow shoes?
She worked hard to fine-tune the components that would make them snow worthy; lacing, framing and of course, glidability. They look ready for action. Nice invention Isabella.

Snow Shoes
Isabella
9 yrs

Weekly Wow

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Plastic Lid

I am not surprised that a spray paint lid was the inspiration for this snowman. I watch creators see from an “upcycled” perspective quite often. I was impressed though, which is a regular occurance as I’ve watched thoughts turn to ideas and ideas become dimensional, colorful creations.
Shaeli had such fun tinkering with fluff and cardboard to make the winter being that would wear her inspired hat.

Snowman
Shaeli
12 yrs

Cardboard Rolls

Monday, November 25, 2013

What a weekly wow!
Julian got a great idea when he dug through the cardboard rolls bin the other day.
As he riffled through, he envisioned a train when he put a few rolls together.
I love the spontaneity of open-ended creating and how inspiration is the guide. For Julian and for all of us in this process, it is about unfolding ideas. There is a magic in what is to come. I think he was quite proud of what he had envisioned and put together. I wouldn’t be surprised if he took it down an imaginary track on the drive home.

Train
Julian
5 1/2 yrs

Cardboard

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Family crafting is so fun to watch.
Little did I know that the cardboard initial Ice breaker craft we were offering for would spark the crafty imaginations of the birthday boy’s parents! I watched the host father as he worked so hard to get the party ready, helping his wife. He spent all the prep time carting cases of water and ice along with veggie trays and boxes of bagels upstairs prepping food, then welcoming guests. Once the guests were in their creative groove Dad saw his chance to explore. He had an idea! He could decorate an initial for his younger son.
It was a treat to watch him get caught up in the process. He was having such fun , he got his wife involved. The result is an initial befitting their boys’ room decor. Hopefully they hang it and reflect often on a happy, creative memory.

A letter for Jacob
Dad

Yarn

Monday, November 11, 2013

Weekly Wow!
Sometimes the simples things become the most beautiful.
What could be prettier that a rainbow, splashing color across the sky in it’s translucent grander.  Ema seems to be aware of the rainbow’s majesty. She captures it in her own artful rendition with understates bits of yarn with a few sprinkles of glitter for effect. What a sweet scene.

Rainbow
Ema
5 yrs

Socks

Monday, November 4, 2013

Weekly Wow!
Family creating is the best! At yesterday’s birthday party the “Ice Breaker” craft was sock buddies. As the Buck family explored their sock creation options the youngest Buck asked his dad to help him make an angry bird character, and so their fun began. Mom and brother were game to help. Three socks, a few plastic lids and a bunch of fluff later they had a trio of colorful angry bird characters.  A great time was had by all.

Angry Bird Trio
The Buck Family
All ages