Iris Apfel and our love of costume jewelry

Iris Apfel is well known for being a bit of a fashion icon, so much so that there's a documentary on Netflix out on her right now, which I suggest all you grown ups go watch. She's fascinating! Although she's in her 90s, she's just as active, inspiring and fashionable as ever. She's even had exhibits at the MET, and the Peabody Essex Museum.

Inspired by her love of costume jewelry we made a few bangle bracelets that I'm sure she would love!

IRIS APFEL INSPIRED BANGLES

gather
: cardboard coffee clutches or sturdy cardboard tubes
: hot glue or regular glue
: white/black paint & brush
: googly eyes or sparkles
: scissors
: wax paper




make
:If your using a tube that is too small to slip around your child's wrist, begin by cutting it.
: Next if you don't want any brown cardboard peeking through between your sparkles/googly eyes, apply a coat of white/black paint and allow to dry before gluing.
: Lay out your sparkles/googly eyes on the wax paper (eyes with white side up).
: Apply glue to the tube and slowly roll it over the eyes/sparkles.
: Completely cover the tube, let the glue dry and show off your fancy creation!

ask
: What does fashion have to do with art?
: How can fashion be self expression?
: What can fashion tell us about someone?  (For example it can tell us about what decade they're from if you're looking at a picture or what they're interests are etc.)

PS
If you want to use real wooden bangles you can get them here for cheap - bangles

How to: Eric Carle Collages

If you can't catch Eric Carle on display at the Montclair Museum, have no fear! You can still make some great Eric Carle inspired collages, using the artist's very own techniques. 

In the spirit of Halloween - we made Eric Carle ghosts! 

Check it out...

What do children's illustrators have to do with art?

Often when we think of the word "artist" we think Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt, but what about illustrators? Illustrators are, in their own right, professional artists and can inspire us just like many of the masters. For our children they play a part in their imaginative world, helping bring to life characters and experiences, much like looking at art in a museum can do for adult. The difference between an "artists" and an "illustrator" is you typically wouldn't find a children's book illustrator in a museum, until now.

And speaking of illustrators in museum -there are two exhibits going on right now that I want to share with you....

FREE TICKETS!!

Have you heard about Smithsonian Magazine' s Museum Day Live?! It's your to chance to check out a museum for absolutely free! You could go local, or take a day trip to another city, they have tickets for great museums all over the country including art museums, history museums, science centers and so much more.  Plus every ticket admits two people, so you can take a friend along too. 

What a great opportunity to explore don't you think?  I think we're going to head to the Kentucky Science Center and check out their planetarium. Where might you go?

Here's what you do

1. Go on over to Museum Day Live! and sign up for an account.

(yes, I know another account, but it's free and worth it)

2. Select your state and then choose your museum.

 (You might want to check out our guide to Family Friendly Museums by State first!) 

3. Download and print your tickets. 

4. Head to the museum on Saturday September 26th and enjoy!

Displaying kid's art

(via Pinterest) 

How do you display your child's art? We have so many pieces it's hard to display them all, so at home we opted for multiple frames that we change out every so often. At work I have a large cork board where I hang art and change weekly. I also hang some pieces from a clothing line pinned up with clothes pins.

With so many different and creative ways to display your child's art there seems to be a method for everyone. Here are a few of my favorites, perhaps if we ever move we could steal a few of these ideas!