Summer Art Camps

I am pleased to offer 6 weeks of summer art camps at Lewisville's a.l.o.e.  These camps will run weekly throughout the summer, and each week campers will explore art through a different theme. For example, during "For the Love of Nature," campers will incorporate nature into their art and find inspiration from their surroundings. Projects will include making a glass wind chime; a mosaic stepping stone; and paper ornaments and sculptures that incorporate seeds, leaves and plants the camps will collect themselves. Although I give the theme each week and ideas, it is my intention that each child create what they feel in their heart within a loving, open space that allows the child to flourish on their creative path.  Dates for each camp week and details about weekly projects are below.

The cost for the camp, which runs 9:00-1:00 Monday through Friday, is $100 per week. If you book a massage or nail service at a.l.o.e at the time of registration, you will receive a $10 discount. A sibling discount is also available: $100 a week for the first child, $90 a week for the second child. Please note that these discounts cannot be combined. Campers should bring their own lunches.

For more information or to register for the camp, call 964-0288 or email me at whimsicaljewels@rocketmail.com. You can also find information about the camps and the registration form at: Summer art camp Facebook events page.  If you register for two or more camps, you will be entered to win one of my fused glass pendants or a custom designed ring!

I hope to see you and your child at one or more of these fun, artistic summer camps!

COMPLETE CAMP DETAILS:
6/11-6/15
For the love of nature   (OFFERED TO 2 AGES GROUPS)
This camp features incorporating nature into the art and finding inspiration from our surroundings.

Older kids AGES 7 and up

1. Wind-Chime- Make a glass wind chime, celebrate the wind
2. Mosaic Garden Stepping Stones
3. Paper Ornaments incorporating seeds, leaves, grass found outside
4. Nature Sculpture using pebbles, feathers, flower pedals, leaves, shells, cones anything found outside

Younger kids  AGES 3-6
1. Tissue paper flowers with photo of the child inside and a paper mache vase
2. Painted Pot Using fingers to create lady bugs and butterflies
3. Butterfly, ladybug, or lizard paper mobile
4. Stained glass-using tissue paper

6/25-6/29
Loomed Ages 7 and up

This camp explores making your own loom from a shoe box and then weaving on it. We will also make straw loom and weave an item of your choice-belt, bracelet, etc.

1.Shoe Box Loom to create a woven fabric collage to hang in your home.
2.Straw loom to create something wearable

7/16-7/20
Collaged Ages 3-7

This camp features creating art using various forms of collage.

1. Paper person
2. Small nature sculpture
3. Small Trinket box with buttons, shells, beads, magazines, photos

7/9-7/13
For the Love of Nature   (OFFERED TO 2 AGES GROUPS)

This camp features incorporating nature into the art and finding inspiration from our surroundings.

OLDER KIDS (7 & up)
1. Wind-Chime- Make a glass wind chime, celebrate the wind
2. Mosaic Garden Stepping Stones
3. Paper Ornaments incorporating seeds, leaves, grass found outside
4. Nature Sculpture using pebbles, feathers, flower pedals, leaves, shells, cones anything found outside

YOUNGER KIDS age 3-6
1. Tissue paper flowers with photo of the child inside and a paper mache vase
2. Painted Pot Using fingers to create lady bugs and butterflies
3. Butterfly paper mobile
4. Stained glass-using tissue paper and colored cellophane

7/30-8/3
Everything Clay Offered to two age groups:Ages 3-6 AND Ages 7 and up 

This camp uses air-drying clay to make various projects. Both groups will make the same projects.

1.Clay decoration that child decides (ex. Sun, moon, tree, face)
2.Thumb Clay Pot to store small things- Paper clips, earrings, pencils etc.
3.Beads- Make your own colorful beads

8/6-8/10
Recycled and Upcycled Ages 7 and up. 
This camp features turning old, unused things into something new.

1.Paper Ornaments from old unused paper
2. Paper Mosaic using old magazines, recycled paper to make a wall hanging
3. Making a vase out of old glass bottles using recycled paper and tissue paper
4. Art from bottle caps
5. Colorful cap mobile 

REGISTRATION FORM:

a little of everything or a.l.o.e.

Have you ever stepped into a store and felt like you were home?  It's a feeling I can't describe completely but I love when it happens.  It's comforting.  I want to sit down, have a cup of coffee and soak in my surroundings.  I have found a few places in the community that are like this and I really enjoy visiting and shopping there.  When I have the opportunity to sell my handmade goods at such a store it's even better.   It's better because I'm part of something I feel so wonderful about.  What's the store name you ask?  a.l.o.e.   It's a great little place located in the center of Lewisville, NC in a cozy house and it really does have a little bit of everything.

They support local art and have a beautiful blend of different artists selling their work in the store.  Their products grow weekly and are changed out regularly so it's always fresh.  They have jewelry, hand-blown glass, fused glass pendants, soldered pendants, paintings, wind chimes, glass/bead mobiles, stained glass, window art, knitted products, refurbished furniture, painted signs, baby items, gifts for teens, and much more.  Basically, you name it and they have it.

Besides local art and refurbished furniture they also offer spa services- manicures/pedicures and massages.  And if that's not what you are looking for they also have yoga, social gatherings, kids night out events, host birthday parties and they are planning to offer art camps this summer.

So if you need to get out of your house for a breath of fresh air and want to be around good people or products that will inspire you, a.l.o.e. is where you need to go.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Here are a few of my items you can find at a.l.o.e:

(all of the handmade products pictured above are handmade by me and can be found at a.l.o.e in Lewisville, NC.  I have more products at a.l.o.e. than what I have included in this blog post.  Learn more about a.l.o.e at http://www.aloeoflewisville.com/http://www.aloeoflewisville.com or visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/aloeoflewisville)

To love and be loved

(Bouquet of Flowers fused glass pendant)

V-Day, Valentine's Day, Lover's day, The day of love....

I have heard all of these names before and countless others. Personally, I think we put too much energy and money into one day of love. Is this what we have resorted to, one day of selfless love and giving? What happened to showing love everyday? I know I may be taking it a little too far. But then again maybe I'm not.

(Rose wired button ring)

Yesterday as I sat making my husband and children a handmade card there was one main thought running through my mind... Do I show them enough how much I love them? What can I do to make each day better? What can I do that is greater than what I already do?

I know my children know they are loved. I also know that my husband and I both shower them with love and affection everyday. But I'm sure we can do more. We have daily signs of love. We sit down at the table for dinner as a family and discuss our day almost every night of the week. We don't leave the house without giving them a hug and a kiss and telling them how much we love them. On the way to school we go around the car and state what we are thankful for in each person. Most importantly, we teach them. We teach them the skills they need to be self-sufficient, better people and successful. We discipline them and correct them when they have made a mistake. We celebrate their successes and discuss how to correct a mistake when one is made. When I think about the love and lessons my parent's taught me, I'm filled with so much gratitude and love. They gave me the greatest gift by preparing me for the future and a living example on how to raise my children.

Now I move on to my husband. It seems in the hustle of life there are times when our spouse is the one who is forgotten. I think I do a fairly good job at showing Shayne how much he is loved but I can do better. Love began here and without it I wouldn't have my two beautiful children that I adore so much. So I realize that I need to do more to make him feel loved and adored. Because the truth is I do. I still light up when he walks in the room and inwardly smile that I am so blessed. 17 years later and I still feel like the 19 year old girl that fell so hard for a 18 year old boy. I am truly blessed.

So, I encourage you to show the people in your life that you care about them each and everyday not just on Valentine's day.

(the fused glass bouquet of flowers and rose ring pictured above are handmade by me and can be found at a.l.o.e in Lewisville, NC. http://www.aloeoflewisville.com/default.html or visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/aloeoflewisville)

Show yourself some love too. ;)