The "Creative Village" is a grown-up playgroup, for creative moms and their little ones. Once a month we get together to talk, make, and share projects we've been working on. We exchange stories on passion projects, talk hobbies, design, have a clay date, make stuff, and sure occasionally there's talk about multivitamins. (We aren't the typical mom group if you get the vibe). We enjoy getting messy for art!

We promise a no-pressure crafting fun zone. Away from the daily parenting grind we learn something new and have a great time. Bring along your mini artist, there is an art station set up for them to have fun while we chat and craft.  

Sign-up here to join! 

Where do you meet? Details provided via invite.

Is it tactile? Kids like using their hands to manipulate different types of materials with different textures. Exploring how things feel, fit together and come apart is an exploratory adventure already. Collage, sculpture and fun assembly projects make this easy. Best part is no matter the theme, you know that your students are working towards developing those important fine and gross motor skills. 

Is it sensory? A sensory environment can be set up in different ways. They can be found objects in nature, plastic items from the craft store or whatever recycled trinkets you've set apart. Playing with these types of materials are great for children's development. It allows them to explore and investigate in new ways.​

​Is it open-ended? Children generally love when they have an opportunity to play and explore freely. When using open-ended materials the activity goes from average to having a high potential for supporting creative thinking. Allow your children to explore materials as they see fit. 

Hopefully these three questions will help you in the journey of art exploration! 

Welcome to our "idea room" where it's cluttered with things that spark for a creative adventure. Together, we dive into the curious world of little artists and explore together.  Freebies of play-based, art ideas and engaging activities. 

Learning to add texture to art adds a whole new dimension to artwork. Trust me, we tried it. This project proved for fun discovery art mode. We started with questions:

• What happens when you paint over the textured surface?
• What about we cover our board with a collage of recycled materials?

When we applied netted fabric to our board, it turned out to be a fun sensory, textured experiment. Give it a try!

Textured Art 

Time: 10 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

Supply List

• Large Paper Board or card board A3 size
• Paint (Temperas)
• Glue
• Container to mix paint
• Loose parts (We used recycled grocery fruit nets)
• Paint brush

Step 1:

Start with explore as the lines, bumps and feel of the different materials you will use. Take your board and apply the net. Watch how paint took to the textured parts differently.

Step 2:

Paint along the top or right inside the grooves. Use a paint brush lightly over the surface to only paint the material on top.

PROMPTS TO HELP YOU FURTHER ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITY:

• Tell me about the different colors you used?
• Do you think we can use this net for something else?
• What will you name your art project?

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

Want a space and some materials for your little one to explore, create and invent?  We can help you design one or join us, at our Kids Art Classes. 

Projects and activities are always fun and promote independence, creative thinking, and problem-solving skills. Teaching goal is to foster a positive learning environment filled with creativity and to help protect natural habitats through education and art.

If you've got a mini adventurer then check out our Explorer Lab sessions. In the early AM we get together to explore coastal habitats in search of critters, seashells and more. We go on a nature walk, learn about the ocean and enjoy a simple craft project.

If you love to collaborate our "Creative Village", a friendly kid + caregiver group might be more your speed. We put creativity first, talk passion projects and make art together. Click here for an invite!

Making art with repurposed materials is easy. But getting organized is not. These tips can help you sort out the best items and get started.

RECYCLING TIPS

Start by setting aside the below materials:

• cardboard box
• recycled string
• bottle tops
• plastic containers
• natural materials

Prepping the material will help you save time.  

• Bottles

  • Recyclable if mouth is smaller than base

  • Empty, rinse, dry, and reattach lids

• Jugs

  • Recyclable if mouth is smaller than base

  • Empty, rinse, dry, and reattach lids

  • Examples: milk, soda, laundry, shampoo, contact solution

• Tubs

  • Make sure to reattach lid after rinsing (DO NOT place containers inside of other containers)

  • Empty, rinse, dry, and reattach lids

I find that it's helpful to have a small jar by the kitchen sink and a spare laundry basket, both designated for recyclables meant for art projects. Extending the life of an object is already a creative learning moment for both you and your mini artist. What other ways do you create a greener art space? 

Our photography block play activity is designed to inspire the minds of young children and future oceanographers. This activity is a sure way to start engaging kids in photographic storytelling. The places, people, nature and colors captured in each of these photographs are a valuable instructional tool in your creative learning time. 

Enjoy this fun, open-ended block play prompt and remember there is no right or wrong way to build. Place blocks together randomly or in patterns. Identify colors, talk about the ocean or build an underwater castle.

photo credit: photographers @pixaby

MATERIALS

• Colored Blocks
• Access other pictures of the Great Barrier Reef or of interesting underwater landscapes .  

The "Magical Tiendita" was born in 2017, on a road trip into the small villages of the Western Andes of Colombia. A creative from New York City looking for a fresh start and a human rights lawyer teamed up for an impact driven-project. To reshape the marketplace for artisan families and create a space for goods that are beautiful because of the people who make them. 

 Andes Mountains, Pueblo Rico

The first year, we joined the New York City Fair Trade Coalition, became part of a growing group of social ventures working out of the Impact Hub and participated in various pop-up markets.

 LB + Fe Designs @ Pop Up Brooklyn 2018 

Our artisan collaborators grew from one family to three, we were commissioned designs for a private label and happily took a break to allow change to happen. 

Became a Mom to this little New Yorker 

Today, our work evolved since and life as a new mom encouraged me to expand the artistic scope of this project. The next step was, opening a home art studio to nurture the creative spirit of young explorers and a place to share beautiful handmade objects that tell a story.

Thank you for sticking around as we share the exceptional stories and beauty of the unique cultures we encountered from the start of our journey. If you are new here, welcome. We are small but create meaningful work. 

 We believe in artisan culture, and we keep it alive.

We provide opportunities for artisan families from the Emberá Chami community, with fairly paid and flexible work from home. We offer beautiful accessories, that evoke a sense of discovery, rooted in the richness of shared cultures and connections. We hope to give you a look into the lives of our skilled artisans partners.

Artisan Workshop

 "The Emberá community belief that women carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. The larger the adornment the greater their role in the community."

 

Our Ethical Production

• Celebrates traditional hand-crafted textiles and collaborate with skilled artisans in rural Colombia.
• Small batch production or made-to-order.
• Designed with inclusivity and adaptability in mind, using local materials.
• Values the people, places and processes behind each piece.

Follow our journey on insta @lelebombe

I was gifted a beautiful full grown monstera. Loved it from the second I saw it! I found the perfect spot for it, put it in a different pot and trimmed a leaf gone bad. I was inspired by this mustard colored leaf and set it aside for a fun leaf printing activity.

A big part of the art activities I put together, are meant to help kids connect with nature in wonderful ways. Leaf printing is just one of them. It lets you observe nature, see the tiniest details on the leaf and discuss the lifecycle of the plant.

Best part, you can always turn to your house plants for some inspiration and material. After a quick trim, use the leaves and stems you just cut and start your own leaf printing project. The bigger the leaves the better they are. See for yourself.

Monstera Leaf Printing 

Time: 10 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

Supply List

• Selection of leaves - trimmings from a household plants or from a nature walk
• White card or paper - large enough for leaf to fit onto
• Tempera Paints & White Acrylic
• Paintbrushes *Paint roller a plus, my little one likes to hold it and watch it go

Step 1: Paint with Bright Bold Colors

Set up the area with a large set of paintbrushes, a paint roller if you have one and some paint. You can paint them in a block of one color or overlay the colors for some neat patterns. Looking what paint to use: We used tempera paint and mixed it with a white acrylic, it provides a thicker coating.

Step 2: Paint Along the Underside of the Leaf

Press your painted leaf down onto your sheet of paper. Using a sheet bigger than the leaf helps to move the leaf around. Have your little one roll their fingers over the lead and slightly to press it down well enough, so that more of the paint will transfer to the paper.

Step 3: Be Amazed 

Carefully lift off the leaf to reveal a beautiful print. Rich in color with the greatest of details. Even the stem shows up. The little one's enjoy peeling the left off. 

My 2.5 year old son loved this activity. It was the right amount of messy and educational. We observed the glossy paint roll off the stem and talked about the odd-looking, perforated leaves. We ended up layering the leaf with different colors and got creative with the paper sizes. It's an easy set up and one that your little one will love.

 A neat print out of the monstera leaf, perfect for my studio!

In this activity, kids learn how to:

• Engage in caring for plants, see the difference between green leaves and yellow ones.
• Help them get excited on learning about the environment.

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

There is a powerful group of women behind every one of our designs. Each of them have their own interpretation of what inspires their work. Maria Yolanda our lead artisan and her daughter-in-law, Salome are both admired for their skilled glass bead weaving. 

These are the exact women we want to support, skilled artisans who are leading change. Maria and Salome teach their extended community the art and trade of weaving. Our goal is to carve space for people like Maria and her family. They may live in small villages but their work is meant to reach a global audience. 

We invite you to help us reshape the marketplace for artisan families of the Andes. Learn more about Maria and what inspires her.