Check it Out. Open House Week at JAM SoNo = Free music and goodies

I used to be all on top of this stuff, but having just come off hiatus I'm a little behind. Have you heard of the new JAM in SoNo? That's JAM as in Junior Art and Music. It definitely looks pretty cool and it's open house week so that means free classes and refreshments and of course... MUSIC from some names you probably recognize...

Thursday, Sept. 9

10:30 to 11:15 singing with Dre Towey 

2 to 3  drum circle with Kwame

Friday, Sept. 10

10:30 to 11:15 singing with Dre Towey

1 to 2:15 DJ fun Gerald Myles

More info at www.jamsono.com

Recycled Art Workshop with Green Moon Tomorrow @ Whole Foods Darien

Recycled Art Workshop at Whole Foods

Thurs., Sept. 9 from 4 - 5 pm (ages 3 & up)

Join Green Moon at Whole Foods tomorrow to learn how to make art  out of wood salvage. The project is a celebration of artist Louise Nevelson, who used wooden found objects like chair backs, table legs, cylinders, racket heads, pieces of baseball bats and guitars in her artwork. Louise who? Thanks Wikipedia!! Click here to learn more about this fascinating woman's work ... and see a piece of it above.

The wood savage will be in pieces like brush handles, wheels, beads, honey dippers, and geometric shapes. Contact Whole Foods at (203) 662-0577 to register. Cost: $10/per child.

Little Birdie Art Class at Whole Foods This Thursday June 10

Come to the new Whole Foods in Darien this Thursday for a kids art class with Little Birdie Art at 4pm. Kids will learn how to make Little Birdie's very own Daisy Dough, an all natural modeling clay. All the class details can be found at www.wholefoodsmarket.com/storesbeta/darien/.
I believe there is a $10 fee for the class.

PS. sorry about the weird formatting with this post. i'm too tired to figure it out right now.

Momcrush of the Month - Tracie Valentino of Fairfield

Geez, I'm already late with my Momcrush of the Month and I'm only on month #2! I totally skipped over February. In January you met my first Momcrush (Tania Grant of Pure Play Kids) and now I'd like to introduce you to Tracie Valentino, my latest crush. Tracie is the lady in charge at TracieDesigns. She's an award-winning graphic designer and mom of 3 girls in Fairfield. I think I found her on Twitter. I was drawn to her funny tweets and lovely designs and the rest is history - total Momcrush! I really have a thing for graphic designers. They manage to have the whole artist thing going on  (without starving) and they're usually impeccably dressed and very tidy (two qualities I aspire to and admire because I'm so disheveled!).

I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about how she juggles it all and what inspires her. Read on for some good laughs and inspiration!


Q: How many kids?
A: Three girls: a teenager, a first grader, and a toddler. Various stages of life? Yeah, we got that covered.


Q: How did you start your business?
A: Five years ago, I was working full time at a small design agency, and started freelancing on the side. At the time, my husband was working in the city, so it really made sense for our family for one of us to be home more. Since I was starting to build my own client base anyway, I held my breath, quit my job, and the rest is traciedesigns history.


Q: Do you work at home or out of the home?
A: I work at home; we're actually in the middle of a renovation (3 kids + 1 bathroom was not doing it) so I can have a proper office. And more bathrooms.

Q: What are you working on now?
A: As far as design projects, right now I'm working on 2 logos, a website, and some branding.In my spare time (heh heh heh), I'm working on a new site design for myself. I also have a new blog idea that I'd love to bring to life, but unfortunately, there are only so many hours in the day.


Q: What do you think we (as moms) need to know about design? What's important to you?
A: I think that everyone needs to know that design does affect them. Think about food allergies--how well does the package design convey that the product is--or isn't--allergy sensitive? Object design--how easy--or difficult--will this product make my life?

Personally, the most important aspect of design to me is that people stop using the font Comic Sans. It's seen it's day--let's just all move on.


Q: What's your favorite thing about living in Fairfield County?
A: There's so many great things in Fairfield County, it's hard to pick just one! I love the beaches, the parks, there are so many towns that have great shopping and dining… But let's not tell my husband about the great shopping. Yeah, maybe we should just keep quiet about the great shopping.


Q: What's your favorite kid activity in FC?
A: I love bringing the kids to the beach. The only downside is bringing half the beach home with us.


Q: Of course I'm all about where to eat, so what's your favorite kid-friendly restaurant in FC?
A: Chef's Table in Fairfield--yum. Good food, good atmosphere, good tunes. And incredibly kid-friendly.

Photo Credit for Tracie's photo above: Justin Marantz

Here are some examples of Tracie's work:

Glow: Logo, website and packaging created for a gluten-free cookie company. They were just snack of the day on the Rachel Ray show! (I'm like a proud mother, I have to brag)





Hey Fairfield: Logo created for local website.

mari: Logo, stationery and soon to be launched website created for Fairfield salon. Stationery won a Connecticut Art Director's Club Award of Excellence.

melt: Logo and soon to be launched website created for AWESOME sandwich shop in White Plains (the owners are Fairfield County residents).

You can find Tracie at www.traciedesigns.net

Check Your Inbox & Please Welcome FCC's Latest Sponsor - Little Birdie Art in Greenwich!

If you're a FairfieldCountyChild.com subsciber, you should have received the latest FCC e-newsletter by now. It's sponsored by Little Birdie Art, a new art studio in Greenwich for kids 16 months and up. The newsletter includes a special offer just for subscribers (one free class at Little Birdie Art + a free gift - a $30 value) so if you're not registed, just click here and I'll be sure you get it asap. 

Be sure to check out Little Birdie Art's winter/spring schedule for group and individual art classes and music and movement classes. And don't forget, register now to receive a special offer just for FCC subscribers.

Have a great weekend!

www.littlebirdieart.com/schedule.html

www.littlebirdieart.blogspot.com

FREE Morning for Moms: Decorating for Kids at Rings End in Wilton on February 9

Don't miss this FREE class at Rings End in Wilton for moms on February 9. You'll learn about the four 'life stages' of children's rooms, why and how to involve children in decisions about decorating their personal space, and what's new in the kid's market, including the latest color trends. Attendees will receive a coupon for a free gallon of Benjamin Moore Natura Premium Interior Wall Paint.

Click here for all the details and don't forget to RSVP.

Little Birdie Art Open House This Thursday January 28 in Greenwich

I'm a sucker for a cute logo.  How much do we love this one from Little Birdie Art? I've never even been to the  new Little Birdie Art Studio in Greenwich but I love it already. Owner Nicole Perrelle is a friend and an awesome mom with a passion for art. I'm sure her new studio is lovely and that the classes for kids (ages 20 months - 5 years) will be amazing. Go check it out this Thursday at an open house in her new space. All the details are here. Don't forget to RSVP!

www.littlebirdieart.blogspot.com

Honeyspot Giveaway!

I first wrote about Honeyspot Art back when its artist, Sally Baxley, was living in Weston. She's now living in Charleston, SC. Her location has changed, but her work is still just as lovely and she just opened up two new shops on Etsy. To celebrate - she's offering a giveaway to FCC readers!

The winner can choose either:

• An Urban Herb pot (above) found at www.etsy.com/shop/honeyspotstudios. Each hand decoupaged pot contains everything you need to grow your own herb garden - soil, seeds, stones and instructions.
• Or pick one of Honeyspot's 11"x14" personalized prints on paper for kids (below) found at www.etsy.com/shop/honeyspot.
  

Giveaway Rules

• Just leave a comment below with your favorite Honeyspot piece
• Be sure to leave your first name and town
• I'll announce the winner on Thursday.
  

Good luck and thanks to Sally for making this giveaway possible!

Special 15% Discount for FCC Readers at Orange & Pear Until November 8

Orange & Pear is an online shop run by Rowayton mom Jennifer Hassell where you'll find all sorts of prettiness.  Visit www.orangeandpear.com to see the selection of unique accessories for the home, paper goods, handbags and now... baby gifts. Many of the items are $50 or less and with this 15% discount, now's the time to stock up for holiday and hostess gift giving. 

Beautiful gift wrapping is available for only $1 and you can feel great about your purchase because 1% of all sales go to the Natural Resources Defense Council. As if you needed more reason, Orange & Pear is also powered by wind energy and their packaging is all recycled. 

Just enter code FCChild at checkout to receive your special 15% discount. Offer expired November 8, 2009 so hurry!

www.orangeandpear.com

Decorating Class for Moms at Rings End in Darien September 29

This class could not be more timely for me, so do me a favor and take notes if you go! We just moved into a new house so I have one kids' room to decorate plus a nursery for baby #2. 

It's a morning for moms at Rings End Lumber in Darien on September 29 from 10:30am- noon. Come learn how to make the most of your child's room from infancy through the teen years. Two of Rings End's  designers will be presenting and answering questions. All the details are posted here....Don't forget to RSVP!

NEVA Paintings

I finally made it to the Rowayton Farmers Market last Friday where I found lots of cool stuff from local farmers and artists (click here for list of vendors). My favorite, by far, was NEVA Paintings. Sandra Schulze of Stamford is the artist and owner behind NEVA and in her words, she turns memories into modern art by mixing photography, collage and acrylic painting. Not only do I love her work, but she's one accomplished lady. Check this out from her bio.."After her first child was born in 2007 Sandra opened Neva Paintings...She started out with children as her main subjects but the outcome of the 2008 presidential election and her imminent swearing in as a US citizen inspired her to take on her first adult subject, Barack Obama and start her “Political, Celebrity and Cultural Storyteller’s Series”. The Obama portrait was exhibited during the inauguration and widely hailed in local NYC area press. It is currently exhibited at corporate offices in Norwalk, CT."

She'll create a custom portrait of your child based on a photograph you give her and a simple interview with questions about your child's favorite stuffed animal, colors, sports, etc.

What you end up with is a big, bold, one-of-a-kind piece for your home. I'm loving the cool, calm colors and edginess to her designs. While these photos are lovely, you need to see her work in person to truly appreciate it. It's so striking and not at all cutesy.

Sandra's also busy working on a line of kids' t-shirts - also bold and not too cutesy. Check out all the styles at www.nevapaintings.com/kids/

Visit NEVA Paintings at www.NevaPaintings.com to learn more about the artist and to place an order for your own portrait.

Congratulations to Liz of Stamford - the Whirlybug Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Whirlybug giveaway! The winner is Liz from Stamford, who's won a copy of Dogi the Yogi, a book for yoga-loving kids and parents written by Maria Scrivan of Stamford. Maria is the artist and owner behind Whirlybug. Check out www.Whirlybug.com for Maria's organic line of accessories, t-shirts, notecards, bibs and onesies.  Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway and of course, to Maria!

You can check out Maria's artwork at an art sale at Arcadia Coffee in Old Greenwich this Saturday, July 18. 

New Canaan Students Contribute to Glass House Exhibit

We've been house hunting and while many of the homes we look at are lovely, none will ever, ever in a million years measure up to my dream home, The Glass House in New Canaan. Have you been? Last summer I toured this iconic piece of modern architecture and as expected, I fell in love. Not only is the home itself breathtaking, but the 47 acres surrounding it will blow you away too. The house is sort of hidden off Ponus Ridge and once you're there, you feel like you're a million miles away from the hustle bustle of life in busy Fairfield County. I'll be back again in October for another tour. I can't wait to see it surrounded by the fall foliage.

I just learned that a some high school students in New Canaan recently created some new media additions to the Glass House visitor center at 199 Elm Street in New Canaan. How cool is that? Why don't I recall working on stuff like this in high school? The video above is one of the three projects the high school students created. It shows The Glass House transformed as day turns into night. The other two new media projects can be found on YouTube by clicking here and here.

I just wanted to call attention to these talented kids and to The Glass House. It's definitely one of Fairfield County's gems, don't you think?

www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org

Back to School Centerpiece Contest

Back to school? Already? No, actually my sister works at Rachael Ray's Magazine and she told me about this contest that might interest some of you. It's a back to school centerpiece contest and the winner's centerpiece will be featured in September's magazine. The deadline is April 16 and all the details are at www.rachaelraymag.com/centerpiece-contest.do.

I have no chance of winning such a crafty contest, so thought I'd pass it on to you! Good luck. 

Draw On! at the Loft Artist Association March 28 and April 4

A few years ago the Loft Artist Association moved from the Yale and Towne building in Stamford's South End to new space nearby and I've been meaning to check it out. I finally had a chance earlier this week but unfortunately it was closed to the public at the time:

So there went my plan to take some photos of the galleries and artist workspaces inside to share with you. That'll have to wait and I think it will be well worth it. I remember falling in love with the LAA after an open studio event at the old space a few years ago. I love getting a peek at the world of working artists - the smells, the mess of spilled paint and clay.

For now these photos of the exterior will have to do. It's not everyday that you pass a building like this in Fairfield County, right?

To check out the galleries and participate in the LAA's Draw On! event, visit on Saturday, March 28 from 2-5 pm or Saturday, April 4, from 2-5 pm. You and the kids can participate in an array of free drawing activities. Events will include: Draw a Mural with LAA artists; Draw to Music (combining music with drawing); Draw to a Story (draw as you listen to a story being read aloud).

Another event is Model Drawing, offering the opportunity to sketch costumed Curtain Call actors as they stroll and pose. In Draw Cards -a fun drawing game for all ages- participants are given 2.5" x 3.5" inch card stock paper to make their own trading, tarot or art cards. For more details about the event, visit www.loftartists.com/PR/LAA_DRAWS_PR.php 

The Loft Artists Association is at 845 Canal Street in Stamford

www.loftartists.com

Have I Mentioned....

how much my two year old enjoyed her first art class at Green Moon in Rowayton?

It's a beautiful place.

FCC Readers Save 10% at Project of the Month Club

I've got art on the brain lately. I guess it's because my daughter is at that great age when coloring and playdough and fingerpaints are all the rage. Last week I introduced you to My Wall Stuff out of Stamford, and today's art-related idea is from Project of the Month Club out of Chicago. I'm loving POTMC because it makes an unique holiday gift for kids but also because the business is offering all FCC readers a 10% discount. Just enter code 53824 at check out.

Visit the web site for all the details, but basically once you sign up, your child will receive a brand new art project every month. Each project includes all the supplies and tools he/she will need to create their own little masterpieces, and there's no hassle for busy parents. No more trips to the arts and crafts store. Everything is delivered to your door. 

The unassembled craft caddy landed on my doorstep yesterday so I can vouch for the quality of the product, but check out the images on the site at www.projectofthemonthclub.com for more details. And take note of the "coming soon" pages where kids can upload their artwork to their own private web site for grandparents to view from afar.

Place your order soon for holiday delivery and don't forget to enter 53824 at checkout for the special FCC 10% discount.

www.projectofthemonthclub.com

Turn Your Child's Creations into Beautiful Wall Art with My Wall Stuff! Special Pricing for FCC Readers Until December 19, 2008.

This exclusive deal for FCC readers from Classic Graphics in Stamford was mentioned in last week's Stocking Stuffer email blast, but this morning they sent me these fantastic sample images that deserve to be shown off so I'm announcing the offer again. I'm a visual person who needs to see something to fully understand it. So here goes...  All the details are below and I can't wait to see my daughter's masterpiece once Classic Graphics completes it (I'll let you know how it turns out!):

As an EXCLUSIVE introductory discount to Fairfield County Child readers, here's an opportunity to turn your child's masterpiece into custom wall art with MY WALL STUFF with a 5 day turnaound at extremely LOW prices. Your child's artwork or photos, reproduced on archival quality cotton canvas and ink using a special giclee printing technique, expertly stretched and then wrapped -- seamlessly -- around a wooden frame. They're just like the ones you see in art galleries. That's not all though. For this special time only, we're also offering bulk discounts, FREE gift wrap, and FREE delivery service within Fairfield County! If you live outside the area or will be mailing elsewhere, we're offering FREE domestic shipping via UPS! Customer satisfaction is our number one priority, therefore everything we do is guaranteed. If you're not happy, we offer a refund. Period.

The process is simple:

1.) Choose frame size(s): 11" x 11" (SALE PRICE $50.90. Originally $72.20) or 16" x 20" (SALE PRICE $75.00 Originally $107); please inquire at (203) 323-6635 for other sizes available

2.) Make art

3.) Send finished work to MY WALL STUFF / c/o Classic Graphics / 652 Glenbrook Road / Stamford, CT 06906 in a flat, rigid mailer (so it doesn't get bent)

Once received, we'll get it "camera ready" (meaning that your art has been professionally scanned at a high resolution, converted to a JPEG, and neatly placed on a disc) for our fancy giclee printer. Afterwards, we borrow (don't worry, you'll get it back!) your disc and pop it in THE printer. Upon completion, the image is so clear and crisp, even the artist won't know be able to tell if it was done on canvas! Please contact us at (203) 323-6635 (ask for Christopher Nix), should you have any questions or concerns regarding placement, cropping, etc.

Produced at Classic Graphics in Stamford, CT.

*OFFER VALID THROUGH DECEMBER 19, 2008*

Giveaway! Win a Martha Burns Gift Set .. Deadline is Sunday at Midnight!

I met Martha Burns on Sunday at a great arts and crafts fair at the JCC of Greater New Haven. She's an interior designer and owner of Studio Martha Burns who also designs these amazing textiles (see above) that are made into kitchen aprons, dishtowels, pot holders and oven mitts.  I was literally drawn to her table from across the room on Sunday because of the brilliant colors and modern take on ordinary kitchen items that usually do not excite me one bit. 

I picked up a Portobello mushroom-themed gift set for my foodie brother-in-law and thanks to Martha's generosity, I also have a carrot-themed gift set for one lucky FCC reader. 

The set includes an oven mitt, a pot holder and set of dishtowels that would make a great hostess gift this holiday for someone who appreciates good food and good design. They're packaged beautifully and the fabrics really are to die for. They're fun and whimsical and totally out of the ordinary.

So check out Martha's entire portfolio at www.StudioMarthaBurns.com and click here to view her line of kitchen accessories. 

RULES

To be entered in the giveaway, just shoot me an email at fairfieldcountychild@gmail.com with "Martha Burns Giveaway" in the subject line by midnight on Sunday, December 14th.

Please include your name, email address, town and phone number. Bonus entries will be given to anyone who hits "COMMENT" below and leaves their favorite Martha Burns theme (carrot, artichoke or Portobello mushroom).

PS. Martha has a great sale going on, making her reasonably priced items even more reasonable. Between now and December 15 you'll save 25%.

Thanks so much to Martha for making this giveaway possible! I'll announce the winner on Monday. Good luck.

www.studiomarthaburns.com

No, Seriously... Bring the Pets AND the Kids in for a Silhouette Portrait at Kaleidoscope in Stamford on December 4th. Book Your Appointment Now!

A silhouette portrait is a great way to save a memory of your child forever and it makes a great gift for grandparents. Ever since I saw artist Deborah O'Connor in action last spring when she did my daughter's portrait, I've been a huge fan. Check out her work at www.silhouetteartist.net

She'll be back at Kaleidoscope in Stamford on December 4th and she'll cut freehand a silhouette of your child or children in less than 10 minutes and it will be ready to take home the same day. Silhouette pricing starts at $45 and mats and frames will be available as well for purchase. 

By appointment only. Call 203-353-8300 to set up an appointment on Thursday, December 4 (from 11am- 7pm)

Appointments are at 10 minute intervals and everyone is welcome. Bring the baby, the dog and even kids that hate to sit still. You won't believe how quickly Deborah works.