New Ideas for a New Year

The number one question people ask me is, “How do you keep coming up with new ideas?”  My answer?  I don’t really know how…they just seem to breed. One idea leads to another and so on. Someone once told me that inactivity breeds inactivity, and I imagine the opposite is true as well. Creativity seems to lead to more creativity, ideas to more ideas…you get the picture.

For the past 14+ years, Yucandu has had open-studio, workshops and private parties all with hundreds of new projects and samples to inspire.  What we’ve done in the past is truly just the tip of the iceberg of what’s going on in my head!  In 2018, I’ll be adding a few of those ideas that have been brewing under the surface for a while now.  We will also be adding a few new workshops, party projects, and special “while supplies last” kind of projects, like printmaking, clay and poured mosaic stepping stones.

I’d like to hang on to the favorites, or “traditions” you can call them after so many years, such as our annual Valentine Workshops, where you can choose Thumbprint Designs (of course we make new designs each year–inspired by brain storming with the kids.) OR Mono-Print Designs, which everyone LOVES too!  It’s such a throw-back, or nostalgic idea to make your own valentines.  I have such great memories making my own valentines and the special box to collect them in too–if you loved arts and crafts, you probably do too.  But who has the time and space to set all of those ideas in motion nowadays?  BUT, you CAN do it!  Go ahead and make it special by hitting the easy button–drop your kids off at Yucandu to make Valentines.  It’s still a special treat and it can be your family tradition too.  What I would have done to have a studio like this in my neighborhood when I was a kid!

Now, for the grown ups, we have a Girls’ Art Night Out at least three times a year.  It’s a BYOB atmosphere, but I bring all the great munchies and dessert too.  You get to make THREE projects for only $65–a great deal.  And it’s such a relaxing, creative evening. No need to save all the fun for the kids–we need to have down time making arts and crafts too.  It’s the perfect evening out, visiting with friends, making gifts for others or for yourself, enjoying a glass of wine and just reeelaxing.   I just finished the samples–which of course are here to inspire you.  You do not have to copy them.  Of course, it’s a huge compliment if you do, but there will be plenty of color & design options I haven’t even thought of yet.  First, there’s a charming cement oval box where the lid is perfect to mosaic with vintage chipped china.  This was so much fun to make–LOVE IT.  We will teach you how to cut china, use a grinder and glue it down before grouting.  The second project is a vintage wooden block–cut and sanded by my husband and the wood is from my son’s first home that the two of them completely flipped!  I added some chalky paint and few letters and little brass Fleur de lis that shows my St. Louis spirit.  The third project is a galvanized metal heart.  We have so many beautiful papers in a rainbow of colors and patterns for you to choose from.  We can also print out a pic from your phone to add to it.  Finish with a pretty ribbon and a couple of magnets (why not make this totally functional?)

Now, back to your kids, there are so many things you can plug your child into at Yucandu.  The After School Art Club.  We meet once per week for 8 weeks starting early January.  And then there’s another 8-week session that begins directly afterwards, taking us thru May.  You’re welcome to sign up for one or both sessions.  Kindergartners thru Second Graders have the choice of Mondays or Tuesdays.  Third thru six graders come on Thursdays.  Because it’s the same group of kids each week that get together, we really get to know everyone and the kids build friendships and also love visiting with our shop dog, Cannoli.  We  make all kinds of projects, some in 2D, others in 3D, using artist quality materials. We’ve already started the first session–but if there’s room, jump in.  We are happy to pro-rate the fee.

Kids Art Night Out (KANO) are every first Friday for Kindergarten thru fifth graders. You get to drop off your kids for two and half hours.  They get to hang out with other kids that like art, make something cool and have fun, while you go out to dinner at one of the local restaurants here in Webster Groves.  Olive and Oak, CJ Muggs, Milagro Modern Mexican, Robust Wine Cafe, Llywelyn’s Pub are all within walking distance from Yucandu.  Call your friends and get those kids signs up.

Believe it or not, Yucandu summer camps are already posted.  We’re preparing for our first Summer Opportunity Fair at the end of this month, which means, you can actually take a look and sign up starting today!   Between now and summer, keep an ear open for our annual Cross Workshop for adults, Mom and Me workshop for Mother’s Day as well as all the new projects and supplies coming to the open-studio for kids and adults alike.

Ideas in motion for 2018…Check!