Saturday is going to be an awesome day to be a parent in Columbia.  The Big Shebang is going on at City Roots from 11-2. Expose your kids to in-town, sustainable farming, local food, local crafts, and more. 

Before you go, however, you do not want to miss this month’s installment of the Nickelodeon Family Film Series starting at 10am! Here’s why:

1) The Nickelodeon is awesome!  We are so lucky to have the Nick in Columbia.  It is SC’s only non-profit art house film theatre, which means you get the opportunity to see lots of non-mainstream films. What’s more, the Nickelodeon has committed to providing unique programming opportunities for the whole family.  Once a month, the Nick hosts the Family Film Series where you can introduce your children to something besides Barney, Elmo, and Disney princesses.

2) Lunch Money is awesome!  I am going to sound like a broken record, but we are so lucky to have Lunch Money in Columbia!  Really people, to have a nationally-known and acclaimed band from Columbia… and have it be a band that makes music for kids… and have it be a really great-sounding, cool, hip, indie kids’ band… unbelievable luck!!!  Lunch Money is officially hosting the Family Film Series.  They have lots of great things in store for the attendees at the events.  Not just a regular Lunch Money show.  Don’t miss out!

3) Short films are awesome!  For the Family Film Series, the Nick is programming short films instead of full lengths.  This is a huge bonus for 3 reasons.  First, these aren’t just bring-your-kids-to-the-movies-and-let-them-zone-out-for-2-hours events.  The events will be interactive.  In my opinion, a much more enriching experience!  Second, programming short films allows Lunch Money to have half the show time!  All the Family Film Series events will run 1 hour, with short films making up half, and Lunch Money making up the other half.  So, for $5, you get movies AND a concert.  That is a major bargain!  Finally, programming shorts allows the Nick to present films from around the world, and at the same time, support independent film makers who are out there working hard to make creative, interesting films but that don’t get the main-stream budget and distribution of a big Pixar/Disney/DreamWorks film.

I really hope you will come out on Saturday and experience the Family Film Series.  The theme is Animals!  See you there!

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So, you probably haven’t even gotten this far in your December yet, but your kids are going to be out of school after next week.  For two weeks.  While that is loads of fun and all, I am sure you might have a day or two or six when you might need something for them to do!  Well, worry no more.  Tag It Art would be a perfect option!  Owner Jackie Humphries has planned a series of one-day or multi-day art camps to coincide with the school holidays!  She also has other fun December plans including extended open studio hours, a holiday pj party, and even a Ladies’ Night!  Check her website for all the details, and get in there for some messy holiday fun!

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We just finished holiday activity #2.  Love, love, love the way they turned out!  First, you need to save some of your empty food boxes, like cereal or pasta boxes.  Or find some cardstock you have stored in your cabinets.  Any sort of stiff or heavy paper would work.  You just don’t want to use construction paper or anything lighter, as it will be too flimsy.  (Isn’t flimsy a fun word?)  The idea is to recycle something, so I chose to cut up cardboard boxes - the kinds that can’t be recycled here in Columbia.  Cereal boxes, pasta boxes, kleenex boxes, anything that has one side that has no printing on it.

Now that you have all your stiff papers/cardboard in front of you.  You will also need some scissors, sponges or potatoes, washable paint, a hole punch, and some ribbon.

Step 1: Cut the boxes into rectangles approximately 4.5 inches x 2.5 inches.  Trim two corners on one of the short sides so your tag looks like the ones in the pictures!

Step 2: Cut shapes out of sponges or out of potatoes.  I used both.  Kids will find it quirky and fun to paint with a potato, but a sponge would work just as well.

Step 3: Paint one side of the sponge or the cut side of the potato with the paint colors you want.  I used a paintbrush to control how the colors blended, but you could just dip into the paint.  I chose green and brown for my trees, and yellow and red for my stars.  Red and green would be cute for the stars as well.

Step 4: Press the painted side onto the card.  Don’t worry about placement.  As you can see from the photos, I made each one different.

Step 5: Once your cards are dry, punch a hole in the same end that has the trimmed corners.  (again, see pictures for clarification)

Step 6: Write your To/From or holiday message on the card.  Attach to gifts with ribbon!

So very cute and really really easy.  Note that you could do these anytime of year, with any shapes you like.

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I am super excited about the fun holiday crafts and activities I have planned.  I am trying really hard to be realistic this year.  Here is my first idea: Handprint ornaments.  You will need:

Plastic ornaments.  Available in lots of great colors at Target.  Be sure you do NOT buy the glass ones!!

White paint (I used Crayola washable)

Paint brushes

Hooks/Hangers

Cord or rope (hang across the room or outside for drying the ornaments)

Step 1: Paint your child’s palm and fingers with the white paint.

Step 2: Have your child place hand on the ornament firmly enough to make hand print.  Basically, they just have to hold the ball for a few seconds. (Let me say again…do NOT buy glass ornaments for this craft!)

Step 3: Hang painted ball up to dry.

Step 4: When dry, write child’s name and the year on the ornament, then tie a ribbon around the hook.

Very inexpensive and simple.  If you have any left-over ornaments, let your kids paint them for their friends.  My daughter made a few with polka-dots and a few with snowmen.   I will confess to you that I am very proud of myself on this one.  It was as easy as it seemed it would be, but more importantly, I actually executed on the plan!  I am notorious for thinking of an idea and either never following through or waiting until I am out of time.

Happy holidays!

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Christine Discoe is offering two new kid-friendly sewing classes.

• Beginning Mom and Child sewing class.  Saturday, December 5th from noon until 2:00pm (or so).  Class will cover the basics of how to thread, wind a bobbin, use basic stitches, and clean the machine. Also, as time allows, you will work on a simple project that can be completed at home. This is a very beginning class for those who own machines in good working order (machines must be brought to class). Ages 7 and up. Class size limited. ($30 each parent/child).

• Christmas Merry Mittens ornament studio!  Saturday, December 12th from noon until 1:30pm. This class will be a fun continuation of hand-sewing techniques!  This class is open to younger students (ages 5+), but if kids need extra adult supervision, a parent should be available during the class time.  $15.

If you want to sign up, please contact Christine at 708-2591.

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It’s November 12.  Exactly 29 days until the start of Hanukkah.  Exactly 43 days until Christmas.  Exactly 44 days until Kwanzaa.  All of these celebrations can include some gift giving, however large or small.  In preparation for these, and other gift-giving occasions (there are, surprisingly, people with birthdays and anniversaries in December!), you might want to mark your calendar for two great artisans’ markets.

• Tonight, November 12, there is a Holiday Sip and Shop at 4020 Clairmont Drive.  6-9pm.  Vendors include: Shawna Riddle (The Painted Picket: Hand painted Decorative Accessories); Emily Woodard (Personalized Hand-painted Ornaments);  Ellen Parker (Handmade Recess); Mary Beth Hultstrand (Dragonfly Dreams Personalized Stationery & Invitations); Laura Ingram (Lia Sophia Jewelry); Leigh Ladd (Ethiopaper Handcrafted Cards); Cami Hutchinson (Original Oil Paintings); and Christal Smith (Molly-Pops!).  I know first-hand that the Dragonfly Dreams stationery is awesome.  Sounds like a great opportunity to see some unique gift items, so check it out if you can and support these local artists and businesses!

• On Sunday, November 15, there is another Artisans’ Fair & Sale at the Columbia Museum of Art.  I would love to see this Artisans’ Market continue to grow.  I recall last year being the first year, and from the information on the web, it looks like it has expanded this year.  I love love love artists’ markets, and it makes me very happy when I see the indie arts and crafts movement emerging in our fair city!  The more we support these local events, the more of them we will see.

Happy shopping season!

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Here are a couple of new Halloween activities I just found out about:

Friday, October 30

• Pajama Painting Pumpkin Party at Tag it Art!  Drop your children (ages 5-10 only!) off at Tag It Art for some Halloween art fun.  6:30-9:00pm.  Reservations required.  Call 782-6990.  Hurry - space is limited!  Tag It Art is an awesome addition to the children’s entertainment scene in Columbia, so make sure you check it out…if not Friday night, then soon!!
• Costume contest at Starbucks at Trenholm Plaza.  Stop by anytime between 4 and 8 pm to register your costume.  Multiple age categories from infant to adult!  Winners from each category will receive prizes.  (You must donate $2 to enter the contest, but all the money goes to Children’s Hospital!  Win-win!).

Saturday, October 31

• Trick or Treat on Devine Street.  Noon - 3pm.  Trick or treat with retailers on Devine Street.

For the rest of the activities going on around town this week, check out my previous Halloween activity post.

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Don’t miss out on a wonderful Halloween-related craft workshop coming up on October 17th and 18th.  Christine Discoe will be hosting a spooky craft studio for children ages 7 and up.  The event is a beginning sewing class that promotes creativity and basic hand-sewing skills.  Parents can choose either a Saturday or Sunday class.  Cost is $18 (all materials included) for the 2.5 hour workshop.  See the flyer for more details and to register to attend.

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I am so excited that it is October 1!  Now I can officially get into Halloween season.  There are so many things going on around town.  I’ll kick off the month with this adorable cover from Martha Stewart Living magazine.  I don’t really read or follow Martha, but I couldn’t resist this cover!  (image from Design Genie)

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