Collage Collage

we're moving BLOG locations!

2010-04-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

hey everyone!

I've got a brand new blog right in the website, so you don't need to navigate away from the site to follow the blog.

Find it here
or by going back to the website and clicking on blog and events.

Thanks so much for following me here, and be sure to follow me at my new home.

Foggy Launch!

2010-03-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone that made it out to the Foggy Launch yesterday! We made sail boats and binoculars, had cupcakes and such fun.

I even have a few more copies in store, and the CDs have arrived and are a lovely little collection that you + your family will love.

Let's do that again soon.

Check out more fun projects from Foggy and his friends Windy, Sunny, Snowy&Chinook here

Well done everyone!

March Break

2010-03-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

March Break is approaching!
(At least for those of you who haven't had an Olympic Break already!)

Please know that Collage Collage will offer OPEN STUDIO drop in classes all week long, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11am - 3pm for 1 hour at a time.

Come on in and make something great together. The supplies will be available for a different project each day. $10 for a one hour Drop In class. All week!

And remember, you can always come in and draw at the drawing table, or read a story book, or try out the felt boards for FREE.

MARCH BREAK MARCH 9th-12th 11am - 3pm OPEN STUDIO Drop IN!

Everyone's a Winner

2010-02-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Best Big Sister? Best Room Tidy-Uper? Best Kid EVER? I'm sure you know some contenders.

The following is a Do-It-Together Craft that involves a little bit of sewing (or you can consider a paper version instead of with felt!). After wards, you'll have an adaptable award to give over and over again to the kids that mean the most to you.

You'll need;
2 pieces of 8 x 11 craft or wool felt
some ribbon (long enough to wear!)
glue
scissors
heavy card or construction paper
something to draw + colour with
a sewing machine or needle and thread

First, use a template (like a roll of masking tape)
to trace out a felt circle. You'll need two whole circles and one half circle

Next, cut out the letters to the winner's name and sew or glue it to the half circle.

Now you're going to stack one whole circle, the ends of the ribbon, and the second whole circle.

Line up all the edges, and then add the half circle on top with the winners name.

Sew all along the edges, twice even if you'd like! Make sure the winner's name has the ribbons above it so that the medal sits up in the right direction.

Once you've sewn it all together, you might want to add a maple leaf, a star or something like it to the back of your medal.

Now, use your template to make a slightly smaller circle and cut it out of heavy card or construction paper.

Slip it into the pocket you've made on the front, and add whatever winning titles you'd like!
Turn the paper circle and add as many winning titles as you like. You can even make extra circles so that you can win all sorts of awards.

Last but not least, get up on your podium and receive your medals. You've earned it!

Enzo Mari

2010-02-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

I love books. So much I had to open a shop to showcase the ones I love the most. I'm so thrilled to carry the Corraini titles; Bruno Munari and Enzo Mari's works continue to inspire me in the things I find, make and teach in the shop.

Here's a closer look at Mari's book, L'Altalena or See-Saw. A beautiful treasure for any age.

The Wonderful Thing about Tigers

2010-02-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year to all of you!

I'm totally ready for the Year of the Ox to end, and welcome the Tiger year. From what I've read it's an intense, distinctive and fast paced kind of time, that calls on all of us to adapt to change a little more quickly than we're used to. It's a year to be active and alert and seize opportunities. Sounds go to me.

Go get em, Tigers.

Canned Goods

2010-02-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

Collage Collage is thrilled to be carrying "Eye Can Art" kits from Seattle.

I've got 4 different styles to choose from, from printmaking to bookmaking, you'll find something to take home and make something great.

Best of all, they're made by my cousin Bridget. Her and counterparts started making these kits as the One-Stop-Creative-Come-Back to, "I’m bored." Please check out their site for more info right here.

Stop by soon!

2010-02-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

I heart Collage Collage.

so, we made some awesome Valentine's today at the shop!

Come by NEXT SATURDAY from 1-2pm and you can make one too,
and for an extra $10 my favorite professional photographer, Lauren will take your
photo with your Valentine, so you can send a beautiful hi res image out to all your loved ones
IN TIME for Valentines Day the very next day.

Come on over, it'll be good.

XOXOXO

Colouring Posters

2010-02-04T11:49:00.001-08:00

Have I told you about our colouring posters?

It's a project I thought up as a way to let kids and adults interact with different artists' works. Everyone who shows at Collage Collage is asked to create a colouring poster. It's been pretty fun to see what people do with them, especially now that we've got three to choose from.

This one is by Tania McCormack, who's show is up until the end of the month

Julie Morstad created the first one, shown here...

I thought I'd share the first three here with you, so that you might be inspired to come on down and colour one in one afternoon. Artists thus far were Tania McCormack, Lisa Cinar and Julie Morstad. Stay tuned for a new one from T&T.

Reading Corner

2010-02-03T15:32:00.000-08:00

Yes! We have magazines.

And not just any magazines. The newest issue of Hunter and Cook has just arrived, as well as Uppercase from Calgary. Both wonderful, beautiful, Canadian publications for you to enjoy.

And speaking of the fine fellas at Hunter and Cook; I'm thrilled to tell you that Collage Collage helped produce a colouring poster for the upcoming T&T show at Pendulum Gallery.

T&T 's False Creek opens February 5th and runs through to March 3rd.

Pendulum Gallery 885 W Georgia Street

all fun, no games.

2010-02-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

I've been getting the question a lot lately.."What will you do during the Games?"

I'm happy to report, that I'll be doing nothing.

Well, not nothing at all really. Collage Collage will be OPEN, for regular hours and regular classes all the way through this most unusual time in the city. So don't worry. Put on your rubber boots and walk over. We'll read some stories and make some stuff. Here's what the 6-8 year olds have been working on lately.

We looked at Bruno Munari's work, and his amazing exercise of slicing up one piece of paper to make a whole tree. From his book "drawing a tree". You can get a copy here at the shop to try it out yourself. Or just come by and I'll let you take a look at my copy.

Team Macho Arrives!

2010-01-23T13:31:00.000-08:00

So, I grew up in Toronto.

And, I have a little bit of a crush on my hometown. Thus, I've got a bit of a bias when it comes to Team Macho, who's work I've liked for a few years. They're from Toronto, they wear sweaters, and they make great work. Now my Vancouver friends can come and see their prints, books and postcards here at the shop.

Come see, it'll make your day.

Yes, we do Birthday Parties!

2010-01-20T14:10:00.000-08:00

Birthday Parties at Collage Collage are pretty darn fun. Click here for booking details!

I recently asked my friend and photographer Lauren Tetreault to shoot a party, and I'm so thrilled I did. You can check out Lauren's blog at http://laurenjoanphotography.blogspot.com/

Birthday Parties run as a private class. Families bring their own food, cake and goodie bags, and Collage Collage takes care of the activity, mess + clean up!

Lauren is available for hire for parties now, and I couldn't be happier to be able to offer this to any families interested.

They've been a delight to host. Click here to see one that we had not to long ago with another family, who happen to be connected to my favorite cupcake maker, Coco Cupcakes!

So, what do you do here?

2010-01-12T15:00:00.001-08:00

I get this question all the time at the shop. My favorite comment to date was a fellow who came in, stretched his arms out wide, and proclaimed "I love this place! What is it?"

It totally made my day, and reminded me that a few more photos of what happens here might help everyone better understand a shop like Collage Collage.

Here at Collage Collage, we sell books, magazines, art supplies, toys, and other treasures. We teach classes several times a week that you can check out on the website. Or you can just email me, and we can find out if I've got a class suitable for you and your family.

Winter is here

2010-01-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

So, winter is upon us.

Personally, I kind of love the excuse to hibernate a little, stay in, stay warm, read books, and of course make things.

I just got our delivery from Moomah in New York. Moomah is a beautiful store and cafe - I like to think of them as Collage Collage's older, more sophisticated cousin living in NYC. I chose just a couple of their kits, stickers and colouring books to share with you now, and hope to have a whole lot more of their products in the future.

Here's a small peek. Come in, pick one, make something great.

Here We Go!

2010-01-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Collage Collage's blog. We're a store, a school and a place for all to be inspired in. It's pretty fun to stop in, pick up a book or fall in love with a handmade monster from Halifax. Or maybe find a robot made right here in Vancouver, or maybe just join us at the giant pine table for some colouring. It's really up to you.