LilSugar

Texts and Tunes: I'd Like the Goo-Gen-Heim

LilSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

There are good books and then there are texts that inspire. A.C. Hollingsworth's love of the Guggenheim Museum shines through on every page of I'd Like the Goo-Gen-Heim ($15), the story the artist wrote and illustrated. An introduction to modern art for wee ones, it's the colorful tale of Andy who celebrates his birthday with an outing to Central Park with his father and the older gent falls asleep on a bench.

While entertaining himself with a balloon, the lad looks up to see a beautiful building that "seemed to smile at him" - Frank Lloyd Wright's famed structure - and goes to explore all that it has to offer. Inside, he studies the works of Kandinsky, Kline, Picasso and Leger before returning to his dad. Upon waking up, Andy's father asks him what he wants for his birthday and the lil boy replies, "I'd Like the Goo-Gen-Heim." Originally published in 1970, the text was recently reprinted with permission of the author's widow.

Museums Are a Playground For Max Bratman and All Babes

LilSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:00:07 -0700

There's a period of time after a babe is born when some parents are at a loss over how to entertain the infant. The wee one may be old enough to venture out on daily outings, but too young to hold themselves up in the sand or on a swing, making trips to the playground a lil awkward when you don't have an older child or friends with kids. If buggy rides and "mommy and me" classes have you in the doldrums, consider one of the finer things in life - museums.

Songbird Christina Aguilera and her hubby, Jordan Bratman, recently took their mini me, Max, to his first exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

It was his first museum experience. It was the last day they were showing their superhero exhibit. So I wanted to catch that, actually," says Aguilera, 27

The seven-month-old is at a good age to take in the colors and patterns of artwork. Give your child some culture and take him or her to your local museum - many offer family memberships and discounts. Babies are not usually charged admission.
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Lil Find: Taro Gomi Drawing Books

babysugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:32 -0700

When your tot grows tired of the yellow lined legal pad, treat him to a super special Taro Gomi drawing book.

Since there are four different books to choose from, there's one for every lil artist.

If your honey needs a little direction, Scribbles ($14) or Doodles ($14) might be the right choice as they gives wee ones an image to build on for every page.

To see what else there is to choose from, read more.

If your kid is into paints and drawing, he can expand his imagination and talents on the plentiful illustrations in Squiggles ($14). And if you're trying to teach your babe a thing or two about the seasons, check out Doodle All Year ($12) where springtime animals, Summer fruit, Fall foods and Winter weather are all topics of doodling discussion.

One thing is certain, your sweetheart will be a busy bee with all of those pages and crayons. You can put "Mommy are we there yet?" to rest with a lil help from Taro Gomi.

Doodles by Taro Gomi ($14)	Squiggles by Taro Gomi ($14)
Scribbles by Taro Gomi ($14)	Doodle All Year by Taro Gomi ($12)

Ga Ga or Gag: Itty Bitty Babies

babysugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:00:01 -0800

Camille Allen is a 27–year–old Canadian artist who sculpts clay to create miniature life–like babies. She uses soft English mohair on their noggins making them look and feel real. With photographs as her inspiration, she molds her babes and paints them with meticulous perfection adding wrinkles, fingernails and other fine details.

She also showcases lifesize babies in her collection. The mini babies cost around $99.

What do you think of Camille Allen's art?

Kidoodles: Paint Pumps

LilSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:00:47 -0800

Your mini Matisse has never had it easier now that Land of Nod is offering Finger Picasso Paint and Finger Paint Pads ($5.95).

The non toxic paint comes in pump dispensers making it convenient for lil hands to create and clean up. And, the 15 oz. containers that are each sold with a pad of paper, come in every shade of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, blue, green and purple.

Pimp Your Crib: Number Art Adds Up

LilSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:06:27 -0700

While some mamas opt for the ABCs when decorating their lil one's lair, others are more mathematically inclined. Like its alpha counterpart, number wall art is available in enough color and design options that both those with traditional and modern tastes have a variety to choose from. This colorful numbers print ($45) from Calobee is just one of our favorite numerical designs for the nursery. Check out the slideshow for nine more and show off the sweet lil nursery you just decorated to the nines by joining our Revamping Baby's Room group over in the LilSugar Community!

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Kidoodles: Thanksgiving Tablecloth

babysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:29 -0800

Since Thanksgiving is next week, we thought you could use a simple arts and crafts project to entertain your kiddos and help you prepare for the holiday. Let your children be in charge of the tablecloth. They will appreciate the opportunity to get involved and relish the chance to get a lil messy - all in the name of helping out!

You just need the following items:

A piece of butcher paper (white works well with all colors)
A few sponges
Festive colored paints
A few pieces of blank paper
Scissors
Plates or bowls for paints
Markers or crayons

For my guide to making a kid-friendly tablecloth, read more

First, measure the table so you know how much butcher paper you will need. Once you have that, cut the paper and place it on a flat even surface like the floor or table top.

Next, draw whatever designs you want to use on the tablecloth and draw them on a piece of paper no bigger than the sponge you will use.

Once you have completed your drawing, cut it out and trace it on the sponge. Then cut along the traced line so you have your sponge design.

Now you are ready for the fun part! Put some paint in the plates or bowls and dip one side of the sponge into the paint. Gently press it onto the butcher paper. Voila! Use different colors and shapes to fill the paper.

Once it's all dried up, let your little ones draw on the paper and write "Happy Thanksgiving" or "I am thankful for ...", or a saying of their choice.

Finally, put the cloth on the table and ask your lil helpers to set it with plates and silverware!

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Lil Links: Wild Tire Swings Come to Life

babysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:35:30 -0800

Wild recycled tire swings - Inhabitots
If you thought Lily looked like mama Kate, check out her papa! - Celebrity Baby Blog
Amazing art-covered belly casts - CafeMom
Should adoptive parents have to disclose their gun situations? - ParentDish
Is Frances Bean Cobain heading to the Ivy League? - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Conjoined twins separated in Bangladesh - MomLogic
Thanksgiving craft alert! - Alpha Mom
Surviving the 2009 flu season - Fit Pregnancy
Shhhh . . . your baby is listening in the womb - Momformation

Saving Childhood Art, One DVD at a Time

babysugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:00:54 -0700

You love your kids, but you can't keep all their creations. Once your tot reaches the toddler stage, you become inundated with pictures, collages and all the other projects they pack home from daycare or preschool. And, since there's only so much space on the fridge, you need an alternative. ART:archives is a company that digitally preserves and stores your child’s artwork.

To read more about how they work, read more.

Created by two moms who couldn’t bear to part with their children's masterpieces, ART:archives allows you to send them a set number of pieces that are then transferred into a professional-looking digital presentation which are sent to you on DVD to watch on a TV or computer.

Sending them artwork categorized by school year helps them create a library. Packages start at $275 for 25 pieces of art, and additional DVDs can be purchased.

Would you invest in this?

Source

Meet Moms and Share Your Tales in Our Community Groups!

LilSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:01:48 -0800

You've waited in line for your son's soccer jersey, penciled your daughter's art classes onto the calendar, and shuttled your kids to karate. Now that their Fall activities are in full swing, take a few mom-me moments to do the same for yourself. LilSugar's Community offers a place for you to hang out, vent, brainstorm, and showcase your talents. What fits your fancy? Check out and join some of our hottest groups!

Preggers? Join the Pregnancy Posse!	Share Your Good - and Bad - OMG! Moments	Share Photos of Your Sugar Babies!
Join In on the Fun in The Mommy Club	Dish about Recipes in The Children's Table	Get Decor Tips From Revamping Baby's Room

Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.