It’s time to introduce you to my #craftcrush and friend, Bar Rucci, AKA Art Bar. I have been inspired by her approach to kids art (and drooling over her bright color palettes) for years. She’s the perfect combo of brilliant and relatable (you’ll see in our interview with her later in the post!).
We became Insta friends a while back and she’s since been a constant source of inspiration, encouragement, and enthusiasm as I juggle Pipsticks and motherhood. I am SO excited to announce our sticker collaboration on the August Kids Club sticker pack!
Bar’s blog, Art Bar, is FILLED with ideas that encourage creativity and allow kids to take control of their art process.
In our house, summer is basically synonymous with “craft season.” My kids paint, glue, and collage their days away, then walk door-to-door peddling their wares.
Bar is a genius when it comes to her resourceful approach to art and upcycling materials. Her blog features ideas to help kids problem solve and think outside the box – and to create things that will continue to ignite their imagination as a finished product.
I subscribe to Bar’s ideology of “raising creative thinkers” and am obsessed with the careful way she puts together art prompts to ensure success as kids explore an idea.
Bar has written multiple books and created the cutest collection of digital stickers AKA Artsy Emojis. As soon as I downloaded her emoji app (and started sticking them over all of my texts), I thought they’d make perfect stickers IRL. And guess what?
They did! We worked together on three sheets – two with a retro, iridescent finish, and one that you can color in and use to make a birthday or thank you card. You can get these collab stickers in our August Kids Club sticker pack!
To kick off the collaboration, we’ve also put together everything you’ll need to keep yourself and your kids cool for the rest of the summer! Be sure to sign up for our Kids Sticker Club to get Bar’s stickers, and check out her blog and books for some serious crafting inspo!
Pipsticks + Art Bar GIVEAWAY
Here’s what you’ll win:
- Copy of Bar’s book Cardboard Creations
- Copy of Bar’s book Art Workshop for Children
- “Art is messy” youth shirt
- “Art Bar” youth shirt
- 3 Month Pipsticks Gift Subscription
The giveaway will run through July 31st, so be sure to max out your entries and tell all your friends!!
DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS
Don’t have social media? It’s cool, just enter your email above and you’ll be entered to win. Also, EVERYONE in our Kid’s Sticker Club will also receive an entry, so if you’re not already a subscriber, go sign up!
Contest ends at 12:00 PM PST on July 31st.
The winner will be announced August 1st, and will be contacted via email or social media. Contest Terms & Conditions
Let’s chat with Barbara from Art Bar
Where do you live? Where are you from?
I live in New Canaan, Connecticut. I was originally born in Holland, both my parents are Dutch, but we moved to Connecticut when I was in kindergarten, and it’s where I returned to raise my family.
What do you LOVE?
I love the smell of jasmine, I love chai tea, I love reading real books, I love musical theatre, and I LOVE POWER NAPS!
What do you dislike?
What I dislike more than anything is entitled people. I also don’t like being too busy.
What did you want to be when you grew up as a child?
I wanted to be a mom and an artist.
What do you do for work?
I write a blog about art and creativity for kids and families. I also teach art classes and I’ve written two books.
How long have you been in the creative industry?
I went to art school, and have been in the creative industry ever since. It’s been 28 years! I started as a textile designer, then painted murals, designed children’s clothing, worked in interior design, was a graphic designer, and now I’m an art teacher and blogger.
What’s the thing you’re most proud of making?
I had a quilt business making patchwork quilts from people’s old clothes. Soon enough, I was making quilts for families who lost loved ones. I made a quilt for a family who lost their young daughter to cancer, and I made quilts for two young girls who lost their father in 9/11. Those are the pieces I’m proudest of.
What’s an exciting idea you’ve had recently?
I have a new exciting idea just about every month! My latest idea is that I would love to have a side business making photo backdrop walls for events. I’m obsessed with Anthropologie installations, so these photos walls would be in that vein. Very creative and original.
What’s your favorite color combination right now?
Dusty rose and indigo.
How many hours a day do you spend on creativity?
Well, if we are talking creative thinking, probably all day. Too much time, I forget about everything else (like picking up my children!). If we are talking hands-on creativity, not much at all. I spend too much time managing my blog and writing. That’s why I’m dying to get back into making something with my hands.
When did you fall in love with stickers?
Ahhhh, I LOVED stickers as a child and collected them in a binder. I especially loved puffy stickers. We had a store in town called Meandher (me-and-her) run by two best friends. They had a whole wall of sticker rolls. I would save every penny I earned or found to buy stickers!
What’s in your perfect trailmix?
I love trailmix! I like a mix of lightly salted nuts, dried cherries, and a little bit of dark chocolate.
What food could you eat all day every day?
Granola. I make my own homemade, and I DO eat it every day all day!
What’s the BEST present you’ve ever received?
I do love things, but I’m not really a consumer. I love what my husband surprised me with about 12 Christmases ago, though. It was one of those surreal moments on Christmas Eve day, when the owner of a local car dealership, who happened to be our friend, came over to say “hi” to me. It was weird because we’re not really that close. But as we were talking, and he was wishing me a Merry Christmas, my husband walked in and both of them had these stupid big smiles on their faces. They said to look outside, and there was a new minivan on my lawn with a ribbon! We are so not a fancy family and I never want big gifts, I always ask for and really just want cards and small handmade things. So this was not only extravagant, but it was hilarious and really perfect. I literally am the only person I know who LOVES minivans. Those rolling doors, man.
Thanks Bar! We are so excited to see your stickers in the 2019 August Kids subscription packs!
Follow The Art Bar here, and don’t miss out on her amazing stickers!
Mo xoxo
Love this. So much creativity.
I can’t ever figure out how to enter these things!! I under my name and email but it doesn’t give me any entries!