Beat the heat at Irvington's new kid haven, Art XO Studio
/Hi everyone!
This is Lori Fettner, local mom and author, taking over this week. Looking for something new to do to beat the heat? Check out Art XO Studio in Irvington. This beautiful studio is packed with art projects for kids (and adults) of all ages. Choices range from blank canvases to wooden frames, boxes, signs, and so much more.
When I stopped by, my eyes immediately went to a mini wooden dresser complete with mirror and pull out drawer. I thought my daughter would love to paint and decorate this for her Barbies, and I was right!
Prices range from $5-$15 per project, plus $10 for 2 hours of studio time if you complete the project on site. So you and your child can have an afternoon out for as little as $15, and beautiful artwork to take home.
And this is just the walk-in portion. Art XO Studio will also offer classes, camps, workshops for both kids and adults, and something called Artxercise, which sounds incredible. Picture your child with a bow and arrow hitting a bull’s eye, but the arrow is a paintbrush, and the bull’s eye a canvas!
When I first heard about this studio, I knew I wanted to partner up. My newest picture book is a book with no pictures—which means your child will become the illustrator in this I Create Art book. I’ve been getting some funny glances from parents when I describe it, but Kristina, one of the owners of Art XO Studio, totally got the message—to unleash kids’ imagination and personalize their experience.
Kristina Schmidt and Melissa Gilbert are life-long Irvington residents, each with three young children who enjoy helping their mothers tend to the studio and even offer insight into its programming. This female- and family-owned business is proud to have the village mayor, Brian Smith, cutting the ribbon with them at their Grand Opening next Saturday, July 27, to celebrate the newest addition to the Irvington business district, and I am honored that Kristina and Melissa have asked me to join them at this event. I’ll be there signing copies of Goodbye Bad Dreams while I celebrate this new space with my daughter.
Then Sunday, August 4, I’ll be back to do a reading of Goodbye Bad Dreams, and the studio is offering free studio time for anyone who purchases the book and wants to work on it after the reading.
For those of you like me, whose kids’ camps end before school starts, Art XO will have camps during the last two weeks of August! 9:30am to 12pm for ages 3–5 and 12:30pm to 3pm for ages 5–10. Subscribe to their mailing list to receive updates about classes and camps.
We hope to see you at the Grand Opening July 27th at 10am and the reading August 4th at 10:30am at 9 Main Street in Irvington, or check the website for most updated walk-in hours.
Thanks for letting me take over! If you want more info about me or my books, visit my website at LoriFettner.com. It features my customized list of books from authors who tackle tough issues for kids like bullying and potty training. (Miss the article about it? Check it out here.)
That's it for this week! Like what you're reading? Help keep the computer screen on by following us on Facebook or Instagram and signing up for our weekly emails at BabyGotChat.com. And as always, check our website for events and our easy-to-navigate chart of every weekly kids library program in Westchester. Just be sure to check the date you wish to attend against the library's calendar, because many programs are off for the summer.
See you next time!
Lori (& Andrea)
