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About

I started off as a textile designer, and while I left that profession behind, I never lost the desire to make things. Having children exposed me to the world of arts and crafts, and rather then suffer through it, I embraced it with a vengeance. It probably all began with my son’s passion for Neil and Art Attack. We bought him a toolbox filled with a range of stuff to make more stuff. On Art Attack days, he donned his apron and enthusiastically made things alongside Neil, while brilliantly imitating his British accent.

By the time my daughter came along, we had transformed our basement ‘dungeon’ into the Art Room. It’s a space that gives us the freedom to generate tons of stuff without worrying about collateral damage. It has a fabulous paint-stained table, and a bookcase filled with supplies; anything from dollar store items, recycled goods, great art supplies and questionable bits with hidden potential.

At some point, I ventured into the world of teaching arts and crafts to children, and found I loved working with them. I saw how valuable it was to give them an opportunity to express themselves without any pressure or judgement. Somewhere fun where they could hang out for an hour, learn something, and leave with a creation they were proud of.

This blog arose from the desire to share project ideas, experiences and inspirations with others. It’s also about encouraging children and adults alike to make and create. We don’t need a special reason or a perfect outcome. The journey just feels good.

bella manu

64 Responses to “About”

  1. I love the dungeon. How lucky are you and your kids!!! And the bookmarks are adorable. Thanks for the cute post (oops. I think I’m on the “about” page, but I got here from your bookmarks. Patsye

    By An Older Woman on January 10, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    1. Thanks so much Patsye. We do love our dungeon. Good luck with the blogging. You’ve got some great posts!

      By artclubblog on January 10, 2011 at 9:40 pm

  2. Hey Bella,

    I’m Stephanie, the new curator of the Vandalist column on Torontoist. I’ve been looking through your Flickr photos and I love your devotion to local street art. I’m not sure yet what pieces I’ll be using for this week’s Vandalist but I really like your recent photos of the animal stencils. I was wondering approximately where they are in the city and if you know how long they’ve been around for. Thanks! Also, if ever you see some street art you think is particularly special feel free to email me a shout out.

    Steph

    By Stephanie on April 17, 2011 at 11:17 pm

  3. Hi Steph,
    Congratulations on being the new curator, and thanks for your comment. I have emailed you my reply about the photos.

    Bella

    By artclubblog on April 18, 2011 at 2:04 pm

  4. Thanks for leaving a comment over on my blog so I could find yours! I’ll be looking through later on today when I have a bit more time… so nice to find another kids/art blog for inspiration!

    By amy @ kids in the studio on September 7, 2011 at 11:48 am

    1. The feeling is mutual! I will continue to enjoy your posts and ideas.

      By artclubblog on September 7, 2011 at 7:08 pm

  5. Let’s see, it’s 4:00 AM & I’ve been up sketching since around 11:00 PM. How fortunate that during a break I stumbled on this great blog. I am looking forward to lots of reading & learning from others. Lucky me!
    Lynnietoon

    By Lynn on October 3, 2011 at 5:08 am

    1. Sounds like the old days, pulling an all nighter to get the work done. Good luck with your work and thank you soooo much for your kind comments!

      By artclubblog on October 3, 2011 at 8:17 am

  6. What a great idea for a blog. Thank you.

    By boomerontario on November 3, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    1. Thank you boomerontario!

      By artclubblog on November 4, 2011 at 8:21 am

  7. Do you have any objection to people pinning your content on Pinterest?

    By amanda on April 8, 2012 at 11:02 pm

    1. No I don’t, and thanks for asking and pinning!

      By artclubblog on April 9, 2012 at 8:55 am

  8. You’ve been nominated for the One Lovely Blog Award! 🙂 http://woodandrope.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/one-lovely-blog-award/

    By woodandrope on June 10, 2012 at 7:19 am

    1. Thanks Jo! Wow, I’m totally verklempt and absolutely thrilled that you nominated my blog. Guess I better get moving on compiling a list of my own. Have a great day and love your blog!

      By artclubblog on June 11, 2012 at 1:08 pm

      1. Thank you 🙂

        By woodandrope on June 11, 2012 at 4:08 pm

  9. Love this blog. Thank you for sharing – and thank you for visiting mine. Hope you return and enjoy the stories. Today I am off to Chinatown in San Fran and hoping the sun comes out.

    By joiez on July 15, 2012 at 11:19 am

    1. Loved the stories on your blog, and I’ll definitely be back!

      By artclubblog on July 15, 2012 at 1:46 pm

  10. We were very artsy craftsy, especially when the kids were little. Shrinky Dinks, pisanki, and Sculpey. I watched them graduate from pony beads to glass beads. Now the kids are mostly doing their own illustrating, and I kind of miss those days and those projects. What a fun blog you have!

    Thanks so much for stopping by Writing Between the Lines!

    By Naomi Baltuck on September 7, 2012 at 8:37 pm

    1. So glad you stopped by Naomi. I think it’s wonderful that your children remain so creative. We need creative thinkers out there! BTW I have no idea what pisanki is, so I’m on my way to looking it up. There’s always something new to learn.

      By artclubblog on September 8, 2012 at 10:09 am

  11. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting on my Asterix story. I am enjoying our site, especially love the dungeon!

    By Madoqua on September 8, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    1. That should have read – ‘enjoying your site’, sorry!

      By Madoqua on September 8, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    2. So glad you dropped by. My son enjoyed Asterix when he was younger, and I wish we had thought of making a village like the one in your post. It’s beautiful, and just the sort of thing we would have made in our dungeon 🙂

      By artclubblog on September 9, 2012 at 6:30 pm

  12. What a great discovery! Beautiful blog.

    By bravesmartbold on September 9, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    1. Thank you so much. I’m thrilled you like it!

      By artclubblog on September 9, 2012 at 6:12 pm

  13. you sound like me minus just a few years! you have a wonderful blog! 😉

    By linda adelaide on November 29, 2012 at 10:35 am

    1. Gosh, I’m blushing! Thank you so much. I’m a fan of your blog as well, and all your very interesting art and beautiful photos!

      By artclubblog on November 29, 2012 at 11:09 pm

  14. Hi Bella! Thanks for linking up to my special About Me Pity Party last week. I loved reading about you. I want an art room/dungeon! How cool. In CA we don’t have basements. 😦 Darn. Thanks again for linking up.

    By mique123 on December 7, 2012 at 3:33 am

    1. That was such a great idea for a party. Thanks for doing it! About that basement…I’d take a nice sunny aboveground room in California over my dungeon anyday!

      By artclubblog on December 7, 2012 at 11:17 am

  15. Hey Bella! you have interesting and beautiful posts. I wish I also have “The Dungeon”, every artist would want one.:)

    By Kriscel Diane Go on January 2, 2013 at 1:04 am

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Kriscel! I know I’m lucky to have the dungeon 🙂

      By artclubblog on January 2, 2013 at 9:23 am

  16. I truly wish I would have had an art dungeon when I was a child. You are giving your family an amazing gift. Consider yourself followed.

    By Being June on January 17, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    1. Your comment is truly touching. Thank you! We do know how lucky we are to have that space.

      By artclubblog on January 17, 2013 at 9:47 pm

  17. Love your blog, looking forward to reading more posts. Nice to meet you 🙂

    By alisonsye on March 22, 2013 at 2:20 am

    1. Thanks soooo much Alison. Nice to meet you too!

      By artclubblog on March 22, 2013 at 9:17 am

  18. Hi artclubblog, good news!

    I have nominated your blog for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

    The rules of that award are at

    Very Inspiring Blogger Award, thanks Shaun!

    Congratulations!

    By petrel41 on March 25, 2013 at 9:20 am

    1. Thank you so much dearkitty! I’m thrilled and honoured you would nominate my blog. Now I’ve got a silly smile planted on my face 🙂 Have a lovely day!

      By artclubblog on March 25, 2013 at 2:19 pm

      1. Well deserved 🙂 Keep smiling, and blogging 🙂

        By petrel41 on March 25, 2013 at 2:24 pm

  19. You too 🙂

    By artclubblog on March 26, 2013 at 7:49 am

  20. Hi, so glad I found your blog, you have some very interesting crafty Hobbies, cheers, Graham…..YourHobby…..

    By YourHobby on April 2, 2013 at 12:59 am

    1. Thanks Graham!

      By artclubblog on April 2, 2013 at 7:05 am

  21. OMG! I love your blog!

    By rocknroam on June 4, 2013 at 11:10 pm

    1. You made my day. Seriously!

      By artclubblog on June 5, 2013 at 8:05 am

  22. How much fun is your blog!?! Thanks for visiting mine!

    By Found This Painted That on June 30, 2013 at 12:16 am

    1. So glad you dropped by!

      By artclubblog on June 30, 2013 at 12:57 pm

  23. Hi I love your blog and I have an award for you http://easycraftsforchildren.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/blog-anniversary-and-dragons-loyalty-award/

    By easycraftsforchildren on September 1, 2013 at 7:25 am

    1. Thank you so much for the nomination! A perfect start to my day 🙂

      By artclubblog on September 1, 2013 at 9:49 am

  24. I’m checking your blog out for the first time, and I think I’m in love! Your posts are awesome and I really enjoy that it stemmed from your children and your art room basement. I would love to have my own art room, but in an apartment set up, that isn’t going happen. Thanks so much for sharing your work. Keep it coming!

    By Make Something Mondays on April 12, 2014 at 10:58 am

    1. Thanks so much for your kind comments! It is great having a designated space to make things, but most of the time we just end up at the dining room table, making a big mess.

      By artclubblog on April 12, 2014 at 5:21 pm

  25. Thanks so much for visiting my blog! I appreciate it very much. 🙂

    By Jackie on April 18, 2014 at 8:35 am

    1. You’re welcome Jackie. I was glad to stumble upon your blog and have the opportunity to see your photos, which are beautiful! Thanks for visiting too 🙂

      By artclubblog on April 18, 2014 at 8:55 am

  26. You’re welcome! I hope you have a lovely weekend. 🙂

    By Jackie on April 18, 2014 at 10:01 am

  27. I stumbled upon your blog and I absolutely love it. I homeschool and my weak points are arts and crafts, but you make it seem far more exciting than traditional construction paper and paper plate elementary crafts, yet doable! Thank you so much. From the perspective of my very unartistic brain, your blog is pure genius.

    By Robin on November 2, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    1. Thank you so much for leaving such a very kind comment. I have a huge smile planted on my face! Always happy to help inspire others to create :).

      By artclubblog on November 2, 2014 at 9:45 pm

  28. Great idea – a art dungeon. I used to do Art Attack projects with my children when they were young, in my own living room. Really enjoyed it but need a good clean up after the the “attack”. 🙂

    By angielynn on December 14, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    1. That’s for sure! Art Attack was a great show, and Neil was a fabulous guy.

      By artclubblog on December 15, 2014 at 12:27 pm

  29. Hello there! I just wanted to say that you have an incredible blog! Your content is refreshing, intelligent, and apt.

    By Cardboard Express on June 20, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    1. Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment!

      By artclubblog on June 28, 2015 at 12:35 pm

      1. You’re very welcome! It was my pleasure!

        By Cardboard Express on June 28, 2015 at 7:29 pm

  30. I do a small bit of crafting with my grandson and would love to have a special room like yours. Thank you for sharing all the wonderful talent with everyone.
    Deirdre

    By Deirdre Henry on January 29, 2016 at 11:04 am

    1. Thanks so much for visiting, Deidre!

      By artclubblog on January 29, 2016 at 11:49 am

  31. Hi!! I’m so glad to find another crafter like myself who isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with paints, glue and suchlike! I found you through pinterest, something about watercolours and glue on circles, always a good mix, haha! I’m following along now, lovely to meet you 🙂 Oh, and Neils Art Attack was my kids favourite programme too (secretly mine as well, 😀 )

    By scribbleartie on May 24, 2016 at 5:04 am

    1. Thanks so much for dropping by. I also thought Art Attack was fabulous!

      By artclubblog on June 3, 2016 at 8:01 pm

  32. Hi. I would love to be able to share a photo from your sandcasting blog post in our social media and link back to your entire blog post so people would see the complete instructions. Love the idea of crafting outdoors at the beach.

    By Anita on May 8, 2018 at 2:40 pm

    1. Not a problem at all. It was a lot of fun to make. Thanks!

      By artclubblog on May 8, 2018 at 9:36 pm

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