Some of these long hot days call for some quick thinking with kids home for the summer and stuck inside with heat warnings and temperatures topping out at real-feel temperatures of 103 degrees.  I always like to keep a few fun creative exercises to keep the little hands and minds busy!  Here are some of my favorites!  Robert Sabuda is not only a great paper engineer but his website has some great pop-ups for kids and adults to do.  From simple to intermediate to advanced, his pop-ups can teach anyone how simple folds and cuts will create three-dimensional delights.  For children under five, there are some simple pop-ups.  Most of the pop-ups featured on his website are geared to older children and adults.  From exploding birthday cakes complete with candles to blooming blossoms and ships asail, these templates can be printed out on white cardstock, colored with crayons, colored pencils or other media, cut out and assembled.  Directions are easy to follow and if at first you don't succeed, print out another, cut it out and try it again!  These great templates can be found at www.robertsabuda.com.  Anoher great paper engineer is Carol Barton whose artist's books are just amazing!  If you haven't perused her site, check it out under www.popularkinetics.com.  Carol Barton also has great templates to download and print out for different types of pop-ups.  These are geared to older children and adults!  She has some fun cards to make as well as great examples of her work.  She also has some wonderful pop-up instructional books to order.  I have her first two books which are easy-to-follow and build on the basics learned before.  These books can be used in the classroom or for just plain fun!  Two other great pop-up instructional books that I often refer to are authored by Paul Johnson and Esther K. Smith.  Paul Johnson's book is a fun guide to all various pop-up mechanisms with easy-to-follow instructions and samples of how to use them.  Esther K. Smith's book is a fun-filled book that shows how to make paper toys and simple pop-up mechanisms.  Her models and instructions are also easy to follow and assemble!  Their books can be found at your local bookstore or via Amazon.com.  Enjoy these links and books and don't forget to make them and send them out to all those favorite friends on their special days and occasions.  Everyone loves the magic of the pop-up! 

Summer's here and the temperatures are hot, hot, hot!  Staying cool is an arduous task even for me!  All studio work is done early, early, early and all other chores as well before that sun starts beating down!  So, while in the city to celebrate the Fourth, here's some things that are hot, hot, hot...  Catch The Chinese Warriors at the Times Discovery Center in New York City.  This is a great exhibit with real artifacts from the underground tomb of the First Emperor of China.  Actual 6 foot tall ceramic soldiers, officers and their stallions grace the exhibit as well as other artifacts taken from the tomb of China's First Emperor.  Up until August this is a crowd pleaser for children and adults.  Also, catch Tracy Bennett as Judy Garland at the Belasco Theater on 44th Street in "The End of the Rainbow".  A fabulous show that can be done after seeing the great antiquities mentioned above in the Times Discovery Center on 44th Street!  It's a great way to spend a hot, hot day in a hot, hot city.  Be sure to cool down and hydrate and enjoy Carmine's for a bite in between or after the shows!  Tickets for both events can be purchased through Ticketmaster or on their respective sites. 

Another great way to spend a hot, hot day in the big apple is to check out the new gallery exhibits at Pavel Zoubok Gallery and Denise Bibro Gallery in Chelsea.  "I'll Take You There" opens at Pavel Zoubok and Denise Bibro has a great summer exhibit of favorite gallery artists such as David Barnet and Dusty Boynton.  Stroll around and stop for a quick coffee or water at some of the great cafes and restaurants in Chelsea. 

Another great hot, hot spot will be in Asheville come August.  The Miniature Book Society is having their annual enclave at the Asheville Bookworks and in celebration of all things great and small, the Bookworks is having an exhibit of miniature pop-ups entitled "Mini-Pops".  This writer has a work in the exhibit and the Bookworks always has great exhibits and classes.  To coincide with the enclave, Shawn Sheehy will be teaching a two-day workshop on pop-ups for miniature books.  Check out their website for information but as of this date, the workshop is full!  To all things great and small!

So stay cool and if you're in need of a hot, hot spot, check out some of the above or email me with some of your favorite escapes, books, or anything