I started a new Chill & Spill series with a group of four 7th and 8th grade girls. Two of them have past experience with C&S, one individually and one in a group.

We did the first activity, “Writing and Drawing Can Help You Figure Stuff Out.” Because our time is very short, I’m trying to keep my talking to a minimum. So I just gave them the basic instructions about confidentiality and stressed that I have two things that are big with me:

1. Whatever comes out, comes out. Just let it.
2. Keep the pen (crayon, pencil, marker, whatever..) on the paper.

Some great stuff can come out at the point where you think you’re done. And that’s what they did as they sprawled all over the room. Afterward, we shared just a little and they were off to their next class.

I haven’t done a group since last June and it was great to be back. Looking forward to the next session! More to come!

Your help is needed to help high-risk foster care youth in Texas.

Art with Heart received a request from Jorge Sanchez, MSW Clinician at Southwest Key Programs, a nonprofit in Austin, TX that helps youth by providing a stable and positive environment to turn young lives around. Because of their work, thousands of youth have been diverted from prisons, jails, and institutions, enabling them to stay at home with their families and out of trouble.

Their new Community Connections Program serves bilingual (Spanish) youth who were recently released from a detention facility.

Formerly a social worker with Casey Family Programs, Sanchez received Chill & Spill training last year. Says Sanchez, “I found the books to be very effective in getting foster youth to express themselves.” He continues, “I plan to run a Chill & Spill workshop at our center every Wednesday at 6pm. Many of these youth are gifted at drawing and writing, but just don’t have the words to express themselves.”

The only catch is that he doesn’t have the budget to be able to afford to bring the program to the kids. Would you be willing to sponsor 24 books? If so, please go to http://artwithheartshop.org to purchase the books on his behalf and have them sent to: Jorge A. Sanchez, SW Key, Community Connections Programs, 3017 S. 10th Street, McAllen, TX  78503.

Participating Wineries:
Andrake Cellars, Airfield Estates, Animale*, Bunnell Family Cellar, Fallobst, Gamache Vintners*, Gilbert Cellars*, Ginkgo Forest Winery, Kalamar Winery
Kana Winery*, Kestrel Vintners, McCrea Cellars, NHV — Naches Heights Vintners*, Northwest Cellars*, NW Totem Cellars, Pacific Rim Winemakers*, Palouse Winery*, Reininger Winery*, Smasne Cellars, Sorensen Cellars, Sparkman Cellars, Syncline, Walter Dacon*, Willis Hall, Wilridge Winery*, and Zerba Cellars

Silent Auction Donors:
Vashon Air, Great Harvest Bread Company, Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Swirl Wine Bar, Teatro ZinZanni, and The Westin Seattle

Art with Heart’s work is made possible with generous donations from companies, organizations, and people, like you. Go to artwithheart.org/help to see ways that you can help further the work of Art with Heart.

*Also donated wine for the silent auction

The year-long evaluation study conducted by MEM Consultants reveals the strength of the Chill & Spill program in establishing meaningful connections with troubled adolescents and youth. Learn about the effectiveness of the Chill & Spill Program with evaluation study partners such as Casey Family Programs, Friends of Youth, and YMCA of Greater Seattle Youth Adult Services. This is a must-attend session for anyone working with hard-to-reach children, ages 11 and above.

When: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Cost: $15 per person, includes lunch and a copy of the Chill & Spill Evaluation Report

Who Needs to Attend: Youth-serving nonprofit organizations, school counselors, social workers, therapists, and others working with youth in crisis

For more information and to register, click HERE.

The Starlight Children’s Foundation has been using Art with Heart books for over 5 years, recently ordering nearly 2,000 Chill & Spill journals to send to teenagers throughout Canada. Though it is a challenge for the foundation to find individual donors to subsidize the books, feedback is so positive that they supply their network of over 100 hospitals by purchasing the books with money from the foundation’s budget.

I spoke to Cathy Diamond, Hospital Program Manager, about how Art with Heart books and programs have helped the Starlight Children’s Foundation work towards its mission. She told me a story about a cancer clinic in Ottawa that came to her looking for a distractive tool for the children receiving ongoing treatment. The Starlight Children’s Foundation provided 100 kits filled with Oodles of Doodles and various art supplies. The children loved having something that belonged to them and could be picked up and worked on during their visits to the clinic.

“There is such a positive benefit for the kids who use the books,” says Cathy. “A strong part of our mandate is to provide distractive entertainment and distractive therapy. The books provide a great icebreaker for Child Life Specialists to start a conversation with a child who is shy or frightened.”

For more than 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness. To learn more about the foundation, visit them online here.

For the art activity we will have Color of Hope Hearts (paper hearts that kids color on the front, and then describe why their image represents “hope” on the back), as well as some loose pages from Oodles of Doodles. You would be there to greet people as they come to the table, help them with their hope hearts, and tell them about Art with Heart.

This is a great opportunity for any parents who have been thinking about volunteering, or who have kids that need volunteer hours for school, because your kids can come with you! There will be food, games, crafts, art, displays, music, and dance, so it should be really fun. They are expecting about 2,000 people.

The Details:
Event: Lunar New Year Celebration
Date: Saturday 2.6.10
Time: 5-8:30pm (plus set-up and take-down of supplies)
Location: Westminster Chapel (Bellevue)
http://www.westminster.org/2010/01/28/lunar-new-year-celebration/

Please email Zandi Salstrom (zandi@artwithheart.org) for details!

Jennifer with Oodles of Doodles

Evi brought Art with Heart’s “Art Buddy” program to Swedish when she was hired and has been working with volunteers to bring creativity to children in the hospital.

She relates the story of an 18-year-old girl with Friedrich’s Ataxia that she gave the Chill & Spill journal to, in order to help her cope with the effects of the disease. Although the patient had difficulty writing her name, speaking clearly and even sitting up, she was able to paint.

Inspired by Chill & Spill’s “Safe Place” activity, she painted a fall scene and wrote a poem about where she felt the safest. Later when she felt overwhelmed by the progressive nature of her disease, she had visual mementos of her “safe place” to keep with her and use that as a tool to help her release her anxiety.

Evi is excited to have more Art with Heart volunteers. Evi wants to remind everyone, though that “you don’t have to be an artist yourself to facilitate creative expression.”

The Starlight Children’s Foundation of Canada sent 100 kits, including a copy of Oodles of Doodles and various art supplies. Hospital Program Manager for the Foundation, Cathy Diamond, shared a story about a cancer clinic in Ottawa that came to her looking for a creative tool for the children in treatment. The Foundation provided 100 kits to the clinic which included a copy of Oodles of Doodles and various art supplies. The kids loved having something that was given to them during visits to the clinic and belonged to them.

“There is such a positive benefit for the kids who use the books,” says Cathy. “A strong part of Starlight’s mandate is to provide distractive entertainment and distractive therapy, which helps kids cope during difficult times. The books also provide a great icebreaker for child life specialists to help start a conversation with a child who is shy or frightened.”

For more than 25 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness. To learn more about how Art with Heart supports the work of organizations and foundations, like Starlight Children’s Foundation, visit www.artwithheart.org

More than just Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay grapes are growing in Washington State vineyards these days.  With 23 Washington wineries featuring their new “exotic” varietals, such as Mourvedre, Cinsault, Malbec, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Roussanne, Viognier and Albarino as well as some interesting blends, guest will be treated to the ever growing array of unique wines from around the State.

Teatro Zinzanni artists will be on hand to mingle and entertain guests to a few random “exotic” performances from their new show, “License to Kiss.” Some culinary treats will also be provided from the TZ Kitchen. This festival of the exotic will be the perfect way to have a fun break from the dreary days of February in Seattle!

Proceeds from this event benefit Art with Heart to help children in crisis. Tickets are $40 and available at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93806.

Teatro Zinzanni is located at 222 Mercer Street, Seattle, Washington, 98119 and directions can be found at dreams.zinzanni.org/info.htm.

“Exotic Wines Festival” is produced by Sommelier David LeClaire of Wine Events & Promotions and Seattle Uncorked, a new social club for wine enthusiasts and resource on classes, tasting events, and local wine stores and wine bars.