the b. organic eXchange

Our original plans were always to build up our first studio to be home to creative art camps, homesteading/simple living classes and weekend nature retreats that included foraging, nature artistry and just an overall relaxing escape. I’m very grateful to finally be able to put energy back into that plan again.  Our main facility is now called ‘the b. organic eXchange’.  It will serve as a unique learning / resource center that will host regular workshops, classes, open studio hours and an eclectic market stocked with handmade goods out of natural and reclaimed materials, modern homesteading supplies and other healthy, seasonal offerings.  It is a work in progress that will naturally grow and develop but we are off to a joyous start with a manageable schedule that motivates creative learning opportunities for all ages.  I will be teaching a lot of them here at the start but will begin introducing guest instructors late summer/fall to share their expertise in different areas as well.

We did go ahead and decide to open up a younger age category since we get a lot of group reservations for the 4-6 year olds, but may end up changing it back to the older age groups and leave the younger classes for private group bookings if the individual response proves to be light.

 I am working on a more viewer friendly calendar type format of the schedule and will make changes to the programming accordingly.

“It’s very exciting to be able to bring the types of ideas and information we share on our television programs to a facility where people have the opportunity to engage in it hands-on.”

“This is a place to learn, to create and to grow.  Where we eXchange healthy ideas, information and goods.”

Our vibrant workshops, classes and parties are designed to celebrate individual creative expression, nature and resourcefulness.  We will continually feature projects that teach students to look at materials differently as well as to help keep them creatively connected to nature and maintain an artful eye for repurposing.
Project materials are generally included in the fee unless otherwise specified.
Each session is limited to 12 students and can fill up quickly over the summer months, so we ask that you reserve your spot in advance.   We can accommodate larger groups upon request, but keep regularly scheduled class sizes smaller in order to give the creative sessions breathing room with more individualized attention.
For sessions with the younger 4-6 year olds, parents/guardians are welcome to join in with their child if they like for a mommy/daddy and me style class.

“Creative Expression is an Organic Reflection of Who YOU Are” ….  it’s also good for your health

Here is the information from our recent newsletter:

WEDNESDAYS

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm    (4-6 year olds)  $25

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm    (7 years and up)  $25

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm    ADULT FREESTYLE NIGHT $39
Choose from one of 5 projects to create with (all materials provided) and enjoy as little or as much instructional guidance as desired — FreeStyle nights are wild and free, putting the discretion of what you feel like creating in your hands! We’ll regularly rotate different projects to choose from throughout the year to keep things fresh for the students who attend regularly.  This is also a night where you are welcome to bring your own projects from home to work on and take advantage of a creative space where you can spread out and have access to things like hand tools, sewing machines and inspiring, like-minded folks.

THURSDAYS

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm    (4-6 year olds)  $25

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm    (7 years and up)  $25

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm  DIY LIFESTYLE NIGHT   $39
Thursday nights are dedicated to a plethora of healthy DIY skills that will range from how to create your own organic cleaners and body brews to edible landscaping, homesteading, leatherworking, dehydrating and so much more! Something for everyone in all shapes and sizes.  Check online for each night’s theme.

FRIDAYS

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm    (4-6 year olds)  $25

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm    (7 years and up)  $25

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm   ADULT ART NIGHT $39
A colorful ‘night out’ to create, relax and be inspired.  We offer unique painting and mixed media projects that are naturally loose, creative and soulful. You’ll leave with art that is as original as you. It’s the perfect end to the work week and a lively start to your weekend.  Make a date with the artist within….BYOB is welcome.

SATURDAYS

8:30 am – 11:30 am – Farmers Market Offerings

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm   ARTSY AFTERNOONS  $45
Saturday afternoons are devoted to a series of projects designed to push you outside the box and really explore your creative side with a plethora of materials and techniques.  Every Artsy Afternoon is kicked off with a creative challenge to prime you for the rest of the afternoons’ festivities.

PERUSE THE ONLINE STOREFRONT FOR CLASS DESCRIPTIONS.

JOIN US AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE
REGISTER ONLINE

Questions or special requests?
515.996.2600
Via e-mail: events@borganic.net

the b. organic eXchange
408 Grant Street
Van Meter, Iowa 50261

Whenever you book 4 or more sessions at a time, you receive a 10% credit back.

E-mail us if you are interested in a private booking, or in need of a special request for your group or organization.  We welcome 4-H groups, Scouts, School and Work Groups and any other organization that could creatively benefit from one of our programs.
Discounts are available for group bookings.

_____________________________________________________________________

NATURALLY ARTFUL BIRTHDAY PARTIES

The b. organic eXchange is the perfect place for a party.  Our Naturally Artful Birthday Parties are scheduled upon request and availability.
Parties are 2 hours long and include studio space, instructor and all materials for select projects for each of the party-goers.
Projects will cater to the age group and each party-goer will go home with their own creative masterpiece.
The birthday boy or girl will receive a bonus masterpiece that gets created by the group towards the end of the session.

Party Fee:  $200.00
Includes up to 8 party-goers
Maximum Number is 12 with an additional fee of $25 per child.
$50 non-refundable deposit that will get applied to final cost.

You can bring your own cake, beverages and serving ware.  Freezer space is available if bringing ice cream. We also have some great recommendations of local ‘cake bakers’, if interested.

Current Birthday Themes to choose from include:

-The Adventurer-
- These projects are for the outdoor explorer and will include a rotation of things to choose from, including mini nature presses, bug houses/catchers, walking sticks, and more.

-Flower Power-
– Exciting ways to create flowers for a vase or wall art.

-Funny Faces-
– Fun, memorable ways to create personality-filled characters to hang in your room.

-Nature Lover-
– Projects that utilize nature’s bounty in unique, artful ways.

-Painted Play-
– A fearless lesson in painting — we explore repurposed canvases and unconventional painting tools to create a colorful masterpiece unique to the individual painting it.

-Artist at Work-
– Create your own sketchbook, mini canvas, and special art tools that will be sure to inspire other art projects long after the party.

-Pop Art Portraits-
– Kids will enjoy a simple 4-step back painting technique to create a colorful pop art inspired self-portrait.

Book Your Party Today!
(515).996.2600
e-mail: events@borganic.net

the b. organic eXchange
408 Grant Street
Van Meter, Iowa 50261
(515).996.2600
e-mail: events@borganic.net
www.borganic.net

LIFE’S LEFTOVERS at the b. organic eXchange

If you have things you are looking to get rid of, we graciously accept donations of select “Life’s Leftovers” to use as materials for some of our art projects. This helps us to sustain the low, affordable class prices we strive to offer so people can come create more often. Accepted examples include fabric scraps, salvaged lumber, barn boards, smaller wood framed windows, interesting natural materials, old doors, metal, how-to books/magazines, rope, wire, small tools, jewelry, beads, yarns, construction leftovers like flooring, drywall remnants, 2×4′s, trim work, etc.

If you have something you think we could creatively re-use,
simply e-mail us: michele@borganic.net.

phew…that was a lot to cover..next posts I promise will be short and sweet.

Cheers my friends to a lovely, lovely day!

michele.

And you could hear the crickets chirping…..

Personally, I enjoy the sound of the cricket and find them to be very peaceful.

It’s good to take time to enjoy them, right?!

That being said…here’s a quick catch-up and a promise for more elaborate posts on a lot of these things in the coming days…

Chicken Coop is getting an addition already…(we neglected to think about rainy days and shade at the start…and we may want to add a hen or two, you know)

Madeline’s client list for her egg deliveries keeps growing!

Started our adventures in beekeeping

Taking a stab at growing mushrooms this year…shitake’s and wine caps

I took a wonderful series of HomeGrown Lifestyle Classes through the ISU Extension.

Been enjoying these two little vibrant bursts of sunshine every single day!

Madeline built Berkley her first ‘workbench’

Sifted through the scrap bin and created these salvage style cross pendants one night…fun look mixed in with a cluster of other chains…one cross at a time, of course.

I let the ‘baba’ go on way too long after breastfeeding….but oh how she loved it.

We’ve been building a lot of interesting things.

Nature is a natural hangout.

yep, we are still lousy with the ‘selfies”

Our flock is getting double the love — worm digging has been quite the sport.

Uncle Rory went to Paris!

We went to the House on the Rock!

Someone consumed a LOT of grass….and berries. Yes, we are dirty most days.

I’ve weaved a lot of things over the years…leather coats, tubing, paper, mini-blinds…and now, finally, a proper basket!

We’ve been working on our learning / resource center

There has been an explosion in the population of tadpoles and they’ve been a hoot to watch grow.

Our garden is filled with an assortment of heirlooms and we are slowly starting to enjoy some of them. Oh look…the basket I made!

Madeline has gotten very competitive with her gardening efforts…she seems to think all of her produce thus far is larger than mine.

We had a pretty rad egg dying contest using crayons and natural dyes…Dee’s Egg Won…crack and all.

And I must now end at the pictures with snow in them because that is really starting to date things….

Cheers my friends to precious time and how quickly it goes by! Love and hugs to all of you who stop by. Consistency is a beautiful thing, but to keep things interesting….so is a little unpredictability from time to time. What have you been up to?

michele.

Another snazzy reason to save those building scraps my friends! 

Small leftover bits can be arranged in a number of fun ways to create rustic, one of a kind garden markers!

Lathe strips or branches sanded and tapered at one end are excellent for your stakes.

Get out your paint, the woodburner, sanding block, glue, hammer and nails and start assembling.

And don’t forget your natural go-to’s….quick and easy –

 Garden markers are a great way to help your kids learn the different plant names and all that you have growing, as well!

Cheers to creating some garden markers this weekend…You can’t stop at just one.

michele.

It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon.

Madeline was going to be home from school in an hour.

And I thought it the perfect opportunity to let the ladies out for a supervised stroll ’til dusk.

I was wandering in and out of the house checking on Berkley while she napped. 

I remember stopping by the windows, watching them roam the yard and thinking to myself, ‘what a joyful, peaceful vibe they add to the yard’…

When Madeline got off the bus, we went down for a visit and she noticed one group must have wandered down the hill or into the woods. 

The moment I saw Charlotte (one of the hens) up in the tree, I knew something was wrong.

As we came to the clearing, there were feathers scattered everywhere. Read the rest of this entry →

NATURAL STAIRCASE

Read the rest of this entry →

You just never know what you’re going to find at the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore.  A recent visit to the one here in Des Moines uncovered a pallet full of large burlap coffee bags.

Read the rest of this entry →

A friend of ours recently took a dive into her neighbor’s dumpster.

Her neighbor had been an interior decorator, I believe…and had oodles of fabric samples, neatly bundled

and neatly tossed for destination landfill.

Lucky for us, our friend saw the shame in this

and filled her entire trunk with whatever she could squeeze in.

She made a visit a couple of weekends ago to drop off the goods and my friend Dee has been in the studio sewing ever since.

She’s getting a jump on some sweet gifts for the holidays that are beautiful, one of a kind, and can we say, very budget friendly!

Any and all combinations look good.  All you have to do is simply sew them together to create larger panels of fabric that you can then use for upholstery, bags, rugs, window treatments and more.

I can’t really give any more of the particulars or I’ll be spoiling the surprise of her gifts, but you get the idea…. here’s a link to the rugs and valences we created for our salvage style guest room using similar decorator type samples.

I love sample books.  It sure is hard to believe someone could think they were ‘trash’.

Cheers to dumpster diving — and the friends who dive for you.

michele.

Came across this photo of a halloween costume we pulled together for Madeline a few years back…love. love. love.

an old green leotard and tights, a wig, a small grapevine wreath for the headpiece and an assortment of natural items…

I adore handmade costumes that utilize materials from around the house and a zesty imagination.

Not sure if it was one of Madeline’s favorites, though…hee.

Just thought I’d share in case you were in need of a last minute idea…Mother Nature is always a good one!

CHEERS to all the handmade costumes that will be lurking about the streets this beggar’s night.

michele.