First, you could stop at BEAR ON THE BEACH [5 North First St.] to add to your stuffed animal collection. A selection this extensive is normally found only in big cities or zoo gift shops, and includes a series on endangered animals from the National Alliance for Species Survival that is not only fun but educational. There are hard to find animals here like colorful mandrills, ferrets, camels, anteaters, goats, orangutans, ostriches, giraffes, kangaroos (complete with babies in their pouches) and dinosaurs, in addition to the usual bears, dogs and cats. Theres even an 8-foot long plush cobra! There are some HUGE animals here, and if you like your animals to do more than just sit around and look cute you can play with a hand puppet or buy a comical cap which will make you look like a rooster, skunk, moose, deer or raccoon. But the most fun is to stand in the center of the store and clap your hands and watch the interactive animals snap into action, bears and pigs snoring and a duck quacking and frantically flapping its wings.
If your child wants to be artistic, then head over to CREATABLE CRAFTS [146 Rehoboth Avenue], a craft activity studio where you can paint your own pottery (choose from among dozens of pieces like plates, tea pots, vases, bowls, etc.). You purchase the piece you wish to paint, and supplies are provided for you to then be an artist! There is also an hourly fee for the time you spend here. Its terrific fun, especially if, like me, you merely need to create the illusion that youre artistic. I painted a rather major piece here earlier this year, and let me tell you, it gave new meaning to the phrase "art therapy". If you complete your work by 5:00 or so, it will be glazed and available late the next morning. You can also create fun sculptures with polymer clay (which are also fired), work with mosaics or beads, roll your own candles, tie dye, or custom design your own little wooden cars and trucks!
If your artistic side still needs some prodding, check out the STUDIO WORKSHOPS AND GALLERY [47 Baltimore Avenue]. The marquee over the doorway should give you enough clues about what youre going to find inside. Just opened before Memorial Day, one part of this shop is a gallery for local artisans with art that can be an accessory in your home, or new fashion wear for you, including vests, hats, fashion flip flops, clothing, shimmery painted velvet scarves, handblown glass, silverwork, collectible leather masks by John Flemming, jeweled sunglasses and of course, that glitter-ball Barbie display. The other part is a workshop, featuring short classes on fine arts (like faux painting for your home) or on watercolors, painting, and other artistic endeavors. Stop by for a schedule of offerings. Sundays from 1:00 - 4:00 is Barbie time, and you can just bring in your naked Ken or Barbie and for a $30 work fee create an outrageous new designer doll. Need inspiration? Theres the Art of Barbie Book to look through! This fall there will hopefully be daytime classes for retired people or others in the community available for day classes in the traditional arts, as well as after-school supplements for 8th graders and older in community arts, such as possibly painting a mural somewhere in town. Stress free weekend art packages are planned which would include 2 nights lodging and a 2-day long course which would vary. If you have creative talents you would like to share with the community, please stop by and talk to Jim Snyder. He hopes to create an arts center as inclusive as our talents can contribute, including culinary arts, film and theater, fiber arts and writing.
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7/25/97 Issue. Copyright 1997 by CAMP Rehoboth, Inc. All rights reserved.