It's a bittersweet moment as we celebrate the half-year mark of the Queens Museum Gift Shop by The August Tree at the Queens Museum. Being On-Pause, we are missing our friends and neighbors at the shop dearly and looking forward to being back. 

At this point of social distancing, it is only normal for us to start feeling a little bit frustrated and forlorn. To keep from falling into that abyss, having a creative outlet is a doable lifesaver. 

The Queens Museum's Executive Director, Sally Tallant  has made the perfect book for staying at home. Tate: Create: Things to Make and Do is filled with projects from different artists using easy-to-source, everyday items. Pick an activity to get you started, either by yourself or with people at home with you to get your feet wet. You will find that finding your creative groove will help at these times to keep you grounded and ready for when this is all over. (Oh, and our copies are signed by Sally! :* )

Take a peek at Tate: Create here.

If there are young children at home, it is also the best time to introduce the world of creativity to them with 100 First Words for Little Artists. It is an adorable word primer for kids.  Forget apple and dog. Little artists are ready for CMYK, caricature, and ceramics. With terms from across the spectrum of visual arts, this is a must-have collection of words every budding artist needs in their vocabulary (even at the age of 2). Packed with fun illustrations and 100 words, spend a nice afternoon going through the book with your little artist and see all the possibilities from young eyes.

See 100 First Words for Little Artists here.

Being a Queens girl, I have always found the Queens Museum as the perfect setting to find the creative strings I need to weave through everyday life. During this New York State on Pause, we want to do everything we can to get our beloved borough back and stand with our community as it had stood for and with us. A portion of our proceeds will be donated to Fuel the Frontlines, a joint initiative by the Queens Night Market and the Queens Economic Development Corporation that provides home-cooked meals by small business food vendors for workers across the borough's nine acute-care hospitals battling the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Be safe and healthy, everyone!  We can do this. We are New Yorkers after all.