Recently I have been upcycling burlap coffee bean bags into café curtains for my kitchen. (Get it? Café curtains?)

My kids revel in April Fool's Day. They spend hours conjuring up devilishly creative ways to "get" their parents. (The best was a fake letter from Olivia's college of choice rescinding her acceptance. Or maybe that was the worst.) We've always told them they can do anything, as long as no one gets hurt and nothing gets damaged. The girls have stuck to that rule and we have had many April firsts full of laughs (and the occasional scream.)

The vestiges of last week's snowstorm still linger in crusted mounds all over our yard. But I can ignore them because of the unmistakable spring sound of birdsong that has been filling the air the last few mornings.

Collage is probably my favorite artform. I like paper collage, fabric collage, and mixed-media collage. I think it's my favorite because collage art gives me the chance to use pretty much every supply in my studio. Plus, I just love cutting and gluing.

You know the expression, "You can't tell a book by its cover." I think this is especially true of handmade books, because when you open them up, you never know what will (sometimes literally) unfold.

What is mixed media? At its essence, mixed-media art is about using more than one medium in a piece of art. Beyond that requirement, mixed-media art techniques are boundless. To give you an idea of the range, we've assembled five different mixed-media artists with five different approaches in Exploring Mixed Media Techniques: 5 Free Mixed Media Art Techniques and Projects, a new eBook.

Here is a quick and easy fabric art bracelet to stitch for anyone, any time. This bracelet, made with suede cloth and trim, can be whipped up in less than an hour, so it makes a great last-minute gift.