Why we do it. 

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I started Spilt Milk Design after volunteering forty (40) weekly art workshops at my daughter’s daycare centre in 2024 - and what I saw blew me away. When children were given access to real, high-quality art materials, their creativity, focus, and confidence soared.

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I do this because I believe in nurturing imagination from the very beginning—helping children express themselves, explore big ideas, and learn that mistakes are something to celebrate. Spilt Milk is more than art—it's a joyful space for curiosity, collaboration, and growth.

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There is nothing quite like the joy of working with young children. Their enthusiasm is boundless, their curiosity is genuine and to them, everything is magical. The way they approach the world - with wide eyes and open hearts - is something I find endlessly inspiring.

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In 2024, I had the opportunity to volunteer at my daughter’s daycare, running forty (40) weekly art workshops. The centre welcomed me so warmly, opening their doors (and their hearts) to a mum who saw a creative niche and simply wanted to see how the children would respond. I supplied everything cost-free, not knowing what to expect - but what unfolded surpassed every hope I had.

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What I discovered was that these children were capable of so much more than the usual stubby brushes and washable paint. When I introduced artist-grade materials-specific brushes, beautiful papers, vibrant pastels, metallic paints, and quality watercolours - something transformed. They could see how watercolour was supposed to behave, how colours could mingle and blend like magic. They could manipulate materials with intention and pride. I saw them light up with ownership over their work, adding a touch of gold “fancy” paint because they were genuinely proud of what they had made.

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At first, I’ll admit - I was hesitant to let them loose with the good supplies. But what I saw amazed me. They were engaged for long stretches of time - some children stayed with one activity for over two hours. They didn’t want me to leave (some days, neither did I!). One high-energy boy, who typically found it hard to sit still, was completely absorbed for nearly an hour, gently dropping watercolour onto salt and watching the reaction unfold with total focus. He was calm. Regulated. Peaceful. That’s the power of mindful making.

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And then there were the conversations. I listened as the children complimented each other’s work, asked questions, and shared techniques - genuinely collaborating and learning from each other. Others became fascinated by the science behind kinetic art - like marble rolling and pendulum painting - and were full of questions and ideas.

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I do this because I believe it matters. I’ve taught secondary and tertiary design students who are too afraid to put pen to paper in case they “get it wrong.” I don’t want that fear to take root. If I can teach young children that mistakes are OK - that they can be beautiful, inspiring, even happy accidents - they’ll grow up with the confidence to explore, express, and take creative risks.

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Through Spilt Milk Design Studio, I’m not just sharing my passion for art, design, and technology. I’m helping children learn to express themselves visually and verbally. To reflect. To problem-solve. To support and inspire one another.

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And really, is there anything more special than that?