This is the second event I photographed for Little Lake County and I am again so impressed by the organization, originality, and fun of each event.  For those who do not know, Little Lake County is THE best resource for kids activities in lake county IL.  Not only do their website provide endless updates on free "what to do" and "where to go" with your little ones, but also there is this handy calendar where you can look up kids activities by day.  I use it when I need something to do on the fly or to plan out the weekend.  The amount of dedication the Little Lake County team put into their website, articles, and events is apparent.  The Impression of the Heart event was no exception.  

The moment I stepped inside the Artist at Heart studio my heart started racing from the paint splashed tables and whimsical decor.  This place got so much character!  It's hard not to be creative at a space like this one.  The staff was beyond nice and did I mention talented?  Now I have been to a number of paint your own canvas/pottery places but have not been to one that have their own artist on site to add the finishing touches.  With a few stroke of the brush, the baby footprints are turned into a personalized piece of art.  I stood their in awe as baby names are artistically added to the pieces.  Right there and then I decided that Artist at Heart will be my go to art studio even it's half an hour from my house.  

The event was sponsored by Advocate Condell Medical Center , organized by Little Lake County, and hosted by Artist at Heart in downtown Libertyville. Moms of non-walking infant brought their babies in to do foot/hand imprints on canvas or plate.  The timing of the event could not have been better for Mother's Day.  It was such a joy to see so many babies come in and how they reacted as they get their tiny little hands/feet painted.  Some slept right through the process and some squirmed at the touch of the brush.  All of them are to die for adorable! Aside from painting, there was a pediatrician on site to answer questions, Language Star offered a free German lesson to the toddler/preschool siblings, raffle of great prizes, healthy breakfast, and a gift bag for each mom! All in all it's a wonderful opportunity for moms to connect with others while documenting their baby's tininess.  Check out the heartwarming moments below.