Art Cart?
Hazelnut Helper’s Art Cart is a pop-up art studio traveling all aver Detroit, MI and surrounding areas. We provide the tools, instruction, and encouragement for people of all ages to sculpt their own unique magnet out of polymer clay. Art Cart’s mission is to make creativity approachable and accessible to everyone - while having fun, celebrating milestones, healing, overcoming challenges, deepening relationships, and strengthening communities along the way.
Hazelnut Helper?
Haley, the owner and operator of Art Cart has long gone by the artist name Hazelnut Helper. Her vision for Art Cart was revealed and refined step-by-step, coming to life through faith, audacity, encouragement, and past experience. Her past professional lives have been in elementary school art education, caregiving, graphic & ui/ux design, marketing, and she’s now growing rapidly in the worlds of business and entrepreneurship. Haley is passionate about health, social advocacy, justice, leadership, and creating a safer world.
Problem Solving
The process of making a magnet asks you to plan ahead, imagine possibilities, learn along the way, and restart if necessary. We are always learning lessons and overcoming limits with each magnet made.
Self Esteem
Sculpting a polymer clay magnet is a safe, yet challenging way to build confidence. People are consistently surprised by how well their art turned out, and keep it on their refrigerator as a reminder of their success.
Community
Art Cart collaborates with local businesses, nonprofits, festivals, parties, and events. Making a unique, personalized magnet helps build connections between friends, family, and even strangers across the table.
Mindfulness
Magnet makers reflect on their experience sculpting as a time when they truly lived in the moment. As a tangible, hands-on challenge, it helps people forget their worries, troubles, and infinite to-do lists.
In a society where everything has to be productive and measurable, we love having fun for fun's sake. Art Cart is a safe space to goof around, make something silly or abstract, and let go of stringent expectations.
Having Fun
Making a magnet helps to spark conversation and bring people together through commonalities. After the lockdown, it’s served as a wholesome way for people to leave the house and practice social skills.
Socializing
A common magnet people make is of their passed on fur babies. It’s healing to process grief through art, and it’s meaningful to honor their love and life by sculpting an object that holds their energy.
Healing
People come out to celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones - like going back to school or designing their new business logo. We show out for any holiday and excuse to party!
Celebrating
Friends and family learn more about each other through the magnets they make. Everyone’s unique personalities, values, culture, and interests are given a space to be expressed and celebrated.
Self-Expression
With limitless possibilities of what to create, people have shown to be very thoughtful and sentimental. Many choose to sculpt a uniquely personal magnet to give as a gift to someone they love.
Gift Giving
Art Cart collaborates with schools (public, private, charter, homeschool groups, and daycares) to integrate learning goals into art. Students go home with a useful custom magnet that will be cherished forever.
Education
Making a magnet is a form of communication, they can tell a story or a joke through clay. Funny magnets are always the best, so get your funniest friends together for a private party or a public event.
Humor
ART CART TESTIMONIALS
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"Art Cart has been such a fun and unique addition to our Detroit creative community! Haley is incredibly helpful and hands-on throughout the building process, while still giving people space to explore their creativity on their own terms. I always have the best conversations across the table with both new and familiar faces, and it's a great place to connect with your inner child."
Medha, Magnet Maker
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"I would highly recommend Hazelnut Helper's Art Cart for any / every event! Haley is professional, reliable, fun, helpful, and provides a very unique experience. I had her vend at my residency at MJ's North End Ice Cream shop over the summer, and had people come biweekly excited to make a new magnet for their fridge. She's helpful, kind, and patient. Whenever you need her help, she's there for you and makes the experience very relaxing and enjoyable."
Melo, Event Coordinator & Resident DJ for House á la Mode
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"We've had Hazelnut Helper's Art Cart pop up at a few events at the farm and it's always a big hit. Haley has an efficient set up and brings everything - including tables and chairs - which makes things so much easier for us. We love having a kid-friendly activity for daytime events, but the magnets are equally popular with adults during our evening events."
G Starke, Events Manager for Beaverland Farms
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"We had the best time making magnets with Hazelnut Helper's! Our event was a fundraiser, and it was great for participants to come together, make something, and take home a memento of the time we spent together and the positive impact we made for our own community. Haley was great with our kids and adults, patient, engaging, and helpful. The Art Cart is truly an all-ages, all-skills, all-abilities activity! Can't wait to do it again!"
Erica Klauber, Executive Director for Children's Craniofacial Association
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"Haley was so professional and fun to work with! The Art Cart adds a unique element to any event and is suitable for all ages. It brought so much value to the children that our partners with the City of Detroit offered to pay for some participants right on the spot. We can't wait to work with her again."
Jade Vogel, Event Coordinator for Total Access Events
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"Working with Haley is inspiring. She’s authentic, speaks her mind, and is a total baddie in the best way. We vended together at a private party, and she was incredibly easy to work with. She is personal, efficient, and collaborative. I’m already excited to book and collab again in the future! As a participant, I’m obsessed with these little clay magnets. My fridge is slowly filling up, and I’m already planning to make more as gifts. Such a special experience that leaves you with something meaningful (and cute!) to take home."
Kim Tran, Founder of Sen Kava
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"My experience making a magnet was so fun and inviting. It felt like such a safe space with no judgement and so much girl power. I've made an evil eye, strawberry, eggs, and waffles."
Maggie, Magnet Maker
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"My favorite aspect of Art Cart is getting people together to create! Seeing what everyone's approach is to making their idea come to life. I made the smiley sun with sunglasses."
Robin, Magnet Maker
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"I love Art Cart! I made the envelope emoji magnet, and I had access to all the tools and clay options available (so many colors to work with). Will definitely make another one (and a bunch more)."
Mi’Ele, Magnet Maker
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"I had a great experience making magnets with Art Cart! I've done it twice now, and it's so great to sit down and use the creative part of my brain with everything already set up. It's such a great grounding practice. Genius idea!"
Justin, Magnet Maker
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"I stumbled across Art Cart while I was at a bar with my date. It was an unexpected combination, but it works so well. It's something you can have fun doing no matter where, because it's so low-stress and rewarding. It's for everybody."
Milo, Magnet Maker
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"I made a magnet during Haley's debut of Art Cart. Such a cool dope experience. As an adult, it felt nice to embrace my inner child again and creatively make my favorite food (tacos) into a clay magnet. Only to love and cherish it for years to come!"
Jason, Magnet Maker
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"Me and my daughters made some magnets over the summer going into fall. It was a very fun experience and Haley was very helpful and made the experience that much more enjoyable."
Nick, Magnet Maker
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"ABSOLUTELY love the existence of Hazelnut Helper’s Art Cart. This hands-on clay magnet workshop is creative, playful, and genuinely so much fun. I got carried away for two hours, completely nose-diving into one creation."
Kim, Magnet Maker
FAQs
What kind of clay is it?
Polymer clay is an oil-based clay that stays soft and moldable until it’s baked. It’s easy to work with, and is distinctly different than pottery clay, air-dry clay, or play-doh. Fun fact: All clay from the extra clay tray gets recycled and blended together to make new colors.
How long does it take to bake?
The magnets bake on-site in a portable toaster oven at 225°F for 12 minutes. After they’re done baking, they need to cool down and have magnets glued to them, so the whole process takes about 30 minutes after you finish sculpting before they’re ready to be picked up.
Do you have stencils?
Each tray has several tools for cutting, rolling, positioning, smoothing, and adding texture. Most of the example magnets that you see are hand-sculpted using those tools and a reference image to copy. However, stencils are available and helpful for groups with smaller children, or for larger fast-paced parties like weddings. Ask about getting custom stencils made for your private party!
How long does it take to sculpt?
It depends. For the whole process of listening to instructions, picking out a design, gathering clay colors, and sculpting, it takes on average 30 minutes for one magnet. Children typically take less time, and some adults can spend over an hour detailing intricate designs. It’s important to have ample time so people don’t feel rushed, and can make changes or start over if necessary.
Do you sell pre-made magnets?
This is actually THE most frequently asked question. The short answer is no, but you can use a pre-made example magnet as a reference image to copy. The mission of Hazelnut Helper’s Art Cart is to empower you to get silly and tactile with the clay - to give you an experience as a creator, not just a consumer. You’re not alone in the process though - a friendly art teacher will be there to help you at any point along the way.
There’s one exception to this rule: If you’re interested in purchasing custom pre-made magnets in bulk (20+), please contact with your inquiry and we’ll see if we can strike a deal.
What is your pricing?
Pricing for private parties is dependent on a variety of factors, so please read more and request a quote through the private party inquiry form. During public events, the price is $15 per magnet.
Support through Donation
Since starting Hazelnut Helper’s Art Cart, Haley has received several random donations while working public events or from followers on social media, because people recognize the hustle she puts in to building a business from scratch and the value it brings to the community. Every bit helps as she expands her work into new directions and makes adjustments along the way. Thank you so much for the support through Venmo, Cash App, or the form below.
Free ways to support Art Cart’s mission are: spreading the word, likes, comments, shares, sending opportunities, giving compliments, feedback, and encouragement.