This is a special week for THE ART OF THE BRICK team because we are announcing the formation of a nonprofit giving organization called, the Art Revolution Foundation.

This is an organization and collection of smart, passionate individuals who have banded together to celebrate the joys, benefits and overall importance of art. It would've never happened without some remarkable people - I must thank Jon and Campbell for the clarity of vision, Cherie and Amber for the hard work, Nellie for making things happen and Rob for his outstanding counsel. Then there is my wife, Courtney. She is my soulmate, lifelong love and daily inspiration.

Together, we believe that art is not optional! It is a necessary part of humanity. It makes you happier, healthierand smarter. Yet it’s being cut from our schools and being stripped from our society.

You’ll be hearing a lot about exciting ways we are planning to raise awareness and funds for the foundation, which in turn will be granting funds to established and strategic organization that are doing amazing work in the areas of reestablishing art curriculum back into our schools, providing much needed supplies to facilitators of arts education and art therapy for the elderly and sick and those who are inspiring Americans to reintroduce themselves to the joys of creativity.

You can join the Art Revolution right now. It's easy...

We are kicking off the foundation and it’s giving program by partnering with my friend Sal Masekela’s Art of Craft project celebrating artisans and their crafts through unique, limited-edition t-shirt collections. “The Art of the Brick” designs feature nine t-shirts celebrating THE ART OF THE BRICK’s custom artwork with 10% of the proceeds going to the Art Revolution Foundation.

In addition, we are making available limited-edition LEGO street art Hugman sculptures in ORANGE! There are 12 signed and numbered orange Hugman sculptures available only through Art of Craft for $300 with 50% of the sale being donated to Art Revolution. And you can only get orange Hugman here!

Go to Art of Craft and get a t-shirt or Hugman. The proceeds will help the Art Revolution team put art supplies in America's hands and arts education back into ours schools.

This weekend we are planning to take down our Christmas tree and festive decorations. It’s a holiday tradition, just like putting it all up. However, as we pack it away into their labeled boxes and hoist it back into the garage rafters for another 11 months…I have to admit it makes me a little sad.

You see having, and maintaining, holiday traditions feels good. It brings joy and much of that happiness comes from making things, being creative and spending time together. Many holiday traditions are works of art. Wrapping gifts, making cookies and decorating the house are all forms of artwork. Traditions, just like art, are not optional. They are necessary.

In my family we have been known to embrace the art of traditions, and sometimes we even take it to the next level with a friendly little family art competition. Nothing too serious.

In years past we have had gift wrapping contests (complete with packages that light up and others swaddled in hand-woven recycled paper). This year was a cooking baking competition. The rules were sent to family members in advance. Judging included best use of themes, most uniform in size, most pleasing blend of ingredients, overall taste and innovation/creativity, and the cookies needed to be baked on site. The entries were impressive. Cardamom thumbprints with apricot chutney filling, green sugar cookie trees hand cut and stacked into 3-D Christmas trees, orange cookies with orange/peppermint crushed icing, candy cane cookies, haystacks, magic bars, snowballs and fresh strawberry/chocolate Santa hats. Okay it was serious!

Several studies prove how beneficial traditions actually are to our mental health. The American Psychological Association's Journal of Family Psych finds that family routines and rituals offer stability during times of stress and transition -- they are powerful organizers of family life. According to a review of research conducted over the past 50 years, traditions are associated with marital satisfaction, an adolescent's sense of personal identity, children's health, academic achievement, and stronger family relationships. And, as well-known political essayist, social critic, and author Barbara Ehrenreich says, "Festivity plays a critical role in our lives; it's mood-lifting and community building. Without them, it's easy to slide toward depression and isolation."

So the only question left is, “What will the Sawaya Family holiday tradition competition be in 2014?” The answer may be in those 70% off artificial pine wreaths we found last night at Target.

-Nathan