Back drop for Primary School Play

Not had a great week. I been luck enough to be included in a collective of artists which have been offered space at a local Primary School. We trade with some hands on hours. Just before Christmas, when I was suffering with sciatica they were looking for some of the artists to draw a backdrop for the play featuring Dick Whittington.

Two of us went up, drew the design and left the children to provide the colour. They have been so pleased with it that they still have it on their walls so I was able to take some photos. The children have done a brilliant job.



Today I joined a class that was reviewing the play. I worked with four little boys showing them to draw outlines of buildings as they are currently looking at the artist Lowrie. They loved it and I have to say so did I!!

Birthday Makes

It was my birthday yesterday. How unusual to meet two people with the same birthday. My little boy's friend Flynn and a little girl from the Arts 'n' Crafts group I teach at on a Wednesday evening. Then there was my colleague who has her birthday the day after mine. I don't normally need an excuse to make anything but I in this case I decided to use it.

So for Flynn I made a camouflage beanie, I found the idea on another blog called JenamyJen which referred to the pattern I used to knit the hat here. Then I gave the little girl a star brooch I had made out of some scraps of felt and finally a small handbag for Karen, my work colleague produced from a felted cardigan and some odd scraps of material.

Tomorrow, I will be taking some of my book sculptures and jewellery pieces over to the Ferrers Gallery at Ashby de La Zouch as I am part of an exhibition entitled 'Best of the East'.

Xmas Card Design - 2008

So as promised on the 31st December 2008, here is a photo of the Xmas card I designed for family and friends. It is based on the seventies craft of pin pictures. Simple but effective!!

Bead Sprites

It's really difficult these days to keep children occupied with things other that technology. Now matter how much you try to inspire their imagination they are drawn back to cartoons, looking on the internet or playing a games console.

Did I make a mistake by getting an Nintendo WII for my little boy for Christmas? In some ways, no, as it is helping him develop a better understanding of winning and losing which at nearly 9 years old he still struggles with. But it is at a price, he could sit there all day and play his Mario Karts without a care or what's going on in the world outside.

I have always used his interests to develop his learning, in this case I was just lucky. I came across a Forum totally dedicated to making what they call 'Bead Sprites' out of Hama beads. The members discuss and show their creations, mainly characters from games and cartoons. Before I had found this site, prior to Christmas I had made Jesse a flower and a mushroom from one of the Mario games, I'm sure he could tell you the exact game it came from by the colours I used.

So imagine his delight when I showed him this site I had found. He explored it then decided which character he would like to make. We have been working on the sprites for a couple of days now and have run out of a few key colours so we're off out today to track some more down. I might invest in the mini hama beads so I can make some smaller pieces. I am so pleased I have been able to drag him away from technology for a while and explore his creativity. Here is from top left Luigi, Cloud, Frog Mario and tiny Mario* (*a Jesse creation)

I just have to keep on thinking of ideas where he can get the benefit from both.

Here is Koopa Trooper* adapted by Jesse as we can't find the right sized boards to work on (that's what happens when I decide to have a tidy up). So yes, we will be buying some of those today as well.

New Year's Resolution

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Corney I know but it has to be done. What's the point of having a blog and then not using it.

So, I am going to state here and now that I will put
regular post up which will include anything I am working on. As I am always working on something my blog should be mega interesting. My work is varied, knitting, sewing, book sculptures etc, also a multitude of workshop ideas. A bit late I know but I will post the Christmas card I designed which I will use as a workshop next year perhaps.

At the moment I am working on my 'Soul Journal', I came across this idea whilst reading one of the Daily Digests from the yahoo groups I am involved with. I have to say if you need inspiration or have come to a stand still artistically, these groups are just the tonic the doctor ordered.

The blog in question is 'CASPIANA' www.sarahwhitmire.blogspot.com. She takes you step by step through the creation of a journal, as I said earlier I came across her blog through one of the groups I am involved with. I now discover that there is now a yahoo group called Soul Journal which give out more prompts to keep you going. The other nice thing about these groups is that you get feedback on anything you post within the group or on you blog.

Happy New Year!! I hope you have enjoyed the first of many posts for 2009.