Spring Session 2011 Week Two

Learning about ATC cards & Felt character pins

Nowadays we have all sorts of "baseball cards". When I was young I remember collecting Charlie's Angels cards, Star Wars cards, and Wacky Packages stickers. The great thing that artists now are creating are ATC cards (Artist Trading Cards). These cards are created by using typically mixed media. This week we talked to the children about what mixed media are, and how they are incorporated into ATC cards. ATC cards were basically created by an artist from Switzerland named Stirneman. In 1996 he wanted to create a catalogue for work he was doing with some other artists. Due to the high cost of printing what he called hockey cards, he decided to create them himself to a tune of 1,200. After he made all of them in 1997 he put them on exhibit, and when it was open to the public he encouraged those who came to create their own. So, ATC cards are the same dimension as baseball cards so you can fit them into typical baseball card sleeves for protection. ATC cards also are only traded or exchanged not sold. Though nowadays people do sell them though they are considered ACEO (Art cards, editions, and originals) cards.





















With the remainder of our time we had the kids make felt character pins. We created a few templates for the kids, but encouraged them also to create their own if they wanted to. These we super fun to make and putting googly eyes on them made them extra cute/funny.

Winter Session Week Nine

Saint Patrick's Day- Mosaic Shamrocks and Rainbow/Shamrock Cuffs

There was a old woman who lived in a shoe.
She thought it'd be nice to paint it blue.
A giant by mistake,
the shoe did he take.
Now the old woman is going boohoo. Written by Kathie Stokes

Yes, who knew I could write such eloquent limericks. The day is upon us to celebrate the color green, little mysterious people, gold coins, rainbows, shamrocks, pinching others, and for those who are old enough green beer? If you haven't guessed already, and I am assuming you have since I have some smart cookies who read this, yes in fact, St. Patrick's Day arrived. So, for the glorious occasion we made collage, mosaic shamrocks, and rainbow shamrock cuffs. We also talked about limericks, and the kids wrote a few themselves. We kicked it off with the story of how St. Patrick's Day came to be.

Starting with the collage-mosaic shamrocks we had the children use some cardstock, and trace a large shamrock onto the paper. Then using yellow and green tissue paper they painted matte medium onto the paper and laid down the tissue paper, and then painted over it to seal it. The matte medium dries clear and gives the appearance of stained glass in a way. After it dried they then cut out the shamrock and we punched a hole on top and strung a ribbon through so they could hang it in a window.










Here's a shot of our powerful rainbow/shamrock cuffs. When you want to become one with the leprechauns you wear these, and it helps you find those elusive gold coins, yippee! We prepared the ribbon beforehand. The kids used a template to trace and cut out their felt shamrock, and thread it onto their new fangled cuff!

Winter Session Week five

Sewing Wise Owls and Picasso Portraits

Thinking up new ways to integrate sewing into our class is always a challenge. We come across so many great ideas, but it needs to be simple enough for younger kids and easy enough to finish in one class. Since, we both have a soft spot for owls we thought now is the time. We have many different projects for owls, but this one just seemed to fit in easy and simple enough to fit into a craft session and super cute (always a good attribute to have). So, here's how we plopped these cute hooters together. We talked to the kids about patterned fabric and solid colored fabric, seams, and why you put the right sides of fabric together when you sew it. No matter how many times you tell them why, it isn't until they actually do it that it makes sense to them. It is one of those you have to see it to believe it. It is sort of magical. Okay back to the process, so each child picked out a patterned piece of fabric and a solid color fabric. They then received a pattern piece to lay on top and either pin to the fabric or trace around the pattern piece, and the cut out the fabric. Once they cut their two pieces of fabric out they then came to the sewing station. At the sewing station they got to control the presser foot of the sewing machine (it is the pedal that makes the machine go, like a gas pedal). While they got the machine to go I helped guide their fabric to sew up the owl. We then had them turn the owl inside out, and then stuff it with some fiberfil, and some split peas to give it some weight. I then finished it off by sewing up the hole. They also got to pick out eyes with buttons, and a felt piece to go behind the button. We hot glued the eyes on for them so they didn't burn their little fingers. I love how they turned out, and the kids seemed to really like them.

On to self portraits inspired by Pablo Picasso. I don't know why, but lately I've been loving Mr. Picasso. I mean besides his beautiful paintings, I guess we have been re-inspired by him again. Looking at his life and how he got to where he did, and all of the things he tried is quite amazing. I'm a sucker for the Cubist movement, but I think that's the modernist in me. Plus, he has a way with color and emphasis which I think is an important factor learning about art, and making your lines matter. So this project dealt with seeing two sides of a face, the front side and the profile, and merging those together. An interesting idea and based off of the painting by Pablo Picasso called, "Girl Before a Mirror". We talked about silhouette and what that is, and took them through the process step by step. It was a bit difficult for some kids to understand, but in the end they all put together some great portraits. Even though they look a bit odd they are abstracted, and exaggerated portraits that make them so endearing and quirky. I think many of the kids found them silly, funny, and outrageous, and other really got into them.

Winter Session Week four

Woven Valentine Hearts, Valentine Collage cards, and Hand-Dipped Heart Cookies

Milk chocolate, the color red, candy, hearts, flowers, the color pink, dark chocolate, love, hugs, friendship, warmth, kisses, and did I mention chocolate, all the things I love mashed up into one day- Valentine's Day. This is one of those holidays that you wonder when in the world did they make this one up. I've got to say that it doesn't matter to me how, when or why I'm glad it is here no matter what reason. A day devoted to telling people you care about how much you love them, and sharing a sweet treat with them, is a good day. Not that it shouldn't be like that everyday, in our busy days and routine we sometimes forget. So this week the kids are going to partake in creating different kinds of valentine's. We will be learning a big about hand weaving to make a valentine, collage together a valentine card, and making a sugar cookie a bit more special by dipping it in candy melts.

The valentine collage card is a fun way to be creative, and an easy way to make something a little more special. We have gathered many sweet clippings, odds and ends, for the kids to gather and create their own special valentine day card. Collage although it is a simple technique can be spectacular, as well as, very satisfying. There are many artists past and current day that use it in their work, and create beautiful art pieces. I like collage because it allows me to bring together so many different items in the same picture. It is like a 2 dimensional shadow box essentially. I like seeing all the different kinds of collages be it messy, minimal, organized, themed, or glitzy. I think for some reason it is easier for kids and adults to have a vision when it comes to collage.

I remember when I was in maybe 2nd grade, way back when, weaving a paper heart for Valentine's Day in class that would hold all of the valentines we would receive from my other classmates. I thought I would bring back a version of that, but slightly smaller, and in fabric instead. Without me knowing I think that was the weaving seed that was planted in me as a little girl. To be able to share my love for weaving in some way is always a pleasure. It is also very good exercise for the brain and recognizing patterns. I used fabric instead of paper for these sweet valentines so it wouldn't be as frustrating for the kids. The fabric works great and is more forgiving when weaving it, and the kids can be a bit more aggressive as they weave it. I used wonder under a fabric adhesive film that you iron on to give the fabric more stability, and hopefully longer lasting. We also gave the kids two choices to do the woven heart weaving three strips or slightly more advanced weaving 4 strips. They all turned out well.

Finally, we can't have a valentine class without working in some sort of food craft treat. This time we decided to go with a heart shaped sugar cookie, and then letting the kids dip half of the heart cookie into a white or red candy melt, and then put sprinkles on top. Kids love sprinkles and cookies so we figured it would be a win win. We call it hand dipped with love cookies. I love how they look.

We love that we get to share our joy of crafting and art with your children Happy Valentine's Day!