We kind of missed February's art lesson, it was a sick month. So today we made up for it with a lesson on balance and harmony. The art style we talked about today was folk art, specifically quilting. We talked about the reason women have quilted throughout the years and
quilting in history. There are so many great children's books with stories about quilting, two I like are
The Quilt Maker's Gift and
The Keeping Quilt. Then we talked about the quilting bee.
Then we had a paper quilting bee. I started with three or four patterned papers and four or five solid papers. I cut the papers into 3" and 4" squares. Each child will need two small solid squares, two small, patterned squares, and two solid large squares.
Now cut the squares into triangles. I clothes-pinned the triangles together for each child, four small patterned triangles, four small solid triangles, and four large solid triangles, each set different from the others. There were twenty-three kids in the class, so to make it even I made twenty-four sets.
I gave each of the kids a pinwheel template and a set of triangles, then I made an example.
After they were done gluing their triangles to the template we sat down around a piece of butcher paper and worked together to make a "quilt". We talked about balancing the color throughout and spreading out the patterns for harmony. Then I glued the quilt blocks to the paper. Now they have a beautiful "quilt" to hang in the class room.
Once things settle I will have to post about some of the amazing places we went. But until I get some laundry done the computer is on hold.
I can wear it long or my favorite, doubled up.
She wants to take pictures of everything.
If she sees a camera or phone she needs it, and will fuss and sign please until she gets it.
So, a few mornings ago, I left the camera sitting on the kitchen counter. I heard some noise at 6:30 AM and came downstairs to find Maisy sitting on the floor with the camera.
She had pushed the stool over to the counter, turned the camera on, snapped a few shots, and then moved to the floor with it to take a few more.
Thankfully she is gentle. Now I put the camera in the bag, up on a shelf every night. I would be lost with out it, or her.
Creating is theraputic and a few years back my dad made and sold adirondack chairs, benches, and children's tables at festivals and farmer's markets. Well, while he thought he had closed up shop, he was bit by the bug again and my sister helped him set up on Etsy.
I have a few of his benches, a lot of step stools, and two kids tables with chairs and I love them.
He spent the entire trip like this:
While Maisy helped me take pictures of everyone.
Most of the time I was helping her, since she insisted on holding the camera.
She is obsessed with cameras right now, but that is another story.
began to play with it! I was shocked.
In fact when she took it out I said, "Watch that she doesn't throw it, she doesn't play with dolls."
But then she started making the doll patty-cake and gave it a kiss. I was so excited to see her playing like this.
So tomorrow I am going to go buy her the exact same doll. It made my day, maybe even my week.
Then we had a paper quilting bee. I started with three or four patterned papers and four or five solid papers. I cut the papers into 3" and 4" squares. Each child will need two small solid squares, two small, patterned squares, and two solid large squares.
Now cut the squares into triangles. I clothes-pinned the triangles together for each child, four small patterned triangles, four small solid triangles, and four large solid triangles, each set different from the others. There were twenty-three kids in the class, so to make it even I made twenty-four sets.
I gave each of the kids a pinwheel template and a set of triangles, then I made an example.
After they were done gluing their triangles to the template we sat down around a piece of butcher paper and worked together to make a "quilt". We talked about balancing the color throughout and spreading out the patterns for harmony. Then I glued the quilt blocks to the paper. Now they have a beautiful "quilt" to hang in the class room.
