Fabricatedends

Guest Post: Weaving on a Cardboard loom

Art education for children is an important part of any school curriculum. It allows them to explore their creativity and develop the right side of their brains. However, while these programs include a variety of activities from drawing and painting to sculpture and collages, weaving is often left out of the equation.

In fact, weaving is quite easy to teach to children – all that’s needed are homemade cardboard looms and colorful yarn. For children who aren’t as confident with their skills at drawing or working with clay, weaving provides a wonderful alternative for them to create a work of art that they can be proud of.

There are many proven benefits to weaving for children’s development. It helps their fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. It can also help them learn the importance of following directions and increases their attention span. It’s a perfect activity for kinetic learners who love hands-on experiences.

Weaving can also be incorporated into other parts of a child’s education. Beginning math students can practice counting rows and stitches. It can also be a historical introduction to the crafts of the Native Americans, Pilgrims, or artisans in the Middle Ages. The development of fine motor skills will also improve their handwriting.

If you have children, weaving is also a great weekend craft to do together. Boys and girls alike respond well to weaving. They can make gifts for their parents like coasters and placemats, or key chains to keep for themselves. Who knows, they might even grow up to become weavers some day!

Jan Pierce is a 4th grade teacher who has over 20 years of experience in the classroom. Her interests include educational technology and online learning. She also owns the site Elementary Education Degree for students interested in earning a degree in elementary education.

I came across this great tutorial at Michael Ann Made blog All the materials that you need to create your own loom, and make some really cool friendship bracelets. You can see the full DIY instructions here.

Intro to Crochet Workshop

Crocheting Scarves & Cowls – April 14

April 14, 1 pm – 4 pm

Location: Fabricatedends, Mechanicsburg (Directions)

Instructor: Amber Kane

Skill Level: Intro/refresher (no experience necessary)

Learn the basics of crochet and create a finished piece in this 3 hour power workshop! Instructor Amber Kane will teach the techniques involved to crochet either at triangle scarf or a cowl. Students will leave with new skills and a stunning new piece to add to their wardrobe! With a few basic stitches, crochet has endless possibilities to accessorize and embellish your collection of both skills and clothing.

This is a perfect workshop to do with a group of friends, or come as yourself and make some new ones!

Supply List:

■Crochet hook – size J

■2 – 3 balls of yarn – the amount of yarn depends on the size of work being created. If you are a first-timer, stick with basic yarn (i.e. no frills, fuzz, or beading)

*This workshop is held at Kane’s home studio in Mechanicsburg. There are two very friendly fur-bearing pets about so if you have allergies, come prepared.

To register, go here: http://www.pacrafts.org/workshops/crochet-april-14/ above or call 717-431-8706. For inquiries email handmade@pacrafts.org

The Day that Miriam Left

From spring scarves 2012

Name: Miriam

Started: 2/5/2012

Finished: 2/5/2012

Time it Took: Watched

-1/2 Yes Man

- Married Life

- Valentines Day

This is a hard story for me to share, as this scarf touched me deeper than any that I have worked with. Over the last few days, I knew that something was bothering me, but I really had no idea what it was, and therefore was having trouble dealing with it.

From spring scarves 2012

As I began working on Miriam, my heart ached, and I could feel the tears welling up inside of me. I was beyond confused, why was I feeling so sad. I paused, and decided to really listen. And as I listened I understood. I was sad because I missed my grandmother. Without going into great detail, my grandmother, Miriam, was an incredibly special person to me. I loved going to her house. She taught me how to knit, and embroidery. I always felt accepted and loved by her. Over the last few years she has slowly slipped away, and throughout this time I have slowly said goodbye. It is hard to grieve a person when they technically are still living, however they are no longer the person that you knew and loved. Over the summer I got a tatoo in my memory of my grandmother, and really thought that I had taken the time to grieve the loss of her.

From spring scarves 2012

My studio is where I feel the most connected to her, it is now the home of many of her things, and a place that I wish I could have shared with her. She would love to see the things that I am now creating, but I didn't really get into working in textiles, until after she began to go down hill.

From spring scarves 2012

The yarn of this scarf is so incredibly soft, another sweet memory of my grandmother, we shared a love or perhaps an obsession with soft fabrics. It seems that running my hands over each thread of this scarf, brought back memory after memory of my grandmother, and this scarf, the process of creating it comforted me as the tears streamed down my face.

From spring scarves 2012

Miriam was created for one of my pilates teachers at Om My Yoga. What makes this even more interesting and interconnected is that I just took a pilates class with affirmations with her yesterday. Throughout the class we were reminded of our strength, our power to overcome. We were also reminded to be in the moment, and creating this scarf forced me to be in the moment, and allowed me to process the saddness that I was feeling, allowing me to move forward. Miriam is perfectly matched with the women that she is going to. Her new owner works each day bring health, wellness, happiness, and empowerment to each of her clients, and that is exactly what this scarf did for me today.

Concept of a Genius and Finding Joy

You can find this print here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/classicprints?ref=seller_info

I don't know about you, but I've never even come close to thinking of myself, or even very many of the people around me as geniuses. However, after reading the book Awakening the Genius in your classroom, my whole understanding of what defines a genius changed. The Author, Thomas Armstrong defines a genius as

“come into being, and give birth to one’s joy”

find this print here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elsita?ref=seller_info

Right then and there I fell in love. I read and reread that defintion. "giving birth to one's joy." I was so connected to that phrase, as my goal for each and every thing that I create is that I experience true joy while creating the piece, and that the viewer is able to catch a glimpse of my joy in my work. Finally ,extending joy to the costumer who wraps themselves in one of my accessories, and walks away with a light heart, and a big smile.

My work "gives birth to my joy"

find this print here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elsita?ref=seller_info

Wow, does that mean that I"m a genius? I would say that in the terms of Armstrong, yes I am, or I"m at least making progress in that direction. Our understanding of "genius" has evolved throughout history, to a term that has become ellusive, and a goal that so few can ever hope to reach. But Armstrong presents us all with some hope. Armstrong lists twelve characteristics that define someone as being a genius: curiosity, playfulness, imagination, creativity, wonder, wisdom, inventiveness, vitality, sensitivity, flexibility, and joy.

Each one of the above qualities, leads to discovery of both yourself, and new ideas. So start today with the thought that you have the potential to be a genius, if you are willing to take a hard look at yourself and allow yourself to ; "come into being and give birth to your joy."

Find this print here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLittleRice?ref=seller_info

"come into being, and give birth to your joy."

DIY: Journal

A few weeks ago, I awoke to a wonderful phone call that told me that I had a two hour delay. I get pretty excited about two hour delays, as that means two extra hours in my studio! What better way to start the day. So I wanted to spread my joy, as I do understand that while I"m celebrating two extra hours to myself, many others are struggling to scrape the ice off of their windows, are driving in the bad conditions, and or now have kids at home for two extra hours, which can be good or bad depending on your work situation.

So I posted on facebook, that the first two people to comment would receive a fun package. One was a former student of mine. Most of what I create is for women, so I needed to think for a little bit about what I could make him. As he is interested in art, I decided to make him a sketch book.

Today I"m going to show how to make fast and simple sketchbook or journal.

Supplies:

- paper of your choice for pages

- Decorative paper

- glue stick

-rubber band

-paint brush, or stick

-magazine pages

-scissors

- hole punch

Here's what your finished product should look like. I made this one for male, so I didn't want to go to crazy with the color. But you could really do some fun things with the cover, by using different papers, fabric, as well as washi tape.

I made the whole book with scrap materials, except the paper for the cover. You are going to make flaps that go onto the end of each page. This adds some fun color to the page, and also make the pages in the journal turn better. The length of the flap or tab should be the same length as what you wish your journal to be. You can really make any size that you want. The paper should be about 3 inches in width, then folded in half.

Choose the paper that you wish to use for your journal. I once again chose to create this piece with scarps. I took a printmaking class in college, and had a pile of prints that I wasn't going to use for anything, but they're on really good paper. Take your paper, and cut to double the size that you want your page to be, as the paper will be folded in half. For example I wanted each page to be 4x4 so I measured my paper to be 4x8. After you have selected your paper, cut it and fold it in half. You can use as many sheets as you want.

Time to add the tabs to each one of your pages. You are sandwhiching the paper, between the magazine paper tab. As you do this you want to leave some empty space where it is just the magazine page. Once again, this is to make you pages turn easily. Glue a tab onto each page.

You should then have a stack of all of your pages folded in half with a glued on tab.

Time to make the cover. Cut two pieces of matt board the same size as your pages. So mine would be 4x4. Then select some decorative paper of fabric that you wish to use for the cover. Then wrap the paper around the matt board just like you wrap a present, and glue the edges down.

Now you need to put tabs on your cover just like you did all of the other pages of your book.

Take a whole punch and punch two holes in the tab of each page. You should only be punching through the tab, not the tab and the paper.

Now you need a nice stretchy rubber band, and something that is straight and the length of your book, I used an old paint brush. You could also use a pencil, stick, or tounge depresser. You are going to thread the rubber band through the holes that you punched, so that both ends of the rubber band end up at the front cover.

Thread your paint bursh, or whatever you choose through each end of the rubber band. It should hold the rubber band in place, hence holding the whole book together.

YOU'RE DONE!

Get some Passion in Your Life

From winter line 2012

Scarf Stats

Name: Passion

Started: 1/29

Finished: 1/29

What I watched: 1/2 of Top Gun, Back Home

From winter line 2012

While I was working on creating the scarf named "Friday", Passion jumped into the conversation and told me what colors it wanted to be. She first only expressed interest in being black, and bright pink, but when I told her that there wasn't much pink left, we decided to add a block of black, and a block of red. My plan for Passion, was finish her with braids and metal, as I shared this information , she expressed that she wanted to be different than the rest, she wanted her metal to be colored. I liked this concept and saw the bright pink bottel of paint that I purchased to create Coral Dreams.

From winter line 2012

My plan was to paint the metal solid pink, but as soon as I started painting, that decison changed, and I instead dabbed the paint on, allow some of the metal to show through.

From winter line 2012

I had a blast creating this piece, and am really happy with how the color came out on the metal. I think that I"m going to play with this some more in future pieces.

From winter line 2012

This Scarf with this outfit by Honor = perfection.

Source: kelsme.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Student Artist: Holly Cohick

Holly Cohick is another one of my students. I always looked forward to seeing her work. She works a lot with mixed media, and creates wonderfully playful, detailed small pieces of artwork.

My favorite thing was to watch Holly gracefully switch from one medium to the next, even if she had never touched it before, she easily adapted to it.

Holly does at what I call " listening to the piece", she is willing to change and adapt her ideas as dictated by the way that the materials are reacting. This piece was going to be a large globe, and by the end turned into an amazing ice cream sunday, that at the same time told the story of poverty.

Creative thought process

Source: etsy.com via Amber on Pinterest

She Thought of Love 8x10 Vintage Art Print by LuciusArt on Etsy

I saw this piece, and thought it went so well with the idea of creative thinking. Here's a what Kevin Lucius says about his work.

Welcome to the Lucius Art Shop. I am a graphic designer from Chicago and I love working with old textures, animals, and vintage design elements.

I have always designed my work because it's fun for me. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I do making it.

All of my wood block prints are are mounted sealed and stained by me within the confines of my tiny Chicago apartment. In other words.. These are truly about as handmade as you can get!

And one more of my favorites:

You can see more of his work here: http://www.etsy.com/people/LuciusArt

Source: cutoutandkeep.net via shellie on Pinterest

I don't know about you, but I tend to go in spurts of having tons of creative ideas, and then nothing. Those times when the creative muse becomes elusive, can be pretty rough.

When thinking about being creative, and your own creativity it's important to remember that it is process, and you have to give it time. Forceing ideas just tends to result in bad ideas. So create time to think, most importantly

allow time to dream,

time for the mind to wander and create connections.

Creative thinkers go through a process of thought, understood to be the process of incubation, where ideas are beginning to form in the mind, preparation, connections are being made, and illumination, where the idea is ready to be created.

Welcome to the World, Friday

From winter line 2012

Scarf Stats:
Name: Friday
Started: 1/29
Finished 1/29
Time it took to create: I watched Dog Hotel, and The Lamp
Matierals: Cotton and Metal

Friday was one of the most soft spoken and cooperative pieces that I've worked on lately. She knew what she wanted to be from the start, and calmly worked with me to make that vision a reality. Friday got her name from the first movie that I was watching while making her, Dog Hotel. I don't pay close attention to most of the movies, I just like to have some background noise, but there was an adorable dog named "Friday" in the movie, and it seemed fitting for this piece. By the time it gets to Friday, I usually don't feel like putting a lot of thought into my outift. I'm more than happy to pull on a pair of jeans, a comfy shirt, and throw on a scarf. This scarf is the perfect addition to any casual outfit, to dress it up, with no effort.

Source: kelsme.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Since this piece didn't have a lot to say while I was working, the next piece began to talk to me and explain what colors she wanted to be. Stayed tuned for her story, she's still in progress.

Friday is hoping to be adopted soon, she is ready to dress you up, keep you warm, and make you the most stylish person in the room.

How to Wear a Scarf

Brath and Hughes Art Gallery and First Friday in Mechanicsburg

Brath and Hughes

From gallery

Brath and Hughes is a wonderful gallery that has opened it doors on Main Street in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The gallery is nice and cozy and filled with wonderful works of art, and I'm excited to be one of the artist showcasing my work. I'll be attending first Friday on Feb 3rd, and would love to meet you, and help you pick out the perfect scarf.

From gallery

The building used to be a bank. They've turned the bank vault into a mini gallery space, so cool.

From gallery

I really loved these wonderful sculptures by James Krabiel. Many of his sculptures are working assemblages of found art, combined with carved, welded or other constructed metal and natural materials. His combination of synthetic materials coalesced with natural ones counters the representation of energy in his paintings, thereby creating a thematic dichotomy. This approach parallels the paradoxical dichotomy of energy as both a fluxed and constant entity within our reality. This is best demonstrated by his kinetic and mobile sculptures, which celebrate energy through both simplistic hinges and pulleys as well as more complex, fully functional motors. Whether intricately detailed and carved out, or minimally designed and shaped, the dynamic and versatility displayed in the kinetic energy of his sculptures remind us that energy is not inert or finite, even within an object that at first glance, appears to be so. The form and shape of Krabiel's sculptures are mirrored by those in his paintings, further correlating the relationships between abstracted, spiritual and kinetic energies."

Written by,

M. E. Simpson (from Bio on website