Thursday, April 10, 2014

There's fun to be had.....

....at our li'l house on the hill. Each afternoon the school bus hurtles along our country road, screeches to a sudden stop at our front gate, ejects excited li'l earthlings, who burst through the bright pink door in readiness for a fun afternoon; getting lost in a plethora of all things creative.

Yes indeedy, each afternoon I teach kiddos in all matters 'creatin'...machine stitching, hand sewing, knitting, beading and oh so many, many more fun things pertaining to the subject of  'craft'!

I have been looking through photos recently and am amazed at the projects that the kiddos have created. The kiddos have made so, so many wonderful projects; from denim bags, denim wall hangings, denim quilts, denim pencil cases, patchwork quilts, softies....scottie dogs, owls, dolls, bears, monsters etc.....cushions, Christmas stockings, Christmas Advent calendars and some are now beginning to sew clothes......the list just goes on and on and on.

It seems that denim is a favourite choice of  them all.

The girls and some boys have made quilts from big patches cut from recycled jeans.

Some funky bags....ooh-la-la!! The girls have made a couple of original bags, designed by themselves, to sling on their shoulders when out and about town. A pair of jeans goes such a loooooong way! All the kiddos have made a wall hanging from hessian with denim pockets so that they can stash  their bits and bobs. This wall hanging is the first project they make as it is a fairly easy project on which to learn the basics of straight and zig zag stitches. A fun and easy project to take home with them on the first or second lesson.






One of my girl's (Holly) mum sent me this photo of her bedroom, showcasing a few of the projects that she has stitched.......a denim quilt, a personalised hessian cushion,where I photographed Holly's face, transferred it onto fabric and Holly designed herself within the scene, and appliqued and free-hand machine stitched to fill in the details. Amazing as she was only 8 years old when she stitched this! A lot of my kiddos have attempted free-hand machine stitching, sketching what they will, with no fear! Also there is a cute, cute owl, a hessian & denim pocket wall hanging...AND...have a bo-peep at the Babushka doll bag, complete with a hand beaded wire handle! Our Holly is one very clever li'l girl!!

 
 A personalised denim pencil case in the making.




This school term, more denim quilts are being stitched. It seems that every kiddo who visits my li'l ole abode wants to make a denim quilt. A few of the boys have made a simple patched quilt with no embellishments; whilst the girls always seem to want to make one with flowers and butterflies weaving their way in and out of the denim pockets.
 


A baby quilt for a new little baby sister and a table-top quilt for a mum for Mother's Day.
 


More Mother's Day presents for grandmothers. Some of the girls designed a picture, traced them on to canvases and long stitched and back stitched the design with tapestry wool. With the embroidery finished, they then coloured in the background with watercolour pencils, then added water with a brush to resemble a watercolour picture. When the canvases are dry, buttons will be added to some of the flowers. Instead of the girls embroidering on fabric inside a hoop, I came up with the idea of using canvases instead. The girls have had so much fun creating these priceless works of art. Quite the 'artistes', aren't they!! I think they look very, very cool!!


So, all in all it has been a very busy school term. A lot of time has been spent preparing and organising each day's projects so that when the kiddos arrive everything is organised and ready to go. I must say that I do enjoy teaching the kiddos. They keep me in the loop of all things children. I am continually amazed at their imaginations and what they dream up. I always find it fascinating when the kiddos come for their first lesson, they are tentative in all things stitching, but with each week their confidence grows; seeing in the eyes and demeanor their amazement at the projects they create. "Did I really make that!!" Yes indeedy, in no time at all they are whirring away on the sewing machines as if they have been sewing all their young lives.

But....I am very thankful that here in Australia there are 10 week school terms with two week holidays in between. I find that I need this time to recharge the battery, clear out the cobwebs from the brain pan, dream up new ideas; perhaps stitch a li'l stitching for li'l ole me.....and just be.

One more week then it's...... holiday time !!

15 comments:

  1. I know you have mentioned teaching children before, but I had no idea it was that often. Wowsers!
    Such a special gift you have given them. They will always remember you. My grade three teacher was the one who showed me how to knit after we were done our studies. Little did I know what a valuable gift she was giving me. I didn't knit at all in my teens but when I was pregnant with my first I picked it up again. I think of Mrs. Forester often. God bless her : )

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  2. What an exciting time you all are having! It's great that you catch the kids in their creativity before a lot of them think "I can't do this". I love the creative spontaneity of young kids. You've made some amazing projects together! Wendy x

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  3. What lucky children, to have someone like you to teach them such important skills! How many sewing machines do you have set up? Their items are wonderful.

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    1. Three sewing machines, Vicki. My li'l sewing room is bursting at the seams with three sewing machines, three kiddos, me; and the unholy mess that 'we' make!! ;)

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  4. Kim, what a wonderful post today. Just think of all the young folks that will go forth from your training with all the new skills. I was lucky to have learned to sew early on but so many young folks never do. I know their parents and grandparents cherish all the gifts they have made!
    AND are extremely proud. And thankful to you for your skills in teaching them.

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  5. Such great and creative projects..you are moulding artisans of the future. The denim quilts are fab and I love the ric-rac on the wildly growing flowers. I learnt to sew at scholo and am forever grateful for the skill. Have a great holiday.

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  6. Wow, what a wonderful, inspirational post! Those kiddos are so lucky to have your guidance and mentorship in fostering their creativity. What I would've given to have that kind of class as part of the school experience when I was young!

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  7. How wonderful that you are teaching these children to express themselves in such creative ways. These skills will last a lifetime. I'm so pleased to know that children are still being taught such things. I learned to sew whilst at school but that was at a time when making clothes was seen as essential because of necessity. Nowadays it is assumed everyone can afford to buy anything they need and that someone else can make it cheaply. Well done Kim. Philippa xx

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  8. It's such a delight to see so much creativity in all those beautiful projects. You must be an excellent teacher! You are setting them up with skills to enjoy for the rest of their lives :)

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  9. What an incredible and lasting gift you are imparting to these children! Amazing. Their work and confidence is excellent and all because you have taken the time, energy and expense to diligently help them. I love those Mothers Day canvases!

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  10. What lovely skills and beautiful denim crafts. A good teacher! I am having a go with at making something denim again. A good fabric to work with.

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    1. Why, thank you Teresa (takes a bow). I do try. Yes, denim is wonderful to work with isn't it and of course limitless in its possibilities.

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  11. Kim, you are a child's dream come true! (and a parent's too for that matter) What wonderful things you teach to your little kiddos!

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  12. I applaude your dedication. Those are beautiful creations made by talented artists. They are showing good sewing skills and they obviously have a excellent instructor.

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  13. I wish I had more patience when it comes to teaching kids. I should probably take lessons from you. :)

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