Saturday, December 16, 2017

Make & Bake Gifts 2017

This year has flown by so quickly, it's hard to believe that Make & Bake Gifts has come and gone.  Every December, we combine the two popular teen clubs, First Friday Art Club and Teen Cooking Club, into one special event called Make & Bake Gifts.
Googly Eyes and Glitter Glue
With special guests in tow, we had several stations to make a gift or bake a gift for the holiday season.  The very colorful Filomena Jack brought her Sock Creature project for everyone to make a few creature treasures to share.
Snip, Stitch, Sew Cool!
Taking old socks of various shapes and colors, students learned how to sew with a needle and thread.  Hand sewing is a skill that seems to be getting lost with the focus on technology in society.  I strive to keep these skills relevant to all age groups.  Filomena's patience and friendly approach to the project helped students make adorable stuffy friends for their human friends.
Creature Convention

Creatures for Christmas?
Craft Farm's mother hen, Allison Duncan, led a lip balm craft packed with essential oils and emollients.  Whether you call it chap stick or lip balm, the average cost of the natural and organic ingredient products cost nearly $5 each.  Such a simple gift can be too costly for a teen.  Providing a lesson and literacy on essential oils, each student created four separate lip balms to bomb their friends chapped lips!  
Pour the Balm

Craft a Label
There were two edible craft recipes that everyone took turns tackling.  Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels were a sweet and simple recipe that can be made in bulk.  With only 4 ingredients, this recipe is just too easy to pass.
Bulk up for the Season

I usually make batches of cookies for Christmas.  My Kitchen Aid mixer takes a beating and my propane provider loves my gas usage in the month of December.  After seeing just how much this recipe produces, I'm skipping the cookies and copying this pretzel treat!

Even Gluten Free Options

There are a few Gluten sensitive students in my charge, so we had Gluten Free products to accommodate that dietary restriction.  Even the gluten free option of this recipe was quick and easy.

Stir!  Fast!!!
The last edible craft for the Make & Bake Gifts event was Cornflake Candy WreathsThis five ingredient recipe is similar to Rice Krispy Treats, but uses cornflake cereal and green food coloring.  
Festive Fun

Students whipped up these edible wreaths in just about 15 minutes.  The wreaths they made were larger than palm size, so a bit too big for a snack.  I say they are perfect to share.  Add some red candies to represent holly berries and you're good to go.

This wraps up another fun year in Young Adult programming that I facilitate at the Southeast
Steuben County Library.  We welcome 2018 with a Photo Collage event for First Friday Art Club.

Get ready for 2018
Teen Cooking Club will learn how to Squash their Hunger in January.

We will also try to get organized with our schedules.  Starting in January, we'll try to get some focus with Middle Mondaze.  The first installation is Bite the Bullet Journal.  This event is strictly for teen, 13 years and older, who need a break from the mundane Monday.
New addition for 2018!
Thanks for visiting.  I hope this blog has inspired you to try some of the things we tested this year.  Happy Holidays!
xo,
Erica












Friday, September 1, 2017

Theatre Camp 2017

This year marks the third annual installment of Theatre Camp with Centre Stage Community Theatre.  Our local, talented crew of actors led the week-long program, guiding students to the end of summer and a new school year.  Participants learn skills appropriate for the theater, but also valuable lessons to carry forward in life.
I said a-BOOM!

Kimberly Canale is the ring-leader of this silly circus of kids acting goofy all week.  There are games and rhymes they practice daily.  Boom Chicka Boom is a repeat-after-me style verse that gets used as practice, activity transition, and a closer to each afternoon session.  Kids have to follow actions and voice style of the leader.  Each person takes the opportunity to lead the group and every time it gets giggles.
I love watching how the teens and tweens are uncomfortable at first, but within a few Boom Chicka Booms, all shyness is pushed aside.  Kimberly and Eddie, our talented actors, show no restraint in their silliness, which is contagious.  The confidence building over the week is  one superb life skill these kids need.  
Public speaking should be a cinch for these students as they progress in their educational and working careers.  Other skills achieved are respect for each other.  Giving attention and applause to each actor shows respect, but learning to accept applause--actually wait for it--is an incredible opportunity to experience.
Reader Theatre
Performing plays by reading the script helps students remain confident that they know their lines and improves the ability to read aloud and keep track of the play's progress.
Team Huddle
Working in teams to decide upon themes, actions, etc. helps build cooperative skills working with peers.  The copious group activities these kids experienced all week give them a lead in the new school year.  Team work makes the dream work!
Team Eddie
Having multiple team leaders helped maintain momentum and gives each student different perspectives.  While Kimberly loves drama, Eddie loves comedy and this was a perfect mix for our group of students.
Awaiting Applause

Parents are the BEST Audience 💜💜
Boys acting like HEAVY Luggage
Parents and patrons were invited to a free performance on the last day of class.  I got many great responses from parents whose kids LOVED this program and can't wait to have it offered again.  I see a puppet show looming in the near future...stay tuned 😉

Script reading= skill building
This wraps another fantastic week of young adult programming at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  Thanks for visiting!
~erica
BRAVO!




Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Garden of Fire 2017

We have celebrated the Garden of Fire Festival previously, but this year was certainly memorable.  Although this summer was mostly a rainy washout, the weather was on our side COMPLETELY for this festival! Rain fell before the event began and there was a MAJOR downpour just after I packed up my supplies, but not a drop while we played outdoors.
Let the Festival Begin

Members of the Corning Native American Council led the opening ceremony with chants of unity, health, and happiness.  There were nearly 400 people from 6 area youth agencies on premises to enjoy this experience.  The purpose of this festival is to celebrate six weeks of art education with an "earth" theme.

Earthy Centerpiece

The crowd congregated around the Three Sisters sculpture made of glass and metal.  Three artists collaborated to create this permanent fixture at Care First in Coopers Plains.  Mud was used this year to add an earth element by means of a sculpture of the Sky Woman, an Iroquois Creation Story.  Students worked under the direction of artists to create the work, but had their own voice to develop the depiction.

Paint Earth's Elements

This activity packed celebration offered treats in every corner of the property.  Several organizations participated to create a variety of options.  There were canvases for collaborative representations of the earth's elements.  The Food Bank of the Southern Tier offered a mobile farmers market and every child got to fill a bag with fresh vegetables.  
The Southeast Steuben County Library provided two separate activities.
harp & heART
Maryalice brought her harp to offer some "Music and Creativity."  She played songs of varying tempo and beat.  Students were asked to use different types of drawing media to let the music dictate their imagery.  
"Nancy" on the Road
My Giant Knitting Nancy loom made another appearance this year.  I brought this loom to the first Garden of Fire festival in 2013, but many of the kids who wove on it then are now in college.  Ironically, the kids who used the loom this year turned it into a game.  Kids entered the end of the weaving, shimmied toward the center of the loom, then hit it in reverse to exit the weaving.  I have taken this loom to several events and this has never happened. 



A knitting nancy or ned was used historically to create woven tubing.  Items such as fishing nets, stockings, and socks were made with these looms, but I wanted to demonstrate to students that they can produce similar creations using their own fingers.  
Patience is Important
Providing a photo tutorial was intended to help guide the students to learn on their own, but I discovered that the festival atmosphere had each kid on activity overload.  
Calming Activity

Finger weaving or knitting creates tubing with versatile uses.  Headbands, belts, bracelets and necklaces were the options to make, depending upon time and patience.

Nimble Fingers
Some students grasped this technique and made long rope!
Quick and Simple

With limited time to learn and create, a few kids created bracelets, which only took 5 minutes to make.

Try and Try Again
Some adult students had the hardest time grasping the technique to this weaving process.  
Quick Learners

Some students quickly learned the technique, then shared their knowledge, allowing me a lunch break.
Festival's End
To end the festival, everyone gathered for a closing ceremony.  The Corning Native American Council along with some magnificent drummers led chants and songs, students recited poetry and team administrators thanked everyone for a wonderful event.
It was a joy to be part of such a magnificent youth program in my community.
I wonder what the theme will be in 2018.

For more information on Garden of Fire, visit:

Check back soon for coverage of the week-long Theatre Camp with Centre Stage Community Theatre.

Thanks for visiting!
~erica










Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Library Unmasked-The Steampunk edition


Library Unmasked went Steampunk for it's third edition at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  The #libraryafterhours party was yet another smashing success!
Geared Up for Unmasked
Doors opened at 6:30 for this event.  Those who came to cosplay headed to the registration table to enter the contest.  Some parents even attended in full garb ready for fun.
These Parents Rock!
If you look close at that mom's hand, you might recognize a geared up cuff/ glove from our First Friday Art Club Steampunked Costumes earlier in July.  Our talented Hannah created those huge gears out of myriad cardboard boxes.  Aside from geeked out parents, our teens and kids had fun cosplaying, too. 

Willow the Watch Maker
"Willow the Watch Maker" created most of her costume in our Steampunked Costumes art class.  That hat was white and hiding in the Creation Station, the library maker space, for over a year.  Now it has new life and new places to roam.

The Reporter
Although parents discussed the meaning of Steampunk with their kiddos, some strong willed ladies chose their own path for cosplay.  Here you see Rosie the Reporter.  Too Cute!

To include some technology, Hannah set set up the green screen with cool steampunk backgrounds to share on social media.  Search #LibraryUnmasked to follow the scene.

You can try this in the Creation Station!
While families got caught in Steampunk land, groups also tested out Breakout EDU with Kayla.  This puzzle was like an escape room in a box.  Stop over before summer is gone to test your escape skills.
Rainbow Pallette
Painted Love by Jennifer Sekella was on hand during the night to paint faces and make everyone look fabu for a few hours. I got a gear that kept me going well past midnight.  The kids were excited to have some feisty color to complete their Friday festivities.
Butterfly and Tiger
Let the crafts begin!
Power Potion

Crafts included Potion Jar and Skeleton Key necklaces hosted by my trusty teen volunteers, Jenni and Sarah.

Premium Help in every Corner
Leather bracelets were made with Ann Recotta of Soulshine Studio.  The leather strips were donated by Aurora Shoe Company.  Many thanks to all those helping hands making a crafty and memorable occasion.
Kathryn W. stepped in to help, too!
There were several artists on hand selling their work and offering drawings to guests.
PolarNasu 
PolarNasu (Derek Morrow) took the digital drawing approach.

Filomena Jack
Filomena Jack took the funky and fabulous path, per usual.  She had paintings, drawings, jewelry and pizzazz to keep everyone engaged.

Joe Schichtel
Joey Schichtel kept the crowd entertained with his impressive illustrations and dark humor.

Emily Swan
Emily Swan graced the group with her prepared illustrations.  Color, cut and stand the characters up for an action packed experience.

Patrick Thomas
Local author, Patrick Thomas was in the house promoting books he wrote.  We got his steampunk book, As the Gears Turn, to add to the collection.  Be sure to check it out.

Has anybody SEEN Troy?
Troy from the Corning Museum of Glass brought elements from their Curious and Curiouser exhibit on display at the Rakow Research Library until February 17, 2019.  Glass eyeballs and locomotion video are all very Steampunk essential.
Dancers ready to Bust a Move
The roof was raised with performances from YunG-K, J-Cuzzo and Lukey Bear.  These young men are high school students with too much talent to keep packed in Corning.  Their performances were part of their "School's Out" summer tour and they made some new fans in the process.
Yung-K and J-Cuzzo


The finale to the festivities was the cosplay contest, judged by members of the 11th Hour Cosplay group.  They are such a fun group, they event dressed to the Nines.
Steampunks Away!
The winners of the Steampunk Cosplay contest won weekend passes to Twin Tiers Comic Con in September.  Page One Entertainment donated some of the passes for the winners.  
Steampunk Crew
The winners from left to right are Frankie with Goth Before Goth was Real, Christina as Early Inventer (Glider), Remy and Ryker as The Gear Brothers, Robin as Formal Engineer, and Hannah as Willow the Watch Maker.  Kudos for all the effort put in these designs!
Goodies Galore!
We were graced with several donations from area businesses, like ice cream from Dippity Do Dahs, certificates to CD Cafe on Market Steet, Table-Top games from Michael Steffins, Metacheckers from Ed Bond, a dinner certificate from Denny's Sub Shop in Big Flats, ice cream from the Sweet Spot, pizza from B's Pizza, ice cream from McDonald's in Corning/ Painted Post, comic con passes from Page One Entertainment, plus many artsy goods from the presenting artists. Penguin Random House also sent us a BIG BOX O' SWAG to raffle off for the evening.  With over 45 prizes to raffle, lots of people went home with a treat.

That wraps up the biggest summer program I create.  I hope you've been inspired to get in the cosplay game, work your art, create your craft, sing your song and rock out in the skin you're in.  We look forward to another Library Unmasked in 2018.  Thanks for visiting!
Get Unmasked again in 2018