Fashion Club with Tat- Recycled Runway Prep Continued

Recycled Runway Fashion Show is the key focus to Fashion Club with Tat.  We've moved beyond the standard Fourth Friday meetings in order to keep up with a tight schedule and looming deadline.  This is the portion of classes where everyone just follows what is instructed.

Today, we are sewing plastic and denim.

Tetyana Buchholz, Tat, is the mastermind behind this program series and has all of the ideas and techniques stored in her experience.  Teens are quilting images between plastic and denim.

Life Skills, recycled

Learning to make chains with Blue Apron packaging keeps these teens very busy!

Hot Glue can be a crafter's best friend.

In creating "Glitter Ghost," our proposed design, we are striving for an ethereal look.  Trying to mute the glitz of light-catching silver is difficult.  The loops end up flattened in this first attempted method.  Testing the materials so early in the game (we haven't even gotten the official word that our design is approved) is important, because what you intend the material to do versus what it actually does is a time hog.

Strips of Packaging

Strips of packaging are cut, then glued into loops.  The strategic placement of these loops creates an interlocking system, or "fabric," which will be a main focal point of this design.

Loopy Fiasco

Although we're almost 5 hours into this design, the loops must keep going! 

Like I mentioned, this task is a time hog. 

Quilting with Trash

While one team worked in the Looping Station, another team quilted with trash.  Taking denim, printed tissue paper, and clear plastic pouches, a new fabric has been developed.

Hazy Imagery

The plastic over the images give a hazy quality, lending to the ethereal feel.  We'll be working on this portion of the design for a few more hours to perfect the technique.  It's great to have gotten an extra work day in February, because of Winter Break.  Our dedicated designers were willing to forego their school vacation and work towards the completion of this community project.  They are excited to follow directions and keep the wheels turning, knowing the vision will come together and once it does, they will have important input to the final details of this design.  Many hands make light work.  Many teens make this fun!

More Imagery

This concludes 2 more Fashion Clubs with Tat.  

Check back next month to see our progress.

Thanks for visiting!

~erica

Fabric Holiday Cards

Fabric Holiday Cards

As a wrap up to 2016 and another chance to make gifts for loved ones, we hosted a Fabric Holiday Cards program with the fabulous Tetyana Buchholz, lovingly known as Tat.  We discussed offering this simple project to give students a chance to craft a gift, while learning valuable sewing skills.

The Lesson Begins

Tat started the class showing the basics.  Everyone needed a square of cardstock, a piece of fabric cut to the same size, and the same size sheet of Heat and Bond fusible fabric.  The process involved sandwiching the fusible fabric between the cardstock and fabric, then ironing them to bond the three as one.

Heat and Bond was a new experience for these crafters

After fusing the paper and fabric, Tat instructed everyone to cut out two different fabric patterns in half moon shapes with a template.  Once that step was complete, she showed the students how to roll and fold the fabrics to create a tree shape.  This tutorial from Life After Laundry provides clear instructions to create a different version of the tree.

Simple Folds make a Tree!

Once this step was covered, the projects started taking on individual appeal.  Each artist had their own vision and were on a mission to make their's perfect before class ended.  The tree needed a straight stitch running down the center to hold it onto the fused fabric square.

Stitch down the Center

When the tree was stitched to the fused fabric square, then individual designs stared to pop up.

"Gift Boxes" were placed under the "Tree"

Rhinestones, pom poms and more stitches

A border accent frames this card

Craft supplies were flying at all angles, but these students worked until the final seconds to finish.

Hot glue goes a long way

Each card was unique and made with love and care.  Projects like these are wonderful for creative outlet, as well as utilizing important skills like sewing.  The success of this simple project will lead to more of these classes in the new year.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thank you for visiting and staying awhile.  Check back in January for the next installment of Fashion Club with Tat, where we start the process of designing fashion from trash for the Recycled Runway Fashion Show.  You don't want to miss it!

Taking Trash to the Catwalk

Wishing a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours' in interweb land and beyond!

xoxo,

erica

Make & Bake Gifts 2k16

Each year in December, we combine First Friday Art Club and Teen Cooking Club into one BIG CRAFTING EVENT called Make and Bake Gifts.  This is the chance to cook and create handmade gifts for the holiday season.  There are no fees for participants.  Pre-registered attendees encounter a variety of crafts to make then take away.

Fabric Covered Coaster Tiles

The first station for creating was Fabric Covered Tile Coasters.  This was an easy project that could be quick or intricate, depending upon the details put into it.  Painting Mod-Podge glue onto a ceramic tile, then adding a square of fabric cut slightly smaller than the tile and burnishing that fabric onto the tile is the main process of this craft.  Coating the fabric covered tile in more Mod-Podge to seal in the fabric finishes off the coaster.  To save table surfaces, it is recommended to glue felt onto the bottom of the ceramic tile.  As you can see, these tiles got fancy!  Details were trimmed and secured and each tile had an individual flare.

Detailed adornment

The next project was soda can basket weaving, led by Kimberly Canale.  This video tutorial is extremely helpful and recommended to anyone who wants to make one at home.  This video is part 1 of a 3 video series.

Kimberly showed the First Friday Art Club how to make these in August, but that class focused on soda can flowers.  This event allowed students the time to focus on the weaving process.  It turns out the soda cans are gnarly when cut.  Students really liked learning to weave, but kept getting caught on the soda can, which limited their enjoyment.

Gnarly snags are no fun.  WEAVING IS AMAZING!

With a little bit of patience and focus, each person created an adorable woven can.

Woven Soda Can Baskets

This fun Snowman pin craft kept people busy and intent for a long time.  Putting tiny beads in a specific order on safety pins is a test of eye sight and patience.

"These pins take patience!"

This project was donated by a generous community partner.  There were dozens made for family members.  I was even able to donate more to a Homeschool Arts & Crafts group.

Frosty!

The edible portion of this event hit a rough spot.  The intended recipe was Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Reindeer.  It is sad to note that I burned the chocolate for this recipe.  Ugh!!!  The smell of scorched chocolate wafted through the Union Hall within moments of placing the melting wafers in the electric skillet.  This melted chocolate thing is still a learning curve for me, especially when I'm multi-tasking. My intention was to have a pot of melted chocolate ready to dip, so there were less steps to making these cute creatures. In hindsight,  I suggest melting chocolate in the microwave, like the recipe states, or using a crock pot to maintain a low temperature for the chocolate to temper, providing a smooth appearance and dry solid on the marshmallow.

Rudolph's nose is falling off!

Since the chocolate was scorched, the cocoa butter crystallized and it would not harden.  The facial details could not stick, and the whole project was becomming a mess.  Luckily, these kids are quick to create a work-around.  Albino reindeer, snowmen, and even tarantulas were designed at this station.

Tarantula, Olaf, White Deer

Snowlady, Red-Nosed Puppymallow

The final cooking craft was a treat to most of the group.  Funfetti Shortbread Bites  are a quick and plentiful recipe, creating dozens of treats in one 13 x 9" pan.  I had older teen volunteers set up the recipe and prepare the ingredients.  When another teen finished their projects, they were welcome to help this group finish the recipe for everyone to enjoy.  These bites were packaged in a holiday box and taken away quicker than I had a chance to taste test.

Funfetti is always FUN!

This wraps up another fantastic teen Make and Bake Gifts for Southeast Steuben County Library.  Our teens had a busy year with school and library programs.  Just one more crafting session is held this week.  Join us for Fabric Holiday Cards on December 9, 2016.  Our favorite fashionista, Tetyana Buchholz will lead the group on sewing and appliqueing fabric cards for the holiday season.

Last teen craft for 2016

If you miss the program, stop back for a recap of the event.

Thanks for visiting.

I'll check ya on the flip side!

xo, erica

Friday Fashion Club - Accessorize!

For Fashion Friday Club, we had a TON of bric-a-brac donated by the Art Institute of Chicago.  Our resident fashion designer, Tetyana Buchholz is an alumna of the school and we are grateful to have this professional connection.

Craft 'til the table is clear!

We emptied the contents of two large tote containers and told the budding designers to "Craft until the table is clear!"  That joke was quickly understood.  These supplies are the type that never deplete.  A few parents also offered to add to the collection after seeing the projects at the end of the program.

Sewing lessons included

For some students, it is difficult to dream up a project when seeing a pile of supplies.  Some students had a mission from the start.  The hurdle several students faced was wanting to sew something, but not having the skills.  Luckily Tetyana is a seasoned sewing instructor and at least 3 students were trained on sewing machine basics within the 90 minute session.

A project in process

Learning to sew and design your own bag is fun, but requires some patience.  This designer had to remember how to place the fabric right sides together and pin the trim correctly in order for it to be sewn in place, but not bunched or cinched.  

Patience leads to project success

This rainbow bag inspired another designer to create a pouch for her mother.  Gifts made for parents always make me happy!

Pouch made for Mom

If you grew up in the 1980's, you are sure to remember, and possibly used these t-shirt clips.

Well, move over T-shirt Clip, you have now become a Veto Necklace.

Power of the Veto

The Big Brother reality television show inspired this simple necklace.  You can spend over $50 to get a replica from the CBS Store or you can get crafty in the studio to make your own for free!

Beginning of a Halloween Costume

With Halloween just around the corner, it was suggested to make costume essentials that cannot be purchased.  I look forward to seeing how this designer finishes her Chess Piece costume design.

Our designers had a blast rummaging through supplies and creating good and bad designs.  This is part of the process.  Not all creations are great.  Not all creations take forever to make.  We all appreciated the freedom to make without fear.  It was especially fun to get together and learn, while sharing silly stories and giggling away the afternoon.

Thanks for visiting.  Check back soon for more exciting stories from the SSC Library!

Friday Fashion Club

 

We are at it again-- taking our trash and creating fashion forward art!  Fourth Fridays at the Southeast Steuben County Library are dedicated to  Last year we participated in the Recycled Runway Fashion Show, a benefit for The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and it was a smashing success!  Here is a recap of last year:  Catch Us on the Runway.

Our design is TOP SECRET, so you will have to purchase your ticket and get a front row seat to the show.  To tease and excite you, here is some bait to whet your appetite.  Enjoy!

Busy Fashion House

Mini Masterpieces

REpurposed Plastic

Layout Sample

Recycled Runway Fashion Show will be held in the auditorium of the Corning Museum of Glass on June 4, 2016.  Check back for sneak peeks at our progress in the coming months, but better yet, come out and support this fantastic fundraiser!