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

Get Away @ Your Library

Teen Read Week was October 18-24 this year.  We had two great programs for the "Get Away @ Your Library" theme.

Comics!!!

One Page Comic Books was scheduled during our teen Anime' group program.  This allowed for a very mixed age group.  Some kids had never read a comic book before!
Laura Charles lead the group with her comic credentials.  Just a day out of River Road Expo, Laura had the comic scene fresh in her mind.  Here are a few samples of the work created in comic style.

Altered Books was another chance to Get Away @ Your Library.  We had a collection of books that were saved from recycling.---Not all books go on shelves or to good homes, as these kids learned.

Rip 'em, cut 'em, glue 'em

Handing out scissors, utility knives, glues, beads, googly eyes, etc., we all got busy breaking down books into new creations.

"Cutting up books seems WRONG!!!"

This was an interesting process for the group, who L.O.V.E. books!!!  Who cuts books like this?! But soon enough everyone had a vision and method to their madness.

Amelia made a shadow box

This became a dragon emerging from a volcano---lots of work done at home.

These pages became flowers

Ethan built a battle scene

Even the adults in the class got fancy

The heart of the book

And Christopher Columbus got a makeover...

Blacklight reactive Chris

These programs were a fun break away from regular library programs. Altered Books struck some artistic nerves with several students, who will provide their creations for display in the next few weeks--we hope!

Check back again soon for more exciting adventures in the SSC Library and Teen Tones.

Chia Pets for Earth Day

Earth Day was a hit for Young Adults in the SSC Library.  I scheduled a Homegrown "Chia" Pets program as an after school event and we had fun playing in the dirt.

Grass seed was used in place of Chia seeds, VERY COST EFFECTIVE!

This class was an hour in duration.  Many of the students had never planted seeds before, so I can only hope they cared for these pets as advised. Nonetheless, they enjoyed creating these fun little creatures and getting crafty after a day of school work.

The Table O'Crafty Stuff

The supplies for this program were very inexpensive.  A large bag of soil, 2 bags of grass seed (only 1 was needed) and nylon socks (obtained for free from shoe stores) were the major cost, roughly $15. This was more than enough to serve at least 20 kids.  Our large stock of craft supplies spread on the table entertained the students creativity.  Donated plastic eggs aided in the designs.

Ch-Ch-Ch...Grass Seed!

I highly suggest this simple, yet educational program.  

Please enjoy this fuzzy creature experiment I created to show off at the Children's Desk.

Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar

The Roots