2018 Fashion Club Continues

Fashion Club with Tat met twice in February to continue working on their Recycled Runway Fashion Show design.  Winter Break meant no school for students, but we enlisted them in fashion design lessons.

Boys Busted out the Work

Tat's sons roamed the library during our class, but we needed more hands to complete tasks.  They wrangled friends and transformed a huge box of cardboard tabs in just ten minutes.  A stopwatch timed their session.  We strictly got ten free minutes, then had to pay them....  Sheesh!

Chop-Chop

Amelia was busy chopping up 3-D printing scraps into tiny mosaic sized pieces.  I was her helper and believe we killed a few pairs of scissors.

A little Help from our Friends

We even secured a little help from our friends....ok, it's Amelia's brother.

Jina is a Glue Gun Master

Jina continued gluing cardboard tabs to our skirt base.

Nestrelda Put her Gluing skills to Use

Whatever would we do without hot glue?!

Colorful Mosaic

Those 3-D printing scraps are being formed into a colorful mosaic covering the bodice of our design.  Progress was swift this month, but time is slipping away quickly.

A True "Insider" View

There are only 3 classes left for Fashion Club with Tat.  We're having fun and forcing kids to work in unusual ways.  Now it's time to choose a title for this ensemble.

Is she Booked for the Ball or a Younique Universe?  Give us your vote!

Check back in March to find the results of our Title brainstorm.

Thanks for visiting!

~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!

Theatre Camp 2016

The last week of August held excitement and multi-layered skill building for anyone aged ten and older at the Southeast Steuben County Library.  Partnering with the local theater group, Centre Stage Community Theatre, we hosted a week of Theatre Camp for five fun-filled days.  

Kimerly Canale is a terrific actress!

This workshop was offered in 2015 and was such a great success, we had to offer it in 2016.  Kimberly Canale lead the week once again with the help of the forever-funny, Eduvigis Vazquez>>> lovingly known as Eddie or Abuelo. 

Everyone loved Eddie for his goofy traits and all inclusive personality.  He was quickly seen as a mentor.  Keeping the action and excitement was key to entertaining and educating this large class.  The chant "Boom Chicka Boom" was the favorite practice game for the whole crowd, especially so with Eddie's antics!

Pick up to 5 pieces

To begin, Kimberly instructed each actor to pick up to 5 pieces from this bucket.  No one knew these items would equate to details about themselves.  This ice-breaker game was handy with opening up conversation between students and breaking their shells of shyness.  

You can't take me...

With games like "You can't take me," each student had a chance to act like a household object.  Roles were given while the main actor waited outside the room.  When the "scene" began, the main actor tried removing an "item" (aka, actor) out of the scene.  The "item" would reply, "you can't take me" and give a reason.  In this image, Eddie can't take Kimberly, because "How would you tell the time?" Look at her pose.  Can you guess she's a Grandfather Clock?!

Practice makes perfect

From games like "Mirror, Mirror," where actors pair up to play off of each others' movements to tongue twisters to say out loud, like "Cinnamon Aluminum Linolem" (say it out loud!) or "Unique New York," (go on- try it!--you'll get the giggles) the group moved on to acting out plays from readers' theater script books like Cinderella Outgrows the Glass Slipper and Other Fractured Fairy Tale Plays.  Repeating the same play over and over again was not something anyone complained about!  They had the insight that repetition is the foundation to mastery.

Parent Performance

Our actors requested to perform for their parents and families on the last day, so we set up a theater for final performances.  Parents got to gush over the skills each actor gained and tons of video was shot.

If unsure, check with the director

Performances were undoubtedly wonderful.  Kimberly's guidance gave students confidence.  If anyone was unsure of a detail, they were told to "check with the director."  During performances, Kimberly announced each process and the value or purpose for each activity.  This gave everyone insight to the methodology.

Big smiles and treats

The week long workshop ended with treats for our hard working actors and some group shots.  This program was well attended, with almost 20 actors ready to play each day. Summer vacation was nearly over, but they never wanted the fun to end.  Even after 5 days and ten hours of hard work, the group groaned when we declared the end had arrived.

Groans are good after a five day program.  Aside from attendance retention, the students actions showed their appreciation for the class.  We kept it low-key.  No rehearsing, no filming, no costumes needed.  Simple repetitive fun and skill building.  Reading aloud and public speaking skills soared in this class and will be utilized for a lifetime.  Bravo actors!  

Make & Bake Gifts 2015

Make & Bake Gifts is our annual gift making session where First Friday Art Club and Teen Cooking Club combine for an extended creation event, just in time for the holiday season.

Union Hall tree, all dressed up

This popular event was held in the USW Local 1000 Union Hall, just behind the SSC Library (<<<>>>ooh! check out our new website!!!).  You can read about last year's event here.

Thinking up gifts that people want to receive is often hard to do, especially considering what teens want to make, are interested in creating, and are willing to save to give as a gift rather than keep for themselves, all while calculating these crafts into a short 2 hour time frame and attempting to keep all attendees busy the entire time.  This is quite the challenge.

"Tie Dye" Tile Coasters

Thanks to the community collaborative power of Pinterest, ideas are aplenty, as long as you consider your audience and budget.  The tutorial for these "Tye Dye" Tile Coasters has been provided directly by Sharpie and was relatively inexpensive.  A box of ceramic tiles cost about $12 for 50 tiles, 2 packs of Sharpie markers, scraps of felt and a bottle of rubbing alcohol are the only necessary materials for this project.  Ok, you need some hot glue to stick the felt on the backs of each tile to protect furniture surfaces, but that is somewhat optional....

Felt protects the furniture.

Recognizing that a Tie Dye look doesn't appeal to everyone, and some designs are much more beautiful left alone, I suggested to use personal judgement whether to use the alcohol to create the Tie Dye effect or not.  Many chose to keep their artistic efforts unscathed...

Tile Samples

Another project, which I thought would cost a lot less, was Crayon Candles.  Having a plethora of crayons collected over the years, I thought this was the trick to eliminating the supply....INCORRECT!  Creating these candles required a candle wax to help them burn at a better rate.  Purchasing soy candle wax, prepared wicks, glass votive holders and prepping the station with two adult helpers proved this project could have been a solo event. The process took a lot longer to create each candle than originally thought.  This is a project I will revisit in the near future, but I am well aware that it is a time thief.

Crayon Candle station

Although these candles were very time consuming, they are quite pretty with multiple layers of color.

"What's that?  CHOCOLATE!?!"

On to the edible segment of our event, we created Dark Chocolate Super Bites using a wide variety of healthful elements for mindful snacking.  Some skilled choppers prepared the station and everyone took turns creating their own heavenly bites.

Do you see a reindeer?

Rather than melting the chocolate in the microwave, we used a small crock pot to maintain a melted temperature.
Using an electric skillet, we kept the white chocolate melted for these adorable Candy Cane Heart Pops...

Too cute to eat

Thanks to my high school volunteer, Kacey, who made these pops possible with her helping hands.  Keeping a close eye on the white chocolate supply was very important.  She rationed the project perfectly.

Another fantastic Make & Bake Gifts event is now in the books.  I know those chocolate bite hit bellies before they left the building, but I hope several gift packages like these are given this holiday season.

Check back in 2016 for more incredible teen projects and events.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 xoxo, erica

Theater Camp

Theater Camp was the last week in August>>> the final stages of Summer Vacation.  Through arrangement with Kim Canale and Centre Stage Community Theatre, we planned a week of theater games and activities, which culminated in a library themed play at the end of the program series.

"Run, walk, skip or hop"- the group practicing a special song

The first day of camp was covered by Kimberly Canale, a publicity agent and director (among other roles) with Centre Stage Community Theater.  I arrived the second day of the program and was treated to a special song, written just for the library theater camp.  This song is TOP SECRET (ok, you may have heard some of it or will in a video here or there, but THAT'S IT!)

Games were aplenty all week.  Having a room packed with teens and tweens requires lots of activities to keep the excitement going.  "Pretend" was the basis of the games, just like the one shown below.  "Pretend you are stiff as a board.  You are a block of wood.  You have no muscles, no heart beat, and you cannot move until I, the Magic Fairy, grant you life," was the role Kim gave these exuberant participants.

"You are a block of wood."

I collected unusual items throughout the library to use as props.  The kids were instructed to use the items in unconventional ways and act with them so that others could guess what the item is supposed to be.  This happened to be the all around favorite game--ALL WEEK. 

"That's not a squash, it's a golf club."

Kim suggested a game where participants paired up to act off of each other, like a mirror. This was quite the experience to view in person.  

Script reading was a big part of Theater Camp.  We needed to assign parts for our play and understand who really liked to read out loud and who like to be or hold props.  Luckily this was an easy task.  Each participant voiced their choice of roles and everyone was happy.

Script reading is serious stuff!

We read from Zany Fractured Tales and Plays, which is hilarious at any age!  Each person got to practice with these plays before they hit the big time by acting out the play written especially for this program.

Before I go any further, this tease is necessary.  You will receive no more details about this wonderful program unless you attend the Southeast Steuben County Library's 15th Birthday Party on Saturday, December 5, 2015 from 5-8 pm.  

At 6 pm that evening, the World Premier of our special library play will air for the first time ever.  The actors in the play do not know how they look while acting.  Parents of these actors have not seen the play.  The entire week is somewhat of a mystery to family and friends of these actors and we want to keep it that way!

Much gratitude and appreciation is owed to Kimberly Canale and Centre Stage Community Theatre.  Kim and her volunteers worked tirelessly each day of our camp to produce a fun and fulfilling program for teens and tweens.  The play that Kim wrote is specific to our library history and holds an important message to viewers of all ages.  Please spread the word and save the date to screen our Theater Workshop World Premier.  Bring the family!

.........Ok, just one little sneak preview of our fabulous actors.  

Give them a round of applause!

That's all for now.  Check back soon for more exciting adventures in Young Adult world at the Southeast Steuben County Library.

Thanks for stopping by,

erica

Nerf Party

As summer winds down in the Southern Tier, some very enthusiastic young adults are battling to the finish in our first ever "Nerf Party" hosted by the Southeast Steuben County Library in conjunction with Corning Parks and Recreation Department.

Preparing for the mission

I am apparently too old to appreciate these brightly colored guns and supposedly painless ammunition.  The kids gathered their equipment and selected teams before I even understood how they were going to play.

Grab your gear!

choose wisely

A Parks and Recreation representative set up the Nasser Civic Center Ice Rink (it's ice-free in the summer) and offered the supplies to my group.  Play to "Capture the Flag" immediately commenced. 

The playing field is set.

Players are in position.

The "flag" in set in place.

I remember "Capture the Flag" from middle school, when we learned to play football with the coach.  This is NOT THE GAME I LEARNED.  "Stay in the green lines or else you're out!," I hear them screaming to each other.  There is a determination that slightly frightens my old bones and has me sitting on the sidelines composing this blog.

This means serious business.

Yikes!

How much ammunition DO you need??

My curiosity was tickled by the kids' giggles and slips all over this dusty ice-rink floor.  Unfortunately, curiosity killed the cat....or gets you shot in the neck by a hyper teen.

One of these gun wielders are my assailant!

After a short sting and shock>>>I mean, I'm the lady who set up this program and my teens have shot me>>>I decide it's safest for the 30+ year olds to stick to the side lines.

Luckily, I found some company to keep while I watch from a safe vantage point.

Wisdom to know when to step aside.

Happy August Everyone!  I hope you have a few more fun filled days planned before the yellow school bus' wheels go 'round and 'round!

Library Unmasked--The Results

So many of you had a blast at the Library Unmasked program last Friday.  Those of you who could not attend, please enjoy the festivities through jpeg.  

Lasers in the Library

Capture the Villain

Grr made an appearance and surprised the Minion

Art prints were raffled

Cupcakes were designed and Super Hero Soup was consumed

The costume contest was a serious undertaking

We had so much fun entertaining the crowd and playing like kids should.  There is more to share, but I am out of time until August.  Stop back soon for more "Library Unmasked" coverage.

Please join us next time!