reindeer

Using the same net as for their tiger 'sculptures', the y1's have been creating reindeers. This is my prototype with lollipop stick legs and twig antlers. On the actual ones we've also used small red pompoms for the nose!

xmas

I know we're still in November but our school xmas fair is next week! We've been busy making things to sell - here are some of the hanging decorations we hope folk will buy. MDF wheels, wooden shapes for the wings, dowel for the beaks and a scrap of red felt. They also have wooden tail feathers!

perilous penguin pyramid

footy pic

During a big tidy up of my art room I found a pic that I did last year. I think I've posted it before but it's even more apt now.

'Christmas 1914'

new(ish) card

My better half is selling Polish pottery at a Xmas fair this weekend. I might sneak some of my hand-drawn cards onto the stall and see if they sell.

LRRH

Still no pics - dratted computer! Have relisted my unique and innovative take on the story of Little Red Riding Hood in my Etsy shop. I cannot for the life of me understand why publishers are not beating a path to my door - perhaps it's too original a concept!

It would make the perfect Xmas pressie - a gift that can be shared and that keeps on giving as it is also a puzzle (find the hidden mice) and colouring book. Be quick though as copies are limited (I only printed a few) and 'last' postal dates are fast approaching.

Please click on the shop link on the right. Feel free to browse in my Folksy shop too for that perfect pressie for the ' very difficult to buy for'.

still no idea?

This should make it obvious. Today in Art club we painted the panels that I cut out of thick card last week. Next time we plan to add patterns (stripes, zig-zags, spots/dots etc.) in a darker shades of green.

 

It should all be ready to slot together for the beginning of December!

today

Am busy getting my art room into shape! But still finding time to come up with ideas for forthcoming lessons. Y2's are looking at castles so I thought we could have a go at pop-ups.

 

 

 

My sister likes penguins so I've cheap-skated and drawn her a xmas card this year. It helps if you squint a little as you look at the pic;

 

The little chaps are supposed to look like they're holding their flippers/wings in certain positions, though the more I look at 's' the more I see Elvis !? Big sis doesn't read my blog (!) so I'm not giving the surprise away.

misc. xmas stuff

On the run in to the Christmas hols. Some bits and pieces that we've been doing in between rehearsing and performing our whole school carol concert.

 

The y2's followed up their yarn woven bookmarks by creating cards by weaving paper strips and then cutting them into a simple tree shape before sticking them onto a card.

 

In y3 we used strips of paper to make star/snowflake decorations

In y5 we made pop-up nativity scenes incorporating a simple box-fold mechanism for the stable.

to market

A clear, bright but very cold saturday at Dortmund xmas market. One of the largest trees around (actually made from lots of smaller ones attached to a very sturdy framework).

 

Some of the stalls are works of art and must take ages to put together and have to be stored very carefully from year to year.

 

 

This old barn looked like it had been there forever but was in fact a pre-fabricated structure plonked in the middle of a pedestrian walkway.

 

cards & wood

More Chrimbo card designs that we've been having a go at this week. The children have been really pleased with their efforts.

 

Today was our school xmas fayre. Children bring stuff in...and then buy it back! I bet parents love getting rid of some unwanted bits and pieces only to have it replaced with someone else's stuff. This is a pic of wooden things that no-one else wanted. They went for the flashy plastic toys. Being a sucker for anything wooden, it was only right and proper that I saved it from the skip (where all the unsold stuff gets dumped). I've got ideas about repurposing the boxes with handpainted images and making some doll type figures out of the stacking toys - watch this space after Christmas.

little angels

The littley's in FS1 (aged 3 & 4) made these simple craft stick angels today. Pleated/concertina'd wings,yellow thread hair and pipe cleaner halo's (unfortunately we couldn't lay our hands on any gold glittery ones).

 

 

weaving

In y2 we've been weaving bookmarks. Simple card looms with woollen threads. The loose ends have been tied off. The children did really well to keep the tension constant and still manage to weave quite tight pieces.

 

 

It's also Christmas card making season. Here's a small selection of the card designs we've done so far this week. Simple cut/folded shapes.

chrimbo cards

An angel design this time. Each one different as they are still all hand-drawn in pen and shaded with pencil. They are on white card tho' the pic makes them look bluish! Again, will offer these in my shops in packs of 3 (A6 single fold complete with envelopes).

It's not too early for Christmas is it?

 

10,000!

Yay, just realised the blog 'hit'counter has passed the magic 10,000 mark. Been busy of late chasing paper/data, meeting parents and generally fighting the chaos that is the run up to Christmas in a primary school! Managed to scribble a few xmas robot designs in a few spare minutes - not for sale (much too late to market them), just as one-off originals to be sent as and when.

a is for...reindeer

Just trying out a new printer/scanner. The old one gave up.

christmas stars

We should be enjoying the run-up to Chrimble but seem to be chasing paper and filling in too many forms and tick sheets -aarrgh!

Some old sketches based around stars

ideal stocking filler

'A is for Art' booklet back in stock in time for Chrimble! An ideal stocking filler for young or old at an incredible price!
Am just wondering why this book sells exceptionally well whilst other stuff in the shop seems to languish. Any thoughts welcome.

happy new year

Just back from Christmas hols and psyching myself up for an inset day at school tomorow.

Had a fantastic break - went to New York between Xmas and New Year - the new restrictions weren't too bad. Did all the usual touristy stuff - saw the sights, shopped the shops. Highlight was probably the Tim Burton exhibition at MoMA.

Feeling refreshed, and determined that this year, at least one of my projects/ideas will take off!

We picked a good day for going up the Empire State Building - view downtown towards the Statue of Liberty (way in the distance!).

merry christmas

Finished for hols today - the children were very excited 'cos of the overnight snow!

Hope everyone has a great Christmas.