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.

romans

Have finally got round to making some (rough and ready) mannequin stands to display the Roman costumes from our last Xmas production! They look quite effective lined up in ranks. Now just got to find a suitable place in school to position them.

some pics!

Managed to get on a computer that works! Here are a few pics of recent stuff.

 

 

 Y3 fabric printing using balsa wood blocks/sticks.

 



 One of the Roman costumes for the xmas production.

 

 The centurion version.

 

 In Y1 we made wrapped decorations.

 

 

And finally. I've been dabbling with simple automata. The clown is poseable (he has elastic fastened joints) and he twirls round when the handle is turned. In this photo he is holding a cocktail stick because I haven't managed to get hold of one of those little cocktail umbrellas yet! (he's been made to 'hold' anything in his hands so long as it is light enough).

 



The simple mechanism.

 

I'm toying with the idea of putting the automata in my shop(s). Would love any views as to the saleability/price that could be asked. I've got a poseable ballerina one too!

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.

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?

 

xmas market

Visited Hameln (Hamelin, of Pied Piper fame) Christmas market with the children today - weather quite kind. Lots of the usual stalls selling edible goodies and trinkets. Came across this chap in a little side booth using an electric fretsaw to cut wooden decorations. These are usually done nowadays by computer-controlled lasers but it was nice to see it being done traditionally (albeit powered and not by hand saw).

decorations

Made some octahedronal (?!) decorations today - bit fiddly for the children but they managed!

On the run-in to the holidays now - visiting a Christmas market tomorrow - hope the wind and rain stay away for a while.

a is for...reindeer

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

xmas fayre

Xmas fayre at school today. The Enterprise club had a stall selling all the goodies that we've been making this term - earrings, bracelets, phone charms, necklaces, tree decorations, spinning tops, cards, wrapping paper. Everything sold!




And to round the day off, waiting in my post tray was a pack of goodies from Lisa Stubbs at http://lilsonnysky.blogspot.com/ . Wonderful. Thankyou Lisa.

Christmas decorations

In between finishing bits and pieces off, we had time to make a few decorations today.





Simple paper strips. The red/green one is suitable for hanging on a tree, the white one looks great hanging at a window. The children did really well with them - simple but effective.