latest

The latest automaton to roll off the production line! This one features a rural train service. As you turn the handle the engine plus its carriage rotates around the village/countryside (the black circle turns whilst the green circle stays put). It measures about 11cm (4") from table to tip of church spire.

 

Very pleased with how this turned out. I did do a short video of it working but it didn't want to upload for some strange reason.

'quilt'

We've finally come to the end of a very long term and are breaking up for a well-deserved Easter holiday. The children have created some fantastic artwork over the last few weeks that I'm frantically trying to display. This is a pic of some textile work done by our y3's. It's a combination of some printed cotton panels (for which the children made their own wooden printing blocks) and some tapestry work (inspired by a visit to our local Art gallery). I'm nailing (!) it all in place as staples just couldn't hack it.

 



block printing

Last week in y3 we designed our printing blocks. This week we made them. We used balsa wood (easily cut with sharp scissors) as our carving skills aren't quite up to the mark. The idea is to copy the techniques of printers in India and use the wooden blocks to print onto fabric. 

 

sari's

We wrapped the woodblock printed fabric around a balsa wood 'figure' to represent an Indian lady wearing a sari.

 

 

 

They seem happy with their new garments!

woodblock printing

In y3 today, as part of their studies about India, we used our woodblocks to print onto fabric. We designed and made the woodblocks last week from balsa wood - a thick piece with cut balsa sheet glued on.

 

 

The children were encouraged to line up their blocks carefully to ensure a regular repeat pattern.

An overview of some of the printed pieces of fabric.

The intention is to display them by draping them around a simple silhouette, so as to resemble an Indian woman wearing a sari.