Bits and pieces

I've been a member of the North Shore Needle Arts Guild for several years now, in fact, I just finished a two year term as their President. And I'm passionate about sharing the art of needle and thread with children.

To me, this is truly a lost art form.

Some call it craft, but when you are creating an original piece of work in whatever medium you choose, it is art.

And so I continue to share this art form with kids and what I find regardless of age or gender, they enjoy it.

And so it has become known by the guild members that I am a great person to give away stash too. I have been gifted beautiful embroidery, thread, fabric, hoops, and stretcher bars. Buttons, felt, and just about anything else you can imagine over the past couple of years.

And I put it to good use.

This past week, I decided to introduce a mixed media textile project to a group of students ranging in age from 9-13 years old.

I placed a salvaged piece of fabric on hoops for them before class started.

And then I just started bringing out bits and pieces of things for them to choose from.

They started with water downed acrylic paints.

Then I showed them a back stitch, a running stitch, and a split stitch and told them to create a head and neck in whatever thread color they desired.

13 year old, mixed media textile

I put out buttons, some crochet work I had collected, scraps of material, and felt and told them to use it to create the face.

Some used buttons for eyes or sunglasses, while others decided to use coptic pen to sketch in the eyes.

Some used felt for hair while others learned how to create curly hair by using a running stitch and then weaving the thread back through or used a stab stitch to create straight hair. Others went to a graphite pencil when it came time to create hair.

Buttons became hats with frou frou embellishments created with delicate bits of crochet.

11 year old, mixed media textile (love the sunglasses)

Felt was rolled up into roses and material was appliquéd on for dresses and collars.

Buttons even became polka dots!

10 year old, mixed media textile

I then put out some linen scraps and gave them each an opportunity to stamp out a name or anything else they wanted. And again, using a running stitch they added that into the work.

I love the art created. I loved watching their imaginations run wild as they delved into the variety of things to create. And along the way, they learned way more than they realized.

They can sew a button.

Stitch a patch.

Create and paint with thread.

9 year old, mixed media textile. (how awesome is the spelling of Wacko)

It is amazing what wonderful creations sit waiting to be created in nothing more than a stash of bit and pieces of this and that.

More exciting is that as fate would have it, the Embroiderer's Guild of America (EGA), just announced an opportunity for children 16 and under to exhibit original artwork created with needle and thread at their headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky this fall.  Deadline for entries in in June and so each of these students is very excited to become part of this exhibit.