The other week with a Pinterest Friday post I showed you
some of the masks I’ve been finding inspiring and how I intended to use them as
a basis for a kids art lesson. After the
kids drew them at ArtWorks, the last two weeks we have been making our own
versions out of fabric.
Using iron-on Vilene as the base, the kids loaded their
basic shape with fabric, cut the eye and mouth holes, then stitched the mask to
give it a better form. The fabric was
all donated by Snapdragon, a fabulous local business which makes lovely things
sold online and on Notonthehighstreet.
The stitching bit was fun and I was kept on my toes
threading endless needles! We stitched
everything using a doubled thread knotted at the end so that the needle wouldn’t
fall off. Some of the children then had
time to add more details using extra fabric, ribbon and beads.
I’m really pleased at how they turned out and it was a great
final project to finish my regular contribution to ArtWorks. For the past 3½years, I’ve spent virtually
every term-time Saturday morning running the kids classes.
Much as I enjoy it, I can’t do everything and this is something I
decided I could cut out, as I want to concentrate more on my own work, writing and
teaching adults. I’m still going to do
the odd Saturday and am looking forward to doing some felting the next time I
think.
I still find the masks inspiring and am tucking away ideas
of how they may appear in my own work soon...
