China project
As the children were looking at the zodiac animals last week, we thought it would be fun to let them have free reign with their imagination to come up with a new animal to represent them, they then had a lot of fun turning this animal into a clay master piece!
Have spent today having fun with artist Bethan Sheff and two groups of children (years 5 & 6), experimenting with batik. The children produced some fab designs, which they are going to turn in to bags.
I am really looking forward to this term, I am working on some amazing projects. These include working on creative curriculum development with a primary school in Castle Bromwich, working on ‘China’ as the topic. We have got some exciting ideas for this project, so watch this space. I will also be working on a variety of projects in a high school in Rugby, including, designing and producing a school learning journal, working across the English and Art departments producing story books and working with Religious Studies to produce prayer books and possibly a prayer garden…..can’t wait!!!
I will post pictures as the projects unfold.
After lots of toing and froing with images and text for my chapter in the book, it seems to be coming along now…… I am really looking forward to seeing the finished book.
I currently have the pleasure of working with Sarah Kelly from Saloukee http://www.saloukee.com/. I have been an admirer of Sarah’s work for a couple of years now and was flattered when she asked me to come up with a design and make project for her new book. The book is not due out until the end of next year (Nov 2011) but Sarah is busily pulling it all together, it’s very exciting.
Sarah and photographer Gemma Dewson http://www.gemmadewson.com/ came to my studio on Saturday to do the photo shoot for my chapter of the book, we had a great day, I can’t wait to see the results!
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I went to the Japan Matsuri on Saturday, the weather was thankfully lovely and sunny. It was great to be immersed in the culture again, even for a brief time.
Whilst at the feastival I bought a Daruma doll (see photos) http://darumadollmuseum.blogspot.com/2006/02/papercraft.htmldoll, Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck and are one of the many ways the Japanese make a wish. The doll come with two white eyes, you mark the left pupil when you make a wish and then the right pupil when the wish comes true!
Met some lovely people at The Makery’s coffee and cake morning today.
http://www.themakeryonline.co.uk/
I can’t wait to get involved with some of their activities:)
I am really excited to have been working with Taki Togashi and the site decoration team for this year’s Japan Matsuri (Festival) http://japanmatsuri.com/ on the 18th September 2010.
I have been helping to make streamers which will be hung in the main market area of Spitalfields. These streamers are usually used in Japan for the Summer festival ‘Tanabata’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata
I am really looking forward to the festival, being immersed in all things Japanese for the day… Heaven!
I was recently interviewed by The Times for their article on self employment and ’portfolio careers’. They used one of my designs to illustrate the piece which was great!