Day 2 HMD project Wish angels and wet felting

This is a set of angel wings which each child cut using the sizzix cutters and then one by one they  used the embossing folders and put their 'mark ' on their own angels wings. Some of the wishes and positive words placed on the label along with each creators name really touched me . The thoughts and the insight of some of the wishes made me aware just how much understanding the children had of such a sensitive issue. The empathy is apparent. I will photograph some of them with their completed angels.

It is often a difficult decision to make about hand stitching with a whole class  and usually when you have planned a two day workshop there are always possibilities and certainly probabilities that it will change as the time goes on and you constantly access the children and the mood of the day.

The mood of the day told me not to stretch the new lesson past where we had been so with the assistance of the class teacher, I took a table in the middle of the class and with a wizard helper P6 young lady with excellent needle threading , I sewed the wings to the angels and the chosen button and heart bead and then at the same time each wish was stitched straight from the angels heart.

With extra time in the schedule we had some fun wet felting , getting the notion that having learned about the warp and the weft and about different fabrics ( synthetic or natural ) the children all designed their own unique fabric from sheep's wool. 

Great fun was had with soap water and creative thought.

What totally surprised me though was when we did a vote as to which portion of the time they preferred

More than half said the simple fabric knotted doll was the best. 

I do believe it was because the task was repeated in several forms and then there was a definite learning curve the children could see for themselves.

I feel the two days was a great success...

Part of the remit was to offer a CPD time to staff and it was wonderful to see how many came by to see the great work the children had done and then choose to come to the after school session.

Those that made the session had great fun and I could see several thoughts as to how it could be integrated into the future work plan. 

Funding is often a problem for school but I was excited at the dynamic ideas the teachers were coming up with.

 the lovely ideas made by the staff...night out anyone?

Bed early tonight I think and then up and off to a new school tomorrow and a totally new project.
Check back with me and see what that might be.