Haida Gwaii

Making some dioramas of old Haida Villages was a huge hit with the kids.
This was a lengthy process that  yielded hug results and lent to fabulous conversations about Haida life.

Kids fun

More fun and crafty projects at the Art Lab this week.

Bike Tube Jewellery

A great way to recycle.
I have been using bike tubes for many things over the years.
Jewellery has been quite popular in the crafting circuit.
I made these as an example for some students to show how quick it is to do.

Crafts for me

I've been loving the art of crocheting, and I'm starting to get the hang of it pretty decent.
I got a 25mm hook and i'm so excited.

And then my really love, quilting.
This is a new heart quilt that i am making to donate to YANA auction.
Loving working with these colours.

Squeezing in Some Me Time for Art

I love trying new things.
Cutting canvass has been a great new craft that I can see so many  exciting potentials with.

I had a moment to prep a canvass in hopes to one day soon get a picture I've been dreaming of down.

These hanging books keep popping up everywhere so of course I had to try one!!

And here is a finished canvass, nit my favourite but done for now.

After School Craft Session

A local after school day care set up a session and came by for some winter/Christmas crafting.
We managed to work solid for an hour and each kid accomplished 9 crafts.
They were great gifts for them to give to family and friends, and to decorate their homes.
I loved working with these kids.

Craft Fair

I had so much fun doing a couple craft fairs this season.
I got to meet so many people and show and sell samplings of things we do at the Art Lab.
It was so successful, I think it will become an annual event for us.

Workshops

We did several workshops this holiday season.
We did a few with the downtown Courtney Business Associations Winterfest.
First was for families to attend.
We set up 8 winter crafts and tonnes of people came out to play.

Then we did a zen-doodling and paper-cutting Workshop for 10 registrants.
It was a fabulous time and some wonderful creations were made.

We did another Winterfest  and again set up new and fun winter crafts for the masses.

Reckless Painting Class

Another Reckless Painting class, held last week was quiet but so lovely.

SOme real breakthroughs for the artists, and some really unorthodox, new techniques were tried.

Layers upon layers of paint applied in various ways makes for very unique and non-conforming mini masterpieces.

So Thankful

Always thankful.
My life is incredibly full of love, joy and happiness.
I am blessed in every way.
I try to give thanks everyday.
xo

Making stuff

Quick earring i made a while back as a gift, but never did end up giving them.
And a couple pendants as well.
Maybe i can use a xmas gifts now!!

And K is still making homemade beauty products.
They are so lovely and really work well.
I love her keen attitude towards making healthy beauty product.

Scales

Very frugal way to create scale, but rather effective I must admit.
Hung the clothes hanger from the ceiling and this contraption was used all day to weigh pretty much everything that we touched.

Blood Test

After K had to get a rather rigorous amount of blood work, we made this card for the nurse who went beyond the call of duty to help and be kind to K.
Without her we would never have got anywhere.
K was reluctantly super brave, and she is so proud of herself now.
As am I.

Tie Dye Paper Booklets

After dying and drying the paper, we sewed it together with a cardstock cover.

Perfect little booklets for treasured words and pictures.

Sensory Balls

I filled up all these balloons with various things and asked the girls to guess what was in each.
Not as easy as they thought.
Still one they cannot get.....corn starch.

Art Lab

I made a cupboard full of these mason jar cups with a chalkboard panel on for each participant to write their names on when they grab one from the fridge.
This has become a favourite ritual for most kids when t hey come to play at the art lab.

I now have another sewing machine and a serger.
Sewing classes have been incredibly popular.
I am so excited and proud as I watch the kids learning to create with fabric.

And Lucky, we have recently found out, is going to be a mama.
I see a bunch of little artist kitties in our future.

One simple activity that was really fun was balloon painting.

The ever changing window drying/display.

Kids getting their art on!!

And one of mine getting rather wild with paint!!

Volcanoes on a tray and outside.
Either way they are always a blast.