Crafting Green at Camp Green Craft
Hunting….Gathering….Exploring
(The green craft of weaving a rug on a hula hoop loom.)
The hunt is on….
Hunting materials for the camp led me down a path of exploration. Routinely, I visit our local thrift stores in Ellijay, Georgia, but for this camp project, I ventured into the unknown.
My first trip took me to the north, a town in North Carolina called Murphy. There is a thrift shop there packed full of clothing, linens and other household items to explore. I took advantage of the sale on winter clothes and scooped up all the long sleeve t-shirts I could hold. Blues, reds, whites and browns were among the few colors found.
Next, my venture led me to the town just north of Ellijay in north Georgia, Blue Ridge. I found a thrift store I didn’t know existed: Habitat for Humanity thrift. It did not have clothing, but I found linens and jewelry that will help in my crafting of purses and key rings. Off to the next shop.
Back in Ellijay, Georgia, I visited the local thrifts and consignments (our town has more than you can count on one hand) scouring the racks for t-shirts in XXLg. I hunted every week of March and found a few each week until I filled a plastic bin with nearly every color there was.
Let the gathering begin…
Gathering tools for the camp was necessary, but not near as exciting as the hunt for materials. After confirming the number of students who would participate this time, I decided to hold the camp at my home outside on the carport. I have plenty of tables and lots of room and the weather was nice, so it was good plan.
Camp day arrived and the carport was set. Four tables were in place as work surfaces and the conrete carport was covered with throw rugs so the kids could get down and get comfortable if they wanted to work on a lower surface. Campers arrived with bags of T-shirts, so my stash was only used for filler.
The best pair of shears were brought by one of the parents who cuts left handed. They were a spring type shear designed to reduce stress on the hand while cutting, a practical ergonomic design. I provided extra pairs of fabric shears for the craft because I anticipated that the scissors brought by kids would most likely not work for cutting the t-shirts to create the jersey loops for weaving. Parents jumped in to assist with this step, and was I ever glad. It turned out to be a challenge for all.
Exploring the art of weaving through a Hula Hoop loom turned out to be a fun way to craft with kids. Everyone brought a hula hoop of some sort. There were lighted ones, weighted ones, basic Dollar Store ones and lovely large glittery ones. Although the large hoops were a bit cumbersome to work with on the tabletops, the resulting projects were AWESOME!
Expression through art is a beautiful thing to watch.
Camp Green Craft showed me how this is true.
Every student approached their weaving project from their very own perspective. Each experience was their very own and each rug was so unique. One very shy and usually reserved student gave a wonderful commentary on her rug when it was finished. She enthusiastically described each area of her weaving process with such emotion that I was enthralled by it. She ended by saying: “I love this! I really love doing this! I want to do this again real soon!” I believe every student there thoroughly enjoyed the HUNTING, the GATHERING, and the EXPLORING experienced during this camp, and I cannot wait to do it again, too.
Thank you to all who joined us for the Camp Green Craft on April 20th, 2014.
A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY PHOTOGRAPHER: THANKS ABBYJO! GREAT JOB!
If you would like to hire Camp Green Craft to come to you for a Craft Party, complete the contact form to get started. Cost is minimal.
My Thrift Store links:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faith-Hope-and-Charity-Recycle-Store/114637649105
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Thrift-Store/158930490807245
https://www.facebook.com/reach.thrift?fref=ts
Check out our Etsy team blog at http://northgeorgiamade.com/
Becca’s Green Craft Studio is selling crafts / vintage on Etsy….https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenCraftStudio
Sign up for the Camp Green Craft coming soon near you…http://www.blueridgearts.net/Pages/YouthClasses.aspx
Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association (BRMAA) in Blue Ridge, Georgia 706-632-2144
Summer Youth Art Camp Schedule for classes taught by Becca of Becca’s Green Craft Studio
June 24-27, 10am-12pm Rugs & More (ages 10+)…Crochet Rugs using Jersey Loop yarn made by up-cycling t-shirts.
June 24-27, 1pm-3pm Fabric Flowers Round 1 (ages 9+)…Use discarded t-shirts to create fabric flowers and turn them into accessories for the girls.
July 1-4, 10am-12pm Weaving in the Round (ages 7+)…Weave a coaster, placemat and rug using up-cycled t-shirts and a round loom—embroidery hoops and hula hoops.
July 1-4, 1pm-3pm Fabric Flowers Round 2 (9+)…Learn to sew with a needle and thread and build fabric flower accessories as you go. Melted fabric flowers as time permits.
Beccas Green Craft Studio 