Sticks and Stones. (Getting Kids Crafty Part 2).

This post follows on from 'Getting Kids Crafty Part 1. I recommend that you read that first otherwise you'll have no idea what I'm ranting on about!

Obviously, I appreciate that all children are different and some will have no interest whatsoever in 'creating', but as the research suggests, being creative can benefit all children, not just those who are naturally crafty. As I examined in part 1 of this topic, as kids progress through school, the opportunities to experience creative subjects get fewer and further between. Combine this with the fact that many children end up spending much of their free-time immersed in a 2D digital world; and we end up with kids who have little experience of creative learning. If we, as parents encourage and actively participate in creative activities together we can foster a life-long love of making things, or at least develop some of those transferable skills in divergent thinking and an appreciation for craft.

I think many girls naturally lean towards being what we might, traditionally, label as creative. They will spend time quietly drawing or sticking, threading beads and baking.  There are SO many arts and crafts kits made by the likes of Melissa and Doug and Galt aimed at girls to foster their creativity. But boys can and should be creative too - lets not forget, building models from Lego or Meccano, folding paper airplanes and making dens or mud pies are all creative activities that should be encouraged and praised. Klutz produce some fantastic books and resources for boys (and girls), such as this favourite in our house.

One of the main things I like about the Scouting organisation  is that it's an extra-curricular activity that boys can get involved in that doesn't just focus on sport (that said, sports are really vital  for boys too - learning sportsmanship, teamwork and providing an outlet for their boundless energy). My son goes to Beavers and thoroughly enjoys all the activities that they participate in...Just last week they were baking cakes for Mothers Day. They've had a go at origami (which we then continued at home), and T has recently been awarded his 'creativity' badge for making a model out of lego to his own design.

Of course, children don't need to be a member of an organisation to have a go at being creative.  My son has this peculiar  fascination with sticks...as many boys do.  Frustrated with the mounting pile of them by the gate,I decided to embrace his love of all things 'stick like' and utilise this hoard for something other than just sword or lightsaber play. So, after a quick search, I found and ordered this book:

Sounds odd, but it's really very very good.  Loads of inspiration for creating things with sticks....and look what we made the very first day we went through it:

If at all possible, we should give children access to and teach them about contemporary crafts people and artists. Just seeing the work of some of the UK's most talented artisans can ignite a desire to go and make something and to learn respect and appreciation of these skills, as well as a realisation  that actually turning off the laptop or games console or iPad, and getting into crafting can also be cool*. 

*I know, I know 'cool' is not a 'cool' word anymore...I believe the term I should be employing here is 'sick' or 'dench'..or if you're under 10, I understand that 'awesome' is also acceptable!

Take The Rag and Bone Man  aka Paul Firbank, for example (He just happens to be the brother of a very dear, and equally talented, old school friend of mine!).  What an amazing inspiration to young boys....just taking something that is 'found' or discarded and making something functional and aesthetically appealing will strike a chord with many youngsters. Nothing 'uncool' about his craft at all. Paul has featured in the press and television, alongside Channel 4's Kevin McCloud and has won awards for his remarkable vision and talent.

Kirsty Elson blows me away with her charming creations made largely from just stuff found on the beach. We all discover 'treasures' when on holiday at the seaside. With Kirsty's designs as an example,  a child can take that treasure, use their imagination and put together something amazing.

Photo Source: www.kirstyelson.co.uk/

Our children need to see the stunning work that these contemporary artists create and how they make a living from their craft.  When on holiday (especially in the UK..Yay! Britain!), don't be afraid to take children to art galleries, to potteries and glass works. Most galleries such as The Tate Galleries, and smaller players such as Compton Verney, near us in Warwickshire, now actively encourage children through their doors and make the experience fun with interactive activities.  The UK has some super Sculptor Parks and Trails, some of the best, and one probably not far from you, are featured in this article. The Village Pottery , in Bristol gives kids lessons on a potter's wheel. The Red House Glass Cone in Stourbridge allows children to view their glass-blowing demonstrations and run various events and workshops for kids. DIY superstore B&Q run workshops and parties across the country for the 7s and over, to learn and experience woodwork.  For those hooked on digital content check out Tate Kids for games, films and to create an online gallery of work or find inspiration for new projects. These are just a very very few examples of places where arts and crafts can be seen and experienced. A quick Google search will doubtless find something near you. If on holiday abroad, there will be opportunities to see local crafts people in action too, or the work of famous artists and architects. Do your research and have a day out to do something different. We're off on a sunshine and tapas fix in Barcelona with T soon. On our last visit there we took him to the Picasso Museum. This time we're planning Gaudi's fascinating Park Guell and the iconic Sagrada Familia.

Source: http://www.parkguell.cat/en/

Source: http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/

We owe it to our children to give them the inspiration and opportunity to create. If they are increasingly less likely to do that in school, then let's do it at home.  Whatever your plans with your children are for this summer...Get them inspired and get them making something.

Emma xx

"Every Child is an Artist....". (Getting Kids Crafty Part 1)

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."
-  Pablo Picasso

source: unknown

As much as I want to believe the words of Picasso, if this recent article in the Guardian Newspaper: 'End of the creation story? Design and craft subjects decline in schools', is anything to go by, forget about being a creative adult, even our children will struggle to be artists and will grow up ignorant of the creative arts. This makes me sad.

So sad, that I've decided to climb upon my soap-box and have a little (well, not so little as it spans 2 blog posts!!) rant on the topic......

Whilst I obviously appreciate the need for education to focus on academic subjects in order to get strong foundations in place, our children still need a diversity of learning throughout their time at school. There must be a balance if we are to allow children to discover their interests and talents - in whatever field they may lie. I for one know that my time at school would have been far less enjoyable  had I not had the chance to take courses in textiles and design technology...I mean, 'Come On!' Who didn't get a buzz from the achievement of making a knife rack in woodwork?!!. For me these were the lessons that offset my boredom in learning about the Periodic Table or Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales. I could put up with the subjects that didn't interest me because round the corner there was something that would. That made school ok. 

Photo Source: Drew Kelly. NY Times

Quite apart from providing a more fulfilling education, according to research carried out by The Craft Council, studying creative subjects teach transferable skills that all children can take into their adult life.

"Learning craft skills has a range of educational benefits: it fosters creative thinking, innovative learning, visual awareness, skills which aid cognitive development, as well as haptic skills (the sense of touch).


Craft skills also provide children with a firmer grasp of the 3D world, which in turn develops problem solving skills. These are important to all manner of professions, including manufacturing, medicine and software design.

Practical learning, including craft, can have positive impacts on behaviour and on the extent to which pupils engage in school. Evidence shows that pupils who are positively engaged in learning are less likely to have behaviour problems."

Along with changes to the focus of the curriculum, it would appear that funding cuts are largely to blame for the decline in craft subjects in schools and higher education. Resources are scarce and the teacher training, space and equipment required to run such courses is expensive. Instead investment is concentrated in those areas (such as elaborate I.T suites)  that are deemed to produce more economic wealth in the future , but as Rachel Williams in the Guardian states far better than I could:

Source: http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/h/handmade-in-britain/

"The decline (..in education) sits strangely with the growing popularity of crafts, both in the luxury goods market and at grassroots level.....It's a sector that makes a contribution to the economy and has the potential to be a much greater export business as well. There's a dissonance between the way craft is perceived by the public and amongst adults, and the way we're investing in supporting schools to keep that happening.

.....there are countries that have absolutely recognised why the UK is so good at creative arts and they're looking to replicate it themselves. The number of art and design colleges China has opened over the last 10 years has been phenomenal. When production has been so decimated in this country, to put design at risk is just fatal."


Of course, we do live in a far more digital world now - children, boys especially, are often drawn to building imaginary worlds on an iPad using 'Minecraft' instead of using Lego. They race cars on a games console rather than setting up a Scaletrix track and playing with actual cars. I'm not saying the advance in digital disciplines is disastrous and I'm certainly not against progressive change, just that it shouldn't be at the sacrifice of the 3D , physical world. Without a digital context, we are in danger of making crafts 'uncool'. It is however possible for the two to compliment each other, using technology in the design process whilst still actually 'making' using our hands and tools.

Source: Minecraft

The Craft Council are working hard to re-introduce crafts into schools with initiatives and partnerships such as Craft Club  and 'Firing-Up' (encouraging and helping teachers to re-fire dormant kilns in schools and allowing kids to make things from clay) but these are all too often extra-curricular, outside the school day and rely on parent or carer volunteers or teachers putting in extra hours.  

Unless there is a sudden u-turn on government policy and an injection of cash into arts education funding, it appears that it will become our responsibility to ensure our children lead creative lives.

To be continued.........x


(If you liked this article, please see my blog post 'Sticks and Stones' which continues on from this one) xx

Grey. The perfect colour chameleon.

At the risk of sounding like I'm trying to write an article for 'Country Homes & Interiors' magazine, I've decided that now I've had some time to reflect on my latest major creative project - The House - that I should really include a post about it, and what I've been trying to achieve.

For me, despite my love of being out and about, travelling and holidays, there really is 'No Place Like Home' (as Dorothy so rightly told us in 'The Wizard of Oz'), and whilst we felt settled in our house (surrounded by our furniture, photos and 'things') from the moment we moved in, it is not until I've made my mark on a place by decorating it that I can really relax and feel that I've created 'our' home.

There was nothing particularly terrible about the way the house was decorated when we moved in. There was no swirly carpet or dodgy wood-chip wallpaper. There was  however a great deal of what I labelled  'nicotine yellow'. Nothing wrong with yellow at all, but this particular shade just felt a bit grubby and dingy, - like stained off-white walls in a working mens club! So, I set about obliterating that nicotine yellow with light, refreshing, calm, airy, wonderful grey. Lots and lots of wonderful grey.

I used to hate grey. It always made me think of dodgy grey-marl sweaty sports t-shirts and I would never have imagined a decade ago that I would be living surrounded by so much grey.  However, grey now tops the list as the most popular neutral in home decor and I too, have jumped on the bandwagon. ..not because it's a 'fashionable' colour (well, perhaps just a little bit!) but because it's rise in popularity has led to the creation and availability of a huge variety of shades which I've discovered are the perfect backdrop to our home. There have been articles about the rising popularity of grey being linked with more austere times. I'm not convinced. More interesting than white, more modern than beige, I just think that everyone got a bit bored.  Grey co-ordinates well with other materials and other colours. It is the perfect colour chameleon.

Many shades of grey are what's known as 'cusp colours'.  "They're WHAT?" I hear you cry! Well, let me tell you: Our brains store colours under definite groupings. However many grey shades are on the cusp of 2 or more of these groupings, so our brains are unable to store them as an exact memory - you have to keep looking at them to know what colour they are and once you walk away, it is very hard to precisely visualise it again. This is why I love them. They look different in different light and their complexity and depth means that even though 'everyone else is doing it', it is possible to pick one that feels unique and will work well in any home, whether modern or classic.   

For the greys in our new home, I turned to my trusted paint supplier, Little Greene - an Independent British Paint Manufacturer. 

I first came across Little Greene when I was researching products for painting kitchen cabinets in our old house. I uncovered the website Tradition Painter which features advice from painters and decorators about hand painting furniture and kitchen cabinets. One of their decorators, Andy Crichton wrote an interesting piece about 'designer paints'. The outcome of which was a recommendation for Little Greene 'Traditional Oil Based Eggshell'. I bought some. I was converted.

One of the great things I like about these paints is the very matt, chalky finish. The oil-based eggshell has a very (very) low sheen which means that the imperfections in old woodwork trim (dents in the skirting boards, layers of old paint - chipped off but impossible to sand back) are not quite so glaringly obvious. Of course, I could have spent hours and hours sanding out these imperfections, or replaced old woodwork with new but, aside from the fact that life is too short for all that faff, I quite like these marks of character in an old house. They hint at it's history. They tell it's story. 

So, now I've revealed my obsession with grey paint, here's a little bit about the rooms  that I've decorated with grey. (Get me and the little montage mood boards I've put together - not very professional but I tried!).

For our bedroom. I wanted to create a light, fresh, calm, relaxing space, so used Little Greene's 'French Grey Pale' and 'French Grey' which have undertones of lilac-blue.  It's now one of my favourite rooms (and not just because sleep is one of my favourite hobbies!!) 

The hall, stairs and landing are painted in 'Pearl Colour', with woodwork in 'Pearl Colour Pale'. Pearl Colour was created in association with English Heritage as a traditional Georgian shade, so perfect for our Georgian farmhouse. It took me nearly 6 weeks to complete the project, but whilst I got very bored of the painting, I never once tired of the shade, which changes from cool grey to grey-blue to grey-green as the light moves around the house during the day . I love it!

Oh, and I did have time to dust off the sewing machine whilst working on this project. Old doors = Draughts. So, I made a coordinating draught-excluder for our big old front door, with a handy handle to hang it on the hallway coat hooks when not in use.

For our family room I wanted to create a cosy space for use in the colder months of the year. The room has a toasty log burner and chunky dark stained ceiling beam. I wasn't too keen on the exposed brick work surrounding the fireplace, but decided to embrace it  and go for a rustic, warm scheme combining the shades of our solid stripped pine furniture, with chunky knit throws, faux fur cushions and checked fabric. Again, I found time for some sewing and made the window seat cushion in a lovely 100% wool from British fabric manufacturer, Alfred Moon, in their grape Balmoral check. With hints of mauve and lilac, French Grey emulsion paint on the walls again provided the perfect neutral background.

So there we have it. My slightly pretentious post about interior design! I still have 3 more rooms to go, which will undoubtedly feature some grey shades here and there, but with the majority completed, I do feel that I've done it. I've created our home.