SALTWELL PARK SPRING SHOW 2012

Crafty Creatures is extremely happy to be providing the crafts at the show this year. I can't believe it's the 3rd year in a row we've been asked to provide the crafts. Really looking forward to it as you meet so many lovely families over the weekend.

The theme this year is the 2012 Olympic Games. So don't feel left out if you haven't got tickets for the Olympic Games. Come along to show and make an Olympic stadium collage and add your favourite sporting events to it. If you've missed out on carrying the Olympic torch, then why not make your own while you are here too! Come along on Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th April. All the crafts are free!

Happy 2012

A very happy 2012 to you all! Yes a new year is upon us, just how quickly did last year go? In 2012 the Olympics is coming to Britain, so watch out for some Olympic themed crafts then.

Lots of exciting events and projects already lined up for Crafty Creatures and the scary, yet somewhat exciting thing is that they will be here before I know it, yikes!!!

Here are some photos from some projects at the end of last year, Josh's Haloween party and some photos from a variety of Sure Start projects in Durham and Gateshead.

Young & Fun

In the next month Crafty Creatures is going to be working with young parents and their children in Children's Centres in Gateshead. This is part of their Young & Fun programme and I am really excited about working with parents to see how easy art can be done at home, using materials from our environment.

Spennymoor Horticultural Show

At the weekend Crafty Creatures was asked to provide the crafts for families at the Horticultural Show, in Jubilee park, Spennymoor. Despite the rain, families came and made some fab garden inspired crafts, from a flying butterfly to a flowering garden. Take a look at some things that were made.

Young artists at Ushaw Moor Childrens Centre

We have also been working with children at the centre to explore crafts. Some of the children were fourteen months old, but it was great to see how even at a young age they can explore different textures and then create their own work. With encouragement a child can realise they have created something and feel a sense of achievement that comes with this. I think a favourite was in the desert's week when fake snow was used to create a snowy scene for animals that live in the cold, and in contrast when red powder paint and sand was used to create a picture for animals that live in hot deserts. Very messy but great fun!

A Summer of Art at Sacriston

Each week over the summer I've been working with children at Sacriston Community Centre to explore the world around us, and crafts were used to do this. A variety of themes have been looked at, some of my favourite themes or crafts have been;
the Rainforest, where a really colourful chamelion was made
famous artists, here the work of Newcastle born marine painter John Wilson Carmichael, Matisse, Picasso and of course the childrens own work on canvas were all explored
Clay fossils were created during the dinosaurs week, some of these were very sculptural in their design
When we were looking at architecture, we were off to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, magical Venice to explore the canals, the heady skyscrapers in New York and of course what a great street on our doorstep - Grey Street in Newcastle, with Grey's Monument towering over us at the top.
It has been lovely over the weeks to see the children's creativity really develop when exploring the different themes each week.

Roll up for the greatest crafts!

Yes, over the summer we were at the Circus with Libraries across North Tyneside. A big top, clown hats, clown faces and a lion puppet were all made by too many children to count! Lots of fun with sparkles, wool and for the authentic big top feel - sawdust was had by all. Thank you for a lovely summer of crafts.

PEOPLE WHO HELP US

People Who Help us is this terms learning theme for nursery children at at Windy Nook Primary School. Crafty Creatures went along to work with the children and parents to create some great crafts. From very stylish looking police men and women to some fun looking x ray pictures. Great fun was had by all!

IT'S THE SUMMERTIME...

Well the summer is almost here! Along with working with Libraries across North Tyneside over the summer, you can also find Crafty Creature workshops at Sacriston Community Centre, Durham every Wednesday morning and at Ushaw Moor Children's Sure Start Centre every Thursday afternoon. At each venue there will be different themed crafts each week, so please contact the venue to find out more information. Hope to see you there!

ART IN THE PARK

I can't believe the Saltwell Park Spring Show has already been and gone. It was an extremely busy weekend, with lots of Japanese inspired crafts. It just keeps amazing me to see what great works of art are made. The children were absolutely brilliant, just could not believe the concentration and creativity. I certainly felt inspired seeing how different each picture was. Had a brilliant time, thank you all so much!

LIBRARY CHALLENGE

It's been a lovely time working with libraries across the region making some spring themed crafts. From popcorn spring blossom trees to animals in the field pictures.

Over the summer we're going to be working with libraries across North Tyneside creating CIRCUS themed crafts for their summer reading challenge. A Big Top collage and a clown's hat are just some of the crafts you will be busy making at the workshops. Look forward to seeing you then!

SPACE HOP @ LIBRARIES...

Crafty Creatures has gone out of this Universe to provide space themed crafts with libraries across the region. Crafty Creatures has been in Libraries across Durham, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside. Crafts were designed to link in with this years libraries Reading Challenge - Space Hop.

Some fab Space Invader Aliens have been made, with lashings of glitter glue to create a slimmed effect! Rockets, an Alien Space Ship and a Planets collage are also the crafts which children have loved making. Yet again it's been great to see a child's creativity flourish with an array of materials. Definitely seeing some budding artists across the summer.

Sure Start Children's Centres

Across the summer Crafty Creatures has been at Laurel Avenue and Kelloe Children's Centres to provide weekly crafts. Themes have varied each week, from jungle crafts, down on the farm to lets explore crafts.

The crafts are designed to suit a variety of ages, so children of all ages can participate. In addition to the themed crafts children have loved getting messy with finger paints and creating patterns and textures with paint and texture rollers.

Christ Church Community Fun Day

Christ Church in Felling held a community festival and Crafty Creatures provided food related crafts to reinforce information about Gateshead's Soul Soup Project. Soul Soup is part of a wider Generations Together project, which aims to bring together over 1,700 local residents, young and old. The community-based work will enable local groups around the borough to set up a ‘Soul Soup Café’; a meeting place for people of all ages to come together to discuss what is important to them in their community.

Children and their families made a picnic collage and their own bowl of soup craft - along with a recipe to make their own summer vegetable soup.

It's a Jungle Out There...

In February Crafty Creatures was asked to do a Jungle workshop at Gateshead Old Town Hall. It's always lovely to see the all the different and individual crafts which are made from the same materials.

Happy New Year...

I know it's a little late as January is now over but hope you had a lovely time.

It's been a rather snowy start to the year but the crafts at Edward's Ben 10 party and the very pink Princesses at Lucy's party haven't reflected this. Apart from some glitter and angel dust you would never have guessed we've just come out of our festive season.

Comming up over the next few weeks are some Mr Men crafts at Hamish's 5th birthday party, Jungle crafts at Gateshead Old Town Hall and in March as part of World Book Week some Transport themed crafts at Brandon library.

Please keep checking for information of where Crafty Creatures will be or if you would like to book an event or party please contact me Nicola on 07966 297426

Gateshead Carers

In early December Crafty Creatures was luck yo take part in Gateshead Crossroads Carers Christmas Community Event. Christmas crafts to cover a wide age range were available for all to make, from spiraling snowmen to angel tree decorations. People from the local community in Highfield attended, along with schools in the area and of course carers. I was particularly excited for Crafty Creatures to take part in this event as in the past I have worked with people who have mental ill health and am aware of the work carers of all ages play in helping to keep people well, so it was lovely to be able to give something back to them.

Here is are few photos taken on the day.

GATESHEAD TO BRAZIL

Bill Quay Farm in Gateshead went global over the summer and Crafty Creatures took children and their families on a journey to the Brazilian Rainforest. Toucans, jaguars, red eyed tree frogs and a paint-spattered rainforest picture and rainmakers were all made by over 100 children we saw over 3 days. Children took most of their art home, however some colourful collages and rainforest animals were left so a mural can be made for the farm to remind children of the fun and great art that was made.