Shadow Shot Sunday

We went into town yesterday as I wanted to visit Anthropologie which has recently opened here. I have seen lots of pictures online and wanted to see it for myself. It is a very interesting and beautiful shop. After that we went to John Lewis for tea. When we came out it was dark and the Barbara Hepworth sculpture on the side of the shop was looking beautiful and shadowy! It is called 'Winged Figure' and was commissioned in 1961 for the store opening. It makes me think of an Angel. Visit here for more information.


I have tried uploading my photo via flickr today after reading simple and memorable instructions yesterday. But I don't know how to centre it!
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Weekword-Lesson

I wanted to say something lofty and intelligent about this week's word. As a teacher I thought I should be some sort of expert on it. The more I think though, the less I know what to write!

I don't teach 'lessons' as such-apart from things like my phonics sessions. I plan based on the children's current interests, and am very flexible in my approach. Learning only happens if children-or people for that matter-feel relaxed so their brain can work to absorb things. So, promoting children's well-being and self-esteem comes top of my list. That is done through building genuine relationships with them, which is done by being a human being! So-my best lesson is in being human! Trying to be a decent person, but one who can admit to mistakes or wrong doing and use those experiences to learn. So, my next lesson is about learning to be wrong. This is where my brain starts to hurt at the many different interpretations of 'lesson'. Surely lessons are about learning to be right?! My third important lesson is linked to the first two, and is about respecting and valuing the children as equals-yes I know that I have more experience etc but in importance we are equal. I can't speak for other teachers but I hope they feel the same. So that one is about lack of ego. So, be human, be wrong happily and be humble! Enough of the philosophizing as I am tired! Visit Alexandra for more interpretations of 'lesson'

These images are all from here-a great site full of lovely vintage pictures. The first is to represent being human, the second looks like someone who could easily be wrong happily and some of the characters in number three look very humble.

Fused Plastic Sculpture

Yesterday's box was made from some of the fused plastic-thin enough to sew on the machine. It really was easy-just the net of a square with flaps left which allowed it to be sewn. Tonight I tried to make a butterfly from this lovely blue piece with very messy glitter. That did not come out too well so I kept playing around. I love using construction toys with the children at school and remembered the ones that fit together by having intersecting slots. So I cut a few pieces and had a play. I think if I gave it more thought I could make something good! I have just had fun making shapes. Then I made a physallis stand-what every modern household needs of course. I liked the orange with the blue of the plastic.

10 Minute Box

A box, made on my sewing machine in about five minutes, plus five for drawing and cutting out.

Bird Feet Girl, Skelly and Plastic Fusion Fun!

I wanted to try to make a person with the same method as the bird faces so the bird feet girl was born. I tried to do feet like heeled shoes but they did not work so I made bird feet. They do not work either but that was good as I could use one of my stash of cigar boxes bought on ebay last year! It is a prototype doll-I love working out the problems as I go along and in light of that I put my favourite quote from Picasso-
"If you know exactly what you are going to do, what is the point of doing it?"
On the surface this may sound a bit slap dash, but it suits me as it is how I think. I think of a little idea then keep it in my mind on and off for a while, refining it or working out how I will do it. But I can never foresee exactly how something will be, ever. I don't suppose many people can. I think it is a good thing to apply to teaching as well-as in how children see the world. They are always experimenting and testing ideas and this is what the quote means to me too. Having fun with the process.
Anyway, miss Bird Feet is held onto the box with two pieces of bent wire which are held in place with blu tac! Mr Skelly is her companion for the evening-he is loosely held up on a wobbly wire stand. The pig is just around. It is waiting to be finished-but just sits in the cat's toy box. So at least it is in a photo shoot now!

This is the plastic fusion fun part-a great tutorial from Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist Visit her for details and beautiful things made with the fused plastic. You just iron eight layers of plastic bag plastic between two sheets of grease proof paper and, hey presto, you have interestingly textured plastic fabric, which can then be used to make other things. Vanessa makes gift bags. I am thinking of making a doll/doll dress. I added fusible fibres to one side of mine and glitter to the other as an experiment. The fibres just fused to themselves not the bags but the glitter worked really well!

Fireworks in Petts Wood

Sarah, Millie and Roel were over for the weekend from Holland. We went to Sarah's parents for fireworks and food. It was fun! Sadly Millie did not like fireworks at all though and decided to go to bed once they had started. She had fun early on though.

Home fireworks are pretty rather than spectacular. Lots of them displayed their light on this table.

Sparkler fun!

Thanks Sarah and family for a lovely evening!

Shadow Shot Sunday

The strangely named Cutty Sark Gardens-no plants at all. I suppose Cutty Sark Park would have sounded odd.

The covering on the Cutty Sark works mysteriously going on below.

Shadows in the door way of the Greenwich foot tunnel entrance building.

What has happened to the large wooden hoarding so far. A coat of white paint with a navy blue border. Still no graffiti.

Find other shadows from around the world here at Hey Harriet.