Last week when we were looking after our two young grand-daughters, I enjoyed a new craft activity which needed Keith’s input as well as that of our eldest grand-daughter. The two girls had been on a trip recently to Newby Hall, near Ripon, with their Aunt and Nan. On this trip they visited the Sculpture Garden there, and came away with a template to “design” their own sculpture on a piece of A4 paper. Matheea, aged 7, was very keen to have a go so asked if I would help her with the design (this meant I created a selection of designs and she then picked the one she liked best!). She also created some designs based on the ones I’d done. On paper they were OK, but I thought we might try making a small scale version of it with a wooden plinth, some copper wire and fimo. I don’t know who was more excited about the prospect – her, me or Keith!
Matheea spent lots of time helping Keith to strip some old electrical cable for the required lengths of copper wire, using wire strippers. She then watched as Keith Made the wooden plinth (approx 10inches tall) and drilled holes into the 3 different sized balls of baked fimo. The copper wires were threaded through the fimo and attached to the wooden base, then two of these were shaped into spirals, the other 3 were just twisted into zig zag shapes at the top end. Once the sculpture was complete, Matheea painted the wooden base and the fimo balls with turquoise and bronze acrylic paints. She was extremely proud of her involvement and the fact that she had actually produced a 3D sculpture based on a drawing!
No doubt we will be involved in more of these next time she stays over!
