Posts Tagged ‘Artward Bound 2011’

Generation T: The Next Generation

With Mother’s Day yesterday, and Father’s Day just around the corner, today’s post is inspired by those who inspire the next generation of DIYers. Here are some photos from my recent workshops at Holderness School–with my late afternoon crew. Even though Holderness is a high school, the school serves a much wider community in the faculty families that live on and near campus. After the Artward Bound Workshops were done for the afternoon, my late afternoon kids started to arrive (after they got out of middle, elementary, or preschool!).

With dad’s encouragement, superstar DIYer Ella showed up almost every afternoon. This particular project is Knotty by Nature, project #44 from Generation T. And, rather than the traditional tube top underneath, she opted to snip a tank top from a colorful striped shirt she found in the donations. She also notes, “You can wear the knotted top around your waist over jeans or leggings!”

Mama Nikki decked out Molly and Mason in their superhero capes and boas (Mighty My Tee, project #55 and Tic Tac Boa, project #115, both from Generation T: Beyond Fashion) which they wore in the student fashion show (and, I’m told, all around the house!). Note: Molly’s skirt is also a T-shirt refashion — an outgrown dress whose top was cut off to make way for a T-shirt waistband!

Claire and Michael (who are a little young yet to be handling the sharp scissors) donned T-shirt smocks and, with mom’s help, used fabric markers and fabric spray paints to personalize T-shirts that welcomed their dad back from his 10-day camping trip.

Mama Lindley helped Lindon apply stencils for fabric painting while baby Stella looked on and murmured noises of encouragement.

Ella was back for more, following the instructions to make Outer Lace, project #16 in Generation T.

The next day, she brought her pal Chase so they could make matching spray painted tank tops (Sew Easy, project #26, in Generation T).

And Phoebe and Ella appeared together in the fashion show with in their Outer Lace tank tops (and, note the Knotty by Nature top worn as a sassy skirt!).

So here’s to all the parents out there who inspire and encourage kids to pick up scissors or markers or pencils — or any other creative instrument — and DIY. My own parents are two of the craftiest, handiest, creative people I know, and I wouldn’t be here writing this post today if it weren’t for them!

[ Comments Off on Generation T: The Next Generation | Posted on May 9th, 2011 ]

The Spray (Paint)s of Our Lives…

Like sand fabric paint through the hourglass a small nozzle, so go the sprays of our lives… Isn’t that how it goes? Last month I was up in NH for Artward Bound, where I was teaching T-shirt refashioning, and we set up a whole “wet station” dedicated to fabric pens, markers, stencils, and paints (thanks to sponsor iLovetoCreate)! And spray paints were decidedly the most popular kids in class. Students (of all ages, as you’ll see below) experimented with spraying freehand in tie-dye-like formations; they sprayed over reusable stick-on stencils; on foam stencils they brought from their dorms; they also experimented with making their own shapes and patterns using rolls of masking tape. Here’s a sampling of 10 ways to use your fabric spray paint!

Christian used masking tape over the backside of his boxer briefs (pattern based on Ansty Pants, project #57 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion)

Molly wrote the initials DJB with masking tape to personalize the grocery tote (Plastic Surgery, project #42 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion) she stitched up for her mom.

Kangdi diligently cut out all of the letter shapes from a larger sheet of paper we tiled together in order to fit the back of the T-shirt. “Everybody, hands up!” (On the front of the shirt, he used his hands as stencils — one guy who’s not afraid to get messy!)

Dan wanted to spray the number 35 for his DIY basketball jersey, carefully screening the rest of the shirt from excess paint with fabric scraps.

Ben expressed his anarchist tendencies in masking tape.

Even young Lindon, son of one of the faculty leaders, stopped by in a T-shirt smock to spray a football onto an old shirt.

Anna sought out the butterfly stencils to add color to the gray base T-shirt.

More footballs and baseball stencils for this young posse.

Michael brought his Bob Marley stencil from his dorm room — to make it a veritably Marley-fest. Pillows, T-shirts…

…and tank tops were just the beginning!

Thanks again to iLoveToCreate for the generous donation of spray paints, markers, and stencils for the workshops! As you can see, all the materials were put to wonderful and creative use!

What design would you spray paint? What technique would you use?

[ Comments Off on The Spray (Paint)s of Our Lives… | Posted on April 18th, 2011 ]

Artward Bound is Runway Bound!

The countdown is complete. The Holderness School Artward Bound “ReMake It New” eco-fashion show is tonight! Here’s another behind-the-scenes look at my young designers in action.

The boys shocked and awed us all with their refashioned tight-tight shorts (they used project #57 “Antsy Pants” toddler pants from the kids chapter in Generation T: Beyond Fashion as their guide, so are we really surprised?) Here, Andy cuts out the pattern. Then Gavin oversees him adding a storage pocket.

Danielle learns the no-sew lacing technique to modify her T-shirt before she takes it the spray paint table to frost the edges in blue.

Using masking tape as a freehand stencil, Ben fabric spray paints his mark of rebellion. Christian handstitches a fabric applique onto the front of a T-shirt (his third this week!).

Jeff pieced together parts of three different T-shirts to make a tie to wear for dress code!

Riggs pinned a T-shirt applique on the back of a not-so-exciting sweatshirt he brought from his room before he hit the sewing machine. Dan outlined his basketball number 35 with masking tape and spray painted it, then added some appliqued patches–he even took it for a test run in the gym the same afternoon!

On Day 3 we started to run low on our T-shirt stash, which introduced the scraps accessories challenge! Iashai and Macy responded solidly with laced-up glovelets (from Generation T: Beyond Fashion) and….a mitten!

Faculty leader Lindley made a no-sew fringe-filled scarf (“Mane-iac,” project #91 from Generation T: Beyond Fashion).

Francis M. made a ski mask, while Andrew attempted a T-shirt scrap sock…

…before abandoning it for a black-gray-white sleeve scarf (tutorial to come!).

And, in the non-wearable department, faculty leader Merilee stitched a giant stuff sack (using project #38 “Clean Machine” laundry sack), Hannah worked on a knotted throw (#63 “Roll it, Patch it, Mark it with a Tee!” no-sew quilt) from Generation T: Beyond Fashion.

GP stitched up a #42 “Plastic Surgery”grocery tote (as well as a drawstring bag with scraps!) that he personalized by hand stenciling his name with masking tape and white fabric paint. Kendra made a no-sew knotted pillow #30 “Pillow Talk.”

The garment racks are full, so now it’s off to rehearsal!

If you’re in the area, the student performance will start at 7:30 in Hagerman Auditorium (in addition to the “ReMake It New” eco-fashion show, there’ll be live drumming, dancing, and slam poetry!). For the rest, you’ll have to wait for the pictures.

[ 1 Comment | Posted on March 11th, 2011 ]