I have been quite busy these last couple of weeks and have been trying to set aside time to make up some samples for my crochet camp.  I think it is always helpful when students can see what they can make before they start.  My kids are on spring break this week and we decided at the last minute to head up to Oregon to visit with my dad.  Well...this gave me oodles of time to crochet because my husband likes to do all the driving.  Whoopie!!

I though about what someone who is just learning to crochet would need to know and the chain stitch is the foundation to everything.  Those two strands of chain stitch don't look very exciting do they?  The picture is also a little dark because it was taken in the hotel room.

But shoelaces are sure exciting!  How do those single strands of chain stitch look now?  Now that they are in shoes?  And the other one is in the other shoe!  This is my 17 year old's foot and she now wants red and white ones to match her shoes.  In fact all five of my kids want shoelaces!!  I will have to get cracking in order to have samples for class!!

The next stitch I thought the kids would do well knowing is the single crochet (or sc).  So this project is a combination of chain stitches and single crochet.  They start with a slip knot on their hook, sc once around the hair tie, the chain 10, 15, or 20 chains depending on what they like.

Can you tell what it is??  My friend told me it was her brain on Easter candy!  Haha, it kind of looks like that too.

It's a hair scrunchie!

Here is the 15 year old modeling it.  It's going to be tough getting it back!

Scrunchie tutorial

You need an elastic hair tie, yarn and crochet hook in the size recommended for the yarn.

Start with a slip knot on your hook, single crochet once around the elastic hair tie, chain 10 to 15 chains depending on how big you would like your loops and then single crochet once around the hair tie.  Repeat this process until the elastic hair tie is completely covered.

It's so simple, easy, and cute, but it allows practice of the chain stitch to help with technique and getting the tension right.  Tension is important for other projects.

More crochet samples coming soon!!

I am the head of noon art at my children's elementary school.  We have 20 minutes every other week to bring an interesting art project to approximately 150 to 175 kids.  It's chaotic, fun and challenges me to come up with something that both boys and girls  aged 6 through 11 will find interesting.

I wound up getting a whole bunch of fabric from Fabmo.  I LOVE Fabmo!!  They have great fabric that is really affordable for the budget that I have been given.

The kids cut the fabric, stapled the edges, placed tape over the staples and then added embellishments (pockets, handles, etc).

This one is completely lined!  How cool is that?!

Fancy Floral Pocket.

Severa clutch type bags.  There were three students all working at this table and each of them made several of these bags.  I love it when they chat and collaborate on projects!!

A first grader totally decorated her bag with the colored masking tape.  Gotta love the design.

This is a second grade boy who created a bag with many different sections.  So very creative.  I could have included so many more photos - I have close to 75 different and fantastic bags - each one unique and special.

I am always amazed at what these students can accomplish and make in such a limited amount of time.  Can I say it again?  They are amazing!!

I just wish we had longer and I could really introduce them to sewing with a needle and thread, what if we had an hour, or two, or more...just think what they could do then.

This last Wednesday, we had a great knitting class.  The kids didn't even really want to take a break in the middle - they were all concentrating on their projects and each other.

This is one of my 4th graders who is knitting a sampler scarf.  She has learned lace, ribbing, and is now working on seed stitch.  She loves this yarn - the softness and the color.  I think it's so important to provide nice yarns and good tools for the kids to learn with.  It just makes the experience so much more pleasing and exciting for them.

This 2nd grader is working on a stuffed bear.  Her stitches are so even and smooth!!  Just look at the way she added on that new color to transition from the top of the shorts to the shirt for the torso part.  She has already completed both legs.  I just can't believe the progress she has made!

The second grader who is working on this is so fun!  She finished her sampler scarf and then wanted to start something completely different. I taught her the basket weave stitch and asked her what she had in mind.  She told me she wants to knit up a whole lot of different colored squares and then sew them together to make a small blanket for one of her dolls.  How cool is that?!!

The above photo is near and dear to my heart.  These two students are discussing and helping each other with their knitting.  One of them thought she had made  a mistake and the other one was taking a close look and advising her.  I am so proud of them!!  They have reached a new level in their knitting and I couldn't be happier for them.

These are just a few examples of how knitting class went this week.  I can't wait for our next class to see what they have in store for me!

The very first thing we do in sewing camp is talk about safety.  One of those safety items is always knowing where your needle is.  SOoooo.....the first project is a little needle book.  If you are not using your needles, it should be stored safely in your book.

We start with a piece of felt - the kids learn how to trace a simple pattern.

Next they get to choose a button for the closure.

Sometimes, that can be a challenge!

I have a pretty big box filled to capacity with all kids of great buttons!

But in the end, they will find the perfect button for their needle book

After attaching their button and some fun embellishment, they have a lovely needle book that is perfect for them!!

Today was such an exciting day for me!!  I started pulling out all of my fun fabrics to check what I have and what I still need to add to make sewing camp the best ever for my students!

Just look at those yummy fabrics!  All 100% cotton so they are very easy to work with and sew on like a dream.

More fabric....

Even more fabric.  Do you see that denim up there?  I just love denim - such cute things can be created by using a bit of denim.

You really simply can not have too much fabric :o)

I really must stop here lest one thinks I have a slight fabric addiction!  Samples of projects offered in sewing camp coming soon!

Tin Can Robots was the order of the day at noon art.  These robots were made entirely of recycled materials and the kids had such a blast!!

As you can see, no two were the same.  Approximately 200 students were in the MP Room making these creations - students from 1st grade right up through 5th grade.  They all loved it!!  Parents sometimes ask me if their older kids will get bored of these "simple" arts and crafts and I always give them a resounding "No Way!".  Kids are starving for art - and art that they have the freedom to create whatever is in their own imaginations (not directed art) is exactly what they are looking for.  They love the relaxed atmosphere, no expectations of a certain way their project should look in the end, and the freedom to create whatever they wish.  

There are quite a few students who come in for art and use the supplies in new ways and make something completely different than the example.  I LOVE this!!

I can't wait for the next time I get to teach art - Oh wait, I am lucky - I get to do this almost everyday.  

Newly finished wrist warmers.  How exciting for this 4th grader!

At noon art last week, the kids made pet rocks.  I could not believe how creative they were!!  I had also put out empty shoe boxes and bits of fabric for them.This one is a dog. The child who made this one was so happy and couldn't wait to bring it home to share with her family.Here is a whole family of pet rocks and I got to meet them all by name!This habitat is complete with bed, small rug and chairs.VERY decorated habitat!Another family complete with pets and different rooms to hang out in! As you can see (and this is a very small sampling), the kids had a huge blast with this project. We had about 150 students at this noon art. I wish I had taken more pictures - there were two story homes, homes with doors and roofs, "pets" that were all dressed up - the list goes on and on. I LOVE noon art, these kid's creativity know no bounds!!

Legs to a bear complete!!  What fun, now onto the torso.  This bear is making fast progress.Another 2nd grader hard at work on a sampler scarf.  This was her second class and she is ready for the purl stitch!!First wrist warmer complete!  Now onto the second one.

Welcome to Let's Go Crafting!!  We are an art school for children.  We are currently accepting registration for our summer camp program.  Click on the classes link to the right of your screen for all the details or click on the link below to go to our flyer directly. pdf-Lets Go Crafting Summer Schedule 2013