away with the Fairys
away with the Fairys
finding tiny sized delights in the foraged & found
I tumbled down the rabbit hole and into the realm of fantasy this term, I have loved every minute of it!
Watching the kids truly engage and get lost in creating their very own minature worlds has been every bit as delightful as it sounds. Seeing the sheer joy and excitement for class every week, and witnessing their discovery in resourcefulness has been most pleasureable, cementing even deeper my love for what I do. I hadn't imagined I'd feel quite this hyped for bottles and newspaper, yet here we are... broken costume jewellery, popsicle sticks and pinecones never looked so good!
Growing up, I was blessed with a wonderfully creative, talented and resourceful Oma, whom entertained my love for whimsy and fairytales on the regular. Her basement was a treasure trove of delights, I likened to a pirates bounty, that on occasion we would be granted access, to 'help her' find something in particular... gifts were often found in this secret stash....her sewing room, a place I always felt priveleged to see, filled with beautiful gowns she had stiched herself, sequins and lace providing my childhood self with many princess fantasies. Our walks around the neighbouhood often bore precious finds of 'borrowed' flora and in the right season, delicious blackberries.. she came from a generation where nothing was wasted, and a creative skillset was not a so much a luxury, but often a necessity. Her influence has had a very obvious and profound impact on my own creative practices.
Some of the most precious memories I have of Oma are the ones where an old fur stole strung over the washing line became the Big Bad Wolf she had extracted from my wardrobe and slayed, while I was at school one day, or the miniature little shadow box created in a shoebox, a whole magical fairy world made just for me, my wide-eyed wonder peering through a teeny hole, a voyeur to a secret tiny realm, created with magic I was certain. I can guarantee you, that although these memories and creations are priceless,and will stay with me forever, they wouldn't have cost her anything more that her own special gift for foraging and repurposing, and her love of creating.
Is it any wonder then, that I have a soft spot for making something from the 'nothing'? Where bottle caps become tiny cauldrons, egg cartons transform into masks, and tinfoil can be moulded into any number of things! In a day and age when you can order almost anything imaginable from websites such as Wish and Temu, where the necessity of 'making do' seems to have dissapeared, and society seems to be channelled towards instant gratification, it would be easy to forgo the simple pleasures of creating with what is on hand. Its all the more reason I am passionate about sharing this magic with our younger generations, the time spent working on a craft project will always hold more value and reward than the temporary high of hitting that 'buy now' button of the shopping cart.
I can only imagine the dismay and horror Oma would feel, knowing that all those ballgowns, bridal dresses, and gorgeous outfits she so carefully created over many weeks of labour, would now be seriously undervalued, as Shein replaces them with cheap and cheerful knockoffs, likely made in a factory in China, which arrive wrapped in plastic and artificially scented, in a matter of 14 business days or less. There should be no place for plastic wrapping true creativity.
Full disclaimer, being the single parent home that I am, I can appreciate a good Shein bargain on occasion, and my own seamstress skills leave much to be desired. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with making something wonky and wonderful and weird, with a lot of love and patience, and the occasional happy accident for good measure. Whether it be a halloween costume, or a gift, or something for the home.. there is everything right with it!
It gives us plenty of opportunity to be imaginative, it pushes us to be resourceful (hello,eco friendliness), it allows room to learn new skills, it slows us down and gives us mindful, device free time, and at the culmination of your creative genius, you will have core memories and very hopefully a masterpiece to be treasured!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain that in years to come, whilst going through our own basement treasure troves, it wont be the Shein hauls or Wish bargains that are redicovered with fondness, but that mask we made with little Jonny one time for a costume party, that will bring forth the warm fuzzy memories and satisfaction.
So, as we head into the winter term break, I challenge you to put down the devices, step away from the shopping cart, and wander away with the fairies for a while, to see what magic and memories you and yours can create! I'd love to see all that you come up with!
Stay safe, warm, and creative always
Ria