Isaiah's summer

Isaiah shared some of his summer projects at the last art club. He has made several sock monkeys and a knitted horse. One of the things I really value about art club is the show and share period when students can bring in what they have made at home and discuss their ongoing artistic pursuits. I am often surprised by how students translate what we work on in class to the home environment, tweaking and changing techniques to their own interests.

Isaiah knew how to knit before starting art club. He actually made a number of knit chickens for the chicken fundraiser while I was helping other kids get through their first projects and was able to help other students learn to tie off and count stitches, etc. He told me the knit horse took him quite a while and he wouldn't recommend the project for beginners. At the start of last year Isaiah was not as comfortable with a sewing needle. I helped him thread his needle and provided insight on things like starting threads, knotting off, cutting patterns, and stuffing techniques. I felt very gratifited to realize that not only does Isaiah now feel comfortable starting hand sewing projects on his own, but he is also creating a whole sock monkey community in his home. This is his third sock monkey of the summer. (I think his little brother might run out of socks.) This summer Isaiah also attended a circus camp and got a new unicycle.