Texture & toddlers & getting outdoors with our art
We're focusing on texture a lot lately, on how things feel and how the little details match up with the feel. The boy's acute attention and natural pace helps us notice the world, and lends itself to such a focus. We need a magnifying glass! Anyhow, with play dough the other day we were having fun making prints with different raised surfaces. The next day we had a little walk in the yard to find interesting textural items and then used Sculpey to make nature prints.
Sage
Shell
Parsley
Pine cone
Fir needles
Curly willow
I thought we could poke holes in them and make a mobile but they feel so nice to to touch and hold. They bake hard, but still feel a bit soft and clay-like. I think they'll just add special, decorative touches to our rock collection for now. It worked best for us to roll a ball, place the textural item on top of it and then mash it down with the flat bottom of the mug. It's totally doable for two- through 30-something-year-olds (the photos are clearer if you click on them to make them big!).
What a cool idea! I think my boy would really enjoy this; thanks for sharing.
Posted by: meg | February 28, 2008 at 03:40 PM
love (love!) this project!
Posted by: emily | February 28, 2008 at 03:56 PM
That is such a great idea...I absolutely love it! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Posted by: Jody | February 28, 2008 at 08:09 PM
wow! that is brilliant.
Posted by: kirsten | February 29, 2008 at 06:38 AM
What a great idea! My kids will love doing this!
Posted by: Kathleen | February 29, 2008 at 07:10 AM
I always enjoy your blog -- these little treasures look like a wonderful project for my girls. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: amy | February 29, 2008 at 03:45 PM
this is a terrific project. i especially like how the parsley looks.
Posted by: Kate | February 29, 2008 at 04:25 PM
What a neat idea! I'd love to try that soon.
Posted by: The Artful Parent | February 29, 2008 at 04:54 PM
What a fun project! Mogs will love trying it.
Posted by: carrie | February 29, 2008 at 09:14 PM
That looks like a fun project! I'll have to try it with my little one.
Posted by: Mary | March 01, 2008 at 08:25 AM
I want to do that too! I think they would make great buttons. Interesting, individual buttons.
Posted by: Matroskin | March 01, 2008 at 12:46 PM
This is awesome. Love the sage.
Posted by: Jessica | March 02, 2008 at 06:21 AM
These are beautiful! It's hard to find a toddler project that isn't just rubbing paint on paper with some random object. This combines so many wonderful things: nature, texture, smashing. I am going out to pick up some clay this instant!
Posted by: meg | March 02, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Amazing idea which we are about to pimp straight from you and head outside on this bright sunny March day to do! Thanks so much for sharing! I'm looking forward to the finish product!
Posted by: girlwithmoxy | March 02, 2008 at 09:26 AM
I love it! As soon as the snow melts we'll give it a try. Or maybe I can dig out a pile of shells I have somewhere in the house. (The parsley is my fav.)
Posted by: Anna | March 03, 2008 at 07:16 AM
Those are really beautiful. i would love to have them as buttons. i think the sage is my favorite. Such fine lines. My little guy would love this project. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Ella | March 03, 2008 at 09:51 AM
i love this project - the focus on the objects from nature. something they can hold and talk about later.
Posted by: Lori | March 03, 2008 at 10:38 AM
What a lovely project, thanks for sharing. May even push the envelope and try it with my 15 month old (and his 5 yo sister).
Posted by: MamaBird | March 03, 2008 at 10:42 AM
I found your post from the artful parent blog. I LOVE THIS!! I am looking for ideas for a nature theme pre-preschool activities calendar...this one will make the cut for sure. Thanks so much for sharing. I think finishing them up as a mobile could be really great too. THANKS AGAIN!
Posted by: Dayna | March 03, 2008 at 11:04 AM
ooh! im going to have to make some too:O)
Posted by: Britta | March 04, 2008 at 03:38 PM
What a wonderful idea! We are definitely going to try this. Thanks!
Posted by: Melissa A | March 07, 2008 at 06:55 PM
my mom, my 2 1/2 year old son and i did this project. it was great. we all loved it. the sculpey was harder to knead than i thought it would be but we are really happy with the outcome. owen likes to play with the finished products and stack them and carry around his favorite!
thanks!
Posted by: dianne | March 25, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I don't want to spoil the fun here - but please be careful allowing kids to use polymer clay. It is not certified non-toxic for *children* - it contains lots of phthalates that kids can ingest if they put their hands in their mouths, and over-cooking it in the oven can release even more toxic fumes.
Posted by: Chris | May 08, 2008 at 09:18 AM
Hey, Chris-- Thanks. The product I used was certified non-toxic for children. Perhaps it was a specific type of Sculpey. Good to keep an eye out for such things, for certain.
Posted by: Beth | May 08, 2008 at 01:05 PM
This is a VERY cool idea!!!
Posted by: Barbara | May 08, 2008 at 01:27 PM