Craft News

Over the school holidays, we had huge success both at the Beanie Festival and with competition entries for The Alice Springs Show. Charlotte R, Madison, and Jasmine in Class 6 won the ‘Sporting Headgear’ prize for their bike helmet (featuring a swooping magpie) entry. This was a massive achievement, as it was an adult category and also the theme for the entire festival. 

Anouk, Memphis, and Charlotte T won the Araluen Acquisition Award with their ‘Central Region’-themed beanie, which was selected by the Art Centre to keep in its private collection. Finally, Lucy and Pippa came runner-up in the kids' section for their creative locally-inspired camel race beanie. 

Well done to all who entered their craft projects in the show — of our 15 submissions, nearly all were placed.

Term 2 was particularly productive, with new group projects such as rainbow candle dipping, alongside old favourites like the Beanie Festival competition entries, and everything in between!

In Week 8, Dina and I ran candle-dipping sessions for Class 1-6. The children absolutely LOVED it and were incredibly creative with how they wanted their candles carved (which, in turn, put me to work!). It was such a therapeutic process, full of concentration and patience, and it was really special to watch their faces light up as their candles grew bigger and bigger.

Class 1: Class 1 has finally finished their beautiful Australian birds, ready to submit to The Alice Springs Show! They are SO proud, and every bird looks so unique and special.

Class 2: Class 2 has continued working on their knitted dolls this term and also created little lavender hearts for Mother’s Day. There has been such a noticeable shift in pace with their craftwork. The children are becoming much more independent and are fantastic at helping each other.

Class 3: This term, I’ve been teaching a ‘Fabrics and Fibres’ Main Lesson to Class 3, and we’ve learned about the process of wool from ‘Sheep to Sweater’. Ask your Class 3 child whether what they are wearing is knitted or woven, what it’s made from, and which country it was made in—let's see how they answer! We’ve washed, carded, spun, and woven wool throughout the term and learned about the properties of various natural materials. I’ll be sad to finish this unit with them, as it’s been such an enriching experience, focusing on content and processes rather than just on craft.

Class 4: In Class 4, we took a vote for a cross-stitch project, and the children chose to create a fountain pen holder. We’ve really found our rhythm with the designs and are enjoying the problem-solving involved in executing some tricky patterns.

Class 5 & 6: The highlight of Classes 5 and 6 has been making beanies for the Beanie Festival competition. We created a ‘Beanie Hub’ in the Class 8 & 9 classroom while they were away on camp, working through craft lessons and lunchtimes to complete their masterpieces. Their creativity, while adhering to the ‘Sporting Headgear’ theme, far surpassed expectations. The submissions were humorous, ingenious, and well-polished.

Class 8 & 9: I had a little less time than usual with Classes 8 & 9 this term due to their camp. Before they left, the children completed their fine art portfolios and created a linocut design that we plan to print at Central Craft at the start of next term. We’ve just purchased a range of high-quality power tools for the middle school, and planning is underway for a wooden stool project, which will properly commence next term.