[Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy

Fri May 20 18:00:47 UTC 2011

Dick,

TThe 3 Princesses [my Grandaughters] are all at different levels of getting 
 their hands into things.  So let me suggest a few things that I provide  
them with.  First no matter what we have Bounty paper towels that are wet  
and squeezed out by each of them for fingers and hands.  Then I use Tacky  
clue.  I have the jar and the bottle in this.  It is in the bottle a  thicker 
clue then Elmers and in the jar it is like a paste texture.  I have  a few 
tongue depressors that I use to scoop out the stuff from the jar so each  of 
them can have their own blob of glue.  Now one likes to use her  fingers with 
the jar glue, one likes to use a Q tip and one likes to use a  plastic 
strip [it is actually my glucose test strip][they are like 21/2  inches long   
and maybe 3/8 inches wide], but she can get the glue  precisely where she 
wants it with this.  The bottle glue they squeeze it  out in the general area 
they are working on and use the above mentioned methods  to spread it.  All 3 
do like using popcicle  sticks as they eat the  popsicles first and then 
use them.

The jar tacky glue actually kinda dries on the finger and by just rubbing  
your finger now and then it peels off your finger.

Joyce  Kane
_www.KraftersKorner.org_ (http://www.krafterskorner.org/) 
Blindhands at AOL.com   

In a message dated 5/20/2011 3:49:10 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
dick.carlson0428 at earthlink.net writes:

OK, so  I'm going to ask just so that I am good and clear as to how  to
proceed.
I think we talked about doing this when he was just about  finished with the
first collage, but it's been a few months so I'll just  ask again.

If I'm going to do this with Willy under blindfold, which  I'd love to try,
how are he and I going to handle gluing of material onto  the wood?  I'm no
longer going to do the gluing for him.  I'll do  it with him.  I think you
guys once suggested he just use his fingers  to spread the glue.  Is this
still a good idea?
And, what about  Uncle Dick?  Should we be doing it the same way?  I want us
to  have a lot of fun and make it very accessible and easy to do.
I think I  remember trying this with him toward the end and he was so leery
and barely  used the tip of one finger and barely got any glue on whatever 
he
was  using.  Do you suggest using more than just a finger tip?

I really  think things will be different now and that he'll be less  leery.

-----Original Message-----
From:  nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org]  On Behalf Of River Woman
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2011 4:34 AM
To: List  for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage  for Willy

Here is my thoughts on your new collage project.

For  the backing:  go to the lumber yard. Have them cut up a piece of cheap 

paneling or (better yet) masonite.  You can have it cut to the size  of 
pieces you want, very cheaply.  This is the kind of backing a  professional 
artist whould use to do a collage that will have objects on  it because it 
is

substantial and will hold the objects without bending  or deteriorating.  
You

can put a coat of any kind of paint on it  first just to prime it. I would 
use an acrylic base paint - any color at  all will do.

For the glue, use Elmer's glue. It is wet and thick and he  can FEEL it 
very 
well. It is water based, so he can wash his hands  whenever he wants so he 
does not feel dirty. I am a neat freak myself, so  I wash my hands OFTEN 
when

making art, or doing pottery.

The  Elmer's glue will dry TRANSPARENT - so he does not have to worry at 
all  
about overuse of glue or puddling, or anything like this. Just give it a  
few

hours, and it will dry transparent.

The other thing that is  great about using the masonite is that you now 
have 
a nice substantial  base for your project. When it is finished, you can put 
a

bought frame  around it and it will LOOK very professional and will look 
great hanging  on the wall.

Have them cut your board in standard sizes so you can  purchase a frame.  
It 
is very important to pay attention to the  FINISHING of a project so that 
it 
is pleasing to the person who makes it  and pleasing to anyone who views 
it. 
Finish it with a bought frame - and  hang it on the wall for all to enjoy.

I would never use any kind of  paper or cardboard to put an art work on - 
they are not substantial and  they are not archival. They have ACID in them 
and will turn yellow and  eventually will destroy themselves. Plus, they 
look

terrible - you want  to use GOOD things that will stand up over time.

For only 7 years old,  this little boy is amazing. What a wonderful child 
he 
is - have  FUN.
Lynda River Woman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick  Carlson" <dick.carlson0428 at earthlink.net>
To: "'List for blind  crafters and artists'" 
<nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent:  Thursday, May 19, 2011 3:42 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Hello  everybody!

> Well, how about a bit of a longer report now that I  have some time.
>
> First of all, as I said, Willy just turned  seven years old, and it's 
been 
> a
> busy three months for  him.  I've been able to spend some time with him as
> he's stayed  some with me while on vacation or when school's been out.  
His
>  mom also travels for work, so this has worked out well.
>
> First  things first.  Willy has begun to not be so leery about exploring  
or
> trying new things.  This winter, we've had more snow, and I  taught him 
> what
> snow was and he actually played in the  snow.  I taught him about making a
> snowball.  I actually had  a bit more fun than was necessary, as I kind of
> guided Willy's hand to  throw the ball right as his mom was coming our 
way,
> and like a true  champ, he hit her.  She was not happy, because I did the
> same  thing.
>
> He was interested in how wet the snow was, but he  didn't seem to mind. 
> One
> thing we're working on these days  again is not worrying so much about
> getting his hands dirty and into  things.  If you recall, last summer, 
when

> I
> first  came on, Willy would not get his hands dirty or into many things.
>  We're working on that now.
>
> Someone also talked about doing  crafts with nature.  Well, it's not a 
> craft,
> but I do  have different plants and flowers in the garden, so I had him
> outside  with me and we smelled and touched plants and flowers.  He liked
>  some of those smells and now that spring is here, it's great!  In fact,  
I
> taught Willy how to plant some seeds, and he's begun seeing them  grow.  I
> chose beans because they grow fast and can be planted  anywhere.
>
> Willy had an interesting experience at school which  I think sparked his
> interest in trying things.  He found that  some of what the kids did were
> somewhat visual.  For instance,  they were coloring some pictures, which 
he
> couldn't do.  Also,  the teacher had them drawing pictures as well.  
Again,
> he  couldn't really do that.  It wasn't the same to tell the teacher  what
> kind of picture he wanted to draw.  It also wasn't the same  to just give 
> him
> a piece of blank paper and a crayon and just  tell him to scribble or 
> color.
>
> Willy came to me and  asked two things.  He knows that I like to draw and 
> he
>  wanted to know if there was any way that he could color one of my 
>  pictures.
> It was so darn cute.  So, I've got to find a way to see  how he could do
> that.  I want him to be able to feel the picture  and maybe just color 
> inside
> the lines.  I don't  know.
>
> Finally, he has taken the initiative to ask if we could  do a project he 
> did
> before but in his words "better!"   He wants to make another collage, and 
> I'm
> all for that.   However, I know that I want things to go differently than
>  before.  For instance, I want to use some kind of thick cardboard to put 

> the
> stuff on so that it's easier to handle.  Also, I  told Willy that if we 
> were
> going to do another "picture" as  he calls it, then he was going to have 
to
> do a lot more of the work,  and that's where I'm going to want your help 
> and
>  encouragement.  If you remember, when Willy did his first collage,  Uncle
> Dick did all of the major work, and a lot of what Willy did was  to hand 
me
> the material and tell me where he wanted them put.   Once we found out 
that
> using a glue stick didn't work for Willy, I  ended up doing most of the
> gluing until the very end when I finally  asked you for some ideas.  This
> time, I want Willy to take charge  and do most of the work.  In fact, I 
> think
> it would be  fun for both of us to do the work together but I might 
decide 
>  to
> do it also under blindfold so that we're both not using our  eyes.  I also
> want Willy to feel and know that he's doing a lot  of the work.  And, I 
> don't
> think it will be a good idea  to use glue sticks.  It's been at least 
since
> November since we  completed his other one, and he was proud of it, but 
now
> even he said  that he would do more.
> What do you think of trying it this new  way?  We will definitely use 
> nature
> things along with  other things like before but he will also have a lot 
> more
>  input.  It will also give him a chance to use his hands a lot more to  
feel
> around and really look at what he's doing and how it's  coming.  He and I
> will also just have to learn to paste things on  and use and spread glue.
> I'm so used to doing it visually but I'm  willing to try other ways.  
Also,
> maybe if I lead by example,  he'll just think it's normal to do things 
this
> way.
>
>  Anyway ladies, remember that us guys can also have fun doing these 
>  projects!
> Good or kids doing this stuff!
>
>  Dick
>
> We actually want to get going on this during the  weekend.
>
>
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