[Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy

River Woman riverwoman at zoominternet.net
Fri May 20 19:28:10 UTC 2011 

Hi Dick
I think it is a fantastic idea wo wear the blindfold. I had thought that HE 
was going to wear it so I did not know why.

For sure, he needs to learn that sighted people should NOT be doing anything 
for him at all, or as little as possible.  As a professor I experienced this 
attitude in a student - who ended up flunking out of college her first year. 
She thought the world owed her everything and that exceptions should be made 
because she is blind. She used it for an excuse for her many failures. It 
does not work once the person is a grown up, at all.  The student I had was 
probably pampered throughout her childhood by parents, family and teachers, 
but the day comes when no body is going to fall for it and the person ends 
up failing.  I later learned she had not been successful even at the blind 
rehab program that I had gone through years later. You are so RIGHT on 
TARGET to get him USED to the struggle and to learn to do it no matter how 
long it takes.

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>; 
"List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy


> You asked a good question.  Why a blindfold?
> Two reasons.  First, I thought it would be interesting to experience 
> something with him on sort of equal ground so that he also knows that one 
> doesn't need to see to enjoy art.
>
> Second, he's lately gotten into something that I'm leery about. 
> Basically, when something gets hard or frustrating for him or something he 
> doesn't want or like to do, he usually just says something like "You can 
> see it, so can you just do it for me and it will be better and faster." 
> He's gotten this message from other adults like mom and grandparents and 
> perhaps school as well.
> But you're right in that I don't have to go that route.  Just wanting to 
> have some fun with him as well and let him know that he doesn't always 
> need my eyes to do something that might take a little time.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: River Woman <riverwoman at zoominternet.net>
>>Sent: May 20, 2011 5:01 AM
>>To: List for blind crafters and artists <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy
>>
>>If he does not like using his fingers, why not put the glue in a little 
>>pot
>>or dish, and let him brush it on? I always used a brush to put the glue 
>>on,
>>but if I needed a lot more then I just squeezed it out of the bottle
>>directly onto the surface and then put stuff into the puddle of glue. You 
>>do
>>not have to be sparing with the glue - you can use a LOT, make a puddle
>>right onto the hard surface I told you about. This is the beauty of using
>>that masonite or paneling surface. It is tough and you can really go at it
>>with no worries about buckling or tearing.
>>
>>Why a blindfold? What is the purpose in that?
>>
>>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: Friday, May 20, 2011 3:47 AM
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy
>>
>>
>>> 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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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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