[Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy

Sun May 22 19:26:35 UTC 2011

Becky, what a great letter you have written here. Such good advice for a 
direction to be going to help Willy. He will do wonders, and to think he is 
ONLY 7 years old.
Lynda River Woman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Becky Frankeberger" <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
To: "'List for blind crafters and artists'" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2011 1:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy


> Dick, Interesting your observation.  So when you get in a pickle, you say 
> to
> Willy, you have been blind far longer then I have, will you help me do x 
> or
> y.  If he is decent at some cane travel, say walking down a sidewalk to
> something.  Ask Willy to guide you.  This will boost his confidence in 
> what
> he is learning.  Or he can teach you how to read Braille.  You can write
> secret messages to him, do treasure hunts etc.
>
> I got it your thinking about busting this bad habit.  I just had a guy ask
> me to buy him a pizza.  His disability is blindness.  He has food around 
> his
> home, not much, but he never learned to cook.  Willy should be making
> sscrambled eggs, pancakes, toast, pour his own milk on cereal, anything a
> normal seven year old is doing Willy should be doing.
>
> Willy needs a plan the school system should be setting up, Individual
> Education Plan.  The schools by law should be doing this.  Willy gets five
> hours of cane travel a week, ten hours of Braille instruction, He has 
> raised
> line drawing in class so he can participate.  His markers have Braille on
> them so he knows to pull out the correct color to participate in class
> activities, he has an itinerant teacher to teach him things that the 
> regular
> class is learning ten hours a week, Willie has a buddy with him to help 
> him
> understand what they are doing in gym class etc.  Let's whip this school
> system into shape.  Does he have a State provided Counselor for the blind 
> to
> help mom and his school system get that IEP in place? Well he has that
> right.
>
> Practice spelling with him.  You are teaching him to write thank you 
> notes.
> He writes it out in Braille and you write it in print.  Ask him to spell 
> out
> words. He picks up a stone. Teze him you know how to spell it, and spell 
> it
> all crazy.  He picks up a button and you say it all crazy sounding.  Let 
> him
> spell it for you. My dad had his own Pittsburghees on how he said words. 
> I
> used to say the word he just tried to pronounce and asked him to spell it.
> We would both burst out laughing.  He'd say, Beck get me a fashlight.I 
> would
> say, how do you spell that, giggle.  So work it in reverse with Willie.
>
>
> Learning can be so fun.
>
> By the way my seven year old grandson beat his grandpa in chess, checkers,
> card games etc.  He even knows how to, supervised, wash dishes, smile.
>
> Warm hugs,
>
> What a fabulous Uncle you are.  Thank you!
>
> Becky and Jake clapping his paws
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Powers, Terry
> (NIH/OD/DEAS) [E]
> Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 11:50 AM
> To: 'Dick Carlson'; 'List for blind crafters and artists'
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Collage for Willy
>
> That also puts you at his level.  Good idea.
>
> Terry P.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dick Carlson [mailto:dick.carlson0428 at earthlink.net]
> Sent: Friday, May 20, 2011 2:29 PM
> To: List for blind crafters and artists; List for blind crafters and 
> artists
> 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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