Wednesday mornings the Bluebird Art Team gets to play. We never want for project ideas; the challenge is which one do we pick. Here are 2 recent choices.
Project 1: Today we numbered 4 Bluebirds and 9 residents which means we are kept hopping but no one gets neglected. Bluebird Linda prepared the materials and lead us in making window sun catchers. She had prepared the templates, design outlines in black glue (which is a mixture of half white glue and half black acrylic paint on laminate paper). We used coloured permanent markers to fill in the colour.
We know when the long worktable falls silent that a project hits the sweet spot: possible and engaging without being frustrating and then a result that makes us all proud. We used transparent tape to display them in the sun room windows. Everyone got a viewing as we migrated back to the dining room for lunch. We Bluebirds glow when we predictably overhear “that was fun!” It always is.
Project 2: When I myself design a project it usually arrives as an idea that I wonder if we can pull off. Generally they do end up being challenging and thus demand considerable advance preparation. I enjoy the creativity entailed in bringing something complex down to the level necessary to render it successful for our folk.
I continue to be inspired by Japanese origami paper and we’ve used it for several projects. When I showed a friend a photo of this one he said “Oh I see, an origami paper doll snippets quilt!” We’ve saved all the leftover scraps and for this one we trotted them out in handfuls for the residents to attach with glue sticks to base card stock “quilt” squares. Assembled onto a cardboard covered quilt base the end result looks fabulous, in fact, resembling a Chagall stained glass panel. It proudly adorns a facility hall wall.
We send these ideas out because it is our earnest Bluebird hope that we inspire you, you who have with a few spare hours and the desire to cheer some old folks. Take the Bluebird Way! Bluebird Art is easier and far more satisfying than you might imagine. Good luck!
