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Eleanor
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| Posted: July 30 2008 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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I'm looking for a comprehensive book of craft projects that use good-quality materials, are aesthetically pleasing, and are suitable for preschool-aged children (with some assistance).
At the risk of sounding cantankerous, it seems that standards have gone down since the "crunchy 70's." When I was around my daughter's age, I remember making a glazed pottery bowl (which is still in use around here; it's lopsided but charming  ); a simple woven mat with natural fibers; a poured sand candle; and a rolled beeswax candle. Even the more basic crafts used things like yarn, wooden popsicle sticks, and cotton batting, not craft foam and neon-colored whoozits. And this wasn't some kind of art-focused private school -- just public pre-K, K, and community center classes.
My DD is currently in a summer class at our community center, and I don't know if it's a budget shortage or a lack of initiative on the part of the teachers, but the crafts are sadly lacking. They all seem to involve paper plates, yellow highlighters, and construction paper shapes cut out by the teachers. She's having fun, and I'm glad of that, but I'm left with a stack of these things and no idea what to do with them. This has reinforced my feeling that, if I'm going to go to the trouble of planning a craft, it should be something that our whole family would enjoy having around the house -- perhaps an attractive seasonal decoration, or something useful.
(Please note that I'm just talking about organized crafts, which we'd probably end up doing about once every few weeks. Most of my children's arts and crafts time is spent on self-directed activities, using a wide range of materials of their choosing, including the dreaded paper plates, Crayola markers, and glitter glue.  )
I've seen several recommendations for Waldorf books such as Earthways, but, although they do have some lovely ideas, I find them far too limited in terms of technique and materials. My children's world includes things like modeling clay and poster paint... not to mention straight lines.
Of course, I could just take ideas from here and there, and adapt them as needed -- but I'm busier than usual for the next couple of months (it's DH's "business trip season"), and could really do with having it all spelled out.
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: July 30 2008 at 9:29pm | IP Logged
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Dear Eleanor,
This probably isn't what you're looking for but I had to mention the little craft book my girls take periodically off the shelf and love. I've even given copies of it to my god-daughters because it's so cute and delicious...literally.
Tiny Treats (an American Girl product) takes food items you find in your kitchen and shows you how to turn them into doll food. It's very unique and the foodies impress even older brothers.
There is a lot of sugar concoctions in the book...that's the only  ...but everything is so clever.
Cheerios and mini-chocolate chip used to make a chocolate-covered doughnut.
Candy wafers, icing, and sprinkle toppings to make party favors.
Bread sticks, pepperoni, pearl onion, and cherry tomato to make mini-sandwiches.
Make s'mores using Golden Grahams, mini-marshmallows and chocolate chips.
And lots more. Everyone loves food...right?
Tiny Treasures is a companion book for girls. Wonderful ways of looking at (and using) the teeny-tiny everyday things around your house.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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amarytbc
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| Posted: July 30 2008 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the suggestions Cay.
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Eleanor
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| Posted: Aug 01 2008 at 3:15am | IP Logged
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Okay, I guess nobody else has seen the sort of thing I'm looking for (although the "tiny" books would be great for my DD in a few years!).
For now, I guess we'll stick with grown-up craft books and web sites for our special occasion projects. If I have to make modifications, it would be easier to take a lovely idea and try to adapt it to preschoolers, than to take the average preschool craft idea and try to convert it to loveliness.
Here are some possibilities that have come to mind over the last couple of days:
Felted beads, balls, Christmas tree ornaments, or pet toys
Christmas tree ornaments made from styrofoam balls with decoupaged wrapping paper scraps
Candles made from beeswax sheets (can roll the finished product in glitter for extra appeal, if mother is willing)
Sand candles
Melt-and-pour glycerin soap -- children can choose the color and scent, mix in the additives, and find suitable containers for molding (modern overpackaging provides many fascinating variations)
Small decoupaged boxes or picture frames
Vase made from a jar decorated with melted crayons
Flower, herb, or houseplant in a decorated plant pot (I admit to stealing this idea from Babybug magazine)
Mosaic tile kits, with a child's handprint or footprint in the design
Stamped Christmas ornaments using air-dry clay
Herb or spice blends in decorated jars (Herbes de Provence, curry powder, etc.); ties in nicely with an introduction to geography, or stories from other lands
Tie-dye with Kool-Aid
Batik (draw pattern with white crayon or a candle end, or use white glue)
Herbal sachets
Bath bombs, bath salts, bath oils, the whole bath-o-rama
Herbal salves (super easy -- infuse herbs in oil on a windowsill, strain, then mix in a little melted beeswax or shea butter)
Small woven mats, coasters, dollhouse rugs, etc. (using a "real" miniature loom, not the potholder kind)
I'm pretty sure my own children would enjoy these projects, although I admit that they're not the most exciting ideas around. I'm sure others could put a more "gee whiz" spin on them. If I were ever to meet someone with that sort of creativity, maybe we could team up and write our own book. In all our free time.
That reminds me, I used to have a candle-making book with a bunch of fun ideas, including a Halloween candle molded in a rubber glove, so it looked like a flaming green hand. 
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Mary G
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| Posted: Aug 01 2008 at 6:17am | IP Logged
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Eleanor,
Here are some great general craft books:
Beal, Susan, et al Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-To Projects Sasquatch Books (Seattle, Washington) 2005
Berger, Petra Feltcraft: Making Dolls, Gifts and Toys Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2004
Berger, Petra & Thomas Crafts Though the Year Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2001
Cooper, Stephanie & Fynes-Clinton, Christine & Rowling, Marye The Childrens Year: Crafts and Clothes for Children and Parents to Make Hawthorn Press (Gloucestershire, UK) 2002
Desmoulins, Virginie Girls Best Book of Knitting, Sewing and Embroidery Stewart, Tabori & Chang (New York) 2007
Jaffke, Freya Toymaking with Children Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2003
Leeuwen, M v & Moeskops, J The Nature Corner: Celebrating the Years Cycle with a Seasonal Tableau Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 1990
Railla, Jean Get Crafty: Hip Home Ec Broadway Books (New York) 2004.
Watt, Fiona EDC Publishing (Tulsa, OK) 2005
Rhatigan, Joe & Newcomb, Rain & Dean, Irean Semanchuck Craft It! 50 Fun Stamp, Paper & Polymer Clay Projects Sterling Publishing (New York) 2005
Many of these (particularly the ones published by Floris) are Waldorf-type books ... with GREAT crafts from nature. The best, if you could only get one, would be the Usborne Art book.
Hope that helps!
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: A lovely craft book for littles?
