Back to School!!!

Some of the things I love about St Luke's Primary here in Point Michel on Dominica are
 the colorful fun murals all over the school's  outdoor walls and the landscaping and planters everywhere. I spent some time today snapping some photos of some of the murals and other scenes around the school...

old tires painted and used for a planter...

map of Dominica on the courtyard

flowers everywhere...

the historic Cathedral is at the center of the school

more tire planters on the walkway to my art classroom...

I like that this mural about water cycles has the faucets as part of it...

 

so true...and none are wasted here at St. Luke's where each child is valued and encouraged....

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Making Paper Beads at Camp Glow

Yesterday I spent the day with some fellow PCVs at Camp Glow--a week long residential leadership camp for girls funded by a Peace Corps grant. I did crafts with the girls and we had fun creating beads from paper. We used old magazines and glue.....

First cut some long skinny triangles..

then roll the triangles...

add a bit of glue..

Here is fellow Peace Corps Volunteer Carrie with her bead all wrapped and glued--we wrapped them around a pencil or pen...then just slid the bead off...

and before you know it, you have a lovely strand of beads...

The craft activities were interspersed between sessions lead by PCVs on relationships, setting goals, and conflict resolution (led by a guest speaker). I am giving a big hand clapping for Carrie who organized and is directing the camp--a big job which she has done superbly.

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More Summer Camp Fun!

Today I taught some of the older kids how to crochet and we also made friendship bracelets from yarn. The younger children just braided (or plaited as they say on Dominica) their bracelets, while the older girls used the more difficult knotting technique I taught them. All the girls here are experts at braiding since they learn at a young age to braid their hair elaborately so they picked up everything I taught them quickly.

hard art work crocheting

plaiting (or braiding) a bracelet, while my friend crochets...

showing her how to crochet

She's a real expert at friendship bracelets now....

showing off her handiwork...

I didn't even need to show him how...

Hey! I can crochet!

the kids liked these activities so much we will be doing more of this tomorrow....

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Summer Camp Fun!

Today at the summer camp we created owls from toilet paper tubes and markers----simple materials---and a very easy fun project. When I first showed the kids how to do this--I got the usual "I can't draw, Miss" remarks. I just said, "You can draw a circle and a triangle, can't you? look--- that is all this is!" So then they just went ahead and started drawing, and they were very pleased with their results---aren't these cute??

I took some nice photos of the children hard at "work" being creative...

and here are a few of them showing off their owls.....

All in all.....it was a fun morning. and we ended up with a big group of owls with plenty of personality....

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What I did on my Summer "Vacation"....

I haven't posted here since June because I did not have a computer, but I now have a new Mac Book Pro and so I'm back! I came up with alot of ideas for blog posts while I was computerless, so I will make up for any lost time.

I have been busy the past 6 weeks or so with summer camps for kids on Dominica, and planning for my new volunteer "job" which starts in the fall---I will be the art teacher full time at St. Luke's Primary School here in Point Michel. I am excited about doing this next school year and have been collecting ideas and adding them to my Pinterest account.

During my leisure time--when I 'm not enjoying a local beach with swimming and snorkeling---I have been creating some fun additions to my rather bare apartment. At first I was a bit hampered--or so I thought--by lack of materials, but then I decided to use what was available.  I had collected quite a few plastic bags so I created "plarn"-- yarn made from plastic bags--- then I crocheted some baskets with the plarn.

Then I created some yarn with old t-shirts, and crocheted this rag rug to brighten my kitchen....it is a bit funky and raggedy but I like it that way, since that is the nature of rag rugs....

Of course I did bring paper and paints with me and I have been making postcards with the intention of mailing them off to family or friends in the US ---but somehow they ended up on the wall of my apartment....

and today I decided also to try out a project I hope to do with some of the children at the school--I created some beads out of paper. I used an old magazine and cut long wedges or triangles and rolled the paper over a knitting needle, glueing down the end. I added some color with markers to give them a bit of pizzaz...

I have mostly been collecting ideas for kids art/crafts that use upcycled or recycled materials (like the projects here) since our supplies are somewhat limited. I will be trying out more of my ideas in the next few weeks, and will post some crafty results here---so do check back. I am sure glad to be back online with my computer and able to post here!

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Caribbean Flower Show Re-Visited

Here is my creative response to the flower show, I must say it felt good to get out the paints and create this....

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Giraudel Flower Show

yesterday I went to the Giraudel Flower Show here on Dominica Island. I was so stunned by the all the beauty that Mother Nature and human hands created together!!!

I took quite a few photos and here are just a few. The flowers were so colorful, lush and gorgeous---I do not think my photos do the flowers and flower arrangements justice, but just give a hint of the splendor which is on display today and tomorrow.

I love flowers and flower arrangements so thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the displays. Two of my fellow Peace Corps volunteers helped to set up the show.

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