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I have been a long time follower of Delaine Holton-Fessler on Instagram (@craftsmanandapprentice) where she shares craft projects and life from her kids craft studio in Denver, Colorodo in the US. Her studio space, The Craftsman & Apprentice, is a community based art studio focusing on hands-on creative learning.
"We're here for building community one maker experience at a time. We believe in the power of creative work, making mistakes, and collaboration."
When Delaine published her book MAKER CAMP earlier this year I knew I had to get my hands on a copy, I was not disappointed. This book is so different for other kids craft activity books with a focus on introducing children to heritage crafts (with a modern twist) allowing them to build practical making skills and confidence in their own abilities.
Heritage skills teach children how to be independent and capable makers; fiber and wood projects offer rewarding crafts that also teach planning, preparation, and safe risk taking; and tinkering activities connect the low-tech process of making and doing with innovation. From the nostalgic soap carving, knot tying, and hand sewing to the innovation of building toy cars and junk robots, this book brings the fun of making things with your hands to young kids and links skills of the past with the present.
One of our favourite projects we have made from the book are these Junk Robots: Introducing Mr Blocky and Boobie Bot!
Mr Blocky was made by the 7yr old who cut the wood, nailed and screwed his robot independently. He was so proud of his work. Boobie Bot was made by my 3yr old who glued the blocks together whilst I helped her to nail the eyes onto the head.
Each of the projects in the book, complete with clear, step-by-step instructions, offers extensions for different ages and abilities and provides guiding questions to enrich the experience for both the maker (teacher/parent/caregiver) and the apprentice (child) to encourage and celebrate creative, practical play.
Another project we tried are these fun Junk Cars. We didn't have exactly the same materials as used in the book so we got creative with the materials we had available.
Here are a few more of the projects from the book that we are keen to try including making a Bee Hotel, Bow & Arrow, Mini Kites, Weaving, Sewing and Natural dyes. It's a long list!
I love how different this book is from other kids craft books. In a world where we can get a little 'safety obsessed', particularly when it comes to children, I love that the projects encourage the use of proper tools. Don't get me wrong, the book in no way endorses the unsafe use of tools; it encourages you to allow children access to appropriate tools with adult supervision allowing children develop skills and confidence in their own abilities.
To summarize, the book includes:
- 20 Classic and inventive projects for children aged 3-11 years including, sewing, weaving, shelter building, soap carving, kite making, woodwork projects and lots more.
- Each project offers ways to adapt the activity for different ages.
- Beautiful images and instructions for each project.
- Advice on the 12 best practices for creative work with kids.
- Materials lists and ideas for creating and maintaining space for making.
- 176 beautiful pages.
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