The
project I chose to run was a series of 4 craft sessions for adults on Sundays
at the museum called Craft Café. The idea for this developed when I noticed a
lack of informal arts and craft sessions aimed at adults in Oxford. There are
plenty of classes which teach a specific skill, for example painting, often as
part of a course people have to sign up for. However I wanted to provide a more
casual experience, a chance for visitors to relax and meet new people, and a
place people could experiment and explore without the pressure of feeling like
they have to be particularly skilled or experienced at art.
The first craft I chose to run was printing, which we did by using a pencil to etch patterns into foam, then printing using lino rollers and printing ink. This craft is great because using this simple printing method even people who do not feel very confident in their artistic skills can produce a really professional looking piece, as you can see in the pictures below. For the final session we recycled paper to make beads, which we then made into jewellery. The technique involves wrapping strips of paper around a wooden skewer, gluing them in place and then varnishing with a layer of sealer. Although simple to do this technique is very effective and everyone left with a great looking piece of jewellery.
The first craft I chose to run was printing, which we did by using a pencil to etch patterns into foam, then printing using lino rollers and printing ink. This craft is great because using this simple printing method even people who do not feel very confident in their artistic skills can produce a really professional looking piece, as you can see in the pictures below. For the final session we recycled paper to make beads, which we then made into jewellery. The technique involves wrapping strips of paper around a wooden skewer, gluing them in place and then varnishing with a layer of sealer. Although simple to do this technique is very effective and everyone left with a great looking piece of jewellery.
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| Printing Fun at Craft Café © Pitt Rivers Museum |
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| Printing at Craft Café © Pitt Rivers Museum |
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| Printwork at Craft Café © Pitt Rivers Museum |
In the next session we
customised canvas bags using fabric paint and pens, beads and ribbon. It was
brilliant to see the care and thought being put into the craft. Corie, pictured below, made a bag for her part Galician, part Cypriot mother-in-law. It featured Galician and Cypriot symbols along with depictions of the London and New York City skylines where she has lived. Wow!
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| Customising Canvas Bags © Pitt Rivers Museum |
In the third session we
painted Easter eggs inspired by the beautiful traditional painted eggs on
display in the museum. Visitors also got to try their hand at blowing out the
inside of fresh eggs to just leave the hollow shell, like some of the eggs
pictured here.
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| Painted Eggs PRM 1965.3.208 © Pitt Rivers Museum |
For the final session we recycled paper to make beads, which we then made into jewellery. The technique involves wrapping strips of paper around a wooden skewer, gluing them in place and then varnishing with a layer of sealer. Although simple to do this technique is very effective and everyone left with a great looking piece of jewellery.
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| Making Paper Beads © Pitt Rivers Museum |
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| Modelling Paper Bead Bracelets © Pitt Rivers Museum |
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| Paper Bead Necklace © Pitt Rivers Museum |
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| Recycled Paper Bead Jewellery © Pitt Rivers Museum |
I loved running Craft Café
and from our feedback it seems our guests enjoyed it too!
“Lovely way to spend a Sunday
afternoon. Thank you!”
“Loved
the session! Very relaxed and great value with all the materials included.
Really accessible. Would definitely come again."
“Fab.
Relaxed. Enjoyable. Fun!”
