God's Eyes

materials:
bamboo skewers
length of fall colored yarn
raffia dyed in fall colors
feathers

Prepare God's Eyes ahead of time: Form an equal cross with two bamboo skewers and attach together with a dab of hot glue. Tie with an end of yarn or raffia and leave the rest of the length loose. This will give the child a head start. 
The child weaves the God's Eye with yarn by wrapping an "arm" once, turning the cross, wrapping the next arm, turning the cross, and on and on. Additional yarn is added by tying an end to the previous piece. I just tuck the knots into the back of the work so they can't be seen. The God's Eye is finished off by wrapping a feather at the end of each arm. Add a loop to hang.

Twig Looms 

Find two sticks or tree branches about 18 inches across.
Cut 12 -20 equal lengths of yarn, approximately 18" long.
Tie one end of the yarn lengths to one stick, and the other end to the other stick. Attach a length of yarn to the top to hang up the loom. Supply a variety of materials for weaving in and out of the loom. Try a variety of yarns in Fall colors. I like the nubby hand dyed yarns. Also interesting elements can be added such as pheasant feathers, corn husks, wheat stalks, or raffia. I like to hang these at my easels and fill the paint "well" with materials for weaving.

 

Fall Leaf Mobiles 

materials:
a thin tree branch (12"-15") ` 
paper cut into the shapes of leaves
(about 3" across, 5-8 per child)
crayons in fall colors
a "hot tray"*
aluminum foil
string
paper hole punch


Child colors the leaf shapes by melting crayon on the paper on the foil covered hot tray. The leaves are attached to the tree branch with string.
*(electric food warming tray that can be found at yard sales!)

Thanksgiving Bundles

Materials:
corn husks
raffia
feathers
white art tissue

 

The children use the art tissue to draw a picture of the things in their life that they are thankful for. Older children may write a list or compose poetry. No one sees the "prayer paper" so children won't feel self-conscious about being so personal.
The prayer paper is crumpled into a ball, wrapped with corn husks and tied up with raffia. Feathers can be tucked into the bundle for decoration. The bundle can be attached to a long strand of raffia and worn around the neck as a reminder of the child's blessings.

 

Other Fall Ideas

  • Real leaf printmaking
  • paint each leaf and print onto paper
  • torn art tissue collage in fall colors
  • leaf rubbings with crayon
  • make orange play dough 
  • and add lots of pumpkin pie spice!
  • paint still life of pumpkins and gourds
  • apple prints
  • corndollies 
    (clothespins wrapped in cornhusk dresses,
  • corn silk "hair, and acorn caps)
  • fall colors at the easel
  • necklaces of smallfresh leaves strung on a cord
  • fall colored oil pastels on tan paper
  • painting with twig brushes wrapped with feathers
    in liquid watercolor

     

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