Summer Fashion Fun

 I spent this past week teaching a one-on-one class entitled "Fashion Runway" to one of the seniors from my high school.  This class, which is part of our summer enrichment program, was offered on both the high school and middle school level.  Although my middle school class is full, Jenny was the only student enrolled at the high school level, and when the director of the program suggested I ask her if she wanted to do a one-on-one class, she consented. Since I taught Jenny for a trimester this past year, I already knew she is a very quick learner and a very sweet young lady who is a pleasure to teach.

Inspired by the TV program "Project Runway" I decided to present the class with a challenge for the week which was upcycling clothing- t-shirts and jeans.

Several years ago, I did this with a class and they all brought lots of different articles of clothing to redesign.  The piles of clothing got a little unruly at times.  We even had an old wedding gown in the mix. It was so much fun and the girls did an amazing job, so I knew this idea would definitely work.

Upcycled Drawstring t-shirt with sharpie dying technique

T-Shirt Scarf with sharpie dying technique

We started the week with a power point presentation of recycled clothing examples and discussed the schedule of activities for the week . I also did a bulletin board of examples that I made.  A former girlfriend of my son's accidentally bought him medium t-shirts only to discover they were a child's medium.  I hung onto them, as a true crafter never gets rid of anything that is a potential project in the making.  I turned them into shrugs and a sleeveless ruffled tank that I used on my bulletin board.

T-Shirt Headband

We experimented with dying using sharpies, and fabric dye and resist.  We made a headband and a scarf using t-shirts.  Jenny chose to redesign her t-shirt into a drawstring tank top using the sharpie dying technique on the front of the shirt in a diagonal pattern. She used the sharpie dying technique for the scarf as well.

Bead Wrapped Bracelet

Pajama pants-Simplicity Pattern

Bead and Ribbon Bracelet

One day we made some jewelry ( ribbon and pearl bracelet and bead wrapped necklace/bracelet) and a embroidery floss wrapped belt.  Jenny upcycled two pairs of jean shorts, and I taught her how to cut out a pattern for pajama pants and stitch them up.  She finished the pajama pants in our 2 hour class with 10 minutes to spare!  Although I taught her the basics of handsewing and machine sewing, Jenny already had a little experience on the sewing machine as a member of my sewing club .

Lace Up-Cycled Jean Shorts

I am very proud of Jenny's accomplishments in just 10 hours!  I hope she continues to pursue upcycling, sewing and jewelry making. I told her that she was a sort of my guinea pig for the much larger middle school version of the class.  She didn't seem to mind, though.  She agreed that it was a good test of difficulty and time for a much larger group.  We'll see how it goes next month, but for now, I'm happy to have spent an enjoyable week with a great student!

Lace Up-Cycled Jean Shorts- Back View

 

Milestones

My son is turning 21 today.  This is not only a milestone in his life, but in mine as well.  He is my baby who arrived 7 years after his sister, just when we thought there would never be another child in our lives.

Aaron was, and still is, a very special person in our lives, especially in my life.  He quietly forged ahead with that beautifully sly smile of his that could melt anyone’s heart.  He was our little comedian who loved to join in playtime with his older sister. We have lots of fun photos of him dressed in hysterical outfits with masking tape mustaches and tissue box guitars, or wearing his pirate bandana behind the boxes painted like bricks that he and his sister used as their fort.

Aaron in my Halloween 'Bookworm"creation

Pirate Aaron in his fort

Aaron loved to wear a toolbelt like his dad and follow behind him with his toy lawnmower as he mowed the lawn.   As he grew, he loved fishing with his dad, camping,  playing baseball, soccer and basketball, and swimming every day during the summer at our swim club.

Aaron during his canoe trip to Canada

He even spent part of his summer during high school canoeing from Minnesota to Canada!  He is a true outdoorsman.  In high school he played lacrosse and threw the shot put.

Aaron began his artistic “career” in elementary and middle school when he won 2 art contests.  He always amazed me with his drawings, although he says he can’t believe he ever thought his work was good. As both his mom and an art teacher, of course, I disagreed with him!   He continued to follow that path in high school taking art classes, but as a very technologically savvy person, he was immediately drawn to Graphic Design taking as many computer art courses as he could fit into his schedule, ending with an independent study in Graphic Design his senior year.

His sister had majored in the Visual Communications in college and went on to become a graphic designer.  He is headed down the same road, at the same university and with the same major. I guess my genes won out over my husband’s in this area!

Aaron is going to be a senior in college in the fall.   This time next year, hopefully, he will have recognized his dream and will be gainfully employed as a graphic designer.  There is no doubt in my mind that he will be successful.

He has inspired me, even giving me the name for my crafts business when he was in elementary school.  In the past few years he has helped me with the newly developed graphic art courses I teach at my high school.  He has given me suggestions, ideas, shown me his work, and the work of many graphic designers.  He keeps me thinking, creating, dreaming.  The tables have turned, I started out being the teacher and ended up being the student.  But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Aaron on his 8th birthday with my version of his favorite Pokeman character

The best words of advice I can give to Aaron at this point in his life were written by Henry David Thoreau,“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”  Happy 21^st birthday to my baby!   Aaron, I hope you experience the joy and love in your life that you have given me in mine.  Thank you for being my inspiration!

Happy 21st Birthday, Aaron!