Generating Creativity by Reducing and Reusing

  Today marks the first day of 4-H Creativity Day Camp and the last week of summer fun for our 9-13 year olds.  Our campers started the day with creating a few rules to make sure everyone had a good time then got down to business and literally buttoned up our first project.

   With a blank canvas in front of them, thousands of buttons (that's right buttons, like on your shirt, button up your blue jeans, buttons) and a bottle of glue we told them to get their juices flowing.  The youth looked a little stunned but then after spending a few moments playing with the buttons they were off and running.  Pencils sketched out their preliminary plans and buttons were flying as sizes and colors were picked out.  We had everything from the most abstract of designs to top hats and dolphins.  Our youth really took to the project, and those who protested in the beginning were asking if they could do another.

  It didn't take long for us to load up and head to Fayetteville for lunch.  Golden Corral was our stop for to today and our youth found plenty to eat.  A they split up at tables they got the chance to talk and get to know each other which made our next stop even more fun.

  Fighting Fayetteville traffic we headed to Just Clayin' Around.  This is a little shop that offers stoneware (ceramics) to be painted.  Our youth chose everything from tiles to airplanes, puppy dogs to unicorns to paint.  While they were painting they received quite an education.  They learned the difference between green ware and stoneware, how to fire items, and how their figurines were made in molds.  They also learned that to have bright colors they have to paint three coats of their paint.  Although our pieces look neat now, we can't wait until next week to see what the final finished product will look like.  Wee really appreciate The owner, Stephanie, taking the time to talk with us and telling us how she got involved in this business and some of the tips that she has had to make her business successful.  It is obvious that she loves what she does and we love spending our afternoon with her.

  Today was a little sticky and required a great deal of vision.  Tomorrow will require a moving vision and  faith in our projects as we tackle some new creativity.  Stay tuned.