Stitching the Past and Present Together

Day two of 4-H Arts & Crafts Day Camp had us splitting at the seams so we could look at art in history and learn how to mend those splitting seams.  Our group split into two groups to head to Fayetteville, NC to experience a variety of things.
  One group went straight to Loving Stitches, a quilt shop.  There we worked with Christina who taught our first time sewers how to use a sewing machine and how to make not one but two pillow cases.  These weren't any pillow cases, these were very special for a variety of reasons.  First they were made with kid happy material, and it was bright and colorful, meant to lift anyone's spirits.  That's because these pillow cases have a special purpose, one pillow case will go home with our new sewers.  The other pillow case will be sent to the Pediatric ICU at Duke Hospital.  The owner of the shop has a very special connection and found that children did not have anything bright or to look forward to while they were there so she started this project to try to help brighten a sick child's day.  Our youth were more than happy to help and were very excited to make a pillowcase for themselves and someone they have never met in an effort to try to brighten their day.
  While one group was learning sewing the other group hit a couple of museums, not to study art history but art in history.  At the Museum of the Cape Fear our youth had a blast learning about North Carolina history, and military history.  They learned how Native American's made canoes, and saw samples of early pottery, a loom, and how things (included silver, art, and weapons) were transported to the Colonies.  It seemed everywhere they looked they found art everywhere.
  The next stop was just down the road at the Fayetteville Transportation Museum.  Our youth were a little confused until they went inside and saw all the different types of art portrayed in this museum, from the vehicles to advertising, types of transportation to the accompaniments that go with it, our youth learned that art is portrayed in a variety of ways, and often it is in the eye of the beholder.
  After a brief lunch it was time to head to Just Clayin' Around.  This is a little shop in Fayetteville that has a variety of ceramic objects.  Our youth learned about the special Technics of painting ceramics and kiln firing.  After a brief lesson it was on them to be the artist and paint an item of their choosing.  They will be fired and available in about a week, maybe two.  They can't wait to see what their final project will look like.
  After a day on the town we returned to the office to keep working on projects we started yesterday.  We can't wait to get it all done by the end of the week and see the efforts of our hard work.  Tomorrow we will trade places and enjoy new experiences...stay tuned as we share our excitement and new adventures.