TheUnveiling of the Baildon Jubilee Artwork

SUMMER SESSIONS AT KEIGHLEY STAR CENTRE

Calling all Baildon Primary Schools!!

PLEASE RETURN YOUR CONFIRMATION OF ATTENDING THE LORD MAYOR'S PARADE, AS WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY FELT ROSETTES TO MAKE.

Baildon Diamond Jubilee Project

Sponge Tree are pleased to announce their Diamond Jubilee Project, which will be commencing on 26th March 2012. Each Baildon Primary School will contribute time and space to for us to provide wet felting workshops. Every child in each school will create a piece of felt with reds, whites and blues. Every piece of dried felt will then be collected from the schools.

Sponge Tree will then create four textile panels. Each panel will be an animal which is of importance to our Queen Elisabeth II.
We have the Welsh Corgi dog, the Suffolk horse, the Royal Mute swan and the red stag deer.

The first felting workshop will commence at Sandal Primary School on Monday 26th March. We will then be at Hoyle Court Primary School from Monday 16th April, The Church School from Monday 23rd April and Glenaire from Monday 30th April.

The four panels with Baildon School Children are invited to be in the Lord Mayor's Diamond Jubilee Parade on Sat 19th May!!!!!!

Sponge Tree would like to say huge thank you to Baildon Parish Council and Q20 Theatre for funding this project.

UNDER 5'S COLOUR THEMED SESSIONS

Our Under 5’s sessions are currently colour themed. Colour is a concept that young children can relate well with. Colour also ties in fantastically with the seasons and this is a great way to introduce children to the natural world. 
Each of our sessions are carefully written and developed to suit children ages 2 - 5 years and to stimulate a minimum of 3 of the senses.

Most of the materials we use are sustainable, ethically sourced, taken from nature or community raised.

Each session has 3 activities; music; toys; songs and a story
which are focused on a colour.  
1 of our activities is an adult and child shared activity, this focuses on developing fine motor skills and encouraging creative interaction. It is also a great way for adults to learn new skills too!

 
Start of session
We have a relaxed and calm structure which is child led.
Adults and children are invited to join us at the start of the session and we encourage children to practise a small amount of brain gym. This helps to focus the children and bring us together.
We explain the colour for the week in line with what is happening in the natural world and show examples of the activities for that session. We explain how to make the activity and any risk factors for adults to consider.

Each session is individually risk assessed.

End of session
Adults and children are invited to join us at the end of the for a story, a poem and songs relating to the colour of the week. Songs have been specifically written by us linking directly to the colour and the season. We sing the rainbow song every week, to celebrate colour. 
Finally, we give a mission for the week and discuss the focus for the colour for the next week.
 
The sessions last for 1 hour.  

Sessions are term time only.

Sponge Tree are pleased to announce we have new Under 5’s Colour Themed sessions starting on Thurs 21st Feb, in Bingley. These sessions are only open to parents + children living in the Bingley area. They are fully funded at £1.00 per session!

WHITE

RED

ORANGE

YELLOW

Comments + feedback from parents + carers 

"Love the emphasis on nature."

"My children have been introduced to different environmental concepts and experienced new sensations they would have never experienced at home."

"My child has learnt more about the world around her, 

  very friendly and lots on offer."

"Local, friendly and affordable."

"There is nothing like this in our area."

"We would love more sessions!"

"My child has learnt how to develop creativity and co ordination."

"Fantastic craft ideas looking into nature, given me good ideas  of how to teach nature in a fun way."

Our popular Baildon + Menston sessions have now ceased due to no longer being funded. 

Sessions will be filled on a first come first served basis.

We really look forward to seeing you at one of our future sessions!

Contact us: Nicola 07914495626 / Paula 07981869003

spongetree@live.com

www.spongetree.blogspot.com

CRAFT + CHAT

By having the opportunity to be creative you are having a positive impact on lots of other personal elements, in your life. 

Your senses are being stimulated, well being and quality of life is being improved, new skills are being developed, skills are being shared, self confidence is being built on and a healthy mind is being promoted. 

We have been providing "craft and chat" sessions and working with parents, who link with the children's centres. Parents learn new and different skills each week, whilst their children are looked after in the creche provided. This is a 1 1/2 - 2 hour session and we find the difference in people taking that time out for 2 hours a week is amazing!
 

Some of the feedback we have received from our craft + chat sessions so far:

"Enjoyed everything we made, and had a laugh with all the other girls!"

"Was lovely to have a break from my children."

"Really enjoyed the last few weeks. Thanks Nicola + Paula xx"

"I'm going to miss the craft + chat. Can't we do it all again?"

"Thanks for the opportunity to do this course!"

Each session has a fantastically relaxed and friendly atmosphere, whilst parents are taught new craft skills and techniques. We have covered crafts such as felt making, sewing, embroidery, rag rugging, weaving, book binding, fabric printing, paper craft, jewellery making, making from clay, all to name but a few.

"Had a nice time, very therapeutic."

"I really enjoyed going on the sewing machine, I was a bit scared at first but Paula helped me which was nice!"

"Surprising myself with what I have achieved."

"Find the craft, chat + laughter very therapeutic."

"The projects we have done have been relatively simple but very effective and are great for people of all abilities, especially non crafties like me!!"

"As a result of the sessions I am finding that I have been inspired to be more creative."

"When I was invited to the sessions I was very wary and a little reluctant. I also suffer from depression and I try to avoid new situations and people. I had absolutely no need to worry! Paula and Nicola are very easy going, lots of fun and great teachers."

Recycle til your hearts content

Hand felted heart

Here at Sponge Tree we will be celebrating February with love in the air. Hearts are a fantastic starting point for any crafter. So go on have a go at creating your very own recycled hearts!!

Heart printed fabric

Rag rugged heart

Hand sewn retro fabric heart

Recycled heart picture frame

Recycled paper hearts

Crocheted heart

Heart wreath

Button heart

Pare heart decoration

Paper decoration

Heart paper bunting

Recycled heart crayons

Recycle tin can hearts

Where are Sponge Tree in 2012, we hear you ask??

Due to other Sponge Tree exciting projects and work demands, Nicola + Paula have now ceased delivering Under Fives colour sessions. 
We have recruited 1 workshop provider and are currently recruiting another workshop provider so the fabulous colour sessions can carry on, in the Leeds and Bradford area.

*Please contact us if you run or work for a children's centre/family learning centre in the Bradford + Leeds area and you would like us to deliver these workshops for you!     spongetree@live.com

Ongoing Under Fives colour sessions will be taking place through out 2012.
Tuesdays 10-11am at Menston + Burley Children's Centre
Wednesdays 10-11am at Baildon Community Link

MORE SESSIONS TO COME AFTER FEBRUARY HALF TERM!!

Nicola + Paula will be working on the following:

JAN/FEB 

South Craven School Recycled sculpture commission - South Craven School have asked us to design + build a sculpture for their sixth form outdoor area.

JAN 
Applying for funding with Hoyle Court P.T.A to deliver workshops in
Hoyle Court Primary School.
This will be a community arts project MORE DETAILS TO COME!

JAN/FEB 
Craft + Chat sessions.

JAN/MARCH/MAY 
Ongoing Careworkers Activities Co ordinator Course at BACS Training Centre in Shipley.

MARCH 
Designing + building an outdoor area at Menston Primary School TBC

MAY  
Saltaire Arts Trail Childrens Art project for Saturday 5th + Sunday 6th May.

BACS training

Sponge Tree would like to wish everyone 

a fantastically creative 2012

Craft kits

Felted corsages

Clay tiles

Candles

Blue painting

Hedgehog

Green man

Fire wand

Blossom threading

Blackberry painting

Leaf rubbing

Moth printing

Felting

Choosing wool

Chalk painted pebble

Withy lantern

Felted butterfly

Natural jewels

Spice grinding

Knight shields

Peg dragonflies

Wheel weaving

Teepee building

Wreath making

Willow weaving

Living willow weaving

Learn, make + sell

Natural play