Tuesday 27 October 2009

Mammoth Mosaics

At the back of the Princess's classroom is the junior school garden. The children have planted lots of plants but it looked very boring and bland.

I volunteered to work with the children and do four mosaic panels to go on the fence wall. They had just finished studying the life cycle of a Caterpillar and pollination of flowers etc so I incorporated that into the mosaics.

We had so much fun, the highlight for them was being able to 'SMASH PLATES' with a hammer!!! It was interesting, the boys were all very much into finding the right piece for the right gap and the girls were all about the 'pretty pieces'. Who cares if it didn't fit the gap!!

I had the best time working with the children, we did it outside over four days, they worked with me in groups of four, we talked and joked and gave each other funny names and laughed and sang as we worked.

Here are our four panels....

PANEL 1 - The Caterpillar
PANEL 2 - The Ca coon


PANEL 3 - The butterfly

PANEL 4 - Flower and Bee


Didn't they do well, most of the children only are six!!!

Each panel is quite big, 45cm x 80cm.

For me it was major, making sure we didn't have cut fingers (only mine!) and then for me at home, grouting them (YUK!), painting the background black and sealing the grout!!!

But done and ready to be hung on the fence

Another project crossed off my TO DO LIST - Phew!!!

Take Care
Rachaelxo

27 comments:

Bettyann said...

beautiful...can't believe the kids are only 6...you did great work

Anonymous said...

They did a great job and so did you, what a big job!

LiLi M. said...

I think it's unbelievable too that those kids were only six, on the other hand; under great guidance....hehehe! You did a swell job too Rachel. One of the fun parts is that it will be there for a very long time to remind you each and every time that you sure accomplished something in life. I bet the kids feel the same. Have a great day!

Lori said...

Rachael, that is amazing...all of the panels are so pretty...i bet the kids will remember the fun they had with you for a long time

Sugar Bear said...

Rachael - these are amazing! How wonderful of you to volunteer to lead this project.
Karla

Barbara said...

the panels are STUNNING!!! WOW! i'm not amazed as children are so wonderful conveying the magical world they live in! hugz and love!!!

Anonymous said...

Ive gotten quite arty in the last couple of months I have made a few too

they did do well

Jen

Aimz said...

wow those are awesome

A Bite of Country Cupcakes said...

Unreal! They look awesome...
My Son also 6 has something similar at his School...Such alot of time goes into Mosaics!
But the whole caterpillar concept! Brilliant!

Unknown said...

Rachael, you are such a wonderful mom to do this! You and the kids did an amazing job!! I am just in awww! This is gorgeous!!! What wonderful memories, I cannot believe they are only six years old!!!!! Just amazing!!
Love you!
Amy

Fete et Fleur said...

You did a fantastic job inspiring them to create. These truly are wonderful!!

Hugs
Nancy

Alicia ~ Time Worn Style said...

They are amazing! You are going to make a fantastic primary school teacher :0)
alicia

Great-Granny Grandma said...

They are lovely, and you are so creative to have thought up this project. Under your guidance, those six-year-olds have done an awesome job.

And where did you find such pretty, colorful plates to smash? LOL

Alison Gibbs said...

Rachael what a special thing to be working on with the Princess and her class mates.
They have created sensational mosaics
Alison

sarah said...

love mosaics and what a great idea to do it like that, can't quite believe they were as young as 6!

Dogwood said...

I have always loved mosaics. Those are wonderful. What fun. Great job.

I did a stepping stone mosaic which turned out well and was lot of work!!!

Have a nice evening!

shabby*vintage*dreams said...

gorgeous!!!what a fun thing to do with the kids!!

Katrina said...

It's award time over at my blog - come on over! x

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Rachael, How wonderful to work with the kids. The mosiacs are wonderrul. They look stunning against the black background. The kids did a great job and to think they are only six. Just amazing.

I bet it feels good to cross another thing off your list. What a great accomplishment.
Hugs, Celestina Marie

bluemuf said...

What fun you must have had with the children. The mosaics are wonderful.

Hugs Karen

Denny said...

Absolutely amazing! you are so clever Aunty Ngahuia - with all your recent projects. I bet you thoroughly enjoyed this project and if I know you, the children would have have been so inspired by you - just fantastic!! Dying to catch up with you. Take care xxxxx Denny

Bottega Veneta said...

Great!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Rachael! What wonderful mosaics! I can just imagine the boys enjoying "smashing" plates!

Thanks for visiting me while I was in exile! ♥

My Humble little Nest. said...

Hi Rachael, The panels are just Fabulous, wht a great job...
I just love your Blog banner too, did you do it yourself, if you did, i am soooo jealous heehee,
Cheers...Carilyn.
http://flossiebellebags.blogspot.com/

CatieAn said...

rachael
these mosaics are so beautiful
what a great job you all did.
Isn't that the best feeling ever..
working with little ones?
catie

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Wonderful! Congrats on being able to work with children so well. I'm impressed. They (and you) did a great job.

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