I believe you could say that yesterday’s proposal, to hook one of the free pattern inserts from Rug Hooking Magazine, was favorably received. In addition to me, in the last 24 hours, 21 people have written back with either a definite yes, or tentative interest in the project.
In the meantime, I am still gathering names of interested people and doing a bit of research on potential patterns. Keep commenting if you are interested and I will keep a list and get back to you in a day or so with a solid proposal.
Here is a little, money saving project for any would be prodders out there –
In a couple of weeks, I will be doing an interactive proddy demonstration at an “Enrichment Fair” for a group of 350 grade school children. It’s something my church is doing to promote the Arts, Science, Math and Athletics. It’s been proven that children who have an interest in at least one of those areas are less likely to get involved in gangs. I’ll be there, fighting gang proliferation, with my proddy frame. For 3 hours that day, any child that wants to give proddy a go, can do just that. (Jane Olson is doing a “braiding” table, we’ve got a spinner and, of course, rug hookers to round out a fiber arts section.) While I do prefer my brass point prodders to a worked over clothes pin, I really don’t want to put out 10 expensive proddy tools for a session like that. Hence, we’ve been experimenting today with cheap alternatives. Since the church resource room had a box of wooden clothes pins and I had free labor, that’s about as cheap as it comes.
Step one: cut off one leg of a clothes pin. Larry, my carpenter used a hand saw and finished the job with about 2 or 3 strokes.
Step two: file down the remaining leg. This one was worked over on an electric sanding wheel in just a few moments. It could also be done just as well on an up turned belt sander. Barring those kinds of tools, sand paper, a hand file or fine rasp could also be used. I even know a lady who files down her proddy tools on a smooth finished concrete sidewalk. The trick is to get it narrowed down so as to easily make a good hole, without turning it into a harpoon.
It’s important that we get this worked out, as the follow up to the Enrichment Fair is me working a weekly proddy stall as a lunchtime recess option for a 10 week period. My guess is that the children who take up proddy will do a better job if they can have their own personal proddy tool. While I am sure the children will be “priceless,” the home made tools fit my budget better than the “imported” ones from England! This is particularly urgent since I think we will need at least 15-20! However, after a test drive with today’s experiment, I think it will work just fine.
PS: The new colors on the web store.
jamie_doll
January 22, 2009 at 8:25 am
Good job, Gene, on designing that tool. I might have to go make myself one! God Bless you (all) for taking time to enrich the lives of those children.
Gene Shepherd
January 22, 2009 at 8:45 am
Jamie – I can’t take credit for the design as people have been working over clothes pins since they started making clothes pins. In fact, I’ve seen dozens of broken/recycled, every day implements turned into prodders. So, if you make one yourself, you will be entering a long line of problem solvers. I’ll be keeping you posted on how the enrichment day/ process goes. I hope we can actually make an entire rug before summer break … but we will see. GRS
Arline Keeling
January 22, 2009 at 10:11 am
Hi, I would be interested to know the response from the kids. Do they think they would rather Braid or do some Proddy. I have been thinking of doing a kids project and would be glad to hear how yours turns out………Not that I am as good a teacher as you or Jane, but The kids would never know that would they……….V. Sharmay
Gene Shepherd
January 22, 2009 at 10:36 am
Arline – I will keep you posted on all that. We are going to have about 30 stations – 4 of them on Fiber Arts. Jane will be braiding and lacing a rug while an assistant will supervise three pig tails the kids can braid, take out and braid again. The spinner is going to have carding paddles for the kids to use, etc. We’ll have a hooker working on a project, with a couple of stands where kids can pull loops. I have a special proddy set up where about 5 people can prod at once. Kids will stay a while, then move on to other stations. I won’t know response until after it happens. GRS
Phyllis
January 22, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Wonderful idea, Gene. I used to demonstrate hooking at our school’s annual 4th grade pioneer fair, and the kids loved trying it out. We never had that follow up time you’re going to have – maybe I’ll borrow that idea when I can get back to volunteering.
I would like to be included in your blog school – maybe I’ll be able to follow a teacher’s instructions for the first time! I think I’ve never been a very good hooking student.
Phyllis
January 22, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hey, Gene,
How about that genteel little pattern by Robin Price? I love the idea that she shared her grandmother’s pattern with us. It’s one we could all draw easily without a lightbox or other special equipment.
Sheila
January 22, 2009 at 4:10 pm
So great of you to donate your time and talents to help out children! Keep us updated!
Sheila
Gene Shepherd
January 22, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Phyllis and Sheila – I think it will be fun to report on the kid’s project – I have asked for permission to do so from the school principal – want to make sure it’s ok with everyone to have such a visible forum. I suspect the students find it fun to see themselves on the site, as well as read comments from readers around the world. GRS
Sue
January 23, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Regarding the background of pinto beans what is that for?
Gene Shepherd
January 23, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Sue – A very technical response: When laying on a wool background, the clothes pins kept rolling over and would not stay put for the photo. Pinto beans, which were sitting on the pantry shelf, provided a stable base for round objects, holding them in place so they won’t move. I actually thought they looked rather nice … but have nothing to do other than look “artsy.” GRS
PS: Rice does the same thing.
maureenm
February 8, 2009 at 12:20 pm
this is a great idea! I am trying to get some Girl Guides interested in hooking, and I think proddy would appeal to them too, so maybe I’ll have to find some old fashioned clothes pins. Thanks for sharing!
maureen