Ilkeston Empty Shop Project

For the last two weeks we have been working in Ilkeston on an Empty shop project. We have run some alternative weaving workshops with a local youth group and some older people from a day centre.

St James Primary at Derby bus station

On a bitterly cold Monday morning we walked with a group of very well behaved and excited children and their teachers from St James School on Osmaston Road down to the Spar grocery shop in Derby bus station.
We were all going to see the Fairtrade installation which was on display  in the corner of the Spar  cafe near the window so it could easily be seen by everyone using the bus station.
We'd like to say a big thank you to the Spar grocers who provided juice and chocolate for all the children.

'Walk in Her Shoes' - International Women's Day

Just a few of the people who dropped by and helped create shoes for our shoe bunting.
We were asked once again by the Midlands Co operative to run an activity raising awareness of the campaign 'Walk in Her Shoes' they are supporting.

Uni Weavings

It was a tepee frenzy at Derby University, we worked with students from the Childhood Studies course to create 4 tepees in various themed colours.
We had 'Under the Sea', 'Fairytale Castle', 'Winter Sparkle' and 'Autumn Leaves'.
They are sited around the university grounds.

'Make a Feature' Masks

Half term in the Arboretum saw us creating windmills and masks with families.

Here are a couple of the quirky masks!!

Fairtrade Sculptures

Derby City Fairtrade Group commissioned us to create two sculptures to promote Fairtrade Fortnight 25 Feb - 10 March.

We delivered a couple of workshops to create them with St James Junior School, Derby and a group of creative families in the Arboretum Park.

Here are some of our photos.

Its Celebration Time

Erewash Museum in Ilkeston saw a great number of Chinese lanterns and dragon puppets.

We had a great day creating and a great procession through Bath Street in Ilkeston for a Chinese New Year Celebration on the Market Place. Ribbon Dancing, Mask Dancing and Poetry.

Here are some of the lanterns created in the day.