Date: Sat, 30 May 1998 19:50:47 -0400 From: Cal & Deb Strathdee Subject: Re: Older Girl Craft Ideas MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit MEDICINE BUNDLE: I'm not sure what age "6 grade" is, but if they can make birdfeeders, they can weave. The loom is an empty roll of toilet paper. Cut one end into large jagged peaks - you want an odd number of valleys. Loop yarn or embroidery floss lengthwise along the toilet paper roll, going in each valley - down and over the other end and back again to catch the next valley. When all valleys are filled, cut end of yarn and secure. These strands are what you will weave on. Thread your yarn/floss onto a tapestry needle (big hole/not sharp) and begin at the bottom of the tube and work towards the jagged end. You merely weave over and under each strand of yarn and keep your rows pushed down together. Just keep going around and around without cutting your yarn. Your weaving will eventually form a little pouch or perhaps a medicine bundle where a person could store things that had meaning to them. They could be small items that make them feel good/tell something about them/or something that helps them to remember the good time they had at _____________. We attached yarn and wore them around our neck. I forgot to mention, when your little sack is the right size for you, slide the toilet paper roll out and knot off the ends. BURDEN BASKET: Same idea, but on a larger scale: Use odd number of florist wires - however many you wish - I'd suggest 7. Pinch and curl all the ends together at one end. Open up wires, like a flower. You could even use some wire horizontally to hold vertical wires in place. Use binder twine or jute and begin weaving at small end, over and under... Keep pushing twine down tightly to the previous row and your basket should grow gradually wider as you weave upward. You could add beads as you weave, if you like. When you are finished, you have a cone shape and you can bend it slightly, add some twine to hang and tell them the reason for the basket. Burden Baskets are hung at the door to your home/tent. Before you enter your home, take a minute to think about the things that burden you - problems or concerns in your life. Take these burdens out of your heart and put them in the Burden Basket. Then, enter your home with a light heart. Sorry about the length - hope you can understand my ideas!