Arts, crafts featured at Greensburg library’s Family Maker Day

Maggie McCaffrey set out to paint sheep.

Utilizing a bamboo brush dipped in water, 13-yr-previous McCaffrey’s zen-like artwork started out to drip and morph. So she pivoted and recast her photo as rain clouds.

The 10th grader from Hempfield was between people who participated Saturday in the Greensburg-Hempfield Space Library’s most up-to-date Spouse and children Maker Working day function. She used time at a single of two Buddha Boards set up by team that makes use of particular paper and physics to craft artwork before they evaporate and disappear after about 10 minutes.

“I’ve utilized one of these at the faculty library, but I do not definitely know the science powering it,” McCaffrey claimed.

Maker Day has been a regular monthly occasion at the library considering that September and will carry on via June. It’s funded by a grant from the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania that is break up amongst libraries in Greensburg and Delmont.

Jessica Kiefer, the head children’s librarian at the downtown Greensburg facility, reported Maker Working day is intended to give kids a hands-on experience utilizing machines for arts and crafts and constructing. Previous situations have highlighted stitching machines, circuit boards and, previous week, products to melt chocolate.

On Saturday, children have been able to make hand-crafted buttons, holiday getaway cards, Xmas ornaments using yarn and paintings on the Buddha Board.

“We’re encouraging individuals to do matters with their fingers and persuade individuals to do true issues,” Kiefer mentioned.

The library’s party is based mostly on the Maker Room movement released extra than a 10 years in the past in California to persuade the use of hand crafts for handmade solutions and artwork. The movement has featured situations exactly where spaces are established apart for men and women to arrive in an make their possess initiatives, ranging from crafts to electronics.

Kiefer claimed the area system is designed to introduce little ones to different equipment.

“We’re marketing absolutely free creativity and providing young ones a possibility to do distinctive issues,” Kiefer mentioned. “Kids are fascinated using tools they’ve by no means found just before.”

Justin Smith of Hempfield accompanied his 9-yr-aged daughter to Saturday’s Maker Day. They worked together to craft a purple ornament designed of yarn that will dangle this year on the family’s Christmas tree.

“They like it listed here. We’re regulars at the library,” Smith explained.

Ashley Velez of Jeannette viewed her 7-year-previous daughter, Meadow, cut out photographs and put together a Xmas card she intends to give to a good friend.

“Everything they do listed here is a wonderful action,” Velez reported.

Chris Harper and her 8-yr-outdated daughter, Bethany, of Hempfield labored jointly to place images of dragons on a environment map. Harper’s kids have been regular members at Maker Working day and count on to return for January’s party.

“They just appreciate it and they really get pleasure from seeking every thing. She (Bethany) likes crafting stuff and (son Wesley) likes making stuff,” Harper mentioned.