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| TerryGami, 15 Cloth Toy and Ornament Projects for Crafters, Teachers, and Children | |
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| Washcloth Snowman | | | |
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| Washcloth Boo Boo Bunny (Free instructions at www.terrygami.com.) |
Now available in paperback!
The book is available at:
A special thanks to the Boo Boo Bunny creator, whomever and wherever she or he may be. What an adorable idea! Fortunately, my attempt to remember how to make the Boo Boo Bunny 24 years ago ended up looking more like an owl or a baby chick. Over the years, I wondered if something more could be made out of washcloths, and so began the evolution of a new craft I have named TerryGami – for the terrycloth from which the critters are made, not for my name.
I just barely know how to write a blog thanks to the movie “Julie & Julia,” but then there were a lot of things I didn’t know how to do when I started the TerryGami project. I didn’t know how to operate a digital camera or how to draw on the computer; in fact, I barely knew how to do anything on the computer, except e-mail and write in MS Word (and I am still learning as I go). I didn’t know if I would have enough critter patterns to make a book. I didn’t know for sure if children or anyone would like this craft, although I had a inkling that they might. So here begins the TerryGami blog because people in publishing recommend it as a must. Who knows, maybe someday someone might be interested in how TerryGami began.
The Graduation Owl was the first critter I made for both of my boys’ kindergarten classes for their graduation parties. Ten years later, when I discovered that some of the parents were saving their child’s boo boo owl as a keepsake, I realized that other parents may be interested in how to make the owls, too. Later, a friend of mine confirmed this when she told me she had come across the materials she had purchased to make the owl years ago.
After divorce and many financial woes, I considered doing a craft piece for a magazine using the owl, but once I started to focus what else I could make, I couldn’t stop. I made a teacher’s boo boo apple, a pumpkin, a snowman and much more. One critter lead to another, and now the magazine article was turning into a book.
I desperately needed a Hail Mary, and I thought maybe this was it: Take an old idea (the Boo Boo Bunny and now, the owl) and expand it into a whole new craft! So, now I have closed my eyes and thrown it out there. Unfortunately, it has taken a long, long time for this proverbial “pass” to hit the receiver; you, my fellow crafters. The question now is, will the “ball” fumble or will TerryGami be well received and accepted? My eyes are still closed! Somebody tell me when I can open them!
Finding a good way to present the instructions was the hardest part of this project. First, I wrote all of the directions out in long hand, and then typed them up. My eyes glazed over at the sight of all of that text. Then I tried to photograph the cloths in the various steps. I didn’t like the way that looked either. Then my youngest son showed me how to draw on the computer. Now I was getting somewhere, but then there was a big learning curve for me there, too.
Once I was finished with the prototypes, pictures, factoids and instructions, I decided I had better vet the critters. My book club had moms, teachers, a librarian, an editor and a lawyer. Thankfully, they became my critter vetting crew. They insisted that the instructions be on more than one or two pages. Once I enlarged the instructions, then they didn’t like the format, and so then I change the instructions again! Now, after revision after revision, and quite a bit frustration and angst, I might add, the craft hopefully has been honed to its final form.
Now it was time to vet TerryGami on kids. Thank my lucky stars, they loved it! I was worried that if they had to stuff an animal, they wouldn’t want to be bothered. The opposite was true! The kids went crazy stuffing the critters; the fatter the better! What a relief! Relief doesn’t really fully describe it.
Unfortunately, the cost to print an all color book is high so the book has been cut down to just 15 projects. Many will still find the price high, especially the hard cover version, but then, that is true of all hard cover books. I feel that the color is an essential part of the appeal and for ease in reading the instructions. Hopefully, the color will prevent the immediate brain fog that invariably occurs whenever someone has to tackle instructions.
To provide additional value to the book, I have added a list of factoids for each critter and holiday icon to help group facilitators, teachers and moms make each project informative, without any extra effort on their part. The book will be available both in hard cover, if you are looking for a gift and durability, and, also, in soft cover. Fortunately, the materials to make the critters are inexpensive, and if you are crafty, you may already have many of the items in your house.
Now, let me tell you a little more about the craft: What is TerryGami? TerryGami is a new craft that uses thin, borderless terrycloth washcloths or terrycloth utility cloths, rubber bands, glue, needle and thread to make animals and holiday icons. Some of the critters are stuffed, some are not. All of the items can be made with thin washcloths that can be purchased at department stores for about $4 for a package of 18 cloths (2011 prices depending on the store). The critters require one to four washcloths, depending on the item being made. Several of the items do not require gluing or sewing. For safety, blunt-end needles such as darning and small yarn needles work well with terrycloth.
Many of the terrycloth creations will be of interest to teachers for use in their classrooms, to parents who home-school, to all kinds of Scout leaders, to Bible school teachers and summer camp leaders, to Boys and Girls Club facilitators, to play group moms and to children who enjoy making crafts on their own. Since the trend now is for children to have craft birthday parties, the party favor and/or activity can be a terrycloth soft sculpture the children can make themselves, saving parents money in the process. Educators and group facilitators are always looking for hands-on activities for children, and these critters appeal to both girls and boys.
Children with the maturity level of roughly 8- years old and up can make these craft items. Adults will need to assist children at first, especially young children. Also the basic critter can be prepared ahead of time for younger children, and then the children can add on the facial features and decorations later.
I have seen a child as young as five-years-old sew a snowman with help from his mom. So, as long as there is supervision, this craft can be something even younger children can do. Of course, all children will need help in the beginning, especially when learning to sew for the first time. And remember, there is always the option of gluing some of the critters, too.
When my boys were young, they wanted to learn how to sew. I worried about them pricking themselves on needles or cutting themselves with the scissors. I worried about what I could teach them to do, because I didn’t have a clue. I worried that they would be teased. So, much to my dismay, I let it pass without figuring out what we could do.
I would like to think that TerryGami is the solution to all of my concerns back then. Blunt-end needles can be used because terrycloth has a large weave and the needles go right through the material easily. A good pair of blunt-end Fiskars scissors can be purchased for children now. Fortunately, there isn’t too much to be cut anyway.
If the collectible stuffed toys of the recent past are any indication, boys love toy animals, too, but now they will be able to make their own. Here’s a word of warning, though. Don’t be surprised if some kids get an entrepreneurial bug. One little boy ran out of my house with an armful of critters he had made saying, “I’m going to sell these!” So beware, some young entrepreneurs may consider TerryGami stands, instead of lemonade stands. Learning to sew is a necessary life skill, and TerryGami is a fun way for children to learn.
I should stop now. No doubt, this is way too long for a first blog entry. Thanks so much for reading this far! The book is available now online at Barnes and Noble and Amazon, just in time for crafters to make the Baby Chick and Easter Egg for Easter and, the Owl and Teacher’s Boo Boo Apple for school graduations. Check both sites, the prices vary.
I’ll be back!
Terry
