Florida Earthskills Weekend

Levi and I attended the "Florida Earthskills Gathering" which was a 4 day gathering to learn "earthskills" (primitive type skills), and spend some time outdoors.    There are many different classes for kids and adults in all kinds of different earthskills, plus typical camping activities like hanging out around the camp fire.   Check out all of the classes here.

We camped out in an area designated as "Family and Elder" camping, which turned out to be a really nice spot because we were close to the kids area and the main fire, which was the central gathering place.     Every morning there was a "morning circle" where activities for the day were announced.   There was a morning and afternoon class each day with many to choose from.  

The kids program had classes for them as well, and lots of games and running around too.   They built a "fairy garden", did tye dye with black walnut,  learned how to start a fire with a bow drill, went on edible plant walks, did some henna tattoos, made natural soda, played a lot of "hand tag" learned about some local fish, did some water critter catching, and had a great time playing outside.   They even played "man hunt" which is something like hide and seek/tag but in the dark with flashlights. 

The classes I took were:   Didgeridoo making (from bamboo), an edible plant walk and bamboo craft (I made a bowl, cup and utensils from bamboo), and stargazing.     I only got to take a few classes because I did "worktrade", I helped with the kids program in exchange for a very reduced rate for the gathering. 

The food was really good - vegan and vegetarian options always, and fresh grown food.    Everything was cooked over the campfire!  

There was a camp fire each night (the last night was a big huge bonfire), and people would sing songs and play instruments and tell stories.  

It was a really fun experience for Levi and I, and we learned a lot of interesting things.   We will try and attend again next year for sure, hopefully with even more friends to join us!

A beautiful description of the Earthskills Gathering by Nettle and Thread here

Morning circle: 

 Levi has a snack from the kids area (they had fresh cut fruit, sugar cane and tea).   The tents behind him were where some of the classes met.

Levi and his new friends carving sticks by the main fire.   Many of the kids spent a lot of time making "hatchets" carved from wood. 

Main Fire

Levi near the kitchen, behind him is an oven.

Kitchen area and to the far right is the bathrooms (which were porta potties, but did flush, so gross, but tolerable!)

Me, our tent, and the didgeridoo and cup I made from bamboo.   (yes, I made the skirt too, I will be making some to put up for sale as I've gotten many requests!)

Some more about the didgeridoo class can be found here from another student in the class. 

Levi on the slackline we set up behind our tent - many kids and adults came and tried our slackline!

(I made this outfit too of course)


Nothing to see here, but this is what the Earthskills gathering sounded like at night.   One is the fiddle music, and the other has fiddle music, drumming, kids having a snack, and the hoe down. 

And as usual, I made Levi some clothes for the occasion, 3 shirts and the "crazy pants" he is wearing in the picture of him carving by the campfire.   

This describes Levi well: 

Camping shirt, of course. 

And this one is a combo of embroidery and screenprint, inspired by this

Some fun on the backs as well. 

 

What does the Fox Say?

Inspired by Levi's favorite Kids Place Live radio station song, "What does the Fox Say?"  I made him a shirt!

Its a hoodie made from t-shirt fabric, with an embroidered cross-stitch fox and text, and a hand painted speech bubble.   The sleeves are mock-layered, and the brown long sleeve bit is super light weight, because he really doesn't need long sleeves here, but it went with the look I was going for.   It also has a lined hood with fox ears!  I thought of adding a detachable tail, but thought it might be a bit much (i.e. I was tired after sewing 4.5 shirts in one day so I called it good!)

 

 

Project Run and Play Boys week - Chucks!

I made a boys outfit for Project Run and Play's boys week!  I wanted to play with my embroidery machine some more, and I had some new striped fabric, so I had to think of a way to combine them.   I had a hard time thinking of a specifically "boy" design, Levi usually wears gender neutral clothing.   But then I thought of a design I had for his favorite shoes, chucks!

And this is what I came up with: 

The embroidery design is from Lynnie Pinnie designs.  Everything I've made from them has come out really nicely. 


The shirt is a basic, long sleeve t-shirt with a bound neckline, I'd had it traced for so long I can't remember where it came from!  Its probably Ottobre.   The skinny jeans are "paperback writer" jeans that I made for him recently, and they seem to fit the look.   I want to make him another pair in red, as soon as I find the fabric!

And yep, my boy rocks his hot pink chucks!  He also has them in teal, red, purple/black plaid, pink plaid, and turquoise!   That's a lot of chucks! 

Kid Tested and Approved!

Archery Pants

Levi asked for a pair of pants with "those real big pockets on the sides".   I had my eye on this pattern for quite a while, so now I had an excuse to make it!   These are the "No Kung Fu" Ottobre pants.  

It took me a while to decide on fabric, and I ended up with boring navy blue.  I pepped it up with some light green top-stitching, to match the shirts I made to go with them.   

These have some really interesting pockets on the back, they go at an angle and are incorporated into the yolk.  And regular pockets on the front and the requested cargo pockets on the sides.   

They also have zips at the bottom which when zipped, make the ankle narrower.  The pattern says it narrows so that when the wearer wants to ride a bike, it won't get caught in the chain.   Because of that reference,  I made him a bike shirt with my new embroidery machine!   

But when the pants were done, Levi pointed out that his knee patches look like targets!  So I finished a UFO sewing project, and made him an archery shirt to go with these as well.   The place where he does homeschool archery classes had shirts, size HUGE only, and no kids sizes!  I got one anyway, and cut it up to make a Levi-sized shirt.   Its green, so goes with the top-stitching as well.  

I did the knee patches differently than the pattern called for.  Instead of turning the edge under, I cut a second piece for each from the same knit I used for the bike shirt - I put the two together, stitched all the way around, snipped a hole in the middle of the knit, turned it right side out and then sewed them on!   It adds an extra layer at the knee, a little more dimension, and the edge of the contrasting color.  And it was a lot easier!

And he tested out his new outfit at Archery: