Bookmark Frenzy!

Thanks to Farhana, we have our next 'community project': bookmark-making, to sell in the Book, Bake & BBQ Fair, with proceeds going to the Islam in Colombia project.

We had bought the card stock months ago, in utter enthusiasm of plunging into the art of bookmark-making! Finally, now that we're done with OHVA, and freer to pursue other learning and activities, we dabbled in the art of making bookmarks.

H's Masjid bookmark, with a message inside

S and N's rocket bookmark

My Lampshade and Balloon, a perfect leftover from making the Tennis Racquet

My lemonade and ice cream bookmarks

S's umbrella, tree, and my baby bottle

My blue abaya and H's READ bookmark

I had a certain picture in my head regarding the kinds of bookmarks we were going to make, but I thought I would dabble with it first, before having the kids make it. So, one afternoon, after Asr, as they all dashed outside, taking Baby Z with them, I took the card stock we had bought, a pencil, an eraser, an arts and crafts knife, and a pair of scissors, and settled on the floor of the kids' room. I had googled my way on the internet, looking for ideas to make novel bookmarks, but found none that are to my liking or satisfaction, so I decided to just let the creativity take me away.

With a silver, black, or grey hijab, this would make a really elegant attire

I was feeling rather whimsical, so the first thing I made was the silver purse. It has been awhile since I had drawn anything, so I was pretty happy with my first bookmark. As I sat there trying to come up with more whimsical ideas for bookmarks, someone barged in through the front door. Of course that was someone bringing Baby Z. My 'freedom' was coming to a close.

"Huh? What's that? That's a bookmark?"

"Yeah, what do you think it is?" I asked, wondering if it even looked like something identifiable.

Well, it only took my that purse to open the gates of other possible ideas, and as the kids came inside one by one, enticed by my bookmarks, I told them to brainstorm for more ideas. The ideas came out gushing, like an opened dam. My next bookmark was a lampshade, and because my hands haven;t been doodling for years, I had to employ N's hand. She drew a lampshade for me, and the difference between hers and mine was so significant, that S said,

"N's lamp is better than yours."

Indeed it is, mashaallah!

Our bookmark-making frenzy lasted for a few fun days, but by the time we were out of energy and patience, we had quite a lot. The ideas were still gushing, but my eye for detail, or rather my tolerance for detailed work was exhausted by the tennis racket. The kids on the other hand, getting a late start, lingered on making woven designs, which are actually rather pretty.

S and N's woven bookmarks

S's intricate woven design

When I came into their room, they were all huddled at the table, head down, fingers busy working with the dwindling card stock we had bought at Jo Ann.

Suffice it to say, it has been a fun endeavor for all of us. Those card stock were really worth buying. Today, I decided that we should start to prepare them for mailing. While the kids were designing and making their bookmarks, I heard comments such as,

"Will people buy this?"

"I don't think anyone will want to buy this!"

"That doesn't look like a bookmark!" they exclaimed, pointing to my cup of mocha bookmark, which I had so much fun making.

Cuppa mocha bookmark

My Sports Bookmark Frenzy (that tennis racquet really required a lot of patience)

I had wanted to make a baju kurung bookmark, after making the blue abaya bookmark, but, like I said, my tolerance for detailed work is spent, and I'm ready to mail in the big envelope of bookmarks now.
Next Project inshaallah : Muslimah Doll Project