Sacrecrow-Making Workshop

I’ve been receiving requests to run some scarecrow making workshops for novice builders. I’m planning to offer the first of these on Saturday 18^th May in the afternoon, up at the Church Room at All Saints' Church, starting at 2.00 p.m. and finishing at about 5.00 p.m. The workshop will be limited to a maximum of six people (or families) or, to put it another way, six scarecrows, and it will deal with making a simple cross-shaped armature, adding a simple bag head, embellishing the face, and stuffing and dressing the body.

If you can’t think of a theme for your scarecrow, relax, because there isn’t one. Absolutely anything goes, provided it is not offensive or completely tasteless. If you are stuck for a theme, see if there is an object that would make a good starting point, like a theodolite for a surveyor scarecrow, a car for a mechanic scarecrow, or a hammock or deckchair for a lazy one. Maybe you have an especially dreadful hat that you can make a feature of, or a lawnmower, a fishing rod, a bicycle or a fancy dress costume. Perhaps your scarecrow can be built around something he can hold, like a gardening tool or a walking stick? Have a look round the house and garage to see what you can unearth that might be fun to incorporate. If you want to base your scarecrow on a small, lightweight found object, please bring it with you to the workshop. If it is to big or to heavy (like a bed!), a photograph will do instead.

Decide how big you would like your scarecrow to be. Full size? Child size? Maybe half a scarecrow is enough, poking out from under a car, or popping up over the top of a fence. Do you want your scarecrow to stand upright in a garden border, or on the lawn? Could you attach him or her to your house, a window-cleaner perhaps? Perhaps your scarecrow could be propped in a sitting pose, or lying down? Humour is always a good thing to incorporate. Or a theme from a familiar story, song or nursery rhyme, such as Humpty Dumpty scarecrow or Little Miss Muffett with her tuffet and spider. If you have an idea of what you would like to make, do come along with your story-line and any significant props that may be needed.

Everyone who attends a workshop will need to bring the following items along with them:

• ·      Some old newspapers for stuffing the scarecrow (plastic bags will be provided to waterproof him/her);
• ·      Essential clothing for a male scarecrow, including an old, long sleeved T-shirt (to hold the body stuffing together), an old shirt or jumper and a pair of trousers; or
• ·      Essential clothing for a lady scarecrow, including an old long sleeved T-shirt, as before, and an old, full-length dress.
• ·      Any optional extras by way of clothing that is suitable for both genders, including a jacket, waistcoat or top coat; an old pair of gloves for the hands (as an alternative, straw will be provided as an alternative to finish off the arms at the hands); an old pair of shoes or boots (again, you could choose to use straw instead); and a hat, the more flamboyant the better!

If you do not have suitable, unwanted clothing, why not pay a visit to your local charity shop and have a rummage around to see if you can pick up a bargain that will inspire you to action? That way, you will be giving to charity at the same time as dressing your scarecrow!

There will be a charge of £10.00 per scarecrow to cover the cost of any additional materials used. This will be donated to All Saints Church. I may offer more workshops later on in May, depending on demand.