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Local Needs From Local People—Appeal

 Foundation Blog, Lead  No Responses »
Jul 122011
 

Sorry, having a “Little Britain” day!

With the land purchase and inflation raging our budget is on a tight leash right now. We would like to call again, on any of you who actually live in Chiang Mai or close to, to find it in your hearts to help out if you can.

Our recent appeal for foodstuffs has had little response so far. We continue to hope:)

If not food stuff then here are a few other things we could do with right now to ensure that we can keep our craft and art exercises going.

Wool …..odds and ends and any colour is fine.

Outdoor Emulsion paint….again part tins and any colour is fine…lets keep these murals going, its great for the children’s skills and confidence building.

Varnish or sealer to protect their great work from the rain.

Quality growing soil…we are always looking at expanding our veg plots…..most garden centres do bags of good soil from just 25 baht.

If you can help with any of these items please get in touch using the contact form below.

Arty Flavour Continues

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Jun 062011
 
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Another week passes and the arty atmosphere here at Stratton House continues. In between studies much of the children’s free time was taken up with yet more painting. the plaster figurines continue to be a big favourite and the best of these will soon be available in our online shop to help raise funds for more materials.

The children are also spending time on a colour drawing project where each child was given a word to consider and use their musings to inspire their work. Some of the children are now using their designs to make papier mache pictures using tissue paper soaked in paint and glue.

Hopefully the best of these designs will soon appear in a book to be produced for further fund raising.

As usual when not studying or at play all our kids have been doing their bit towards the general upkeep of the house and grounds.

I can’t say it too often, they continue to make me very proud. Kids are kids and we have the occasional problem, as any ‘family’ does; but all things considered there’s rarely a day goes by when they don’t leave me glowing.

As reward for all their efforts we made a trip to Huay Tung Tao on Sunday and were lucky to catch the sunny period inbetween the heavy rains, which started again just as we got home.

Missing Erma and Ayanna Already

 Foundation Blog, Lead  No Responses »
May 142011
 

Short but sweet may be the words.

Erma and Ayanna fitted so well here at Stratton House and we would all like to say a big thank you for choosing to spend part of your holiday helping out here.

On Thursday morning they held a wonderful art workshop using pistachio nut shells, card and paints.

In the afternoon we took advantage of the hot weather and made a long overdue trip to Huay Tung Tao where everyone had a fine time playing in the water.

On our return Erma and Ayanna then practiced their newly learned Thai cooking skills and produced a very tasty curry for everyone for the evening meal.

Friday was their last day with us. In the morning they both pitched in with the work hour helping the girls with weeding while the boys worked on new vegetable plots.

By popular request they then held another English language class.

After lunch it was time to say goodbye, almost.

I have had problems with my left arm for a couple of weeks now and had determined to go for reflexology to help sort it out. So before taking Erma and Ayanna on to Walai House where they will continue their holiday we drove into the Old City to pay a visit to the Chiang Mai Reflexology Centre, in Ratchadamnoen Rd.

Gu , Tai and May 2, missed out on Huay Tung Tao on Thursday as they were at school, but Friday was a day off and so we took them along.

Whilst Ayanna joined me and enjoyed an hours reflexology, Erma spent time with the three children taking a look around the nearby shops and visiting Wat Chedi Luang.

Feeling much refreshed by the massage we paid a quick visit to Nok Em Ded in Prapaklao Rd. We were lucky enough to catch the shop owner, Teresa, there and had a nice chat. Teresa and her partner sell handmade clothes and jewelry. They have some beautifully unique designs. At present they have one of our collection boxes and we are in discussion about placing some of the children’s handmade craft in Teresa’s shop.

We then took Erma and Ayanna on to their guest house and said a fond farewell with the hope that it will not be the last we see of them.

Thanks both, the kids loved you and I felt like I had old friends visiting….perfect.

Mural Li Li Style

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Mar 292011
 

This afternoon our friends Li Li Tan and Ally came for a welcome visit. Li Li was keen to continue work on the Mural she worked on on Saturday and this time all the kids got involved as well as our latest Volunteer, Roshni from India.

It is incredible the amount done in such a relatively short time and the fact that with Li Li’s help and support the children have today contributed so much to a true work of art today is even more incredible.

Thanks again Li Li and well done everyone.

So Much In One Day

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Mar 272011
 

What a great Saturday, so much happening in one day.
After breakfast all the children helped finish off the base painting of the playground walls and the fence posts we put in yesterday.
With help from a couple of the boys I attached the chain link fence, finishing that early afternoon.
In anticipation of the afternoons music session the children got everything ready for Freds arrival and got into some practise.
For a while I joined in with Gu , Tai and Jack with them playing drums and keyboard and me playing flute.
For a while it was sounding sweet and I’m sure we will be doing much more of that in the future.
A little after 3pm Fred arrived with Ally and Li Li Tan.
Its been a while since we’ve seen Li Li and the kids were all very happy to see her.
While the music lesson went on Li Li did some work on one of the unfinished Murals, ably assisted by Som. Jor , May and Nu also joined in after the music had finished.
It was another great lesson by Fred, with the children working on the Beatles classic “Let It Be”.

Virtual Art Gallery Exhibition 2

 Foundation Blog  No Responses »
Nov 012010
 

Just a few new additions including Gu’s great effort at a representation of His Majesty The King.

One Done More to Come

 Foundation Blog, Lead  1 Response »
Oct 282010
 

Last Saturday,(22nd), Li Li Tan came again to help the children finish off the first Mural and also get started on some more. On Friday the children had washed down three more wall panels, close to the hut showing the first Mural.

Li Li arrived with Ally and another willing helper,( sorry said I was hopeless remembering names:)), mid morning and whilst Li Li added finishing touches to the first Mural, the children set about working on chalk sketches for the next set of panels to be worked on.

I can not say enough thank yous to Li Li for her efforts and hints to the children on how to improve their skills.

We would also like to thank Li Li’s friend, Wendy, who donated money towards purchase of painting equipment in memory of John Archer.

I also find it hard to put it into words of how proud I am of the kids, seeing their talents emerging and blossoming.

If you are reading this please consider donating or even becoming a regular sponsor to ensure that we can continue our work and care for these children and many more in the future.

Mural No1, 2 Days of Fun Art

 Lead, Live Projects  1 Response »
Oct 182010
 

Still building up to the bigger event on our outside walls, the children here at Stratton House have just had a great weekend producing their first Mural on one of the walls of out small hut in the garden.

On Saturday Li Li Tan came along with Kira, from Art Relief and their friend, Jeffrey Warner, a photo journalist. Armed with various painting materials they set about organising the kids to produce something special.

Working from a drawing, done on the previous visit, they first sketched out the basic outlines in chalk.

Then it was painting time, again, just the outlines so they could play around making sure they chose the right colours.

It was amazing watching the progress through the day.

Starting at around 11am , with a short break for lunch, they worked through till around 4pm and got an incredible amount done.

The children all took their turns.

When they weren’t painting they had time to play games with Kira and help House Mother Wasanaa cutting up Bamboo shoots for use in the kitchen.

On Sunday, Li Li came on her own, a little earlier, but with her help the children managed to just about complete the Mural.

Using sponges and fingertips as well as brushes the end result was a fantasticlly bright and colourful scene.

It just needs maybe one more short day touching up here and there to make it the best we can but as far as I’m concerned its already a beautiful work of art.

As you will see from the photos the children enjoyed it so much.

Yet again we are endebted to our friend Li Li and all at Art relief.

Thanks also to Jeff for coming along and pitching in with the painting as well as taking some great photos.

If you are looking for someone to help you with promotional advertising, or do do an article for you let us know here and I will pass you details on to Jeff.

For more photos please visit our photobucket albums here

Directors photos

Photos by Jeffrey Warner

Fishy Business

 Lead, Live Projects  No Responses »
Oct 122010
 

Our friend Li Li Tan returned on Saturday to assist the children with the next stage of Mural practise. All the children joined in with drawing bigger versions of fish and other sea life ready for painting next weekend.
There has been a slight change of plan in that the first Mural will now be on the walls of our out door hut.
This is all leading up to the much bigger excersise with Art International painting the Mural on our front boundary walls.

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