SOUTHWESTERN ARTS & CRAFTS PROJECTS
Educational and Fun Projects for Children and Adults

      “This book is prepared for kindergarten through sixth-grade students. The book will build cultural appreciation, present workable art projects with straightforward instruction, and teach the child to utilize inexpensive and indigenous materials of the Southwest. Excellent.”
      —Leon Metz, The El Paso Times
     
     
            “Though the intended audience is children and young adults, we highly recommend this very delightful book for all ages. It is the intent of the book to build a cultural appreciation of our southwestern tricultural society (in which it succeeds), but the simple-to-make crafts are just plain fun to make. Materials needed are readily available and low cost. Most projects can be completed quickly, making it an excellent resource book for those who have a limited amount of time (Sunday school teachers, library craft hours, etc.). Highly recommended.”
      —“Book Talk,” Enchantment
     
     
            “This book has a three-fold purpose—to build cultural appreciation, to present workable art projects, and to utilize the inexpensive and indigenous materials of the Southwest. An instructor’s guide, the book aids in making interesting, educational, and fun projects for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Each lesson is introduced with a short story, helping to build a positive impression of the Indian and Spanish-American cultures. Natural materials can be gathered and many scrap materials are available without cost or at a minimal fee from stores in various communities. Lessons have been tested in public school classrooms, classes for bible schools, scout organizations, and with handicapped children. Lessons include mail plaques, corn husk dolls, dough art, corn necklaces and ghost beads, glass art, tin craft, puppets, basket weaving, and stitchery.
            “There are countless pen and ink illustrations throughout, plus songs, poems and dances. The book won the Border Regional Library Association Award for literary excellence and enrichment of the cultural heritage of the Southwest.
            “Nancy Krenz has a Masters Degree in Art Education from the University of New Mexico, and was an elementary school teacher for seven years. She also taught teachers for two summers in Sierra Leone, West Africa, with the International Teach Corps. Patricia Byrnes, a native New Mexican, has a B.S. from the University of New Mexico. The authors are over-the-wall neighbors who traveled over the Southwest to pick up indigenous materials for craft ideas, and collecting legends. They have also spent much time entertaining their own children with ideas from the book.”
      —Regina Cooke, The Taos News
     
     
            “This book describes in detail a variety of projects that children will enjoy. Further, the material is presented in such a way that youngsters will want to know more about the subject. This book is ideal for use by parents, grandparents, baby-sitters, as well as teachers. The purpose of this book, according to authors Patricia Byrnes and Nancy Krenz is ‘to build cultural appreciation, to present workable art projects and to utilize inexpensive and indigenous materials of the southwest.’ If I were teaching this fall, I’d go to the nearest bookstore and buy a copy. It is written for kindergarten through sixth grade students and the material has been tested in the Albuquerque Public Schools, classes for handicapped children and other organizations. While the price may seem a little steep, it’s modest when you consider the contents. You can take your choice of an activity built on any of the following: Night Animals and Day Animals, Sand Painter, Chile Colorado (Dough Art), Las Posadas, Ojo de Dios, Spider Woman, Aztec Mask, Flamenco Dancer, and many more.
            “Each lesson is introduced with a story, a short one, and thereby sets the scene for a positive impression of Indian and Spanish-American cultures. The materials to be used, the age level, and the season of the year are specified for each project. Supplies and procedure are covered in detail.
            “There are ‘Notes’ when needed such as the one attached to ‘Kiowa Shield’ where the authors indicate ‘Good for Cub Scouts; has quieting effect’ or with ‘Plumed Serpent’ where the following suggestion is made: ‘Be sure to add plaster to water slowly. Never pour down sink!’
            “ ‘Doll’s First Rug’ is a weaving and dye project for ages 9 and up. Not only are the activities interesting, but the weaving vocabulary should be helpful to young weavers. And in New Mexico where we have so many weavers and continuing exhibitions and sales of superior products, it will help to encourage children’s appreciation of this fine craft.
            “Nancy Krenz and Patricia Byrnes are neighbors in Albuquerque, each with degrees from the University of New Mexico. The care and diligence they have brought to the book is invaluable. It is a winner of the Border Regional Library Association Award for literary excellence, and so it should be.”
      —Aileen Paul Phillips, The Santa Fe New Mexican