The beanbags with shapes and with moods are finished.
The eight chairs contain close to 50 m of fabric in all (including the inner bag), 32 m of zigzag braid, 20 m of tape for attaching the lining, 8 m of zip, an unknown quantity of coloured fleece, impregnated fabric, 4000 m of sewing thread and 1600 litres of granules.
The shapes and extras are still being made, but the chairs went through a couple of hours of a photo session with my best advertising boys. Mathias was so delighted with the new, large beanbags that even after several hours he would not agree to leave the sewing room without the chairs. The two of us dragged the chairs down the stairs and into the living room with us.
Then Mathias's father and grandfather each wanted to buy those chairs themselves. 🙂
First we made a video of the moment the children were let loose on the chairs (that will take a while yet; when I can, I will put it up here to watch).
Then there was nothing but great joy in jumping about and in the balls with faces. Later we looked at the shapes and colours together and talked with the mood balls. Mathias liked the ball with the sad face best. How he hugged and stroked it and talked to the sad mood ball. The other balls were a tired or sleepy face, a surprised or frightened face and an angry face. Those did not rouse any notable interest in him this time.
My own idea in creating the balls was to use them to teach a child to tell different emotions apart, to become friends with their feelings, to cope with them and gradually to get the better of the emotions they do not want. Certainly with the guidance of an aware adult. With the help of conversation, the emotion balls and the assistance of the big, positive, cheerful sun.
To my surprise it turned out that it also stirred strong feelings of empathy in the child.
The little brother was busy with the chairs too. He liked touching the shapes and exploring them with his fingers. The shapes are of fleece, soft and pleasant. The edges are finished with a thicker thread and clearly felt under the finger.
And the joy lasted a good while longer...
