Modelling in the holidays

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 14

Modelling in the holidays

Modelling is fun. You can make animals, all sorts of toys, and pots and vases for your family. Use home-made dough — there is a good recipe at the end of this article —- or buy some clay. When you model, work on a board on the kitchen table. Start by squeezing your dough or clay. Roll it, punch it, and pull it about, to find out how it feels. Build up your animals or object by adding pieces on to one another. In this way what you make grows out of adding and handling. You may find a blunt knife, a wooden spatula, and a wooden skewer useful. and toothpicks can help join or form small parts of an animal’s body. They could, for instance, become the long legs of a heron. When a model is completed, leave it to harden; or, if you don’t like it, roll it into a ball and start again.

It is important to store your clay and dough properly. It should remain soft so that it is workable. Wrap clay in a damp cloth and place inside an airtight tin or in a plastic bag. Keep dough in the refrigerator in a plastic bag so that it stays fresh. DOUGH RECIPE You need: 2 cups of water, 1 cup of salt, 2 tablespoons of oil, a little food colouring, 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar, 2 cups of flour, a large saucepan. Heat the water in the pan over a low heat. Add the salt and simmer until it is completely dissolved. Add oil and food colouring. Any colour is suit-

Mix the flour and cream of tartar and then add to the water. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon. There may be lumps but you can work them out when the dough cools.