2024-04-09 12:09:42
The need for meaningful activities arose while raising children
Vilma’s work has accompanied her since childhood. She was particularly active at school: she played, danced, embroidered, knitted. At the university, the creator studied directing and the Lithuanian language, and at the gymnasium she taught acting to teenagers, staged musicals with them, created projects and taught the Lithuanian language. Although motherhood paused Vilma’s active life, creativity still returned, only in a slightly different activity and form.
“Life was such that I was at home for six years raising both of my boys. When the second was born, the “famine” of creative activity began. I started thinking about what I could do at home. And handicrafts have always been there,” says Vilma.
At that time, my parents knowingly gave me a sewing machine, which became the stimulus to start sewing. The most important thing is that sewing was not new to Vilma, because her grandmother was a seamstress, so in her childhood she had to sew both by hand and with a sewing machine.
“Creation, handicrafts, apparently, are in my nature. In addition, it is a great way to escape from everyday worries, a kind of meditation,” the woman said.
However, Vilma’s creative vision did not become clear immediately:
“Until my stitched books appeared, I had to try other creative activities, but my enthusiasm was suppressed when I rewarded my friends and relatives with my work. But when my friend showed me the sewn books, something inside clicked and I felt that it was close to me. On Mother’s Day, my first sewn book was born, which I showed to a wider circle of friends.
Seven years ago, the “Finger World” page appeared on social networks. This is how my creative path began with scraps, buttons, ribbons, sketches, tests and results, which were also appreciated by other mothers who ordered a book for their little ones.
“Creation, handicrafts, apparently, are in my nature. In addition, it is a great way to escape from everyday worries, a kind of meditation. Therefore, experiencing the joy of creation is necessary for my inner well-being,” says the creator.
In addition to sewing educational books, the creator is interested in early education
“For two years, until the children went to kindergartens and schools, I sewed books at home – I took care of both my new activity and the home. However, I felt that I lacked social life, communication, and a team. Then I took the second step and offered education – workshops for kindergartens and schools. That work allowed me to be among children again,” the creator shares her experience.
Educational activities have become a real refreshment:
“This activity allowed me to satisfy my “teaching” nature and “spark” children to creativity. This field of activity is particularly active at the moment, I have created several education programs for children of various ages. This also led me to an interest in early childhood education. After all, sewn educational books are intended specifically for children of this age. So, for six years now, in addition to sewing books, I’ve also been working at an early childhood education school, where I have a great opportunity to get to know my little book readers even better and at the same time implement creative ideas in education. I spend part of the working week at school, and part of it is sewing books and conducting workshops for children.”
Stitched educational books are a great way to educate little ones
“Sewn educational books are traditionally designed to develop fine motor skills: pull, fasten, remove, stick, as well as learn colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. But my aim is broader. It is more interesting for me to create pictures that hide a story, a fairy tale, an event, a wider knowledge of the world. Therefore, all basic educational subjects are hidden under a certain content,” says Vilma.
Currently, the author has created a considerable collection of fascinating educational books. They contain a wide variety of topics. Many books are personalized – the cover of the book is decorated with the child’s name.
“There are also such books that I call author’s books. They are created with the help of good developer friends. I am most proud of the book created by me and my fellow puppeteer – it became a gift to children when Lithuania celebrated the centenary of the restoration of independence. The creative process took more than half a year until we refined the themes, ideas, and images that would playfully and easily tell children about Lithuania. Education for children has also been created on the basis of the book, in which quite a number of kindergarten and primary school children have already participated” – Vilma shares the creative process and the features of the book.
According to the author, all creators are characterized by a constant search for innovations. So the woman thought about how to add new books to her bookshelf. Her dream was to create not only a picture book, but also a story that could be read. This is how the book “The Green Riddle” came about: “This booklet contains a text created by a person very close to me, as well as a creator who lives in America. The book contains verse text and a lot of puppet theater, games, but at the same time learning – training letters, shapes, numbers, and fingers.”
A puzzle book for children up to three years of age has also been created, and a tactile book for visually impaired and blind children is waiting for its turn.
“I hope that tactile books will become another very meaningful direction of my activity. However, this idea is still waiting for its turn on my creative to-do list,” says Vilma.
Dreams are intangible
The developer is open – at the moment, the dreams related to the “Finger World” are not material.
“I dream that there will be no fewer families for whom quality time with their children is the greatest value. That books will always be the bridge that connects an adult and a child.
I dream that parents do not forget that at an early age it is very important to invite the child to play together, to create, to act, to play pranks. My sewn booklets can help you achieve this in a playful and easy way. If these values are not forgotten, then the “World of Fingers” will be needed for a long time to come,” Vilma concluded the conversation with a charming thought.
2024-04-09 12:09:42