Human race rosettes

from Style of Wight Issue 74 January/February 2022

The loneliness epidemic: with

With Lauren Fry, Arts Educator

In today’s fast paced, competitive world we often focus on the things that make us unique and individual, forgetting the importance of feeling connected to others. To celebrate your connection to others throughout the world, make yourself a ‘Member of the Human Race’ rosette and wear it with pride.

Once you have perfected the process of crafting beautiful rosettes the possibilities are endless: celebrate your own sense of belonging by creating membership rosettes for your family, friends, class or club. Materials

Coloured card, felt, foam or fabric Plain paper Ribbon Tin foil roasting tray Safety pin Pencil and biro Scissors Glue Compass or a series of different sized circular objects

1. Draw 4 – 7 different sized circles on your plain paper – you can either do this with a compass or use a series of different sized cups/mugs. Cut out your circles and set aside the smallest one for later.

We are going to use the remaining circles to create templates: to do this fold each circle in half 3 times to create an eighth then carefully cut the end. Here, I have made 2 cuts to create a point. Unfold your template. You can now simply stick your template onto one of your pieces of coloured card/felt/ foam/fabric and cut around it neatly.

2. For this template I have cut a curve instead of a point to create a flowerlike shape. Experiment with how many different shapes you can create from your folded circles.

3. Now you have a range of rosette shapes you are ready to create your tin badge. 4. On the smallest paper circle, design a ‘Member of the Human Race’ logo. Use simple block lettering and bold shapes. As we are going to be embossing our design we need it in reverse, like a mirror image; to do this I simply leaned against a window and traced over my design onto the back of the paper.

5. Draw around your small logo circle onto your tin roasting tray; ask an adult to cut this out as the edges may be sharp. To emboss your design lay the tin circle on a soft surface – here I have used a piece of art foam, but you could use cardboard or a tea towel. Place your reverse design on top of the tin and using a biro carefully trace over your design. You will need to press quite hard to make sure your design is clear.

6. Now for the finishing touches. To create the tails of your rosette glue together strips of ribbon and card/felt/foam/fabric. Repeat this process so you have 2 matching sets. If you would like to wear your rosette as a badge, cut 2 small slits in a piece of card or foam and thread your safety pin through. Assemble your creation by gluing your layers and tails together. 7. Glue your safety pin panel onto the back of your rosette and voila! Go forth and celebrate your connections and sense of belonging.