Ralph Street Resident Finds Relaxation Through Creativity

Contributed By: Sherri Grant, Day Program Coordinator

Pictured here is the Ralph Street program’s official winter mascot – a paper mache snowman created by resident Tim M. Tim has always enjoyed working with his hands, and paper mache proved an easy medium to work with. Tim began the project in early November and construction continued for ten weeks. Tim kept to a strict routine, working on the snowman only when the Day Program scheduled its weekly Crafts session. Tim also took time out from his efforts to spend the holidays at home with his family.

The snowman has three layers of newspaper and two layers of white paper. Tim then painted the snowman with white paint, added black glass rocks for the mouth, blue glass for the eyes, a paper mache carrot nose, and buttons of black rocks.

Tim completed 90% of the paper mache construction, with other consumers helping periodically. Ruth H. crocheted the scarf and helped find the hat. Tim found the bird to perch on the snowman’s nose, which he feels “gives it the crowning touch.” Tim is very happy with this project. He states, “I find working with my hands relaxing, and I like working with paper mache.” The snowman now sits happily at Ralph Street, and plans are under way for Tim’s next paper mache project.