Old School Crafting
God’s Eyes, or Ojo de Dios, have been around forever, truly a kid’s summer camp classic craft. I did some with my Girl Scout troop over the weekend and they loved them. Once they “get” the weaving part, they run with it, exploring color combinations and patterns. It doesn’t require a lot of adult help, which makes it more enjoyable for parents like me who would prefer to do one alongside them instead of hovering and instructing.
We would have added bells or feathers on the ends of the sticks if I’d had them with me. I would love to try a necklace version.
(Edited to add 5/2017- Find a tutorial I wrote up on different versions of these here).
Erin
May 3, 2009 at 4:45 pmThanks for posting this! I used to love making these when I was a kid and almost forgot about them.
You have a lovely blog.
Kendall Micayla
May 3, 2009 at 4:48 pmThank you for sharing! I love it!
Erin
May 3, 2009 at 6:28 pmi’m setting kate up with sticks and yarn tomorrow. thanks for reminding me of this. sachets are in the works, too. 🙂
Lecia
May 3, 2009 at 10:26 pmAbbott LOVES these – made a bunch at shoofly farm a couple of summers ago. I should do this project at home.
The Antidote
May 3, 2009 at 11:33 pmMy little girl made these at Brownies last week. They made them using cocktail sticks and then they made them into tiny brooches, very sweet.
Valerie
May 3, 2009 at 11:38 pmThese are so simple and colourful, I bet they’re addictive once children start making them. I could just imagine a whole line of them in glowing colours.
Alisa: Ink Caravan
May 4, 2009 at 4:44 amOh, I loved making these as a kid! Very satisfying. They could even look a little Dream catcher-esque with some spaces and some feathers.
Courtney Russell
May 4, 2009 at 5:50 amDon’t know if you saw this, but last year I did these for Wondertime with variegated thread and they were really pretty.
Shown here: http://tinyurl.com/cuf859
blair/wisecraft
May 4, 2009 at 6:20 amCourtney I love the variegated yarn idea. That’s one we’ll have to try next.
I’m envisioning a treehouse full of these this summer.
Lynn Davis
May 4, 2009 at 6:34 am,,,or teeny tiny (with embroidery floss), for earrings!
Courtney Russell
May 4, 2009 at 6:51 amooops, yes, I meant yarn:)
Helen
May 4, 2009 at 8:08 amYou’re so right about old school crafts being the best – we used to make these at brownies and I had totally forgotten until I saw this post. Just the kind of thing my girl and boy will enjoy doing, so thank you for the reminder!
Kate
May 4, 2009 at 9:55 amHey, I used to make these! Crafting was my favorite part of summer camp when I was a kid
Tracey
May 4, 2009 at 11:00 amI LOVE this craft. Reminds me of Girl Scout summer camp! My daughter made one recently at a music festival we attend that has an art tent for kids.
jill
May 4, 2009 at 1:09 pmWhen my mom made these with me and my friends as a kid, she showed us how to make small tassles out of yarn. Wind the yarn around your hand, fold the mass in half. Tie a small string of yarn around the bended end as you attach to the stick – and then trim the ends to make the tassle.
Cristy
May 4, 2009 at 3:29 pmI loved making these in summer camp when I was a kid! I even did one in high school for a project…
There’s also this guy’s particularly inspiring examples. He includes instructions too: http://www.ojos-de-dios.com/) I thought about making small ones into earrings too.
sara
May 4, 2009 at 6:26 pmOh yes, I forgot about these!!! Nice memories…
Great site. Thanks.
mo
May 4, 2009 at 9:48 pmDid you see the article in Living Crafts about the weaving? She made looms out of cardboard. That is my next project- sort of made me think of your God’s eyes. We made about a million of those a few summers ago. Could be time to pull that craft out again.
Rose Charles
May 5, 2009 at 2:06 amso simple to do!
my daughter would love making one of those 🙂
Rose XXX
kellyi
May 5, 2009 at 1:25 pmPlease please can you make a badge for the tree house appreciation society? It would be so much fun.
We have an on the ground house under the trees which hopefully would qualify which we are always making things for.
Tiff@ThreePeas
May 5, 2009 at 2:10 pmI remember doing those at camp and VBS! Brings back memories!
Heather
May 5, 2009 at 8:11 pmOh, heavens. What memories.
blair/wisecraft
May 5, 2009 at 8:22 pmKelly, I am honestly thinking about a badge, you’re spot on. We need a
badge!
Maribeth
May 6, 2009 at 8:34 amAmen to easy, kid-friendly crafts. We attend a Jewish education program at our synagogue. The instructor frequently chooses craft projects that are way to advanced for (or uninteresting to) the kids. The parents sit around finishing the crafts, and no one has much fun.
Cheryl
May 7, 2009 at 4:40 amFun! I also forgot about these! I know where we’ll be going today…:-)