Nature Mobile Tutorial

Welcome! After what has felt like an endless March, we are finally getting a taste of summer weather here on the North Shore.  As many of us are still spending most of our time at home and away from others, this is a great time to get outdoors and get creative. Today I’ll be sharing a craft that can be made by just about anyone, regardless of age or skill. A nature mobile is a hanging work of art composed of sticks, string and just about anything you can find outdoors. You can make it very complex (perhaps try a cascading mobile like Alexander Calder) or very simple if you are making this with kids (try selecting one stick and hanging each object in a row from the stick). Your first step will be to take a walk outside and gather some materials. You’ll need a dry stick or two (more if you’d like), some objects for hanging like shells, flowers, leaves, pine cones, acorns, pebbles, or feathers, plus a pair of scissors and some string This is a great way to use up leftovers of yarns, thread, or wire. Assemble your materials together when you return and sketch out your idea.

Start from the lowest hanging object and work your way up. Tie the objects to either end of the stick, using your finger to find the balancing point at the center. That’s where you will attach a string to tie that stick to the next stick up. Use loosely tied knots to start so that you can adjust the positioning of the objects again once it is all assembled. Make sure to leave enough space that the objects and sticks can rotate 360 degrees unobstructed.

Once all objects have been attached, hang the mobile in a doorway to adjust the positioning that the mobile is well balanced and all parts can move freely. Any remaining yarns or threads can be wound around the sticks to add pops of color. Now find a place in your home or in your yard to display your work of art! Share your creation with us on our Facebook page, or reach out by email at educator@ipswichmuseum.org