Table mats and decorative diyas on display at Sacred Heart Convent School. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Jan. 30: Flowing gowns in bright hues with sequin work were just what the fashion doctor ordered for the bleak winter.

The best part about the gowns that were displayed at Sacred Heart Convent School crafts exhibition was that they were “designed” by the school’s kindergarten students who gave their imagination a free reign on this day.

The small “dummy” costumes made out of coloured papers and cellophane at the annual kindergarten and primary section craft exhibition could have given tough competition to fashion designers.

Not only did the kids design umbrellas, paperbags, handmade calendars and book marks with paper, they also made tulips and turtles out of egg shells and sheep out of cotton.

“This is an annual exhibition where crafts made throughout the year by students are put on display. This is an opportunity for them to show off their work to the parents. The craft classes not only help them relax, but also encourages a child to explore his or her skills,” said Jacqueline Daniel, a teacher of the primary school at the Sacred Heart Convent School.

And she promises that most of the items made at the exhibition were the children’s idea. Take the Pen stand made of ice cream sticks, the paper table mats and the cardboard photo frames or the handkerchiefs, paper jewellery and decorative diyas, the exhibition had a bit of everything.

The mela’s Spacecity section contained mini-rockets, spacecrafts, robots and UFOs crafted out of thermocol, cardboard, paper plates and bowls.

“Parents informed us that the children had started asking questions about UFOs and rockets after they made the items in the classes. This is what we are trying to do, we are trying to stoke their curiosity. To make them think beyond textbooks,” said Daniel.

Classes IV and V students, too, did their part and made artificial jewellery, paintings and flower vases.

“I learnt how to make jewellery and now would prefer to pursue it as a hobby. Our teachers helped us a lot when it came to ideas and innovations. I enjoyed making the jewellery pieces,” said Debasmita Paul, a student of Class V of Sacred Heart Convent School.