London Olympic Games Activity Booklet - Zart Art

Pearly Kings
and Queens
of London
Elizabeth II is not the only one who
holds the title of queen in London. Each
borough of London, as well as the city of
London and the city of Westminster, have
a pearly king and queen. They belong
to families of the working class who are
committed to raise money for charities.
They are easily recognizable from their
outfit - a black suit on which tens of
thousands of pearl buttons have been
sewn. The buttons are sewn in using
certain motifs; the horseshoe symbolises
luck; the dove peace, the heart charity
and the cross faith. This tradition was
started by an orphan, Henry Croft, who
wanted to help others. While he was
sweeping the marketplace of London he
would pick up the pearl buttons from the
ground and then he sewed them on to his
hat. This made him easily recognizable
and helped promote his charity work so
he was spurred on to continue sewing
more buttons on his clothes. Today the
“Pearlies” still do a lot of charity work in
London to help working class Londoners.
What could we pick up from the ground
to sew on to clothes? A can ring? Coins?
What motifs would you have on your
pearly suit?
Pearly King
Materials
Paper Doll Shapes, Felt, Kindy Glitz, Joggle Eyes
10mm, Budget Fineliner, Pearl Sequins in a Jar
1. Create a costume for the Pearly King to wear
using Felt and Pearl Sequins.
2. Use the Kindy Glitz to embellish a design of
pearl decorations to cover the suit.
3. Add Joggle Eyes to the head and draw on a
nose and mouth with a Budget Fineliner.
The
Queen
Queen Elizabeth II is one
of the most recognizable
faces on this planet. She
has reigned over Great
Britain for almost 60 years,
making her the second
longest reigning monarch
in British history (Queen
Victoria ruled for 63 years).
She is queen of many
other countries as well.
Find out which countries
she is queen of. What are
her duties? How did she
become queen? Did she
ever come to Australia?
Does she get paid? Who
is her representative in
Australia? Who will inherit
her title?
Queen for a
Day
Materials
Cover Paper A4, Doyleys, Doyleys
Metallic, Patterned Metallic Paper,
Jewels, Pre-cut Mount A5, Liquitemp
Metallic Paint, Low Melt Glue Gun
1. Use a photograph or a digital
image of a head as a starting point
for your design.
2. Collage Doyleys and Patterned
Metallic Papers around the head to
create a royal costume. Glue this
collage onto a sheet of Cover Paper.
3. Use a glue gun to trail glue
around a Pre-cut Mount. Allow to
dry. Paint the Pre-cut Mount with
Metallic Liquitemp Paint and a dry
brush.
4. Glue the Queen into the
decorated Pre-cut Mount.
5. Add jewels to decorate.
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