The Handwork teacher

I am a mother to two beautiful girls and I teach Handwork and Fine Arts in our local waldorf charter school in Arizona.

Monday, February 18, 2008

6 days left


Ok so I am leaving for Sunbridge College in 6 days. this is my 2nd time this year going out there and I will be enjoying and soaking up all the good info and vibes for a week of Eurythmy , Geometry, Song, Handwork and ...well and more.

But it puts a pit in my stomach to think about leaving my girls...I already miss them...they are the best!

The red thread



Chinese folklore says when a child is born, invisible red threads extend from the child's spirit and connect to all of the people who will be part of the child's life. As the child grows, the threads shorten, drawing closer those people who are destined to be together.

By

My First Name Is Mommy



WOW doesn't that just blow your mind...sorry but yes, every word seems true

Friday, February 1, 2008

Yearbook

That's my girl running towards me while I am taking pics for the yearbook. She likes to run full tilt, football style, ram into me with a big hug. She ended up walking around campus with me while I took pictures at lunch time...She was often pulled into shots by older kids who think she is "so cute" ....I have to agree with them...I think she is adorable!


So it is really time to get the yearbook started. so all the 8th graders and five 7th graders are my helpers. I have them each a page to do...we will see what they do with it! they were all excited but a week as passed and only one child is done...yes the total Choleric one

Thursday, January 31, 2008

broken bones

Well I don't get squeamish around blood or broken bones, I can stay really relaxed in an emergency. So yesterday was one of those opportunities to test my state of being relaxed and reacting.
So a child Broke his arm while I was on play yard duty. we had 2 teachers on the scene, I stayed with the child and the other ran to the office. I sent the 2 Cholerics who needed a job to run after him and make sure he was calling 911, cause there was not way we were getting this kid in a car and driving to the hospital. I had several 8th graders shoving phones in my face and I kept telling them only one teacher needs to call and we already know that that is being done. I sent 2 more kids, the melancholics to run and get blankets and jackets to cover up this poor kid who was on the very cold grass in the yard.

yah it was interesting

Sunday, January 27, 2008

birthing handwork

In case I never told you this thought:


Handwork is a form of birth, you conceive the idea, you nurture it, you wait and dream of the what it will look like when it is all made, then the final push and you are done... a master piece!


my 3 and 7 year old's play space

Here are a few corners from our play area...not all. I didn't get all the shelves and the craft area. but here is a peek into our play time space.


the nature table is a constant flow of energy, changing with the season and day to day additions and subtractions of items.
nature tables at every corner
jump ropes, painting aprons, purses... a few of those my 7 year old made.
mobiles are endless hours of fun to make and share with friends who come over after school.


I thought I would share what my girls are up to, how they choose to make their play space and what interests them ...at the moment...this changes often and we rotate toys and in and out of the shed. Some things stay the same, but most will change around...perhaps just change location of the room and then sometimes the item is noticed and brought back into "action"
This was how the rooms were left this morning...

Saturday, January 19, 2008

felted gnome cave tutorial



felted gnome cave tutorial


First you need a foam mat for felting on, wool roving or dyed wool batting and last you need a felting needle.

felt your white batting into the base mat...the ground
make sure that the edges are nice and round...fold it over and tac it down to make it round.
next get your ground cover and tac it down
tac tac tac

now the cave. you will felt the cave flat and then make it round

fold your cave and place it where you want it.
tac it down

now you need to make the stones. you can roll the stone felt in your hands and felt them down

now the fire.
felt it flat and then pull it up and place into the fire pit


done!

display case



These are items made by the kids...1st through 8th grade. I put their work in the display case for a few weeks so that the parents can come into the office and see what the kids are doing. Then their work goes home. The felt people are made by the 7th grade, they just went home on Thursday.

Friday, January 11, 2008

7th grade wet felting


these are the hats they are making.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Knitted purse pattern to sell at school

I got one of these purses as a gift from a parent this year...she made it and it is just soooo beautful!


http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_needlework_knitting/article/0,,HGTV_3263_3664655,00.html

ice cream knitted bag
very cool!

Monday, December 24, 2007

store items

update on store items....it seems that almost all the items I put in the store have sold!!!
that is so great! the doll I made sold in 3 days I believe.....For $125 I am putting that money towards my teacher training.

Now I need to make more.............................................when I have 8 hours of free time

Winter Break



Wahooooo! School is out! just in time...they were getting really squirrelly...maybe because they were ready to be on break too. Plus I needed some special time with my own kids.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Teacher down on aisle 2


Ok so I was walking with the 8th graders to the 7th grade class and as I was walking my ankle gave way and I fell smack on the ground...kindergarten style. The 8th graders came running to get me and I rolled up and started laughing, they were so sweet and I was so embarrassed, "one child said "teacher down on aisle 2" "ah, I thought I was going down" "wow you really fell"