Day 49

The batik results are amazing. Some of the students have still not quite completed their final projects but I'm pushing them along slowly and I'll continue to show all of you the finished pieces as they come in... This was my first time teaching batik to an entire class (20 students) and overall, I'm pretty happy with the results. Most difficult part of the entire process? The finishing with the sewing machine!!!! I got lots of practice and I'm doing just great at sewing but I need to learn how to teach the students to use the machine.... I do not envy Family and Consumer Science teachers at all!

M's Fishy pillow

M's covered box

inside

close-up of embellishments

T's pencil case

detail with the velcro on the inside

K's picture frame

the back side...

Have you ever tried batik? It's so cool!

Day 48

Ok, so I know I should be knitting mom's socks BUT I just had to start knitting a monster immediately. They are WAY to cute to not knit right away! I'm using some of the cheap stuff (YIKES!) acrylic from school but I'm using it to show my students a variety of knitting techniques and I don't want to make them too jealous of my personal yarn stash. I'll keep you posted on the results. 

(p.s. stay tuned for batik results tomorrow!)

Day 47

My happiness today is based on my friend's happiness! A baby!!!!! A baby!!!! A baby!!!!! And she's decided to name him OSCAR!!!!! That is one of my favorites! Congrats Kathy!

Day 46

Look what was in my mailbox today! How exciting!

I purchased this book to show my Fiber Arts students. The patterns in here are easy enough that beginners can feel successful without overly challenged but are also cute enough that they hold the interest off experienced knitters. 

And FINALLY my Interweave Knits arrived today as well. G's parents gave me the subscription for Christmas this year and I've been waiting to see if it could find its way to my new home- YIPPIE, it did and I was lucky that TWO arrived at one time.

(p.s. G and I looked at four more houses today... 

nothing super great but there is some potential out there.)

Day 45

I read several knitting blogs every day. Kristen Nicholas has a great blog for those of us who wish we live on a farm but haven't quite made it there yet. She offers insight into the details of raising sheep and she doesn't sugar coat anything! She currently has two lambs living in her house so that they are able to survive. She has written several books and has recently created video tutorials to go along with her books. In my fiber arts class I'm teaching the students to knit and embellish their work with embroidery or other items to add details. I'll be using her videos in class and thought I'd also share them with you....

This one helped me to create eyes for my frog softie:

Day 44

And a heel is turned....

Day 43

Needles and needles oh my!

I experimented with some needle felting today. The one above is a flat piece that I'll change into a trivet to protect the table from hot plates. The one below is three-dimensional and going to be a little fishy that I got a few years ago at Shepherd's Harvest from Mielke's Farm. Yes, I know it may look like a lime green cigar right now, but you just wait.....