Photography: Library

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first time I stepped into the Julia Ideson Library, I knew nothing about it. When I saw the vaulted, painted ceiling, I was blown away. If you're expecting a lot from a famous building, it's so easy to be disappointed; however, if you walk into what you think is an ordinary building and find a treasure all on your own- that's one of the joys of life. The library is beautiful inside, but it wasn't open to visitors the day I brought my camera. Sometime I'd like to stake out one of the long, dark wood tables and spend a whole day there studying something important- or just reading for fun in the sunroom. I like the shady garden as well, even if I just usually walk by.

Top Ten Things I'll Miss About Teaching Preschool

1. Playing. There are some things you just can't do without feeling strange unless you have a 3-year-old with you. Things like writing in shaving cream on the table, having a "snowball fight" with cotton balls, and playing with moon sand!
2. Watching them play from a distance. Teaching preschool is a little taste of parenthood. I loved seeing their personalities come out. We had one very reserved little boy who rarely smiled. One day we let the children build with blocks in one of the centers, and not only did he enjoy it, but he was so proud of his work. I'll never forget his cute dimples as he showed me his amazing tower.
3. A set schedule, same days, same times, every week, and getting a paycheck that's always the same size. After working in retail, it's not something I take for granted. Adults need schedules just like children do!
4. Going to class and learning. The music teacher taught my 3-year-olds things that I didn't know! We raised some tadpoles too; I never got to do that as a child so I had just as much fun seeing those grow as my children did!
5. Hugs that come out of nowhere and knock me off my feet. Literally.
6. Teacher Appreciation Week, and Christmas, and Valentine's Day, and all the other times our children's parents lavished gifts on us. Starbucks cards, candy, cupcakes, scarves, earrings, plastic tumblers. Yup, preschool teachers get spoiled.
7. Access to the church kitchen. Anytime there was an event at church, you could count on getting the leftovers the following week. If I forgot my lunch, there was a 9 out of 10 chance I'd still get plenty to eat.
8. Naptime. Wait, wrong list. That should be "When naptime is OVER!!!" If you think naptime is when 3-year-olds fall asleep and teachers get a break, think again.
9. Hearing the children attempt to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Mostly it was a jumble of sounds with the same vocal inflections and meter as the Pledge. A couple kids tried to pray out loud with the teacher too, even though she said something different every morning. I think it annoyed the teacher, but how can you tell them to stop?! Another thing I got to hear were their stories. Whether their big news of the day was about the mother duck with her ducklings that they saw at the park, or how their baby sister, uh, lost her breakfast, their enthusiastic retelling of their life never failed to make me chuckle.
10. Seeing my children learn over the course of the year, not just letters and numbers, but things like listening to directions, making friends, walking in line (seriously, the change was phenomenal), coloring in the lines, developing self-control to lie still (relatively speaking...) during naptime, and overcoming some of their fears. As a Christian preschool, we taught our children a short Bible verse every month. At the end of the year, I would prompt them with the first word of each verse, and they could all say it still. Some of them even remembered the book and reference numbers! Such a smart group of kids! And I know from experience, the things you learn as a 3 or 4-year-old, you NEVER forget.

Bonus: One day I was leaning over a little boy to write his name on his paper. He looked up and told me, "You have spiderwebs in your nose." I laughed; only a 3-year-old can tell you that without it changing how much they like you or respect you.

Beach Bag

 

Last week I got my first real alteration job. I fitted a bridesmaid dress for a girl from church. I let out the side seams, raised the shoulder, and hemmed the dress. Boning, charmeuse, pleats... I feel like I Did A Hard Thing.

 

This unstructured beach bag was commissioned by my sister, who gave it to the almost-11-year-old girl she watches after school, as a birthday gift.  It's made of printed duck cloth and bleached white canvas. Making a pattern was as simple as it gets: all rectangles. I drew the pieces directly onto the fabric. The square design helped with that. I didn't even need to mark the placement of the handles; I just followed the lines in the bag. I realized that a wide binding made out of canvas would be too thick and heavy, so the edges of the solid white piece are only folded under a half inch. For the same reason, the white lining on the handles doesn't extend the length of the bag. I cut the white underside of the handles on the bias: a very good decision, and I don't know why I've never done this with tote bags before. It lies smoothly on the shoulder. Cute isn't it? Andrea, who doesn't sew, came up with the design herself while we were at the fabric store.

Queen Elsa Costume

 

 

I got to be Queen Elsa of Arendelle for a little girl's birthday party last weekend. I'm not much of a glitter girl, but this one time was fun to indulge in sparkly tulle. After fashion sewing, costume making is a relief: raw edges are no big deal!

Initial

 

 

 

 

I dabbed a paint that is supposed to look like wood stain onto the letter using a rag. Then I trimmed it with ribbon leftover from my light covers and glued on some random brass pieces- decorative paper fasteners from the craft store and old watch gears. It looks a bit steampunk; in the right surroundings it certainly would be. I just wanted it to look "old world" or antique, like an aged book.