Namaste, Ya Little Buggars.

I encountered my first class of scoundrels as a substitute teacher.  Fifth graders.  They came in the classroom and never paused their playing for a second.  They didn't even give me a chance to announce that their teacher was out and had asked me to come in and be their "guest teacher" for the day.  They never got quiet.  Never got settled down.  Never acknowledged the chime we use for such purposes in "Responsive Classroom."  Didn't put their heads down when I finally gave up and told them to take a five minute break.

I refuse to yell at kids.  It does no good anyway. So I just took a breath for a moment to figure out my next move.

This is how I fantasized the scene.  Me....breathing deeply and removing myself mentally from the bad vibes...as big claws come in and pluck the ornery little buggars away.  There's a hook that comes in a takes one of the entertainers off the stage. I found this little fantasy quite calming.

As I walked over to the telephone and drew my finger down the phone directory list, the room grew increasingly quiet.  I dialed the phone and knew that I had their attention. As I began to speak to their teacher, you could hear a pin drop.

Unfortunately, she was in a meeting and could not come to give them a pep talk, but I didn't let on.  They thought she was on her way.

They sat with their heads down in silence as I gave the evil eye to anyone who dared look up.  Finally, I pretended to call the teacher again to tell her that they had done better and I would give them a second chance.

They were quiet enough for the rest of the class.  Not as quiet as I prefer, but quiet enough.

Thank goodness that as a sub, I can choose to work with them again or not.



Scherenschnitte 5"x7"       "Fat Fairy"

Procrasti-organization

I love sitting at my desk. It feels good to wake up when it is still dark out, and admire my work space all lit up. It is kind of like how you get mesmerized by a campfire or lit Christmas tree.

However, a lot of the time,  there is a pile of stuff left there from my last project.  Instead of getting inspired to do art work, the pile inspires me to organize.

This morning, after seeing my hole punches all scattered on the desk, I thought up a better way to organize my them. So, great! Accomplishment. But no art work done. 

When I am in the flow, I don't see the chaos. But afterwards, it keeps me from moving on to the next project. It feels like procrastination to organize my space when I want to work, but I can't move on until it is done. I wish I knew how you folks who are always tidy and organized, do it.

Getting to Work....Valentines and Churches

Snipping brings me pleasure and peace.

These are 3D mobile paper cuttings.  I fold paper; sketch symmetrical designs; cut with scissors or X-acto knives and paper punches; then stitch them together with monofilament.

Onion Dome Churches

I cut onion domed churches as my Christmas cards one year, then I decided to sell them on Etsy. They were really popular. Long afterwards, when I had stuck the last remaining ones in a file, friends would request them to buy as gifts.

I haven't had anything in my Etsy shop in a while, so I decided to cut some churches and Valentines to go in. Both are such pleasures to spend my time making.

Key & Peele - Substitute Teacher

My apologies.  There are some very naughty words in this video.  However, I am compelled to watch it whenever I come across it.  It makes me giggle til I am almost in tears.

Chicken Stock Makin' Kind if Day

It is 18 degrees out. Our plans to hike in Shenandoah have been cancelled because the park is closed in the section nearest us. So, it seems like a good day to putter around the house.

I'll let the Costco chicken carcass simmer into a stock and make the house smell all homey. I will listen to Shannon Cason's Homemade Stories podcasts again and eventually find my way down to Snippyville. Sounds like a good way to spend a day.

****  It's now 6:00 and we're having dinner.  I turned that stock into chicken noodle soup.  Here's the recipe I used.  Chef John's Chicken Noodle Soup  Oh.....my......goodness.  Yummy!!!

Gingerbread Man Fun

So much of my holiday joy in the past, has come from being around excited little kids.  Since I am retired, and interact with them so seldom, I have had to seek out experiences with kids.  Around Thanksgiving, I went to see my grand nephew in a kindergarten play.  It was super sweet and I loved being in the presence of so much excitement.

I subbed for a friend and did lessons on Nutcrackers.  I brought in my nutcrackers.  We listened to music from the Nutcracker.  We watched videos about nutcrackers.  The kids drew nutcrackers.  That all got enthusiastic responses.

Still seeking out some Christmas joy, I invited myself to a friend's kindergarten class to decorate gingerbread men with them.  My friend was happy to oblige.  We decided that the best day to do this was the last day before winter break.

We finally came up with this plan.  I would rush into the classroom, wearing oven mitts and an apron, and I would declare that I was baking gingerbread men at home.  Supposedly, when I opened the oven, they pushed their way out and ran out the door.  They left me a clue that led me to their school. I asked them if they had seen the cookie people and they had not.  When I read another clue, it led us to another place in the building.  

There were probably 7 clues in all.  The kids got very excited figuring out each one.

Finally, they made their way back to the classroom and that is where the cookies all were.

I overdid the candy and frosting purchases, but I figured it was better to have too much than too little.  

Their teacher and I decided that the kids would work in groups of two.  The cookies had been made in a giant Wilton cookie pan, which was way too much for the kids to eat in one sitting.  So we decided that the cookies would be given to various helper people in the school.

The teacher purchased more gingerbread men at Costco for the kids to decorate and eat.  

Here are some of the ideas I want to remember for the next time I do this.

Sprinkles can be made by adding a few drops of food coloring to sugar.  I mixed them in ziplock baggies and let the bags sit open for a day to dry.  The sprinkles were put in spice jars with holes in the lids.

The Dollar Tree was a treasure trove for small candies and supplies.

Frosting was made with vanilla, shortening, and confectioner's sugar.  I put them in large yogurt containers. I think that I could have used the frosting from the Dollar Tree and not spent any more money than I did making it on my own.

The kids spread the frosting with plastic knives, also from the Dollar Tree.

I bought two part gift boxes and the kids decorated the gingerbread men in a half.  This gave a little sturdiness to the cookie when it was carried and it kept all the candies contained inside.

The candies were put in paper plates for the kids to use.

As some kids finished up, we started showing Gingerbread Man videos from YouTube.

I had a wonderful day with the kids, and they seemed to have fun as well.

I am a Paper Cutter

When people ask me in which art medium I prefer, I say rather apologetically, "paper cutting."  My impression is that they think of ladies snipping tulips and birds in the 80's as a craft activity.  Certainly, I do some craftsy paper cutting, but not all of my work is that.  I feel, somehow, that if I could answer "painting" or "sculpture" people would have a greater frame of reference and respect.  I have totally forgotten that one of the greats was a paper cutter.  How on earth do I not think immediately of Henri Matisse?

Christmas Cards for 2014

You would think that since I retired six months ago, my Christmas cards would have been snipped ages ago.  Not so.  I've busied myself with everything but snipping.  Once I got down to crunch time though, I enjoyed the task.  This year's batch are pleasing to me but they are more simple than those done in years past. Here are a few of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Godzilla Needs Warm Butter Too

I enjoy window shopping on eBay.  Often I find myself looking for deals on cast iron cookware.  This morning I came across a listing today for a Descoware butter warmer.  The photo for this listing has to be the best eBay photo I have ever seen.