A lesson in inappropriateness

So the crazy woman who teaches music at my school wanted all of the 5th grade students together today so she could teach them the basics of playing a recorder. As their teachers, we have to sit in the back of the room while they have their lesson, which is when I try to catch up on my grading and emails. The lesson was going along in its usual mismanaged way when apparently some boys from a different class than mine started doing something suggestive with their recorders. The music teacher screeched at them and had their teacher take them out in the hall to speak with them about being appropriate in class. She came back in the room and yelled at all the kids that "the recorder is a musical instrument. Not a part of the male anatomy!" She then segued into a technique called "tonguing." It was then that I realized I wasn't mature enough to be in that room. Watching her "tongue" her recorder after hearing that it wasn't phallic was too much for me today.

Simple Restyle

For my 1st Project Restyle project, I took a cookie cooling rack and a ribbon and made a necklace holder for myself.

I also used some fabric from a nightgown that no longer fit my baby girl and an embroidery hoop to make an earring holder.
Hopefully this keeps my jewelry more organized and easier to find.

2010 in review

My Magpie in January 2010

Miles in February at the Deep Sea Exhibit

In March, we celebrated Magpie's 1st birthday.

Easter

 1st family camping trip

Our trip to Puerto Villarta, which was probably the most fun I've ever had in my life.

Miles, wearing the shirt I made for him in August.

Our 1st day of school together!

The Pumpkin Patch in October

Mario Love in November

My Magpie grew up so much this year!

2010 was a great year for us and I'm excited to see what the new year will bring. 

bird love

1. Cute Applique T-shirt, 2. owl applique, 3. Cute Applique T-shirt, 4. wall art diptych - a story of love, 5. ♥ It's SPRING!, 6. bird detail, 7. peacock, 8. owl pincushion., 9. bird detail

My daughter and I share a love of birds. That's why I call her Magpie. I want to make all of these.

New Year's Resolutions

 Thrift Core invited fellow bloggers to list their Top Three Goals for 2011.
The rules:

1) List three goals, smaller numbers are easier to achieve.

2) With each goal, write what you will do to achieve it.

 

1.  Organization- I'm going to try try try to put things away before I leave work and before I go to bed. I'd say right after I use the item, but I figure this as at least a starting point.

2. Be more Crafty- I'm going to try to devote 15-30 minutes a day making something. 

3. Blog- I'm going to try to post something at least 4 times a week.

I've got a few more goals for myself but this is a good start. What are your goals for the upcoming year? Leave a comment and we can inspire each other!

Project Restyle

I joined Project Restyle on Flickr! Project ReStyle is the 'love child' of Rachel Denbow and Elsie Flannigan. Everyone is invited to join in the fun! They will have twenty six special guest designers in 2011. Project Restyle is a just-for-fun creative group focused on ReStyling damaged, unwanted or unusable goods into fresh, beautiful pieces. They are going to create weekly projects to give life to used items. We'll make fashion pieces as well as home decor projects! Anyone can join in the fun....

The Done List

Summer Pierre, author of The Artist In The Office, which I'm currently reading, suggests not only making a to do list of goals you want to accomplish but also a list of the things you have accomplished. So here is mine:

1. Moved to New Mexico
2. Moved back to Tulsa
3. Got married to my soul mate
4. Had a baby boy
5. Graduated from collage (suma cum laude!)
6. Moved to Texas
7. Sold my house
8. got a job I love two days after graduating
9. got to be Teacher of the Year
10. Created my own classroom website
11. Had a baby girl
12. Taught myself how to embroider
13. Painted some things I liked
14. Made my first softie
15. Made a difference in some kids' lives
16. Took my family camping
17. Went to NYC
18. Supported my husband through college (well, one more semester to go!)
19. Went to Puerto Villarta
20. Changed schools and started teaching 5th grade

There, that makes me feel good. Like I'm not squandering my time as much as it feels like I do sometimes. Hopefully this year I'll be able to add a few more things to the list.