mamazilla: 05/01/2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

p is for pangolin (and paloma...)

the subject of paloma's final 1st grade project was the giant pangolin. paloma's teacher gave the class numerous ideas on how to present the project - diorama, mobile, poster, clay figure, etc... i noticed after looking thru the packet, that most of the animals were endangered. and the idea of making a t-shirt popped into my head... i mean, what better way for the paloma to not only learn about the animal but become something of a mini activist for the animal as well...

first came the research... mostly done online (we only had a few days) and we started with savethepangolin.org of course! :) much of it was really depressing and difficult for the paloma... oftentimes, she would get a little teary eyed... and frankly, morbid/morose... i got a leetle worried and redirected her from the sad reality of the plight of the giant pangolin and into the depths of the project...

i started us off by finding a great pangolin image. i traced the drawing and some text onto the shirt w/a fabric marking pen. paloma followed behind with some fabric markers

then we finished up with the poster portion of her presentation that listed a little background info about the giant pangolin - habitat, interesting facts and threats, etc...

we were both exceedingly happy with our work. she came home with a score of 12 pts./12 pts. and she can't wait to wear the shirt when it gets returned to her. i'm kinda jealous - i want a save the giant pangolin t-shirt!!! :)

Monday, May 17, 2010

what i did on mother's day...

also known as "why i didn't wish you a happy mother's day..." :)

i am a glutton for punishment. i (once again) was determined to make presents instead of buying them. so, for my mother, my stepsister and my stepsister's mother in law i made little reversible satchels (w/ new added pockets) like i made for paloma's teacher.

i also added some matching accessories - a tissue case, an eyeglass/sunglass case and a fabric flower brooch:

anyhoo... i really hope you gave yourself some much deserved R & R on mother's day... an hour of two before mother's day lunch, i finally unclenched. :)

Monday, May 03, 2010

National Teacher Day on May 4th

so, on my calendar (and the linked website), national teacher day is celebrated tomorrow...

which does not explain the phonecall i received from my husband shortly after he walked the paloma to school:

the thin man: "um... did you know that today is national teacher day?"

me: "um... according to my calendar that's tomorrow."

the thin man: "well, according to all the other children and parents with flowers and gifts that were gleefully standing in line... it's today."

me: *shakes fist at sky*

anyhoo.... lately, i've been REALLY good at making gifts instead of buying them... and i wasn't going to let someone else's errant reading of the calendar stop me.

the only thing i could think of making without the use of notions (i.e. zippers, snaps, buttons, etc...) was a bag of some kind... i did some googling and found this lovely tutorial for a reversible bag from the verypurpleperson blog.

i have a lot of fabric (no!? really!?) and i picked a bunch of different combinations, but i went with a neutral palette anyway... it's kinda "listening to van morrison, drinking wine coolers at the lake" summery... :)

the paloma's teacher is really nice and has been one of the many highlights to the paloma first grade year... i'm glad that i can make something for her that will brighten up an already beautiful day... i really hope the paloma didn't feel too bad about not having something for her this morning... eek. :(

last but not least - to the teachers who made the realm of H*LL, otherwise known as high school, bearable (and oftentimes magical) for me, thank you, thank you, thank you... especially Mr. Harper, Mr. Thetard, Mr. Wood and Mr. Poehler. :)

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