Kleas

mosaic monday - tiny houses

1. https://www.etsy.com/listing/97752962/miniature-clay-houses-five-ceramic?listing_id=97752962&listing_slug=miniature-clay-houses-five-ceramic, 2. 034, 3. wooden village, 4. very festive. much tissue. wow., 5. Textile Printing, 6. tiny house, 7. Scotch Broom Cottage, 8. White Pasta Box Houses, 9. Moving, 10. 105, 11. Cork Village, 12. Tiny House Ornament aq

Another Tiny Houses mosaic (first and second) to start off the week.  I made this in celebration of Jackie's (Smoothpebble) Tiny House Swap that I participated in.  Swaps have been sent and received and I can't wait to share them tomorrow.

A lovely drawing of 1000 Houses by Asja Boros

A Happy Monday to all and a very happy start to Spring Break for us!  

March birthdays at the preschool + other stuff

For Lydia.  I knit the pouch in linen stitch...I just love how it looks like weaving.

For Morgan.  Finally a girl who did not choose a kitty as her favorite animal.  I love this elephant!  Pouch was crocheted with a braided chain for wearing.

For Penina.  She is a friend of Julen's and in Kindergarten with him.  He insisted on the "gnome doll necklace"....color choice was his also.

My teaching partner was out yesterday so I had to quickly think of a handwork project for the kids to do. How I've missed teaching handwork to the children!!...it's been a nice break with my partner having a turn this year, but I never realized how much I've missed it!

We made water colored coffee filter butterflies.  So much fun and such a happy project for this slow to arrive spring we are having.  They looked so pretty as the children waved them (flying) through the air on their sticks.

Finally...more mud play.  I'm sure we haven't seen the end of messy outdoor clothes for a while.

natures paintbox

Our crazy weather has us in a melt/freeze rotation that has been providing lots of mud in the backyard at the preschool.  The children quickly discovered that by either sitting in the mud or by simply scooping it up with their mittens they are able to create lots of pictures and designs by "painting" or making "butt prints" on the side of the garage (forgive the awful phone photos...I hadn't planned on taking pictures and I had to act quickly to catch the kids in action).

Once they've covered the wall, they clean their "canvas" by rubbing snow on it to clear the dirt.  It is quite a process and so much fun for me to watch.  

It should be noted that I do not recommend that the children try this at home without their parents consent and also that the parents have all communicated that they know it was a "good day" by how muddy their childrens clothing comes home to them.

hooray for spring!! ( + looking for color)

Happy first day of spring!!

After the insufferable winter so many of us experienced here in the US, we are most definitely ready for some spring-like weather.  Not even last nights four inches of snow could get us down!

I am in need of some color and thought I would share some here today.

• I found lots in these pretty blooms I bought for my friend for her birthday yesterday
• the mini hand-carved spoons and picks with their brightly colored tops sure gift my spirit a lift (found in Mexico)
• and how about the cheerful rainbow wool star garland...I'm ready to hang in in a dreary corner somewhere
• these mini (one inch long) painted clothespins from the dollar bins at Target...just couldn't resist
• colorful mini skeins...I'm aching for a fun project that I can use these for (found here)

Oh I just can't wait to get going with spring...time outside, time for the garden, time to hang up the winter gear. 

Happy Spring friends!!  xxx

mosaic monday - green (of course)

1. Green Chairs, 2. ON THE TABLE, 3. 2014-02-23 14.10.04-1, 4. Here Lines The Standing Lives, 5. Untitled, 6. Green Embroidery Floss, 7. mossy path, 8. Spring, 9. Rainbow, 10. Starpath Scarf: How to Crochet Star Stitches, 11. Row of poplars, 12. green chairs

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

A wide range of greens from my flickr favs to start off your Monday.  Don't forget to wear green today or you may get a pinch!

lichen

Found on my walk around the lake.  So much tree bark on the ground, covered with lichen.  I don't know if it's newly fallen from the trees or it's just reappearing after the quick melt of snow cover.  Such pretty colors emerge and such wonderful shapes.  It's fun to look at.  And what crazy shadows they cast.

Anyone craft with lichen?  

happy pi day

It's Pi Day.  My nine-year-old begged for a pie to bring to his math teacher today.  I conceded.  Then Julen wanted to bring one to his Kindergarten teacher.  Not quite the same as they have nothing to do with Pi in his class, but wanting to be like big brother I allowed it.  One blueberry, one apple. Apparently, I am raising a couple of Geeks. :)

So I joined in...Monster Pie for the preschool.

Happy Friday friends!!  xx

one tall order

My latest pile of crocheted cowls.  Color didn't matter.  Made for a family reunion.  Ten people gathering in NYC this week, most of whom come from a warmer climate.  I hope my cowls keep them cozy.  Most importantly...I hope they send me a picture of the group all wearing them.  

It's still chunky cowl weather here.  Dreaming a little of where it is not.  Where gardens are starting to come to life.  Sigh.  Soon, very soon.

mosaic monday - ist halt so.

1. Sneaky peek. Paper embroidering it up this afternoon., 2. 22nd january, 3. Untitled, 4. little coffee time, 5. Untitled, 6. Party time, 7. white spring, 8. Linen and Lace hearts, 9. First Snow, 10. heart like a stone, 11. été, 12. spacloth detail

Still loving flickr...another set of inspiring images.  Follow links above to find more from the artist whose work is in the mosaic.

Full to overflowing.  That is what's on my plate this week.  Happy Monday!!  xxx

February birthdays at the preschool

We celebrated two half birthday's in February.  We want to make sure each child is honored on their special day at the preschool and as 12 of our 19 children have a summer birthday we are more often celebrating half birthdays than actual ones.

More wooden kittens for the girls, made by my teaching partner.  The top one for Madison, with a pastel crocheted pouch made by me...I added a long chain stitch cord made for wearing around the neck.  The bottom one for Elsie...a bright colorful pouch for this little ray of sunshine.

And the sweet sheep?   Why that one was made for me...when we ask the children what their favorite animal is I always share mine too and I never change...it is always the sheep.  Provider of wool and milk that makes some of my favorite cheese.  I celebrated MY birthday on Tuesday and my friend surprised me with my own little animal (however, we didn't bother singing "the earth goes round the sun..." for each year of my life!...we'd have been at the snack table forever!!)

It's been a busy week...catching up after my stay in Mexico.  But I think I'm finally there.

Happy March!!!  (already? ...crazy, right?)