I'm such a bad blogger, I'm so behind. I've been goofing off this summer...and it feels great! Here are some highlights:
1. I made a skirt!!! I sewed it all by myself. Well, Violet threaded my sewing machine for me. Then, guess what! I made another skirt!!! I'll post photos of them soon. My thought was that the men at trade shows all wear their company shirts with slacks or khakis. So we women do too. What nonsense is that? I don't want to look like a man! So I made skirts to go with my company shirts. Today I bought some khaki material to try to make a skirt with. Because once in a while we do have a written dress code to follow (suit or company shirt and khakis). The skirts turned out okay. Not perfect. I had to redo steps numerous times. But the more I sewed the better I got. I'm still a beginner, but hey I MADE TWO SKIRTS!!!
2. Violet turned 13. Gasp, I HAVE A TEENAGER!!!! She's a great teenager. We had a nice family day together. She has a party planned on Friday with her best friend. They'll have fun.
3. It was hot. It was over 100 for 5 days straight. It doesn't get that hot here! And the grass and the flowers and the garden have practically all turned to dust. Some of our plants have just disappeared. I'm guessing spontaneous combustion. That or rabbits.
4. Our oldest cat has stopped eating, or practically. We've gotten her to eat some ham, some KFC (she likes original recipe) and some kitty Ensure we got from the pet store (it isn't called that, but it describes it well). Her energy level has been back up since we brought home the KFC and she had some of that. Then we got her to eat the other stuff. She turns 15 next month. We're keeping a close eye on her.
5. We've been going to movies as a family. Well, twice now. That's more than we've ever done. We saw Brave and Madagacar 3. We have plans to go to the new Ice Age movie in a couple of weeks. There's a theater just around the corner from Mr. Incredible's office so we go there. Quite a fun outing.
6. Violet was supposed to have a drawing class this week but it was canceled due to low enrollment. We'll look for other classes with the instructor this fall at the art studio where she took jewelry class. He teaches there as well as at the Kids and College program. Bummed on the cancellation, but she's been so busy this summer, I really don't mind her having a week off.
I'm sure I've missed a lot, but those are some highlights.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Ahhhh
I can't go into any detail, but the thing that has been stressing me out and haunting me for the last 3 weeks, went away today. It was a project for work. The Big Boss nixed it. I was so happy, I could have kissed her.
Let the summer relaxing begin!
Let the summer relaxing begin!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
8th Grade Curriculum
It is done. I've written our curriculum for 8th grade. It took me one and a half weekends to do it. It is a kick ass 8th grade curriculum if you ask me. Which you didn't. But I said so anyway.
Here are the highlights:
Some of the courses I'm not trying to have us do the whole thing in one year. That would be too much. And I'm famous for trying to do too much. This way we can add more. Or delete things if we want. I'm pretty excited about it. Told you it was kick ass.
Here are the highlights:
- Math – Pre-Algebra, Teaching Textbooks
- Logic – James Madison Critical Thinking Course, Chapters 1-4
- Thinking Skills – Building Thinking Skills, Level 3, Figural
- History – Ancient History through the fall of Rome
- Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
- Pyramids!
- Ancient Rome!
- Ancient Greece!
- Science – Story of Science, volume 3, part 1
- Science – Earth and Sky, Animal World, Human Body
- Usborne Encyclopedia of Science, and other materials
- Language Arts – Reading Detective, B1
- Language Arts – Various read aloud
- Language Arts – Handwriting practice, writing practice
- Language Arts – Poetry
- Home Economics – Cooking, Sewing
- Elective – Art, Monet and the Impressionists
- Elective – World Myths and Legends
Some of the courses I'm not trying to have us do the whole thing in one year. That would be too much. And I'm famous for trying to do too much. This way we can add more. Or delete things if we want. I'm pretty excited about it. Told you it was kick ass.
Thrifting
Violet and I went to the thrift store to look for material and a throw pillow that could be used with the pillow cover she made. We stumbled into a huge sale. All the clothing you can cram into a paper bag for $2. Total. $2. We know the ladies who work there, yes, we're regulars. One told us you can get 2 men's suits into a bag. For $2. We ended up with 8 items between us including a jean jacket for Violet. For $2. Even if we only ever wear one thing, we'll still come out ahead. Ladies' shirts are usually $4 each.
We also found a bunch of material, including a really cute Thanksgiving pattern. I may make it into a table runner, if Violet doesn't do anything with it first. We also got 3 yards of a really cute heart pattern for $3. I bought yarn. "My name is Freakmom and I'm addicted to yarn."
We found a soft, squishy throw pillow the same size as her pillow cover she made in class. It was a bit worn, but clean. For $3 it has now been stuffed into her pillow cover. Pillow forms were over $10 at JoAnn, closer to $16 if you wanted a soft one (we used a 50% coupon, but still!)
While Violet was in sewing class I walked to 2 other thrift stores near the town square. Neither are as nice as "our" thrift store. But I found a white blouse to wear to the 50's night I have to go to at a conference in September. Not sure if I'll just go with denim capris and bobby socks or if I'll get brave and try to make a poodle skirt. I picked up some other odds and ends, like a new shoulder bag. Which I've already replaced with a different one on clearance at Wal-Mart. Consider my $2.50 for the first bag a donation to the women's shelter that the thrift store supports. I still may use it from time to time and the shelter does really good work.
Recently I had to rewrite my bio for work. They wanted us to put a personal statement at the end. You know, "when not working John Doe enjoys golfing and traveling with his wife." In fact, of the ones I've read, 90% say just that. Insert Jane and husband some of the time. I wrote, "When she isn't at the office Freak keeps busy homeschooling her daughter, volunteering with Girl Scouts, and frequenting thrift stores in search of that perfect bargain." Maybe 90% of the people just aren't as interesting as I am! (Insert hysterical laughter.)
We also found a bunch of material, including a really cute Thanksgiving pattern. I may make it into a table runner, if Violet doesn't do anything with it first. We also got 3 yards of a really cute heart pattern for $3. I bought yarn. "My name is Freakmom and I'm addicted to yarn."
We found a soft, squishy throw pillow the same size as her pillow cover she made in class. It was a bit worn, but clean. For $3 it has now been stuffed into her pillow cover. Pillow forms were over $10 at JoAnn, closer to $16 if you wanted a soft one (we used a 50% coupon, but still!)
While Violet was in sewing class I walked to 2 other thrift stores near the town square. Neither are as nice as "our" thrift store. But I found a white blouse to wear to the 50's night I have to go to at a conference in September. Not sure if I'll just go with denim capris and bobby socks or if I'll get brave and try to make a poodle skirt. I picked up some other odds and ends, like a new shoulder bag. Which I've already replaced with a different one on clearance at Wal-Mart. Consider my $2.50 for the first bag a donation to the women's shelter that the thrift store supports. I still may use it from time to time and the shelter does really good work.
Recently I had to rewrite my bio for work. They wanted us to put a personal statement at the end. You know, "when not working John Doe enjoys golfing and traveling with his wife." In fact, of the ones I've read, 90% say just that. Insert Jane and husband some of the time. I wrote, "When she isn't at the office Freak keeps busy homeschooling her daughter, volunteering with Girl Scouts, and frequenting thrift stores in search of that perfect bargain." Maybe 90% of the people just aren't as interesting as I am! (Insert hysterical laughter.)
Saturday, June 23, 2012
An Update
Today I realized it has been a week since I promised you all an update and I still haven't given it to you. I'm sorry! Well, there's no time like the present.
This past week Violet took her third sewing class: drawstring bag. She made 2 bags during the class that they had hoped all the girls would finish just one. It isn't just Violet, the other girls in the class are just blowing the minds of the sewing shop owners and the instructor. They are looking to do advanced classes for them next summer.
One of the girls who has been in all three classes had her 10th birthday this week. Her mom got all the girls in the class material to make snap bags. They are little purses with measuring tape (you know the metal kind) as the closure so it "snaps".
By Friday, Violet was almost done with her second bag so the instructor let her decide what to do. Violet opted to use some of the leftover material from her bags to make scrunchies. They turned out great! Can you even buy scrunchies in the store any more? We were looking for some while on vacation last year and couldn't find any.
In some ways the girls aren't getting the full flavor of sewing. The instructor does all their cutting for them with a rotary cutter. She has offered to teach Violet how to use it during quilt class in July (yes, one more class to go!) but she's said she doesn't want some of the other girls using it. I've never used a rotary cutter and they sure do look nifty. But I'm thinking she needs to try a pattern and hand cutting. Of course, that is how she did Barbie's dress I posted. She took the dimensions from the sewing book, drew it on graph paper, cut it out and pinned it on the material and cut from there. Never mind, she's doing that part on her own.
I was back at work this week. I did not adjust well to my return. I didn't have a relaxing time off because of things going on there and didn't feel ready to go back. I'd like to complain more, but I can't. I'll leave it as, "if it was fun, they wouldn't call it work."
The sewing classes are in the downtown square where Mr. Incredible has his office space. That has been very handy. I've taken over his back room as my office. One day he wasn't going to be there and I didn't want to mess with the alarm system so I spent class time running errands. I checked out a new thrift store and bought Violet some material. I'll take her back to it, the place was huge!
It has been hot and muggy. Often June is pretty cool around here. It has me worried about August!
I'm afraid that's about it. I've been helping out with Abigail Adams Academy here and there, and doing a lot of reading on my own. This morning I cleaned the first floor. Tomorrow the upstairs awaits its cleaning. I've also completed writing our 8th grade curriculum, but I think I'll do a full post on that. Gotta keep them wanting more!
This past week Violet took her third sewing class: drawstring bag. She made 2 bags during the class that they had hoped all the girls would finish just one. It isn't just Violet, the other girls in the class are just blowing the minds of the sewing shop owners and the instructor. They are looking to do advanced classes for them next summer.
One of the girls who has been in all three classes had her 10th birthday this week. Her mom got all the girls in the class material to make snap bags. They are little purses with measuring tape (you know the metal kind) as the closure so it "snaps".
By Friday, Violet was almost done with her second bag so the instructor let her decide what to do. Violet opted to use some of the leftover material from her bags to make scrunchies. They turned out great! Can you even buy scrunchies in the store any more? We were looking for some while on vacation last year and couldn't find any.
 |
| The first drawstring bag |
 |
| The second drawstring bag |
 |
| The Scrunchies |
 |
| The snap bag |
In some ways the girls aren't getting the full flavor of sewing. The instructor does all their cutting for them with a rotary cutter. She has offered to teach Violet how to use it during quilt class in July (yes, one more class to go!) but she's said she doesn't want some of the other girls using it. I've never used a rotary cutter and they sure do look nifty. But I'm thinking she needs to try a pattern and hand cutting. Of course, that is how she did Barbie's dress I posted. She took the dimensions from the sewing book, drew it on graph paper, cut it out and pinned it on the material and cut from there. Never mind, she's doing that part on her own.
I was back at work this week. I did not adjust well to my return. I didn't have a relaxing time off because of things going on there and didn't feel ready to go back. I'd like to complain more, but I can't. I'll leave it as, "if it was fun, they wouldn't call it work."
The sewing classes are in the downtown square where Mr. Incredible has his office space. That has been very handy. I've taken over his back room as my office. One day he wasn't going to be there and I didn't want to mess with the alarm system so I spent class time running errands. I checked out a new thrift store and bought Violet some material. I'll take her back to it, the place was huge!
It has been hot and muggy. Often June is pretty cool around here. It has me worried about August!
I'm afraid that's about it. I've been helping out with Abigail Adams Academy here and there, and doing a lot of reading on my own. This morning I cleaned the first floor. Tomorrow the upstairs awaits its cleaning. I've also completed writing our 8th grade curriculum, but I think I'll do a full post on that. Gotta keep them wanting more!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Pillow cover
I'll post more later with other updates. But I just had to show off her wonderful pillow!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The Sewist
Violet took her first sewing class last week. It was held at a sewing store about a block from Mr. Incredible's office. They learned to make pillowcases. She made three in the three-day class (actually she almost finished #3, she finished it here at home today). They are amazing.
She is quite the sewist. I had never heard that term before, and apparently Blogger isn't familiar with it either. But the ladies from the sewing store all use it.
This weekend we got out my sewing machine. Violet helped me clean and oil it. And she showed me several things on it I had no idea were there! Yes, she has already bested my sewing ability.
Gail gave us a lot of great advice! Thank you!!! I found the book she recommended at our library and we checked it out. And we went to our Joann and just browsed for a while.
Tomorrow Violet starts a class to make a pillow cover. We went to the store and she chose her material last Friday. There will be photos when she's done with it.
She also has an illustration class starting tomorrow. It is with the same wonderful instructor she had last year. It will be a busy week, but she's really looking forward to it. I have the week off from work. I just didn't need more stress on top of getting her to 2 separate classes in 2 different towns.
I almost forgot, Violet also got out my old book Miss Patches Learn to Sew Book, and made a Barbie dress from it. Violet admitted it looks a little like a hospital gown. The ribbon helps lose that look a lot. Barbie posed with the sewing machine, so maybe you'll think she made the dress herself (per Violet). There is an evening gown for Barbie in the works, but we need elastic. I'll get her some tomorrow from the sewing store.
She also has an illustration class starting tomorrow. It is with the same wonderful instructor she had last year. It will be a busy week, but she's really looking forward to it. I have the week off from work. I just didn't need more stress on top of getting her to 2 separate classes in 2 different towns.
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