fiance, student, homeschool retiree, preschool teacher wannabe, Senior Living Coordinator, writer of many things unsaid, blogger, lover of the creative, most cheerful depressed person, devourer of books, crafty wanna be, amateur tech support, internet junkie, facebook stalker, tweeter of tweets, Pagan, friend, sister, daughter, aunt, karaoke super-star
My favorite things about homeschool magazines, along with the new ideas from the articles are the ads. Yes, I love homeschool ads. I really enjoy seeing the exciting new products and materials coming available for homeschooling.
When I was a kid, I was extremely creative. I would cut things up and refashion them into some amazing new creation, much to my mothers dismay. Fortunately for me, my kiddos have inherited this wonderful trait from me: the need to create. Since I'm not a huge fan of large messes, this can be a fine balance to keep, the creativeness and the cleanliness. I love quick easy and not so messy projects to spark our creativity. That is my main criteria for projects: maximum creativity, ease of project, and tidy technique. It's also important to keep in mind your child's skill and developmental level, don't choose complicated projects that aren't age appropriate. It's really not fun for anyone if you are pretty much doing the project for them, it'll just be frustrating for both you and your child.
Christmas is a great time of year for crafts and artwork. Your December arts and craft projects can serve double duty as a gift. Here are a few fun projects I have found that we are working on this month. Enjoy!
Kusudma Sphere (for older kids and parents)- We used white printer paper cut into 2X2 squares to make ornament sized balls. I recommend practicing with a large piece of paper till you get the technique down
Flower wall art using toilet paper rolls (for PreK and up)- Amazingly classy and super easy
Old School Pom Poms (K and up)- I'm thinking about these in red, green, and white as festive ornaments for the tree
Fabric Fortune Cookie- (for teens or parents) This is SOOO cute, I'm thinking add a string and hang it on the tree, instead of a fortune, put a prediction for next year inside."I think 2010 will find me doing more fun arts and craft projects."
Henry David Thoreau said, “How vain it is to sit down to write,when you have not stood up to live.”
I must say, I love this quote. It really is kind of sad that it is a good reminder for me. Sometimes we writer/creative types spend so much time living within ourselves. We think, we ruminate, we feel the need to show the world what WE think, and we are passionate about sharing what is inside us. All those are great and fine, but when you aren't living, what new things do you have to share? You become disconnected from the world, who is supposed to be your audience. I need to be more about observation sometimes and less about what I think. Will it make my writing better? Most definitely! Will it make my life better? It couldn't hurt!
I have been sick this week. I felt it coming on last week. My legs had been achy, a sure sign of my body giving way to some sort of invader. Then it hit me hard on Sunday and I have been feeling icky all week. I have a sore throat, my head hurts, groggy brain, and I just plain do not feeling good. I will be glad when it is all over!
In fact, I feel a little better right now,but that may all be drug induced confidence.
I made this little print of some flowers Levi had given me. I love flowers.
Into Depression
Overwhelmed
Defeated
Abandoned
Alone
Lost hope
No Strength
Beyond
Inward
Despondent
Small
Defensive
Angry
Sigh
Pushed
Cry
Empty
~April Mitchell
©November 1, 2009
