A Little Making

When we first decided to homeschool, I was so excited be the prospect and couldn't wait to make for our classroom.  I was going to make a felt calender, a wall pocket organizer, a reusable schedule with velcro, not to mention a first day of school skirt and other lovelies.  But then I got bogged down and stumped by the lesson planning part and lost my steam.

I did get a chance to make a little pencil holder for my school girl though.  I used the pattern from The Creative Family and substituted fabric and batting for felt.  I also purchased a brand spanking new set of colored pencils (a set for her and one for me).  And it just feels so sweet and special.  This little girl, her colored pencils, and me.

First Day of {Homeschool} Kindergarten

We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, me and my little girl.  It is a start of a little (or long) journey together, one little step at a time (for me and for her).  Off to sleep now...

Yarn Along: 17 August

Joining Ginny again this week for her yarn along...

I almost used the same picture for the third week in a row as the knitting (especially the knitting) and reading have not changed that much.  I still have hopes of finishing my mom's cowl by the end of the month which means that the project is going to start coming with me (that is if I ever leave the house!).

The Egg and I is providing some closing hours entertainment--I do actually laugh out loud with this one which is just so refreshing.  I have slowed a bit though as my homeschooling reading is picking up.  I am going to start teaching our 5 year old in the fall using a loose interpretation of the Charlotte Mason approach and I am getting the jitters about it.  For those of who who have homeschooled using this method, do you have any experience with Living Books Curriculum?  Last minute, I am considering a curriculum purchase.

Yarn Along: 4 May

Joining Ginny again today for the Yarn Along...

Thankfully we have had some cool nights around here so I have had a chance to wear my so so cozy B.O.B.!  This sweater is not perfect--I wish the neck was a little higher, the underarms are grafted poorly, and it lumps in the strangest places--but I love it.  I love it for its warmth, its coziness, and for the fact that it is my very own made by me.  It might be a very long time before I get a chance to make anything else like it for myself, so I am going to wear this one out!

I have also ventured into Elizabeth Zimmerman territory--the Ganomy Hat from The Knitter's Almanac.  Since this year I have resolved to not buy any yarn until I have used what I have (except for those 8 skeins of Rowan for my new sweater), I am using some Lumpy Bumpy by Charlene in the Olive colorway, freshly wound on my windy contraption.  Although I am overcoming some of my fears of this revered knitting goddess, EZ still makes me nervous.  Her pattern writing is so casual, as if sweaters knit in fingering weight wool could fly off of her needles after a few simple calculations and some relaxing time with her wool.  Maybe one day I will get there... 

I have still been reading Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola.  I love the simplicity of this book so much that I just ordered Lessons at Blackberry Inn and A Charlotte Mason Companion.  Our local library does not carry these or the first hand writings of Charlotte Mason.  The more I read about her methods, the more I really like them.  It feels like a good starting place for us this first homeschooling year coming.