A Breather

Today was like a breath of fresh air. Cold but still fresh. It was a professional development day, therefore no classes to teach. I attended two lectures and a workshop . The workshop was called PJs for Preemies. We learned how to make clothing for premature babies. There is no commercial source of clothing for premature babies who are tiny and weigh only a pound or two. The Hospital for Sick Kids has developed a program for student volunteers to make clothing for hospital bound preemies. There is a photo and an article here with more details. I look forward to introducing this activity to my students.

Baby You Can Drive My Car

Today was a wonderful day. A program for first year teachers allows me to take 5 days of my choice away from my classroom to professionally develop my teaching. Today was my first day. I went to my mentor's school to observe her teaching and to consult with her on curriculum planning for a fashion course. I will be introducing my own classes to sewing in a couple of weeks and I will teach a fashion class next year.

My mentor has a great sense of humour and is able to both teach her students and talk to them about important life issues in an interesting and hilarious way. I watched a class of grade 10s first introduction to sewing machines. They got to sew on paper without thread; first following straight lines and then curvy lines. They were all genuinely excited, even the boys. You would have thought it was their first time driving a car!

We discussed various resources. Finally I'll be able to use all the fashion stuff (old labels, magazines, pattern slopers, PR photos) that I have been storing for years. I feel reassured now that twenty years of my life won't just become a fond memory. Instead it will be a source of lessons for another generation of creativity.

The photo is one of my favourite photos of a rose (Souvenir de la Malmaison) from my garden. A summer memory used to celebrate life on a winter day.

Baby it's Cold Outside

Yes it is cold outside. We haven't had a single day above 10 C all week. My moebius neck warmer is my first cold weather finished object this season. The tropical colours help me think extra warm thoughts. The yarn was an impulse buy when I was in NYC this summer. It was my second trip to Seaport Yarn. I got lost on the first trip and the shop was closed by the time I found it. It was well worth the second trip. Seaport Yarn is a "must see" in lower Manhatten packed with all kinds of good yarn deals and a sales person with good advice. I was looking for sock yarn when this novelty yarn caught my attention and refused to let go. It's Colinette Giotto, and it comes in many delicious colours. It was very difficult to choose just one. I did buy sock yarn too -Aussi Sock photo below -which I'm using to knit the fingerless gloves Fetching . Although by now its already cold enough for fleece lined mitts.