FACSy Fun on Friday

Well, I survived my first week of student teaching. And I must say: I loved every single second of it... even the lesson I gave that turned out to be the biggest disaster ever.  And I am exhausted.  But I can't wait to go back next week!

After school on Friday I immediately headed for Hobby Lobby to pick up some supplies to try out a fun activity that I got the okay to do with my sewing class.  It involves fire.  I haven't told them about my record with fires... so let's keep that to ourselves, okay?

Playing with fire; Please note the tri-colored walls.  Yeah, they're still there.

Here's a fun FACS factoid for you: Natural fibers burn when exposed to fire, but synthetic fibers melt.

I just love when my Tiffany's candlesticks prove both pretty and practical.  Grandma would be so proud.

Sometimes when I'm exposed to really crafty and creative people (like other FACS teachers) I start to think that I am both crafty and creative.  I am not.  But this project didn't turn out too bad!

Lollipop Flower!

Look what I did!!!

Okay, it turned out a bit large*, but at least I didn't burn the house down!  Now, let's hope the school is still standing after I do this with my class of seventh graders. :)

*Drew referenced an 80's prom dress when I showed him, which got me thinking that maybe Debbie could use some spicing up.

Learn to Sew

I'm going to be a FACS teacher.  That means I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to be teaching.  It totally depends on where I get a job and what class they need me to teach. 

There's a very good chance I may have to teach kiddos to sew.  This poses a problem as I have no idea how to sew.  I have next to no experience.  Thankfully I'm equipped with an exceptional ability to BS my way through things I don't know about.  And I'm signed up for a "Fabrication Construction" class next semester. 

But I didn't want to show up on the first day of class with absolutely no knowledge.  I have to have a bit of info in my pocket to really be able to fake it.  So I signed up for a Basics of Sewing Class at Harper's.  

The two hour class promised to teach me the ins and outs of the sewing machine and how to sew a zipper.  Big time stuff. 

The Machine.

Okay, this was listed as a class for "beginners" but I was one of only two people in class who didn't bring their own sewing machine!  If you actually own a machine and know how to operate it you are a bit advanced in my book.

I sat there with a look of terror I'm sure as the lady talked endlessly with words I didn't know.  Bobbin?  WTF is a bobbin?!  Why am I threading it? 

This lady loves sewing.  Duh.  She owns a fabric/sewing store.  But man, I haven't heard someone speak so enthusiastically on a subject... like ever.  She totally got me excited to sew.

I sewed two pieces of fabric together.  Holla.

Eventually I picked up what she was talking about and even got my bobbin threaded.  Our last project was to sew a zipper.  I did it.  It was awesome.

Oh yeah, I asked one of the other students to take my pic.  And yes, she thought I was nuts.

I can't even imagine how useful this will be.  I'm planning on adding a zipper to everything around here.  I mean, what wouldn't  benefit from the addition of a zipper?  I like that fabric so much, I may just turn it into some fancy pants for Drew.  Wouldn't he look great in yellow?!

I'm hoping that I learned enough to be able to take my class next semester without the teacher and everyone else wondering what business I have teaching something so foreign to me. 

This will be our little secret, okay?  I can't go losing my street cred with the FACS gals.