I was always the "different" kid in the classroom. I loved to read and write stories, to paint and draw. I hated sports and would get out of gym class with any means necessary. I was extremely shy and quiet unless spoken to, though outside of the school you'd have said that opposite about me and was more observant than anyone would ever notice. I was a day dreamer who I think overwhelmed most people because I was "different". Most kids at recess were running around, I was under a tree reading or trying to melt crayons under the hot sun to make paint.
I have to admit I hated school with a passion, I hated being different at the time. While it didn't make me change who I was I was teased and picked on. So much so that one day in second grade I actually marched right off school grounds during recess to walk home, and no one even noticed I had left! For these reasons and more I never saw myself working as a teacher. Probably my two biggest passions were art and working with children. While I wanted to reach out to kids, whether they were going thru an experience like I did or were the complete opposite of what I was I just did not see it in me. Well I could not have been more wrong! (like other things in life hehehe) When I got pregnant with my daughter I came home from college. I had been studying American Sign Language with a minor in child development, something I did love, and still do, but something was just not quite right. Like being a teacher I was terrified of majoring in anything art. Theres no jobs I kept getting told, you will start to hate art when its your job everyone told me. Oh again how wrong I was!
Anyways when I came home from college I did not know what to do with myself. A friend of the family suggested I come work at the school she worked at, that they were hiring. I was skeptical but could not really turn down a job and I did like working with kids so off I went. Upon getting that job everything turned for me! Not only did I come to see that I loved teaching I also had a way to throw in my art as well. The children were great, they seemed to know days that you just needed a hug or a smile without having to ask for one, we had a name suggestion box for my baby and they constantly inspired me with art. How do a bunch of elementary school graders inspire you may ask? If there was one place I could go it would be in the mind of a child. Their imagination is simple and fun and care free. Whether they are living in a castle in the clouds or under the sea fighting a shark I was constantly listening and taking in everything I could see or hear or find from them.
To this day I feel like I owe many of my ideas, patterns, projects and more to children I've worked with, my own daughter and even my ever loving fiance who humors me taking over our living room at times with scattered fabrics, buttons, glitter and more. I've made this blog to share this inspiration, this piece of me that has given me so much.
I love to hear from you! Don't hesitate to comment, email, ask questions, or suggest a craft that might have been successful for you! Anyone who submits a challenge or craft if selected will be featured on the blog which can include a link to your online store, if you should have one and a 10% discount coupon for any item on my blog or etsy store. Discount coupon will be mailed to you within 24 hours of being chosen.
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