teaching, drawing, knitting, autumn trees, good pirates and soup

teaching Class 3 about measuring...the "Iron Ulna" being presented to the King!

drawing going on all over the floor right now...

knitting:
-finished my big girl's hat ready for horse riding camp next week, gorgeous pattern: Oaked, though I only did one panel of oak leaves rather than all the way around.
ravelled here

-started a cowl for same big girl because I just have to stay awake the night before the camp knitting until the wee hours in order to feel like a good mother! The pattern is Gudrun Johnston's Crofter's Cowl .
ravelled here

reading (well, gazing at really) Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush which just arrived in the post today.  This winter may just be sock winter...

 We visited the best goodliest pirates who ever sailed the seven seas!
Sea Shepherd had three ships docked for repairs after their confrontations with Japanese whaling ships (who were targeting protected and endangered whales in a whale sanctuary!!!). It was a very successful summer campaign down in Antarctica and I was moved to tears by the  dedication and heroic deeds. We were shown  around the ships, (which were gorgeous inside- original 60's(?) furnishings and trappings) and heard inspiring and sometimes hair-raising tales. We were not even off the first ship when my middle girl announced, "I want to be a Sea Shepherd. How do I get on!"

and leek and potato soup, again!

Joining Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On
and Ginny for Yarn Along

persian prose to pixie hats

Last week I had my first full week of work as a casual Steiner teacher and it was big for me! I wasn't looking for work, it just came my way, and I gingerly accepted the challenge, knowing in my heart I could do it, but unable to ignore the voice inside reminding me I hadn't been in a classroom for quite some time.
So, I studied up recorder, times tables and decimal fractions,  immersed myself in Ancient Persian mythology and dived on in!
Here are some photos of the work we did!

not my blackboard drawing, this one.

 I used Charles Kovaks' book, Ancient Mythologies as inspiration for the Persian mythology, telling stories about the creation of the earth by Ahura Mazdao,  the domestication of animals and the first bonfire!

We also explored the land of contrasts which is Persia (Iran) and drew a map. What fun.

 We tried a form drawing of a Persian star, with the help of a bowl and a ruler.

It's always so wonderful seeing the differences coming out in the children's creative work.

As soon as the week was over, I dived for the knitting needles, and quickly cast on a pixie hat for Mr P: Triskele Threads' new free Ravelry pattern Pixie Tadhg

Reading: or should I say, re-reading, one of our all time favourites!
"Dominic" by the most exquisite William Steig.
Everyone needs to read this book!! I mean it!
It is sublime story about a philosophical dog who sets out to discover the world. At once calming, and lyrical, whimsical and contemplative, healing and utterly charming, Dominic is a special read for all ages!
I started to read it to my class last week, and it made lumps in my throat as always.

Joining in Nicole for "Keep Calm Craft On" and Ginny's Yarn Along

possibly the most beautiful shop on earth...

Yesterday my young Mr.P and I took a drive up to the forest, Kallista, specifically to visit my dear friend Mirakye.

You see, Mirakye has what might possibly be the most beautiful shop on earth.
The name of her shop is Epoche, and her motto is "beauty, spirit, wonder....".
And do you know, those three words exactly describe the feeling upon entering her warm, welcoming treasure cave of glowing golden light!

 

there she is, the miraculous angel Mirakye

oh no! Sophie Digard...someone cut up my credit card...now!

Oh my LORD! A felted wren!

I am very excited because I invited myself to be a guest blogger on her upcoming blog! I have ideas about birthday gift posts, party games and craft tutorials, so, as they say, watch this space to watch that space!

oh, and below is a first attempt at a Persian design (form drawing) in preparation for some surprise teaching which has come my way! Holy Mother of Chalkboards, I've got a bit of practice to do!

Fair is fair!!

On the weekend we drove up to a wonderful Steiner school in a glorious rural setting to treat our lungs to the fresh mountain air, and be inspired by the remarkable work being done there.

Class 6 craft: Those dollies will feel a whole lot better when their hair grows.

Class 5 Woodwork

Class 5 Indian felt elephants

Class 5: Grecian Urns

Class 2 Blackboard Dawing

Class 2: Celtic Dragon!!

Class 2: dolls made by children

The blanket above was stiched by the children and teachers, using the marvelous and voluminous finger-knitting produced by the children in Prep to produce a wonderful comfort rug for the little resting spot in the classroom. This rug will no doubt travel with the class to Class 8!

Class 3: Socks knitted by the children