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Monday, September 10, 2018

Hat and blouse from repurposed fabrics

Newsboy-styled hat with an eight-panel crown, consisting of alternating panels of white lace atop solid burgundy and green, with panels that were cut from patchwork fabric that was patterned in dark green, deep red and off-white. The hat band is dark green batik and the brim is white lace over green, dominated by a length of embroidered burgundy flowers on white fabric. The same embroidered trim decorates the front V-neck and center-panel bottom hem of a tunic arranged beneath the hat. The center-front panel of the shirt is dark green batik, and the sides and back of the shirt are in a patterned greenish-gold.

My latest hat and blouse creations repurpose fabrics from other uses. Lace and embroidered trim are from a now-retired blouse, and the patchwork fabric is from a computer cover. I love the way that the patchwork fabric, in its rich dark green and burgundy, work with the white lace and the trim.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Sonoma County Library ‘Educator Card’

Promotional graphic for Sonoma County Library 'Educator Card.' Blue rendition of a schoolhouse, with large green book next to and slightly overlapping it. The book's front cover displays the logo for Sonoma County Library

As Sonoma County Library’s committed partner in library service across the lifetime, one of the resources I’m excited about is my “Educator Card.” This week, I stopped by to renew my card for 2018-2019; I also attended a Back-to-School event at the downtown library.

‘Student OneCard’ at Sonoma County Library

Logo, 'Student OneCard'

The month of September is traditionally “Library Card Sign-Up Month,” and I’ve been promoting “virtual library cards” for Sonoma County Library — available to all students enrolled in Santa Rosa City Schools.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Leveled readers, ‘user-friendly’ identification labels


One of the components of new language-arts curriculum at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, was the inclusion of “leveled” readers. The same title might be produced in four different ways depending upon a reader’s ability, but with only a number-rating on the back and a different-colored border on the cover to identify which book was which.

Well, I thought when preparing this curriculum, I could provide better “customer service.” In order to help teachers to clearly distinguish same-titles with different rates of difficulty, I created identifying stickers. And I think the design is subtle so that students shouldn’t latch onto which of their classmates have which level of book. My appreciation to parent-volunteers who assisted with label-application.

Shelf-markers for browsing in library

Wire basket, lined with off-white fabric, sitting on library counter-top. In the basket are several 'shelf-markers,' long plastic strips in bright colors and long wooden sticks that are undecorated.

OK, creative types; if you’re looking for a way to help out in the library, have I got a one-time job for you! I have a collection of wooden shelf-markers that students will use for browsing in the library, and I need them to be beautifully and uniquely decorated. (These will be communal; they will be used by all visitors, and thus should not have students’ names or other personalized details). I have colored markers available to help encourage your creativity.