What We Receive In Childhood

   In honor of Mother's Day & mothers everywhere, praise for Mom!
   She creates an atmosphere for learning.  Looking back, many of my defining interests have their seeds in childhood. 
   I followed my mother to auctions.  There were many hot, sultry summer days spent viewing furniture & household goods. This nurtured a love of antiques & junk in general !
   My parents grew up in a time of want, and knew how to make do.  Their habits of self-sufficiency are not a necessity today.  But knowing how to grow your own flowers, fruits and vegetables is a great joy as well as a sensible pastime.
   I joined a 4-H club and learned to sew at age 9.  I started with crude doll clothing. Dresses weren't hemmed, and buttonholes weren't stitched at first.  I progressed to making my own fabric purses from home-decor fabrics from a friend who sewed upholstery covers.  I embroidered and patched my jeans in the hippie days of the 70's.  In college I was fascinated with art, as well as other topics. 
   I love textiles of every type.  I want to keep this interest alive.

Tweeting and other things

I'm helping myself by becoming more comfortable with the computer
   I've spent a lot of the past two weeks tweeting and researching.
   Is this (social media) the future ??? 
One quilt top for Quilts For Japan is finished!  The next one is a simple 9-patch.  Back to work

Learning To Teach Reading

   
   Reading.  Think about it.  It's no big deal.  Easy, right?? 
   I recently completed the training for the Laubach Literacy Workshop at our local career center.  Last night was the first time for me to volunteer.  I began by observing, interacting with reading teachers & other tutors and students.   I began the evening with a little uneasiness about, well, teaching.
   All these years I've taken my reading skills for granted.  I took a speed reading course in my early twenties. This increases your reading speed because you are taught to read and recognize phrases and groups of words.  Later, with marriage and the birth of our 3 children, my husband and I read constantly to our kids. They enjoyed reading, excelled in public school, and continue to excel in higher education.  We kept a steady stream of encouragement for learning  in place always.  We had attended college; our children would attend.
   A new way of viewing the world has opened up.  Not everyone is lucky enough to have acquired even the basic reading skills needed to successfully graduate from high school or earn a GED, for a variety of reasons.  Life is difficult if you are unable to read.
   Students take a huge step in just making a commitment to attend night classes.  
   Preliminary tests are given to students to determine their reading level.  Reading teachers begin with different levels for each student.
   I helped out here and there.  Sometimes we just talked together, other times I helped with reading words or working on  tasks in workbooks to help with both reading & writing.  
   I think there will be tremendous effort ahead, for me, and my student.
   I feel sorry for myself sometimes.  This or that isn't good enough.  I think I should be good at doing everything, and right away please!
   After the first class, I feel such respect already for this group of students. 

Quilts for Tsunami survivors

   Yesterday I began sewing quilt tops for tsunami survivors.
   A group of sewing volunteers are providing the labor for quilts to be distributed by Mission of Love.  They will ship the quilts and medical supplies to Japan.
   Sue Jerin  of the Viking Sewing Gallery in the Hudson, Ohio Jo Ann Fabrics has organized this project.  The precut fabric was donated, and we volunteers provide the labor.  The Viking gallery provides machines for those who wish to sew in store.
   I've chosen to sew  at home.
   These bright, cheerful fabrics are fun to use ! Here is a chance to help & create. The quilts are mainly meant to be utilitarian, but what fun it is to design your own pattern.
   Could there be a more enjoyable way to help others?
   In a few days I'll post pictures of the results- sure to be unusual!