The school year is nearly over--11.5 days to go and yes I am counting! If you want to laugh out loud about how this time of year feels for moms read this blog http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jen-hatmaker/worst-end-of-school-year-mom-ever_b_3378480.html and believe me having been a mom and a teacher this time of year is even worse for teachers!!!
For the last five years, I have sewn book covers for my fifth graders as promotion presents. I usually start them after Christmas and work on them a little bit at a time, but this year our department budget was cut and there was really not any money to buy the supplies to make them. I figured they would just not happen this year, but I have felt very guilty about it! I have the privilege to work with most of my students for three years and they are such nice kids, so I just dug into my stash and my own wallet to make them. I only decided to make them on Thursday. I ran around the fifth grade track meet trying to find all 30 of the fifth graders I work with to ask them their two favorite colors. The few kids that weren't there or I never found I e-mailed their moms asking for the color combinations. This yellow one is for Siera.
The turquoise and black is for Emmalee. I machine appliqued their initial on the cover. Here is a link to my tutorial for how to make them
and they only take a quarter yard of fabric, a 9x12.5 inch piece of interfacing, a 12 inch length of ribbon, and a button.
I have thirty book covers that just need to be whip stitched closed and buttons added to the ribbons that are the book marks. I need to have 14 of them done by Thursday to give to one group of kids. It is the last time I get to see them due to a field trip. I guess I won't be finishing my Journey of a Quilter this week, but I am glad that I decided to whip them up even if I felt like I was working in a sweatshop!
Good on you for making these
ReplyDeleteThat is very nice of you, I am sure the students will love them!
ReplyDeleteWow! that is an incredible gift for your students. Thanks for linking up to Building Blocks Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful. It is very generous of you. A lot of people do not realise how often we dig into our own pockets to pay for things at school.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the book covers will be appreciated as reminders of your teaching and care. Fantastic
ReplyDeleteAwesome!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness you have won the teacher of the year award in my book! What a sweet thing to do !! : )
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful of you to make these for your students. I hope they appreciate you. the book covers look lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a kind, thoughtful and marvelous gift for your students! How generous of you! Anyone who has sewn book covers (and my goodness, I have) knows how much work this is. You must really love those kids and I'm touched by your dedication.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are an amazing teacher! Your students are so lucky to have you Tanya!
ReplyDeleteTanya, you are phenomonally thoughtful! I remember the few things I got from a teacher or someone while I went to school, and they're special. I still have one. I'll bet you find these covers last your kids into college, and they'll be retro-cool by then.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up so faithfully to the Pet Projest Show at Pink Doxies.
Julie