Last week, however, I got a new perspective on ants from my three-year-old grandson. He actually seems to like them! At the least, he finds them very interesting. During our visit, we checked out online information and videos and talked about the little critters. I couldn’t help but tell him the story of Two Bad Ants, written by Chris Van Allsburg. It’s one of my favorite books that tells about ants coming into a home. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the book with me, so I just told the story of how a couple of ants lingered behind in the sugar bowl while the other, more disciplined ants, carried their treasure out of the house. The entire story is told from the perspective of the ants and it was difficult to get the real effect without the pictures. Yet, my grandson was intrigued.

Tonight, I decided to dig out that book and take with me on my next grandmotherly expedition. At first I couldn’t find it. That meant I had to dig through the many picture books housed in my closet and that’s when I realized. Those books were my old friends. I touched worn copies of Winnie, the Witch, Roxaboxen, Rabbit and the Moon, The Last Dance and other familiar works. My reaquaintance with them didn’t even require page turning as the memories flooded back from the mere sight of them.

I could tell you that I read these to my own children, but that wouldn’t be right. I read these to teachers and university students in my classes. No workshop with me was complete without story time after lunch. While some thought this was silly, others looked forward to this part of our day. I usually told, rather that read, the story as I showed the pictures. At times I used a prop or two such as the shawl I wore in various ways for The Last Dance. I not only remember the stories, but I remember the people and the situations wherein I used them. Those books are like little capsules of my past that hold more than I ever realized until this evening.

Lest you think I neglected my own children, I should tell you that the pages of other books like Drummer Hoff and Where the Wild Things Are have well worn pages as well from our family sharing. I’ll bet my adult son can still recite most of the verses in Drummer Hoff.

I believe in this new period of publishing where many books are ready electronically, but wonder what will remain from these to help hold the memories of sharing books with others. My hope is that we will always share real copies of picture books and that these will be passed from one generation to the next as treasured gifts, not just relics. For now, I’m just anxious to share with another little person . . . hand-on.

Yesterday, while preparing to teach a leather wrap bracelet class, I went back to pedagogy in designing a teaching aid. The bracelets, which I’ve shown before, are below.

  I had close to the maximum number of people enrolled in the class and wondered how in the world I was going to show everyone how to do the weaving required on this bracelet. For this bracelet, we were using smoke colored Fireline fishing line which it difficult to see and weaving it with beads over and under leather cord. It’s a piece of cake to demonstrate when you can sit right beside someone, but not so easy when the person is across the room from you. Therefore, I went with an enlargement of the technique. I dug in my ribbon stash and found some gold cord and some red ribbon. By attaching the cord to my giant clip board, I had my enlarged replica. It looks a bit silly, but it seemed to work and people could see it from across the room. I appreciate the participants who didn’t laugh at my replica.

This happening reminds me of teaching preschool piano classes when I had my father cut large music notes out of wood which we painted black. Then I made a big music staff on heavy white plastic. The children and I sat on the floor to learn concepts. (Those were the days when I could still get up off the floor as quickly as they did!)

One of the best things about teaching is that students inadvertently teach me what works. When I demonstrate something and they don’t get it, I have to figure out what to do next instead of just thinking they were slow to learn. As these difficulties arise, I need to figure out a different way to teach the same thing and make it clearer. Also, when numerous students make the same error, I know it’s because I did something wrong. That’s something I need to fix.

Students also teach me through their questions. A query is often indicative of something I might demonstrate in a better fashion next time. The students teach me through these questions.

I think one of the best parts of teaching is that the process is reciprocal. Both the students and the teacher learn when the environment is risk free.

If you do not live in the San Marcos, TX area, I apologize for this advertising post. Someone asked me to put information up about my jewelry making classes and this is the only venue I have. Please skip this if you have no interest or live outside this area. If you have interest in the times and low costs for these classes, please let me know. I’m just eager to give more people a chance to learn to do what I love.

Learn to Make Your Own Jewelry

Classes from Dreamcatcher Designs

Call or Email to Sign Up

karen@dreamcatcherranch.net 512 751 7307

www.dreamcatcherranch.net/designs

Classes will be held at the Hobby Lobby classroom in San Marcos.

Class A: Introduction to Jewelry Making

2 Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10) – For Beginners

Class Includes How to . .

1. String beads & Crimp

2. Make a Wire Closed Loop

3. Make a Wire Wrapped Loop

4. Open and Close Jump Rings

5. Hammer Loops

6. Use Headpins

7. Make a Simple Wire Hook Clasp

Project: Earrings and a Necklace with Handmade Clasp 

Class B: Intermediate Wire Jewelry

2 – 2 ½ Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

Class Includes How to . . .

1. Make Jump Rings

2. Make Ear Wires

3. Make Handmade Chain

a. “S” loops with jump rings

b. “S” loops with beaded links

4. Hammer the above

Project: Handmade wire chain necklace with beads links, matching earrings

Class C: Introduction to Wire Wrapping for Jewelry  3 Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

Class Includes How to . . .

1. Begin and End a Wrap

2. Attach Beads to an S loop for Earrings or a Necklace

3. Make and Embellish a Wave Bracelet

Projects: S Earrings and Embellished Wave Bracelet

Prerequisite: Skills from Class A

Class D: Wrapping Cabachons, Rocks and Objects (2 Classes)

Two 3 Hour Classes

(Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 6)

Prerequisite: Basic Wire Working Skills

Project: Basic Wire Border Wrap (first class), Other Style Wire Wraps (second class)

Class E: Intermediate Wire Weaving for Jewelry (2 classes)

Class Includes How to . . .

1. Work a Zig Zag Wrap and a Two Wire Wrap

Project: Dancing Feet Earrings or Ring, Zig Zag Wrap Necklace or Earrings

Prerequisite: Skill in Beginning Wire Working Techniques

TWO 3 Hour Classes (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

Leather Wrap Bracelet

2 Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)