Sock Monkey, Sock Bunny

I made a sock monkey and a sock bunny over the bank holiday weekend. Each one used a pair of socks, and not a single sock as I expected. I'd been envying my friend John's sock bunny for years and just now got around to making one myself! They were easy and would be a good project for children.

We made some earrings

Here they are on the drum I bought in Ghana. We went to the craft store and got feathers and earring hooks. We also used some wire on the bigger ones. I love feathers! I have been wearing these to school.

Teacher's first day

I wrote this poem for my first day teaching Kindergarten at my new school in Finland.

First Day.

You gather the dirt that collects
At the bottom of puddles
With a yellow spade, and drink it.

Four of us spend an hour
Drawing sea spiders, though none of us
Are sure that they exist.

Happy Birthday Israel, you say.
I love every Jew. You make me a cake
Of blue salt, which I pretend to eat
Though you insist it’s actually for you.

I wish my belly sparkled, I say,
Almost to myself. I wish it shone
Like sequins and glitter.

You do your best to grant my wish.
I throw it away, ashamed,
Shimmering, covered in glue.

Paint!

I've been busy with all these creative projects. I painted this stripy painting using acrylics. My acrylics are starting to run out and I find it funny because I am not a painter but a writer. I would like to paint a big version of the stripy picture horizontally onto a wall.

A little mushroom

My second ever little crochet project, pictured here with our new orchid, taking a drink in the sink.

More paper animals!

We made some more paper animals. Now there are twelve!

We're moving to a new home soon, because I am moving to Finland properly for a year or so. The plan is to save for future adventures. I'll teach young children at a very creative school. Everyone wears slippers and chooses what they will do.

The new home has a silver bedroom and a golden lounge. And all these animals will move with us. Perhaps we'll need an ark.

I made my first ever spanish tortilla

And it was delicious! Enjoying my time away from Cambridge.