Endeavour (Morse), season three with four episodes, is running on PBS now, I had to go back and watch the first two seasons on Amazon Prime to remember, the original Morse is available on Netflix, and Inspector Lewis is on Amazon Prime, FYI

Father's Day Collection

Karen Anderson with one of my very favorite Father's Day posts.

Zipper and button boards

I wrote about it here.

I did find something.

At the local art store.

(Thank you very much, because I was thinking lumber yard, not art store).

I am not sure what it is called. But it looks very close to the product used in making  clip boards (the brown ones).

The only thing we had to fix was sharp corners, my husband rounded them with sandpaper.

My close friend found zippers at a garage sale. And huge buttons.

And she talked me out of making calico shapes (that needed actual button holes) and into making felt shapes. Because I can just put a slit in a felt shape and have it be a button "hole".




I am knee deep in craft supplies, three ring binders, laminated activities, and stacks of random things.

Like baby dolls and their clothes.

And pom poms glued to magnets in cake pans.

And recess balls, parachutes, cones.

And a bin with science table items. That bin started nearly empty. It is now full with more coming.

There is an old scale on my kitchen counter, the kind with two sides that balance. Everytime I walk by, I scrub a little more with an old tooth brush. I found it at a garage sale on Friday. I was nearly speechless when I saw it. I told the lady - I will take it, but I am stunned that i found it. It will take me a minute to gather myself.

 It was one of the things middle specifically wanted.

So yes, I have piles.






Here is a very good example.

I found this list of things to keep on hand for crafts and activities. Really good list. I have added oatmeal round boxes, egg cartons, crepe paper, toliet paper rolls to it.

IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE LEAVE ME A NOTE.

I HAVE almost all those things.

And those are the types of things when middle is in her college town, it sort of kills me when she has to buy something that I have in droves.

So, I am assembling all those things in an organized way.






Middle (currently) is deep in starting her behavior clinic job (which starts with a certification). That job is full time right now. It will go to part time and continue. Some of the hours count toward her masters program.

She is (currently) taking one condensed masters class this summer. I think that is nearly half done.

She attended a wedding this weekend. We are attending a wedding shower next weekend. We have plans for July 4th.

Busy.

Her three year old preschool class/job starts in the middle of August. (And I will be in Alaska when she gets full access to her classroom in July).

I am getting her (physical) stuff together for that class. Anything that can be done in advance, I am doing.

It is a lot of collecting and assembling/organizing. It is busy work. I enjoy it hugely. I have time.

We got the classroom books together two weeks ago and they are in her classroom ready (that was a big job). These are the board books the kids "read" during their story corner time. And also the books she reads to them each day.

She is steadily working on her lesson plans.

Thinking caps please - zipper board

http://laughingkidslearn.com/diy-zipper-board-for-kids

I would like to make a zipper board for middle's preschool classroom.

I am not using cardboard.

And I am not using glue to hold the zippers. I am sewing the zippers to fabric.

My plan is to make something that looks like a small pillow case and sew the zippers to the case.

And then slip a board of some type into the case. And sew it firmly shut. (I might need to put glue on the edges to keep the case from slipping). And I might use canvas so the case is very stiff, sturdy.

Can you put your thinking caps on please?

I need help thinking of what board to use.

I wandered thru a box store and a dollar store looking for ideas, no luck. The only thing I saw that was a possibility was a cutting board, but it was too dense. It would hurt if they dropped it on their foot. (And it was too expensive. I am looking for nearly free. I would be most happy if I used something I already had.)

A clerk at the dollar store suggested an actual board from the lumber yard. Maybe. But what kind of board?

I first rejected the idea of foam core board. But am now wondering about two layers of foam core. That might be sturdy enough and will not hurt them if they drop it on their foot. But not sure it will hold up long term. Two layers of foam core with something in the middle?

And I keep going back to idea of cookie sheet or back side of jelly roll pan. Those would be very sturdy. Might be able to find at goodwill.

Ideas please?

Planning to do the same thing with a button board.
http://www.rockabyebutterfly.com/2012/01/button-board.html

And I might make two of each so she can have a "station".

So I probably need four boards.