Oh Beautiful

For spacious skies, for amber waves of grain...


Come on. Look at the socks. Look at them. And pretend you don't suddenly feel the need to break out into absurdly patriotic song.

That's right. Give in to it. Just make sure it's not "Oh, Canada." I started these during the Olympics and would like to say that I did not do so with the purpose of making patriotic socks. These are NOT for me. I am not sure I want to advertise my attitude towards my nation right now. I also question many of the attitudes that have surrounded patriotism and love for your country in the last ten years. It's all gotten very wrapped up in politics and anti-terrorism, and American flags popped up and sold like hotcakes after 9/11. Genuine American patriotism? Perhaps. Timed to show that being an American means support of violence towards others as part of the process of revenge? Definitely.

I don't know. No, what I do know is that MA loves red, white, and blue. He'll love these, and that's really all that matters. I've been working on these for quite some time -- look at my last post and you'll see what I've been distracted by. My students made amazing embroidery squares, that I also feel the need to share here.













That was just the beginning. The finished pillows have been auctioned off to families of kids in the class. I cannot believe I let them escape without pictures. They sat in a trash bag for a few days while I struggled with other projects before I could sew up the stuffing hole. I didn't leave myself enough time.


Many an adult said: "Oh, so-and-so may be able to embroider, but that other kid? No way." and "that student just doesn't have the attention span for embroidery." Many adults even said such things about their own kids -- oh, my child? Never in a hundred years. But guess what? Guess what? (I am now shouting triumphantly.) They did it. (Ok, that was a smug yet quiet tone. End of shouting.) And they did it with such pride, and such care, that you would have thought they were a young Japanese girl embroidering her own wedding kimono onto silk or satin. Many times they sat around the low table with their embroidery gossiping just like a group of 19th century Bronte sister heroines. But I learned something. Not only did I learn several stitches to teach them (ah, who cares about all that...it's in books, after all). I learned that my students can be gentle, and patient, and attentive to detail and beauty at every turn. They can also be maniacs and loud and obnoxious and frustrating. Welcome to the 9-12 child, Johanna. Did I mention that I love teaching these kids?