Friday, July 26, 2013

A New Crocheter in the Family!

Today's post is short but I had very exciting news to post and just couldn't wait!! My younger cousin has been practicing her crocheting and together we began to conquer her first pattern, the Feminine Flowered Clutch. She is going into fifth grade which, if I remember correctly is close to the same age I was when I began learning to crochet! The clutch is a wonderful pattern to begin with because it's simple, but also because the super bulky yarn works up quickly and is easy to work with, perfect! She's also using some super cool funky yarn! I know I'm proud of her!!! Check it out... (sorry if the colors look funny, I was having a hard time getting good lighting in my grandma's kitchen.)

Awesome job, Honey!

~Farm Girl Teacher

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

A Very Vintage Surprise

Today has been a wonderful day with loved ones to say the least. After spending the morning helping my boyfriend study for a college entrance exam I am very happy to be able to report that he officially passed! Afterwards, it was off to grandmother's house (or Granny "Woot" as she is affectionately known as around here) to visit. I was pleasantly surprised by a few crafty things to add to my collection. Granny Woot was the one who initially showed me how to chain stitch and the one who allowed me to spend hours experimenting with her sewing machine after school. Today she shared some vintage patterns with me.



This book, The Family Crochet Book was published in 1971. It has some very cute patterns as well as some very....interesting....patterns! Case in point:




Can someone please tell me exactly what a trouser suit is and where and on what occasion you would find yourself wearing it? LOL, I guess I should be thankful I wasn't born in the 70's.
I also picked up two patterns after digging through TONS of vintage patterns that have been in storage a very long time.



I'm thinking the suit on the right looks nice (sans jacket) and I hope to use the coat pattern (left) to make a raincoat for this rainy Florida weather we've been having....

Of course I don't want you to get the wrong impression, my grandmother does purchase modern patterns as well...



This nifty little contraption is full of 101 various crochet stitches. It is an excellent guide to the basic stitches as well as some more elaborate things. Sidesaddle Cluster Stitch anyone? The front of each card has a great picture of the finished product, and the back has the stitch diagram, as well as written instructions. I'm really excited to begin attempting some of these!



I am also very happy to report that I began passing along my crochet knowledge to the next generation of our family, my cousin Tiffany. She will be entering fifth grade next year and was looking for something to do during the summer. She is practicing her chain stitches now and tomorrow I will be surprising her with some very pretty variegated yarn so she can began something more advanced... (this clutch, I designed). I hope to post a photo of her creation very soon! :)

Happy stitching!

~Farm Girl Teacher





Sunday, July 21, 2013

Craftsy!

I have added a new addiction to my repertoire: Craftsy! I happened upon this site while browsing someone else's shop on Ravelry and fell in love! If you haven't visited it the best way I can describe it is the fiber arts version of Pinterest. (They have other things too, but I don't care so much about those) :) I went ahead and posted my patterns on the site, here. However I will try to keep my Ravelry and Craftsy shops as similar as possible so you can stick with your favorite. (Although I seriously recommend both). Unfortunately, I've already found so many patterns I LOVE, I may need to get a separate job to pay for my Craftsy account. :)

Also, here's a sneak peek at the pattern I'm currently working on:

I began crocheting this phone cover on the way home form a vacation in North Carolina. My owl is still missing a beak, and I'm working on providing a variety of sizes before publishing the pattern, but I hope to get it up soon! 

And here's a little something just to make you smile: 

An upside down bunny! :)

I gave my male rabbit, Shrek, a haircut last night and just couldn't resist a picture of this!

~Farm Girl Teacher

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Basketball Baby Booties

Basketball Baby Booties

Check out my new pattern!

I created the pattern on a drive from North Carolina to Florida as a gift for a friend of mine. (I swear sometimes that's when I do the best crocheting! It must be the large amount of uninterrupted time!) Anyway, she has just given birth to her son, Colton. I looked everywhere for a pattern like this, but couldn't find one I really liked, so...I made my own! :) They are fairly quick to work up and can be easily altered for boys or girls.

I also embroidered a 'C' for 'Colton, just to add a bit more personalization! :) Unfortunately I don't often crochet for babies (I don't have kids), so I made the sole 2 inches long (heel to toe). I know this is a bit large for a newborn, however I think it would be uncomfortable during the summer so he'd probably wait to wear it until it gets colder anyway.Plus, it is a laced shoe and can be tightened/loosened as needed.

Interested in this pattern? Feel free to visit my Ravelry shop!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basketball-baby-booties

I also made him an adorable pair of camouflage flip flops he can wear now! Although I have to wonder if our female ancestors would be rolling in their graves right now to see us making things like this?
Interested in this pattern? I purchased it on Etsy, go here to view! (I left off the back straps, if you're wondering why mine look a bit different)

I also used a bit of leftover yarn I had to made a small blanket for him.

I like the very boy colors, and that it won't make him hot, but is still sturdy enough to be baby-proof. This idea came from 'blankets' my mom crocheted for my sister when she was young. My sister had this GIANT crocheted blanket she called "Blankie." My mom made it before I was born, however my sister was the one who fell in love with it, to the point where she wanted to carry it EVERYWHERE as an alternative my mom made several smaller blankets that were about 8"x 8". They were much more convenient and smelled better as my mom would trade them out so she could wash them better.
It's essentially just a large granny square with a reverse single crochet edge and a couple color changes, however I went ahead and posted the pattern in my Ravelry shop for free. You're welcome to visit it here.

Happy Birthday Colton!

~Farm Girl Teacher

Friday, July 19, 2013

Yay! :)

I got a little 'yay' today when I logged on to my Ravelry account to find that two (count 'em, two!) people 'favorited' a little clutch I added the other day.

My clutch! I'm calling it the "Feminine Flowered Clutch"

 I chose not to post it on here as it's simply not one of my favorite patterns and, quite frankly, wanted to see how it would go over on Ravelry before I was judged here. Seeing those two hearts next to my pattern made me so happy! :)

Magnetic Closures, found these in the craft section at Walmart
 I am very happy to report that the clutch is officially for sale on Ravelry for just 50 cents! One of my favorite things about this clutch is that it's made from a super bulky yarn so it works up very quickly. (Seriously, just a few hours, tops!) I definitely recommend it to children, beginning crocheters, or anyone who wants a quick project. (I definitely love nearly instant gratification--especially when crocheting!)
As with any crochet project, I also love that you can choose colors to match nearly anything!

This is the dress that actually inspired the color! This photo was taken with my Mom at the Straz Center in Tampa, Fl prior to the Broadway Production of Mary Poppins we saw for Christmas! :) 
 Of course, sometimes the color of the crocheted item comes before the actual clothing I plan to wear it with...today I finished a quick shrug in a beautiful kind of dark teal color and THEN realized I didn't have a single thing to wear with it! ...oh well, I guess now I get to I mean, have to go shopping! :) Whoops!

 Hopefully pictures will come soon!

Interested in checking out my clutch?
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/feminine-flowered-clutch

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Coffee, Bunnies, and Avonlea...This is What Beautiful Days are Made of....

So much has been happening lately I often feel as though I may truly loose my mind! Today I went to the school district to begin paperwork and prepare to enter the workforce! For those of you who don't know I will begin teaching fourth grade at the local elementary school! I am so excited and so nervous, but so excited to finally be moving forward.
Most people place their chairs around the fire...not in this family!

Yesterday was wonderful, I began by enjoying some coffee while letting my bunnies play in their play pen.  (Yes, it's actually a dog kennel, but the bunnies love it and the wire is small enough that they can't get through.)

Fiona loves hopping around in her play pen, the tube in the center is a favorite toy of both rabbits, however Shrek especially enjoys hiding in it! Fiona is too nosy to hold still in the tube, she'd rather jump around and snack on the grass!

I have two English Angora rabbits. I got these rabbits back in January and have been raising them for fiber and because...well their cool. :) I have a male and female I hope to breed when the whether gets cooler. (I wouldn't want to be pregnant in Florida in August wearing fur coat, I don't think my bunny wants to either!) Fiona was just recently given a haircut (it was my first time, don't laugh!) I originally swore I would only pluck their coats, however it was just so hot outside, I thought I would give her a break. I hope to get Shrek done today, Fiona clearly enjoyed it, she can move more freely and is clearly cooler.

Sitting up so she can better look around! :)


Want to hear how they got their names? Click here!

After a lovely day I was sitting in my newly remodeled room reading (er, rereading) the Anne of Green Gables series. :) I was reading Anne of Avonlea and a section really stuck out to me. I've read this book so many times and this passage seemed unimportant, but for some reason it really spoke to me. Has this every happened to you?

Anyway, without further ado, I leave you with this quote and hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one's life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one's side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps--perhaps--love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath. 

~That Farm Girl Teacher

Carrots in the Classroom?

During my internship, the other teachers and I were trying to encourage the students to read more books. Well I had recently gotten my Angora's when inspiration struck! I had been struggling to name them and had found the perfect way to combine two of my passions...teaching, and caring for the newest members of the family! Thus, Name That Hare! Was born!

Female (Later named Fiona)

Male (later named Shrek)


Prior to the competition I allowed the students to choose six possible names for both the male and female rabbits. (Two names per rabbit per fourth grade class.)


Here's how it works...

1. Students read books on their level and take an AR (Accelerated Reading) test that tests their comprehension of the book.

2. Students who score an 80% or higher show their reading log to me and I gave them a ticket that they could used to vote on their favorite names. (One boy name and one girl name).

3. On the bottom of the poster I kept a tally of how everyone voted so they could easily see which of the names were winning.

The students LOVED it. They became very competitive and read more so they could vote for the names they loved the most. The winners were Shrek and Fiona (although I thought Mr. Fluffystein was really cute). The competition lasted a month and to keep them encouraged I brought in short videos I taped of the bunnies playing in their pens.

Sometimes it's those impromptu things that just work the best! :)

~That Farm Girl Teacher

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Stash Bash Challenge!

For the first time in what feels like a very long time, I have a summer almost completely free! As a result I challenged myself to finish as many half-finished projects as possible! (Believe me, I have enough for the next six summers, lol) Anyway, I feel as though I've plateaued a bit, mostly because I add projects to my list faster than I can finish things, I'm hoping that by sharing some of my creations I can inspire myself to continue to the next project! Yay!

So let's begin with one of the projects I started a very long time ago. Back in 2009 our family adopted two wonderful Corgis from Jacksonville, FL. They have been a wonderful part of our family these last several years. When we first got the dogs my sister had this blanket, a.k.a. "Blankie," a blanket my mom crocheted over 20 years ago. My dog, Mandy, LOVED the blanket and laid on it all the time so I decided I would crochet her an afghan of her own.... I dug through my grandma's crochet pattern books and found a vintage book with a pattern I loved. (I'll fill in the book's information later, it's packed away in a box right now as we're redoing part of our floor)

Yes, she's yawning :) I didn't notice until I uploaded it....
Anyway I bought two beautiful shades of pink and began working. I finally finished about a week ago and I'm actually really proud! It definitely took some time but Mandy loves it! (Even if I'm less enchanted by the colors than I originally was--I'm terrible at picking out matching yarn colors.) The only modification I really made was that I used both shades of yarn in the fringe instead of just the main color. Partially, because I was running out of the main color, and partially to tie in the colors in the rest of the afghan. 


So cute :) She's come so far, she used to hate getting her picture taken!
So my next project was actually given to me as a Christmas present a while ago. My parents picked out what they thought was your average embroidery/cross stitch kit, however later realized it was a punch needle kit. Now I've never heard of punch needle but thought it sounded interesting, however I had to buy the punch needle separately. I went to the local Walmart, but unfortunately they'd just gotten rid of a major part of their craft section. For years I stayed on the look out for a punch needle for every fabric or craft store I walked into, however I just couldn't find it, so the kit sat, unopened. Finally, my family and I were staying in Sevierville, Tennessee when we came across a small cross stitch store in nearby Pigeon Forge. (Yes, a whole store dedicated to cross stitch, I didn't know it was possible either!) Anyway, I finally found a punch needle and fell in love!


When using the punch needle you actually work from the back of the fabric and the right side is the one facing away from you. The result is that the right side of the fabric has many loops made from the fabric. Of course, one of the downsides is that when you move the hoop you most likely will have to clamp some of the loops between the hoops.

I really like the effect, however I do feel that the smaller details don't show up quite as well because they're dominated by the other loops nearby. It's also weird to frame, because the glass smushes the loops down. I wound up removing the glass altogether.
Finally, I finished a cross stitch I picked up at the same store. The cross stitch was purchased on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. My mom and I have passes to the estate and love visiting so I thought this was a wonderful way to combine my crafting passion with my passion for historic America! The kit is from the Posy Collection. This collection is one of my favorites as it 'preserves America's history in stitches.' You seriously have to go visit their site here, it's awesome!
The one I purchased is a sampler with the house itself at the bottom. I have to admit, ever since I fell in love with The Little House Series in third grade, I have had a small but fervent obsession with samplers. 
It's actually kind of amazing that there is so much detail in house. (Both the actual house and the cross stitch version!) My favorite of course is the grand staircase! Under the house 1895 is the year the house was finished, my initial are on the left, and the year I finished is on the right. 

My Mommy and I in December :)
 I was amazed by the accuracy considering the size comparison, this collection is really remarkable! 
And finally, I want to include a quilt I actually made for my mom for Mother's Day. My sister and I put this together from all of our old clothing from when we were younger. There's a shirt from rodeos, every school we attended, 4-H, FFA, Halloween costumes, fairs, and so much more! It really is very cool and we were proud :)

Have a wonderful day and please drop me a line! :)
~That Farm Girl Teacher

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em!

Hello all! I am fairly new to the blogging world, however I am excited to begin several brave new adventures in my life and feel that this blog is a wonderful way to commemorate that!

Perhaps the first thing I should clarify is the name. :) "That Farm Girl Teacher" pays homage to my past, present, and future.

As a child I loved school and was always known among my friends as, "that farm girl." Mostly on account of our plethora of livestock. As 4-H members, my sister and I had numerous rabbits, chickens, pigs, sheep, and horses, in addition to the more typical house pets; dogs, a cat, fish, and my sister's frog. (okay, so maybe the last one wasn't so typical). We had both pets, and animals that served a purpose. (Pigs were never pets, for example but a delicious meal).

Sure we had a couple barns, some animals, and a tractor, however with that being said, for years I denied that my family and I lived on a 'farm' arguing that we are not farmers as that is not how we make our living. (We also don't have crops, which I feel all farmers must have).

Fast forward just over a decade and I have decided to more or less accept the title of farmer and accept it proudly. Again, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

As a 4-H member, one of my favorite things to do was enter public speaking competitions where I could share information I had learned about my passion. As a child I was often surprised at how little my friends seemed to know about where their food came from or just about the outdoors in general, but I am always willing to talk about something I love!

Eventually that translated into a love for teaching and learning in general and I went to college to become an Elementary teacher. I can proudly claim to be the first from both sides of my family with a Bachelor's Degree! (Purely by chance though, had my sister been born first she'd have that title--you can do it Miranda!) I am now preparing to begin my first year as a teacher in fourth grade at a local elementary school. (Eeeek!)

In addition I have discovered my love for creating. I sew, quilt, crochet, knit (only if I have to), and spin fiber (I am currently raising and preparing to breed two English Angora Rabbits), in addition to any other miscellaneous projects I can get my hands onto. (Punch-needle, anyone?) Just don't ask me to cook, I get distracted by other projects and burn my brownies. :(

To sum everything up, I feel truly blessed to be where I am today. I have so many passions in my life and somehow they've all managed to tie together wonderfully. In the words of Anne Shirley, I can't wait to see what's around the next bend in the road! (Yeah, I love Anne of Green Gables too, she was also a teacher/farm girl!)

~That Farm Girl Teacher

P.S. As I was typing this, my mother was in the back pasture shooting the chicken-hawk that's been terrorizing our flock of chickens and my sister is saddling her horse so she can go to the barrel race down the road! Yep, that's my life! :)

Like what you see?

I'm often asked if I will make custom projects or sell my work. The short answer is, yes.
My patterns are always free, but I do charge for projects mostly to cover the cost of resources, and my time. Basically, if you see something you like and want me to make it, I'd be happy to talk to you. The best way to contact me is through my email thatfarmgirlteacher@gmail.com. I can make nearly anything and I've had people in the past send me photos of what they're interested in. Time to make it, cost, and more can be discussed through my email and varies greatly based on what you'd like made.
I also sell my hand spun yarn at our local Farmer's Market. I don't really sell yarn online because my inventory varies greatly, however if you know you want something specific, I can usually work something out with you, again, just send me an email.