barnbum

Well, I think I need to put them in the dryer to set the fabric markers?? The package says to iron the back of the fabric or dry it--and since these are already make into quilted blocks, I guess the dryer is the only option. Right? :?:

Background again:
Here's a piece I reworked. It's from one of our read alouds--a theme we've talked about all year. I wrote it up nicely with a picture of a piece of cake and a color border so each will get a copy of one of the last half days (23rd):
*********************
Life is a Piece of Cake
August 6, 2008 by Lillie
Have a bite of flour.
Yuck!
A little baking soda, then?
Blech!
How about a raw egg?
Ick!
A spoonful of cooking oil?
Nasty!
Maybe a little sugar? A nip of vanilla? A bit of chocolate?
Yeah, those sound good … but all by themselves?
The individual ingredients aren’t very appetizing, yet when they are mixed together and cooked in a hot oven, they come together to form a beautiful and mouth-watering cake.
Ahh … taste that sweet, rich flavor. The creamy smooth frosting, the moist goodness of the cake.
The individual ingredients of life often aren’t very appetizing, either. The yucky flour might be failure, the icky egg pain, the nasty cooking oil loss and grief. The sweetness of love, the tastiness of success, the flavor of joy are wonderful … but all by themselves?
Yet mixed together throughout a lifetime and cooked through heat and pressure, the failure, pain, and loss combine with the love, success, and joy to form a rich and lovely life.
Each of our lives is a piece of cake, and together are lives are a beautiful and mouth-watering cake.
********************
Plus they're getting this quote written out nicely,with a picture of a sunrise, in color:

I have been given this day
to use as I will.
I can waste it,
or use it for good.
What I choose to do is important,
because I am exchanging
a day of my life for it.
J.Robinson
***********************

Now--the Black and White Splash blocks symbolize the rough stuff and the awesome stuff of life. Black and white fabrics are what one HAS to do--the mundane, the splashes of color symbolize every little awesome thing--the things we should
never take for granted--the things we should embrace and savor.

I decided I wanted to write something on them--so I used fabric markers to write "Quilt by Mrs. S" on the back of each--it didn't show up well, but that's fine, and on the front I wrote "Life by Connor" and of course changed the name for each student.

I sewed the eight extra squares together--and will show them those first so we can talk about all the symbolism thoroughly, then I'll present them with the quotes and blocks. They're also each getting an individual classroom award--they are typed out with a picture and fancy border--just have to print those and I'm ready!! :-D
Here are the blocks...

amma

Those are wonderful gifts Karla!!! Something that they can keep and reflect on forever... :D:D:D

belmer

Fantastic little gifts. They will cherish for a long time.

barnbum

amma--a friend asked me "What do they do with them?" I never really thought about doing something with them--besides sticking on a shelf in their rooms. But, what CAN they do with them?

I thought this post would find itself on page 15 with no replies :lol:... but when I posted the idea a month or so ago, a few asked me to post when done.. so I was just following through.

I know I explain things too much..but otherwise these really don't make sense. :roll:

Fiber Artist

Love it!!

redquilter

They are really great. You are so good to your kids.

barnbum

My daughter just told me my students are spoiled. :lol:

Pineapple Princess

Very nice!

watterstide

Awesome! i love the daisy's too! great idea!

dkabasketlady

What a truly amazing teacher you are! Your students will cherish their blocks! I also love the poem & the explanation with it. Thanks for being the caring person & teacher that you are.