{26 Things I Made}: 3/26 Milo Monkey

This guy was made for my class as a mascot.  Each week one child gets to take him home on a Friday and then write about their weekend adventures in his journal.  I'd heard about this idea from a few other teachers and thought it was great as a reward/behaviour incentive.  His name is Milo Monkey, and my class of 22 Year 2 students (aged 5 and 6) just love him! I love him too.  In fact, I did briefly consider keeping him for myself...

I used the Monkey Man pattern from the Hop Skip Jump toys book and he came together really quickly and easily.  I highly recommend this book for the clear instructions and fantastic softie patterns.  I'm considering getting my own copy (though I notice it's currently sold out on the Book Depository). I used fabrics from my stash - a brown drill for his body and cream felt for his face.  His cute overalls are from a Japanese craft cotton.  

And just because, here are some more pictures of what he got up to at my house before I took him into meet my class and live at school...

Hello again

I didn't really mean to stop blogging for (ahem) more than two years, but you know, life got busy (teaching is lots of work!) and I wasn't crafting, so I didn't think I could post without something to show. Then I thought no-one was reading anymore, so I kinda just stopped.

But, last year, while writing a blog for my classroom, I realised I missed my own piece of blog-land.  I have still been keeping up with reading blogs, and pinning projects on pinterest.  Now I feel like getting back into the blog game.  One of my resolutions for 2013 is to make time to craft more.  Teaching is one of those jobs where there is a never-ending to-do list and I realised that I needed to let go of some things and be content that everything will not always get done.

Last year I enjoyed reading Clare's "52 Things I Made" series on Green Valley Crafts and so I've decided to do a similar series here to try and get me blogging regularly again.  I think 52 things is a bit ambitious, so I'm aiming for 26.  One per fortnight.  And to start me off, here are the first two, knitted for my future niece or nephew (who was born yesterday and turned out to be a boy, so the cardigan has gone to the "baby gifts" box).

{26 Things I Made} 1/26 + 2/26

"In Threes" cardigan - Ravelry details here

Striped Pebble Vest - Ravelry details here