Friday, August 28, 2015

Dye Day!

                                                   Oh , hey! This is my 100th post!

Time to dye yarn with Grade 5!  I've posted this before, but we use kool-aide to dye the yarn. I soak natural hanks of yarn from Brown Sheep  in vinegar and water overnight, and dye the next day.



After having done this for many years, I think I've finally streamlined this and have it down!  This can be done in one 50 minute class if you are prepared, but more time is better.  The yarn sits in the sun in those baggies for days (I have the students put them out in the morning, and bring back in at the end of the school day). The next class we have in a week, we will rinse and hang the yarn to dry.




Have I mentioned I have 2 fifth grades, both at about 30 students...that's a lot of dyeing!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Welcome to the 2015/2016 School Year!

Oh boy, here we go again with good intentions of keeping up posts on this blog...has it really been 2 years? Well, there are a few projects that happened in that time, and here is one that was really successful with an 8th grade class.  Ladies and gents, regard the Adobe wood burning outdoor oven!  I used the plans from Sunset magazine:  http://www.sunset.com/garden/how-to-sunset-classic-adobe-oven




note the can for the back vent


mixing the adobe, using clay from the garden





working on the door



adding adobe mixture to wire form
The door!


Forming opening to oven with curved flashing

Keeping adobe moist so not too many cracks


Burning out the cardboard barrel

Finished!