Stage Fright!

Hello!

Remember your first day of school?  Or better yet, the first time you were required to stand up in front of the class and make a presentation?  I don't know about you, but I do. I loved school, yet this terrified me.  I was a huge wall flower and the idea of speaking in front of the class practically paralyzed me.  Things like ballet and tap dance classes where we all performed on stage certainly helped me with this issue, but I have never really truly been comfortable in front of a group.  Where is this going you ask?

Well having recovered from our road trip to Seattle, I decide it was time to work on my lesson plans.  Yep!  I have been hired to teach at an active living retirement establishment. My first 'gig' as a fiber artist!  So despite the fact that I have over 20 years teaching experience...well...I sort of have the jitters!  I haven't taught many adults...and here I find myself in front of a group of strangers again...and not just any strangers...my mother lives there and these are her neighbors.  Yikes...nothing like making me flash back to being that kid again up in front of the class...hoping I do everything right...hoping my folks will be proud.

I did get my plans outlined yesterday though and today I began to fill them out with the information I want to share tomorrow.  I sincerely hope we find time enough to go through all of that and to complete our project...a needle felted corsage.  I did a little bit of a test run two weeks ago when I took my supplies and walked my friends through the process.  It seemed okay, but I have tweaked my plans quite a bit since then...so here's hoping.

I also spent some time on my lace project.  I tried the Addi lace needles I bought on Thursday in Issaquah, but they just don't seen to have pointy enough tips on them.  I dug through my supply at home and found some Lana Grossa needles - also made in Germany - and tried them.  They worked beautifully!  However, the ones I have are size 2 and I need size 4.  Ugh!  So I checked all over the Internet.  Apparently the company is having problems getting the needles to the stores...some have discontinued carrying them...I couldn't find a single one anywhere!  So now what?  Suggestions? 

Janet