Post 6 - Writing cramps

I marvel at first world problems. I worked a lot this week on my final project and found my hand cramping a lot! I'm sure this is normal for other extreme athletes. 😂 Yes, I am being facetious, but it's comical how bad my hand is cramping. I think I might need some potassium supplements. My other complaint is that my kitchen table has become my "studio" because it accommodates the best sitting posture for writing but it is quite a disaster. I need to clean up my mess - it drives me crazy but I also like to just drop in on a project in progress so want it set up. I guess this is why artists have a designated workspace! I can handle it for a few more days! Speaking of last minute projects. Before leaving for the airport last night, I whipped up a sign for my daughter Jane who was returning from her diver certification trip to the Bahamas with my husband. Long story short, I was not invited because this is his tradition to take away our "freshmen" daughter for a dad/daughter weekend. Jane wanted to get certified to scuba dive so she did all of the coursework and pool practice here in December and they did her cert dives in the Bahamas this weekend. Best part of all she can now add friend to sharks on her dive resume! She saw them on every dive!

I also got a lot of practice at school with two birthdays in class and lots of practice on the board. I really do like the dry erase markers because I can easily remove and edit my mistakes. When working on paper, my "magic eraser" is life changing. More to come on that!

My question of the week got surprising responses. 10/11 year olds really have no hindsight to rely on!

This week I learned that I like working towards an end goal and enjoy having a checklist that shows  my progress.

Hafner Dip

Post 5 - Mutiny, what mutiny?

I expected a big let down in momentum...it never happened. I have incorporated my fun lettering into my daily/weekly classroom routine and it has just become a part of the day. I like it and it has opened up a whole can of creative whoop ass into my day! I really enjoy it and find it oddly relaxing. I will say, however, the workbook is where I experience mutiny. I am much more a learn as you go, why practice upstrokes and downstrokes when I can be creating?!?! This is why I was a piano lesson dropout. I only wanted to play by ear, this didn't go over well with piano teachers who want to teach you a solid foundation. Ain't nobody got time for that...LOL!

What I learned this week: I have trouble with spacing. I practice and practice but mistakes are where I am learning!

My fun skill is coming in handy when I deliver gifts. It's that little extra oomph!

Lots of practicing...you can see where I ran out of space on the middle one. Pedro's name is Peter for real! 

The finished product!

"Thank You" cupcakes for our Teacher Librarian and Help Desk Technician, who get very little thanks for making sure MAP and IAR and all the other testing in 5th grade goes smoothly! 

Post 4 - Routines

Finding time to do anything is easy when you enjoy it. I have found many ways to incorporate my "special" writing practice into daily activities. I sometimes write lunch notes. Yes, I am that ridiculous parent but mine are usually silly, movie quotes or inappropriate and meant to make my freshmen laugh. Now I write with my fashionable fonts at which she rolls her eyes at me...that's a win! Anyway, I practice while watching tube at night, at school when my students are at art/pe/music/lunch and I practice with my daily schedule as seen in my picture below. Again, my skill is ok, but am finding that it is fun and my followers (Students) are along for the ride and they are always requesting that I write in fun letters for them. I even see a few experimenting on their own. If only I could TikTok this new skill, I'd be a modern day hero too them! haha.

Daily Schedule  - I like that it's fun, but I dislike that "s" very much.

Handmade card for a baby shower at school. It's a little shaky and I feel like I overdid it. Should've stuck with straight script!

Post 3 - What is my sentence?

I have had so much fun learning my new skill. My students are involved and are cheering me along... it's fun to have fans! I have a few basic pieces that I have created and have found that I have little to no talent...LOL! I have been really good about practicing and purchased a workbook to help me practice strokes. It is fun, I can incorporate it into my everyday routine with ease. It is perfect to practice in front of the Bachelor and other mindless shows. I find it soothing and actually find it fun. My skill level was mediocre going into this genius hour endeavor and now is slightly above mediocre! Yay...growth! I have gained a some confidence from the week prior and decided that there is no harm in trying something that seems hard, even if I fail because even if I do I can rip it up and throw it away and no one will know!

My sentence is: Using stylized penmanship expresses my personality and brings life to letters.

Love adding flare to a gift!

I think Stanley is pissed I was using his pillow for display purposes!