Scarf Giveaway!

Post a comment on any blog post during the month of March and win a scarf in my blog’s colors knitted by, well, me! Below are two pics, one complete with Fiestaware and 1960s vintage tablecloth:

If my iPhone could talk…

I have an amazing classroom, I really do.  Just ask Stephanie Yuhas if you don’t believe me! Not only is it twice the size of an average classroom, but it also has 22 Mac Pros and a movie sized mechanized screen that descends and ascends at the press of a button.  Sounds like teacher and student heaven, right?

Just one problem: No office.

Most classrooms in our building have an office attached which teachers share with others in their departments and contain desks, phones, cabinets that lock, and most important, a door that closes.  Nothing separates my desk from my classroom, and I just got a phone last year (not that anyone calls me).  I tried the Les Nessman approach with duct tape a few years ago but it just confused everyone, so I went with an L-shaped desk last year to at least indicate a specific area as mine.

This isn’t much of an issue when I’m teaching, but often during my prep period, my classroom is used by other teachers.  I completely agree that those beautiful 22 computers should be used by students as much as possible, but a class full of sophomores with a substitute teacher does not a quiet work environment make.  So sometimes I have to go on the road and find a better workspace.

I did that this past Thursday ended up in JVV’s Creative Writing class in one of the art rooms.  She too had been displaced by HSPA testing, so she felt my pain when I asked if I could work in that classroom.  I also knew all of the seniors she had that day (I stay very far away from freshman and know very few sophomores) and knew I might get at least get something accomplished that period.

Little did I know what JVV had planned that day.  In her introduction to writing one-act plays, she pointed out that the characters don’t necessarily have to be people.  Her example was a play that used luggage on an airport carousel as characters, each taking on the characteristics of their owners.  Just imagine the dialogue between a Louis Vuitton suitcase and a ripped duffel bag that may or may not contain contraband!  She then asked the students to suggest objects that might converse.

I had an idea immediately!

“A conversation between the apps on my iPhone!” I suggested.  Now, some of you may wonder why I’m participating in a class not my own.  Can’t help it, I love to learn and my limited creativity needs an outlet now and then, and I was sitting right there. (I also have a B.A. in Creative Writing but that’s another blog post altogether.)

That idea stuck with me throughout the day and into the evening, but I couldn’t quite figure out how it would work as a play.  Then that proverbial lightbulb popped up (over my head of course), and I realized this would be a great short animation!  I start teaching Flash to my animation class in a week, and as soon as I began to plan what it would look like, I realized I could incorporate all the basics of Flash into this one file.

Eureka!

So I’ve spent some time this weekend creating the images and began the animation.  Let me tell you, the wrinkle tool in Illustrator is the best thing ever for an artistically challenged person like me.  Every time I get an idea like this, I get out the tablet thinking, “Sure, I can do this, it’ll look cool hand drawn, and Flash has that nice smooth feature.”  Nope, usually looks like a cranky 2 year old did it.  The final image of my iPhone turned out miraculously not bad and really looks like my iphone (my favorite toy ever).  Here’s a quick look:

The script is written, and I’m halfway through the animation and finally figured out what sounds to use and how to edit them.  Stay tuned this week for updates and the final animation!

For those of you wondering about how the March Giveaway scarf is coming along, here’s a look as of today:

Remember, comment on any blog post in the month of March and be entered to win this scarf in my blog’s colors!

March Giveaway

“You need to learn to make something other than scarves.  I want a blanket.”

So said my son this past weekend when I started yet another scarf. This one, however, is a nice light weight yarn (perfect for spring) in the colors of this blog. The yarn is called Ginseng, which according to the internet is an herb with healing properties.

I thought to myself, standing there in Michael’s, why not give back to those patient individuals who not only read my blog but are kind enough to comment?  During March, comment on any of my  blog posts, and at the end of the month, I’ll randomly choose one person to win this scarf!