Carla's class had us drawing polar bear shapes. I chose this roaring mama.
Which led to cloth (the background piece is another of Blandina's creations).
Cut freehand from silk, she seems a distant relation to one of Jude's beasts that I love so much. She fits perfectly into the cold weather we're having around here.
We were back to school today, and while happy to see the children, thoughts of getting back to stitching her filled in the gaps of the day. Thankfully, there are still some stars to stitch, because I'm a little in love.
And she reminds me of years ago, nine-months pregnant, working with first and second graders. We were studying the Arctics and getting ready for a show. One Friday I was teaching the kids the dance moves to "Go Greased Penguins" (sung to the tune of "Go Greased Lightning" from Grease), Janie wandered by and saw my Big belly bouncing around and shouted at me. I told her I was going to dance that baby out!
Later that day a group of children and I rewrote "Goodnight, Irene." Connie called me on Sunday night asking for the words to the song, just in case. . . "He's never coming out!" I told her. She was right, he came the next day, and I took baby Blue to the show a week later.
Janie and Connie are both gone now, but these memories keep me warm.
"Arctics Goodnight" (sung to the tune of "Goodnight, Irene")
Reindeer dream by the trees, snowy owls in their nests,
Arctic foxes doze in their dens, and hares think burrows are best.
Seals sleep next to the ocean, polar bears snooze in their caves,
Walruses rest on the ice cold ice, and puffins dream on the waves.
Arctics goodnight, Arctics goodnight
Goodnight Arctics, Goodnight Arctics
I’ll see you in my dreams…