Today was supposed to be Bo's last day of her first year of pre-school, but the poor girl has spent the morning throwing up. That means summer vacation starts now, although we won't be heading to the county pool anytime soon.
I'm sad that she'll miss the school picnic and any sort of last-day-of-school discussion (I have a feeling she's going to ask me every day for weeks whether or not she has school today). And, of course, I hate to see her dealing with the discomfort of being sick. As someone with a weak stomach and two and a half pregnancies plagued with morning sickness, I feel your pain, sweet pea.
There is something about caring for a sick child that really makes you feel like a mom, though. I think I'm going to sew myself a Girl Scouts-like sash and start attaching badges to it for various accomplishments in mommyhood, like "grocery store tantrum," "up-the-back-and-over-the-shoulders diaper blowout," and "inappropriate-but-funny comment made in public." Should I sell them on Etsy?
Anyhow, what we were supposed to bring Bo's teachers today as end-of-the-year gifts were these wine tote bags I sewed last night. The photos were taken before the barfing commenced.
FYI--yes, that is a half-empty bottle of wine in there. The plan was to stop at the store on the way to school for fresh bottles.
I'd originally planned to make the three teachers each an apron, but these took less time and fabric. Besides, what teacher doesn't need a bottle of wine after nine months with a bunch of preschoolers?
I followed this fantastic tutorial by Sewing Republic (found via Shabby Chick). The directions were super easy to understand. Next time, I think I'll make the strap a bit more narrow and the tote a bit more snug around the wine.
I'd love the idea of mommy badges if you'd call them parenting badges instead. Dads deal with tantrums and vomit and explosive poop, too.
I think wine totes are much better than aprons. The teachers probably already have 100 aprons. (As a teacher, I'm actually not a fan of homemade gifts for teachers, but if that's your thing, at least make them unique.)
Posted by: JeCaThRe | June 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Someone already makes a set: http://www.mamameritbadges.com/. I think it's so cool though. I wasn't a camp fire girl long enough to get any badges, but I've always wanted them.
Posted by: Shannon | June 17, 2009 at 02:36 PM
I love these little wine bags...great idea for teacher's gifts...i am a teacher of grade 4 and 5...i get mugs..mugs..and more mugs..so i know the teachers will really appreciate the orginality on your part...hope your little sweetpea is up and adam soon...
Posted by: koralee | June 17, 2009 at 05:55 PM
I love the wine bags and you hit it right on when you said a preschool teacher needs a bottle of wine after 9 months with preschoolers!! I think most teachers who are warm and fuzzy love homemade gifts - they are not only original but they have been made with love for sure. And to comment on the post below, I am a preschool teacher and I don't have a single apron! :)
Posted by: Dena | June 18, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Must... have...bird...wine...bottle tote.
Are you selling those on etsy? Please don't say I'll have to sew. I can do it, I swear. It's just that there always seems to be more important things to do.
I hope you're well, Megan. I love the blog. It makes me wish I were crafty.
Oh, and I'd love some of those merit badges, too:)
Posted by: Lorie Hutson | June 18, 2009 at 03:54 PM
Dena, you don't have an apron?? I need to rectify that!
Thanks for the nice words, guys. Can't say that I'm going to stop giving handmade gifts anytime soon. It's kind of my schtick (hence the craft blog). When I don't know if someone is part of the whole handmade movement or not, I try to pair my gift with something else, like the wine bottles. Part of the reason I make gifts more often than buying them, though, is to teach the girls that sometimes we don't have to look further than our own two hands to create something special for someone.
Lorie, I hadn't planned to but now you've got me thinking. I'd have to change the design a bit (I have some ideas for that brewing already). I'll keep you posted.
Posted by: Megan | June 18, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Oh, I almost forgot! Shannon, those badges are awesome. I was totally kidding about making them, but am not at all surprised that someone is actually doing it. Too funny.
Posted by: Megan | June 18, 2009 at 08:20 PM
I love hummus and have been wanting to make my own, but I can't find tahini in any of the stores in my town, so I LOVE that you have a recipe with out it! Thanks!
Posted by: Cialis Online | July 22, 2011 at 12:50 PM