elizabeth star

I was tagged for the first time! by miss marilyn patrizio, almost about a month ago...yikes!


Here are the rules:

1. Link to your original tagger(s) and list these rules in your post.
2. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they've been tagged.

__________________________________________________________________________

1. I kept a journal as a child and can recall many detailed memories about my childhood that most adults cannot. It's both a good thing and a bad thing in terms of feeling nostalgia constantly.

2. I wish I could sing well.

3. I'm obsessed with patterns and prints.

4. I taught myself HTML when I was 13, just for fun.

5. I want to go to Egypt.

6. I love the texture, smell and look of natural wood. I secretly wish I had my own workshop in my garage.

7. Je parle un petit peu le français.

Soooo....basically subbing has taken over my life, among other things. Besides fooling around on my phone, I think this is the 2nd time I've opened my laptop in about 3 months. It's both a good thing and a bad thing. I went from having absolutely too much free time after graduating to having no time at all. In the end, I'm happy. I'm doing something that I find truly rewarding, and in my most cases of happiness in my life, it was unplanned. I'm pretty happy that I fell into teaching. It was really overwhelming at first and a bit scary, but I'm truly finding a love for it. Waking up at 6 am every morning to wait for a call, not so much ;-)

Subbing is a tricky profession. You have to be able to go into a classroom and pick up where the teacher left off, with little or no prior knowledge of what exactly the class is learning or already knows. All while trying to keep order and have the children like you, but not completely walk all over you because you are just a substitute. The first thing a child thinks when their teacher is out is play time! That isn't the case for K-5. We're still expected to go over any material that the teacher was expected to complete that day, screaming children and all.

I've worked with kids before in the past, but never in as structured a situation as daytime school. I've been a camp counselor, a pottery teacher, a babysitter and a tutor. Informality at its best. "Adjusting" is just one word you could use to describe my first week of subbing ;-) I really wasn't sure if this was something I should be doing. I almost longed for a computer and a desk to crawl under.

I give classroom teachers so much credit for what they do day in and day out, 180 days a year. Those two summer months off are a job necessity for the profession. Otherwise, there would be a surplus of ex-teachers in the loony bin. Being a sub, I go in and I go out. Sometimes there's weeks or months in between having the same class again. It's the perfect job for someone who gets bored easily. Seeing so many new faces is something I enjoy. It keeps things interesting. Since I'm only in one school so far, I'm getting to know all the kids pretty well and I have the opportunity to work with every grade.

My favorite part is the interaction with the kids. Their young, untarnished, innocent (some not so much) personalities are priceless. Some of the things they come up with and say is hysterical, and often inappropriate. Remaining professional and having to scold is not my favorite part, but I do it...usually with a straight face ;-)

I'm really happy that I was led to this path and I'm curious to find out what will happen down the road.

I've finally brought my blog back from the dead! 2008 has surely passed by like a whirlwind and I JUST finally got the internet back in my house. I spent the last 5 months desperately trying to pirate off of my neighbors, to no avail. It's now smooth internet sailing from here with my wonderful new cable modem. I no longer associate web surfing with extreme frustration and mental pain ;-)

Here's some highlights from the last few months:

* Graduated College! woohoo!

* My boyfriend got into the FDNY EMS academy! go Sal!

* Spent a lot of time in PA this summer - visited New Hope, Philadelphia & stayed with Sal's sister and brother-in-law in Milford for a few days.

* I started substitute teaching which convinced me to apply to grad school for teaching. I heart the childrens.

* 2008 election is still confusing me

That's pretty much all I can think about that is significant. I'm definitely going to try to update this thing more often.

Here's a sneak peak of my current project, which is coming soon.... to a theater near you!

I hate when gadgets malfunction, especially when they're new!

Just a quick illo, wanted to do something productive without committing too much time!

Decided to play around and do an illustration friday instead of school work :-P I'm definitely feeling the "senioritis" coming on, as this is my last semester and I have no drive to do any school work. I'm planning my summer vacations instead....hah!

Here is a compilation of all the projects I had to do for my Multimedia class this semester. I had so much fun taking this class.

i wish i had money

I'm a noob, but it's fun! :-D

Project #1 for multimedia class: Still Photo film

After lurking for quite some time, here is my first actual posting of something for Illustration Friday. I was inspired to do this after my sister got married.

http://elizabethstar.com

coming soon!

:)

It's as if these companies know I will surrender all of my money for cute shirts.

I would own this. Even if I didn't have children =)
Every child or child at heart should own their very own English cottage.

I had to create an "inner space" that makes one feel safe, done in plexiglas for my 3-D Design class. A dollhouse came straight to mind when I connected safeness with childhood. I always wanted a dollhouse growing up (to feed my obsession for all things miniature hehe) so I thought what's better than making my own?

I was really intimidated by the whole 3-dimensionality of the class. I've never really delved into the world of 3-D before, except for maybe playing with clay or paper mache. I really got a lot out of the class and was happy to have taken it. I just might take a sculpture class one of these days! ;-)

Inside view of stage one of my project for my 3-D Design class. On the final piece I took out the wall on the first floor and made it all one floor. Don't mind my messy tape job ;-) Gotta love the recycled priority mail cardboard box look.

Stage one of my project for my 3-D Design class. This model is done in cardboard, but the final piece is in plexiglas. I used opaque colored plexiglas. We had to construct a piece with interior space that could be considered a sanctuary or a "safe place". My mind went straight to the safeness of childhood, reminding me of a dollhouse. I always loved miniature things as a child and always wanted a dollhouse, so theres the inspiration ;-) The plexi piece is due tomorrow, so I'll post pictures once I get it back. I had so much fun with this project!

Just like with fabric, I have a problem with collecting pretty patterned paper. There are so many gorgeous papers out there. This is one of my all-time favorites. I'm really loving tree designs this fall. I can't wait to use it.

On my way home from school I passed by a thrift store and found this lovely wooden mushroom salt & pepper shaker set. For $3 I couldn't resist. Now all I need is my own kitchen ;-)

I can't resist adorable plastic shaped buttons :)