The rotary pinking blade sounds like the quickest edge! I agree, something by the child should be included, if the handprint is too large, two nicely placed thumbprints would make a nice heart. Also could use rubber stamps with fabric ink, for an option. I like the idea of having a pretty fabric top, and a muslin back imprinted with something by the child, name and date.

I agree with Deedum. That is a lot to ask of someone. Most parents would rather have a piece of paper if their child made it than something someone else made to give them.

I'm interested in 1, also. Add me to the list of 62-(ha-ha). As Cybrarian says, decorate the front, an sign the back.

REALLY??? What are you talking about?? This isn't a grade or reward for them, it is helping them to make something for their moms. If you read carefully you will note that I implied to let them do it with help where needed. I am not an advocate of rewarding where it is not earned and why you want to make this an argument about that is anybodies guess??
The woman asked for ideas not all this other nonsense!

Another cute project is doing india ink thumbprints and making a picture with them. Ie add antenna or legs with a skinny marker for bugs. Two close together become a heart or a butterfly or a snowman. Several become a daisy. Let your imagination run with it.

What poem are you using?

You could still do this but instead of a pict how about their handprint? My grandson's pre-k teacher did that with quilt blocks and it was the most precious thing I could have gotten for Xmas this year....you could resize the hand to fit and have them print their name...

So the gifts aren't really coming from the kids?? Am I missing something here? Your boss is paying you to make gifts for the mom's of the children you work with?

I think I should clarify things a bit:

I work for a private preschool, not a free/public one. My boss (the director) had a HUGE box of 'fun' fabric stash that she bought when she was going to learn how to sew, then decided sewing wasn't her thing. So supplies are covered from her pocket.

As for the Art teacher: I AM the art teacher; I'm not assisting one. What she is doing as far as time is having me do some late-start days and log my time sewing at home and she will pay me.

What we decided on is this: I will take the fabric in and let the children pick their fabrics. I'll come home and make the rugs, but not do the 'decorative' stitching. I'm going to bring in my machine (or she still has the Bernina that she bought to learn on) and let the kids help me finish them. (One-on-one with each child, having them help me feed the rugs through the machine for quilting). Then I will use fabric paint to help the children make handprints on each rug. We'll attach a poem, biscotti and tea-bag to each and the kids will give them to the moms.

Obviously, if they are too rambuctious (or some of the younger kids) they will only help with some of the quilting, not all of it (for safety reasons). But this way the moms will get something functional, made with help from their child.

I'm just going to do simple rugs, one piece for front, one for back, using the 'birthing' method.

Sorry if there was some confusion... we've gone back and forth about how much to involve the kids. For me it isn't about whether she is paying me 'enough' for my time; I'm just happy to bring one of my hobbies in to use at my workplace, and expose the kids to a new type of art - one that isn't just paper and glue and crayons.

Do a tissue holder and ask if she's settle for that. There are two styles on this board and both are very quick. AND VERY CUTE!

4 patches are quick. Snowballs are quick. HST are quick. Rail Fences are quick.

Add the poem, but skip the pocket!

You've got about 6 weeks. Could you possibly make 100 or so at home, let the kids chose the rug they like and customize it? If you are just using one piece per side, and birthing them, that shouldn't take too long. NOT IMPOSSIBLE, but will take time.

Sounds reasonable to me.

this post will probably be pulled but it sounds like a few people here are pretty dead set in how a person unknown to them should run their pre-school. If the owner wants to give the moms mug rugs, that's her business. If she wants to ask the teacher to make them, that's her business.

Our poster asked for suggestions on how to get 62 done in the time available. She's not asking for opinions on what the school owner is allowed to do.

Ohhh, I so agree! Either that or she wears a Size One hat! Mothers appreciate and hold dear anything their children make themselves.

After your last posting, this all makes more sense now. Sounds like you really don't have a problem other than possibly time management and needing enough patience to complete the project.

Your idea sounds lovely, and the children will also get up close and personal with a sewing machine- first time for many, no doubt. Good luck with it!

Megan, I think what you are doing is a wonderful idea! The kids and mothers alike will love it!! I am sorry many on this board are being so negative and mean spirited about this whole thing. It is a trait that is showing up more often lately and I for one am not finding this a great place to hang out because of it. Giving of yourself and helping these kids learn something new is awesome and I am sure some of these will remember you as the neat teacher who taught them about quilting. I still remember my 4th grade teacher who went to the worlds fair in Seattle Washington, she came back and made the whole thing come alive for us by helping us to build a replica of what she saw there. Out of the box ideas can make touching memories!!

I think this is a wonderful idea. I wish I was closer to you as I would love to help. The idea of potentially infecting 60+ kids with the quilt bug?!?!? And get paid for it? I would jump at the chance. I also think if the kids at least pick the fabric it would help. I also think a hand print on plain muslin would work. You can bring in muslin on a bolt with lines drawn on it like cutting lines or something and have the kids plop a hand print right in the middle. Quilt around it and stitch the edges shut and bam. If my kids brought home mug rugs like that I'd use them forever. I paid a ridiculous sum once for 2 refrigerator magnets when my older two boys were small. They are still on my fridge, though falling apart, but it was an art project. I think it's a great idea and I applaud you. Just makes me wish I could help ya out! Sounds like fun.

Of course, I make, entirely for free, a small quilt every time a teacher at the elementary school has a baby, even if they aren't my sons teachers. It's a way for me to give back to the great teachers who sacrifice so much to help the kids learn.

The way I read the original post the mug rugs would be a gift from the school owner, and IMO she is entitled to give a gift if she wants.

But why not allow the school owner to give a gift, too? Would you object about a gift to YOU from a teacher?

Would someone show me the law that prevents a school owner from give the moms of student a gift from her?

Please read the post for what it is. Not what it isn't.

Again, I'd like for someone to point out in the Mother's Day Guidelines, where it says only children are allowed to give mothers gifts. Our church gives all moms a potted plant for Mother's Day. I've never yet heard one single mother object to receiving a flower paid by church funds.

Again, why would a parent resent a gift from the school owner?

And mothers will turn down gifts from other folks?????? Sounds like the mothers need to learn a few lessons in gratitude.

what "be a quilter" said!

What a job.......however, I was thinking.......have help like the boss, have white or muslin fabric..............paint hand of each child...........imprint onto the fabric.........personalized. I would assemble the rugs first and put child's name with a pigma pen on the back.......taa data done.......calla

Thanks for the clarification on post #89. That clarification helped me see the project as involving the kids and doable. This sure has opened discussion and interesting viewpoints. Good luck and if time permits, it would be really nice to see a few pics of the kids and the mug rugs. Have fun with it.

You tell em Grannie Annie!!!!! LOL you make me laugh, but I am with you!!! Some people need to get off their brooms!

This is a great idea! My younger sister is a teacher (3rd graders) and she often has the students do designs on plain muslin with fabric markers or crayons and has them pick fabric they like...A few years ago each child did one block a month and each child ended up with a nine-block lap quilt. Another year they did four blocks...I think they did the four seasons...Those kids were very talented and had a nice keepsake!

Ooooh! Now I read this! Ok, have fun!


By the way, public schools are not "free" schools. At least not the last time I checked my taxes. We all pay for them.
Sandy

Sandy,

My apologies; I do realize that public schools come out of our taxes. What I was saying was more toward those implying parents might not like the use of their funds, and simply wanted to point out that when touring the school, they are shown examples of the types of projects that the children do, and are fully aware of how their tuition is put to use.

The parents are generally satisfied, because their children are doing actual curriculum at the school, not just playtime and coloring all day like some of the schools. Knowing the parents there (and having my own son going there) I do feel it is something they will appreciate getting. :)

Is your boss paying for the materials and your time? This is a lot of work, unless you just take a couple of fabrics, sandwich them together with some batting, sew a grid with 62 squares and cut them out.

Even that is a lot of work and time consuming.

Whatever happened to making handprints plaster of paris? Kids love to do it and, as a parent, I loved to get them.

There is no such law. But it is a lot of work and if the boss isn't willing to pay for the time, work and materials, then the boss shouldn't ask for it. LoupEsprit doesn't say whether the boss is paying or not, so we can't know.

However, if the boss is not paying for the work, the boss put the mother/aide in a precarious position with this request - damned with doing it every year she works there if she does it once, and doubly damned if she doesn't because she can be considered uncooperative by her boss and fired.

That is the only true problem I see with the request, and I only consider it a problem if the boss isn't willing to pay for the work.

............... and perhaps if you would read the posts in this thread,
then perhaps you would have written two different posts?

Yes, she is paying for materials AND time. And she offered to bring her own machine in for me to sew on at school, or bring it home to use if I don't want the wear and tear on my own machine. (Her Bernina is much nicer than my Brother, I'm sure! - for those that missed it, she has a ton of fabrics and a machine, because she intended to learn to sew. But she got really frustrated and gave up, but still has all of the stuff.)

Also, as an update; our school has an open house coming up in June. I offered to throw together a baby quilt to donate so we can raffle it (since we are going to start taking 1-2 year olds) She said she will BUY one from me, instead of me donating it, and she also wants me to set up a booth showing my baby quilts, boo-boo pillows, etc. that I make to sell. (We are allowing kid-oriented businesses to set up tables during the open house).