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So I'm on vacation right now. I'm a teacher, and my boyfriend is taking the music teacher position at the school where I work. I spent the past two days co-teaching with him to get him acclimated to the new position, school, and kids. I teach 3rd grade so I'm used to a certain age group of children, and he has mostly worked with teenagers. We were both amused by many of the little kindergartners and first graders.

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We give the children lots of opportunities to be a leader in the classroom. I tell them that they are the teacher and expect them to teach as I do. They all love to do this, but only so many can earn or win the chance to be the teacher in the time frame that we have.

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You have to realize that kindergartners and first graders have bladders about the size of a grape, AND if they hear the word "bathroom" they ALL MUST GO! hehe It's kind of crazy. =) Anyway a few of them started to do the pee-pee dance, and their new teacher walked them to the bathroom.

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On the walk back to the classroom they had a funny conversation:

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Little first grade boy: I never win anything like games or being the teacher, but I always win in shoes.

Teacher: Oh, those are nice shoes.

Little first grade boy: Yeah, my mom says she wants me to be a pimp.

Smiles,

Kathy

Crazy Candy Episode III
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Barnyard Animals
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So I still stop for a BIG tea at the gas station with the big dinosaur on it that is near my work whenever I go in. I'm on vacation for the next few weeks, but end up going into work every once in a while anyway. I kind of like my job so it's ok. =)

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Anyway, on the candy rack next to the toilet candy I saw these two cute little guys. Actually there were three, but I didn't think that the sheep was as cute as the cow or the pig. So the sheep didn't make it onto the counter and into my work bag.....the poor little sheep.

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Mmmmmmmm BarnYard Bubble Gum! Bubble gum straight from the barnyard sounds delish! =)

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At first glace these little gum toting animals look really cute, but further investigation shows that the act of actually getting the gum is pretty gross!

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The gum comes out of their butts!!

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Butt gum yick!

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I first opened the cow up, as I like green apple a little more than strawberry. I lifted his little butt flap and pulled the candy out...ick....It was as hard as a rock!

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The taste was fine if you can get past the butt flap, the thought of bum gum, and crunch!

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Smiles,

Kathy

New Paintings From Kathy Martin Studio

Hello! Halloween will soon be here! I've been getting ready by painting a few Halloween paintings.

Both paintings are 2.5 x 3.5 inches (standard ACEO sized). They are base coated in 24 Karat gold paint and then put through an antique process.

The pumpkin's 3d outline has been gold leafed using 18 Karat gold leaf.

He's ready to add cheer to any Halloween collection!

You can learn more about him or purchase him here:

Pumkin Painting

The Etsy Bitsy Spider's cherry blossom branch is covered in copper leaf, and he hangs from a siver leafed thread. He is 3d and is ready for the Halloween season!

You can learn more about or purchase this spider here:

Spider Painting

Have a great day!

smiles,
Kathy

My etsy shop: http://www.kathymartinstudio.etsy.com/

A New Painting

from

Kathy Martin Studio

This painting was created using 18 and 24 Karat gold leaf and then made to look antique. The branches were painted in copper leaf. A six step process was used to create this 3D painting. It is painted on a standard playing card as cards work best with the 3D painting process.

Dimensions: 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (Standard ACEO size)

Both the Chinese and Japanese view butterflies as symbols of happiness and joy. The cherry blossom symbolizes feminine beauty in China and are believed to exemplify the transient nature of life, because of their short blooming times. Cherry Blossom (Sakura in Japanese) are omens of good fortune, emblems of love and affection, and represent spring time.


Click here for more details about this painting: Blue Zen Butterfly

Smiles,
Kathy

My Etsy Shop: http://www.kathymartinstudio.etsy.com/

I've been featured on two blogs!

An article about me:
Dharm Designs
AND
an article that explains ACEOs:
Fancy Picnic

Smiles,
Kathy

No Paper Airplanes!

So it's the end of the school year, and in my 3rd grade classroom we are doing lots of interesting science experiments. Today we worked on a project that entailed the engineering of an aerodynamic projectile (airplane) engineered out of official aerodynamic projectile construction material (paper).

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I thought that I was soooo smart when I found this book full of awesome paper airplane designs and instructions! Oh man was I wrong! Out of four adults and thirty 9 year olds, not one of us could complete all of the steps involved in creating this airplane!! One kid came close, but quit at step 10 or so.

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There was one little girl who is very smart. She is used to being able to do well at things that she attempts. She got so frustrated at this hair-brained idea I cooked up today that she started to cry out of sheer angry! She wouldn't talk or tell anyone what was the matter. I thought perhaps someone had said something mean to her. I tried to console her, but decided to let her be.

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We finally gave up on the crazy 57 step folding disaster, and I announced, "OK everyone just make the kind of plane that you already know how to make." All of the students got to work, scrapped the crazy plane directions, grabbed new paper, and did what they wanted to.

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After they were finished we all went outside to have a contest. The very upset girl came outside with us, she was still crying, she looked mad, and she would still not speak to anyone. I mentioned that the two planes that flew the farthest would win a prize. Since we scrapped the whole pattern idea the only rule was to put your name on your plane.

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I lined the students up and counted down to flight take off. "Ready, Set.............FLY!" was announced, and the official 3rd Grade Airplane Engineering Distance Competition was underway!

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About thirty planes took off across the blacktop. Some planes flew short, some flew far, but the farthest "plane" was a wad of paper. It went several feet farther than any other projectile. "Who threw the paper wad???", I questioned. Several students pointed to the angry, crying girl. She made another angry face.

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I walked over to her, knelt down, and told her the following:

You know that this contest was to make the airplane that could fly the farthest right? You could create any kind of design you wanted to as long as you put your name on it. The student who's plane goes the farthest wins a prize. You're paper wad plane went the farthest, and YOU are the winner!

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Her angry face turned into a HUGE smile!

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smiles,

Kathy

Crazy Candy Episode II

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The Toilet

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So every morning on my way to work I stop at this the gas station on the corner that has the big dinosaur on it. I stop there to get a HUGE cup of iced tea that lasts me all day at work. They have this candy rack near the register that has a bunch of novelty candies in it. I saw these little, plastic toilets on the very bottom shelf almost near the floor.

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I had to get a good look at these little toilets because I was thinking, "OK, candy in a little toilet. It's weird." Then I took a closer look. The little toilets each had two candy toilet plungers attached to the sides. I mean what's a toilet without a toilet plunger right?

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The thought of eating out of the toilet is fairly gross. The thought of swishing a plunger around in a toilet and then licking it off is gets a little bit ickier, BUT the picture listed on the label of this candy is just plan sick! That little blond guy is on his knees, hugging the commode, stirring the water with a plunger, and wildly licking the toilet.

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Smiles,

Kathy