as the New Year rings in.............

You may ask 'what have I been up to?' - you may well ask that! For the last 3 months I have been back in the teaching mode - evening classes in modern embroidery!

In December I hung an exhibition displaying all the students work and it was/and is wonderful! The exhibition runs until 10 jan - and is currently on display at Skärhamns Bibliotek, Tjörn.

In all I had 10 students, and with me trying to keep up (usually running a couple of steps behind them!) , we were 11 people in all. We each constructed an angel every two weeks - so if you can do your maths correctly - there are over 80 angels hanging in the art gallery space in the library! It is well worth the visit.

I am so proud of my ladies who stitched, and laughed, and took everything I threw at them on the chin, went home, created an angel and came back the next week with the most amazing, imaginative creations.

There is a great report here from Kristina

I couldn't have asked or expected more and I gained from the experience a whole deal!

But most of all what the experience gave me was the confidence to return to teaching with avengence.

I have never been shy about teaching - it is my job and I am very well trained to do it - but here in Sweden , in a foreign language, in a culture that I am still a little unsure about, the thought of teaching has been challenging.

But now? Through tutoring this class, plus continuing to study for my Bachelor of Arts degree - now into my second year- I have gained more confidence than I could have wished for.

My group of embroiderers - from last term are returning for another evening class.

And I have gained two more evening classes with a return course on the angels again.

Plus I am hoping to at last get my distance learning course of the ground on creating ATC's.

So my one evening class with 10 women is now 3 evening classes with 30 women and hopefully one distance course.

and I havent even mentioned the English classes yet :0)

2008 saw a return of my teaching practices - I hope 2009 will be a development of them and more!

I wish everyone a creative, imaginative and productive 2009.

Zaz ;-)