Groovy Educator

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Hello All! It's been a while since I've posted a blog.  Since my Dad passed away in March, I've been in a "funk" for lack of a better word. I am very excited that I start a new job in the next week or so.  It is part time so it will still allow me to pursue growing my jewelry business www.LowerysLoft.com. Teaching has always been close to my heart.  I will be working with the Florida Center of Reading Research as an assessor and possibly an interventionist later.  This is only a temporary position that is funded by a grant but it is heaven sent for me. How often do you get the best of both worlds?  This is the type of position I wanted when I sought my Master's Degree in Reading.

Time seems to be going faster and faster.  I am sorry for neglecting this blog.  Some people can have many hats and wear them all well.  I used to be that way but lately a few of those many hats are up in the closet.  Groovy Educator is near and dear to my heart but I am trying to grow my Lowery's Loft LLC home business selling mostly vintage and collectibles.  It is relatively a new business so I need to spend a lot of time trying to build a customer base and learning the ins and outs of a new career.   Please keep checking back with Groovy Educator, I will periodically post teaching tips and new TpT products.  BUT for the time being I am taking a detour and pursuing a new adventure all in an attempt to be a stay at home mom.   I know there are still moms out there that do it.  Right now I wonder how...because going from two incomes to one is daunting.   I do want to make some back to school items for TpT.  I miss not go...

I am exploring ways to relax and one of my former hobbies was crafting.  Now that I am on leave, I have time to do this again.  For some reason I have become extremely interested in vintage costume jewelry and have purchased some pieces.   This week I have combined both hobbies by creating these handmade ornaments.  I have a couple listed on eBay but there is no need to purchase one when you can make your own! For these particular ornaments I purchased clear glass ones with a subtle design on the outside at Big Lots.  I then went through my broken jewelry looking for chains, loose beads, earrings without a match and Voila!  This is the result.      For student gifts you can always purchase clear plastic ornaments and junk jewelry at yard sales, thrift shops, eBay, or even ask for donations .  I used a hoop earring for the hook, just think of the possibilities...decorative ribbons, yarn, braided thread.  You cou...