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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Teacher's Gifts 2011

Every year, I've always tried to make nice and thoughtful gifts for my childrens' teachers. Having worked in school systems, I know what teachers are usually given, and what they really do and don't appreciate. Since I've always been crafty, I've made a variety of things over the years. Since I learned glassworking and metalworking, the last few years have been jewelry gifts.

Jewelry has always been a very personal thing in terms of style for people, so I don't get too trendy or 'out there' when making pieces for people I know, but don't know well on a personal level. And I've always tried to choose themes that have meaning beyond the whole pencils-crayons-an-apple-for-the-teacher thing.

This year, I focused on the proverb, "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow." For the ladies who teach my little kids preschool, I made a series of simple copper necklaces featuring either a hollow glass acorn, or a polymer clay acorn, both of which I made myself.



For my oldest child, who is in middle school and has many teachers each day, I'm still working on gifts for those teachers. Her English teacher is male, so a necklace is Right Out. I'm thinking bookmark and gift card instead.

Of course, now that I am laid up in bed after having several outpatient surgeries on Wednesday, NOW I'm getting all these great ideas. Right when I have no energy to do them. Thankfully, Kira has a couple more weeks of school so I have a bit of time to get things done.

I really like the way these necklaces came out, and I'm thinking of offering them as glass or polymer clay pendants in my shop. It's a bit late for teacher gifts for this year, but not for this coming Christmas and for next year.

I think I'll list those earrings I wrote about recently, now that I have time on my hands and no ability to really do anything too involved.

What do you do (or have you done) for teacher gifts for your kids and their teachers?

6 comments:

Unknown said...

What a thoughtful gift Christine! The necklaces are beautiful, and I'm sure the teacher will appreciate them for many years to come.
I've only once given jewelry, a bracelet, for a teacher's gift. But I'm thinking maybe something special for my daughters teacher. I stick with the gift card, it's easy and they can pick what they want.

Laura Twiford said...

I don't know what the surgery was but hope you are soon feeling better and able to get back to what you want to do! As for teacher's gifts it's been a long time since I had to do that and only did jewelry once, most other times it was gift cards.

Barbara Lewis said...

These are great, Christine! Who can't relate to the acorn ... besides ... they're beautiful! When my kids were little the teachers got coffee mugs ... at which my son complained. He was slightly embarrassed because his mom didn't have a "normal" job. The teachers loved them!

Pretty Things said...

Those are great! I wish I'd had time to take photos of what I made my son's teachers.

Aquariart said...

Those are wonderful and I (having been a teacher myself) would have treasured one especially because of the theme you came up with. You are such a thoughtful and appreciative mom!! Can't tell you what I do as my kids are all grown up.
Hope you recover quickly so you can put your anxious mind back to work. I know how hard it is to rest when the creative juices are flowing.. Take good care of yourself so you bounce back with gusto!!

I LOVE color! said...

I really like your creation. and I really like the coil closure. Be Blessed

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