A precious Finnish woman here in the city volunteered to offer a
Crafty Class to the seven-and-up kids! Asia LOVES her class! She first learned to crochet with her fingers, and has now learned to use a crochet needle. Her teacher is also teaching them how to use a regular needle & thread, starting with beads. Every week Asia walks to class with her friend Emma - over to her apartment, and spends 2 hours being crafty!
I love helping Asia get ready for her class: helping pack her backpack with necessities so that she can walk there on her own, and come home after!! She has to take the elevator, open the big heavy metal door, walk down the street and through a neighborhood restaurant, down some big stairs, through another bunch of apartment buildings - and up five flights of stairs. And then she comes back the same way, using her very own key! Asia loves the feeling of going by herself (with Emma) - they feel so responsible and grown up. Its a big accomplishment for momma too, letting her little girl branch out like this. I know its safe...and it builds confidence in our baby girl. She is growing up!!
Here are a few pictures of some of her recent creations:
She crocheted a long strand of yarn, and wound it around a toilet paper tube, converting it into a little pencil holder! This was our anniversary gift. Then she made a purple & yellow lizard out of beads. Now she is working on a small table mat - sewing the edges with a needle & thread, and embroidering a flower too! Its so fun to see her try new things, and come home energized and enthusiastic about her new skills! I am so thankful for our Finnish friend - and her love for these girls. :)
And I LOVE my new pencil-holder-man, specially crafted by my sweetie.
Asia just finished a project she has been working on for a few weeks now, and she wanted to give it away to her buddy Andrew. That is why she chose this great brown yarn - since he likes darker colors. I had to take a picture of this since she is giving it away...like right now!! It's so wonderful to watch her create and share. She is always thinking of her friends, and I know she is going to miss them while we travel. She is such a compassionate & loving little girl, and very attached to her loved ones. I love that she is growing in generosity too.
...and here's the whole gang!
...so maybe you will too!
She obviously needed a ring to go with.
What will she create next?
I really like writing Chinese characters - it feels like artwork!! 
I love helping Asia get ready for her class: helping pack her backpack with necessities so that she can walk there on her own, and come home after!! She has to take the elevator, open the big heavy metal door, walk down the street and through a neighborhood restaurant, down some big stairs, through another bunch of apartment buildings - and up five flights of stairs. And then she comes back the same way, using her very own key! Asia loves the feeling of going by herself (with Emma) - they feel so responsible and grown up. Its a big accomplishment for momma too, letting her little girl branch out like this. I know its safe...and it builds confidence in our baby girl. She is growing up!!
Here are a few pictures of some of her recent creations:
She crocheted a long strand of yarn, and wound it around a toilet paper tube, converting it into a little pencil holder! This was our anniversary gift. Then she made a purple & yellow lizard out of beads. Now she is working on a small table mat - sewing the edges with a needle & thread, and embroidering a flower too! Its so fun to see her try new things, and come home energized and enthusiastic about her new skills! I am so thankful for our Finnish friend - and her love for these girls. :)
p.s. It's been awhile, so we aren't really UP on all the new lingo - but the kids thought it was so funny learning what "cool" and "you rock" means. We are all so sheltered! We might need some help in this department soon.