American Girl class: Julie week 2

We had another great class day discussing Julie! The book we read and discussed this week was Julie Tells Her Story, the 2nd book in the Julie series. After we reviewed the book, we also discussed President Richard Nixon, and I gave the girls a word search found here. I read from a book called "Presidents of the United States (A Fast Fact Book)"-- the page about Richard Nixon. I also read from another book about him, a brief fact list. It was kinda interesting to read and discuss a little!

I gave each of the girls a bandana to put on their heads as a Head Kerchief. I had picked up a fun variety at Hobby Lobby. Several of the girls wore them right away!

Then we dove into our craft for this week which was Macrame Keychains. I got directions (below) on how to make this craft from a YouTube video you can find here. I watched the video three times, and it really helped me get the hang of this craft which I had never done before. Several of the moms and I talked about remembering macramé plant hangers and necklaces. I am by no means an expert at macramé but the video was a huge help and I am so glad I took the time to watch it! If your daughter hasn't finished her macramé, click on the above link and it will help!

Macrame directions from Youtube video 

Supplies needed: cord/ twine/ yarn; larger hole beads, keychain ring, foam board with quilting pins on top and bottom, scissors (Note: I also brought a lighter to keep ends of the cord from fraying, pen tops to push beads through the holes, packing tape to hold cord down, and a few clipboards--which helped the younger girls!)

Directions:

1. Cut two pieces of cord/ twine- one two feet long, one four feet long. Fold longer pieces in half so all four ends meet. Make a slip knot (loop) onto the keychain ring, pull tight.

2. Take the two smaller pieces to macrame on and tack to bottom of board/ table (tape?/ pin). This makes two middle pieces tight to macrame around. Will do alternating knot to give flat effect.

3. To begin, put right longer piece over middle, end on left side. Place right piece on top, the end under the middle 2 strands and through loop. Pull knot tight to top.

4. Alternate sides to make flat with same knot. Do that for 5-6 stitches, attach one bead. (Loop is the one you need to start. If you do wrong side, will start to twist.) Take off bottom, string a bead onto both pieces. Then secure bottom strands again. Macrame again, alternating sides, for 5-6 more stitches, then attach another bead. 

(Different version is to not alternate sides but keep same side, then it is twisty. Can make a bracelet by making a knot with a loop, secure to pins, macrame your bracelet with beads, then knot again, put through loop on other end and secure to wrist.)

5. To finish after the three beads on keychain, make a knot at the end of all four strands, push up to end of macrame knot, trim off ends. There you have your keychain!

This is a fun project for children, easy to make as gifts for parents for holidays or birthdays. Can find vintage beads, with faces on them (or paint) make for # of children in family. Enjoy this fun and easy project!

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The 2:00 class working on their macrame... the girl in the hat did an excellent job at macrame! I told her she could be a professional! It looked perfect when she was done!

She (above) didn't want me to take her picture, but I think it's a great one of her!

My daughter and several other girls thought it was hard, but once they figured it out, it was easy! It took some girls 20 minutes to make, others closer to 30, depending on how quickly they figured it out.

The snack we ate was Tuna Noodle Casserole & Sun Tea. Some of the girls liked Tuna fish and some didn't-- the 2:00 class had potato chips on top of their casserole and some liked that! It looked good to me!

It was an enjoyable class!

Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. 

Esther 1:6
The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.

Hosea 11:4
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.