Doll felt sushi rolls

I did it. I made the sushi rolls small. I think they are so cute. I am going to make a whole handful of them, find cute little containers at the Dollar Tree, and give them to my daughter and nieces for Christmas. Super cheap, fun, and useful.  Next item up to make: dolly cinnamon rolls.

Bring Engineering to Young Females

I just discovered gofundme.com and I think it is a great opportunity to expand the limits of the free after school library programs I have started for girls to explore engineering. Please check it out at gofundme.com/engineer_females 

I am a graduate student in Engineering and Technology Education. I am passionate about encouraging young girls to pursue interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). One way to encourage interest in STEM, is to expose young girls to hands-on activities. These activities create a positive experience for girls to get them motivated about design and creativity.
 
I have been volunteering at rural and suburban libraries planning and teaching small, after school, hands-on programs that are free to local grade school students. I have been putting the programs and activities together with my own money but that limits the amount of materials and activities these students can participate in. These programs foster creative problem solving by allowing children the opportunity to learn and apply engineering and technology concepts that they may not normally be exposed to at home or at school. 

I have recently been asked by some of my program students if they can make better prototypes of their designs. The students use engineering notebooks (which I purchase at the Dollar Tree and give to the students for free) to define problems, think critically, and design solutions. The students then build their solutions out of cardboard, tin cans, egg crates, and other found materials. However, I have recently been asked if the kids can make their designs on a 3D printer. I do have an extensive background in computer aided design so it is possible with the help of funding. Through the use of donations, I can buy a 3D Printer and materials.  After the library program, the students leave with added knowledge of technology and engineering. The programs are designed to be fun, engaging, and motivational. If there is enough donations, I would like to also purchase wearable items that can allow the students to identify themselves, and display to others, that they enjoy Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. 

“The only source of knowledge is experience.” –Albert Einstein. Please help me create the best possible experience for the children in my after school library programs. My hope is travel to several libraries across the state and soon, other states.

Felt Sushi Rolls... Christmas Gifts

             Right now I am knee-deep in grad school and I go shopping to "clear my mind" and keep me sane. With the holidays coming up it gets expensive buying toy after toy so I have decided I am going to save a little money and make some. My daughter LOVES American Girl doll stuff but come on....it costs a fortune. Luckily, my parents are building all the grandchildren a doll house to fit 18" dolls. I have been going to Goodwill (my favorite store ever) and finding amazing wooden chairs, benches, tables, beds, wagons, bathtubs, etc. to go inside the houses. Great money savor right there. Just clean up the items, add some paint if desired, and ta-da! I also found an adorable little picnic basket that is the perfect size for the dolls. I am going to make cute little foods out of felt for the basket. I have made life-size pasta, cookies, and sushi out of felt before, now I am just going to make them doll size. I will have to upload pictures once they are done. In case you are wondering, I have gone ahead and uploaded a picture tutorial of the life-size felt sushi rolls.