The Sewing Mom

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Woodrow Wilson. All opinions are 100% mine.

I worked as a teacher’s aide for several years, working right along side some of the brightest and most patient individuals I’ve ever met. I’ve always admired those that go into the teaching profession, but I never knew just how difficult and challenging their job really was until I worked with them. Think about how exhausting it is to spend your day with your own children, no matter the #, and then imagine what it is like to be responsible for teaching 25-30 children each and every day. It is really incredible the amount of pre-planning, organization, patience and skill that goes into running a successful classroom.

In today’s economic environment, it can be even more challenging to find a teaching position when someone first graduates with their Bachelor’s degree. Many young people want to continue on to achieve their Master’s degree, but finances may prohibit them from doing so, even though the Master’s degree affords them a better change of getting a good teaching job. If you know someone recently obtained, or will graduate by June 2011, an undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering or math, and is considering going on to get a Master’s degree, and graduated with a 3.0 GPA or higher, you may want to let them know about the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship can provide a $30,000 stipend to complete an intensive master’s degree program at one of fourteen participating universities. Recipients of the fellowship must:

- Complete a field-based master’s degree in teacher education.
- Commit to teach for at least three years in a high-need school.
- Receive intensive support and mentoring in the classroom.

For more information, have them visit www.wwteachingfellowship.org and tell them to apply before the September 1 deadline. Don’t forget to check out this video!

Have you ever tried to purchase new cushions for your patio furniture? I had sticker shock when I started shopping around to replace our cushions. I found that to get a set of 2 cushions, prices started at around $80 and went up from there! Considering I needed 4 sets, plus a cushion for the foot stool and 2 new pillows, I was going to be spending an awful lot of money. So, I did what any “sewingmom” would do, I went to Joann’s!

I found a brick red sunbrella fabric on clearance for $6/yard and it was 50% off the clearance price, making it $3/yard. I then found a coordinating fabric that was marked $18/yard, but was on sale for half-price, so I snatched them both. I couldn’t find zippers in the size I needed, so I tore the zippers out of the existing cushions and reused them (another cost savings). I have also been purchasing the inner cushions whenever I have coupons for Joann’s. They sell an all-weather cushion that is just the right size for about $12, and I use a 50% off coupon each time I purchase one. I also purchased a spool of indoor/outdoor heavy duty thread for $12. When I add up everything, I’ve spent about $150 for a makeover of all the cushions and pillows. I figure that’s a savings of at least $400!

Here is the before shot:

This is one of the first bottom cushion covers I made, before I put a new cushion inside of it.

And finally, the finished product:

I am so happy with the end result! I still can’t believe I did it myself!