Art Corner - Leaves!

 So, I've been retired almost 6 months now. I was so very busy for the first few months as the house got painted, and we moved everything and then (mostly) moved it back. I have done many "big" sorts, and organized and donated, and put away. There are still more "little" sorts as I continue to organize my craft room, but I've had time to visit with friends, do some crafting, and do some more crafting. And it is time that I continue my journal of crafty efforts, which is mainly what I consider this blog to be.

Of course there is sewing going on. And crochet. And cross stitch. Each of which will be topic of future entries. Today, I want to talk about how nice it is to have time to experience some of the other areas of Cruces Creatives. Like the Art Corner!

The Art Corner is open for guided exploration every Tuesday afternoon at 1 - 3. That there are knowledgeable guides is a wonderful part of this. I can "play with some new toys" as we have been saying during these explorations. It isn't a class, it is an opportunity for discovery for all of us. I've been exploring acrylic paints and techniques, with a little foray into embossing. A couple weeks ago, I brought a leaf from the mulberry tree in my yard to the art corner, remembering that Raine and I had painted some leaves one fall, and it was an entertaining activity for both of us.

We tried embossing the leaf onto some paper, which I tried painting, with disappointing results. The water in the paint played havoc with the embossing. So then one of the others painted the leaf, then embossed it. 

Inspirational leaf - so cool!

So, yesterday, I picked up a few smaller leaves from the yard, and took a pack of blank notecards that I had, and thought I could make some interesting fall leaf cards to send out for Thanksgiving. While mulberry trees turn yellow in the fall, IF they turn any color before the first hard freeze knocks them from the tree (most of the leaves are still on my tree, and most of them are still green, even now), I wanted more of a fall palette, so I picked some orange and yellow and red along with a light tan, and I think three different shades of green. Then I practiced painting and pressing the leave onto paper. I did not use the embosser for my cards.

The practice leaves

At first I used very wet paint, and put a lot on the leaf to then press to the paper, but although I liked the amount of color I was getting, the amount of paint overpowered the texture of the leaves. I really wanted that texture! Oh, and painting the BACK of the leaves seems to be part of the process to get the impression and texture I wanted. Now that they have had time to really dry, more of the texture of those wet leaves is showing than I thought, although there are also some blobby bits, too. Maybe more paint is OK, just not as wet - something to try out another time. At first I was pressing them with just my hand, but then I started using a paper towel between my hand and the leaves. I think that helped some too.

Eight Leaf Cards

So here are my leaf cards. Overall, I'm happy with them. Some are better than others, but as a group, especially, I think they work well! Now, to get them signed, sealed and mailed! Of course I don't want to keep them all... I don't have space for that!

Finally, I want to remember my dad today, on his birthday. Love you, Dad. Miss you.

Wait, What? I've got a Blog?

 I glanced at my list of blogs and stuff, and there was mine, at the top. How long ago since I posted??? What happened to pandemic journaling? Life. I guess. Life.

Here I am in May, of 2022. Happy Birthday, Mom. Miss you. 

May the Fourth Be With You.

I'm retiring this year. That the pandemic isn't over has contributed to that, but it isn't - of course - the only thing. I've had a student teacher this semester. It was lovely. She was lovely, and did a fabulous job. I hope she gets hired at OMHS and loves teaching as much as she seems to. More even. Today was her last day as a student teacher. She'll come back after the semester ends and help me clear my room by taking what she thinks she will use of my teacher stuff. Goodness knows I don't want to store it, and I know the next teacher who is in that classroom won't want it.

So, let's talk pandemic for a paragraph or so... The variants keep coming. Carl finally got COVID last week. I've managed to dodge it so far. I've been vaccinated, and boosted, and will probably get boosted again by the end of the summer. We are working on making COVID life the new norm, which I guess is how the pandemic actually ends. Not because it goes away. Not because we get some magic immunity.

Since Dec of 2020, school opened, at least for those who chose to go back, in early 2021. Raine finished up her senior year, and graduated. There was an actual ceremony, and Ron's family came out to help celebrate. It was held on the district football field (Field of Dreams) in the open air and the sun. Now there is talk that will be the site from now on. Pity the schools that get the 1PM slots each year. BUT, as I said, the new norms.

May 2021 Graduate

School this year has been sort of normal. As normal as very lax attendance policy and 50% as the lowest grade can allow. As normal as students (OK, AND adults) needing resocialization into crowds and in person people-ing. There are challenges. But there will be graduation, and graduates, and students will matriculate, and school will be more "normal" next year. I mean changes will happen. Don't they always? 

And I will move on to my next thing as well. My own personal new normal. What will that be? Well, at first it will be about some self care, at various levels. Personal self care looks like lots of walking, preparing healthy meals and taking the time to work on my own health. Family care that supports Raine as she prepares to "launch" into her life as an adult. Caring for my home, which has been neglected and could use some care as well. My mental health and well being will benefit from time to work on my crafty projects, and my life-long learning will often steer in that direction as well. There are plans! YES there are!

The Last Supper cross stitch, 2/3 complete

Looking forward to traveling a bit, and being in nature some. Visiting with friends, and enjoying some old friendships and strengthening some newer ones, and those more recently in reach. Reaching out to family while they are in reach. All those things. I may even post here now and again. You know, since I've been reminded that it is here.

at Carlsbad KOA