Pumpkin (crafting) time
This week, I am venturing into the wild and wooly world of crafts. Crafts can be super fun to do in a group, and people of all ages, especially seniors, can get a kick out of spending time together in the spirit of creating something. For me, this week was full of pumpkins. I love pumpkins! I love seeing them all lined up outside the grocery store catching the warm fall sun, or going to the pumpkin patch on a chilly October day. So I’m crafting up a storm this week. First, I made sock pumpkins with a nice big group at the New Britain Senior Center. This is a fun craft because you can repurpose old socks with holes at the toes or heels and make them into festive fall decor. I like the idea of recycling clothing, especially socks, which I think people may tend to throw away when they get holes in them, even though they can be recycled as clothing scrap.Many people may not have access to that service or just not be aware that it exists in their community. In any case, I know my socks often get eaten by the couch monster or the washing machine or dryer monster, and I end up with one sad sock with no match. From one sock, you can make two pumpkins, and if it’s a knee high sock, you can even squeeze three or even four out of it. I like this craft not only because it recycles socks, but because it uses simple supplies. You can even use fabric scraps to fill your sock pumpkin, or the filling from old pillows. I used old socks which had no mates as my filling! You should see the huge pile of mateless socks I have! Anyway, with some rubber bands, twine, and ribbon, you can produce a totally fun little piece of delightful decor. I love crafting in the presence of friends. It is such a warm and happy feeling, and at the end we can all sit back and admire each other’s creations.
Later in the week, I was crafting again at the West Hartford Senior Center where we made pumpkins (more pumpkins!) out of twine with sweet stems made of cinnamon sticks. I will have to add a picture of them to my next post. Another simple and sustainable craft for the win! I really like to avoid using things like plastic or foam when possible.
In my Art Journey class, I like to bring in books and examples of art for inspiration. My students have been doing fall themed paintings, collages, and felting. One of the art pieces I brought in for an example was Gustav Klimt’s Tree of Life painting, known as the Stoclet Frieze. It is interesting and wonderful to see how a certain piece can really strike a chord with the group. Many people were delighted by and drawn to this gorgeous work, and chose to make their own versions of it or to use its colors and spirals as inspiration and a jumping off point.
I have also been doing some fun watercolor demonstrations showing the beauty and power of the wash as the basis and foundation of all watercolor. I also showed a bit about negative painting, where you paint everything but the object, which can be used to create highlights or to leave something as the white of the paper.
What I am Watching
I have been participating in the Fall Writing Program through Kripalu. I highly recommend their programs to everyone.
What I am Listening to
Through Kripalu, I have discovered Chetna Mehta and her wonderful podcast Creation for Liberation.
What I am Reading
Zen Battles by Thich Nhaht Hanh
