Mobile Learning

Just attended 2 days of a 3 day "Tech Academy" at Waukesha County Technical College focusing on the theme Mobile Learning. (I would have attended all 3 days but I needed a paycheck from my other job.) Because I am a part-time instructor, I am able to take advantage of these wonderful classes that the school offers each year for free.They are held for the instructors to keep them informed of what's going on with  technology both on and off the campus. Because I am a non-credit arts instructor, I do not routinely use emails to correspond with students and staff, nor record and report grades, use on-line learning, webcasts or group link ups. I do (personally) want to do my best to stay current with what's happening in my world which involves technology.

We always get a great bag with some good snacks !

 The opening session was on how, even beginning in high school, lectures and homework have flipped. Teachers are putting their lectures online so the students can view them at their leisure, learning at their own pace. Assignments and homework are now done in the classroom, allowing the teacher to be available for questions and help with projects. Students are learning and retaining more because they are setting their own speed at which they receive the information whether it's sitting at a desktop computer, or viewing it from a laptop, tablet or smartphone.

We also saw how mini tablets can be put on a special stand and will actually follow you as you record. A live chat was also shown where two people were sharing the same information of their computers to work at the same time on the same project. Very cool. This is not for my floral design students (now anyway) but students are doing this everyday!

My first class was on the latest version of Power Point. I have done the introduction to all my classes on Power Point but sometimes it's difficult for my classroom to have a "smart cart" with computer so I usually don't use them and stick to the "show and tell" intro. I do like this class as a refresher since there are so many thing to do with the program that I might use on another level. We covered inserting video's, recording narration, and other up grades rather than how to make things images fly in and out. Very helpful.

Next was Outlook. Done this one before, too. This is working with Email - responses, out of office, signatures and inserting logos. Always useful.

Wednesday was the fun day, "Geeze Louise, my phone is smarter than me"  was very fun and educational. Rhen Rodee did 3 hours (and we needed more) on Android phones. He always makes learning fun. I didn't know I could do a Power Point from my phone...... He not only covered the basics like Apps and Widgets, but security and where to find settings, how to download music and there is a difference between a power cord and a cord to transfer information.

Rhen showing another instructor how to play music from her phone.
That's his phone on the screen.

My final class was on OneNote. This is a really creative way of organizing information of any type- typed, drawn, clipped, recorded, video, photos, anything. You can also put it in the cloud to share and collaborate with others.

OneNote is like multi-sectioned binder(s) used to put "stuff" in. The great part is you can search for it later in a search bar. There were thirty of us working on one "page" at once and you could see who was doing what, we could all change what others had added and it "saved" all by itself always reopening to where you had left  off at. Some possibilities would be to store information from meetings, in-progress works, recipes, wedding - home building- remodeling project lists, and I found lots of stuff for attorneys already created available for download on the MS Office site. I am hoping to have lots of fun with this in the future. Can't wait to see what the team will offer next year.=!

Being a Decorating Diva

Last week my class and I attended a seminar put on by a high end interior designer about bringing out your designing diva.  I  collaborate with the designer that presented the program and do a significant amount of floral design work for her. Cheri Ware is the most organized designer I know. She always has a book with all her samples, swatches, colors, diagrams, furniture layouts and dimensions for every client. This is the important information I need to determine the size, form and design of the arrangements she specifies for each area in each room to achieve the feeling and style of the arrangement needed. I try to get this same information from all my custom clients which is not always easy.

Cheri with her gals!

Cheri's team came to set up for the program the day before. Rather than a screen she used a 50 inch flat screen to show her power point. There were a couple of design boards showing samples of paint, fabric, wood finishes, counter tops and hardware for two rooms. There was also a grey parsons chair and a traditional and a contemporary framed print. They also set up a lovely table for treats and a special drawing giveaway.

The next night Cheri did her presentation for about 60 people of which 6 were from my floral class. Community education is a great way to get customers informed and involved. She gave tips on finding your personal style. Her clients fill out a 15 page profile on every thing from what color car they prefer to what color clothes they have in their closets.

Tonight's audience had to choose a celebrity they most closely relate to - Jackie Kennedy, George Cloney, Kate Middleton, Johnny Depp, or Mariah Carey and that helped decide what style they related to traditional, contemporary, classic, etc.

Contemporary Art

She stressed doing a sample of your paint color on a wall in the room you want to use it in and watch it throughout the day to see how the natural light effects the color as it changes brightness. Some colors look more green at times or washed out. And another note on color - yes, you can paint small rooms dark colors. Bathrooms, mudrooms and laundry rooms are places that you can play with bold looks.

Her "grey chair" exercise was to show that neutral furniture pieces can go either traditional or contemporary depending on what accessories it is paired with. This is where she showed how we work together to pick elements of a floral arrangement I would put together for her.

Classic floral

 A home should flow room to room instead of being a collection of disjointed themes. Big ticket items should be neutral finishes not this years fashion statement. She spoke of how important scale is when choosing furniture. She had a picture of a sofa wedged in an alcove. Not every wood piece needs to be the same finish - not matchy, matchy-  for interest it is okay to mix dark woods, metallic woods and painted furniture finishes. Another important point is the home should not look like a page from a magazine. It needs heart- personal elements that fit your lifestyle.

Cheri during the presentation

The formula for a good design is personal style plus life style plus budget equals master plan. Keep this in mind next time you want to update, remodel or build.

Cheri and Ann at The Front Porch before the Class

Ikenobo Demonstration and Workshop

Kazuko Rand, 3rd Grade Assistant Professor in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana,  gave a demonstration at Havenwoods Environmental Center in Milwaukee. She began with a talk on people's connection with Ikebana and it's being a temporary art form, not like a painting or sculpture.

The artist must be at peaceful harmony with the plant material as they design because it is an expression of the mind. Because it is living material it must be treated with respect. Once it is cut from nature it must be arranged more beautifully than it was originally grown. The artist must make a psychological and spiritual connection with the material. The plant material is most often trimmed to bring out the beauty of the line. In Ikenobo Ikebana there is a "clean" area of stem rising about 3" above the container rim signifying "new life". All the stems of the design are arranged in a row to emphasize this one point of emergence. The tops of the stems are placed to flow right and left, forward and backward creating width and depth to the design.

Single material front view

Single material (Sansavaria)  side view

 In Kazuko's demonstration she focused on Classical Shoka Style (Heaven, Man and Earth) using first only one material, then two and then three. These are ascending or upright forms usually arranged in a tall style container. The plant material is held in placed by a kenzan, or needle pin holder sometimes called a frog. All the plant material is placed as if it were growing towards the sun either to the right or to the left. There is a sunny side and a shadow side to the design.

Two materials

The classes version

Three materials

Kazuko followed her demonstration with a workshop featuring Sanshuike Style. This style of flower arrangement was introduced as a modern Shoka Style in the 1950's adding to the previous Classical Shoka Style. This Free Style floral art includes three types of plant material. Shoka Style gives one the opportunity to learn how to use limited materials in an effective way while not losing the classical sentiment.

The others on display

Mine


Even thought I study Ichiyo Ikebana ,
I enjoyed these classes very much.

My first attempt  re-done at home

Leaf Casting at Fox Brook

This week my leaf casting demonstration and class was held at a beautiful park complete with a beach in Brookfield. Usually, my class is in a windowless room, but this week there were huge windows facing out towards the water. It was one of our first truly warm days this spring. Everyone showed up anxious to make this project for their garden. We even had a "dad" come with is adult daughter, but he was just visiting since he lives in Minnesota.

Mixed Varieties Cast Leaves

Each student received a board to create the leaf casting on to make it transportable to get the project home. The students select a variety of leaves with the stipulation they must all fit on the board and the student must be able to carry it. Leaves with strong veining are best - rhubarb, burdock, cabbages, hosta, caladium, some begonias, gerbera foliage, etc. If the spring isn't too cold, rhubarb is perfect. We were watching plants closely this year and I even had one red hat group cancel their class because the rhubarb wasn't coming up quickly enough. It did come up just fine.

Caladium, Hosta and Rhubarb leaves

Sand piles to hold the leaves sprayed with oil

On the board, damp play sand is mounded to support the leaf to shape it either flat so it can be displayed on a plate rack or just set in the garden, or rounded to be used to hold water or bird seed. The sand is also pushed under the ripples of the leaf edges to accent the shapes and keep if formed after the concrete is applied. This is the time consuming part of the class.

Once the sand is formed, it is covered with plastic wrap, the leaf is laid over it and sprayed with oil to help in removal from the mold.Then on go your gloves and play in the mix.

A copper end is inserted into the mix so later
 it will fit on a pipe in the garden. 

Mixing Station!

 Portland cement is mixed equally with wash white play sand, an acrylic bonding agent is added and enough water to make it the consistency of brownie mix. Concrete colorant may also be added. The mix is applied thickly over the main center vein- up to 1"+ for a rhubarb leaf measuring 15 - 18 inches - and "massaged" out toward the edges. The mix should stop about 1/4" from the leaf edge.  Additional mix is always added in the middle and "massaged" by using the heels of the hands rather the dabbed with the fingers, toward the uncovered areas. Applying layers of mix and spreading from a central point helps with the adhesion of each layer where done in separate areas may be weak. If a giant leaf is used, hardware cloth or chicken wire can be layered in the mix for strength.

One the project is completed, it should dry for at least 24 hours before un-molding. Larger projects need 48 hours.They need to dry slowly, out of the sun. Once dry, the plant material can be pulled off the concrete. The concrete can then be completely painted, washed with paint to bring out the veining detail, or left alone. It can be sealed so it can hold water as a birdbath, or sprayed with a food safe sealant used for use as a bird feeder. 

Wisconsin Garden Club Convention

This weekend is the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation Annual Meeting. Its title is “Embracing Native Elegance”. (Garden Clubber’s always have a theme and follow it throughout the convention, show, etc.)  This is the main entry exhibit.

This is the "Elegant" side

This is the "Nature" side

This is an installation year which means a change of officers. This year Madison District is hosting the affair. There are 7 Districts and each one takes a turn at hosting. Some Districts have very few members with just a couple clubs and then there are larger Districts that contain many clubs and members like Madison and Milwaukee.  All do a FANTASTIC job!!!!!  These events take years of preparation, organization, solicitation and volunteer hours.

These are some display arrangements

Friday morning I was “installed” (always think of draperies or a sink as being installed- not a person, ha!) as President of the Wisconsin Judges Council. I also was in charge of the workshop the judges participated in. Claudia Chopp presented our program on a new design style containing armatures. She is a fabulous designer that travels the world participating in and organizing flower shows. She showed us 3 styles of armatures and explained what we should be watching for as we make these as a competitive floral design or judge this style of floral art. These are some of Claudia’s creations:

Armature of Tall myrtle branches

s:

Hanging armature of reed and
vertical armature of gutter guard and wire

Our Judges Council is the largest collection of floral designers in the state organization so we are often asked to do designs to decorate the hotel and do design programs. These are some from around the hotel.

By Dawn

By Carole

By Liz

On the check in table

This is one of the centers from Friday evening’s meal function. Tomatoes, asparagus and peppers were the theme. There were 65 tomatoes used overall and each person guessed how many were used and that’s how the designs were given away.

Today is the “BIG” business meeting, tours in the morning, workshops in the afternoon, and the banquet tonight. Sunday is a wrap up day and I am part of the floral design luncheon program. I have planned on doing a spatial thrust. Several of us are doing a design “live” and one of Madison judges will do the commentary. Hope my flowers last till then!

My Spatial thrust - Flowers lasted!

Tubular Design

Creative design

Creative Design

Under water Design

Unique use of "mystery package"!

Because I was unable to connect to the internet while at the convention I am now home completing my entry. At the luncheon each of the six designers were given a "mystery" package of flowers which we were to incorporate into our design. I receive some purple monti casino asters which fir perfectly with my color scheme. Kitty received a pack of multicolored miniature carnations. She was using large scale tropicals - Birds of Paradise and aspidistra leaves - in a handmade  paper free form container./Rather than distort the whole design, she incorporated the entire wrapped package as a design element. That's thinking outside the box!

Finally got to get out in the garden....

Wow, tomorrow is May 1. Last year we had many warm days beginning in March, but this year has been cold with lots, and lots of rain. This has truly postponed my gardening.

I appreciated the rain after last years drought. We have a huge pond with wild life in the back of our lot, most of it rimmed with cattails and red-winged blackbirds. The pond is part of at least eight properties. Our next door neighbor dredged out a nice inlet where the Canada  geese roost, coyotes stop for a drink, and the peepers remind us it's springtime. This area went dry last fall. Luckily, with all our spring rain, this pond is again full and so are any depressions in our yard.

The geese just hanging out

So, today, finally with warm weather and sunshine, I collected some of my pre-Mother's Day stash of plants, and have planted a few of my collection of hypertufa containers. One is now planted as a fairy garden with some new and some plants reserected from last year. A couple others are succulent gardens with different colored varieties of hen-and-chicks.

Ready for the Fairies

I got out to "plant" some garden art-lovely, giant flowers made from glass dishware given to me by a friend. Love the way they look against the house. I was careful to place them where the rain run off from the roof and the wind wouldn't damage them. They are wonderful!

I was also able to clean out two of my raised beds which means I am half way to clean! In the first bed I got my edible pod peas planted, along with lettuce and radish seed. There are a few garlic plants that wintered and a hill of miscellaneous tulips. I wintered them there because it got too late in the year to dig in the yard yet the bed was still workable. This bed is still on the damp side but not like the surrounding area that is squishy as you walk through it, ha! Good thing my hubby build me the nice raised beds that are fully fenced.

In the second bed I got in 100 sets of red onions and will fill the rest with Yukon Gold potatoes. I have divided the potatoes keeping several eyes for sprouting. They are currently drying and forming callouses in a box on my dinette table. I am hoping to find time over the next couple days to plant them once they dry.

This little hot spell has my daffodils standing tall, hyacinths smelling great, grape hyacinths popping out in several beds, forsythia looking bright, with tulip flower heads looking hopeful along with magnolia, lilacs and azalea.

Neighbor's star magnolia trees almost full open. Beautiful. Time to take a deep breath of that fragrant "fresh" air and relax on the swing and watch the geese.