This is an activity that is inexpensive, easy to facilitate, and provides an afternoon of fun. It grew out of my search for an inexpensive surface to paint on. Voila! Right there in my collection of "what should we do with this stuff" was the answer - wallpaper sample books. The plainer, less adorned pieces are perfect for original creations and take acrylic paint beautifully. The goal of this activity was to create pleasing designs.
To make things more interesting we passed out the wallpaper sample sheets, got out various colors of paint, and then set out some rather interesting "painting" implements. Yes, there was only one restriction. The residents were told that they could paint with anything except a paint brush. We provided corks, plastic spoons, forks and knives, sponges, rubber stamps, crushed paper, and enthusiasm. Sitting with the residents and demonstrating what could happen helped give them the courage to give this activity a try.
When the demonstration piece was covered with random shapes and colors I simply folded it in half from left to right, opened the piece, and folded it a second time from top to bottom, opening it to reveal a lovely, symmetrical design. Everyone jumped in and created a few of their own pieces.
After allowing the paint to dry we discussed covering them with clear contact paper so they could be used as place mats or mats in the center of a table under a vase. The following week we repeated the activity but with paint brushes allowed.
I hope you have a chance to give this activity a try as a way to explore color and as an opportunity to marvel at the creativity of your residents.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Silk Scarf Dyeing
This is one of the most delightful activities that we did this year. The results are stunning and the cost is rather minimal. To prepare for the activity we spent one session dyeing some porous paper with bleeding tissue. This gave the residents an idea of what colors they'd like to use on their silk scarf before we did the actual scarves. Everyone did a couple of color combinations and we had a chance to admire each others work and see how different colors worked or didn't work together.
A suggestion - We used mainly red, orange and yellow or blue, purple and green as color combinations. These usually work well together. Also be aware that the final product is slightly paler once the scarf is rinsed at the end, so don't be shy with the color intensity.
For supplies you'll need silk scarves, which I purchased from dharmatrading.com. Dharma Trading seemed to have the best prices. We used the 8"x54" size. You'll also need Spectra bleeding tissue, which I purchased from Dick Blick on line. I've tried two other brands of bleeding tissue and they didn't bleed.
Then you'll need some spray bottles to spritz the scarves with water as you're placing the bleeding tissue. Next you'll need foam board, available at home building stores, that are just slightly larger than the scarves. This was the costly part of the project. We purchased three large sheets which my husband cut to size (bless his helpful heart) gashing himself only once with the blade he was using. And finally you'll need straight pins, preferably with the glass ball heads for easier handling and insertion.
Note: you could also use a fabric stretcher, but you'll need one for each participant and that would be even more costly.
SO HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT
Soak the scarves in a 50-50 solution of white vinegar and water for at least 30 minutes.
Select the tissue you're going to use and set it nearby at the ready. You can do this while the scarves are soaking.
Next, gently ring most of the solution out of the scarf and pin the damp scarves to the foam boards, inserting the pins at an angle. Make sure the heads of the pins are not over the scarf or they'll hold the tissue away from the scarf.
Place torn or cut pieces of tissue onto the scarf, overlapping in areas. You can do strips or squares or random sized pieces torn into irregular shapes.
Spray with lots of water and allow the tissue color to sink into the scarf. You could use a gloved hand to lightly pat the wet paper firmly onto the scarf. Be aware that the wet tissue will color other things that it touches, like hands and sleeves.
When you're satisfied with the results let the scarf dry completely. We used hand-held hair dryers and blew each scarf dry in about 5 to 10 minutes. This method of drying also blows the tissue off the scarf.
Are we almost there!!??
Yes, we're almost there. It's time to let your scarf rest for 24 hours. You did all the work and the scarf gets to rest. Go figure.
After the 24 hours it will be time to soak again. Make a solution of vinegar water, 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 quart of water. Soak scarves in this solution for 30 minutes. I made two batches of this solution and soaked the green/blue scarves in one bucket and the red/orange in the other. They didn't bleed into each other.
Finally, after 30 minutes, you'll need to rinse the scarves under cold running water until the water runs clear. This takes about 4 to 5 days. OK, that's a slight exaggeration, but do allow a goodly amount of time. This is not a 15 minute event you can quickly accomplish before you're off to enjoy skydiving or cycling across your favorite state in winter.
Final finally involves hand washing the scarf in soapy water. A few drops of dish washing liquid with warm water works wonders and is also alliteratively fun to say. Roll the scarf in a towel to take out the extra moisture and iron while still damp.
Voila and tra la la! You now have a beautiful scarf. After creating our first scarves everyone was so excited with the results that we did a second one the following week.
A suggestion - We used mainly red, orange and yellow or blue, purple and green as color combinations. These usually work well together. Also be aware that the final product is slightly paler once the scarf is rinsed at the end, so don't be shy with the color intensity.
For supplies you'll need silk scarves, which I purchased from dharmatrading.com. Dharma Trading seemed to have the best prices. We used the 8"x54" size. You'll also need Spectra bleeding tissue, which I purchased from Dick Blick on line. I've tried two other brands of bleeding tissue and they didn't bleed.
Then you'll need some spray bottles to spritz the scarves with water as you're placing the bleeding tissue. Next you'll need foam board, available at home building stores, that are just slightly larger than the scarves. This was the costly part of the project. We purchased three large sheets which my husband cut to size (bless his helpful heart) gashing himself only once with the blade he was using. And finally you'll need straight pins, preferably with the glass ball heads for easier handling and insertion.
Note: you could also use a fabric stretcher, but you'll need one for each participant and that would be even more costly.
SO HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT
Soak the scarves in a 50-50 solution of white vinegar and water for at least 30 minutes.
Select the tissue you're going to use and set it nearby at the ready. You can do this while the scarves are soaking.
Next, gently ring most of the solution out of the scarf and pin the damp scarves to the foam boards, inserting the pins at an angle. Make sure the heads of the pins are not over the scarf or they'll hold the tissue away from the scarf.
Place torn or cut pieces of tissue onto the scarf, overlapping in areas. You can do strips or squares or random sized pieces torn into irregular shapes.
Spray with lots of water and allow the tissue color to sink into the scarf. You could use a gloved hand to lightly pat the wet paper firmly onto the scarf. Be aware that the wet tissue will color other things that it touches, like hands and sleeves.
When you're satisfied with the results let the scarf dry completely. We used hand-held hair dryers and blew each scarf dry in about 5 to 10 minutes. This method of drying also blows the tissue off the scarf.
Are we almost there!!??
Yes, we're almost there. It's time to let your scarf rest for 24 hours. You did all the work and the scarf gets to rest. Go figure.
After the 24 hours it will be time to soak again. Make a solution of vinegar water, 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 quart of water. Soak scarves in this solution for 30 minutes. I made two batches of this solution and soaked the green/blue scarves in one bucket and the red/orange in the other. They didn't bleed into each other.
Finally, after 30 minutes, you'll need to rinse the scarves under cold running water until the water runs clear. This takes about 4 to 5 days. OK, that's a slight exaggeration, but do allow a goodly amount of time. This is not a 15 minute event you can quickly accomplish before you're off to enjoy skydiving or cycling across your favorite state in winter.
Final finally involves hand washing the scarf in soapy water. A few drops of dish washing liquid with warm water works wonders and is also alliteratively fun to say. Roll the scarf in a towel to take out the extra moisture and iron while still damp.
Voila and tra la la! You now have a beautiful scarf. After creating our first scarves everyone was so excited with the results that we did a second one the following week.
Gypsy Soup
Time for another recipe and one of my favorites - Gypsy Soup. I like this soup because it has a neat name, it's easy to make, I like the taste, it freezes well, and it can be tweaked to use leftovers that are hanging around in your refrigerator. Score!
DISCLAIMER: There are actually a number of versions of this soup but this is the one that I like best.
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 pepper - red, green or yellow, chopped
3 cups chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth
1 t paprika
1 t turmeric
1 t basil
1/2 t cinnamon - more or less to taste
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 T tamari or soy sauce
Salt & pepper to taste
And Here's How:
In a large pot saute the onions and sweet potato in the olive oil for a few minutes. Turn the heat to low and add the spices. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes to bring out the flavor of the spices. Lovely aromas will fill the kitchen and you might even feel like breaking out in a gypsy dance. Go for it!
Add the remaining ingredients, except the salt and pepper, turn up the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat (can't she make up her mind!), cover, and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning. That means, add as much salt and pepper as you think it needs.
Note: Once I didn't have turmeric and left it out. The earth continued to rotate and the soup was delicious. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: There are actually a number of versions of this soup but this is the one that I like best.
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
1 pepper - red, green or yellow, chopped
3 cups chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth
1 t paprika
1 t turmeric
1 t basil
1/2 t cinnamon - more or less to taste
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 T tamari or soy sauce
Salt & pepper to taste
And Here's How:
In a large pot saute the onions and sweet potato in the olive oil for a few minutes. Turn the heat to low and add the spices. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes to bring out the flavor of the spices. Lovely aromas will fill the kitchen and you might even feel like breaking out in a gypsy dance. Go for it!
Add the remaining ingredients, except the salt and pepper, turn up the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat (can't she make up her mind!), cover, and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning. That means, add as much salt and pepper as you think it needs.
Note: Once I didn't have turmeric and left it out. The earth continued to rotate and the soup was delicious. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
Enjoy!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Health Care Reform
The other day I went to Costco to stock up on my usual supply of organic veggies as well as some frozen fruit for my breakfast fruit smoothies. When I got to the checkout the young woman who was unloading my cart said, "This is the healthiest cart we've seen all day. No chips or other junk food!" I sometimes get that comment. It makes me wonder why buying healthy is the exception.
I once read that people in this country don't know what healthy looks like. When asked about general health, most people say, "Oh, I'm in good health. I do take something for my high blood pressure and something to keep my blood sugar in line, but other than that I'm fine." What that person has just told you is that they have hypertension, a disease, and diabetes, another disease, but in today's world this is considered normal health. Think about it.
Story number two. One day I was shopping at another location that had just added a pharmacy. A group of employees were walking around handing out certificates that were good for a free prize if you went over to the pharmacy and got quotes on your prescription medicines. The thought was that the price would be so much better than what you were already paying that you'd become their customer. When approached, I said to the gentleman who was trying to hand me a certificate, that I didn't take any prescription medicines. He stopped dead in his tracks, not sure of what to say next. I broke the silence by pointing to the contents of my cart, showing him that there was no junk food in my cart, in fact, it was almost all fruits and vegetables. "So that's the secret," he said.
Is this really a secret? Somebody better get the word out! Health care reform? Imagine what would happen if great masses of people took responsibility for their health and were able to go off their prescription medicines.
"Imagine" - John Lennon
I once read that people in this country don't know what healthy looks like. When asked about general health, most people say, "Oh, I'm in good health. I do take something for my high blood pressure and something to keep my blood sugar in line, but other than that I'm fine." What that person has just told you is that they have hypertension, a disease, and diabetes, another disease, but in today's world this is considered normal health. Think about it.
Story number two. One day I was shopping at another location that had just added a pharmacy. A group of employees were walking around handing out certificates that were good for a free prize if you went over to the pharmacy and got quotes on your prescription medicines. The thought was that the price would be so much better than what you were already paying that you'd become their customer. When approached, I said to the gentleman who was trying to hand me a certificate, that I didn't take any prescription medicines. He stopped dead in his tracks, not sure of what to say next. I broke the silence by pointing to the contents of my cart, showing him that there was no junk food in my cart, in fact, it was almost all fruits and vegetables. "So that's the secret," he said.
Is this really a secret? Somebody better get the word out! Health care reform? Imagine what would happen if great masses of people took responsibility for their health and were able to go off their prescription medicines.
"Imagine" - John Lennon
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
They Just Don't Wanna!
Sometimes, when I'm presenting at a conference, activity professionals will come up to me and say, "My residents just don't want to do crafts! I try." This pronouncement is usually followed by a sigh of exasperation or a deep frown. Oftentimes the person relaying this information is glaring, as if to challenge any kind of rebuttal before it's even made.
What immediately comes to mind is a question I was once challenged with. The question is, "Who are you being?" To explain: A man comes up to you and says, "I don't know what's wrong with my wife. She just isn't into romance any more." You happen to notice that the man is wearing a dirty shirt that's hanging outside his dirty jeans. You also notice that he hasn't bathed in about a month, fails to brush his teeth except for holidays, and styles his hair with chicken fat. He adds, "I think she's frigid." No sir, you think, she probably has good taste.
OK, so I went a little overboard with that example. But you get what I mean. When someone acts a certain way, who am I being that contributes to the way that they act. Are you naturally more cheerful around certain people? Are there other people that cause you to dash off in another direction before they see you?
So perhaps your resident's lack of enthusiasm over arts and crafts has something to do with a particular atmosphere they experience in the present or experienced in the past. Perhaps you need to inch them into creative activities, inviting them to help you cut out some paper squares for a paper quilt. "Wow, Mavis, you're really good with the scissors! I bet you did a lot of sewing in your day!" Don't forget the exclamation in your voice and the smile on your face.
Or, perhaps, you could ask them to paint a simple object for you. "You're a natural with that paint brush!" They'll deny and perhaps bluster, but what we find is that they come back.
So put on a colorful apron or smock, add a happy smile, and invite a few nice people to join you for a simple activity. Don't forget to explore other "Fun Time" entries in this blog for a new idea or two every month.
"Celebrate what you want to see more of." Tom Peters
What immediately comes to mind is a question I was once challenged with. The question is, "Who are you being?" To explain: A man comes up to you and says, "I don't know what's wrong with my wife. She just isn't into romance any more." You happen to notice that the man is wearing a dirty shirt that's hanging outside his dirty jeans. You also notice that he hasn't bathed in about a month, fails to brush his teeth except for holidays, and styles his hair with chicken fat. He adds, "I think she's frigid." No sir, you think, she probably has good taste.
OK, so I went a little overboard with that example. But you get what I mean. When someone acts a certain way, who am I being that contributes to the way that they act. Are you naturally more cheerful around certain people? Are there other people that cause you to dash off in another direction before they see you?
So perhaps your resident's lack of enthusiasm over arts and crafts has something to do with a particular atmosphere they experience in the present or experienced in the past. Perhaps you need to inch them into creative activities, inviting them to help you cut out some paper squares for a paper quilt. "Wow, Mavis, you're really good with the scissors! I bet you did a lot of sewing in your day!" Don't forget the exclamation in your voice and the smile on your face.
Or, perhaps, you could ask them to paint a simple object for you. "You're a natural with that paint brush!" They'll deny and perhaps bluster, but what we find is that they come back.
So put on a colorful apron or smock, add a happy smile, and invite a few nice people to join you for a simple activity. Don't forget to explore other "Fun Time" entries in this blog for a new idea or two every month.
"Celebrate what you want to see more of." Tom Peters
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Carrot Ginger Soup
This is one of my favorite soups. It has great flavor, can be frozen, and can be served hot or cold.
A note about one of the ingredients, fresh ginger. Fresh ginger is that funny little tuber that looks a bit like a misshaped nose. The most convenient way to store fresh ginger is in the freezer. Just put it into a small, zip lock bag and toss it in with the rest of the mystery foods that you forgot to label. Then, when a recipe calls for some fresh ginger, take out the frozen ginger, grate as much as you need, place it back into the bag, and throw it back into the freezer. It keeps almost forever. Just for giggles, label it, "Nose."
On with the recipe!
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
2 T fresh ginger, grated
4 cups broth - vegetable or chicken
2 pounds of carrots, peeled and chopped or grated. The smaller the pieces the shorter the cooking time
Juice of 3 large or 4 small oranges. I sometimes use frozen orange juice concentrate, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup
Zest of 1/2 orange, which can be omitted if using frozen orange juice
Salt and white pepper
Use a big, heavy pot. Heat the oil over a medium heat and saute the onion along with half the garlic and ginger for about 10 minutes.
Add the stock and carrots and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and partially cover. Cook until the carrots are tender. This will take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the carrot pieces.
Strain the soup and put the solids into a food processor or blender, along with a splash of liquid. Do this in small batches so you don't end up festooning the kitchen walls with hot soup. Puree until smooth.
Return everything to the pot and add the rest of the ingredients. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Why white pepper? According to some people with a more discerning nose than mine, white pepper has a slight taste of ginger, which works well in carrot ginger soup. Also, if you use black pepper it could look like little specks of dirt floating around in your light colored soup.
Option for black pepper users - add some chopped parsley which will hide the black specks!
Enjoy!
A note about one of the ingredients, fresh ginger. Fresh ginger is that funny little tuber that looks a bit like a misshaped nose. The most convenient way to store fresh ginger is in the freezer. Just put it into a small, zip lock bag and toss it in with the rest of the mystery foods that you forgot to label. Then, when a recipe calls for some fresh ginger, take out the frozen ginger, grate as much as you need, place it back into the bag, and throw it back into the freezer. It keeps almost forever. Just for giggles, label it, "Nose."
On with the recipe!
Ingredients:
1 T olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
2 T fresh ginger, grated
4 cups broth - vegetable or chicken
2 pounds of carrots, peeled and chopped or grated. The smaller the pieces the shorter the cooking time
Juice of 3 large or 4 small oranges. I sometimes use frozen orange juice concentrate, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup
Zest of 1/2 orange, which can be omitted if using frozen orange juice
Salt and white pepper
Use a big, heavy pot. Heat the oil over a medium heat and saute the onion along with half the garlic and ginger for about 10 minutes.
Add the stock and carrots and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and partially cover. Cook until the carrots are tender. This will take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the carrot pieces.
Strain the soup and put the solids into a food processor or blender, along with a splash of liquid. Do this in small batches so you don't end up festooning the kitchen walls with hot soup. Puree until smooth.
Return everything to the pot and add the rest of the ingredients. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
Why white pepper? According to some people with a more discerning nose than mine, white pepper has a slight taste of ginger, which works well in carrot ginger soup. Also, if you use black pepper it could look like little specks of dirt floating around in your light colored soup.
Option for black pepper users - add some chopped parsley which will hide the black specks!
Enjoy!
We're Just Dying to Know
I recently read an article in Wired magazine that cited a study done at Duke University's Faqua School of Business. The study crunched numbers from the Centers for Disease Control to assess how many deaths in the US are due to personal choices - things like eating habits, smoking and other such human
OK, I abhor sarcasm as much as the next person, but I'm voting for ignorance. Not that we don't know the difference between healthy and unhealthy choices, but I believe that the healthy choice information is too often drowned out by the voices hawking sugar-coated, deep-fried and cholesterol packed goodies. Sometimes these voices get so loud that it's hard to hear the voices from the "Eat Fresh" contingent. In order to take a stand with the "Eat Fresh" group I'm going to post some of my favorite recipes in the Good Care section of this blog. These are recipes that lean heavily on fruits and veggies. Oftentimes they're recipes that can be made in large batches and frozen in smaller quantities for future use. And healthy choices give me a better chance to enjoy a future!
OK, I abhor sarcasm as much as the next person, but I'm voting for ignorance. Not that we don't know the difference between healthy and unhealthy choices, but I believe that the healthy choice information is too often drowned out by the voices hawking sugar-coated, deep-fried and cholesterol packed goodies. Sometimes these voices get so loud that it's hard to hear the voices from the "Eat Fresh" contingent. In order to take a stand with the "Eat Fresh" group I'm going to post some of my favorite recipes in the Good Care section of this blog. These are recipes that lean heavily on fruits and veggies. Oftentimes they're recipes that can be made in large batches and frozen in smaller quantities for future use. And healthy choices give me a better chance to enjoy a future!
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