Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2009.

2008 has been a very busy year. I am grateful for good health, a good job, and a great family. It was good to be able to spend some time working on pressed flowers at this holiday break.

Making Christmas gifts

It is fun making something new. Simple clear tissue boxes are now so pretty. I am thinking to make one more for myself.

Thanksgiving

A little over a week ago we were threatened by a fire that has burned a lot of houses in our area. Sky was filled with black smoke. We have packed some stuff in our cars just in case we were to evacuate. What do we pack? First, we packed essential documents, my computer backup, laptop, and all the photo albums. Then we just took some change cloth.
This Thanksgiving, we are thankful that our house is safe. Everyone we know are safe.
As I look out of the window, my roses are blooming beautifully. I am in the mood of creating new things...
Tivoli's fountains were so impressive. It is hard to imagine these fountains were built so long ago with no electrical power needed. Unfortunately, my camera just had to went out of battery that day. However, the fountains and lush maidenhair ferns stuck in my mind.

Making pressed flower cards at lunch

When workload is super heavy and bad economy news adding more stress, I have organized a card making lunch at work to lift the team spirit.
http://pressed-flowers.info/English/Classroom/Adult%20Classes/Card%20making.JPG

Several people at work were coming to my classes but due to work and family activities, they could not make it this session. Everyone is stressed out already with cuts and added tasks. I have organized a free class at lunch last Monday to lift everyone’s spirit and let everyone to relax a little in the middle of busy schedule.
The regular conference room we usually use seem too small with 16 joined. Several people had to stand up the whole time with me but no one minded. Everyone had great time. I have guided everyone making the rose card (in green card stock). I had extra samples to show everyone other ideas. At the end of the 1st half hour, everyone is done with the rose card. They all went through my flowers getting extra flowers and card making materials. I had to bring more materials the next day to satisfy all the needs.
A few people missed the class due to meetings and lab activities. Everyone is asking if I can do it again soon. It looks like I have to reserve a large conference room the next time. Hopefully we get another chance to take a little lunch break together. Everyone said that it is far better than going out to lunch.

Teaching Nature Print Class

I have taught the Nature Print Class for Mr. Nobuo Sugino since he couldn't make it to the conference due to his engagements in Japan. I thought I better practice a lot when I found out that I had to teach this class for him. It was actually a lot of fun with nature print methods. All of the sudden, I looked at botanical materials with an additional dimension. Not only would I think about how a material presses, I also wanted to experiment with print. I really have to give credit to Nobuo for these creative ways using botanical materials. I enjoyed using the prints as backgrounds for my pictures too.

At the conference, I had 2 hours to direct everyone learning two techniques. It was a brand new experience for everyone. Very few people were making prints on the silk scarf. Most wanted to practice more on paper before they make an imprint on silk. I have heard from some now that they have enjoyed making beautiful scarves at home.

I am grateful to Nobuo demonstrated the technique to me back in Feb. I had some ideas about his techniques before from looking at pictures of his past demos. However, seeing the real thing was better than anything. And I had chances to ask questions too. Now, through the conference class, I have sow seeds of his techniques in the US, Canada, China, UK, and Nepal. I hope Mr. Sugino is happy with my performance teaching his class.

Moved by supporters' emails

I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed seeing my displays at the Orange County Fair in the last two years. Everyone is disappointed that I am not in the fair this year. It is great to know that their daughters and grandaughters are still wearing the necklaces that they bought from me. It is so touching to know how they have received compliments with my real pressed flower cards that they sent to their loved ones. I am very happy to know that they have enjoyed displaying my works in their homes and their friends/relatives loved the items they bought from me as gifts. All in all, I am so grateful that so many people have supported me and still remember me.

Thoughts after the conference

Conference bridge gaps and facilitate communication between different organizations. We have learned so much from the UK members in the conference. As I recall that they demand everyone follow their framing standard. I now understand why. It makes the artworks so much better and professional. Seeing things online and seeing them in person is something totally different. If one looks at the competition results on mini bouquet online, one must wonder how could Carolyn Foster's tiny bouquet won over Marie Ann's magnificent peony arrangement? The quality of English work is just impeccable. While I will continue using vacuum sealing method but I am thinking to improve the back of the frame for bridal works according to UK method. I have been talking about the iron-on film that the UK people are using. I think I have convinced a few to try. However, there was overwhelming demand at the conference after Denise Stirrup showed all kinds of lamination results on exhibition. And people looked at the quilts in person. I have asked Denise to do a short demo. I ran out of films due to demand (I had 150 feet to start with). For years Denise has told me about the "iron-on" film. It did not click until I saw her quilt patches in person. Without the conference, this type of exchange would not happen> because seeing the actual things is everything.

Now that everyone went home. I finally have a little time to sit down reading the pressed flower art text book that Guoju copied for me. She is the chief editor. Xianghuan is one of the authors. I am so impressed by the content especially the sciences of pressed flowers, color retention, dyes including botanical dyes. I only had beginner biology and chemistry in middle school which was taught in Chinese. My higher education were done in the US. I have a degree in bio-medical engineering so I had extensive training in biology and chemistry (including organic and bio chemistry). It is very difficult to read these in Chinese but I recognize the chemical formulas. My goodness! They have done a lot of researches in this area already. The experiments are so interesting. No wonder they teach pressed flower art in universities. They have details on red, pink, green, white, blue color retention theories and some techniques. They are so humble in the conference about their knowledge! I feel very good knowing them. We all got to know Guoju for a few years. Xianghuan ended up is one of the authors for a very good pressed flower book published in the late 90s. I have had the book for years. She holds 2 patterns in pressed flower art. I was so touched that she said she got into pressed flower art because of seeing it on my website when she introduced herself in the conference. I am also very touched that they have recognized me in their book for my critiques in some chapters.

Meeting the Japanese group back in Feb makes me understand how important it is to be able to communicate. They don't speak English. I don't speak Japanese. I was fortunate that Sandy is an excellent translator. IPFAS invited me to the conference next year in Japan. I think I will go. I guess I will just find my way there with everyone speaking Japanese.

All these makes me wonder if there is a way to communicate without language barrier. So many people have done so much everywhere in the world. I guess it is time to pick up another language.