Francesca Lucia: What’s The Latest?
Let’s Create Art Glass! Wells, Maine
It was a wonderful small evening group to end my last fall adult education class, 2023. We were all willing to take a framed piece of glass and make it into a beautiful view. Having a blank canvas whether it is glass or another medium, our minds are stretched to create. My tag line is, “Let’s Create for Useful’s Sake.” Creating art is very personal and the use of the final product is different for everyone. Tonight’s group was stretched to make their blank canvases meaningful and useful to each person. I truly enjoyed experiencing the learning process tonight and seeing all of the completed art work.
Let’s Felt Quilt! Wells, Maine
A friend of mine, who is a former teacher and an outstanding knitter, asked me how many students would be in my class tonight. I said that there is only one. She said that if it were her, she would have cancelled the class. A mentor of mine long ago, told me that we don’t cancel, let them do that. I believe that and hold that true. If one person wants to learn something that I offer to teach, then I will teach it.
Tonight, I had a wonderful student. We talked and shared some of our most personal experiences as professionals and people. It was the best experience having one student. Often, we teach but we can’t go deeper into content or process. Tonight we went deep and it was awesome. By the way, the designing and quilting was fun, too!
Let’s Tangle Art! Wells, Maine
Teaching two classes in one day has been a lot of fun! First, there was Mandala Rock Painting and tonight, it was Tangle Art. Every time that I teach Tangle Art, I learn something new. Learning is not just for the students, but for the teacher as well. Tonight’s student had some background experience and together we decided to present some tangles that we had not done that often before. Every class and every student presents something different. Taking the students where they are and leading them to a new experience with success is a teacher’s greatest feat. Thank you for a great experience tonight.
Let’s Mandala Rock Paint! Ferry Beach in Saco, Maine
Today was an absolutely gorgeous day on the coast of Maine. The October leaves are changing colors, there was a little breeze and the sun was shining brightly. Over 20 non-profit leaders were participating in a retreat at the Ferry Beach Retreat and Conference Center. It truly was a retreat setting with many zen type activities like reflexology, massages, hat craft making, etc., but let’s not forget to mention, Mandala Rock Painting! I enjoyed teaching, the simple but artistic techniques, of rock painting. Thank you Virginia Hodgekins Somers Foundation for the invitation to present!
Let’s Mandala Rock Paint! Wells, Maine
Well, we all got acquainted with each other learning middle names and how everyone ended up in Maine. “We travel so far to get here”, as Mary Chapin Carpenter sings. So many lives and journeys ending up in the same room, at this particular time, on this particular day to paint rocks. Most of us creatively followed the format while others went their own way. If nothing else, all learned the process of Mandala rock painting. The circle is the center and all comes from the circle. I often think of the ripples that I have made in my life from touching others in one way or another. Then, that person teaches someone else what they have learned. Then, the ripple continues out into the world as they share what they have learned. As Joni Mitchell sang, “We go round and round and round in the circle game.”
Let’s Mandala Rock Paint! Kittery, Maine
It was a full house tonight of people ready to paint rocks. The tips that make the job easy are simple: wash the rock, let it dry and then coat the rock with a layer of paint. Often, in order to complete a product, it is the preparation that makes all of the difference. As the participants decided on their paint colors, the formats evolved into a a variety of approaches while using the same procedure. Please take a moment to see some of the creativity that flowed out of our class while still using the Mandala Rock Painting technique.
Let’s Cross Stitch Kittery, Maine!
It was a nice quiet group of women concentrating on their counted cross stitch hearts. We are all awaiting what might happen Saturday with Hurricane Lee’s landfall. A little therapeutic stitching was the answer to the approaching low pressure zone!
Let’s Make Fresh Pasta! Kittery, Maine
I enjoyed telling my history of how I was named. There was Mama Mugavero, Aunt Frances, my mom and dad all huddled in the hospital room deciding my name. My dad wanted to name me Bette after Bette Davis. My mom wanted to name me Bettye (Betty with an E). My Godmother Frances wanted me to be named Frances. Mama Mugavero wanted me to be named Lucia because I was born on St. Lucy’s day (December 13). When all was said and done I was named Bette Frances Lucia, thus the name of my teaching site: Francesca Lucia.
Tonight we had a great group of pasta makers. We mixed semolina flour, white flour and salt. We mixed eggs, oil and water. Voila! Pasta dough. It is hard work. It requires commitment and muscles. It takes us all back to the days when dough was kneaded. Way back before mixers could make dough in five minutes. Wow! How easy was it to make pasta with a Kitchen Aid? We saw how easy it was at the end of class. The choice lays now with the class chefs on how they will make fresh pasta in the future…by hand or machine.
Let’s Make Fresh Pasta! Wells, Maine
We had a wonderful group of 14 people getting their hands in flour, eggs, oil and water to make a delicious ball of fresh pasta dough. Once the dough was kneaded and rested, we cut it into sections and made noodles. We all wish we could have eaten the pasta cooked right then and there. A brief overview of my family heritage was presented. My sister Nancy was always a proponent of our Mugavero history. She created her own cookbook to share with all of us before she passed away this August from ovarian cancer. I mentioned her a few times tonight, but not as many as I could have. May you rest in peace Nunziata.
Let’s Mandala Rock Paint!
I had another wonderful visit to Ms. Susan’s 3rd grade class at Coosa Valley Academy. We learned about dots, painting a big dot, making a crown, and walking the dot. Everyone graduated to painting the swish on the their individual rocks.
We talked about having the center dot represent God, and all of the dots that flow out, are the good works that people do. Some of the students were very thoughtful in making this connection to their prayer. We played spa music to make this class even more meditative like Mandalas are supposed to be. The class was very informative, creative, thoughtful and fun!
After our class photo, I was presented with my favorite, chips and salsa! Thank you so much for a great class!
Teachers Are Lifelong Learners!
What a wonderful day! I reconnected with teachers that I worked with years ago at Concord Elementary School. We gathered for a Munch Lunch bringing appetizers to share. With lemonade and ice waters in hand, we enjoyed the learning of Mandala Rock Painting. We told teaching stories, we discussed important topics of the day and shared our family love! Thank you all for the years of teaching together. This is definitely a special group of people!
Kirigami Valentine’s Day Cards!
What a wonderful visit today at Coosa Valley Academy! We made special Valentine’s Day Cards for the special people in our lives. I learned all about the pets that the students have! Also, I learned that not are all cats and dogs!
I found this special project on YouTube from Parents Magazine! Paper Snowflake Heart Cards. A special thank you to Mrs. Rutledge!
Making Fresh Pasta for Great Works Land Trust Auction Winner!
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! Instead it was Fresh Pasta! It was a beautiful day and location for making fresh pasta. To tell the truth, I had had a rough Monday and was really looking forward to meeting new people. Among the four creative and interesting women my age, I felt a kinship that I really needed. Also, we can’t forget the lone male who was obviously the strongest and made the most beautiful ball of dough. We were all in awe of his kneading skills.
Lately, I had not had the creative stimulation that I need. I have to remember balance in my life and life-long learning. This group brought it out in me! There was an introduction, my family story on my mother’s side, a pasta making demonstration by hand, and then the making, and tasting! As Ina Garten says, “How easy is that?” It was a fabulous day and I can’t wait until I have another adventure with this group of wonderful people.
Let’s Paint a Mandala Rock
This past Tuesday, November 16th, I received a text at 4:15 p.m. that Sister Mary Vernon Gentle, RSM, a teacher, had passed away. At 4:45 p.m. I was in my car to teach the 5:30 p.m. class. Of course, I immediately had to shift gears and teach. This is not the first time this has happened (upsetting news before teaching), nor will it be the last. I proceeded to teach Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. There were two women who came together Tuesday night. During introductions, the younger of the two said that she came to class tonight to spend time with Carol. I asked later what was their relationship. Jackie said that Carol was her heart mother. I then shared with them that my heart mother had passed away right before class. This was an aha moment for all of us listening, and I was immediately grateful for the message sent from Sister. Both classes went great and they were fun! Even two of the three administrators from Wells-Ogunquit Adult Education showed up to class! You know who else showed up at class? My mentor, heart mother and friend showed up in spirit - teacher to teacher!
Let’s Spa!
We enjoyed making spa treats, and we began discussing Christmas gifts. It was fun to make these spa treats for ourselves and others. These are very simple recipes, but become such special treats. We made sugar scrub, lip balm and bath fizzyies!
Let’s Knit a Hat!
What a wonderful group of women! We were ten strong working our needles and helping each other learn how to cast on stitches! It seems that the knitting part came easy, but casting on happened one stitch at a time. I like that Jolene helped me figure out the best way to make a pom pom! Also, I learned that the class could have been longer. There were so many good conversations of getting to know each other along with knitting questions and answers, that we needed more time for instruction. I truly enjoyed each and every minute. Everyone seemed happy with their finished hat! I am enclosing a photo of our group tonight showing everyone’s completed homework! Way to go ladies! Check out the photos of the knitting process and the final product!
Let’s Felt Quilt
Well, for a rainy night, I am thankful that my student weathered the windy water and attended class. We did a little drawing, but spent the majority of our time on learning four stitches. I was so involved, that I forgot to take any photos. I did make a felt quilt example, so I will just have to use that as our class photo. I learn something every class, and this one I learned that students could be encouraged to bring simple patterns instead of drawing everything from free hand. How ever you get your art or creativity to evolve, like Nike says, “Just do it!”
All that is left is the stitching!
Tangle Time
On Tuesday, we put our black fine markers to white art paper and Tangled! Zentangle (copyright) was created by Rick Roberts, a former monk, and an artist named Maria Thomas. Tangling is a combination of meditation and art. We learned over 12 tangles and then we took time to create our own tangles. What follows are photos of our class time and artwork.
Beginning Cross Stitching
The weather in Maine today was outstanding, and so was my student. We went through all of the steps of preparing your materials, threading a needle and stitching. She moved right along and even used the magnifying glass! We started with one color and a heart pattern. Her goal is to complete a golf picture for her grandchild! Way to go! You are all set and you can do this!
Let’s Pound Leaves
As a tribute to Indigenous Day, we pounded leaves. The Native Americans used to pound leaves onto their tipis for decoration. Of course, they used rocks and we use hammers, but they both work! We were a small, but mighty group tonight. We used a hammer to pound away at the chlorophyll, that leaves have, to make an imprint on cloth. We learned a few things: You have to pound hard! It really depends on what kind of leaf that you use. Oak and rhododendron leaves are too hard to get the juices flowing! Daisy leaves give good green! Red and yellow leaves give good color. Small leaves give you a good sense of completion! You have to use fresh leaves, and this was discussed at length. After arriving home I thought, “Put them in the refrigerator in moist paper towels.” That might just solve the freshness issue!