The 100 Day Project

I learned about the 100 day project from a friend who helped support me to make one piece of art or share a part of a piece of art each day for 100 days.  I decided that I would share my playing with watercolors and words and my fiber art and my poetry.  I began on February 26, 2022.

This was the introduction to the project on February 25.

#1/100

My first post was a piece that I was working on in collaboration with my friend, Kim Hammer.  Madonna and Child

#2/100

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#22/100 "Dwell in possibility."  Emily Dickenson

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About a third of the way--but I see that I missed a couple days in my sequencing.  I'll have to add  #12/100 & #17/100.  It's play and serious thoughts of my art all at once.  It's fun and stimulating.  If you'd like to follow along, I'm on 

Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mleischen/?hl=en

These show up on facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/marylee.eischen

Here's to firing up creativity in oh so many different ways!

Join me!

River Hike

 Oh, Spring is here and it's time to get outside!

Walking from downtown Winona, one can walk across the bridge--good path for walkers or bikers. And travel to Prairie Island beach. Walking across the wagon bridge is fun.  You may see a pigeon!

My friend, Dawn and I were hiking there this past weekend because the trails on the bluffs were too muddy and off limits this weekend.

We were snapping pictures and a friendly bicycler took pictures of us!

MaryLee & Dawn and the tip of a bike wheel!

We got warmed up out of the wind and in the sun!

The path was quite dry. The shadows created interesting lines.

See the small black dots in the tops of the trees?  Red-wing blackbirds singing in the Spring!

 

Some interesting shapes in these downed trees and the Wagon Bridge in the distance.

Do you see the tiny bit of green in the center of the leaf floor?  

It's coming.  

Waking up!

Pilates--Why is this Movement Form So Helpful?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilates is a somatic practice--that means we use the mind to direct  movements.  And with the Pilates, breath is connected with the movements to increase the effectiveness.  The Pilates that I teach is called mat Pilates.  No machines are used; we use our own bodies to create the resistance and to build the strength. The materials are a Yoga or Pilates mat and comfortable clothing to move--even fancy gym clothing is optional.

 The key areas of the body that are focused on in Pilates are the back, the legs, the arms and the abdomen. Stretching is used between exercises.

Lengthening the muscles by alternating the extending leg as shown in the photo above is another benefit of Pilates--lengthening and strengthening.

Some people have concerns that they have low back pain.  Is Pilates helpful for low back pain? The answer is yes!  All moves can be modified to individual needs.  If the low back is engaged in a movement and the participant is feeling pain--the instructor gives variation to the moves to allow movement with no pain.  And in time, the student strengthens the back and has more movement in the low back.  Through strengthening the core, we have more ease in multiple parts of our body.

Child's pose is a beautiful stretch for the lower back that is borrowed from Yoga.

Find out more about Pilates by joining a class:

Pilates for Everyone, Section 3

Next session of classes beginning 

Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - May 4, 2022

6:15pm - 7:00pm

WK Gymnasium, 365 Mankato Ave, Winona, MN 55987

$36.00 for 5 classes

Mat Pilates builds core strength in the back, abdomen, legs and arms.  It works to support the whole body with balance.  Pilates connects body and mind with the breath to make the movement focused and pleasurable. Bring a Yoga or Pilates mat, and water bottle. Wear clothing to move with ease.  Instructor modifies for different body needs. Women and men are welcome.

Parking is available on Mankato Avenue, enter through middle doors; gym is located straight ahead.  Caution for COVID 19 is taken very seriously.  We encourage people to wear a mask when entering and getting set up on their mat.  Masks may be removed when exercising.  The room is large with high ceilings.  An air purification machine is located in the room.

More Information and to Register for Pilates for Everyone, Section 3

https://winona.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/costoption/class_id/7877/public/1/sp/

A resource book, The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler gives good information about the various exercises.

If you have questions, please email MaryLee: mleischen@gmail.com

Look forward to seeing you in class!

 

Visions of New Homes and Businesses for 2022

 321 Blast off 

 

 

 

One person talked of her excitement to live in her new home.  The number is 321--she says it's 321 Blast Off!  Her images are hearts and flowers and dogs and monkeys.  She loves the saying, "Outside the Box."

Another person loves nature and getting out to see natural beauty.  Her vision board is filled with images that have Earth hope.  "A Different View" was one of her sayings, along with "A Path to Wonder, Broaden your Horizons, It's about Making Every Moment Count."  She is a Yogi and put that image on.  She mentioned that her job can be stressful; she balances her life with things that fill her up.

 

 

One person decided to create four vision boards for the parts of her life that are special to her: family, friends, and more.  She took her big board and cut it into four equal sections this the ginormous paper cutter in the Art Room.  I helped her hold the board steady.  Then she began looking through images that she brought and others in the room.  She had a few photos that she wanted to add from home and that led her to place things but not commit to the gluing.  She took a photograph of the ideas that she created, for ease to come back the next time to continue.  She took all of her things home in an envelop.

When we talked the next day, she said that more ideas were coming and she was glad to still have her little vision boards in progress.  I hope I get to see her finished vision boards one day in the future.

 

This vision board is started with a huge watercolor butterfly and a fabric flower in the lower right hand corner.  She added the Sun--from the Sun Magazine.  Other words, she used were "growing, green, piece by piece, hidden power, give thanks, living good," and more.

This person wanted to come with her sister to create visions for a business that they are working on.  Unfortunately, her sister's children were sick and she could not attend.  

 

This vision board is filled with images/fabrics that represent water and honoring water.  The river of blue strike fabric runs  diagonal on her board with a tiny strip of blue fabric very wavy representing rivers running over the map.  This project involves water and nature with flowers and bees and trees. Some of her cutting was jagged to give it a wild and raw quality. 

Everyone had an idea or a vision of what would make their life more full.  We started this workshop with a guided visualization meditation to bring our attention to our bodies to relax and calm.  Then we were ready to bring all our thoughts and words and images together to create.  It was a fun evening of making.

Watch for more workshops through the Winona Arts Center in the future.  There are ongoing Pilates Classes happening through Community Education  Fitness and Wellness called Pilates for Everyone. 

Pilates for Everyone Section 2 starts  February 16 - March 30

Pilates for Everyone Section 3 starts April 6 - May 4

Pilates for Everyone Section 4 starts May 11 - June 8

Check those out as well. We'd love to have you attend!