Lara Blanchard 魏嘉麗
@larablan.bsky.social
Art historian (Chinese pictorial arts/women artists/texts+images), Professor, Art & Architecture Dept., Hobart & William Smith Colleges; Chair, Asian Studies. Outside of class: baking, mending, sketching, knitting, and (occasionally) handbuilding. She/her.
—just submitted, with an hour to spare, revisions for a forthcoming essay on the lost #paintings of the (female) Banana Garden Poets of 17th-century #China. I have been working on them for a month, but I still needed to make a big push yesterday and today.
#academicfall #sinologists #arthistory
#academicfall #sinologists #arthistory
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 AM
—just submitted, with an hour to spare, revisions for a forthcoming essay on the lost #paintings of the (female) Banana Garden Poets of 17th-century #China. I have been working on them for a month, but I still needed to make a big push yesterday and today.
#academicfall #sinologists #arthistory
#academicfall #sinologists #arthistory
—because I #mend clothes all the time, I don’t ever have to hunt for my needles or the right color of thread—they’re already on the end table in my living room. This leotard made it through nine years before developing holes near its side seams. Button craft thread on cotton.
#reducereuserepair
#reducereuserepair
November 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
—because I #mend clothes all the time, I don’t ever have to hunt for my needles or the right color of thread—they’re already on the end table in my living room. This leotard made it through nine years before developing holes near its side seams. Button craft thread on cotton.
#reducereuserepair
#reducereuserepair
—it’s getting to the point in the semester where I have very little free time, barely even time to post. I #mended this #AlabamaChanin shirt on Sunday, just before the grading marathon started. Button craft thread on cotton.
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handstitching #academicfall
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handstitching #academicfall
November 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
—it’s getting to the point in the semester where I have very little free time, barely even time to post. I #mended this #AlabamaChanin shirt on Sunday, just before the grading marathon started. Button craft thread on cotton.
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handstitching #academicfall
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handstitching #academicfall
—the last two nights have been very cloudy in the Finger Lakes, so the Northern Lights were very faint in my backyard. Of course if I had gotten to a darker place I might have had better views! The first three photos are from Tuesday and the last is from Wednesday.
November 14, 2025 at 2:52 AM
—the last two nights have been very cloudy in the Finger Lakes, so the Northern Lights were very faint in my backyard. Of course if I had gotten to a darker place I might have had better views! The first three photos are from Tuesday and the last is from Wednesday.
—I’ve mended my #glittens! The thumb of one just needed a loose stitch secured, but the pinkie on the other had a hole that took me an hour to fix. #Noro #Kureyon #wool and a #darning needle. Ready for winter! They are really warm.
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handknitting
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handknitting
November 12, 2025 at 12:49 AM
—I’ve mended my #glittens! The thumb of one just needed a loose stitch secured, but the pinkie on the other had a hole that took me an hour to fix. #Noro #Kureyon #wool and a #darning needle. Ready for winter! They are really warm.
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handknitting
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair #handknitting
—late last night it snowed and I spent some time #darning this cardigan with a remnant of yarn and an embroidery needle. It had a hole in the sleeve and a very ragged cuff. I’ve been missing this one as the weather has turned colder.
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair
November 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
—late last night it snowed and I spent some time #darning this cardigan with a remnant of yarn and an embroidery needle. It had a hole in the sleeve and a very ragged cuff. I’ve been missing this one as the weather has turned colder.
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair
#visiblemending #reducereuserepair
—ridiculously pleased with the appearance of this #homemade #no-knead #bread, fresh from the oven! And already calculating: it must last through Tuesday because I can’t #bake again until Tuesday evening.
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall #busybusybusy
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall #busybusybusy
November 8, 2025 at 4:07 PM
—ridiculously pleased with the appearance of this #homemade #no-knead #bread, fresh from the oven! And already calculating: it must last through Tuesday because I can’t #bake again until Tuesday evening.
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall #busybusybusy
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall #busybusybusy
—a view similar to the one from two days ago, but sketched outside! Still a little chilly but sunny and dry. Promised myself I would use the daylight to enjoy myself and do my work in the evening.
#urbansketching #pleinair #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
#urbansketching #pleinair #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
November 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
—a view similar to the one from two days ago, but sketched outside! Still a little chilly but sunny and dry. Promised myself I would use the daylight to enjoy myself and do my work in the evening.
#urbansketching #pleinair #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
#urbansketching #pleinair #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
—took a break from grading to #sketch the view from my window. Watercolor pencil + watercolor + ink.
#urbansketching #academicfall #textandimage #inkandwatercolor
#urbansketching #academicfall #textandimage #inkandwatercolor
November 2, 2025 at 11:30 PM
—took a break from grading to #sketch the view from my window. Watercolor pencil + watercolor + ink.
#urbansketching #academicfall #textandimage #inkandwatercolor
#urbansketching #academicfall #textandimage #inkandwatercolor
—the easiest #bread, I make it once or twice every week, no matter how busy I am.
#no-knead #illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #sketching #academicfall
#no-knead #illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #sketching #academicfall
November 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
—the easiest #bread, I make it once or twice every week, no matter how busy I am.
#no-knead #illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #sketching #academicfall
#no-knead #illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #sketching #academicfall
—I don’t know why it took years for me to #mend three holes in this sweater, except that my workload in the fall means that I have very little free time. I’m glad I can wear this again! Embroidery thread on cotton.
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #handstitching #freeformembroidery #academicfall
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #handstitching #freeformembroidery #academicfall
October 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
—I don’t know why it took years for me to #mend three holes in this sweater, except that my workload in the fall means that I have very little free time. I’m glad I can wear this again! Embroidery thread on cotton.
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #handstitching #freeformembroidery #academicfall
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #handstitching #freeformembroidery #academicfall
—finally finished my big stack of grading, and I was just thinking this morning that it’s time to get these #oldjeans back into rotation. Here’s the latest round of #mending.
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #academicfall #reducereuserecyclerepair #handstitching
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #academicfall #reducereuserecyclerepair #handstitching
October 30, 2025 at 11:38 PM
—finally finished my big stack of grading, and I was just thinking this morning that it’s time to get these #oldjeans back into rotation. Here’s the latest round of #mending.
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #academicfall #reducereuserecyclerepair #handstitching
#neverendingmending #visiblemending #academicfall #reducereuserecyclerepair #handstitching
—I was in a space with an inspiring street view today but only had about five minutes to work on a #sketch, so I photographed it and finished it at home. I rushed to rough out the composition on site and the original drawing is quite wonky.
Maybe I’ll grade later?
#inkandwatercolor #academicfall
Maybe I’ll grade later?
#inkandwatercolor #academicfall
October 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
—I was in a space with an inspiring street view today but only had about five minutes to work on a #sketch, so I photographed it and finished it at home. I rushed to rough out the composition on site and the original drawing is quite wonky.
Maybe I’ll grade later?
#inkandwatercolor #academicfall
Maybe I’ll grade later?
#inkandwatercolor #academicfall
—it’s been a wonderful few days of rest and mending and cooking and #baking and spending time with family. Yesterday I finally baked a #plum #torte, from the recipe I posted last week. Back to prepping classes now. Halfway to winter break and sabbatical!
#academicfall
#academicfall
October 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
—it’s been a wonderful few days of rest and mending and cooking and #baking and spending time with family. Yesterday I finally baked a #plum #torte, from the recipe I posted last week. Back to prepping classes now. Halfway to winter break and sabbatical!
#academicfall
#academicfall
—three years ago I #knitted a 52 x 78 inch #blanket for my daughter. (Don’t try this—it doesn’t want to be this big!) Since then we’ve had to collaboratively #mend it four times—I #duplicatestitch over a hole, and then she adds more colors of yarn over it. The latest #repair is shown below.
October 20, 2025 at 6:48 PM
—three years ago I #knitted a 52 x 78 inch #blanket for my daughter. (Don’t try this—it doesn’t want to be this big!) Since then we’ve had to collaboratively #mend it four times—I #duplicatestitch over a hole, and then she adds more colors of yarn over it. The latest #repair is shown below.
—this morning I had breakfast with a view. I undoubtedly should have been grading but was thinking that I needed to #sketch this gorgeous sugar maple before the rain returns this weekend and it drops its leaves. It was a great way to start the day!
#inkandwatercolor #urbansketching #academicfall
#inkandwatercolor #urbansketching #academicfall
October 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
—this morning I had breakfast with a view. I undoubtedly should have been grading but was thinking that I needed to #sketch this gorgeous sugar maple before the rain returns this weekend and it drops its leaves. It was a great way to start the day!
#inkandwatercolor #urbansketching #academicfall
#inkandwatercolor #urbansketching #academicfall
—I don’t see how I’m supposed to focus on grading when the trees outside are doing this. The dog also strongly preferred to be outdoors. All #watercolor (except for the writing) because I didn’t have my favorite pen, at least not until I came back indoors.
#pleinair #sketching #academicfall
#pleinair #sketching #academicfall
October 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
—I don’t see how I’m supposed to focus on grading when the trees outside are doing this. The dog also strongly preferred to be outdoors. All #watercolor (except for the writing) because I didn’t have my favorite pen, at least not until I came back indoors.
#pleinair #sketching #academicfall
#pleinair #sketching #academicfall
—I received over two pounds of #plums from a friend earlier this week. They’ve been in the refrigerator until today, when I finally had time to process them. I made a #sketch, halved them and froze them. Next weekend: #torte!
#illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
#illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
October 12, 2025 at 8:10 PM
—I received over two pounds of #plums from a friend earlier this week. They’ve been in the refrigerator until today, when I finally had time to process them. I made a #sketch, halved them and froze them. Next weekend: #torte!
#illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
#illustratedcookbook #inkandwatercolor #textandimage #academicfall
—this morning’s #no-knead #bread has an ear! I’m still doing the stretch-and-fold technique on it.
#homebaking #amateurbaking #academicfall
#homebaking #amateurbaking #academicfall
October 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
—this morning’s #no-knead #bread has an ear! I’m still doing the stretch-and-fold technique on it.
#homebaking #amateurbaking #academicfall
#homebaking #amateurbaking #academicfall
—two photos of tonight’s harvest moon. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋節快樂！
October 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
—two photos of tonight’s harvest moon. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋節快樂！
—at 1:00am I completed my first batch of 72 #homemade #mooncakes. I forgot how much a double recipe of mung bean filling yields, so later today I need to make more dough and wrap more of the chestnut cakes! #Midautumnfestival is Monday.
#harvestmoon #amateurbaking #academicfall
#harvestmoon #amateurbaking #academicfall
October 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
—at 1:00am I completed my first batch of 72 #homemade #mooncakes. I forgot how much a double recipe of mung bean filling yields, so later today I need to make more dough and wrap more of the chestnut cakes! #Midautumnfestival is Monday.
#harvestmoon #amateurbaking #academicfall
#harvestmoon #amateurbaking #academicfall
—quick #sketch (for me) in an inspiring #architectural interior, in a light gray marker with #penandink over that. No time to paint it. You can see where I got confused about a reference point and also the unfortunate bit where the person I was #drawing started changing position.
#academicfall
#academicfall
October 3, 2025 at 8:18 PM
—quick #sketch (for me) in an inspiring #architectural interior, in a light gray marker with #penandink over that. No time to paint it. You can see where I got confused about a reference point and also the unfortunate bit where the person I was #drawing started changing position.
#academicfall
#academicfall
—just started on this year’s batch of #mooncakes! I’ll also be prepping classes, of course.
#amateurbaking #midautumnfestival #harvestmoon #academicfall #fromscratch #illustratedcookbook #textandimage #sketching #inkandwatercolor
#amateurbaking #midautumnfestival #harvestmoon #academicfall #fromscratch #illustratedcookbook #textandimage #sketching #inkandwatercolor
October 2, 2025 at 7:47 PM
—just started on this year’s batch of #mooncakes! I’ll also be prepping classes, of course.
#amateurbaking #midautumnfestival #harvestmoon #academicfall #fromscratch #illustratedcookbook #textandimage #sketching #inkandwatercolor
#amateurbaking #midautumnfestival #harvestmoon #academicfall #fromscratch #illustratedcookbook #textandimage #sketching #inkandwatercolor
—I’ve been #mending this shirt off and on for weeks. It had so many holes! Button craft thread on cotton.
#visiblemending #handstitched #reducereuserepair #academicfall
#visiblemending #handstitched #reducereuserepair #academicfall
September 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
—I’ve been #mending this shirt off and on for weeks. It had so many holes! Button craft thread on cotton.
#visiblemending #handstitched #reducereuserepair #academicfall
#visiblemending #handstitched #reducereuserepair #academicfall
— #homemade #pizza with spinach, olives, and basil to celebrate the weekend!
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall
September 27, 2025 at 1:42 AM
— #homemade #pizza with spinach, olives, and basil to celebrate the weekend!
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall
#fromscratch #amateurbaking #academicfall