Raechel Portelli
@raportelli.bsky.social
Geographer- too many interests to take academia seriously (thanks ADHD)? Teach courses in data science, cartography, and GeoAI Literacy. If it's tactile art, I've probably attacked it in a hyperfocus episode ⭐
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 8. Stained Glass. A retirement gift and my first full panel piece. Wish I'd spent more time on the wood frame.
December 9, 2025 at 3:55 AM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 8. Stained Glass. A retirement gift and my first full panel piece. Wish I'd spent more time on the wood frame.
What a blast from the past. My childhood bestie's bday is today and one of our besties posted some HS photos. My attire hasn't changed in 30 years. I spent lunch in the band room with the other misfits... and no that is not a bottle of beer despite the suspicious way I'm holding it:)
December 9, 2025 at 2:51 AM
What a blast from the past. My childhood bestie's bday is today and one of our besties posted some HS photos. My attire hasn't changed in 30 years. I spent lunch in the band room with the other misfits... and no that is not a bottle of beer despite the suspicious way I'm holding it:)
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 7. Got carding brushes this week and finally got some time to try them out with colors I don't typically use. WIP I guess.
December 8, 2025 at 12:02 AM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 7. Got carding brushes this week and finally got some time to try them out with colors I don't typically use. WIP I guess.
Found it. Hammond maps not Rand McNally. Lots of cute pics for now and reading for later.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Found it. Hammond maps not Rand McNally. Lots of cute pics for now and reading for later.
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 6. Block printing. Science Matters protest sign. Pink base says "Fuck Muskrat" and the bottom are beakers and middle fingers. Hard to see in the image I think. What little time I spent making things this year, most of that time went into this type of 'mini' project.
December 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 6. Block printing. Science Matters protest sign. Pink base says "Fuck Muskrat" and the bottom are beakers and middle fingers. Hard to see in the image I think. What little time I spent making things this year, most of that time went into this type of 'mini' project.
An older photo, but it still brought a smile to my face. Arlo in his winter hat.
December 6, 2025 at 12:15 AM
An older photo, but it still brought a smile to my face. Arlo in his winter hat.
And this is why I never shame anyone misspelling or mispronouncing my name... I even get it wrong still, lol.
December 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
And this is why I never shame anyone misspelling or mispronouncing my name... I even get it wrong still, lol.
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 5. Wooden knife handles and magnetic holder. My husband's work. I can't remember what wood species are used other than purple heart and ebony because they are super obvious.
December 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 5. Wooden knife handles and magnetic holder. My husband's work. I can't remember what wood species are used other than purple heart and ebony because they are super obvious.
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 4. While trying to find something on a stack of books I came across these old doodles. Watercolor.
December 4, 2025 at 10:44 PM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 4. While trying to find something on a stack of books I came across these old doodles. Watercolor.
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 3. Paper mache Canadian goose protest hat for the March 21 solidarity protest in Detroit.
December 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 3. Paper mache Canadian goose protest hat for the March 21 solidarity protest in Detroit.
Well... I have excellent music taste 😜 but I'm apparently really old.
December 4, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Well... I have excellent music taste 😜 but I'm apparently really old.
Tonight's #ArtAdventCalendar to catch up. Hand carved block on a piece of vellum covered in yellow and teal acrylic. Fair warning, some of the other block prints this month are also of the political flavor.
December 2, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Tonight's #ArtAdventCalendar to catch up. Hand carved block on a piece of vellum covered in yellow and teal acrylic. Fair warning, some of the other block prints this month are also of the political flavor.
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 1. "My Softest Dreams" Wool needle felting.
December 2, 2025 at 7:19 PM
#ArtAdventCalendar Day 1. "My Softest Dreams" Wool needle felting.
A lack of internet means a couple of hours of poking on the train. Progress. The colors aren't true at all in the photo. 😡😡
December 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A lack of internet means a couple of hours of poking on the train. Progress. The colors aren't true at all in the photo. 😡😡
In Big Penny news... Lansing has honored the bridge by naming a snowplow after it
December 1, 2025 at 1:17 PM
In Big Penny news... Lansing has honored the bridge by naming a snowplow after it
Got all the collections fed and misters refilled. Hoping they will keep it up til the winter shows.
November 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Got all the collections fed and misters refilled. Hoping they will keep it up til the winter shows.
Started working on the base colors for 2026's art entry for the orchid festivals. I may do a second one to sell. Depends on how long this one takes. 3 hours of stabby stabby time so far.
November 29, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Started working on the base colors for 2026's art entry for the orchid festivals. I may do a second one to sell. Depends on how long this one takes. 3 hours of stabby stabby time so far.
Woohoo, spending the start of Thanksgiving with a flat tire one exit away from getting on the interstate🦃 Its a party up in here!
November 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Woohoo, spending the start of Thanksgiving with a flat tire one exit away from getting on the interstate🦃 Its a party up in here!
People ask why I wear yellow. And I replied "my Gramma". Well, I found Gramma pics. One with me ( in yellow lol) in Ogden Dunes and the other she's wearing yellow and has an 8 wk old Kiddo in her lap (Grammy Great at this point). Never finished HS, married 3 times, and had 7 kids. My heart.
November 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
People ask why I wear yellow. And I replied "my Gramma". Well, I found Gramma pics. One with me ( in yellow lol) in Ogden Dunes and the other she's wearing yellow and has an 8 wk old Kiddo in her lap (Grammy Great at this point). Never finished HS, married 3 times, and had 7 kids. My heart.
UP snow. Baraga county. I miss this kinds of November.
November 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
UP snow. Baraga county. I miss this kinds of November.
Went through some FB memory photos from past Thanksgivings with dad. This peak dad. He built his dream garage from a settlement he received. He and my brothers spent all their time there. Yes, that is a middle finger, and I'm guessing he is a half pint of Jack Daniels into the evening.
November 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Went through some FB memory photos from past Thanksgivings with dad. This peak dad. He built his dream garage from a settlement he received. He and my brothers spent all their time there. Yes, that is a middle finger, and I'm guessing he is a half pint of Jack Daniels into the evening.
Tonight was Silver Bells in Lansing. I wasn't there but Blake Nichols posted this fantastic map of the UP with the state tree repping Sault Ste. Marie.
November 22, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Tonight was Silver Bells in Lansing. I wasn't there but Blake Nichols posted this fantastic map of the UP with the state tree repping Sault Ste. Marie.
I am the type of people to celebrate my pet's milestones. Sometime this week Mr. Biddle's turns 5.
November 21, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I am the type of people to celebrate my pet's milestones. Sometime this week Mr. Biddle's turns 5.
My step-doggo Buttercup not having fun at the vet. She's the sweetest most gentle old girl. She stays slim with her 2-3 hours of walking a day, lol. Kiddo's bday present 8 years ago.
November 18, 2025 at 12:53 AM
My step-doggo Buttercup not having fun at the vet. She's the sweetest most gentle old girl. She stays slim with her 2-3 hours of walking a day, lol. Kiddo's bday present 8 years ago.
I spent all yesterday cleaning scale and mealy bugs off over 120 plants yesterday. Between when I was last back 3 wks ago and they got overwhelmed. And of course systemic pesticide was not cheap but I now own a large bottle of Safari.
November 17, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I spent all yesterday cleaning scale and mealy bugs off over 120 plants yesterday. Between when I was last back 3 wks ago and they got overwhelmed. And of course systemic pesticide was not cheap but I now own a large bottle of Safari.