Creative Cottage: Depression Keep Out!

iambubbies

I'm starting this thread in the depression category because it's the only thing that's keeping me sane in the face of this mental pain that I'm dealing with.

Sometimes I walk outside and I dream about something I want to do for my garden and I just shrink inside myself because I don't have the energy to do anything.  Coming to this forum, I saw some pictures posted by Bren and Day and others and I was so relieved to see beauty and ideas that they had.  I feel like I'm grasping at hope right now and it's trying to run away from me.  So maybe you can meander in this cottage and garden till I find it (or you find it, too)

I have a wooden cat right now, that I  bought from a thrift store...I have painted it white and now I kind of know what to do with her head (she's going to have a fancy headdress) but haven't  decided on colors for herbody.  I want it subtle. 

                                                        

and the painting that makes me feel like I can make it through the next few minutes, by Van Gogh:

                       

Maybe Vincent shouldn't be a role model for me right now but beauty is beauty, right??

Please come and post ideas and links and projects.  I don't know how else to get through this right now.

Love and hugs,

Lisa 

(AKA Bubbies)

Shrek4

To be honest I was thinking about starting a thread like this - after the few exchanges we had in the other one on gardening and crafts.

Ok, besides the web development and design (yes, I make websites, and I have quite a few out there, including one that is ning style - not on ning though), I am doing many other"craftsy" things.

I do computer graphics

I paint (in oil, mostly)

I make jewelry

I do clay figurines (inspired in the neolithic art of Eastern Europe)

The images have copyright on because they ARE copyrighted work (I do have a website where I sell my art). To be honest, since I lost my job this is what brings in a trickle of money - and also helps keeping me occupied and happy.

I do many other "craftsy" things, my friends say that if someone gives me a twig I am able to turn it into art, lol. I did study fine arts, back in my youth, and it helps. I had to take a break though, from October til the end of January I wasn't able to do much, and I was able to start painting and do clay sculpture again only about the beginning of March.

I also love gardening (wasn't able to do much this spring) and ... cooking. Ha!

Bren-2007

Day and Bubbies .. great pic's.  I wish I liked to cook .. can't deal with it, but gardening I love.

When I still lived in Calif, I did a lot of shabby chic and handpainted furniture.  I was able to consign it to three different stores.  Not much of a market for that type of thing where I live now.

The flowers are from my garden last year.  I just made some windchimes using an old picture frame, beads and copper tubing DH cut for more me.  I'll upload those pics soon.

This is an old chair I painted and use as a plant holder in the kitchen.  I like to use milk paint on my wood projects.

Sign I put up in my lower fields next to the stream.

My sis, bro and me this winter in Roanoke ... I had on three jackets!

Giant zinnias, my favorite garden flower!

My computer is acting up .. will post more pics in the a.m.

Hugs,

Bren

Shrek4

Oh, Bren, how beautiful! I know this year I won't be able to do much, but next year I want my garden to be pretty again!

 As a side note, I had a very pleasant surprise today. I've put some seeds in pots Tuesday. I discovered today that the cucumbers are already an inch tall?!? I had to check my thumbs to see if by mystake I didn't spill any green paint on them lol.

Bren-2007

Day ... I know exactly how you feel.  Two summers ago, I had surgery and radiation.  I couldn't do anything outside .. I was so afraid my burned up chest would get worse.  Couldn't use my left arm either.  It made me so sad, as being outside was the thing that helped me emotionally.

I love your figures.  They are awesome!  My little seedlings are coming up too.  I harvest all my zinnia and giant marigolds seeds every year and use them the next year.  You can grow radishes in little pots too.  The seeds germinate really fast!

Enjoyful ... hope you are doing well .. keep us in the loop.

Bubbies .. post a pic when you get the headdress on the cat!

hugs,

Bren

ATeamNana

I love this!  I'm trying to get myself motivated to start making baskets

again.  My sister needs 4 for a spring banquet at the end of April...

I love all the pics everyone posted.  I have never posted a picture...I'm

going to give it a shot.    Ok got one figured out....This is a picture of baskets purses I make...or should say used to make ... have not done any weaving for over a year.

I only have 2 more rads to go and I'm done so hopefully I will get back at it!

Shrek4

Bren,

I know, I'm patient. I do the little things I can, and I know next year will be better.

Oh yes, forgot about the cat - I think white with blue eyes and a pink nose and some calico heart-shaped spots on her. and lots of lace and ribbons onher head-dress - I don't kno why I see it more like aruffled bonnet.

Denise, those look awesome! Especially in these days when we use more and more bags and baskets when we go shopping, instead of one-use-paper or plastic bags, they ill be a hoot!

iambubbies

Thanks for the suggestions on the cat! I have been thinking kind of along the same lines...I have to do the eyes this morning which is going to take a while to dry.  I like to have my figures and animals have realistic eyes even if the rest of it is not.  I pulled out my antique laces last night...have lots of thoughts and we'll see where she goes. 

I worked on it a little last night getting the base color down..I don't know why I'm fussing over it so badly. I'm being a perfectionist when I really don't have any set designs on this piece. My confidence is suffering and I guess I just don't want to make something crappy.

I love your goddess figures, Day!  and the jewelry is to die for.  Paintings, digital art, love your stuff. I thought I had replied to this thread but it was probably one of those "over 5" things and I didn't get to post it.  

Bren, I love the colors in your house...I wonder if I could whitewash my shelf units teal blue with milk paint? See the blue stool or little table to the lower right?  That's the color I was thinking of.  How well does it stand up to wear?  This picture is from the magazine "Flea Market Style" which I love.

                          

I have two white cabinets that I got at a tag sale for next to nothing. I displayed my christmas stuff in it this year but I want to do something else.

I also saw this online which makes me think that I could leave it white outside and teal inside?

                  

I love shabby chic or cottage chic. My own house is kind of a melange of whatever I think is fun. It;s very slowly coming together since I just moved here about 6 months ago. Your zinnias are beautiful! I have a very limited selection of flowers that I can grow here because of all of the deer and the rabbits. Nice to see you, too, BTW!

Denise, the basket purse is adorable!   Congratulations on only 2 rads to go.  I hear the same from all of us...we used to do a lot more and now it's harder.  I actually worked quite a bit through my rads, I think it was a coping mechanism.  But then the depression set in after my hysterectomy and I froze up. 

Not to mention, oh I forgot to tell you all this!!  When my doc put me on Lamictal last February or March, my creativity went out the door for the first time in my life!  I didn't have a creative thought iin my head for 9 months.  Nothing inspired me, I couldn't work on ANYTHING!  It is slowly coming back but my strength to focus isn't what it was.

I'll leave you for now with a pic of a mosaic/type ocean vessel that I made on a retreat in hawaii two years ago.  Most of the material on it was collected off the beach: the structure is a piece of a japanese fishing float (a big plastic one) and I used Apoxie Sculpt and many other materials to finish it off.

Talk to you later! 

   

   

Shrek4

Oh that looks absolutely magnificent! I don't have words to say how gorgeous it is!

I was planning to make my kitchen cabinets in shabby chic last fall - BC got in the way. I wanted to do ivory white over pale gray - tiles in the kitchen are an imitation of pale gray marble. Now THAT will have to wait - with me being the way I am and my wonderful boyfriend working his butt off to pay all the bills ad take care of me, I don't even want to raise more work for him.

We talked last evening about me starting a new line of OOAK fairies (OOAK stands for One Of A Kind) with basic material sculpey. I noticed that there is nobody in our state seling those at fairs or anything. I'm all busy putting my materials together to see what I can use and what else I need.

Edit 2 hours later: He just ordered my sculpey! yay! I just got out of my closet a bag of mohair t prepare my stuff for making their hair. I'm planning on going tomorrow to Michaels to get some rhinestones and gauzes and laces for their dreses. And maybe some butterfly wings.

Bren-2007

Bubbies .. I have a large white wood cabinet with shelves.  It sits on an old white dresser.  I distressed the painted white wood and painted the back a light wash of blue.  It's so cute!  In places like that, I prefer a bit of wash rather than heavy paint.  If you want to whitewash the green paint blue, you might need to paint it white or some other lighter color first.

Sometimes I obsess about the silliest projects, even ones that are supposed to be a little shabby!

I love the shell mosaic.

Denise ... I love your bags .. cute and stylish!

Okay .. gonna try to get the picks of my windchime posted.

Bren-2007

Day ... can't wait to see your angels!!!

hugs,

Bren

Shrek4

Your gazebo is absolutely gorgeous!

iambubbies

Bren, I love the wind chimes!  Do they sound pretty in the wind??  I feel like I could be so relaxed sitting there in you little spot.  You know what I really want?  A glider or a swing...I need to rock.  ;-)  Everything is green and pretty around my area right now...complete with the pollen from the oaks falling like mad.  As soon as it lets up, I'll be back outside trying to fix up my little "secret garden".  it's right past this area:

                   

I worked on the cat's eyes for a while tonight...I still need to do some work.  I got them a little too brilliant in color.  Tomorrow I leave for my daughters' houses to see the grandsons and go  to see a favorite musician play.  I felt a little better today.  Still not able to work much at any given time but I'm trying!

Bren-2007

Bubbies .. I LOVE your yard .. a perfect place for a secret garden.  A swing would be perfect.  I have a swing under my oak, apple, asian pear and poplar trees.  I love it.  I can lie down on the cushions and look at the sky through all the tree leaves.  And, push the swing with my foot hanging out the other end!  Now, I just need someone to feed me chocolate while I'm swinging.

The pollen is horrendous here this year.  Green powder covering everything!  My oak tree is 80 ft tall and that thing is just shedding green powder!  argghhh.  And the blossoms from the apple and pear trees (also giants) are blowing everywhere.  Good thing though .. lots of apple pies this summer!

Have a good Monday everyone!

love,

Bren

iambubbies

Happy Monday! 

Bren your garden sounds wonderful with the swing! 

We have some fruit trees in a little orchard area on another spot on the property...apricots, nectarines, apples, I don't know what else yet.  We mostly have oaks everywhere on the property, live oaks and white oaks so the green powder is coming down like crazy!  We also have lots of manzanita but they already flowered and pollinated while it was still cold.  I love manzanita because of the gorgeous bark.  

     

                                       

Heading down to my daughters' houses today to visit grandsons and hear a friend play at a small venue in their town.  http://mikevitalemusic.com/music/  I like the song, "Please Don't Go" at the bottom.  I've known him since he was 18.  

Talk to you all soon!

moogie

Ladies: this is exactly what I have been doing....trying to pull myself out of the anxiety/ptsd by crafting. Beading, (very simple stuff....not anything as impressive as the lovely work posted ) helped a lot because I got completely absorbed in the activity. It is the standard gift I give for birthdays now: earrings, necklaces etc... Now I am embroidering. Just got a yard of white Kona cotton and transferred a slogan I like a lot. Even working for 30 minutes before bed helps relax me and shut my mind off...

Moogie 

Bren-2007

Hi Moogie .. glad to see you here.  It's funny how that happens when beading or doing any handwork .. the time just flies by!

It really helps my anxiety too, especially working in the yard.  I've got 5 acres, and three of them I mow .. up and down the hills .. great stress buster and calming for my mind. 

I hope you are feeling better .. if you get a chance, post some pics of your bead work .. I bet it is beautiful.  I haven't embroidered for many, many years, but did crochet and make afghans as gifts.  If you look under the Wagon Circle forum, you'll see a thread for crocheting or knitting squares for the afghan project.  It's fun and quick to make the squares!

Sending hugs,

Bren

Shrek4

Ok, I didn't have patience anymore to wait for the super sculpey to come, so yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby and got some Sculpey III. tarted working on a mermaid, here's the work in progress:

Bren-2007

Absolutely beautiful Day! I love that you included your tools in the pic .. easy to get the size and dimensions of your mermaid that way.  Did you use the aluminum foil to rough out the shape?  How does it attach to the wire underneath?

Did you study anatomy? Or drawing and sculpture in school? I studied drawing and took art classes from an early age .. and studied architecture in college, although I didn't progress in it, as I stopped attending college (single, working mom at the time). I can draw structures with no problem .. but have a real hard time with human bodies. Guess it takes a lot of practice.

Here is a pic of a beach in San Diego were I lived. I painted this a very long time ago. I took a pic and painted from the picture.

Sparrow

This thread is so inspiring!  Crafting is my addiction.  

Love the painting, Bren!  Is it a watercolor?  Nice to finally see a pic of you.  We could be sisters, don't you think?  

Lisa, what beautiful photos!  CA is so pretty.  I'm jealous! 

Nice work, Day!  I kind of wish I hadn't seen your mermaid.  I have some work to do today and I have to make a birthday cake but I can't stop thinking about the Sculpey in my craft drawer ...  I have no self control!  

Bren-2007

I was so inspired by the sculptey .. I googled it!  OMG .. now I'm on a mission to make my own beads.  I hope JoAnn's carries it, as the nearest Michael's is an hour away.  This should be interesting .. it will probably lead to needing to buy all kinds of tools and obsessions!  Just like a yarnaholic!

Sparrow .. you are lovely .. and could be my MUCH YOUNGER sister!

Bubbies .. hope you enjoyed the concert.

Hugs,

Bren

lovemyfamilysomuch

Hi sisters, I am not crafty at all, but I certainly love this idea. It is soothing and helps to chase away those blues for a few minutes. Thank you all so much!

iambubbies

Hi Girlies!  I wish you could come to my house and play.  I have a  ton of supplies in many different mediums: one of the perks of having an online supply store ;-)  well, to be honest, I had a lot before I had the store. 

Day, your mermaid is amazing.  I love the proportions and wow, you have some real sculpting experience and talent!  Nice breasts, too!  That's always such an important part of my sculpting now.  Here's one of the pictures of my Fertility sculpture made from gourds and paper clay.  I felted the dress and the hair and her breasts are complete and beautiful under her clothing.

       

I love your painting, Bren!  It's funny but when I look back at cool things that I've done, I wonder if it will ever come back.  For now, I have to do fun crafts...things like you do, moogie.  Beautiful but simple and there seems to be comfort in the step by step repitition of an act.  I would love to see your beadwork, too! 

I think this thread is good because we can get inspired from one another as well as look at the good that we have created and hold onto hope.  There really is a lot of healing in creation.

I LOVED  the concert (went  2 nites) and Mike played with another great musician.  I felt carefree and like my old self for just a little while.  Half a beer with my daughter and laughing, exchanging our inappropriate jokes between us.  Food for my soul.  And I always cry when Mike plays.  I remember him playing so many times in my living room as all us girls, me and my daughters, just sat and wept because of the passion and goodness of his music.  So many years.  Oh, I hope I can take some of this home with me.  I'm heading home later today...isolation waiting but I am missing my hubby.  Such a good man.

Sending love and creative dreams to all of you sisters.

Bubbies

Shrek4

Bren, I LOVE your painting. what media did you use? You have a gift for landscapes (or in this case seascapes). Sculpey (as most polymer clays) makes great media for making jewelry. And you can find in stores like Michaels even molds that are pretty neat. You might want to look also for resin, with that one you can make amazing amber-style beads and pendans.

Bubbies, I already told you I totally love your gourd work! You use the gourds in ways I never thought possible.

To answer your questions, yes, I did study both anatomy and fine arts. I went to a fine arts school for 8 years, from high school til college (it was an evening school, I as going three times a week) and I studied various things, from drawing to sculpting. I studied anatomy at that school and also at a school for alternative therapies, about twenty years ago.

Now for the good part,  I also posted the "work in progress" on my myspace blog... three hours later the little mermaid was commissioned, and I got orders for to more OOAKs. Guess people really missed my work during the break for surgery lol.

Here's where I am now - lower body is done, ears are made too. I am working on the hands; already made two tail fins, not sure which of them I will use. I took a photo this time with a 1 dollar bill, so you can see better the size of the doll, and a close-up on the face and scales on her tail. Of course, the hard part will be the sanding, buffering and coloring. And the super sculpey just got here half an hour ago!

 

Bren-2007

Day .. I don't paint anymore, except for my furniture projects.  I used to paint, distress and hand paint floral designs on small step ladders .. functional and beautiful.  There just is no market for any of my projects in this area.

Your mermaid is so lovely .. and the attntion to detail is astounding!  So glad she is already commissed and other pieces as well.

Bubbies .. the doll with the gourd is awesome .. so perfect in every detail.

You gals are true artists ... and I am in awe.

love,

Bren

Sparrow

Oh Lisa, love the fertility goddess!  Her face is beautiful and her hands are so perfect!  Very creative use of a gourd!  The felted dress is amazing.  That must have been a lot of work.  I wish we could come over and play too!  

Day, I can't wait to see the mermaid finished.  That tail is amazing.  She is going to be so gorgeous-  congrats on the commission!   

I'm going to try and post some pics of jewelry I made.  These are a year old at least.  My old camera died and I haven't figured out how to use the new one yet.   

brooch

 

pendant

bracelet

 

detail

another bracelet

 

 -Tamara 

iambubbies

Beautiful work, Sparrow!  Those are awesome wraps and use of jewels.  Do you sell on Etsy?  Bren I was going to mention that the kinds of painted things that you do might really work on Etsy also.  I see people get a following and sell very well with that kind of thing.  If I can dig up some of my links for things like that I will post them.

Day, your work is really incredible.  I'm looking forward also to see your finished mermaid.  I have never had much luck with commissions...I freeze up when it comes to being under the gun with artwork....always have.

I'm still at the daughters' houses.  I have to watch the grandsons on Saturday while my daughters shoot a wedding (oldest is a professional photographer, middle is an art history graduate, youngest a fashion design student while being a mother) My husband makes wood strip canoes and beautiful wood pens.  We have a lot of talent running around in our family.  Since I like to post pictures, I'm going to post one of my daughter's photos of my grandson so you can see her quality of work.

                       

I've been tired and needing to make my oncologist and surgeon follow ups down here...just haven't gotten to it and now I have to push it on for a couple of weeks.  Also working today on the new psychiatrist.  Depression is eating at me again...so I'm going to hit my favorite thrift store and borders for some inspiration.  Also, a new bra does wonders for a bc survivor!

Love to all.

Bubbies

Bren-2007

Bubbies ... your GD's are adorable!   I'm so sorry depression is chasing after you.  Hope you can see the doc soon and get your meds straightened out.  I know what that feels like .. and it's just like you described .. it's eating away at you.  Adding the Abilify has literally saved my life.

I started checking on consignment shops in Old Salem, NC, Greensboro, NC and Roanoke, VA.  Some promising leads in touristy Old Salem.  I'm also going to look into an ebay store and check on pkg and shipping costs for some of my wood projects and windchimes.

Sparrow .. your jewelry is beautiful.  Did you do all the wrap work too?  Absolutely amazing. 

You guys inspire me!

Love,

Bren

Sparrow

Bubbies, what beautiful grandkids!-  that's such a great photo!    You're lucky to have such a talented family!  Oooh. thrift stores and Borders.  Those are my favorite places besides the nature preserve with the waterfall not far from my house for inspiration.  I always come home with pockets full of pinecones and rocks and lichens and leaves...  

I'm sorry you're dealing with depression!  I've dealt with that my whole life.  Sometimes it goes hand in hand with creativity from what I've read.

I saw the cancer center's psychiatrist after rads.  I had a meltdown after my heavy duty treatment (surgery + rads) was over.    I just couldn't function anymore.  I was on Lexapro when I first saw her.  We increased my dose and it just made me more depressed.  She took me off Lexapro and put me on Effexor XR.  We kept increasing the dose week after week until I finally felt good.  I can't say enough about how this has changed my life for the better.  One day it suddenly 'kicked in' and life has been a whole new experience for me.  I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop  (the negative thinking to return)  and it just doesn't!    I'm not even obsessing about my first post treatment mammo in July anymore.   I feel better than I've ever felt in my life.  

I had been making a lot of jewelry because I was afraid of the blank canvas.  Now I don't hesitate to start a new painting.   This is so huge for me, I can't even express it properly.  I don't mean to say that everyone with breast cancer and/or depression should be on an antidepressant.  I never thought I needed one in the first place.  I fought my psychiatrist about every increase in dosage...  I'm so glad I listened to her!    This was my solution and I'm just putting it out there in case it helps someone else.

I hope you find a way out of this.  It's exhausting!  Don't give up!

Gee, thanks, Bubbies and Bren!    I made all the structure of the pieces out of wire.  I made all of the glass pebbles/shards with images out of glass, glue, resin and inkjet prints.  I wire wrapped everything myself.  It can get VERY tedious which is why I don't sell on Etsy.  I love browsing on Etsy though.  It's a great source of inspiration.  

If anyone is interested, I learned wire wrapping from inexpensive tutorials I purchased from Eni Oken online:  http://www.enioken.com/jewelry/lessons.html    I 'cheated' and used silver-coated copper craft wire and glass beads/pearls.  If you have the budget it's possible to make some amazing things.   

I just dropped off my DH at his practice space.   His band is on the road playing a short weekend tour. I have the house to myself until Sunday night.    It's crafting...  I mean PAINTING time for me!!!  

  

Shrek4

Tamara, I guess I got so enthralled watching the photos of your jewelry I forgot to say how much I loved it - it looks like antique pieces.

Bubbies, your GD's have amazing eyes! they are so sweet!

 The mermaid is getting there, I got her tail fin in place and the hands too, and did her coloring, now I need to go get some fairy dust (I KNOW I had some in the house but can't find it) and a metallic acrylic for her tail scales. Her hair is still in the mail, should be here Monday or Tuesday - I ordered some Tibetan lamb hair, nd for her especially, as I asn't sure what color to make her hair, I ordered both an avocado green and a dark teal green.I also need to get some fantasy film to make fairy wings. In the meantime, I played with some super sculpey and made a little "trollfling" lost in the woods. I only got to put in his hair and wings.I also started working on one of the commissions, its supposed to be "Cernunnos" of the Celtic lore. I never had problems with commissions, I'm fortunate in that. Here's some more pics of where I'm at.

 

The little trollfling (hair and hat aren't put in yet, I'm only holding them for you to see)

 The commissioned figure:

 Edit - the "trollfling" has become a pixie. He is all done, and up on Ebay for sale!

that's how he looks now:

 

Bren-2007

The little pixie/troll is so cute .. I love him.  Ms. Mermaid is coming along beautifully.  I have the attention span of a gnat, so the fine detail work is amazing to me!

Keep the pics coming ..love to see your work.  How do I see your items on Ebay?

I'm working on another windchime .. and trying my hand at a beaded necklace using antique hand-painted beads from Egypt.  My grandma picked up a necklace there about 70 years ago, so I'm reworking the beads into my own design.

love to all,

Bren

PS ... Bubbies .. thinking of you .. and hoping the depression is running far behind you.