Creative Cottage: Depression Keep Out!

BooBee

Betty....What do boys wear?  My first grandson is due in September.  I made one out of silk for my daughters years ago.  My son wore a white shorts and a button up.  We're Catholic. 

Shrek4

Lisa,

Yes, I am actually waiting for the SE's and they aren't here yet. It's weird. I wasn't very creative today, to be sure. Usually I do way more things in a day. To be honest, I've kind of wasted the day waiting for the SE's. Isn't that crazy?

Renee, I'm getting 4 cycles total.  But they said next time they will give me steroids and benadryl first, then start the treatment. So hopefully I'll be ok.

Bren-2007

Bettye .. the christening gown is beautiful.  So is the baby!  I got your PM, and thought I would attempt step by step instructions in posting pics.  I get double pics a lot of times too.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong either!

Day .. I hope you aren't having any SE's.  I don't think you're crazy for waiting around for them to show up.  I didn't have chemo .. and it scares the bejezuz out of me .. I would be waiting and watching too!

I'm continually amazed at your creativity and stamina going through surgeries and now chemo.

Bless you heart.

Hope all the moms with kids and pet-children are enjoying their day.

love,

Bren

Bren-2007

This is the little doll bed I got at the swapmeet yesterday.  I painted it white, then lettered on it.

Still in the beginning stages.

"

 "

 I'll draw, then paint more roses on this side.  I plan to plant pink, red and white ground cover roses in the bed!

Finally, finished painting the bedroom/office.  The trim and crown molding were tough!  It looks really good though!

BettyeE

Renee,

I used a pattern in the mag. "Australian Smocking".  I sent a picture in to them  and won a years sub.  I was so excited. 

Someone ask about what boys wear.  I don't actually know because I am baptist.  I did make a less frilly dress for my boys.  My DIL framed them in a shadow box.  I just wanted to make something for them to keep.

I will post a picture of the bonnet and booties I tatted later.

Thanks for all the compliments. 

Sparrow

Betty, the dress is beautiful!  I love the ribbons on the sleeves-  I would wear the grown -up version.

Gorgeous flowers, Bubbies!  

Last weekend was the tour of homes in our neighborhood.  Guess whose home wasn't on the tour?    There were parties starting last Thursday, a festival and a dog parade.  Our calmest dog Max was in the parade.  I tried to get some pics, we'll see how they turned out.  I need DH to help me download them.

Day, I'm glad you're feeling OK with the chemo after that rough start. How nice that your BF mixes clay for you!  

iambubbies

Bren....that baby bed is going to be outstanding, I can tell!  I can't wait to see finished pics. 

How are you doing, Day?

I did smoocking on one of my daughters' dresses when she was little, last time for that!  It was pretty intensive.  But I love the look.

What are you all doing this week?

I haven't made any progress at all.  I had my grandson Olin for two days (which means sleep deprivation) but he is so wonderful.  I just wish I wouldn't crash out in my mood when I have to take him back home (1 1/2 hours away)

I struggle with the question: clean house (I know I should) or get my projects out and work?  So most of the time I do neither.

I did realize something very important today.   My creative process has always relied on other peoples' work especially magazines so I get a feel for what's going on.  I have had all of my books and magazines packed away since last August when we moved here.  I need to dig them out and start getting some new ones like somerset or art doll.

Hugs, 

Bubbies

Shrek4

Hi all,

I am doing pretty much ok. I have a few pains in teh hips and thigh bones (bearable and easy to control with tylenol) and I'm quite sleepy most of the time, otherwise, everything is fine. No nausea, no rashes, no sores in the mouth, nothing. In a couple days supposedly my hair should start falling, I already ordered a pretty wig.

I've been working on a male sculpture. Started it once and didn't like it, so I restarted it. I probably got really inspired when I saw one of the OOAKs "Fairies in the Attic" came up with, a merman, it was on ebay a few days ago. Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SE-SCULPTURE-239-MERMAN-fita-fairy-mermaid-fantasy-/290429055509?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item439eebb215 

He was so fabulous it really made me start on my sculpture again. Not sure if I mentioned it before or not, it's supposed to be Cernunnos, the god of the ancient Celts. Here's where I am, the head is done (made him with a little mischevious smile) and working on the body. Once these two are done, then I'll unite them, then work on the hands and feet. He will have a leather loincloth, a druidic-type medallion and will hold a dagger in his left hand. I'm still in doubt if to make him wear soft leather boots or be bare-foot. I want him to be a heart-breaker. Not sure yet about the base, but I'll come up with something.

Here he is (excuse my fingernails but this is how it looks when you work in clay):

 

Bren-2007

Hi Day ... I'm glad to hear you're feeling okay.

Here's my latest project .. I found the old wooden doll bed at the swap meet.

Sparrow

Day, you continue to amaze me!  What kind of wire/gauge is the armature made of?  I'm glad the chemo is going OK.

Bren, love the doll bed!  What a great idea!  The roses you painted are so pretty.  I love pink.  

My mom had chemo Thursday and had a bad reaction (trouble breathing) so they admitted her.  She has stage IV bc  They drained some fluid from her lungs and as of last night she was doing a little better.  Today is her 83rd birthday.

My brother and SIL are meeting with her doctor today so he can explain what is going on. SIL is a nurse, so that will be helpful.   My sister & I have plane tickets to fly to CA to see mom on 5/20.  We're waiting to see if we should come out earlier. 

I've been stressed out but I took a little time yesterday to finish some jewelry projects that have been sitting around unfinished for months.  Making jewelry is such a stress-reliever.  

Shrek4

Bren, that is gorgeous! And the idea to put near it the same roses as those painted makes a great effect!

Sparrow, sorry to hear about your Mom. It's so hard when this happens. 

The armature is made of 20 gauge brass wire (jewelry wire), at 20 gauge it's very sturdy. The limbs and head have two twisted wires, the body 4 twisted wires, then I use 24 or 26 gauge for the hands and feet (each finger and toe a wire, to make sure they don't break easy).

I need to get a magnifying glass with a stand. I have some ideas but can't work them because I can't hold the magnifying glass in one hand and work with the other.

Still doing pretty much ok. Feeling a tad tired, but then I stayed late last night (playing computer games lol) and woke up like 6 am, I feel like a nap right now.

Btw, I am finishing an orc statue. He's a cutie pie. Still need to do his hair and pants. I am not sure yet how to do his hair. I'll post pics when he's ready.. 

Bren-2007

Sparrow .. I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  And happy birthday to her as well.  I'm sure she will breathe easier with the fluid drained.  My friend has pleural mets and when she gets the fluid drained, she can breathe so much better.

Day .. I think a nap is a good idea ... can't wait to see your orc statue!

hugs to all,

Bren

Shrek4

Here he is, all ready and cute (for an orc it sounds like an oxymoron, but I think he's cute). He has a dirty look as I think orcsdon't wash too often lol

Sparrow

Thanks, you guys!  Mom is home from the hospital now and my brother & SIL are staying with her this weekend.  She sounded pretty good on the phone but a little whacked out on pain meds, I think.

Day, what an adorable orc!    Very nice work!

I'm going to post a couple of pics of my artwork.  I drew the skull on coquille board (textured).  It makes a halftone so it can be xeroxed. The shading didn't pick up too well in the photo.   I'm going to play around with it in photoshop and combine it with other images, then print it out on antique paper.

 

 

Here's the painting.  I think a class in wing anatomy might be helpful.    

Bren-2007

Day .. he is so cute .. he could be the character in a movie.

Very cool pics Sparrow!

 I took a drive up to the Blue Ridge Pkwy today (about 35 miles from my house).  Took this pic of Mabry Mill while I was up there.  What a gorgeous drive!

Sparrow

That is gorgeous!  I would love to have a picnic there and then lie on the grass and watch the clouds go by.  

Here's a necklace I made last year.  I love working in copper and then oxidizing it.  It's very smelly (I only do it when DH is at work) but I like that vintage look.  

 

Bren-2007

Sparrow .. what a beautiful necklace.  How do you get the wire to turn so perfectly?  Do you need a special tool?  I tried working with wire and it was a mess.  I tried to use the pin the attach some beads and made a mess of the top of it.  Maybe I need smaller wire cutters to wrap the wire around.

Happy Saturday everyone,

Bren

Shrek4

Guess I didn't write in a while... you probably read that I was in teh hospital last week-end, and then overall I was kind of blah (heat started here, and with my thyroid acting up, I can't really stand it).

Anyway, I finished a "Fairy Diva" that I made for the silent auction at a local festival. Still need to do her base, but she is done.

And this one is from before I've put her hair on, just for you to see the constume detail:

Sparrow

Day, you seriously rock!!!    I'm sorry you were in the hospital!  I hope you're feeling better now! Ugh, I hate the heat!  Here in GA it's heat and humidity which totally takes the wind out of my sails.  I'm dreaming of moving somewhere where the temperature stays about 75 degrees and the nights are nice and cool...

I just got back from CA.  My sister and I flew out to visit my mom but she was in bad shape.  She died a few days after we got there.

I'm glad I got to see her one last time.  I was the one who dressed her to go to the hospital the last time and put her wig on her and drew her eyebrows on.

It's hard trying to figure out how to live in the world without her.

I'm sorry to post this in a thread with 'depression keep out!' in the title.  Just wanted to let my craft buddies know why I've been gone.  XOXO-  T 

saltykm

Sparrow, so very sorry for your loss.

Sparrow

Thank you, saltykim.  That means a lot.

Shrek4

I am so sorry to hear that! You have gone through some very hard times lately, I am glad though that you managed to see your Mom before she left this plane of existence. I know it is hard to imagine life without her. I know words cannot express what you feel, and neither can they appease your pain and sorrow and sadness. There is no "it will be ok". You just have to learn, again, another "normal" you.

Hugs and much love.

Sparrow

Thanks, Day.  I'm trying to remember to be grateful that I had her in my life for so long.  Many people aren't that lucky.  XOXO -T

wenmazb

Well, my response isn't creative in an artistic sense, but speaking out about things that make me angry keeps me out of my head.  Here is some information that has gotten me fired up and inspired to respond to carcinogens in our environment.

Ladies-
I don't usually spew my politics but I think I've got an interested audience here. Do I need to rant about toxic and carcinogenic compounds in the environment to you? I think not. I have been extremely angry about the California EPA's decision to approve this horrible crap that is going to be used mostly on berries. Here is some info article about methyl iodide:http://www.panna.org/fumigants/mei

Here is a petition you can sign:
http://action.panna.org/t/5185/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=975

Here are two email addresses if you have the energy to write:

linda.frerichs@arystalifescience.com--customer service agent at Arysta LifeScience, the company that manufactures methyl iodide. Unfortunately I can't get an email for the CEO.

mwarmerdam@cdpr.ca.gov---Mary-Ann Warmerdam is the head of the CA pesticide board

Wendy 

Shrek4

Ok, another fairy, this time a teen boy. I need to do a base for him as well.

jblcsw10

Wow! You are all incredibly talented! I enjoyed this thread for a nice break...I am newly dx (5/17) waiting surgery date....here are a few very simple ideas for those of you not quite so talented: today I made myself a pink "friendship" bracelet, very simple (you can google for instructions) using two shades of pink. I decided I will make them for all my sisters, friends who are supporting me. You use embroidery thread. Another fun and relaxing thing is a form of doodling called Zentangle. Basically black ink on white (or sometimes I use white on black paper). You can google that too for lots of examples, but you can carry a little package with you and do it anywhere. It is very addictive, and very good for relaxation. Maybe I'll try pink gel ink on black paper....

Jane

marymn

A very good idea...

This will  really help to recover from depression.

http://www.synergytreatment.com/

Bren-2007

Dear Sparrow,

    I am so very sorry to hear about your mom.  It really hurts to lose a parent.  I still grieve the loss of my dad .. and it's been about 16 months now.  It's hard right now, as Father's Day is this month ... and I will be going to San Diego soon and haven't been there since he died.

Sending you love and a warm hug,

Bren

flash

sparrow- i'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

Sparrow

Thanks, you guys.  Bren, sorry about your father!  It's rough but I guess the only way out of this is through it...

Love the new fairy, Day.