Let's Inspire each other to be Creative
Comments
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Ginger, Go to arttutor.com. They have free demos. I did the demos and signed up. It's not very expensive as art lessons go. There are also art demos on utube. I do know what you mean about fearing to use the good paper. I'm trying to do more sketching. I checked out Urban Sketching from the library. It has a couple of pages per location of sketches artists have done. There's also an urban sketching website. My medium of choice is watercolor. I'm learning slowly.
I know what you mean about not using the sewing machine. DH got me a new one a couple of years ago and I still have to use the manual for most things. He also gave me a serger last year for my birthday. A week before my diagnosis. I have yet to tackle it. I do need to go collect my free lesson.
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Hi, ginger, or HELLO, SELF,
haven't we ALL been where you are? there would be quite a crowd if we all tried to fit in...for me and most of my friends, giving ourselves PERMISSION to learn, enjoy, fail, and enjoy again seems to be an ongoing process. If there was any lesson in getting bc, maybe it is/was, damn, I'm not waitin' to make a bucket list, I'm doing it NOW.
Next time you're at the library, or used book store, take a peek at Sue Bender's Stretching Lessons. One of my FAVORITE, FAVORITE let's all smile at ourselves books...really. She was a good friend of M. C. Richards, in case you're failiar with Centering: In Pottery, Poetry, and Life.
About peeing on your foot - can't count the number of times, and I, in hindsight, wish I'd taken out stock in Depends during chemotherapy ( even WITH Immodium) and that gets us into TMI, but bc ain't just about foobs.
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Isn't life grand?
Barb, what happened to your knee caps if I may ask.
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My knee caps slid to the side years ago and arthritis has taken advantage of the deterioration by eating away at the remains. I still have areas that feel solid but have been assured are mostly areas of scar tissue and broken bits...sigh. I even sit a funny way in the car to take advantage of the area with the most solid "knee" to face forward. My right hip is almost at the edge of the seat and my left knee is pressed into the door, but it's the only way I have enough pressure to work the gas!!! My body is absolutely RIDDLED with arthritis!!! I have so many weird areas of bone growth that it's getting hard to know what is original bone!! Adds to my pain levels as some of the growths are impinging on the nerves in my spinal canal. I also have spurs in the back of my neck that make me choke of food if I don't think while I eat and make sure my bite is small enough if it is hard stuff (like meat) and not mushy like potato. I hate to even type this, but thank God my hands are only mildy affected by bone growth! They still work for me, though I do get the pain. As long as they keep working, I can handle losing my legs....sigh.
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Oh Barbe I had no idea you were serious, not just the carteledge, which is no small thing either! I know you are knowledgable about meds and such and hope you are getting the relief you can. I hope your CA health system gives you what you need. Sending big hugs.
I don't know if the AI causes my knees to have pain or if it does damage that causes the pain. If that makes sense.
Love Ginger
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Oh, Barbe, sounds dreadful...wish there was something you could do for yourself. My arthritis is the old fashioned getting older kind, and acupuncture has been my SALVATION. really, din't know how I'd still be in my 6th year of Arimidex without a monthly treatment. My knees feel BETTER than they have in 30 years. No longer sound like leaves crunching when I walk downstairs, and I am able to walk downstairs without "straight legging" it. Don't know if your situation is too advanced to be helped by acupuncture, but if you haven't yet tried it, wow, I hope you will.
Loving LOVING LOVING my new Daniel Smith watercolor paints. Just drooling with delight at the delicious colors - and CHEAPER than Winsor & Newton ( at all the online discount places, cheap joes, dick blick, etc) but so much better quality.
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Very depressed. The last two watercolors I did yesterday and today are dreadful. WTF? I wish I knew what was going on but sure don't like it.GRRRR!
Barb...my goodness, do I feel for you. Is it the AI's that are doing this to you? You seem so young to be suffering with this from natural causes. I guess we have to be thankful for the blessings we do have no matter how small.
Sunflower has a point. My Onco is going to Calif. to study acupuncture so he can use it on his patients that are in bad shape from Chemo and cancer. I give him credit.
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I am off on disability for the past year since last June. History of bad arthritis on my Moms side where Aunts have had hip replacements in their 40's!! I'm 54 now but they don't do that kind of surgery as early as they used to due to having to go back in a replace the replacement pieces!!!! Geesh!! With my pacemaker, when they have to change the batteries, the wires stay in place and they just replace the unit. Why can't they do that with bones? Just replace the ball or whatever!
I use a cane all the time, have a walker and even an electric scooter. I take 150 mgs of Morphine a day and am still in agony. The fact that I am so flexible means the docs are confused as to my disabilties! They see me able to touch my toes yet my back has bony overgrowths impinging the nerves coming out of my spinal canal!! I am a medical conundrum. Leave me my hands and the ability to sit up and I can be happy for hours and hours. I can't lift my grandchildren anymore now that they are two so that is sad. They have to come to me and crawl up...sigh.
Art has saved my life in so many times in so many ways....
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This is my latest quilt top I just finished. Paper piecing is how you get those sharp points. Not my design, though! Will be 5 1/2' square when finished. Now needs to be quilted and then bound.
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GORGEOUS - adore the colors, paper piercing = patience, patience, patience....
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It's VERY hard for me to "do scrappy" as I want to match all the colours. I'm trying to get rid of my old stash though so I can buy some of the newer fabrics. I'm working on a second piece to get rid of my batiks and then I can do a piece with colours I WANT to work with!!
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Barbe, Just had an idea. Quilters should have fabric exchanges like people have clothing exchanges. Everyone brings fabric they don't want and trades for someone elses unwanted stash. If fabric is truly unwanted, it could be donated to organizations that make quilts for children and veterans. One fabric store here keeps a bin in the back for donations of material.
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Barbe - make BEADS out of the pieces
Or pendants, big ones
bracelets
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the colors ( u) have used!!!!!!
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That is just lovely Barb. How do you even start to put that pattern together. I would not have the patience.
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Thanks for the great ideas ladies!!! artsee, I don't have patience, I have TIME.
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So in other words by the time you are done with a quilt, no matter how long it takes, you you are a basket case.:)
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Pretty much artsee...or maybe you have to be one to even start a quilt!! This one is only 64" x 64", just a wallhanging. You wouldn't really want to try paperpiecing for a whole bed quilt as it would be SO heavy with all that paper in it for sewing and would take forever to get all that paper OFF!
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Hi just scrolling through the thread..
Barbe, that quilt top is GORGEOUS! Will you machine quilt this?
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I am glad this topic popped back up. I reread back a couple pages and you all are so inspirational.
I have been in my sewing room, everythiung room more often these past couple of months. My DGD is attending Montessori preschool and it is close to my house. DD is dropping Zoe off and coming over here M-F and sewing for a couple hours after having breakfast. Our food shopping has increased in this time. DD is woreking on quilting, actually piecing projects here and is doing well. She also volunteered to make a heavy blanket for a friend who has a child with Autism. apparently the weight of the blanket makes the child feel better. Somehow she is to sew around the pockets for pellets to enclose them. I am sure she will do it well.
That makes me think of when I was a kid and our house wasn't warm enough with a coal gravity furnace. My mom would pile the quilts on me and I couldn't even turn over. Not making light of autism but I wonder if this is how someone thought of the heavy blanket.
About depression I am on Effexor 150 for hot flashes. I am not sure that this hasn't actually slowed me down. I used to be active, I traveled to Haiti 7 times, I raised funds for Clean Water For Haiti, I did some public speaking on the topic, I worked in social services for years out and about in my work. I am just sucha different person now. I cannot imagine that I did all of what I formerly accomplished. Getting up to go to the bathroom is a chore. I also don't really like to go out in a crowd anylonger, how weird is that! Thank God for BCO, it is my lifeline to people. Oh, we moved her a couple weeks after I had a Lumpectomy and just before I started chemo so I don't really know people here. We moved 2000 miles west and DD and her husband and our DGD are here so that makes up for a lot!
I don't feel miserable but sort of numb. I can't really cry on Effexor, my emotions are numbed out. My Mom died a few years before I got BC and I first took effexor then but at a higher dose 225, it really numbed me out then. I am just unsure if this numbing feeling is what an antidepressant should do. I asked my Doc at the time and he said that the mind needs rest. I would certainly rather feel a bit peppy and ready to go again.
This is a Creativity thread and here I am writing about numbness, not anything I would want to paint!
The paintings that I like usually have some flowers in them, not as a still life but along with people and life. I have Renoir's Sisters hanging in my house. I love the color Mary Cassat uses as rouge. If I think about it there are certain things I have seen over my life that do inspire me. I collect mental images, even floor plans stay with me. Maybe I am getting closer to breaking out from this.
I hope you are all busy getting ready for or already enjoying the holidays. We hung a big wreath in the living room last night. I will add some decorations to it like red ornaments and a bow.
It was wonderful to read this thread once again.
Love Ginger
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Ginger, the numb feeling is to protect you until you are ready for more. When you need to get out and about more, you will. Allowing the numb feeling to hold you back means you still need a "quiet time". Let your body do the talking...
It took a year on diability for me to finally break back into my sewing room, but I'm glad I waited. The quality of the work coming out is superior to what I might have played around with a year ago. I finished the commissioned piece and handed it over yesterday. Nice bit of cash for Christmas! (though it's already ear-marked!)
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I called the "Painting Lady" who offers classes at our town Ben Franklin! Ta Da!!!!
She is not actually here now but will be back in March and I am enrolled in her class. She said it is a go at your own speed class and that is perfect for me. She asked if I had ever painted before and I told her in High School. I realized later that is 50 years ago! Yikes.
I'll surely get back to you all on this. In the meantime I am going to a 3 day serger seminar. I think it will be nice to get away doing something different.
Hugs to all of you
Ginger
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Congratulations, Ginger - I think it is so inspiring to be painting with a group of people. My 50th High school reunion is in April. Isn't it fun getting older
What medium will you use in painting: oil, acryllis, watercolor, pastel?As for "serger" - yikes, I have a fabulous new Janome & I ahven't done anything!!! Was going to take a class, and it was such a BIG class, 15 people, I knew I'd never get enough teaching....have it on my list of to do's..
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Before I got BC I had bought a lot of supplies that I have not used. I am going to go for water colors first, maybe later I will try acrylics or oils. I also have some pastels and colored pencils. I really outfitted myself completely. I did love art classes in high school or craft classes in girl scouts or at Y summer camps. I love the idea of being immersed in all that once again.
I too have some problems with sewing machine classes in a large group. I am hoping this three day class taught by someone who does this year round will be effective. She seems very organized and I am hopeful. For my regular sewing machine it is difficult because my sewing room is on the second floor and our garage is another flight of stair down, we are on a slope here. Poor husband gets that duty. Then I have to go into the shop to get some one to carry my machine in, I am not strong enough. Then do the reverse. The class itself is less than organized. Although I do like the teacher, she is a person who has never met a tangent that she didn't like. I think I need a less friendly, crankier teacher. lol
Laters, Ginger
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Ginger - if you want to be INSPIRED, check out some of Artsee's pictures, watercolor. AMAZING. She is so talented.
I am a dabbler, and currently inspired by an artist Jean Haines Atmospheric Watercolors. Also love water color flower painting - claire waite brown has a wonderful book on painting watercolor flowers. Hope ou enjoy your classes.
Don't know what paints you will choose - but DO check out Daniel Smith - they have the MOST yummy colors. Work out to be less than Winsor & Newton if you buy more than I think it's about 9 tubes. Per Jean Haines I also bought 2 Schminke colors: tranparent yellow, and transparent ( or was it translucent?) orange? anyhow - fabulous for sunrises
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Remembering Apple:
I was very saddened today to learn of Apple's passing away. She was a very talented lady, her paintings were full of joy as well as displaying a strong sense of colour and design. She shared some of her paintings with us on page 11 of this thread:
http://community.breastcancer.org/topic_post?forum_id=84&id=766667&page=11
In addition to her talent for painting she was also a gifted musician:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsXQAhe8uYY
Rest in peace dearest Apple.
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Thank you Painterly for posting the links in this thread. She was a VERY VERY special person.
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When I remember where my camera is, darn it, I will take a pic of the blue spruce painting I did before Christmas. I get compliments on how imperfect it is, hahha, but it actually does have good depth like a tree.
I came to share my real creative passion. Need to get back in the mode of the fun side. I will post the latest short short on car accident premonition dreams, wrote a few week back and then write the next or perhaps even work on one that is related. This is my place to commit to do it this morning and quick. I keep saying I will and my writing gets 'prioritized' out of my life, all to my emptional and spiritual detriment. So click pic I took to read short short if you like. The related one is entitled, Well This Oughta Do It. Or something else posted here on my creative committment in a few.
edited to add, thanks Ginger, for reading. The plans of mice and me..... as I said, creativity and what I love out-prioritized by medical stuff all week. I was on the run from one MD office to next each day, one - three hours each way. Now am doing research on which way to go next, more important than writing, right? Taxes, health, bills, work. At least I do take time to watch movies w Hubby and take slow drives in countryside. I will write this soon, very soon.
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I enjoyed the short. I think you channel me when I am my husband's passenger.
Thanks, Ginger
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The3 three day serger class was wonderful! It far exceeded my hopes and was the best sewing or serger class I have ever attended.
On March 5th is my first painting class. It is made up of women who work in all sort of medium (sp) I will try water color first. I actually have no idea of what I want to do because I m not schooled in art but more in craft. I can follow directions quite well and in a felting class I went to at a local college in Illinois I made craft, not art! I made a wonderful bowler hat for my DD and a flap closure shoulder bag for her as well. The were wonderful. My other classmates were reading a book on being an artist and they all made ART. It looked like blobs of felting gathered together and ready to hand on walls. For the first time I really felt comfotable knowing I wasn't an artist. My work looked wonderful, to everyone including me. Still I would like to know technique and maqybe make something the Grandkids will think is fun or nice.
A couple posts back someone suggested I look at a certain persons work for inspirationm where would I find that? I would like to go look.
I hope your days are inspired.
Hugs Ginger
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Wow, Ginger, I've never heard Art and Craft separated and defined so well!!! I like function art (craft?) as well as beautiful craft (art?) so I'm not sure where I fall in the categories. Enjoy your water colour class. I took one once and didn't really enjoy it as it wasn't my forte and I'm used to being very good. I was just average and I hated that!! heheheheheh
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