Yum Yum Turkey Day!

I hope everyone has a fine thanksgiving with all the trimmings. Hope everyone has someone to be with, and not be alone.

A day to be thankful and enjoy all the hard work with love, from those that provide the goodies.

I am thankful just to be here and enjoy my family. That is alot to be thankful for.

Every year is memorable, and different right. I feel guilty my daughter doing so much work.

I have been very ill this year and at times wondered if I would be here this Thanksgiving.

Health is one of the most important things to be thankful for, next to loved ones.

When we have our health sometimes we take it for granted.

I love doing my etsy, cards and holiday special things. It brings me alot of joy.

Hope you the best, and a wonderful day.

Patricia

Weakness--Health Is What You Make It!

Sorry awhile since I posted. This blog today is not about art, but
is a strong part of my art life, I have delt with for 8 months. I hope this can inspire others that
have been unhealthy, not being able to live a normal life, and no answers.
I have been going to doctors since March when I was experiencing extreme weakness
and could barely function in my everyday life.
I had blood test after blood test, and had to live, if you call it that. I felt like the life force
in my body was being drained out of me, getting weaker by the weak. I could not even
perform simple tasks like making the bed, or putting in a load of laundry.
It was so frustrating, doctors not really understanding the extreme weakness and the extent.
I think because of my age 63 they thought I just tired easily.
I began taking supplements that did help a little, but nothing to get me to what I call a normal
day. You begin thinking the worst and as the months go on imagine all sorts of things.
I felt so bad, like I was dying, but no pain, no organs shutting down, that I started putting
my affairs and things to do, for my kids, not knowing.
I think now that it was the incompetient doctors not looking at blood tests, and knowing simple things to look for that can change a person's life.
It makes one so depressed, and a few weeks ago, thought I just couldn't take much more. I went from a very active woman, always on the go to homebound and dependent on my family to take me to a store.
Low and behold someone looked at a blood test and found I had an extreme Vitamin D deficiency. All these months of every supplement, and seaching the internet for answers. The one thing I wasn't taking in a regular or required even daily amount, was Vit. D.
I thank God, for prayers answered finally. It is not always in our time, and realize always that God sometimes wants us to really get it. Health and feeling of well being we can take for granted. I got it now, and the things I did with nutrition and vit. supplements, I will always continue now. What I did do on my own sustained my life I believe, or I don't think I would be here now.
My vit. d was 11.1 and should be 30 to 50. Well when they told me to take vit d mega dose they prescribed 50,000 iu a day, I thought they were nuts. Then I started before getting prescription, over the counter even 5,000 iu, I saw a slight improvement every day. They I got the prescribed amount and the first day I took one, my life changed. All these months, of feeling like I was dying, and it brought me back to life.
I am only on the 3rd day of being back to normal, not ready to run a marathon yet, but able to walk up 3 steps and not feeling like it took everything out of me.
I hope this will help someone, to keep digging, and follow your soul when you know it isn't what doctors are telling you, or no one listens, or does anything.
Be persistent, and not give up. and feel free to post a question.
love , prayers and good health.
patricia

Enjoy! Happy Halloween

All Things Fall

Fall is in the air in Buffalo, NY.

I love this time of year as it is

an awakening of new things,

that only happen and seen in

the fall.

I have lived in other areas of the

country that just don't seem to

celebrate the many things that fall has to offer. Of course there is Halloween everywhere, but

there is something about the cool days and nights that just gives it a different feeling and mood.

In a creative aspect it seems generating, the cool days when the air flows through my studio and

the heat isn't making my brain not function. I feel more inspired in cooler weather. Now winter is a little different, it gets old real quick. I am just at the beginning phase of cool weather and the nights are longer and no snow, just the wonderful smell of autumn in the air.

I am starting to put up my Halloween and Holiday cards on etsy.com (grandarts). They are

so much fun to do. I would suggest to anyone that is bored, time on there hands, create cards.

Even if it is just for your friends and family. You will find them a true expression of your

creativity. I find ideas and look through rubber stamping magazines, then get inspired.

I do something different, but something usually grabs me, and my brain goes wild with ideas.

To me they are each inventions, a different form of art, than painting. I sometimes get as much

if not more satisfaction doing them. To me, they are therapy. I don't get as frustrated with

cards. They just seem to take on their own character.

The fall and winter is long, I have to admit. If you live in a region, facing the same long seasons

until spring, a hobby is a great way to pass time. I never have enough hours in the day to

do what I want.

Let me know your ideas, what you do to pass the time and enjoy every minute.

Take care, Happy Fall!

Patricia

Almost the end of summer and all the color abounds. Just the beginning of September, but I hate the thought of the flowers soon disappearing and the snow flurries starting.

I lived so many years in the south, and just never seem to acclimate to the winter, and being indoors so many months of the year.

But I think of the fall and winter and rejuevinating my creative juices and bring color to my world and life from inside. My love of painting, and creating is what abounds my life. I love my family and they too are the most important element of my life. The creative process makes for richness in the soul, at least for me.

I know others that are artists, probably share and know what I mean. It is a satisfaction that just can't be duplicated. It is the individual expression, soley mine, that no one on the earth can do exact as me. I mean there are good artists that can copy and do similiar, and I conside that a compliment. They are impressed and doing something that stirs the expression and art in them.

I am never offended by someone being inspired by my work.

I enjoying selling my artwork, that is the ultimate, when someone else loves and needs in their life something I have created.

I have been struggling with health for over 6 months, and I push, and keep a positive mind and outlook and never give up.

Keep always, everyday doing what you love and enjoy. Work is not work, when you do what you love.

Enjoy the last days of summer, and inhale the color into your mind and soul.

Have a great day and please feel free to email, art comments and questions

patrica

Create, Create, Good Therapy

I want to take a moment to talk about art as therapy. Whether you are stressed, going through an emotional time, or an illness

that you can't seem to escape.

The mind is a powerful thing that guides our body to places we want to be. More healthy, peaceful, our body is directed by

our happiness and contentment. I truly believe that we can

overcome a lot in life helping our state of mind.

There is not enough known about the mind, but everything you read on health, always touches on your mind and state of mind. When we are sad, we can

become sick and not ourselves. Did you ever pay attention to how those emotions, indicate and may have something to do with how we fee.

Art draws from our soul, whether happiness, inner being or unhappiness. It comes out in our

art. That is good, because things buried that we tuck away the energy and hurt is released when we create. Our mind, heart and soul, I feel, are very connected.

Try sitting down and make something, a collage, cutting up pictures that appeal to you and attaching them in the order you want on paper or masonite canvas.

Make a greeting card, with magazine clippings or clip art off the internet. Buy a simple blank

card and envelope. If you want to expand and invest a little money, I have found that stamping, with the wonderful selection of stamps, that appeal to us make fascinating creations.

To become whole, you don't have to be a trained artist with classes and training in watercolors or oils. You can, and it adds a fullfilment to greater levels.

When nothing conventional seems to work, go to alternative ideas and methods. I think art and creating should be a part of all therapy to be well in mind and body. But that is my opinion and suggestions to that can be found in a few books.

Take time for yourself, and release negative energy from your body, and see if you feel better.

have a great day creating!

patirica

Today's a New Day

I can't wait for you to see a new pastel painting I worked on today. Watch tomorrow,

to see the house in darkness and the colorful clothes hanging from the line. It was so

much fun. I discovered that soft chalk pastels look luminous on black drawing/pastel

paper.

I am working on a new technique for greeting cards, using a new soft pliable plaster

and making the stamp impression. Almost like a mini work of art on a card. I will

share this with you soon and the technique if you wish.

So many birds in the yard, cardinals, bluebirds, sparrows, orieoles, crows, and our

trusty friends the squirrels.

Since my husband retired, he now appreciates my little visitors and looks forward

to them every morning. We feed the whole bunch. My daughter warns my

granddaughter about leaving food on the patio, as grandma has alot of friends.

What new techniques or ideas are in your art mind. Any work you would like

to share or have an honest critique, please share.

Happy creating!

patricia