DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Not a very good picture, taken at an angle...."Tip Toe Through the Flowers"

One of the best things about having to be "down" (recovering from back surgery) is that it gives me time to draw, which is my passion, and which I always put on the back burner until I have the time to do it. That, of course, is crazy! I should just be drawing whenever I feel so inclined, correct?

Well, this past week I really have been turning out the pieces of art. It feels great, let me tell you. For the most part I have been very happy with the results. I have a one-woman show coming up in October at a local art supply store/gallery and I think it would be fun to put some of my newer things up.

Doing my kind of art puts me in a head space of total relaxation and almost gives me an out-of-body experience because of the intensity of what I'm creating. It is also distracting from any and all discomfort I'm having from the surgery, while I recover.

I am finding that my form of art is being accepted more often, and in very diverse places. This past month (September) I have pieces at the Art Center in the Sequim Museum and at a Port Angeles Cafe. I was pretty excited about getting into the cafe as artists from our Studio had pieces in there in August too (everyone donated a piece to the cause of showing). I was just barely back from Seattle where the surgery was performed, and I got a phone call from a lady who lives in Seattle. She had been in the cafe I mentioned, and saw a piece she wanted to buy, and the proprietor wouldn't make the sale for me!! I lost the sale, even though I told the lady I would ship whatever piece she wanted. They were on their way out of town, headed back to Seattle so she declined.

These things should not happen. In the future I will make sure that the proprietor of whatever place my art is at, will take over the selling of my work.

I know that being able to draw is a precious gift that I have been given. I do not take it for granted and I hope and pray that anyone who buys my work will love it long after the sale.

I am trying to make a piece to give to my doctor who literally saved my life a couple of months ago...just as a little way to say a "Thank You", because without his expertise, I would not be here today.

I also did a couple of pieces with hearts in them...hearts have always been a favorite theme of mine.

Not sure of the caption yet and it hasn't been cleaned up yet or framed...."Heartbeat"

This is done on a piece of scrapbook paper with raised French writing...and again, not cleaned up or framed...

"French Hearts"

Then, I finally decided to try my hand at doing a dog and a cat, plus I have an idea for another cat piece:'' The cat photograph didn't turn out very good but here is the dog:

You can still see the sketching lines and not much shading yet, but his name is "Scotty".

And, finally, I saw some work by a couple other Zen artists online and put their elements together to come up with this really fragile "Brain Circus".

Not a very good shot....I'm calling this "Brain Circus".

Today I think I'll start working on some Steampunk jewelry. I have lots of materials now and a couple of instruction booklets so now is the time to "jump in". Also, I need to finish up my christmas pieces...I'll show them to you when they are finished. I think they are pretty cute....

I really like this one...it's really on white paper but I couldn't make it show that way with my limited software, but the name of it is "Recovery", since it was the first piece I did after surgery.

Last, but not least...."Summer Bouquet"...done on pink paper...I love the colors in this. It was fun to do.

Peace and Love be with you all.

Thank you for reading my blog today.

Huggs, Janie

FRUSTRATION AT IT'S HIGHEST POSSIBLE PEAK!!

9 Patch Tangle

So, I had the Lumbar Laminectomy surgery and everything went smooth as clock-work until it was time to leave the hospital. I had to have a certain type of bed to get in and out of, so the doctor said we come all the way to Sequim if we stopped each hour so I could get out and walk a bit. The trip was uneventful and I really have to give my husband a lot of credit because he had to pack everything up that we had at my son's (where we thought we would be staying for a couple of days).

I am now on day 7 post surgery. The bruising is incredible! However, the right leg pain is GONE!! The hip pain is GONE!! And....and.....I have been walking further from the house the past few days than I have since we moved in here, because the pain was just too much.

I have SO MANY limitations....but the main idea is to keep my back as straight as possible....so I don't sit too long or walk too long, but do lay a lot less than when we came home.

The Neighborhood

I am so anxious to get back to my regular life....when something is on the floor or below my waist, I have so much trouble not bending to pick it up! I am really dependent on my husband right now for my care. I'm getting a little more independent with each new day. Having that surgery was really a chance I knew I had to take, and now I can see how there are so many places in my house and at the Studio where things are in drawers way below my waist. I have this long stick-like apparatus that is pretty handy to use.

Crazy Girl

There are so many things in life that we all take for granted. We usually don't even give it a second thought that we might be handicapped in some way. The whole world around you changes when you become handicapped. I have had to learn to swallow my pride when I needed someone to help me with my bathroom "duties". I was pushing a walker around (for balance and support) but that walker made me feel really old...I'm talking 900 years old here!! I have other "medical supplies" also that make my life a little bit easier. I'm so thankful that I won't have to stay in this "straight" position very long. It's so hard to get around and do things and heaven forbid that anything falls on the floor. Again, I have to say that my husband isn't losing patience with me and my handicap at the present, and for that he is to be commended!!

Falling Hearts

I am so thankful that I am healing properly and that my being up and about is much easier. I am also thankful for things that I prepared to use during this time...i.e., Christmas decorations for the Studio, Steampunk jewelry for the Studio, and book work for my son-in-law. I also do the newsletter for our local Sequim Arts Association, and I will be darned if I'll let a little 5" cut on my spine keep me from getting it out on time! So, here is to hoping that the surgery results will stay as they are now or even get better. Is it painful? Yes, sometimes it's very painful, but most of the time it's pretty copeable. Now where is my "grabber".....

Have a wonderful one....Janie