Just over a year ago my nephew Adam was paralyzed in a tragic Rugby accident – he was only 19 years old at the time. You can imagine how something so terrible like that would affect his parents, sister and family not to mention my young nephew. Waiting in the hospital with my distraught sister while a team of doctors inserted a metal rod in my nephew's back was surreal. Words could never convey the feelings of intense grief that flooded the waiting room for several hours. My nephew was in the hospital Spinal Chord unit for a while and then was transferred to the Rehabilitation center for a few months. I was trying to think of doing something for my nephew to buoy his spirits while he was in rehab. I decided to create a line of cards or mini pieces of art which were laminated and called "Inspiration Nation". Every time I visited Adam I would bring him an Inspiration card and tape it to the wall. After a few weeks of this the wall was plastered with these little positive messages. I like to think these cards helped buoy Adam's spirits a bit. They did make him smile. On a completely selfish level I guess creating these cards helped to channel my feelings into something positive and hopeful. Time and time again art has stepped in to “save me” or help morph feelings of helplessness into something concrete and outside of myself. In an odd way I think of feelings as having shape and substance that live in our bodies. If they don't have an outlet, are never spoken about or channeled at all they will sit and fester inside of us. Doing something creative around these feelings whether it be writing a poem, creating a quilt or making a drawing gives these feelings an outlet – a life of their own. Ultimately I feel better and more at peace after creating something when I feel grief, sadness or anger. The next time you encounter strong emotions which have no place to go then try your hand at creation – you get to pick the method as long as you put your heart, soul and emotions into it!
NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER. WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER SHORTLY.
BOOK GIVEAWAY: Post your comments on Violettes entry and we'll draw a winner for her newest book Journal Bliss. Winner then has the option of sending in their original journal page and story about their own healing journey and we'll post it on Craft For Health. Good Luck!
About the Book and author:
Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash your Inner Eccentric By Violette Clark
“Be inspired by pages and pages of artistic inspiration and prompts designed to embrace your inner eccentric. In Journal Bliss, join author Violette as she shares her illustrations, fonts, doodles, and soul-searching prompts - freeing you to start your own visual-journal journey. Express yourself openly in a style that is uplifting and fun!”
Violette a Canadian Artist born in Casablanca, Morocco to Spanish parents, Violette is a compulsive painter, who paints with the color and warmth of Mediterranean Sunshine
I am a working and exhibiting artist. I graduated from Otis College of Fine Arts in 1989. Right after graduation, I came down with an unknown disease that caused me to be comotose for a week in intensive care. When I was released, I had no memory of my graduation, the fact that I went to Otis, or that in fact I was a working artist with a studio in downtown L.A. Shortly afterwords my then husband of 20 yrs. left saying he no longer wanted to be married. When I got my strength back I expressed my feelings of anguish and sadness by painting. Some of the paintings were very difficult to look at. Some, what most of my viewers called "interesting." Throughout the following yrs. I continued painting, and exhibiting my work at various venues. I discovered Zen Meditation and Yoga and my paintings subsequently became much quieter, until today I could be called a minimalist. Then came my ultimate challenge, last Jan. 2nd. I discovered a lump in my right breast. So far this yr. I have undergone, a lumpectomy, 7 1/2 weeks of daily radiation "therapy??????" I have a intervenous infusion of every 3 weeks for a year (6 more to go) of a drug called Herceptin, and am on a estrogen blocker. All of this causes arthritic like pain in all of my joints, especially my hands, shoulders and elbows. Not good for a painter. The estrogen blocker also causes insomnia, and hot flashes. I went off the blocker for a week and beginning last night am trying a new one. Hopefully my hands especially, will be better. I began to weave a basket, hopefully calling it "The Miracle Basket" From all the information, schedules, apointment slips and everything related to my diagnosis. This was 3 weeks ago. I had to stop as my hands were extremely painful and swollen, and I couldn't push the needle through the paper. But, I am working in my studio with watercolors and encaustic, soon oil paint. The pain has subsided and I am affirming that the new estrogen blocker won't have similar effects. Art, the making of it, the creating, the physicality of doing it has saved my life. As long as I can think about and do something art wise, I will be OK.
My father always said I was born with a crayon in my hand and I'm pretty sure it was the one called Prussian blue. By second grade, I had turned my art skill into a business. For five cents, the price of a Baby Ruth candy bar, I would draw a picture of a pony, with a custom colored mane and tail. I had a catalog, color swatches,order forms and a price sheet. Since that thriving little enterprise, I went on to produce art work for greeting cards, picture books, game boards, class room readers, achievement tests, stickers, window clings, and coloring books. I taught art in public schools from Pre-K through 8th grade. I created a series of step-by-step guides for young artists called 1 2 3 Draw and I am about to launch a second series called Draw Plus Math. All of this work was satisfying, frustrating, rewarding, stressful, goal-oriented and time pressured. Most of the people I worked with were wonderful. With the few not so wonderful ones, I kept my eye on the prize, happy with the check that eventually came in the mail.I went from drawing and painting on paper to learning Photoshop. I went from chasing the UPS truck down the street with packages for editors to emailing all my files in electronic form. I went to conferences and trade shows. I blogged, I networked, I tweeted.
Then I turned 60.
I know that certain birthdays should be considered 'just a number' but somehow this one sat me down and said 'Howdy'.
I was stressed. I wasn't eating right. My allergies re-invented themselves. My weight went up. I wasn't sleeping. Or I slept too much. My heart raced for hours at a time for no medically discernible reason. I was picking at my feathers like a maladjusted cockatoo. And I was unhappy with the work I was doing. It had long ago stopped being fun.
Then there was a recession. The work I considered no longer fun, no longer existed.
So, I had less money but more time. I started taking walks at the Botanic Garden. On a whim, I enrolled in a botanical illustration class at the horticultural school. I started to draw and paint again with no other purpose in mind but the pleasure of seeing an image appear on a page. I met other people with similar interests. I found several wonderful teachers.I had always loved flowers but now I began to be fascinated with depicting the elegant way plants are organized. I spent an entire week drawing a pineapple. There were no art directors. There were no contract negotiations. There was just music on my CD player and the scritch scratch of my crow quill pen. Time flew by untracked. And I felt better.
The link to my blog: www.polkadotpie.blogspot.com My website: www.freddielevin.com
An Artist's Dream - Cause Driven Art to Help Stop Human Trafficking
I have always loved creating art and making things. I started a handmade greeting card company in 2004 and designed and manufactured the cards in our little studio for over 300 wholesale customers. I absolutely loved the design and craft aspect of the business but when I became pregnant with our son, I knew that I could no longer devote the countless hours that I once had to the business.
The Call that changed everything
It was bitter-sweet because I was thrilled to welcome a much anticipated new life to our family but I couldn't help but feel a little sadness about the close to such a big chapter in my life until...
...I got a call from my friend Wendy about the new non-profit organization, International Sanctuary, that she and her friend Stephanie had founded.
They started their organization in 2007 to advocate for exploited people of the world, to educate the public about human trafficking and its prevention, and to be instrumental in providing survivors the means to be reintegrated as valued members of a community.
Purchase with Purpose
One of the most valuable parts of their organization is their "Purchase With Purpose" program. The survivors are trained in the art of jewelry making and their handcrafted goods are then sold in the states through retail outlets, home parties, community events, church functions, craft shows, and in the iSanctuary online boutique to raise funds for each individual in the program.
The survivors not only earn money for their craftsmanship, but the very act of creating a piece of jewelry provides an immeasurable amount of healing. They have something positive and creative in their lives to focus on and a reason to get up and face each day.
A Simple request turns into much more
Wendy had simply called to ask if I might design one or two cards for the organization. Little did she know at the time that my mind was spinning with the idea of the possibility of merging our two entities. After I hung up the phone and talked with my husband we both knew that this could be the perfect partnership. As soon as I shared my thoughts with Wendy and Stephanie, they were on board and everything fell in to place from there. It was a lot of work to complete the merge but we had so many little encouragements along the way that we knew it was the right thing to do. I just KNEW deep in my soul that this was the reason that I started the company in the first place.
After months of meetings, training, crafting, organizing, and coffee drinking, we completed the merge in May 2009. Much to my delight, there is now a team of volunteer crafters in Orange County who hand make my greeting card designs for this wonderful cause. One day we would love for the survivors themselves to make the cards but they have their hands full at the moment with the beautiful jewelry they create. For now, just knowing that the proceeds from my handmade greeting card sales go to iSanctuary brings me so much joy. I love that I can continue to design prototypes for iSanctuary and that my art is literally helping people. I think that is every artist's dream. To be able to help another person through your work is as fulfilling as it gets for an artist.
My name is Tori Higa and I believe in the value of "crafting for health" weather you are physically making something with your own hands or creating something to help those in need. To see more of my work, please feel free to visit my website and blog.
To learn more about International Sanctuary, visit their website, blog, and online boutique. Tori Higa Stationery for iSanctuary can currently be found at Kate's Paperie in New York as well as other specialty stores across the country.
GIVE AWAY: In honor of the Craft For Health Website and it's wonderfully inspiring stories, I am giving away 12 assorted greeting cards (handmade with vintage fabric) including birthday, new home, thank you, everyday, Christmas, and Valentines to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment in this post to become eligible for the random drawing.
Art has always been a very important part of my life helped me through challenging times.
Designing and channeling creative energy have helped me express my feelings through art...and deal with my emotions. It has been said that the great masters of art have produced their best pieces through the most difficult times in their lives. I believe this is true.
My name is Gabriela Delworth and I am a designer and craft instructor. You can view my work at www.gabrieladelworth.com and also on my blog.
Hi Kathy & Barb: I really enjoy reading your blog, and sincerely believe that crafting, or simply exercising your creative side is incredibly beneficial to one's health. This is my story:
I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer over 3 years ago when I was 39. I had yet to go for my first mammogram, but after finding a lump in my breast I was sent for a mammogram and biopsy right away. Like anyone who has had something like this happen, you never prepare yourself for the bad news. In my mind, I couldn't possibly have cancer. I prided myself on taking good care of myself and eating healthier than most people I knew. Nevertheless, I got breast cancer and had a lumpectomy followed by 6 weeks of radiation and hormonal treatment (prescribed for 5 years). I went through this stage in my life in a daze. I knew I could get through it but I don't believe I really internalized what was happening. While I was being treated, I took medical leave from my demanding corporate position. I was a head of a department with an international law firm, and had worked for this firm for over 13 years.
Once back at work, I resumed my fast paced stressful existence and put my breast cancer diagnosis behind me. Early this year, I was told (over the phone) that I was being laid off. Similar to receiving the call from my doctor to inform me that I had breast cancer, I was in shock and disbelief. In both circumstances, nothing prepares you for this life changing news. When I finally came to terms with the layoff and the concept of no longer being responsible for my job, an overwhelming urge came over me to make something with my hands. It's hard to describe this feeling other than I believe I had surpressed my creative side for so many years that something inside me finally made it's way to my attention. This urge led me to purchase books on making jewelry and it started my path into creative thinking. When I learned from a friend that I could sell my handcrafted jewelry on Etsy.com, I got excited. I soon had set up a shop, entitled "californiablue" where I could post my casual, fresh designs (http://californiablue.etsy.com). I also started a blog, also called "californiablue" which chronicles my journey into creativity and day to day inspirations I have.
All in all, I truly believe that crafting, or allowing yourself to be creative in a variety of ways is nourishing for the soul and healing for the body. My life post cancer and post corporate is not only happier, but healthier due making jewelry. I don't think anyone needs to get a life threatening diagnosis or be laid off from their job to realize how important feeding your creative spirit really is. I'm grateful for my life journey thus far, and look forward to the future.
- Melissa N. Lisbon
shop: http://californiablue.etsy.com
blog: http://californiablue.tumblr.com
“I don’t have TIME to be sick!” was my reaction when I woke up with a scratchy throat.
And then it dawned on me. I am badly infected with Hurry Sickness. It’s not a diagnosis your doctor will ever make, but it’s an affliction nonetheless. And I know a great remedy for it, short term anyway.
A rainy afternoon crafting with your favorite girlfriends. It’s what I call “recess for grown-ups” and it works wonders.
I called up a few friends and invited them for a few joyful hours of play in my studio. Because I was working on a new book on crafting, I invited them to try out some of the projects. Because they know my studio is full of paper and glitter, antique type and vintage lace, papier mache supplies and soldering irons they all jumped at the chance.
We made a terrific mess and ate too much chocolate, we laughed until the tears ran down our faces. When they left I realized I hadn’t worried about a deadline or glanced at my watch all afternoon. My neck wasn’t tight and my teeth weren’t clenched.
We can’t erase stress from our lives or throw out the crammed calendar, but we can build in spaces of time to snip some paper or solder a necklace. Time for creative play. Recess!
My book is out now and the calendar is too crammed. I think it’s time for another stress breaking afternoon. Time for recess again!
My name is Sharyn Sowell and you can find more of my artwork at www.SharynSowell.com
GIVEAWAY: Sharyn has graciously offered to giveaway one of her books. TO ENTER simply post your comment on her entry and we'll pull the winner out of a hat! Good Luck! This offer ends on November 19, 2009
When creating something, no matter what it is (a piece of jewelery or painting on canvas) remember to create it from your heart.
Don`t worry about the rules and what others say it should look like. Just follow your own instinct. Listen to your inner voice, that is the only rule you should follow.
When something is created with love, others will recognize it and reward it.
And even if they don`t ----it is a great way to fight stress in your life.--- And a great way of expressing your feelings and letting go of the past.
My name is Ana and I'm an artist who lives in Croatia and sells her art on Etsy called Moon Through The Fog. I create my art with both my heart and my mind and I do not limit myself with technical guidelines. Each piece of mine is a little story, and each story has a message.
I find inspirations in visual art, music, psychology, history etc...
Beside painting and photography, I also design handmade jewelry.
Kathy Peterson is a design and lifestyle expert, best selling author, TV personality and product developer who licenses her artwork with manufacturers. www.KathyPeterson.com
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