Craft For Health

I Grieved the Loss of My identity as a Potter by Sue Duda

With a Bachelors Degree in Art, specializing in pottery, I began my career as an artist in 1976.  I created functional and decorative pottery, ambitiously for 22 years.

Inspired by the ocean, scuba diving and snorkeling adventures, I began to draw fish in the 1980’s.  I still created pottery while my collection of colored pencil drawings and acrylic watercolor paintings grew, to the point of naming my artwork “Ocean Dudes by Duda”. 

During my pottery years, I didn’t know I had Rheumatoid Arthritis! I consumed Ibuprofen 24/7 to cope with pain.  I accepted pain as part of my life, as I worked slumped over a potter’s wheel and mixed all my clay and glazes from scratch, lifting 50 pounds of clay or lifting heavy kiln shelves.  Drawing was easier on my back, wrists and hands, than my work as a stoneware potter. Although I grieved the loss of my identity as a potter, eventually I realized I did not have to give up being creative. I just needed to be creative in a different way. Drawing enabled me to experience the cheerfulness of color, without pain.

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis Can't Stop Me--I'm all on the Canvas by Cyndi

Several years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. As an artist who uses her hands to draw, paint and craft I was devastated. All I could think of was my great aunts crippled hands that were barely usable. Over the next few years I learned a great deal about RA, the medications that I could take, how stress and activity affect me, and how to deal with the pain.

 

I have learned to deal with RA through my art. I am a type A personality all the way. I’m either going 150 mph or 0, and the 0 usually happens when I finally go to sleep! My friends and family are always telling me to relax. What they don’t realize is that when I work on my art, I am relaxing. Recently I found a way to combine two of my passions, painting and pets, by putting them on canvas. I feel so blessed that I am able to do what I love, work at home, and make money too.

 

 

My name is Cyndi and I paint Pet Portraits and I'm a graphic designer. Designs can be purchased in my store or you can order a custom design of your own pet.

Grandpa's Craft For Health too!

A number of years ago, my hands started to hurt. As I was in my late 50s, I was naturally concerned that I might have arthritis.  So I asked my doctor, and he sent me to an orthopedist. When the orthopedist walked in to the examining room where I was waiting for him, I was tatting a cross that eventually went to a grandson-in-law.

The doctor said, "I don't know what you're doing, but don't stop!"

So, you could make the case that I'm under doctor's orders to keep on tatting. An order that I religiously follow nearly every day.

That, along with keeping active generally has kept the relatively mild arthritis I have in check, and I can report that only a few twinges remind me that I do have it.

I know it's hard to tell people that you have to keep moving. I realize that that is not the only secret in fighting the disease, but it's a big part of it in my case.

So, if you're tatting, the Doctor says, "Don't stop!"

Don Swearingen

My Crafts Helps Keep The Pain and Stress Away From My Many Disabilities

I just read an article that John Sanpietro sent me from Artisans monthly. I was very pleased to see your spot to show your artwork and talk about your health set backs. I've been an artist over over forty years, I have RA, Fibromyalgia, Chemical Sensitivities, Allergies, Asthma and  a few extra health problems thrown in for a little extra kick.'

 

I have art training, but with my medical disabilities I have not been able to work outside the home for over ten years. I paint mixed media, and watercolor. I also do paper-crafting, scrapbooking, fabric art, sewing and embroidery when my hands work well enough. I love to create, it is my passion in life. When I "lost" in my artwork I feel less stress and pain. I'd like to be "lost" all the time.

 

I sell Stampin' Up! and have just started an Etsy store, it is my only means of work. Thank goodness my husband works.  Best wishes,  Sarah Miller

www.stetlerarts.stampinup.net
http://stetlerarts.blogspot.com

Join my Team and make money by doing something fun!
My SU code is : Stetler09