Craft For Health

Creative Every Day Challenge by Leah

Creativity is an essential part of my mental health toolkit. Like many creative people, I'm a sensitive soul who has dealt with depression. One of the ways I've healed and continue to heal myself is through creating. I find when I'm feeling low or anxious, if I can turn to my creativity and pick up the paintbrush, I almost always feel better. 

Creating art is my way of expressing that which can't be expressed in words. I work in an intuitive way, so oftentimes when I start, I don't know what I'm going to create. I simply keep asking myself, "What color or material am I drawn to? What mark do I want to make?" and I go with the flow. When I work in this way, things that are floating around in my subconscious start to come to the surface, my chattering monkey-mind quiets, and I feel more connected to my spirituality. I love creating in this way because what happens is always a bit of a surprise and I feel a sense of relief afterwards.

 

Sometimes, when I'm feeling depressed, it can be hard to get going. I think that's part of why I started the Creative Every Day Challenge. It's a gentle approach with a broad idea of what creativity means, so I can keep involved in different creative projects even when my energy is low. I've also learned to embrace my creative cycles, knowing that there will be times when I'm totally inspired and creating a lot, and other times when I'm more quiet and taking in information. By accepting these cycles, I'm much less stressed when my productivity is slower, and I simply turn my attention to other things. 

I love how the Creative Every Day Challenge keeps creativity in the forefront of my mind each day. I've found that what I focus on expands, and by focusing on how I can live a creative life, I see opportunities and inspiration in everything I do. I also love the community that has built up around the challenge. I'm continually inspired by the work everyone involved is doing and seeing their work encourages me to stretch myself in new ways. 

 

I can't imagine my life without creating. It's an incredibly healing practice and there's always room to grow and learn within it. 

 

My name is Leah Piken Kolidas and I'm a mixed-media artist living near Boston, Massachusetts with my husband and o four fuzzy cats. Leah sells her artwork at BlueTreeArtGallery.com and blogs, teaches workshops, and runs creativity challenges at CreativeEveryDay.com. 

 

Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash your Inner Eccentric by Violette

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 Know I'll be Okay Doing Something Art Wise

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.  

www.joyartist.com

My Art Brings Me Comfort by Laurie

I love making beautiful things, whether it is sewing or painting. I have invested a good part of my life learning to paint in all kinds of mediums. 

I keep my art supplies close at hand, they bring me comfort.  Learning new techniques brings me the greatest joy.

 When I share them on my blog I receive such nice responses.  Selling my artwork is exhilarating. 

My name is Laurie and here's my blog address: http://lauriescharmingdesigns.blogspot.com/

Art can be Pulled Apart, Ripped Up and Started Over Again

Because most of our lives are almost totally out of our control, I believe that everyone should have something that can be done alone, almost anywhere, and with our own hands. 

 

Whether you paint, draw, sculpt, scrapbook, knit, macrame, crochet, or tat, your work is your own, and you have control.  If you don't like the work, pull it apart, rip it up, and start over.  Gardening is a particular subset of this activity category because it isn't portable.  It is similar,  however, because if you don't like the red one, you can pull it out and plant a pink one.  Unlike an illness, a chronic condition or a cranky in-law, none of which can be unwound or plucked out, your craft, art or garden is yours.

There are some limits, however. It would be wonderful if everyone had at least one portable version of his or her work, and I strongly recommend projects that can be picked up and put down without creating an artistic disaster.  Sadly, this eliminates 10x10-foot murals, lampworked beads, and potato sculpture, but every good idea has limitations.

I have had something in my hands since I was a small child, beginning with un-lamented Paint by Numbers in the 1950s.  I made lanyards at summer camp, and I have done embroidery, macrame, seed art, soft sculpture, cheerfully incompetent quilting, batik, and  needlepoint (Blue Ribbons in the Minnesota State Fair).  I am now a painter of nanoscapes, which are the source of an apparently unending amount of pleasure.  My first nanoscapes were painted on 3x5 cards.  Now many of them are much larger (22x33), but I always travel with brusher, paper and paint on palettes that fit into a makeup bag. Have paint, will travel.

Did any of this work cure an ailment? Probably not.  However, having work to do every day that gives me pleasure every day has certainly helped to keep me on an even keel throughout what most people consider trying times (death of my Dad, loss of a long-time job).

My name is Susan Gainen and you can see more of my work at www.susangainen-nanoscapes.com 

 

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.

 

I Spent an Entire Week Painting a Pineapple and I Felt Better

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

"Painting" with Fabric is my Therapy by Pat Sloan

 

I have always crafted something. From little shoe box dioramas as a child...  to sketching and stitching my quilts for my business ... my hands have itched to make things.

 Over the years I've tried many crafts... crochet, stained glass, garment making, painting and fiber arts. What I found is that fabric makes my heart sing. It did when I made clothing and now as a quilt maker. I always tell people that I 'paint' with fabric.

 

 But one does not live by fabric alone... it's WAY more fun to share the joy and hang out with like minded people! Almost all of my friends create and we love to talk and share. When we get together it's all about showing what we have made, asking for help on a project, or planning a new one. And of course we keep in touch by emailing all of that too!

 

 I'm a geek at heart (and by training!) so when the internet started up I was first in line to find my crafty soul mates. My quilt guild was very progressive and we had an email list, then I found some forums and from there my passion for online communities has soared. I've hosted many types of groups and the common factor is friendship and sharing about our crafting.. and about life. Because that is what friends are for. Then my internet communities expanded to included business friends.

 Make and creating feeds my soul in many ways. I will know if I have not spent enough time making something as I will feel crabby or unsettled. Getting out a project and making for the pure joy of it will set me back on track!

 

Thank you for the opportunity to share how much crafting has made my life richer!

... sign up for my email newsletter so you get the info when I send it out - at my shop http://www.patsloan.biz
... listen to my Radio Show! http://www.creativetalknetwork.com/
...Read my Daily Blog  - http://patsloan.typepad.com
...I have a nice Quilt Forum where you can meet lots of great quilt friends http://www.Quiltmashup.com
...I twitter http://twitter.com/QuilterPatSloan
... Join me at Facebook for some fun! http://www.facebook.com/PatSloanQuiltFun

Art to Help Stop Human Trafficking by Tori Higa

 

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.

Piper Always Painted a Smile on my Face

 

 

I lost my  little dog, Piper, from congestive heart failure 6 years ago.  His death hurt me deeply but strangely I had been unable to grieve for my little Piper at the time of his death because of my heavy travel schedule with the launch of a new product I had developed--going from show to show, city to city promoting the new line.  Poor excuse I know, but now as I write this story, I'm shedding long over due tears of grief from my loss----- yet I'm drawn more now to the happiness that little dog brought to my life--which paints a smile on my face. 

So I smile now thinking about how Piper was always a camera hog!  He loved having his picture taken! And he loved being on TV with me when I was asked to be a guest on other shows.   

 

He even became my co-star on my TV series--Town & Country Crafts with Kathy Peterson and co-hosted his own crafty how-to video called Pet Crafts.  Piper had his own fan base too...people would send him letters and pictures of their own pet's all decked out in the outfits I made for him on the show. 

Piper never minded posing in his little crafty outfits including a handmade tuxedo, star spangle star collar, dogie hats, angel wings and more!   And every Halloween, he would sit in my bicycle basket to go dogie trick or treating all decked out in his little halloween outfit I had made for him.  At every house we stopped at, people would smile and hand him a dogie treat. Crafting his little outfits was the best treat of all and great therapy for me.  

So now as I close this story, a few more tears fall down my face wishing Piper were still here with me and wishing I could hear him say "ma-ma-ma-ma".  To my sweet little Piper, mommy misses you but I always smile when I think of you.  You will always be my little man in a dog suit and you will always be in my thoughts.  And yes,  you still paint a smile on my face when I see your own little happy face.  In his memory, I hope to write a childrens book based on his happy life.

In Memory of Piper Peterson 1990-2004