First, an update on the wrist. I’m weaning off of the wrist splint and doing some strengthening exercises. As I type this, I have no splint on. It makes typing MUCH easier! I am able to write better, draw again, and create. Cutting fabric is much easier without a splint in the middle of your hand!

Painted journal cover for Victoria

I did some sewing to keep myself sane during this whole thing. Nothing major. Just some fooling around with the machine. When we were in Boston in January, I spent some time with my friend’s daughter, Victoria. I showed Victoria, a budding young artist, my sketchbook. She was excited to learn about how I used it and so I offered to get one together for her. One of the projects I worked on was a journal cover for Victoria. I decided that since she’s still only 7, it might be nice for her to have a cover that can be used over again and the journal itself can be replaced. I found a 5″ x 7″ 140# Cold Press watercolor journal, and I made  a cover for it out of fabric that I had painted. With the wrist problems, it took a long time and I finally completed the journal cover yesterday! I’m happy with the results and will put it in the mail tomorrow. I hope Victoria likes it!

In the midst of the wrist issue, I had some other health issues. I’ve talked before about my chronic illness on this blog, but rarely about things that are not related to that. Well, these issues are not related to my chronic illness, but to just being a woman in my 40s. Women’s stuff. Basically, I am having a hysterectomy on March 18th. This is a decision I am completely comfortable with. For over a year, we have tried to manage my symptoms with medications and this is no longer working. It is time for a more permanent solution. Adding to this decision is that I am also part of a family that has a history of ovarian cancer, so while the surgeon is in there, I’m going to have her remove my ovaries. Better safe than sorry. The surgery is scheduled to be laparoscopic, assuming all looks good when the doctor gets in there. We’re hopeful that it will be an easy surgery.

Six weeks after the surgery, I expect to be “released” from my restrictions. A few days later, we are actually heading out to Europe. Dave has been asked to speak in Venice, Italy at a conference. Last year, wen we were in France for another conference, we talked about our wishes to go to Italy this year. Well, life is pretty amazing. and it’s like the Universe heard our wish and it was granted! We are going for two weeks, and, because it is so soon after my surgery, we’re planning a relaxing trip. We’re just going to focus on Norther Italy – Lake Como area, Venice, Florence, and Milan. We do expect to go back at some point in the next few years, so we’re saving Rome and Tuscany for that time. I know myself well enough to know that I would push myself in Rome. Florence will already be pushing it, since it is toward the end of our trip, but I won’t miss seeing the David statue and the Duomo.

So, since my surgery is a week away, I’ve been preparing for the trip. Dave and I spent time booking hotels, renting a car, scheduling flights, ordering my allergy translation card, updating our passports… All the things you need to do before a trip. Our itinerary is set, but leaves us some room for day trips and such. Now, I just need to learn some Italian phrases so I can get around, order food, and ask for a bathroom!

So there you have it, my update. I hope to have some drawings or other art to share with you soon.

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Me, Aunt Millie and Aunt Ann

It’s taken me a while to write this entry. This morning I received a call from my Aunt Ann that my Aunt Millie (“Millie from Philly”) passed away last night. Aunt Millie was over 85 years young and had lived a very full life. She traveled all over the world and soaked in life. In the past few years, Aunt Millie was plagued by pulmonary disease. She had survived breast cancer and colon cancer. She lived her life to the fullest and she made so many people happy. I was among them. She was truly a special lady.

In the past few months, Aunt Millie had been in pain, though she told only a few people. She hid it from me, though she did not hide that she was missing the quality of her life and that she was very tired. She could no longer leave the apartment alone and this forced her to be less social. For a very social person, this was a blow. We shared coping strategies for conserving energy and living with chronic illness.

I know she’s no longer suffering and that’s what I remind myself every time the waves of sadness come. I’ve allowed myself to smile remembering her in younger days when, over 20 years ago, I spent all vacations and holidays with her. Millie was a unique woman, with friends everywhere she went. It was a blessing to have her in my life. My grandmother knew what she was dong when she left us to her. The world is a better place for having Millie as a part of it and my life has been richer from having her in it.

You will be remembered and greatly missed, Aunt Millie.

The good news is that I’m feeling well. I’m exercising regularly, making sure I’m ready for all the walking we’ll do in France. And, happily, I’m also finally shedding some of the pounds and inches that have been bugging me for a while. I’m also sleeping better, which has always been a by-product of regular exercise for me. Though, to be honest, I’m happiest when I try on a top or pair of shorts that are loose, where they either were a bit tight or are fit perfectly. I bought two new pairs of shorts in April and both are a bit loose. I couldn’t be more pleased!

I’ve been practicing my French, though I am sure I will not be near fluent in it. I can translate the jist of the written word, but hearing the words and understanding them is a challenge. Even with the Baha, it’s still an issue with my hearing. It’s one thing to listen to English and to understand because I can make a few good guesses to figure out the words by the context and with the clues of the sounds. With French, it’s going to be a challenge. I suppose it will just add to the excitement of the visit. At least, that’s what I hope!

I’ve been doing some art, but I have not been inspired to do anything in particular. It’s too hot out and the ozone warnings are too high for me to just go and sit and draw. I am working on a painting that I started a year ago that I finally had the courage to start working on again… You know how it is: You get to a point in it and you’re afraid you’ll ruin it. Well, I’m done with worrying. I just dove in. I don’t have a clear vision of where it’s going, but I’m letting it flow. It’s how I prefer to work, anyway. I’ll try to post a photo of it in-process later this week. It’s different for me.

In addition, I do have my CreativeTherapy catalysts to work on and I’ve been doing that. Tonight there will be a catalyst posted along with the artwork from the team, so that’s something for you to check out later today. I’m trying to get the next month’s done in the next two weeks, since I’ll be gone for three of them and then I am sure I’ll have the usual post-travel fatigue.

I’ve also been doing a lot of reading. I just finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl which was quite intriguing. I studied English and American Literature in college and along with it learned a lot about British history. This series by Philippa Gregory has me hooked! I’m now reading the book that came before it, The Constant Princess, which is the story of Katherine of Aragon. I’ve always liked historical fiction, so it makes me happy to read a series like this that attempts to get into the minds of the women who were a part of the history. I know how women were used to build alliances, improve a family’s station in life, etc. It’s quite interesting to read these from the woman’s perspective and to see how the author really makes them heroes for what they did, rather than as subservient pawns in the game. The author shows them as women with ambition, as well.

Dave has been on call this week, so it’s been a hectic week for him. It used to be that June and July were quieter in Phoenix because the Winter Visitors (snowbirds) would head north. Not so this summer. It seems as busy as it was in the winter. But we’re doing fine with it. Unfortunately, Friday evening, my MIL called that my FIL was having some tachycardia again. His pulse was at 150. This is the second time in a month that this has happened. When she called, she had already called 911 and the ambulance was on the way. Dave went and met them at the hospital. Luckily, his heart reverted to its normal rhythm and Dave drove them home. He got in at around 2 am on Saturday morning. Poor guy was tired all day.

So now Dave is rounding at the hospital and will call when he’s headed home. I’m going to have a protein shake and then exercise. When Dave calls, I’ll be ready to go. We’ll go to visit his parents and have lunch with them and see how they’re faring. I hope you all have an awesome Sunday!

We had a lovely day together. Dinner at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion was lovely. Great service, fresh, fabulous food. And they were so wonderful to make up a dessert plate that wished us both a happy anniversary and Dave a happy birthday. You see, Dave married me the day before his birthday. So, when we celebrate we celebrate both.

As you already know, I’ve had some major vertigo going and, a really difficult few weeks. I was finally feeling better Friday afternoon, and I took the time to work on some projects for Dave. Luckily, Dave had poker on Friday evening and I was able to work into the evening without him knowing! You may recall an early post of the first collages I did for Dave’s office. The one that was missing was the collage of the nervous system. Since Dave is a neurologist with a specialty in nerve and muscle disease, this is a rather important image for him to have. However, the source images were not working for me. After many hours with Photoshop Elements, I was able to alter the images enough to make them look more artistic and recognizable. The nervous system alone, well, let’s just say it’s got its beauty, but it’s not really something to collage!

In the end, however, the collage above left 20″ x 16″ came out of the work. I’m pleased with it. It’s a bit darker than I’d like, but it completes Dave’s set and he is pleased with it. That, in the end, is all that matters! And, to the right, you see a long collage I did for him with lots of images of the brain. It’s very bright (red is his favorite color!) and I’m pleased with how it came out. Dave will likely put this one in his exam room or his procedure room with the small collage to the left, an 8″ x 10″ small collage.

I have a lot more to share, but we’re getting ready to head out for lunch to celebrate Dave’s birthday with his parents.

Eliana attends a Jewish Day School, where she learns Hebrew and Jewish traditions as part of her daiy curriculum. She picks up languages easily and reads Hebrew really beautifully. As part of the Passover Seder, the youngest person in attendance customarily reads “The Four Questions” about why we celebrate Passover as we do. For over 15 years, I have been the youngest in the Saperstein family. Now, however, Eliana has taken over that role. She read the Questions beautifully in Hebrew, bringing tears of pride to my MIL’s eyes.

While here, Eliana requested two things of Auntie Fran and Uncle Dave – to learn some art from Auntie Fran and to learn some magic from Uncle Dave. We happily obliged. Eliana spent time with Uncle Dave learning to do the “rice paper” trick. If this works right, you should see a video of their trick in tandem!

The other thing she wanted to do was to paint. And, while I don’t have photos of painting with her, I do have a photo of her finished painting. We started with a background. She decided to use blues and greens because she was going to paint a mermaid. While the background was drying on the canvas panel, we drew faces on watercolor paper and cut them out (similar to the style of Katie Kendrick’s work!) and then we glued those on. I taught Eliana a light touch with the paint. And she did a fabulous job. To the right is her mermaid with shell top, long torso, and great green tail and fins! She has a light iridescence all over her body and face from iridescent gold and silver paint. I think she did a lovely job!

To be honest, I was surprised that Eliana was so focused for the two hours we
painted the first day. While she painted, we talked about all kinds of things – how the colors got their names (as she read them from the paint tubes), how much fun it was to spend time together painting, and some things to surprise Papa for his birthday when she comes back in December.

On the day before they left, Eliana, her mother Andrea, and I went for a “girls day” at the nails shop where i get my nails done. I had gotten Andrea’s permission to get Eliana a kid mani-pedi, where they would just file her nails and paint them the colors of her choice. Eliana chose four different colors to use and also wanted flowers on her toes and fingers. Crystal, the nail technician was so fabulously good with her! Eliana actually sat for a long time not wanting her manicure and pedicure to be ruined, while her mother and I had mani-pedis ourselves! I took a photo of her patiently sitting with her nails while Crystal added flowers to her toes. We’re already planning to do it again next time she comes!

I am so honored to have such a strong connection with Eliana. My aunts were so important in my life and I can’t even begin to express their roles in my life. I hope I can be a support to her the way my aunts have always been to me.

Though the visit exhausted me and I did spend some time in bed while they were here, I miss Eliana dearly. My heart is full of the memories of our week together and her sweet hugs. Her drawings surround me and I know how fast the time will pass until I see her again, but I miss seeing that pretty face each morning!

First, we met for a great dinner at Lockwood, the restaurant in Joanne’s hotel, The Palmer House. I went up to Joanne’s room and we exchanged gifts. FUN! Joanne loved the tote I made for her and said she would definitely use it! She gave me a fantastic doll pin that represented each of us and a fun tote from Target that features spoons! How apropos! We had a lovely dinner and planned to meet the next morning for breakfast at my hotel.

Tuesday morning we met for a long leisurely breakfast. We talked non-stop! And then we went to the Chicago Art Institute. Because Joanne is a member, we were able to see the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer exhibits without tickets. I had my walker, so we had to find our way through the maze of elevators and floors. I suppose a map would have helped, but neither of us picked up one. The fabulous docents and guards were very willing to help.

We enjoyed both exhibits, but were both pretty tired from standing so long. And, well, we can both always eat! So, we went to the Garden Cafe in the museum for a lovely lunch. We both splurged and had dessert – I had coconut sorbet (YUMMY!) and Joanne had some fabulous-looking ice cream with chocolate sauce. We sat and talked for quite a while and then both decided we were “museumed out”! So we went to the gift shop. It is always fun to walk through museum gift shops. We had fun, but suddenly, I became quite tired. I purchased my gift for Angie and we headed back outside to catch a taxi to my hotel.

We sat in the hotel and talked, waiting for Dave to complete his day of meetings. He came in around 4:30 and we had 5 pm reservations at a lovely little Italian restaurant within a short walk of the hotel, Volare. It was a great meal and very affordable. I highly recommend it. All three of us enjoyed our food!

From there, we grabbed another taxi and wen to see Wicked. Now, for those of you who don’t know, The Wizard of Oz is my FAVORITE movie of all time. Wicked came to Phoenix, but was completely sold out in a short time, so I didn’t get to go. When I found out it was playing in Chicago, I emailed Joanne from my Palm Centro and asked if she was interested in seeing it with Dave and me. We were so lucky to get Center Orchestra tickets! I got an FM receiver from the Auditorium so I didn’t miss a thing. That, combined with my Baha, made for a great experience! If you get a chance to see the musical, do! It’s funny, filled with lots of great dancing, costumes and satire. And the music is so much fun!

The next morning, I met Joanne at her hotel. Our plan was to have breakfast and then to go to the Blick Art Materials across the street from her hotel. It called to us. We had no choice but to visit this two-story art materials mecca. We had so much fun that an hour quickly passed! Joanne was able to get a bunch of Golden’s products she needed for her Art & Soul classes. I was able to find a few things I couldn’t live without that could easily slip into my suitcase! We went back to her hotel to drop off her bounty, sat in the lobby and talked, and then went to a nice long lunch.

I walked back to her hotel with her and we said our good-byes. It was a lovely time, especially knowing that Joanne is coming to Art Unraveled in August, so we will have more time together soon. It was a fabulous time, as we both knew it would be. I’m still amazed at how friendships can become so incredibly strong over the Internet and then can blossom into “real life” friendships.

Wednesday evening, Dave and I went to dinner at Shula’s in our hotel. We were both tired and wanted to have a quiet dinner, which we did. We both needed a good night’s sleep, since Thursday was our travel day and Dave had an early breakfast meeting.

Thursday morning, I slept late while Dave went to his meeting, and then I took some time to draw. I hadn’t taken much time to draw while Joanne was there, since we had so much to share!I was definitely ready to return home. The flight was pretty bumpy, but I didn’t get sick – a huge victory!

I added in some pictures I drew while i was in Chicago. They’re really quite simplistic, but it felt good to have a pen in my hands and to truly observe things. I don’t think I’d have noticed the fabulous columns that make up the Wrigley building without observing it to draw.

Today I’m preparing for our family to visit for Passover. My 7-year-old niece, Eliana, is coming to visit with her parents. We’re having two Seders here at the house. We’ll bring my FIL and MIL over for them and for other days during the week. I’ll be doing art with Eliana! She wants me to teach her some things. I’m happy to oblige! Uncle Dave will teach her some magic tricks, too. It will be a fabulous week, if I can keep track of my spoons!

I’ve, of course, started to feel some of the fatigue that undoubtedly comes with the treatment, but so far, I’m doing OK. I have been taking easy this weekend – lots of movies, iTunes, reading and, maybe, some drawing.

I did quite a bit preparing for this and the trip. I had a lot of little things on my to-do list that I needed to just get to! On Wednesday, I was able to repair the 53-year-old wedding album of my MIL and FIL’s wedding. During the move, the already frail book lost the top of the posts. I was so happy to find long 3″ posts and 1/4″ extensions at California Paper Goods. That’s what was needed to stabilize the pages. The side of binding of the book needed repair, to. I used bookbinding cloth from The Paper Studio to reinforce it on the inside.

Thursday Angie loaned me her copy of the new special issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studios. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting! It was so wonderful to see how other artists organize their spaces, how the work within them, how they decorated them, and the amount of space they have (or don’t have!). I was inspired and wanted to immediately take some of the ideas I got from Studios and put it into action. I pulled out my Color Mists and I added color to some paper mache torsos in the studio that have been plain and saved for far too long. I added color to them and I used them to decorate. (Click on the photo to the left to see the annotated version that explains what everything is!

In addition, I added some color to a wine crate with the Color Mists, too. And then I added some of my artwork and pieces that have been given to me to this area. Click on the photo to the right for an annotated version.

I also grabbed the hammer and some nails and I started to hang some things that have been just sitting on shelves. Mostly, artwork that hasn’t yet sold. I will take photos of that at another time.

Yesterday we planned our trip to Europe. Instead of spending three weeks, we decided to just spend two. We are going to go to France only, instead of gong to both France and England. There is so much we want to see in France and we want to relax and enjoy our time. We will spend 8 days in Paris, drive through Provence, and and head to Nice for the rest of our stay. Or at least, that’s what we’re planning as of now!

When we uncovered these, I knew that I had to do something to honor the work in them and to allow them to be displayed. It took a while, but I finally decided that was time to work on them about six months ago. I created small hanging quilts of these hand-embroidered dish towels. They each hang individual and they have minimal but highlighting stitching and quilting on them. The goal was for them to be displayed, rather than hidden in a linen closet.

As embroidery is so tactile, I did not want to just put them in a frame where they’d be stuck behind glass. I knew quilting was the answer. However, putting them together in one quilt without major cutting was not possible and I wanted to find a way to honor the individual designs. After laying them out, I decided that the best way to display them was through individual quilts that would hang among family photos.

To create some stability, I used Warm & Natural batting inside of them and I sewed skewer inside the top fold of each of the small quilts so that they could hang up. Finally, I added a plastic-covered jump ring with to each with some hand stitching. The construction of them is simple, but it honors the hours of work that Sarah put into

Today, I gave the gift of five of these quilts to my MIL. She was thrilled. She had known that I was doing something with them, but had no idea what I had come up with. I was so glad she liked them. It was an honor to work with some of our family’s history and to preserve it in a way that the detail can still be appreciated.

We went to lunch and then came back. While they were cruising, I spent some time organizing and scanning family photos. When they moved from Massachusetts, they brought with them folders, boxes and old magnetic (aka photo destroyers!) photo albums. I was determined to rescue what I could. I spent a lot of time working on just that and I presented them with the first of what I suspect will be three albums filled with photos. In addition there are larger photos that I’ve unearthed that are in frames and others that need new frames. These along with the super secret project I’m working on, will provide them with a wall of family photos and other goodies!

When we returned home from our day of visiting, I went straight to “Napland”. I had no choice but to nap. And it was a GOOD nap!

Yesterday, we had our monthly Cochlear Awareness Network Volunteer luncheon. It was my first day driving in about two weeks and my first outing alone since the treatment. I was feeling great in the morning and I took my time to shower, dress, and put on make-up. Then I sat for a while and read email. The goal was conserve my spoons. I also left early so I did not get stressed about the drive. It was a bit of a drive from the house. So, I went and arrived without any problems. I got out of the car and walked up to the front of the Sweet Tomatoes where were all meeting. Just as I was about to get to the door, I lost my balance and fell – hard. Lucky for me, I have learned over the years not to use my face or my hands to stop my fall. I landed squarely on my right knee. I recovered quickly and stood up, walking into the restaurant. I did not look at my knee, but I knew it was going to be black and blue and swollen. Later I found I was right on the money… I have a very sore knee with lots of pretty colors on it!

I stayed through the luncheon, where I met several other volunteers and some of the staff from Cochlear. I was the only person with a baha implant. The rest have cochlear implants, even most of the staff! I will likely be doing more work for Cochlear coming up. I really do enjoy it. It’s a great way for me to get out and help others with hearing impairments.

And, I got home fine. No problems. I had hoped to stop at the health food store or some thrift stores, but after the fall and two hours of socializing, I knew I couldn’t do that. I had to get home. And so, I did. And not a moment too soon. I almost fell again in the studio. So, I’m using the quad cane right now. That’s OK. I’m not having vertigo, just some imbalance.

Last night, my darling husband, Dave, came home with some fun mail for me. Connie had made these awesome spoon earrings for me. And the timing of their arrival could not have been better! The card reads, “You can never have enough spoons.” Isn’t that amazing timing? To the left you can see these beauties!

And today, I’m feeling much better. I had a dental appointment today. I have had some difficulty with my front teeth. See, two of my incisors never grew in. Their absence bothered me for most of my life, since the canines stood out and looked like fangs. I had porcelain veneers placed on them about 12 years ago. Well, like anything else, they wore out. And, to be honest, though they were the best that dentistry had to offer at the time, they were always HUGE and they always caught whatever green veggie I had eaten last. (Not a pretty sight!) So, since it was time and I’d had some problems with my two front incisors wearing off due to the veneers on the teeth next to them, we went ahead and did new porcelain veneers on all four teeth. Three weeks ago, this started, and the temporaries were amazing, but I was excited for today. I got the permanent teeth today. A better shot of them is to the right!

I didn’t do much after the dental work today, except to come home and catch up on blogs and to conserve my energy. I am doing some drawing, but nothing is finished enough for me to share it. I will share some later in the week. Signing off for now!