RED WHITE & BLUE!

 

Happy Independence Day!

Celebrate the Red, White & Blue!  I'm a little late due to parties but it's good to celebrate our great country any time!

My favorite colors for my kitchen have always been Red, White and Blue!  I remember in my other house I suggested a red kitchen and some people said that was "a stupid color for a kitchen", needless to say I did it anyway, I painted all the walls red with white trim, and white cupboards which I filled with blue  and white fancy teacups and my very special blue glass (cobalt) most of them are packed away until I find room for them. (hence the display cabinet being built!) ....someday it will be finished..  *sigh* 

This is a gorgeous table runner that my friend Noreen Strautin- quilter!  If you click on it you'll see the details in her work. She made is specially for me with only my color requests. 

This is a few of my pieces (photo taken this past winter).

 

 

The cabinet close to finish!  Almost 8 months! Yikes!

 

 

Here is some more blue...  Beautiful pansies in my garden.

 

 

 

 

 

One last picture of one of a blue grackle of the grab and eat crew!                                       Thank upi fpr stopping by.  If you leave a comment I can come by and visit you!

The Adverse Effects Of Lupus

This is just one of the effects of Lupus.

 
This is just one of the effects of Lupus.

So many people don't understand Lupus and it's devastating effects, myself and the doctors. I am slowly writing about some of my experiences with it. For me one of the most devastating effects has been the deterioration of my hands. It started out as a stiffness then I noticed some of my fingers started snapping and then they were slanting into each other. I tried using some silver ring splints and they helped for awhile.

 

They gave me a brace for my right hand and that helped me be able to go on working and doing my art, then the left hand got worse and now the second brace. As you can see in the second picture the ligaments are gone in the right hand and going in the left. Recently the OT gave me some exercises to help my muscles since using the brace has made them weak. This week the knuckles have disappeared because of swelling and typing makes it worse, I probably made it worse by too much exercising of them too.. I am afraid of loosing the use of my fingers altogether and not being able to create again. I'm giving them a break this week because they hurt just too much and am hoping and praying that by next week some of the swelling will have gone down.

Lupus has effected not only my joints and the connected tissues but my intestines, my eyes and and mouth with Sjogrens Syndrone (related to Lupus) Then there is the damage that all the medications I'm on is doing to my liver, kidneys and heart (now have high blood pressure) damage to the retina in my eye and Osteoporosis. I'm on the same medications that was used It's sad that this disease does not get the attention and funding that some of the other diseases get.

It's hard for people to understand because to look at me you wouldn't know all this is going on, and on the real bad days I stay in, sometimes it's a long period. Even so..I'm still trying to create. I'm looking for and trying different ways and things to assist me in creating. Just last week I signed up for Jude Hill's Spirit Cloth quilting class! I know..I'm a glutton for punishment but I'll try it.

I think the hardest part is not knowing how bad t his will get. Will I become a body with dangling appendages?

I'm writing this to bring attention to it but also to explain why I sometimes disappear for long periods and hope people don't give up on my blog..or my art. Any art I do I will price according because I do very little now and some pieces I won't sell, but will sell prints of it. I know God has a plan for me and if it isn't with my fingers then something else..I just have to remember that.

Pink Saturday

Hi! Welcome to Pink Saturday! My name is Judy and I'm here to serve you. : )

Beverly from How Sweet the Sound started Pink Saturdays. Please visit her blog. This is my first one. (Pink Saturday that is) I hope you like it.

So first..a cozy cup of hot tea, in of course a pink tea cup! Enjoy my pink roses from this summer. The small ones smell like apple and the larger ones are from a bush over 100 years old.

The china was my grandmother Welch. And who wouldn't like a bit of dessert?

A yummy 3 layer pound cake with whipped cream frosting and fresh strawberries! (Recipe is Stop & Shop!)

But it sure is good!

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to stop by How Sweet the Sound Beverly's and you'll find a whole bunch of Pink Saturday blogs! I would love it if you would leave a comment if you enjoy this! I have another blog if you would like to read more about me.

http://jmkoriginals.typepad.com/jmkoriginals_art_paths/

 

  Art Doll Quarterly did a wonderful job putting together my DIY article "Jewel of the Sea" I put up a couple of pages but there are 4 with the instructions.

 

                              cover      table of contents       pages 66 and 67

I hope you try this magazine, its filled with wonderful imaginative dolls.  If you decide you want to make my mermaid, I hope the instructions are clear...they were clear to me but then again..I wrote them! lol!  I have to admit at first I was overwhelmed when I was asked to write the article and never thought I could write enough words..well I did and probably too many but to make the directions clear I thought it needed this much.  To all of you who make art dolls or anything else for that matter..take the plunge and send it in to a magazine (following their submission policies)  I didn't think my work was good enough and after years I got the courage to send in my first doll (that was rejected but they visited my blog and liked what they saw, so I say.."Go for it!"

I'm making an album on my side bar with more pictures of the doll in progress to help any of you, and in the future I may be printing up faces on fabric for sale for those of you who aren't comfortable in painting your own face. Check back for updates on that.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

Artful Blogging ~Star~ Izabella's Blue

Lookee looke! Look who is an Artful Blogging star! And they gave her 5 pages! (2 1/2 spreads!)
It is our own sweet Bella! our founder here and owner of Izabella's Blue Yaaay! I don't remember how long it's been because my memory is bad but when I first became aware of altered art and ATCs and started blog surfing, I discovered Izabella's art. It is so unique and with a sadness that drew me in. Her blog, which is a whole experience to visit..fascinated me so much that I decided I wanted to have a new blog. I had started another one but had trouble with it. Bella being fairly new to Typepad herself guided me ..sometimes having to literally spell it out for me! lol! But due to her patience and friendship I finally "got it".
Now...she is featured in Artful Blogging! Congratulations Izabella!

Milk Weed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

I just discovered this dreamy blog from the magazine Artful Blogging! She sews the most beautiful clothing (love the children's pictures!) I love this skirt and guess what! it's a Milk Weed Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Another Blog

Don't forget to check on my other blog at:
http://jmkoriginals.typepad.com/

I'm going to try to keep both of them up if I can. I'd been working on a couple of pieces to send in to Stampington to see if they would publixh either of them. I've never sent anything in so I'm a little nedrvous. I was advised not to show it because of it has been out they may not use it. They still may not but I finally got my courage up.

Now what should I do about the b logs. Should I make one for certain types of my art and my other for something different....or carry both but update evedryday things differently? I know many of you have several blogs..what do you do?

I wonder if I could just put a little section...hmmm.I better not. I wouldn't want to ruin a chance to be in any of those awesome publications.

I Quit! I've been trying to put my code in for my playlist and ...I can;t seem to get it..I'll try later..

Ron's Operation today

Today Ron is being operated on. Our prayers are with him and JoAnna. I'm waiting to hear how it all went...I can't imagine how I would feel but I know God is with them and that gives me peace.

Help JoAnnA and Ron- Mosshillstudios

This is a letter from my friends JoAnnA and her husband Ron, they are asking for prayer, I'm asking for your help. There is a widget on the left if you find it in your heart to do so. If you can't we still ask for prayer. Prayer is mighty. They are beautiful people, a lot of you already know JoAnnA, if you don't, go to her blog and you can see what kind of beautiful person she is and her husband is a sweetheart. ...thank you, Judy

Dear Friends,

I write with a desperate request for prayer for Ron. As you may already know, they have found a massive brain tumor in Ron's brain stem. We were told yesterday that Ron has about a month to live without surgery. This is devastating news, to say the least, but our God is a very big God.

We are in the process of trying to get aide through our county so that Ron can go to UCSF (San Francisco) to have his surgery. We are told it will take a week to be approved which at the moment seems like eternity.

Please pray that God will protect Ron. His tumor is pressing on the fourth ventricle, and if it closes up completely, he could not survive.
Please pray that those at social services will see Ron as a human being, and not a number, that they will expedite his coverage.
Please pray that Ron gets the best doctor (neurosurgeon) possible.
Please pray we will figure out how to do SF with the dogs and all.
Please pray for our families who are really upset and scared too.
Please pray that God will give us His peace that surpasses all understanding and trust in Him.

Thank you so much for your support in prayer.

With love,
joanna

One World- One Heart event

My One World-One Heart event is at my other blog for now please stop by!

JMKoriginals

Which Place to call Home?

I've had this blog for awhile but to be honest trying to keep up with two blogs and a life is hard (for me anyway) so I'm going to try this one and my otyher one to seewhich I like the best then top one of them. This is where I've been. http://jmkoriginals.typepad.com/

I've had other things going on too be am getting back to my art. Yaaay!

Assemblog of Michael deMeng: Steampunk

Assemblog of Michael deMeng: Steampunk

Have you heard about Steampunk? I'm just finding out what it is all about and it is sooo cool! You have to check out Michael's blog to read more about it!
I would LOVE to make something in this style!

Check my other blog to see what I have up on ebay! Three new cards! JMKoriginals

ONE World-ONE Heart Event ~Giveaway!

ONE World-ONE Heart Event

The 2nd annual ONE World-ONE Heart Event hosted by Lisa Oceandreamer of Heart of the Nest, starting Feb.1 - Feb 14 and everyone participating will be giving something away on their blog.
I am just getting the hang of blogging and hope to keep this one better updated but for now go to my other blog for my giveaway! I hope you like my surprise!!.JMKoriginals

Check out my Slide Show!

Blog Home

Well...it's been a long time. I started several blogs trying to see which ones I liked best and I've neglected this one for a long time.

Been busy making art for an Art Fair in November so you can see why I haven't been on line much. I've tried to update my other one at http://jmkoriginals.typepad.com/jmkoriginals_art_paths/
That's where my most recent art pieces. Here is a picture of my last one I completed.

I'm doing a "work in Progress" over there now but I hope to do another one here too.

Mr. Server Man

I was so enspired by Michael deMeng's awesome work that I made Mr. Server Man which sold this week. He was a lot of fun to make. I bought a bunch of anatomy dolls from

Outside the Margins

to try, I have so many ideas in my head! Here is Mr. Server Man!

"Life Goes On"

As I was reminiscing the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 I was looking through the newspapers and magazines I saved. In one of the magazines was a black and white photo..but no it wasn't, it was a color photo but everything was either black or shades of grey. People walking down the street coming from Ground Zero were covered in ash. It had the same effect on me it did that day in September of 2001.

I decided to make an art doll that represents the the spirit of survival and moving on with life. My lady is called "Life Goes On". Around the base is written "She wore her heart on her sleeve and bears the fruit of her love". In her hand is a miniaturized copy of a Sept.12th 2001 newspaper and a small plaque reads "Hope". On one side of head is a large hole with cob webs of thoughts. I hope you enjoy seeing her and feel what I felt as I looked at the grey people on Sept. 11th.

She is 20" tall and is made with fabric, wood, clay and paper mache. She has a textured surface representing all she had to go through and her dress is stiffened fabric representing her strength.

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