Santa's Workshop is in full swing!

I worked for a few hours in my studio today and thought I would share a few photos from my messy work bench. I looked around and had all these little faces staring back at me. I was just telling my friend Sharon yesterday that I have this beautiful work table made from a recycled door - it's a nice large space to work on BUT at the moment I have an 8" x 10" area that I can actually work on - supplies take up all the rest - time to clean it up! I'm very excited about some of the pieces that I have recently finished - I'd love to keep them for my own tree! I hope to actually make a few for myself!

Hard at work

I have been feeling great and working hard.  Over the past couple of days I've whipped up a batch of naked spun cotton ornaments - here's a photo of them hanging out in a bowl eagerly awaiting some love and a fresh coat of paint. Now I'm off to create a few Santas before I head down to the studio to paint. We'll all see you soon!

Almost back home!

I checked into the hospital this past Tuesday for my latest round of chemo. All is going well I am doing great and I will be back home on Saturday morning! Just in time - the debut of my Etsy shop has gone well with five sales since Sunday. I have been busy sketching and have some great ideas for Christmas. I can't wait to get home and get creating!

My Etsy shop is FINALLY open!!!!

I opened my Etsy shop in March of 2008 always hoping that I would have the time to create work to fill it - but it never happened until tonight!.......3 years later.  What do they say, better late than never?

I'm so excited and proud of myself - I have created a batch of funky art dolls and spun cotton ornaments that I am very happy with. Yeah my shop is open!  Now to market it...

Here are a few pictures of my fun creations.

When life chooses for you...

Well once again I am making an excuse for my absence from my blog and my artwork.

This time it's a bit more than my simple procrastination and I guess not really an excuse.  On July 29th, 2011, life chose a very different path for me. I hadn't been feeling well for about three months (fevers, fatigue and then eventually pneumonia) I figured it was time to do something about it. I found myself a new doctor (instead of going to the walk-in) and he started off by running a complete blood panel on me.  The results came back a few days later that I had Leukemia. I was yanked from my little world and placed into the not so friendly world of cancer.  July 29th, the very day, actually hours after finding out the diagnosis of Leukemia, I found myself in a room at Smilow Cancer Center at the Yale New Haven Hospital here in Connecticut - a room that I called home for the next 33 days. The girl who was only in the hospital her entire life for one week when she had her son spent the entire month of August in a hospital bed - culture shock!!  They wasted no time in starting my treatment for T-Cell ALL. Within those 33 days I completed a full round (Part A & Part B) of chemotherapy.

As I write this it is October 27th and I have completed 2 full rounds of chemo which marks my halfway point! I'm not blogging about this to whine, crab or complain only to share my experience. I have been so lucky and blessed ( I know that sounds funny given that it is cancer) -  but I have handled this situation with a very positive attitude- and I believe this has made all the difference! My body has tolerated the chemo very well and I suffer no nausea as a result of my treatments. I do rock a very snazzy bald head though. The good news is that I'm in remission with no signs of the Leukemia in my body!!! My chemo treatments will be finished in February and at that point I will start my march to be cancer free for 5 years. According to my doctor I am a boring patient!  Boring huh? - not a problem I will take it!

I am so very thankful to have the most amazing family and friends that have rallied around me with support and prayers - I would not be where I am without their love - I wish that everybody could be this lucky.  I find myself with a lot of free time on my hands and when I am feeling good I am happy to say that I am making ART!!!!!!  It feels amazing to be creating again - I will keep this blog updated with my new work so keep checking back in!!

Blog Shame...Empty Nest

I do I have an extreme case of blog shame.  It has been well over three months since I have last blogged. (sounds like I'm at confession)

Summer has been busy with work, weddings (my younger brother is getting married), my son is leaving in a few short weeks to head off to college (empty nest).  Empty Nest  - that brings up a good thought - my nest will be empty soon but I have great plans... I will fill it with creativity and art.  I have many projects on the horizon!!!  Please don't give up on me blog-world I will get better!

Willing Spring Along.......

Its bright & sunny here in Connecticut today but very windy with a crisp chill in the air.  I decided to take matters into my own hands - I needed a glimpse of spring. I found the most amazing teal green planter a few weeks back at Goodwill and I have been so excited to plant in it.  On Saturday our local garden shop, Mack & Twine, opened up for the season and my mother and I paid them a visit. I headed straight for the succulent section and grabbed a bunch of plants!  This morning I planted up my container - I'm so excited to have this little bit of spring on my coffee table in the living room.  Ahhhhhhh Spring - will you ever come?