It has taken me a long time to begin this blog. I have read Where Women Create, Artful Blogging...all of those publications and always admired everything I see in them. I consider myself an Artist, however, I'm pretty sure most of my family and close friends don't think so. My "stuff" has always been "Nancy's current project" or "Nancy's new thing she's trying". I have sold several pieces via Ebay and other areas...yet it doesn't appear that I am a serious "Artist" to most. Trying to "fix" this way of thinking (After you get to know me you will find I am the "Fixer"... )I have begun calling my craft area Workshop Area...and when someone comments on my artwork, I actually call it my artwork. Subtle changes, I'm thinking...or Raindrops Make a Flood?
Originally, I created this account back in September 2010. I was all set to start a new phase of my life. My daughter was in Cosmetology school and I was teaching (music) privately. I had a lot of downtime so I thought a blog, then Etsy and then a website!!! Unfortunately, life has a funny way of rearranging your priorities sometimes.
At the end of September my Dad was diagnosed with a very rare type of cancer. It was a Sarcomatoid Carcinoma. He already beat Prostrate cancer and Esophageal cancer...and now this. From the beginning my sister, brother and I knew it was bad. My Mom was in denial in the beginning and since I had a student who's father is an Oncologist, I was able to get the straight facts and was completely devastated by what I learned. My Dad had 6 months at most to live. Thus, I began the trips from my home town (Darien, IL) to Syracuse, NY. Every Thursday morning I would take a 5:30AM flight to Syracuse and stay until Monday morning, arriving back at O'Hare by 7:00 AM. Teach Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then repeat it all over again. I did this from the end of September 2010 until my Dad passed away on March 23, 2011. There are many, many details I am leaving out, many situations at my home and many at my parents that made this much harder than it needed to be. Chicago Winter. Syracuse Winter. O'Hare Airport. Syracuse Hancock Airport. Sometimes I didn't know where I was when I woke up.
This entire time I wanted to begin my blog, but I just couldn't. I couldn't even vocalize the terror of inevitably losing my Dad (Yes, I was closest to my Dad...Most everyone has always said I was his favorite.), much less start a blog of my artwork(which was seriously lacking during this time period). So, now, here we are in JULY!!! And I have finally felt "well" enough to begin. I have "good" days and I have "bad" days, however, I do believe the "good" days are certainly becoming more common than the "bad" ones. It's hard. No question. Sometimes I want to pick up the phone and call my Dad to ask him a question about yard work or a house project I'm doing, and I realize too late that I cannot.
I am really looking forward to when a "bad" day is a once in a blue moon occurrence.
I miss my Dad.
I am not really going to pinpoint or pigeonhole myself with this blog. However, I will keep it artistically related. I have come tothe conclusion I am a mixed media artist. I do have several projects going right now. This past weekend I finished up making dolls I began last August.
I am struggling to find my "place" in the Artistic world. And when I see all these other blogs and their work I wonder how I will ever become as wonderful as most of them.
I have finally started...
Have a great day!!!!!!!
Nancy
