Art thread so retired's thread is not hijacked :) by me

Does anybody find Art theraputic, also gardening? or what relieves your stress. This could be a great thread for stress relief from MS and symptoms
hugs
CJ

[mercyone]

What relieves my stress? right now it's laying on the couch at night in front of the open front door, petting a dog, with a big fan blowing in the cool air - it's almost 100 where I live during the day - nights are so wonderful. I 'm starting a new pastel for my grandson 2 years old, I've never met him, he lives on Guam and has bad asthma five times in the hospital in two weeks.

So I am doing a "healing" painting for him, or pastel art, and this is the perfect time with the full moon to begin - summer solstice and all that. The work will include a large center Zebra with a circle of light around it, and then his Name, a turtle swimming in water, some doves, a feather and other things not yet discovered......need to write them down or I forget what I was going to draw/paint....

Mercy

[wingnut19]

I used to love painting and moreso playing the guitar, but I can no longer do it because my fine motor skills are horrid!  :(

I miss my guitar!  

Sorry, was this supposed to be an uplifting post??  My bad.....

=)
Tammy

[Fluffysmom]

I like to make jewelry; taking beads and findings and putting them together into lovely creations.  I like using Swarovski crystals so things sparkle and shine, though I also love using natural stone beads, too, for a more earthy look.

When I am involved it creating jewelry, time and everything else fades away.  I sometimes forget that I'm starting to hurt, and pay for that.  I haven't been able to do as much since getting tremors and fatigue, but I still do some now and then.

I like taking care of my herb garden (in containers) and using the fresh herbs in recipes.

When I have no energy, I love listening to music and relaxing.  

Kathy

[Rena705]

Geee lets seeee...what is relaxing for me...hmmmm...I guess it would HAVE TO BE

                                            F I S H I N G ! ! ! ! ! !

It is so relaxing to just cast over and over from the dock and the loons are howling and the campfires are crackling in the distance and the sun is setting over the trees in the west leaving a beautiful multicolored sky behind and all of a sudden......              ZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIINNNNGGGG!
A fish has hit my fly and it leaps out of the water as I strip my line and bring it in.  I gently remove the hook from the fish's mouth and revive him in the cool evening water and he gives a tiny splash as he swims away......AHHHHHH...and I start casting again over and over and I really don't care if a fish takes my fly...but please let the loons keep calling...

Rena

[mokibear]

I'm definitely the gardener type for stress relief. Between my flower beds, veggie garden, and herb garden I find that anything that was stressing me prior, is long gone when I'm done working in Mother Earth. That is my "me time".

Maybe that's why I'm more stressed in the winter as I only get about 4 months of playing the garden before the weather turns. haha

Moki

[ohwild]

what lovely inspirational posts, its so good to have stress relieving hobbies, today Im going to do a bit of gardening plant up my cauliflower seedlings and hope nothing comes around to eat them, and have got two large canvases to work on, one for very modern art that my son loves, and one to do a more detailed picture,tho i havent decided yet on landscape or seascape.:)

Kathy, I like the idea of making jewellery as i love anything that sparkles like crystals, people laugh at me because im a bit like a magpie when it comes to sparkling items :)


Rena I used to love fishing especially in the early mornings, when no one else was around around, but I used to eat my fish lol

Mercy, good luck in painting your healing picture it sounds beautiful :)

Moki,, Isnt it lovely growing things I always get a thrill from working in the garden so very stress relieving and seeing natures way its so very calming :)

Tammy , my old guitar sits in my bedroom like you I cant play it anymore, so I took up gardening and art, I find it helps alot, and yes I miss it as well. maybe you could take up a new instrument or try a new hobby. I think its so important to have some chill out time and to do something you love. hope the thread will give you some ideas.

Hugs to you all
CJ

[MCBCON]

My wife.

[doni54]

I also like to garden, mostly flowers and a few veggies.  Had a bad summer last summer and didn't do anything in my yard.

Decided this summer would be different no matter how bad I felt afterward.  Planted lots of azealeas and hostas and flowering plants.  I felt like heck when I finished, but the feeling of accomplishment and pride made up for it.

Now I can find pleasure when I look out at my pretty flower filled lawn.

I also have a female bloodhound "Sadie", she is a joy and a great stress reliever.  She is always happy and loving and such a clown!  

I guess you just have to find the good things to appreciate.  Everytime I get down or stressed I just try to look at everything that is good in my life and let it override the bad stuff.

Hope you all have a good and stress free day!

doni

[angie99]

I love gardening also,,,,however I have not put any flowers out this year(heat is too much)

We live on a farm, I used to raise a bunch of baby calves on the bottle, none for me this year, but we do have some at the barn, I am just not doing it myself,  I love to take a walk over and pet on them, talk to them and brush them, being that they are on the bottle they are spoiled, you can do anything with them. Its like Im their mother. That is what does it for me, you forget every problem when you see them and play with them.

[mercyone]

Love makes us forget about ourselves - creating what we love is like that - a celebration of being alive and sometimes takes us far above our worries. I wish I were a dragonfly - they sparkle and flit about and are such wonderful little beings. I think I will add one to my grandson's pastel.

Mercy

[doni54]

WOW, that was beautiful!

Yea, dragonflies seem so free.

doni

[ohwild]

McBon that is beautiful,you have a very special lady there :)

To Doni that was very uplifting thank you, pets can be great companions even if they are daft (funny)lol, I'm a cat person myself , cant be doing the walk the dog every day!!! :)

To Angie hey you im jealous I wanna come and stroke the calves, last time i did that i was about 7 on my grandparents farm, and feeding them can be so funny :)

To Mercy I think thats a lovely idea let me know how your painting goes, im still looking at my empty canvases, soon as hands are a little better i will start painting .I have given my self 5 years to do one really good detailed canvas, and dragonflies are very pretty
hugs to all
CJ :)

[pennst8r]

I love art! I like to draw free hand and then paint it. Have done some things for soccer boosters and other groups, backdrop for a talen show, etc. No great talent, mind you, but not bad either. I am hoping my wonky eyes don't make it too diffcult. Spasms make some of my things tough too. I draw 3' soccer balls on thick foam board with the high school seniors' names and #s on them every year for the past 7 or 8. They go on the field for Senior Recognition, then at their banquets (started when my son was a freshman; he graduated 3 years ago, but I still do them). They take 7 hours for each ball coz I'm so picky, but its a labor of love - love kids and love soccer. most of the kids I taught in Sunday school, so I know them. Cutting very difficult now - hands spasm.

Anyway, I'm babbling! Art is such an escape. Love it

Penn

[ohwild]

You are a star*  and inspiration to everyone, I love the way you are alway helping others, and getting so much back from what you do. I have found that wrist splints can aid in the cutting of materials do you have any? they are not pretty but they can aid till the old cramp sets in.
wishing you well
hugs
CJ :)

[mercyone]

Well, I must be feeling better - taking Fish Oil by the tablespoon and diet changes, don't know if it is supposed to work that fast, but I went on a two hour bike ride in the country near my house on Saturday and then on Sunday, took my Great Pyreenes Sky with me for a one hour ride - took some photos along the way. I feel so much better getting out and also away from the stress of traffic and zooming cars - in fact it feels so good that I bought a new bike - not real expensive - but one a little sturdier and has good shocks and seat not like that 40 yr old Schwinn Varsity I was using.

Also drew a sketch for my grandsons painting - so making progress there. I've decided not to worry about how clean the house is or isn't - clean enough seems to be working right now. So, things are looking up - not focusing on my aches and pains - so life is good and getter better.

Mercy