Jewelry or Birds? Both :-)

 I've turned my attention back to painting small bird paintings (ACEO) for now. After I've done a few I'll get them back on ebay and then go back and play with some new beads that have arrived.

Everything seems to be a challenge lately. I'm dealing with post radiation brain fog. Its been 6 months since my head/neck cancer surgery and just 2 months since I ended radiation treatments. They say you can feel the effects (which includes tiredness) for weeks, months or even years. I have been lucky though the tiredness sort of comes and goes and doesn't last for too long and I actually feel better when I just push through it, the brain fog bothers me more, its just frustrating trying to stay focused. Good news though......I did just get a blood test result back that was NEGATIVE for any lingering cancerous cells 🎉😁.

Some more examples of my playing around with jewelry making, still very beginner basic but we'll see how it progresses ;-)

Some Recent Bird Paintings Sold on eBay

These were the last ones I painted before taking a break and switching over to my interest in simple jewelry making.   Sometimes you just need to lose yourself in something different.

 

Organized Mess-Practice Pieces

 

Website or No Website, That is The Question

Ok.....so while putting painting on hold for now I've been learning how to make jewelry, its amazing what you can learn on youtube.  I'm just learning simple things for now, I don't really like complicated, wiring wrapping is amazing but....not into it.  

Macrame jewelry has been popular for years and doesn't seem to be going out of style anytime soon. I made a bunch of simple bracelets a while ago and they're probably on this blog somewhere (oh yes, I see some down below) but I never did anything with them (except wear some of course ;-) never put any effort into selling them. I just spent a few hours on GoDaddy trying to put together a free website to list some of the things I've been making recently but I'm not sure its worth all the effort.  Should I just list them here....or list them on ebay.....maybe change up my ACEO website to include them on there? I don't know......I always seem to be chasing rainbows 🥹

February 26 2024 Head and Neck Cancer

Wondering where I've been?  It has been a crazy past 12 months, and not in a particularly good way. I lost two friends, one who lost her battle with cancer and another who lost her fight with copd.  And now? I have my own fight with head/neck cancer.  Sometime in late December 2023, early January I noticed the sudden (literally overnight) development of a large lump on my neck. After a series of doctor visits, blood work, xrays etc I was told I had cancer. Surgery and radiation treatments followed, then recovery time. Lots of follow up tests/exams will continue. A PET scan is scheduled for August. Along with all of that I lost half of my house cleaning clients, the work that supported me financially. The sales of my little bird paintings slowed, yet another disappointment.....Auuuuggghhh!! Picture me pulling my hair out!  I'm still feeling a bit lost trying to figure out how to deal with the future.  Still........I've gotten help/support from some really good people and even, at about to turn 73, I am still a fighter :-)