Reacting and Responding - Part 2 - A Lighter Look

Theresa was clueless as to the
fun that awaited her!

In May of this year, my emotions were running on overdrive.  My Mom's health was declining at lightning speed; the needs for her care were changing daily; and I was exhausted!  As we prepared for our Flagship ReMe Retreat on Ocracoke Island, it seemed as if new challenges presented themselves on a daily basis.  Some, a flat tire or misplaced keys, were minor.  Others... like Mom's speedier than expected discharge from rehab, my swan dive down the stairs as I was packing for ReMe, and her caretaker's stroke on her first full day of work... were more significant.

Through it all, there were also bright spots.  Through it all, I somehow managed to trust that everything was happening for a reason.  Through it all, I maintained faith that the right solutions would present themselves at the exact time that I needed them most.  Thankfully this was consistently the case.

Midweek during our retreat, as I was enjoying a delightful shower under the Carolina Blue Sky, I discovered a 'skin tag' on my upper thigh.  Puzzled by this tag that I'd never felt previously, I perched Karate Kid style on my one good leg to glimpse it in the waist high mirror.  My balance not being at its best a few short days after my fall, I still couldn't be sure,.  So, I rinsed as quickly as possible, re-donned my soft stretchy pajamas, and proceeded directly to the house where I sought help.

(It should be noted that I strongly suspected that the 'skin tag' in question was actually a tick.  Ticks are one of those creatures that totally and completely freak me out!  When suspicion first dawned, I wanted to scream like a child and run like the wind; but I couldn't.  It's hard to run from one's own thigh, and I was playing Hostess at the time.  If I'd screamed and run naked away from The Inn, my ReMe Sisters would have been puzzled, and potentially scarred for life.)

Lynne has mad artistic skills, and luckily for me also

oodles of experience as a nurse and nursing instructor!

Thankfully, our cool-headed Den Mother, Theresa, and ReMe Guest Extraordinaire, Lynne Simon Suprock, came to my rescue.  The tick was painlessly removed amidst our raucous laughter; the doctor was called; and any possible ill effects of the experience were thwarted.

The moral of this story...

Reacting by running naked and screaming would have been bad for all involved.

Responding by quietly asking for help, and laughing about the experience for days, provided a positive outcome for the experience and, a story that will last a lifetime.

********************************************************************************

Do you respond, react, or a bit of both?  

I'd love to hear all about it in the comment section of this post!  

My Latest Greatest Tool Find

Recently I had the good fortune of discovering the Troy Antique Mall in Troy, NC, and I was charmed by the hospitality extended to me by the store's owners, Sibyl and Marty Williams.  They were friendly without going overboard, attentive without hovering, and oh so accommodating of my requests to open display after display so that I could drool over the treasures hidden within.

It's my very own World War II Era Metal Stamping Kit

During my visit, I managed to collect quite a few post cards, a vintage tin with textured graphics, and a dime dispenser for Ken.  Then, on my final walk-through, I spotted this beauty in "Case #6".  I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  I knew that I had to make it mine.

An Outside View

When I first took the mallet out of the case, my reflex was to test the weight and balance in my hand with a mock striking motion.  I didn't even realize that I'd done it until I'd replaced it, and Sibyl said, "It looks like you've done this before!" 

I hope to become a regular visitor at  The Antique Mall.  I can't imagine passing through Troy again without stopping.  And as for this set, it's found a new home and place of honor in my studio. I'll treasure it for a lifetime, and I've already begun to dream about a new jewelry collection inspired by its history. 



This kit includes individual stamps of the full alphabet,
a mallet, the case, and a specialized anvil.

 

One side of the anvil was used for
marking spoons, forks, and knives
from the mess kits.

The other side of the anvil was used
for marking meat cans. 
After WWI, dog tags were
no longer hand stamped as the
process was automated.

The letters and random words stamped into the wood
add to the appeal of these tools for me.

The first three letters stamped with my new set.
A nod to my Dad who enlisted in the army
during World War II when he was 17 years old.

Something Old...Something New...

The Cover of Southern Weddings Magazine, Volume 5

I'm thrilled to announch that my "Bless Your Heart" Collection 

has been featured in

"Southern Weddings, Volume 5". 

 

This publication is pure eye candy from cover-to-cover. 

For those in a wedding planning chapter of their lives, it's an a must-read magazine, and the rest of us will find 

page after page of inspiration for graceful and romantic living. 

It doesn't get any better than that!   

Solid Brass Bless Your Heart Pendant from The Bless Your Heart Collection.
Please email jeanskipper@jeanskipper.com to purchase this piece, cuff bracelets,
copper pendants, and other custom creations.



Recapturing My Life and My Free Time Since Artist Alley

Since closing Artist Alley at the end of August, friends have been asking, "What have you been doing with all of your free time?!?!?" To be honest, I haven't had that much of it yet. As someone who genuinely likes to be busy, this is a good thing, indeed!

In the past few months, I've been cleaning and organizing my home, my studio, and my storage space. This is a work in process, and I expect that it will continue for quite some time. I have so many treasures and so many great ideas dancing in my head. Now I'm working to ensure that my digs are conducive to fully exploring each and every one of them.

I've spent time with family and friends. For me right now, this translates into more time at home with the ones I love. I savored an evening with friends and a First Friday Opening in Southern Pines...as a guest! Ken and I traveled to Greenville, NC for a weekend wedding, and we dilly-dallied through The State Fair and Vollis Simpson's whirligig farm along the way. I enjoyed a lively meeting with The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, a gallery-hopping day trip with mixed media artist Amy Smith and her kiddos, and a play date in the envy-inducing studio of of the talented Jeanne Rhea. (I've been posting photos of all of these adventures on my Facebook Page, and I hope to share more details here soon too.)

I've also been creating like a madwoman; I've been volunteering two days each month at Artist Gallery of Southern Pines; and I've joined The Carolina Artists' Colony in Sanford. And in the midst of all of this, I'm working to increase the inventory of my creations at the galleries who represent my work. This task often fell to the bottom of my to-do list during my days at Artist Alley, and I'm making slow and steady progress toward rectifying the situation. I'm ever so grateful for the nurturing women who own these galleries. They have been oh so patient with me, and my future blog posts will provide more details about each and every one of their creative spaces and the manner in which they support their fellow artists.

In the past month, I've been up and down the road bound for shows in Norcross, Georgia; Holden Beach; North Carolina; and Atlanta; Georgia. This weekend brings a trip to Savannah for a show at Telfair Art Museum, and I'm so looking forward to it! Each show has been an absolute treat, and in Holden Beach I had the privilege of spending time in the company of one of my favorite artists, Mary Neligan and her family. Mary and her husband Richard create the funky fish that adorn the walls of my home, and her family welcomed me into their home with open arms.

(This photos shows Mary's first-ever funky fish

as it's displayed outside of her sister's front door.)

During this time, I'm also rediscovering something that's been missing in my life...moments of solitude, grace, and gratitude. I'm listening to music again, and I've caught myself singing along. I'm pausing to be in the moment, and I'm taking photos along the way. I've shed a few tears at the sheer beauty that surrounds me, and I've found myself smiling for no reason at all. Dare I say it? Amidst the chaos, a bit of peace is creeping back into my life, and I'm ever so grateful for it.

It's a lovely way to spend my free time.