Happy to be back!

Hello friends...

For those of you who wondered where I went all of a sudden last fall....I had to take a break from art and from being involved with most of everything to care for my husband who suffered a stroke. Being 39 years old and unprepared for anything like this, you can imagine the emotional toll it took on us both and admittedly left me in a state of depression. I withdrew from everything and the times were dark for a while. I stopped making my art for several months. My husband has recovered, I have recovered and I am making art again. I have truly missed being on AFI, and honestly I think being away made my situation worse. I really love sharing and talking with all of you. I am now in a place where I can commit to being involved with social media again, so.....I plan to contribute what I can to AFI on a regular basis. I won't be doing any shows this summer unless they are small, local gigs, mainly because I don't feel comfortable being away from home yet, although I will be going to shows in Missouri and Illinois and housing friends who are doing my local shows. I am still stocking galleries and looking for new ones. What I can contribute in terms of sharing my experiences with shows and life on the road I gladly will and will also try to help those just starting out gain the confidence and knowledge necessary to succeed. So, with that said.....let the posting begin :-)

PS Thank you to Geri, Robert, Connie, Lorraine and everyone else who e mailed me. I am sorry I didn't respond to all of your e mails, I meant to, but for a time I just couldn't cope with anything, please understand.

Hi Elle, I am so glad to finally hear from you. I understand totally. I suspected that there had been some kind of devastating blow in your life. I understand fully what you have been going through because I used to be a Physical Therapist Asst. and I had many stroke patients before quitting my job to care for my mother-in-law, who had dementia, for eight years 24/7 in my home. During this time my oldest brother had a devastating stroke. I was the designated overseer of his care until we moved him to the Norman, OK, VA home where my sister took over his affairs. It is a very difficult and stressful position to be in and I feel as though it aged me 20 years in only 8. My mother-in-law is the reason though that I am now doing my art full time, because while I was home with her I could nurture it. So as I always say - what goes around, comes around, and you will be well rewarded for your perseverance though your difficult time.

Are you going to be at Art in the Park in Columbia? If so, I would love to spend a little time with you if we have the energy in our "off" hours. If not, I hope to see you somewhere else, or in St. Louis when I am there some time.

I have had some big successes this spring,(awards for my work and sales at plein air competitions) but I'm still struggling with the art show thing...

So glad you husband recovered.

Lorraine

Replies

Lorraine McFarland May 15, 2014 at 8:20pm

Hi Elle, I am so glad to finally hear from you. I understand totally. I suspected that there had been some kind of devastating blow in your life. I understand fully what you have been going through because I used to be a Physical Therapist Asst. and I had many stroke patients before quitting my job to care for my mother-in-law, who had dementia, for eight years 24/7 in my home. During this time my oldest brother had a devastating stroke. I was the designated overseer of his care until we moved him to the Norman, OK, VA home where my sister took over his affairs. It is a very difficult and stressful position to be in and I feel as though it aged me 20 years in only 8. My mother-in-law is the reason though that I am now doing my art full time, because while I was home with her I could nurture it. So as I always say - what goes around, comes around, and you will be well rewarded for your perseverance though your difficult time.

Are you going to be at Art in the Park in Columbia? If so, I would love to spend a little time with you if we have the energy in our "off" hours. If not, I hope to see you somewhere else, or in St. Louis when I am there some time.

I have had some big successes this spring,(awards for my work and sales at plein air competitions) but I'm still struggling with the art show thing...

So glad you husband recovered.

Lorraine
Pauline Haas-Vaughn April 13, 2014 at 11:38am

Welcome back Elle. Hope you have a great summer doing shows closer to home :) Glad to hear your husband is doing well.
- Elle Heiligenstein > Pauline Haas-Vaughn April 14, 2014 at 12:08am
  
  Thank you, Pauline!
Scott Pakulski April 11, 2014 at 4:23pm

Welcome Back Elle! It's good to hear you again...
- Elle Heiligenstein > Scott Pakulski April 11, 2014 at 4:29pm
  
  Thank you, Scott! I hope you are doing well!!
Pat Falk April 10, 2014 at 9:43pm

Elle, Good to have you back! Hope all continues to go well with your husband and you can continue doing shows.
- Elle Heiligenstein > Pat Falk April 10, 2014 at 9:47pm
  
  Thank you so much KS and Pat
KS Funderburg April 5, 2014 at 10:36am

Thinking of you and yours. Glad to hear that it looks like it is moving

forward with positive success!

Hope you are ready to do your art again...it is the best therapy!

I have missed your reports!
Amy Ikenn April 4, 2014 at 9:45am

Glad to hear things are improving. When I got my acceptance for Spring Green this year I was thinking about you, and wondered where you'd been.
- Elle Heiligenstein > Amy Ikenn April 4, 2014 at 12:40pm
  
  Hi Amy! Congrats on Spring Green. That is such a unique, fun and quaint show. I love the "hostesses" they have and all of their announcements! I hope you do great!

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