First Challenge- Radical Reds!

[Lin Neiswender]

Carolyn has posed the first challenge for the group- an all-red collage! OK, pinks and a bit of white allowed, but red, red, red is the color of the day! Let's see what everyone comes up with...

[Julia]

Okay Lin, so I have my red series from harmony week-the Chinese paper cutouts, so I'll use these once I have laid out some washes on my paper-cool that the theme happens to be red-for me anyway-as it's my next planned project!

My girlfriend, Annie, with malignant brain tumor not going well ,seems she's having mini strokes too-I feel quite flat tonight, a girlfriend and I have been discussing how we can best care for her-her sister is there at the minute, but leaves her hubby 6 hours drive away in Mildura-we might have to give Jude a break, before she falls in a heap, so may not get to this till later in the week... It's just so damn tragic! Sometimes I really gotta wonder what life's all about, and why....the eternal question-'Why do bad things happen to good people?'...

[Doreen]

I'm actually in the same situation with my SIL... and she's really depressed. I've made her a gratitude journal and I'm slowly getting her to look at what is good in life. She is an artist and I'm trying to get her to see that she can go back to it for "therapy" and healing... small steps.. very small steps... it's good to have friends!
I did a healing mandala with an affirmation that sits by her bed.
Art heals and so does love :-)

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Way to go, Doreen :) If she's willing and able to read, get her the book "Simple Abundance - A Daybook of Comfort and Joy" by Sarah Ban Breathnach. A page or two for each day ... it's making a real difference in my life.

[Doreen]

I have that book .. thanks, I'll bring it with me next visit.

[Lin Neiswender]

I'm so sorry about your friend, Julia. There is no understanding it, really, other than that God can't be there running everything and still give us free will, or so I understand it. Some things he has to just let happen. Has hospice come in to help your friend? They are wonderful. They counsel the whole family too, not just the patient.

[Julia]

Thanks Lin, and of course you are right-I just had a phone call from her sister-she's been rushed into hospital by ambulance this morning-it's 9am here-things aren't looking good...we will have to wait and see what the day brings-I just pray her suffering will not be extended-that would be cruel for her, she's always been such an active and positive person-feeling a bit numb and useless at the moment...thanks everyone for the good wishes...

[Lin Neiswender]

Julia, I am so sorry. Like you, I hope her suffering is brief. Prayers coming for her and for you.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

My best friend with MS has been declining a lot, too. I just don't know why, but when we met for the second time "out of the blue" I had that feeling come over me that we were meant to meet and be friends, and told her. And it often seems to me that both of our mothers are looking down on us and laffin' their butts off at times ... Anyway, I know it's going to be a long hard road for her. I've seen what happens to people as MS progresses and it sure is not pretty. And I pray every day that I am going to be allowed to hold her hand through it for as long as possible :)

[Doreen]

Gee, I wish there wasn't so many "me too's"... but my brother's significant other for many years had MS. The flip side of the coin.. the good part, is that I was able to get closer to her. Because I work for myself, I had time to stay with her when my brother needed someone. We had a lot of laughs together and I got to know her and love her even more. She was an amazing artist.
This is actually happening with my in-laws as well... getting closer, so in the bigger picture of life, maybe for me the lesson is connecting on a deeper level, deveoping a deeper compassion... For her, only she and God know the reason. Everyone learns something from everything :-)
No one should be alone during difficult times like that... good to hold her hand and be there, Barb. Makes all the difference when someone cares.

[Carol@Swallowcliffs]

Good on ya, for this!

[Carol@Swallowcliffs]

I swear... all this came out of my "red" stash.

[Jules]

Carol- you are fast! OMG I just finished gathering 'all things red'- no clue what I will do with them yet LOL. It will come I guess. I do not think it will be as awesome as this one! Very nice job!!
I am very excited though...while on the hunt for all things red I naturally stumbled on things I haven't seen for a while. I saw a special collection I have and POOF! An idea virtually exploded in my brain! I finally know what I need to do with this collection of stuff!!
It is awesome, because I have known since the beginnings of my collection there was something...I just never knew what. Now- because of this hunt for red, some discussions I have ben involved in all over CCS- some friend's recent creations- all this combined for the field to be fertile when the seed of inspiration fell. Ok...I know I am getting wacky now...but it is an awesome feeling!
I will definately post this one when done :-)
In the meantime, I will arrange some red stuff into a collage.
Thanks for listening to me bubble over :-)