Monday, December 28, 2015

REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST YEAR




Looking back at this last year I have to say I am glad it is over!
Our health problems took their toll and are still not resolved as far as my hubby is concerned.

The shingles he got back in March left with Herpetic Neuralgia which is pain caused by the shingles that doesn't go away. He has been to many doctors and had many tests done but still he suffers.

Next week he will have a nerve block to see if that helps and if by chance it does the doctor will probably cut the nerve or insert a device like a TENS unit that can be controlled by remote control.

I can honestly say that pain does strange things to a person. My poor hubby has been suffering for almost a year now and it wears on him in so many ways. Depression and a feeling of hopelessness. Seems like when he tries to keep busy he can work through it but in the evening when he tries to relax it takes over and Mr. cranky comes out. He is so painful I literally can't touch him. He doesn't sleep well and that adds fuel to the fire so to speak.

We had a huge loss in our stocks this past year due to neglect on our agents part and this has affected our income and our financial future in a big way. We are in the process of a legal suit to recover this loss but it is a very scary feeling. I feel we will recover some of our losses but the fact of the matter is someone our age should not have to endure this sort of thing when we trusted that our money was being handled by a professional. If you have dealings with Jeff St Clair at Cetera my advise is to RUN!! Our hearing will be in February and with the help of our attorney hopefully things will go well but the bad news is, he will get 50% of the money he recovers! Guess it is better than losing it all but it NEVER should have happened.

A mistake we made 10 years ago was to take out Term Life Insurance. Never ever do that!! The affordable payments on this insurance was great for 10 years but we got notice this year that the payments went from $130.00 per month to $1500.00 per month. Needless to say, we had to drop it and now that my hubby has lymphoma and leukemia he can't get life insurance.

My health is good. No more problems with my heart since my quadruple bypass. I continue to go to Zumba for exercise three times a week and watch my weight. 

I continue to alter Altoid tins and still have my Etsy shop Altered State of Tin)  http://www.alteredstateoftin.etsy.com that does okay but not as well as past years. I also have a second Etsy Shop, (Elegant Whispers), http://www.elegantwhispers.etsy.com which is where I have some of my art for sale. This shop is not doing well at all and I will probably close it or maybe change the name and put some vintage things in there instead. The problem with trying to sell art is there are just to many artists out there and way to much art for sale. I also opened a Gallery (Patricia Creations) http://www.patriciacreations.com this past year and have many of my better pieces in there.

I did have one of my pieces published in Living The Photo Artist Life Volume 9. I am very proud of this and continue to take the online art class.

I enjoy my Digital Whisper Blog and the challenges we have each week. I adore my artist friends and look forward to their participation in these challenges each week.

I am looking forward to a new year and a new president in the white house. I think our country could use a change for the better. I can't wait to see what God has planned for us in the new year and I trust it will be good whatever it is.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

2016

For the challenge at Digital Whisper this week

Background from Foxeysquirrel
Photoshop brushes

Saturday, December 26, 2015

ALTERED MASTERPIECE

For the challenge at Three Muses this week

Leonardo da Vinci's  St John the Baptist 1513 - 1516
Photoshop distortion filters and brushes 

RED & GREEN

Take a Word Challenge this week

Just a simple black and white image with red and green added
Fun challenge

Sunday, December 20, 2015

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

For the challenge at Digital Whisper this week.
The challenge was to create a piece using what you think of when you hear the word "Christmas"

This is a Christmas card I created back in 2013
The first thing that comes to my mind when I  hear the word Christmas it the birth of Christ.
Merry Christmas everyone!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

RAINBOW

For the Three Muses Challenge this week

Rainbows are common where I live here in Coos Bay, Oregon. Lots and lots of rain from November to May.

Photo taken from my kitchen window

WINTER

This is for the challenge at Take A Word this week

 All from kits by Teddi
Photoshop Brushes


Sunday, December 13, 2015

CHRISTMAS STOCKING

For the challenge at Digital Whisper this week
You are invited to join.

Background by Teddi
All stockings from the internet
Photoshop Brushes

Thursday, December 10, 2015

GAMES WE PLAY

For the challenge at Three Muses This week

Background by itkupilli
Jester is a Photoshop Brush
Ace cards from the internet as are the spades and hearts

SEPIA

For Take A Word Challenge this week

Image from my collection
Background by Lil Owl and the tree branches and the flowers are Photoshop brushes

Sunday, December 6, 2015

FROST

For the Challenge at Digital Whisper this week.
You are invited to join this challenge.
Show us your Frost!


I did these back when Kimmie Draper owned Digital Whisper. She taught me so much and when she resigned Digital Whisper she ask me to take it over and I was very honored. She has gone on to bigger things and has a website now that teaches artists .
Not sure I remember the credits on these two pieces but it was a lot of fun and early in my experience with Photoshop.