I’m a creative, experienced, multi-purpose artist and art director
who can take projects start to finish in a variety of styles.

Good designs sell –
my designs sell out!

Saturday, February 13, 2016

"Hat"

Our thoughts affect our health.  This is so obvious, I wonder why anyone still studies it as if it's an open question.  Becky died -> I moped about her and the early deaths of my other childhood friends -> I'm sick on the couch watching daytime tv and wondering who the hell watches this stuff if they aren't moping on the couch with winter germs.

The warmest hat ever, a gift from Angel
and made from llama wool
I watched "The View" the morning after the Democratic presidential debate and the first thing one of the women said was that Hillary Clinton's jacket was "very fabulous!".  OMG is it any wonder US women are still fighting for equality?  Love Hillary or hate her, but please don't do it based on her wardrobe.

Winter hat lovingly knitted by Josie
with a matching scarf
Before I got sick, I had lunch with a friend.  I was telling her about another conversation I'd had recently and my friend told me to quit talking about it since my face was cherry red and she didn't want me dropping dead from a heart attack.  I told myself to calm down, think puppies and summer days, but I guess I didn't talk myself down enough since I got sick.  Cause = effect.  Obviously I didn't think enough about puppies.

Last week I pestered a another friend about singing.  He has an excellent voice but doesn't sing anymore.  I dusted his guitar last time I saw him, and I think it's just collected more dust since.  I got him to sing a little.  He didn't do it with his full ability or gusto, but he did sing.  I smiled.  After I hung up the phone I did some singing myself.  This is what people can do for each other.  It doesn't have to be remarkable -- or maybe it is remarkable that he could make me smile and sing when I felt so down.

As long as I stay in the place of being grateful for having had good people in my life, how selfish is it for me that I didn't get enough time with them?  I got as much as I needed.  I got enough time with them to take some of them for granted, and that might be more than some people ever get.  I count myself lucky and know that the current blizzard will pass and the flowers will bloom again.

Blue heron, blue jay, sea gull feathers
Hats?  Back in the olden days when I was a child, women wore hats.  I loved them.  Feathers bobbing in the slight breath of church prayers were a pleasant thing.  I keep my hats on an antler hat rack.  I found the antler in the woods.  West Virginians can't see why I think that's funny.  What else would you do with an antler?  They admire how many points my antler has, but lose interest when I admit I didn't kill and eat the deer.



See, no matter how much we might be sick and brood, there's always something else in our brains that we can pull us up.  Our luck, joy, love, success, and every other good thing is the result of choosing which we'd like most to think about.

The magazine art director gave me more illustrations to do.  I'm choosing to get off the couch, play with paint, and meet the deadline.  Life is good.  Okay, it will be significantly more good once I feel better, but I'm choosing to feel better too.  We are what we think.

This art is from a tin I did for 1800Flowers.  BTW, I've been watching TED Talks on youtube.  This one seems created for this week's prompt.

18 comments:

  1. Get well soon Linda, our mental and physical health co-exist all the time, they can never be separated. You have had a pretty low time recently it's so sad you have lost so many friends. It's good that you are taking it slowly but trying to get yourself going. Making art is a great way forward. I love that antler, what a unique hat stand! Take care xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jane! Today has been better than yesterday, so tomorrow will be great. Have a great weekend!

      Delete
  2. Heisann, Lovely post, Linda!
    I have collected my hats for Cuba this coming week....
    My doctor told me to wear a hat caused the sun... my face should not be burned.
    Have a nice week ;:OD)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Long time, no speak. It's good to see you. Have a wonderful trip!

      Delete
  3. Sorry you're sick! My mother brought me an astrakhan hat from Russia. Very warm. I wore it once in NYC. That day I thought I was looking particularly good - so many people smiled at me. Then I realized I looked ridiculous in the hat! Thanks for helping me dredge up that silly memory.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I'm sure you were right the first time and looked fabulous! Thanks for the good thoughts. I am feeling better. Not perfect, but getting there.

      Delete
  4. Ugh - "The View"! Your take on it matches my own! It depresses me that that show is still on. Stay better and off the couch!

    But your so right about how our thoughts affect our health, no question. Love the illustration. It's good for my health to look at it! Makes me think of summer, like the nice pic of you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes, cause does indeed equal effect, but I'm sorry you're not feeling well:( The cold gray days don't help so much either. We've been enjoying laughter therapy at my house with videos from the silly youtube channel Bored Shorts--here's my favorite about a health nut mom from kid's persepective(as a bit of a health nut mom myself) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh0NLQJfAYU Anyway, it makes me almost pee my pants laughing. You might just think its silly....

    Well, I hadn't intended to share that link, but there you go.

    I can't wait to see those illustrations. I love your painting style.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, it doesn't look it maade a link, but if you want to see it look up kid snippets health food on youtube.

      Delete
    2. Oh I can SO relate to that video! We had buckwheat pancakes and tofu "hidden" in all sorts of other things. Thanks for the link!

      Delete
  6. Linda, a lovely, summer illustration, and the hat looks good on you.
    In my youth one would sing a little nursery rhyme upon seeing somebody with a straw hat. Is that in your area too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know the straw hat song, but I think it's got to be a good thing. If you find a link for it, send it along. I bet you were super cute when you were singing it :)

      Delete
  7. Very cool illustration. I like the flat colors and the depth that is created. (Listen to me, sounding like an art teacher.) By the way, you're watching the wrong daytime TV. "Dennis the Menace" and "Donna Reed" are much better than "The View".... except on current events.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I watched it because the debate had been the night before and I wondered if the women had anything useful to say about it. I was wrong. You're right, next time it's one of the oldies!

      Delete
  8. Hope you are finally feeling better! I love the illustration, and it makes me want to be outside, reading a great book, sipping that lemonade. But not in the snow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Considering you just came back from FL, I'll count your comment as a real success Korki!

      Delete
  9. You're rock'in the hat! I'm just getting over a bug as well. Blah. And I collect antlers. It is fun to go search in the spring for the sheds. Those are the best ones. The found objects.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love found objects too, or things that other people pass by without seeing the potential. I'm feeling back to normal. I hope you are too!

      Delete