Thursday, December 13, 2012

FLOWER LADY Widow LOVE Offering Request


Sometimes in blogland life, we bloggers( real people behind keyboard keys), get the opportunity to help in practical ways to someone in need . If we are very lucky, it is someone we truly care about. I am starting a Flowerlady Widow Love Offering, for a very sweet blogger many of you know and have grown to love, Flowerlady.

 Lorraine lost her husband not even a week ago, after 43 years of marriage. They had no children , and many in her following crowd, feel as if she is part of our family...in the blogsphere world. How this is going to work, is you can make a donation to my paypal account ( ginam617@yahoo.com), in any amount. You do this by logging into your account, and hitting the SEND Money Link at the top left of your account. Send it as a gift, otherwise paypal will deduct fees thinking I have sold an ebay item. In the field where it says note to seller or recipient, write for Flowerlady Lorraine Love Offering. Please include your name, your blog's name if you have one, and your blog name if it is different from your real name. I am going to give her a list of donors, unless you want yours to be private- just specify that in your notes, I am going to do this until Christmas Day( Dec. 25th), and then send her a email with the total amount that we have come up with to help her in her first year of being without her special DH. This will be our Christmas gift to her-from all of us. I will send her a check/money order with the FULL amounts donated as one larger amount by December 26th, 2012.

 If you would prefer sending me a check, please let me know and I can give you my address.You can make the check out to her or me. 
I understand this is hard at Christmas time, to give extra money, but I also know that each of us can waste money at Christmas time( really all year), on items we will soon forget or never use. You will not forget helping out Flowerlady in her time of need and sorrow. ANY Amount will be appreciated. I am starting this fund with 100.00. But every 5, 10, 20 dollar donation will add up, so please consider donating for her. Also please link this post in your blog, if you believe it may raise more funds for her . MAKE SURE WHEN YOU DONATE, TO INCLUDE THAT IT IS FOR LORRAINE FLOWERLADY LOVE OFFERING, AND DONATE AS A GIFT. I sell on ebay and need to see that it is a GIFT for her in your send money paypal donation.

I hope you all will consider this, if even just a few donations are sent in...it will be helpful and appreciated. If you are unable to do so, that is also ok. Sometimes we are unable to help financially ourselves, but do take a few moments to pray for her and her peace and well-being during this hard time . She needs our prayers just as much.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

Thank you ,
Gina
AntiqueARTGarden
 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Send Prayers and LOVE to Flowerlady Please~

One of my favorite special blogger friends, Lorraine-Flowerlady, lost her husband to cancer last night. They were always a source of admiration( and envy ),for such love shown between the two, for me ,every time I read her posts. My heart breaks for her. Please pray for her, thank you, Gina

http://flowerladysmusings.blogspot.com/2012/12/hell-be-waiting-for-me-on-rainbow-bridge.html

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

ANTIQUE Victorian Oil Paintings on Paper Mache Flue Covers~

 
I love old antique Victorian paper mache paintings! Most were done on flue covers, and some were in the shape of flue covers, but larger and were more of a decorative accent back in the mid to late 1800's to very early 1900's time frame. People used to have a flue hole in their wall from a stove or heating system, and then when Summer came around they wanted to cover the ugly hole in the wall and put something over it. Most of the time it was a glass round picture or tin plate , or even a piece of wood. But every now and then you see a beautiful piece of art that was originally a flue cover. I have some for sale in my eBay store, I will show you a few. The large one above of spider mums and regular chrysanthemums, a whooping 17 3/4ths ins., is handpainted in oils and dated on the back 1880.
 
This one is a Hudson River school style with cows/cattle enjoying a river. It is the more typical size at 10 ins.Mid to late 1800's time frame.
 
 
Here is a precious little boy, in the snow, definite Victorian time frame, larger than most at 14 ins., and dated 1880 on the back. Close up of his face...
See how well done these are?
Here is one about 8 1/4 ins., mid to late 1800's forlorn romantic woman looking out to sea, clams or seashells on her back in the basket.
 
Another larger one at 15 ins. in diameter, a gorgeous Victorian hollyhocks painting on paper mache.
Here is one of my very favorite, a wonderful expertly painted oil on a little Victorian girl carrying wood.
 
The detail is superb. It is dated 1884, and is 10 ins.
if you collect these, know that since they are paper mache, they are very delicate, and will have evident edge wear and some minor chips to the surface. I would advise to buy then if you like them, but not if they have large broken pieces out of them or are reglued in multiple places. They are perfect for Victorian interiors and definitely add an authentic artistic element to an 1800's decor.  Many have old hangers on the back, but alot of buyers purchase easels to place them on.
You can find these paper mache paintings( if they have not sold), here.I have sold many of these over the years, and enjoy finding them to be able to sell them to Victorian art lovers.
take care everyone,
Gina


Saturday, September 8, 2012

Who SHOULD You BE?

Outside of Gibbes Museum Of Art In Charleston this August, it was 94 degrees and 89 % humidity
 
 I have been feeling very much NOT what God expects of me, asks for me to be...
 
You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 1 Peter3:4
 
And to try to illustrate how I feel, I will show you first the actress that I believe God wants women( me) to be like..
Olivia deHavilland as Mellie in Gone withThe Wind
 
Her character was so sweet, self-sacrificing , kind and calm , and soft-spoken. Not me , well maybe kind but that's it, not calm or soft-spoken. I am more like this actress.....
Maureen O'Hara in McClintock , even though I don't go around screaming really, but I am very opinionated and a tad bossy.
Also...
 Maureen  in Parent Trap w/ Brian Keith , but I don't punch anyone...
or The Quiet man w/ John Wayne. I love watching Maureen O'Hara. I can relate to her. But again, feel that I should be more like sweet Mellie.
 

How on earth can God make such vastly different temperaments and personalities, and expect us to be like Mellie all the time? I feel like Scarlett feels below, about someone like Mellie.
I have run into many sweet, calm women lately. I think only if I was heavily sedated could I be that calm.
So what is God going to do with me? How have you become calm, if you are a calm person? Any tips? Don't tell me to pray, as I have been doing that, for a few decades.
Tell me who you relate to in the movies or a movie or book, that you feel just like inside or wish you were like too.
 
Have a nice evening,
Gina
 
 
 


Monday, September 3, 2012

Went To METROLINA Antique Show ~



My youngest son and I, went to the big antique show at Metrolina in Charlotte, NC this past weekend. I was hoping to show lots of pictures of antiques, but the show ended up being about 1/10th of what it used to be like( or less), so I only have a few pictures of our day. He was in charge of taking most pictures, and forgot most of the time. But when he remembered, I'll show you our day.
Here is the opening sign where we paid to get it. I think it was 5.00  dollars for me, he was free as he was under 12 years old ( yeah!).
It was sweltering , and I mean sweltering outside. We got there late, around 11 AM, and it was already 94 degrees and 80 % humidity.
First exciting thing we saw was this snazzy 1950-60's red automobile. I grabbed the camera and took his picture by it.
I asked how much this 1960's light pink radio was, and they told me 45.00, which was too much for me for resale. Passed.
Then we walked around some more in the blazing sun and heat, and did not see much. Vendors were hot, shoppers were hot, a miserable day once it got to be around noon.
Lots of containers with costume jewelry to rifle through, but not me, I was looking for vintage or antique paintings or some other antique or vintage decorative objects.
Blue mason jars, old soda bottles lined up neatly. Hardly anything outside( they also sell inside buildings), of any higher quality antiques this time. Bummer.
I was wearing my handy small backpack, but forgot my water bottle. Everyone needs to remember their water bottles, their cash, check book, credit cards, driver's license , measuring tape, notepad, and a pen. I also have brought a small magnifying glass, but forgot it that day.
 
As you can see, my photographer liked being photographed by ' cool' things. Knight in shining armor was $225.00. Pass. I kept the boy in blue though.
Old vintage 1930-40's garden chairs. I think the rust was free with the chair's price.
More great vintage metal lawn/garden chairs and glider. He has some hot wheels cars in that bag by the way.
 
They do have some outside covered booths, and I did see a few neat things, but not anything spectacular. We were both getting very hot, and a bit testy, both of us.
Almost bought this mod pair of plastic and vinyl chairs, but they were very small, only a small adult or pre-teen could sit comfortably in them. So I passed.
I did get this nice antique, early 1900's, pyrography or Flemish art wood piece, for only 5.00, good deal! This was a old hobbyist piece were people would buy the wood, and a design would be marked into it, and they would burn the design in with a special tool, and make themselves decorative objects. Back in the very early 1900's.
Fairly soon, I felt like I was going to pass out from the heat, and so we went into one of the buildings and bought some cold water and looked around. People can bring their pets here,and this woman brought her dog in a stroller.
Spoiled rotten cute.
Here was a picture of a dealer's three spoiled pampered pooches.
Some oriental objects for sale.
Some vintage mink wraps for sale, I think she said they were about 20.00-25.00 each. If people just bought vintage furs, they wouldn't have to kill any animals now for their furs.
I was going over to see my French art dealer friend Daniel, and I found him chatting with another French dealer, and I walked up and told them to keep talking , so I could hear a man talk in French around me. Everytime I do that, they stop talking, darn.
He has some wonderful art and pottery. His site is http://www.trocadero.com/simhond/. But he also sets up at Metrolina every month in Charlotte in the big first building when you walk in. Tell him I sent you if you go.
I really liked this painting he has, a late 1800's oil on academy board in a European frame of a Renaissance saint or Mary Magdalene.
I bought here and she is for sale here.
 
 
Beautiful old vintage floral of gladiolas he had for sale, but too much for me for resale. I have bought many paintings from Daniel over the years, and many I wish I had bought.
My photographer took a goodbye shot of me and Daniel & his wonderful French accent, and then we continued our shopping.
Bought these original Italian Florentine wood frames...
Bought this vintage Impressionist pink roses floral in a big original frame that day...
Vintage European seascape...and a few more items. Not a awesome Metrolina trip, I believe their November Extravaganza show will be the next one I come to.
So we both pile into the car, turn up the air-conditioning on high, turn Adele 21 up on high, and head back home. On the way back , my son loves to see the big Charlotte Knights baseball team's water tower in the sky from the highway...
Enjoy your days and nights, all my items can be found here.
Take good care everyone,
Gina


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Rolling In the DEEP by ADELE

Got a great Cd, recommended by Gary at A Day in The Life....make it go to full screen and crank it up!


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Very SIMPLE Daily Ways to Help with Intense Grief


Edisto Beach, SC 2012

I have considered writing this for many months( about 9 months) now, but have felt very unqualified to do so. Unqualified as I feel I did not ' get through' grief very well. But , I thought that this could possibly help someone who has experienced a tragedy , a death of a loved one. This is a small guide, suggestion list, of what may help you or a friend who is struggling with deep, intense grief. I am not talking about losing a job, marriage, pet or friendship kind of grief. I am going to be talking about the most painful grief I have personally experienced, the loss of a child. I had lost my grandparents, who I adored, my mother at 65 suddenly and also tragically, many pets that I also loved dearly...but nothing, absolutely nothing came close to the pain of losing my youngest daughter, Sarah, at age 21 in July of 2010.
Sarah to the right here.

We found out our daughter had been killed in a car accident, one early evening in July 2010. We were out of town , at Edisto beach( the picture above top is me there), our favorite family vacation spot. I will not go in to the specifics of the phone call, the drive home or the ensuing funeral home visits and cemetery appointments. All of this ' business of death', between calls and visits from the coroner, the funeral home, and the cemetery, well-wishing friends, completely drained what bit of sanity and physical and mental energy I had. I did write some blog entries after the first week, I think it helped some.
But with a sudden death, or even a imminent death from an illness, our bodies go in to grief-mode, and do not function very well. I could not talk, think, read, or communicate very well for the first 6 months or so. I fell physically apart, from head to toe, lots of expensive medical tests, stressful appointments, and not much sympathy from many in my family for the first year especially. Because everyone reacts to grief differently. I fell apart physically, emotionally, and spiritually. My husband handled everything much better, and within a few months he was handling his life pretty well, grieving inside still, but not in as bad a shape physically and emotionally as I was.
I think partially it was how close I was with Sarah, I had daily contact with her...my husband did not. So I believe that whoever is closest to the person who died( closest in daily or weekly contact), that person will suffer outwardly through physical ailments, depression, etc. more than others.  Also if you are simultaneously going through atdifficult time, depression, divorce, menopause, cancer,illness, job worries, etc. then your time will be doubly hard. I did not garner lots of sympathy from my family( though my sister and my dad were both concerned about my well-being), I do believe I was annoying and aggravating to many. I had to learn how to make it through a day with my broken heart and physical symptoms of grief I was experiencing, MYSELF. I felt God was not there, common even with religious followers, but I also knew He was, so a sort of conflicted religious state.

Regardless, I felt alone with the horrible pain and confusion, and I had to learn to treat myself gently, and take baby steps to be able to function in my family and in the world. You also need to be very , very gentle with yourself if you are going through a similar situation, male or female, tough or not, BE GENTLE and KIND with yourself. Do not attempt to jump back into your old life  as soon as you can.
Your old life is now gone, and you are left with stepping into a new one, without your loved one.
At the bottom of this list, I will tell you why you have to do this, why you need to do this. But first some advice, as I have walked in your shoes, and I do know your pain.

And hopefully, some of these basic , easy tips can help you too.

Basic Tips to Help w/ Grief

1. Make a list, every morning or evening, with only 3-5 ' things to do' to get you focused . To keep you living. No more than 3-5 items, like Make coffee, do 2 loads of laundry, go to post office, make bed, rake leaves, water flowers, vacuum house, etc. Cross off each item once you accomplish it. I did this for months, and it helped me very much. Remember only SIMPLE tasks for the first few( 3-4) months.



2. Drink lots of extra water, 6-8 glasses a day, a banana or apple every day, and make sure you eat even a small meal with more vegetables and fruits than you normally eat. Going through grief depletes our physical bodies terribly. Cut way back on excess sugar, caffeine, alcohol as they drain vitamins and nutrients from your body, and the stress is already depleting your physical reserves.

3. Go buy a good multi-vitamin, put it in your kitchen so you can see it everyday, and take it. I also bought some adrenal support  and stress support capsules from my local health food store.

4. Walk daily, even if it is for 2 blocks, better is 30 mins., to help your body and mind relieve the pent-up stress inside. Get outside, in the sun, in your yard or a quiet park. Diffused sunshine made me physically feel better . 20 mins. or more a day. Do not sit inside all day and not go outdoors, your body needs fresh air and sunshine. Make yourself go sit on your back porch steps or chairs and look at your trees, feel the warmth of the sun, feel the breeze, listen to the birds.
Breathe fresh air.

5. Tend your garden or yard, simple tasks though, not complicated gardening right now. Just go out and water, watering helped me relax. Raking, or pulling a few weeds is also good. Don't work like a fiend for 3-4 hours in your yard though, just 30 mins. to an hour  for awhile. Plant a small garden or flower pot in memory of your loved one. I have a small garden I named Sarah's garden in front of my larger one.
Above is part of Sarah's garden. I put in things she would have liked.

6. There is much in grief books about going out to social events still, malls, parties, celebrations, etc. I think the best idea is go only if you want to. You can go for 30 mins. or an hour, and then excuse yourself and get back home or somewhere else. It is too exhausting to go to a wedding or birthday where people are happy and festive for 3-4 hours and your heart is crushed inside. Do not go because you think you HAVE to go. People will forgive and understand if you decline invitations. Then possibly in 4-6 months, go to a few celebrations. I went to only a few events for the first year. I could not go to a funeral for almost 2 years, so do not feel bad if you are unable to go to important events.
Go when you are calmer inside, and the pain is not so intense.

7. Be very careful with what you watch on Television or at the the movies for awhile ( for me forever). Many shows have accidents, heart attacks, murders, ghosts and more mayhem that hits too close to home if you have experienced a recent death in your life . Even many commercials have disturbing content for someone who is grieving. Monitor what goes in your eyes , stick with light comedies, or home improvement shows, or any shows that do not deal with death, such as Law & Order, Forensic Files, and similar shows. Guard your eyes.
Antique hunting in a local antique mall


8. Recall and find that ' thing-passion-hobby' in life that helps and distracts you and takes your mind off your pain. With some people that may be reading, drawing, gardening, sewing, woodworking, etc. Mine is antique hunting for my site that I sell on. It was(is) an escape and keeps my mind occupied for short periods of time off my pain. Gardening is another, but in the Deep South of the United States, it is brutal sub-tropical gardening , with high humidity and heat. And I was having many physical ailments cropping up, so I was not able to garden as much as I had. I have heard many experts tell someone who is grieving to go  volunteer somewhere, to help someone else. I only did a few volunteer activities, I really was not up to being out in groups for quite some time. I think if you want to volunteer, then do something for only a few hours at the most, and then work up to longer times when you feel able. If you do not want to volunteer, then look around and help someone you run across or live with in small or big ways.
Son at Edisto beach, SC
9. If you do not have a pet , I would suggest getting one as they really do help keep you company, love you, are affectionate and are there for you when you come home. Yes they are work, and are expensive, but they truly help with your pain.
Miss Maxine

10. To help with your faith issues, one simple thing I did, and have continued doing, is finding one -just 1- Scripture/Bible verse and writing it  down, saying it to myself daily. Mostly on my morning walks. I say this if I feel it or don't feel it, if I believe it or don't for that day.
"This is the day the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it."Psalm 118:24
Recall a favorite Bible verse, look up ones on faith, hope, death and then write it on a piece of paper and memorize it. Put it on your fridge, in your car, by your computer.

 That leads me to the why you need to do these or other actions , and there are three important reasons. One is your family and friends still need you. Your attitude, your happiness AFFECTS their lives. My extreme unhappiness and grief was not helpful to anyone in my family for long periods of time. My grief was changing their lives, for the worse. My remaining children still needed a mother to celebrate life with. I know that my daughter's death, should not make my other children's lives not all that they should be. I had to learn to smile again, even laughing hurt my face as it had been many months that I had not truly laughed or smiled.
 No. two is YOU. You and I are important in this world, if you do not have children or a family, you still have people you encounter everyday, and your attitude, demeanor, your words AFFECT their lives. You can make someone have a better day or a worse day. I have done both, and am working at trying to make someone have a better day.
Just a smile, just a hi how are you, just a wave... but doing these are hard to do  when you are grieving( they were for me), but ever so slowly make yourself enter back into the world.
And number three,God still needs you.
 I do not know how or why, but He has important tasks He still needs only you to do.

Your loved one who is now gone was a very important person to God, and so are you...please do not forget that fact.

Oh, and one last thing, make plans, make  a day trip to a nearby town, a overnight stay, a mini-vacation plan or plans. You have to have something to look forward to, it can help with your pain and distract you back into living again. 

I hope this helps someone, I wish I could hug you , I do care about your pain.

Bless you,
Gina