Of Potatoes and Flower Angels

Flower Angel, cut February 2, 2012.

One of Lisbeth's exquisitely intricate mandalas from around 2006.

Lisbeth working on a "Potato One" for Little Milkweed in my studio yesterday.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Lisbeth's capacity to cut her paper designs has been markedly compromised, and we're not sure why. Did she simply outgrow her interest? We all move on to new pursuits. Is she developing dementia? Her neurologist thinks not, and that her difficulties have more to do with her meds. But which meds? She takes three anticonvulsants. Or is it EPS, a side effect of the antipsychotic drug, Risperdol? Her psychiatrist is not convinced because she's been on Risperdol since 2001. Why wouldn't the EPS have shown up sooner, is his point. But does it take years to develop? So many questions.

Meanwhile, Lisbeth is on day three of the second Risperdol decrease, and is enjoying a really good patch. She's upbeat and clear, and according to her house manager, Rhonda Curit (who just this minute phoned me), is sitting in Rhonda's office contentedly cutting more detailed snowflakes. (Yay!) Lis likes to work in Rhonda's office (which is in Lisbeth's house) because Rhonda will often sit and cut snowflakes with her. It's a quiet space with few distractions. Fingers crossed, getting Lisbeth off the Risperdol is making a difference. Fingers crossed, we don't have to replace it with another drug. Fingers crossed, and a Flower Angel wing and a Potato One prayer...

Brainstorm Studio Midwinter Clearance SALE!!!

Everything is on sale in Lisbeth's Etsy shop!

Check it out! Great Valentine's Day gift ideas, or maybe a special midwinter treat for yourself to lift your spirits! Tell us you came by way of Not Bad Thing in the comments section when you make your purchase, and we'll include a free gift!

Blue Goddesses and Bright Zinnias

A new listing! Come take a look! And there are still many items in the shop on sale!

Sweet Summer Mandala Camis & Tees!

Now in the shop! C'mon over and browse around!

Bacon Portrait

No, not Frances Bacon...

Just as Lisbeth sees all sorts of figures and animals in her cut paper designs, she finds these things in other places, too. You've read about Jesus in the tortilla. Well, this past weekend we had a sleepover with Lisbeth and our grandchildren, and while we were eating breakfast, Lisbeth discovered a portrait of her brother Andy in her bacon! This was cause for much delight. She's a funny girl...

A Sweet Tribute

I received such a lovely note today from a woman named Jo who lives in the UK and who recently purchased one of Lisbeth's beautiful tee shirts. She writes so thoughtfully about receiving her new shirt here on her blog, Caim and Coracle.

Thankyou, Jo!

xox Martha & Lisbeth

Ab Fab!

My fabric arrived from Spoonflower yesterday!!! Lisbeth's mandalas look superb as textile designs! I will be sewing napkins and table runners to put in Lisbeth's Etsy shop. Stay tuned!

Stuff Happens

New Zealand writer, artist, and photographer Megan Young writes about Lisbeth today on her beautiful blog, The Scent of Water. Thankyou, Megan! This is such a special tribute, and Lisbeth will be so very pleased! xox

February = Love

Lisbeth Miller loves Little Milkweed...

...and Little Milkweed loves Lisbeth Miller!

Lisbeth's lovely Valens (Lis-ism for Valentines)...

...with the heart cuts! (another Lis-ism...)

Available now in Lisbeth's Etsy shop!

I love Lisbeth's new shirts!

C'mon over to Brain Storm Studio and do a little shopping for someone you love for Valen's Day! A portion of all Lissie's sales goes to support epilepsy research. Gotta love that!

A Business Outing

Yesterday Lisbeth and I drove to Portland early to fetch a few of her newly printed tee shirts for her Etsy shop. We are trying to get her involved in the various aspects of her business, like running errands such as this. Because of her disabilities, which include chronic physical pain, high anxiety, behavioral disturbances, and uncontrolled seizures, Lisbeth is unable to work a daily job like some folks with special needs are able to do.
When I arrived at Lisbeth's house, her helper informed me that she'd just given Lis a half of a lorazepam because Lis was having strong seizure auras. Lis had her water bottle and PRN meds ready to take with us.

Lis likes to be very warm, so she bundles up and we crank up the heat in the car. Because of her TBI, she can't tolerate layers of sound. No radio, Mom. Can't hear the noise!

It's about a 40 minute drive to State of Mind, the print shop that silkscreens Lisbeth's shirts for us. I like that a place called State of Mind prints Lisbeth's brains (how Lis refers to her snowflake/mandalas...)

Lisbeth has been here once before, but it is not left in her brain (Lis-ism). Today it feels brand new and strange. We take it slow...

A nice woman named Sharon Putnam greets us and gives us the finished shirts. She is minding the shop for her son, Paul Mitchell, who does all his silkscreening by hand. Sharon brings out Lisbeth's designs printed on mylar. These are the images that get shot to the screens. We spend some time making sure that we have the correct title on each mandala. Lisbeth enjoys seeing her snowflakes all black. She calls this the scary way of it and remarks that her friend Charles would like them (Charles was a fellow student in the Special Ed department with Lisbeth at Brunswick High School. He wore tee shirts with skulls and scary stuff on them, and his favorite color was black). Lis wonders why there aren't more of her designs here - I assure her that we will soon be making new screens with more of her wonderful designs!

Sharon lets me sneak a peek in the back where the printing happens. I try to get Lisbeth to come with me, but she does not want to. She is getting uncomfortable now and wants to leave. We've made plans to get lunch out and she is ready to roll.

The drive and the lorazepam take their toll.

Lunch revives Lis somewhat...

Business partners.

Back home it's time for a nap. Milkweed tucks Lisbeth in on her couch.

I kiss Lisbeth and Milkweed and head home to photograph the new shirts in my backyard just in time before snow starts to fly...