Monday Fun

Butterfly

Blue Nosed Trolls

A "Sunrise Cut"

Lisbeth clowning in my studio on Monday. Lis missed a couple of Mondays in a row due to seizures, but has been back the past two weeks. Her participation level in an art activity varies depending on her clarity that particular day. She comes to see me straight after her therapy appointment with Stephanie Cimmet, and this week she was eager to show me the two paper cuts posted above that she made in her therapy appointment. The week before she was less clear but able to cut some simple heart shapes in my studio, and sat entranced as I dropped colored inks across their surface, folded them in half, then opened them up to reveal butterflies, and blue nosed trolls...

Great fun.

Playing with Color and The Big Cut

Percolating with ideas for Lisbeth's big new cuts. I'm particularly keen on this design...

Wouldn't these make great tiles? Or fabric squares...

I pulled my palette from a couple of photos of bouquets from last summer's flower gardens...

Marked Improvement

With the Risperdol decrease, Lisbeth's paper cutting is getting more and more fine tuned, more like the way she used to cut. These days she prefers to use a pizza pan to trace the circle for "the giant snowflakes." Even the simplist of these cuts would make beautiful tiles, or striking fabric designs. I'm planning to create some new fabric soon on Spoonflower, using some of these "new cuts."

Crayon Valens

Lisbeth and I made some crayon "valens" (Lis-ism) in my studio yesterday. Then Lis decided to make "a cut" from the colorful waxed paper, too...

She calls this cut "The Wedding One" and, "The Lips...." :^D

I LOVE LISBETH.

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...

How She Is

Lisbeth in my studio, admiring her latest "cut," a butterfly...

Butterfly Cut, by Lisbeth

We have started the second decrease of Risperdol this week. I am hoping that as we move this drug out of Lisbeth's system, her hand tremors and joint pain will be greatly reduced, and that she will be able to cut her snowflakes again with the same level of detail as in the past. I have been worried that Lisbeth's brain is deteriorating, and that this is the reason she can't "make the cuts" (Lis-ism) like she used to. I voiced this concern to her neurologist at her last appointment. Dr. Henninger admitted that adults like Lisbeth with a TBI and uncontrolled seizures will often develop dementia in their 30's and 40's, but she suspected this decrease in hand coordination had more to do with her meds. I believe it's either that or the EPS. Or both. To quote my therapist friend, "You can have ticks and fleas..."

Sweet Summer Mandala Camis & Tees!

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

A Mandala of a Different Color

Lisbeth's bold and beautiful *Pinecone Polka* mandala is currently featured in this fine treasury!

And Speaking of Circles...

Lisbeth's Candlelight Mandala is featured in an Etsy treasury entitled Running in Circles!

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...

Of Mushrooms and Heros

Lisbeth's new big cuts! Wow! I love these! I'm surprised that she chose this page from a newspaper to cut from! So different for her! So bold and abstract! The work of Robert Indiana comes to mind. Lisbeth told me that these cuts are mushrooms. Yes! See them?? They are in the cutouts and the openings! She went on to say, Like Brother Eben's favorite supper. I must pause here to tell you that Lisbeth prefixes all four of her siblings' names with brother and sister. Very 18th century. We know not why. We are not Amish, or Shakers, nor do we live in some weird religious cult. This is just one more example of Lisbeth's endearing Lis-ism's. And sometimes the prefix includes BIG, as in Big Brother Eben...

Here is Lisbeth in 1987, before she became ill, with Big Brother Andy, left, and Big Brother Eben, right. For the record, these big brothers can do no wrong. They are Lisbeth's heros. She often has dreams in which Big Brother Eben and/or Big Brother Andy come to the rescue - killing snakes, wrestling bears, or chasing off bad guys...

But back now to Brother Eben's Favorite Supper. This is a family joke, because this is actually not Eben's favorite supper, but it is stuck in Lisbeth's brain (a Lis-ism) that this IS INDEED Eben's favorite supper. Yes! Yes! You do know, it, Mom! It's left in my brain!

We do not argue this point.

So, without further ado, here's the recipe for (drumroll.....)

Brother Eben's Favorite Supper!

In a large skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef with one small chopped onion. Pour off grease. Add to skillet 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 soupcan of milk, 1 8 oz pkg of cream cheese, 1 can of corn, and S&P to taste. Simmer gently for 15 minutes. Serve over egg noodles.

Big Brother Eben today. He is a history professor at SMCC in South Portland, is married to a wonderful woman named Tracey, and they have two sweet children, Cecilia and Calvin.