Thursday Sep 2, 2010 — Thank you for your beautiful drawings and messages

Dear Ms. Brewster,

I picked up a few of your cards today at a hospital gift store in Raleigh, NC.  I am an ICU Nurse, but never wanted to be one.  I wanted to go to art school.  I was never happier than when I was painting children's faces in school, or making little birthday cards for the people I loved.  Your simple words of advice give me hope.  I intend to get back to this area I have neglected for a very long time.  I just wanted to thank you, for your beautiful drawings and messages, and for the words of encouragement given to people you will most likely never meet.

Success to you,
Dianne

Thursday Aug 19, 2010 — Something that makes you laugh out loud

Dear All,

My name is Terry, and I reside in Indiana, just outside of Chicago.  I am a great fan of Patience Brewster and have started collecting her reindeer and dachshunds. 

How many times do you see something that makes you laugh out loud?  The Krinkle reindeer do that for me.  I have Donna, and I adore her.  I keep her out all year.  I also work with dachshund rescue and have three doxies of my own.  I love the dachshund ornaments that you have designed.  I would like to add to my reindeer collection.   I have a few of the small ones, and one of the large ones.  As I said before, I’m so in love with dachshunds; will there be any new ones’ done this year?

I have often thought that Ms. Brewster’s imagination would be a great place to visit.  What lovely, sweet visions dance around there.  Thank you so much for the Krinkles, I love them.

Thank you,
Terry

Wednesday Jun 9, 2010 — A Wonderful Change

I just bought 5 of your cards (I actually could have bought each and every one of them!) at "The Barn" in Dennis, MA. Not only was I laughing hysterically at the messages, I LOVED all the illustrations. You are so talented. What a wonderful change from the boring Hallmark cards!!

Good for you for following your dream and making it all happen for yourself.
~ Joanne

Thursday May 20, 2010 — You Know My Journey
I can't remember the first time I purchased one of your cards but I remember needing to come back to them again and again and again. Sometimes they answered my need for whimsy and other times they answered my need to extend friendship and caring in the face of wordlessness.

I was just writing to a dear friend; your moon and stars is the card for her. She's in a funk and can't really be more specific than that. Nothing tangible going awry and yet life hitting a sort of 'blah' time.  I began my card to her, "I must write to this artist. I love her work. There is a gentility I find quite magnificent."

I was reading your story and for whatever reason I raced to the end without taking in all the detail and I noticed the line inviting us to celebrate and commemorate your son, Holland. I immediately scrolled up and read about him. It is here that I must pause and acknowledge your journey. It is here that your card, "Feeling your Burden" spoke to me profoundly and was given to a friend whose son is going through the ravages of a bone marrow transplant. I know them because my own daughter, Aria, just finished her treatment for ALL leukemia. She's 6 years old and after 2 1/2 years of chemotherapy is doing well, going to kindergarten, playing t-ball, loving lip gloss and talking to her 'boy-friend' Steven on the telephone. All of these things are very, very precious to me. You know my journey and your artwork and expression has been extremely meaningful to me both personally and as a source of creative inspiration.

With Light,
Julia
Tuesday May 11, 2010 — What a gift!

Dear Brewster Family,

The other day, someone gave me the most beautiful card for Mother's Day I've ever received.  It was the type of card I would have created myself, were I one to
create a greeting card.  Tired of the same ol' same ol', looking for something a little more real and open-hearted; this was a breath of fresh air.  

This is the first time in my life I was drawn to a website from a card designer. As I read your story and looked at your links, I have, yet again, reaffirmed my faith in this magical universe. I saw your son working with you in many mystical ways - helping you around every corner. What an angel you have! (I've been known to "see" things for a while now, so I'm finally getting used to the strangeness).  I want you to know, which you probably already do, what a part of your lives he still is, and that he is very peaceful.  I'm also an aspiring writer, so I loved your links for the prospective children's authors!

What a gift you all are.
What a gift!

~Wendy
(whose long ago ex-boyfriend owned a Hallmark store & has ever since sworn off of the brand)

Tuesday Dec 22, 2009 — A Merry Holiday to you!
A Merry Holiday! A  Happy Solstice to you, my friends!
 
Thank you for your words and wishes and your purchases this year.
 
I send you grand love and cheer at this tender time.
 
My Christmas card to you is a little drawing of Willis Wigglesworth Garbanzo Bean Gregg in boots and Holly and, just to show you where inspiration comes from, I send you Willis himself.
(He symbolizes things to come!)
 
What was it Eloise said?
Here's to ~
Springles and sprangles and sprinkles of fun!
 
Chirps!
Patience
Tuesday Dec 15, 2009 — Beautiful Visions of the Natural World
Ms Brewster,

Yesterday I had the great luck to find your ornaments at Best of the Beach on Nantucket. I have to say they are truly the most adorable, creative ornaments I have ever seen. I absolutely love your work and would like to share a little story with you.
 
This year my parents and aunt will be spending the holidays with me on Nantucket. My grandmother, Rosamond passed away 8 years ago. She absolutely loved chickadees. When I ever spied the chickadee ornament I knew I needed one for both my Mum and aunt. As I was looking at the ornament thinking about my Nana my phone started ringing. I was a little irritated until I saw who was calling. My other grandmother, who I am extremely close to. I told her about the adorable ornaments, but because of the interruption I had stopped looking at the ornament until I got home later. I couldn't wait to show it to my husband and pulled one out of the box. When I noticed the rose garland around the chickadees neck I got tears in my eyes. Everyone called my Nana Rose. You couldn't have designed a more perfect ornament to represent my grandmother. I can assure you that these ornaments will be absolutely treasured in my family the rest of our lives. Thank you so much for your beautiful visions of the natural world all around us. Your green fairy of hope will be my tree topper this year. I look forward to collecting your ornaments throughout the years. In me you have definitely found a lifelong customer.
 
I will be anxiously awaiting an upload of the ornaments on your website so I can keep up with your work.
 
I hope you have a wonderful holiday and a fabulous and successful 2010.
 
Sincerely,
Stacey
 

Wednesday Dec 2, 2009 — Your cards, family, Holland
I am so overwhelmed with pleasure, glee, respect and sadness as I round out looking all over your wonderful, happy site.  I was tempted to explore finding you when I saw your adorable penguin and pig pieces in the Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog.  Krinkles!  My all time totally infatuating favorites!  Just so fun and sweet coming from such an inspired, sweet person.
 
I am so sad to hear of your loss of Holland, your gorgeous child and brother.  I lost my 50 year old and 45 year old brothers six years ago and you termed it perfectly; I miss them desperately.  I remain so lost and lonely without them as they were so much sweeter and kinder than I will ever be.
 
We lost a 32 year old niece after she waged a ten year battle with Stage 4 non-Hodgkins.  She loved pigs and I always thing of her anytime I see one.
 
God is blessing you, Patience, especially for following your heart in your work.  The "experts" do not always know what will work.  Often we are our own best judges.
 
Hugs to you and your family.  Thank you for your precious, funny, endearing, whimsical art which is just my perfect cup of tea.
 
Frani
Wife, Mother of four, grandmother of almost three, fabric artist, seamstress, etc
Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 — Patience is in Where Women Create!
Some birds get Nervous in November.
I have been one of them.

Imagine having a wonderful editor of a magazine you totally respect say she is coming to your house.

Grab your broom and your bucket of suds!
Then imagine getting through the interview and photography.

Now imagine that was June and the pictures will come out in November! You have all that time to be nervous, to anticipate. You try to have faith in the editor.

A few days before the November release, the magazine arrived right on my birthday!  I sat down and read it cover to cover.  It took me hours because it is so chock full of interesting women making beautiful things in really wonderful spaces.

Whew! Sigh. Breathe.

The magazine is Where Women Create and I now see what a turkey I was.  Of course I could trust Jo Peckham to do her fabulous work!  Thank you, thank you Jo!  I had to subscribe because each edition in this first year has been jam packed so you can crawl into intriguing corners and boxes, tins and jars, sift through an artist’s bag of tricks; their snippets and buttons, tinsels and trinkets, pebbles, feathers, sprinkles, spangles and beads. So great!

In our office, Rebecca Dalton is always thinking about you.  She reminds me that you might want a copy of this magazine.  She was so clever as to buy some extras.  She also asked me to sign them, thought you might like that.  Now she is putting them up on the web store.

I am looking forward to visiting my family home in Massachusetts, visiting my abundant relatives, (and the wild turkeys) in Plymouth. I wish you a fabulous Thanksgiving.  I am so thankful to be able to go home, thankful for gathering around a table full of siblings and their offspring.  Here’s to a steamy plate of winter squash, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, caramelized onions and mashed potato.  

And here is to you!

Cheers and chirps. Gobble gobble,
Patience
November 2009
Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 — Santa Ornaments!

Hi Patience,

I really enjoyed reading about you, and your wonderful creative talents, in [the new magazine] Where Women Create.  I collect Santa ornaments (better if they can stand on their own) and I loved the one you show on pg.20.  Can you tell me what the price will be?  Will you have a collection for Christmas?

My hobby is making Art Dolls and love looking through "Art Doll Quarterly."  I am 77 years old and find such a deep fulfillment from being creative.  I'm so sorry that your darling Holland was taken from your life.  I hope you felt God's arms around you during that difficult time.  Your drawings bring joy to so many people.  I can't imagine having your creative talents.  You are blessed.

A new fan in Gilbert, AZ,
Delores

Monday Oct 5, 2009 — News from Patience!

(Please click on the image to the right)

Dear Birds,

As I am working on 2010 cards, it dawns on me that I never wrote to tell you about our new mid year cards nor our new Samplers of everyday cards...(you get a box of 10 to have on hand for different occasions.. and at a savings.. you get two cards for free!)
I always wanted to offer this type of assortment.

Look up my anti-gravity invention on a new birthday card. It features a machine that helps lift and fix body parts that are dangling. I want to own such a machine.

My new ornaments have arrived in the stores!
There are some, however that are floating down the flooded muddy streets of Manila. Please send your good thoughts to the people of the Philippines and Indonesia who are under siege by monsoons. tsunamis and earth quakes, disasters on par with Katrina in loss and devastation. We are hoping for nature to offer them some peace and time to allow for healing and restoration and repair.

I am working on several surprises for 2010... new journals, linens, silver pendants, bracelets, purses and framed art!

Fall colors are emerging drenched in lake effect wetness inherent to this region. Time to pull out the storm windows, light a fire to welcome Halloween spooks and then settle into the season of thankfulness.

This brings me to tell you how grateful I am for you wonderful ones who still put a stamp on your musings, messages and wishes. And thank you to those of you who have followed me from Krinkles past to today. I hope you will see the new pieces and feel and see "la difference"! Thank you too for your contributions to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society research through donations and your purchases of the 2009 LLS Ornament - the Green Fairy of Hope.

Oh! Yes! Please look up the wonderful magazine called Where Women Create.   Editor and new friend Jo Packham visited in June so that she could create an article on yours truly for the November issue. It should be available soon.

Cheers and Chirps,               
Patience               
10 02 09

Wednesday Sep 30, 2009 — Re: All in the Partner

Dear Mike and Vivyanne,

Thank you so much for your note. I am glad to hear your thoughts. I am happy you liked and pondered so deeply, the card you found. I always hope to offer an idea and my emotions without crowding out a viewers interpretation, thoughts or emotions. It amazes me that, at times, people will read my exact thoughts.

Other times, the same drawing will make one person laugh while the person standing next to him, cries...

I love the small moments in life, a brief glance, a look in the eye, a gesture that might be fleeting but might speak to us, remain with us for a long long time.
It takes me a while to complete my drawings. Over the days or weeks that I work on them, I listen to the little voices, or the souls of the beings I am working on.

This was the story of an unlikely couple, oblivious to genus and species, even though their pairing might have caught an onlooker off guard.I tried to catch a second that revealed their devotion, the joy and delight they found in each other.

I liked to think that that devotion made them dance, lighter than air, if only in their hearts.  Even though they were essentially very different beings, they never saw the obstacle in this, in fact,  I thought that, over time, they had begun to even look a little bit alike, (hence the arms and legs) as many couples do.

Thank you again for writing to me.
Patience

Wednesday Sep 30, 2009 — All in the Partner

My husband and I want to know the REAL story behind the card entitled “TRUE LOVE . . . It’s all in the Partner.”  I gave that card to my husband on the 25th of Sept. for our 17th Anniversary.  The fish is "walking" with the loving guiding hands of the frog.  When I look at it I see that the frog has "made or crafted" the arms and legs for her and when my husband looks at it he sees that the fish has loved the frog soooo much, she grew the arms and legs and is learning to walk on them.  What's your meaning?  I know both of our thoughts are part of what anyone can see but is there a real story about this card?  Every time I look at it I'm overwhelmed with the love & trust it represents.  Thank you for being such an insightful creative artist.

Best Regards,
Mike & Vivyanne