Thursday Nov 1, 2012 — Your beautiful work

Dear Patience,

My name is Erin and I write to you from CT.  I'm a mom of two beautiful toddler girls and I recently came across your amazing work.  

I'm currently buying piece by piece of your amazing Nativity Set and am looking forward to eventually collecting all of your work.

I read a quote recently that said "We have lost all color as a society" and I truly believe that your beautiful work proves that quote wrong!

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world and your work has a very special place in our family. It brings such joy to all our faces!

Hope this email finds you well and thank you again for so much joy,

Best,
Erin

Monday Aug 20, 2012 — A Letter from Patience Brewster

Dear Birds,

This has been a year of extraordinary travel for me! Tanzania, India and Paris with my sister and daughter, Manila, Amsterdam and most recently Warsaw and Krakow.

Our trip to Africa was a gift from my husband to celebrate 35 years of marriage! We were detached from everything while in Tanzania. It is a peaceful place and I felt a primordial bliss there. I trusted that things were as they should be. Life, death and calm co-existence between the animals create a humbling, honest rhythm. It is ethereal to sleep with elephants and giraffe on the horizon while Marabou storks romance above your tent.  We loved being the unthreatening unobstructed observers of the eyes, muscles, body and breath of the Serengeti.

India was Elephants, Camels, acrobatic children and honking cars in a gigantic cacophony of spirituality, chaos and COLOR! I hope to bring you a taste of India soon!

In Manila, craftsmanship reached a higher level. We have intricate pieces in the works! My friend who oversees the work, said to me, “Patience, (long pause), you know, (another pause), you are getting even PICK-I-ER!”

In Poland, the glass blowers said to me, “I do not think we can do this!”  We struggled for several days, but in the end, they made everything I had asked for, and beautifully! I could tell they were proud of their work when icy bottles of Zubrowka Vodka clinked onto the table!  You might soon see this year's glass, thin as paper, arriving in shops for Christmas.  I hope you will like the new twist on traditional mouth blown glass.

At home, our card company is winding down. Ten years of art, joy and collaboration with my daughter make up the cards that have connected us with customers all over the world.  We loved making the cards in America.

Traveling certainly makes one appreciate staying home! But it also opens windows into life in third world countries.

We are so very lucky here, despite a depressed economy. We are thriving in comparison to most of the world.   Some of our workers own three changes of clothing, one chair and one pair of shoes and yet they convey happiness and a towering appreciation for their steady jobs. They are very proud of their work.

When people ask me about making things in the U.S.A., I tell them, it would certainly be easier but the cost of each ornament would skyrocket into the hundreds of dollars if we could even find people to paint the tiny detail.
 
We go where cultures evolved around sculpting and painting, glass blowing and embroidery. We hope to keep these shrinking crafts alive. In the Philippines, my agent tells me; all the sculptors “come from the same hill!"  People are people no matter where they live. They have loving hearts and simply need safe homes and food for their children.

We have a wonderful office family of dedicated workers in the U.S.A. And we extend our arms because of you, across the planet to the mothers and fathers whose nimble fingers chisel sand and paint each ornament. We are lucky to work together.

Cheers and Chirps,
Patience

Monday Jan 2, 2012 — A Special Little Trip Into Your World
Last Mother's Day my daughter sent me the most touching card - the fennel and little seeds.  It moved me the moment I read it - I've treasured it, showed it to others and am creating a handmade book to celebrate the relationship my daughter and I share which will contain this beautiful card.

I just found your web site when I wanted to share the message of the card with a friend who is experiencing the empty nest.  What a special little trip I've just made into your world.  It's one I will return to.  What a beautiful son you had - you are honoring his life.  Thank you for sharing your world and that of your family.

Jerie,
Illinois
Monday Oct 31, 2011 — Searching for a Navitity

WOW! You are a beautiful artist and and what a fantastic company you have started.  We have been looking for a fun beautiful nativity scene for our home and came across the beautiful one you have designed and created.  I LOVE it!  It's fun, lively, whimsical, and truly the best one I have come across - and I have been searching!!

Lizzie,
Concord, MA

Thursday Oct 27, 2011 — Every Day is Christmas Day
To the Little Elf who reads emails,

My husband and I were in New York in 2008 and I purchased six beautiful guest towels embroidered with the Patience Brewster Christmas Reindeer.  I treasure them.  Then, to my surprise and delight did I discover the ornaments here in Brisbane, Australia.  I have now purchased my third reindeer to match the guest towels.  

I have just tapped into your website and read all about you including, sadly, the tragic loss of your wonderful son/brother.  My husband is, so far, winning a battle with cancer, and his motto is:  Every Day is Christmas Day.  And so, I would like you to know how much pleasure we are getting from these beautiful, exquisite ornaments!  They bring us much happiness and laughter.  All being well, we will be in New York again in 2012, and I look forward to searching for more PB treasures!
 
Thank you and kind wishes,
Elizabeth
Hamilton Center, Australia
Tuesday Sep 27, 2011 — A Birds note from Patience!

Hi Birds,

There was a flurry of mock orange, peonies, roses, romantic tented weddings on long green lawns. We send congratulations to Sam and Caroline, to Kimmy and Jason.

There were magical nights outside with particularly fabulous music played by my husband and the Dean Brothers under the stars by the lake where the whole town gathered, filling our pretty park to overflowing with dancing and memories.

My sister Marlee Brockmann and I ferried to Martha's Vineyard for our opening at the Field Gallery with artist Paul Langmuir. This year was a moving tribute to him remembering our beloved, sorely missed, larger than life friend.

I got to take my Mexican grand nieces to see Plymouth Rock between visits with my 91 year old mum.

Hubbard and I went to Europe where we created something totally new for you. We hunkered down and completed our task without a second to spare. Once again we are working with complicated totally hand made items, so it is always tricky! On our last day we picnicked with our friends and their pet deer and white turkeys. They served crisp vegetables from their garden and icy Polish vodka!

Everyone in our office was together here in August. That doesn't happen often so we had to celebrate a week of Hubbard hanging ornaments and branches from twenty foot ladders, Marietta bracing herself for designing our 2012 catalog and Courtney about to be come our first new mom. (She has since delivered Harrison Jones Alexander and he is perfect! Congratulations to the beautiful happy family). Fortunately our crew loves to celebrate and they deserve to as well!

Now there is rustling in the high branches, a cackling of crows, and the occasional faint, honking from on high that forewarns fall.

Our markets are filling up with Concord grapes, the last dahlias and the first gourds. How did this happen?

Holly is busy photographing the new surprises to debut in 2012! I am dying for you to see what is coming up, but, in time, in time.

As we usually do at this time of year, we are offering a few items from my personal collection of retired products in our web store, thinking of Halloweens past and present!

As always, I thank you for your interest in what is happening here. Please know how much I love hearing from you and knowing you are out there.

Cheers and chirps,

Patience

 

 

Thursday Sep 22, 2011 — A note from Patience! Over a September Weekend...
Monday Sep 12, 2011 — A Canadian Bird of a Feather
Dear Ms. Brewster,

This is a fan note. I’ve loved your work from the moment I first saw your Christmas ornaments in a shop window a couple of years ago. They are just irresistible and destined to become classics. I’m in awe of your imagination and creativity. I wish you the best of luck and continued success!

Sincerely,
Marie
Victoria, BC Canada
Tuesday Jul 19, 2011 — It doesn't have to be perfect! ITS YOURS
Dear Patience,

You had asked me to let you know when I "picked up my paint brush."  I am the ICU nurse who wrote you way back in September of 2010.  How time flies!  Much has happened in my life since then, and I am sure in yours, as well.  I have seen people die while at the bedside, and I have seen the miracle of patients who somehow pull through, against all the odds.  

In my own life, my love of eight years left me, and a beautiful grandson came aboard!  We never know what life has in store.  Mainly, I wanted to thank you for your encouragement.  Your letter to me has stayed on my refrigerator all this time, a constant little nudge.  Finally in the spring I bought oodles of supplies, and a little old school desk to keep them in...and I made one tiny drawing, of a woman painting a child's face.  It says, "Share that gift" which is what you did, with me.  It's not a good drawing...but it was a start!  Today I was on my way to the store to buy a calendar, when it hit me..."Why don't you just make your own?"  So that is what I am doing this Friday night.  At one point, when I was observing how my lines weren't quite straight, and my letters were not exactly all the same, I had such a revelation!  So I wrote it, on the calendar.  It says "It doesn't have to be perfect!  ITS YOURS!"
 
And so as I continue tonight on my private work of art, I am reminded of you, and your kind words to me.  And I thank you.  My gift to you is a picture of my laughing grandson, who makes people smile wherever he goes.

Fondly,
Dianne
Wednesday Jun 15, 2011 — Clown College

Dear Patience,

I have just received the most marvelous correspondence card and wondered if the design were available as a frameable print.  The card shows a round white image of a female with a blue clown nose, a Harpo horn in the left hand, a ruffed collar, ruffles around the bottom of the skirt and big white or bluish clown shoes. The text reads “Halfway through Clown College she was having her doubts”.  This really spoke to me, on several levels.  I am a clown and the sender of the card was the person who encouraged me to go to Clown College.  I have just been named Clowns of America International Clown of the Year, 2011. My husband and I both wondered immediately if this design is in a large printing.

Thank you for the smiles and the beauty you bring to the world.

Barbara
“Sparky the Clown”, COAI Clown of the Year, 2011

Wednesday May 18, 2011 — A promised May Note!

I promised my team that I would write to you more often.

My first note was to be sent on May first. How am I doing so far?

I have a good excuse!

Holly and I made an emergency trip to California. The emergency involved a LONG cold dark winter and spring in the Finger Lakes.

The day before we were to leave, our sign off meeting was punctuated with crashing thunder and impenetrable rain then Courtney’s cry that water might be coming in under the door. By the time I got down the cellar stairs, there were five inches of water there. The girls in the office would not let Holly jump in wearing his shoes. In high rubber boots, I quickly discovered that the sump pump had picked a fine time for a break down.   In seconds all the girls in the office were out in the drenching rain with push brooms, boards and buckets diverting the flow. A waterfall streamed over my garden wall right into the window wells.

All cleaned up and looking back, it was a pretty funny scene.

All this endless wetness inspired putting the Ark items up on our exclusives page!

It was that and missing my daughter and needing to make new living/ office arrangements in San Diego that got us out of town.

It turned out to be an industrious week. Marietta scored a new space, Holly found contractors while waiting in line at the hardware store. They brought masons and roofers. I chose tiles, flooring, and paint colors.

We gave ourselves one morning to visit the morning farmer’s market for coconuts, green juice, avocados and asparagus  and one afternoon for the Coronado dog beach with its glittering gold flecked sand, pure heaven for Will, my dog, and Marietta’s  Frenchies, Ruben and Petunia.  The sparkling beach looks overly dressed and glamorous at two pm, makes you want to start panning.

The rest of our days were filled with elbow grease but at night... yummy local fish or pork belly tacos for the meat eaters, scallop seviche, smoked octopus with roasted vegetables, fresh squeezed citrus and frosty mules. Have you ever tasted aged fermented black garlic? Oh my god... just a tiny bit as an ingredient, deeply smokey and sweet.

Sixteen shades of green went on the walls in an attempt to find the perfect color of celery lime and parsley juice or that of those gorgeous California succulents. A few shades went out side in an attempt to harmonize with the out door abundance. Roses, jasmine, geranium, wisteria and cala lilies were all blooming and fragrant thanks to an unusually rainy California winter.

Marietta and I tweaked tea towels and ornaments for 2012. I have to just glue my lips together not to tell you about some of these extra exciting...... things!

I brought art supplies and pencil drawings which I never touched. I painted profusely, yes, but not on paper!  The names of the final color choices: Hay Day, Baby Frog and Martian. They sound like titles for chapters of my life!

We are back and I am checking this note to you off from the top of the 'to do' list.

Until next time, mi amigos y amigas. Check, Cheers, Chirps.

Patience

Tuesday Apr 12, 2011 — Happy Spring!
Dear Birds,

I want to catch up with you with news of good and productive things and of earth shattering things...

While in the Philippines, working on the ornaments for 2012, the tsunami caused by the massive earthquake hit Japan. Hubbard, my friend and resource specialist and I watched the tragedy unfold on his laptop, frozen in disbelief.

Needless to say there was no shortage of concern for the people of neighboring Japan or of rampant fear in the Philippines of tides and radiation. We struggled to resume painting spotted pigs and carving angels and Santa Clause.

The situation in Japan worsened and became more complicated daily. We attempted changing flights as we both had layovers in Japan, but to no avail.

All we wanted was to be strapped in and lifting off from the still shuddering earth on our flights departing Japan... but when I was finally on that plane I was overwhelmed with excruciating sadness for the polite, calm people still standing and working on their poisoned island that will suffer for years to come.

Feeling overly fortunate to be safe at home, we are keeping Japan in our hearts, focused on the hope that there will be healing for the people and a way to seal its leaking radiation plant.

This disaster and those of the past few years certainly tell the tale that we need to find safer cleaner energy,  that the mighty oceans and the howling winds so vocal this winter may be pounding on us less and less subtly in an effort to show us the endless power that they wield freely and generate effortlessly daily.

On to the productive side of this trip . . .

I have to say that this visit produced some of the most endearing moments and characters yet from all my years bringing drawings into 3D. I will, in my next letter, tell some of those stories and show some photos and videos. You will see Boyet who quietly, patiently, sculpts many of my images into three dimensions, usually from one piece of wood. In one clip you will see just how long it takes a painter to finish just the tiny eyes on one ornament. The eyes are crucial. They make the key connection with an unsuspecting shopper!!

I have news about our store that I need to tell you right away because Easter is coming!

I gave John, in the warehouse and to Melissa, on the web, the go ahead to put up Easter Eggs and Bunnies, spring flowers and trees from my collection of retired pieces.

Holly took some great pictures that will get you in a spring mode! You will find them under the exclusives tab.

Here is the scoop too on my sterling silver pins and pendants. Much as I loved going to Mexico and working with my friends there, the price of silver is out of control, nearly doubled.

We have the small edition of original pieces available in our store now. It is unlikely that we will go back and make more for the time being. I have put up a little background story on each piece to show you why it came to exist. The pieces are worth their weight in pure silver! Literally!


Cheers and Chirps,
P
Tuesday Mar 1, 2011 — What A Greeting Card Can Do
Dear Patience:
 
Over the past couple of months we have been facing lay offs at my place of work.  Being a civil service position, we had to take a test and wait several months for the results from Albany.  Luckily, I was one of the three not to be laid off.  Throughout this difficult time, my sister and brother-in-law have been so supportive.  I called to let them know my great news and a few days later I opened the mailbox to one of your greeting cards and I don't think a card has ever been so appropriate!  It is the one with the queen on the front and the greeting inside states, "I sent the Congratulations Fairy...to deliver your crown!"  Cheers to You!"   
 
Thanks for sharing your unique artwork through greeting cards.
 
Sincerely,
Kathy
Wednesday Dec 1, 2010 — A Holiday Note from Patience Brewster

(click on the image to the right)

The pilgrim in me does not allow too much Christmas talk until Thanksgiving has been fully appreciated.

So, just back from a feasting family visit in Plymouth, It is time to wish you Christmas warmth and beauty, winter deliciousness on your table, and a little glittering light in your heart.

Rebecca wants me to remind you that we have a little red fairy who might appeal to you. She is available only from our exclusives tab (right here at our little online shop).

Your local store should be brimming with ornaments and gifts by now.  I hope you can find the reindeer, retrievers, dachshunds and bull dogs that you were looking for last year.  And you might discover sterling silver fish, leaves, hearts, and birds in pins and pendants that are tucked into some special stores.

I leave you with an intention: Imagine if we all released just a little extra sparkle and generosity from our hearts this December.  The world would bask in the radiance.

Joy and Cheer,
Patience

Friday Sep 24, 2010 — Something Special for Our Peeps

(click on the image to the right)

September 2010

Birds . . .

It has been a long time between letters.  I would love to fill you in on our scenario right now . . .

I left my troops in New York madly packing and shipping ornaments, cards & jewelry to stores all over the country.  Holly, my husband, was behind his camera taking “glamour” shots of the freshly minted little pieces, preening for their debut.  These are the first sprouts in preparation for the Christmas after this one, in 2011!

I arrived in San Diego to work with my daughter, Marietta, our designer . . . (and to transport her Frenchie, Ruben).  She is manipulating her dad’s photographs and weaving them into our 2011 catalog.

At her table, overlooking palms, pines & mountains, I am brooding, hatching & incubating ideas for, yes, 2012!  (If you have a brilliant suggestion, now is the time to bring it on!)  We have one arm and 2 feet in three different years! (While trying to reside in the present!)
          
Last winter I took some drawings and small flat sculptures to Mexico to work with a wax sculptor & sterling mold maker.  The result is a line of sterling pendants and pins I would like to wear.  Like my ornaments, each piece is handmade, no machines involved, and each is slightly unique.  They are weighty, but comfy & easy to wear with a little patina of time built right in to catch the light.
          
Stores are selling them on Amazon.com, but please call us for a store near you.  These are showing up in new and different places.          

There is a surprise on our Exclusives page (of our online store)!  We have begun a new tradition!  Starting this week, this year, we will offer one exclusive ornament every year.

Something special for our peeps, for you, the Birds!

Cheers & Chirps
from Patience

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