Art by Kemma

09/28/2023

05/05/2023

🛑 STOP abusing the "" tag in groups!

No one wants a notification of every single post in a group. It's so annoying, and it leads to my immediate exit from groups when the admins abuse it and tag everyone for everything.

03/11/2023

What is the Free Hat Project?

On August 6th, 2022 8 was standing on a chair to change a lightbulb, stepped off the chair incorrectly, and broke my left arm and some hand bones (tailbone too). I was in a hard splint for months - much longer than is usually needed, because the bones were very slow to heal.

As a result, I then had severely decreased mobility in my left arm and hand (thank goodness I'm right-handed!). I also developed CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) in my entire left arm - shoulder to fingertips - which causes swelling, pain, and nerve confusion (like feeling itchy or tingly for no reason).

In the meantime, my husband (a 100% disabled combat veteran) was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and underwent surgery in October to remove his left kidney, and then he started immunotherapy right after the new year.

I also homeschool 2 neurodivergent children.

I did not have the time to go to the hand therapy my orthopedic doctor suggested for physical therapy to regain my mobility and to get the exercise that helps reduce the CRPS symptoms.

My ortho then suggested art therapy. He knows I'm an artist (usually canvas and jewelry and resin arts) because I had BEGGED to be splinted not casted to retain *some* use of my left side during bone healing.

So, I started art therapy the best way I knew how with a painful arm/hand - by crocheting. I could start doing small bits at a time and work my way up to longer and longer stretches of work... and it started working! My hand and arm started regaining mobility!

At this point, I had about 20 hats I had finished and randomly left half at a homeless outreach center and half at the Madison County VA veteran's service office.

But I kept going and going and going...

As of March 8th, 2023, I've made approximately 100 hats, and I continue to leave them in places that are frequented by folks who may need a hat but may not be able to afford one.

I'm always in need of yarn donations. I've had some local folks that have dropped off some yarn and I'm forever grateful for that, but the majority of yarn at this point is being purchased by me with my extremely limited budget. Any yarn donations are used only for hats for the Free Hat Project. All monetary donations are used solely for yarn for the Free Hat Project.

At this point, my arm and hand no longer need the physical therapy - but I continue to create more hats because now it has become a passion that anyone in my local area who needs a hat should have access to one. Plus, my husband will continue his treatment at the cancer center until December, and I plan to refill the hat pile on the table at every single visit.

So, that's the story of how it got started, and why it will continue for as long as possible.

03/10/2023

Free hat project!
Today's drop off is at the cancer center in Anderson 💜



The Free Hat Project is running VERY LOW on yarn.
If you're able to contribute, I'd highly highly appreciate it 💜

The last pic shows options, and I'll post a wishing list in the comments 💜

01/01/2023

Will you be participating?
What mediums do you work with?

12/02/2022

Just one of the things I make.

This glass bottle is filled with crystal gemstones, along with colored foil flakes, and tiny colored glass chips, all done in layers, and each layer has resin added to keep all the small pieces stable and help stabilize the glass to prevent breakage.

11/25/2022

Image description - a forest of birch trees in tones of purples and blues, with the words "I have no energy for hate. I either love you, wish you well, or hope you heal." written in black cursive.

11/21/2022

I made an avatar.
Love it?
Hate it?

11/21/2022

As the holiday season approaches, and the daylight gets shorter and shorter each day, it can become a stressful and depressing time for many people.

So please remember to be gentle with yourself. Take time for you. Take care of you.

Love,
~Kemma🎨🌈

11/17/2022

This is awesome and hysterical!