A few weeks ago, I had resigned myself to the notion that our cherished art days were behind us. Heather seemed disinterested, and I feared our creative journey had come to an end. After a brief hiatus, however, I decided to give it another try. To my delight, Heather’s passion for art has been rekindled, as you may have seen in my most recent posts.
Today, I experienced an enlightening “ah-ha” moment. In the past, I would often present Heather with a blank canvas and some paint, and she would dive into the creative process without hesitation. But today, I realized that a blank canvas no longer sparked her imagination. So, I quickly sketched a rough outline of a fish and laid out three of her favourite paint colours.
Heather began with purple and then used turquoise and orange to fill in the areas around the fish. This project held her interest for a considerable time, and she looked quite pleased with herself when she finished.
Dear Hetty,
This is brilliant! I think this will help so many dementia caregivers as well as dementia sufferers! I so wish I had had your book when living through my mother’s dementia. I had the right idea, as I did do artsy-crafty things with her, and I was so grateful to find something we could enjoy together. Over time, of course, it became harder and harder to find projects that were suitable for her diminishing abilities, and I would scour the stores for new ideas. I would have loved to have your book as a guide. No matter, we did alright for quite a while, and your book will be a blessing for others, going forward. Bravo!
I
Dear Sherry
Thank you for your kind and supportive message. I decided to write this book because, like you, I faced the challenge of finding suitable art projects for Heather. After the first year, it became extremely difficult to find ideas that maintained an artistic essence while being simple enough to complete without causing frustration. Most of the ideas I found online were focused on activities like crossword puzzles and word searches, which didn’t capture the creative spirit I was looking for and were far beyond Heather’s ability. I’m eagerly awaiting the first shipment of books, which I plan to sell online. I appreciate you reaching out.
Warm Regards, Hetty