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The "US" is now just "ME". It has just passed nine months since Bob passed away on May 5, 2004. Many of you were aware that he was terminally ill with cancer for seven years. His cancer was beginning to progress more rapidly, and although he never had much pain, the bone cancer in his pelvis was starting to cause some pain. He developed an asphogeal hemeorage around midnight on April 26th and died peacefully at 10:20 on the 5th of May. The Lord saw fit to bless us by answering my only prayer, "That he have an easy death, and that I would be able to care for him until the end". Thank you ALL for the many prayers on his behalf, and the cards and calls you've extended after his passing.
One of the reasons we made the move to Florida from Wisconsin was so that I could be where I wanted to spend the remainder of my life without him. He finished all of the projects that were needed to get my little house "painter friendly" with places for all my "stuff". I am, after all, the "queen of shelves" you know. I love my life here, and it is busy and fullfilling. Bob is all around me in all the things he did to make this "our" home, and I'm FINALLY ready to get back to work.
In December 2004 I was 69, so I'll probably never go back to working like I used to. The Decorative painting market is ever changing, and I've decided not to write another book . . . at least not in the near future. It would have been book #30, so I won't say "never", but for now this is what I'm planning to do.
You are reading my first revision on getting back to my web site. Finished changing it from 2.0 to 3.0 just today (2/14/05) so I'm on my way. Check out "RECENT UPDATES" where I will direct you to anything I've added to my site. There are just too many things I want to add/change to list, so keep checking in. I also will continue to travel-teach on a limited basis for hopefully another half dozen years or so. In the future, I'll do some new pattern packets in leu of a book, and I want to add some "FREE PATTERNS" on my site that you can down-load, and submit more projects to magazines. I will continue to conduct "A Day With Jean" private day classes, so perhaps you might like to join me for a class if you're in the Orlando area.
So, I'm very busy working in my yard and enjoying the winter in Florida. Stop by for a visit (just do call ahead) and we'll have a glass of iced tea and listen to the beautiful sounds of my new waterfall by the patio. My five kids were all here in January to help me turn my back yard into "MY SECRET GARDEN". Maybe one of these days I'll learn how to put a picture of it on my site. . . . and I'm learnin' MORE about this computer stuff!
In 1976 Bob and I were married. Three of the five children and I moved with him to the northwest corner of Milwaukee where I opened a tole shop and I continued to teach decorative painting classes. In 1978 I wrote my first three Decorative Painting books, went to the St. Louis National Tole Convention to sell them, and the rest is history.
We moved from Milwaukee to Eagle River, WI in 1982 where we opened another shop and built a studio where I designed and taught classes. Because of the inconvenience of traveling via air from this remote region, we decided to move to Waupaca in central Wisconsin in 1992. We remodeled the 1849 farmhouse and opened a B&B. We also operated a Gift & Tole Shop and studio where I continued to do my design work and painted to sell.
In 2000 I reached that "golden retirement age" and decided that "my idea of retirement" was to just do the things I liked most. The preparation for having a booth at a National Painting Convention takes a LOT of time and energy, and I set up my last booth in Nashville in 2000! I will still continue to write books, design packets and rubber stamp images and travel teach nationally for as long as the Lord allows.
In 2001 after Bob's prostate cancer diagnosis, he suggested that I decide where I wanted to settle permanently when I would be alone, so he could help me with the many remodeling projects needed by THIS decorative painter! We moved to St. Cloud, Fl. in 2002 to be near my daughter, Laurie. We are still in the process of settling in as of 6/03, but my studio is nearly finished and I am beginning to work more and more on designing and painting. It was a monumental move, and I'm thankful that it's behind me. 35+ years of collecting as a decorative artist left me with a LOT of sorting and disposing to do! I still managed to keep and move FAR too many treasures, but I now plan to begin to paint on as many of them as possible in the time I have left!!!
The purpose of this site is to share painting and rubber stamping ideas and experiences and a tasty recipe or two with other decorative painters. (Don't we ALL like to eat good food!) You can always keep up with my latest work here on the web site, as I'm learning to add things and will add to the existing inventory as often as new things are created. Through it all, my Bob continues to be my greatest supporter and helpmate. He works "behind the scenes" so I can keep creating, painting and traveling. I feel blessed to have had this man in my life and hope to keep him there for as long as possible.
If you should find yourself in the St. Cloud, FL area, I hope that you will contact me via the telephone or e-mail and hopefully we can schedule a time together, for a lesson OR just to chat.
We wish you GREAT DECORATIVE PAINTING, and may God Guide your brush!