About
For most of my life, I was a writer who didn't write! After a long illness in the 90s that temporarily took from me the ability to write, I woke up and decided to get busy.
My current project is Patchwork and Ornament: A Woman's Journey of Life, Love, and Art by Jeanette Feldman, which I edited. I wrote and published When a Grandchild Dies: What to Do, What to Say, How to Cope and edited Joy-Full Holistic Remedies by Georgie Holbrook. I've also published numerous articles and have had my work featured in an academic textbook.
I'm married to Henry, a fantastic guy with two fun kids, Joe and Sarah. We love to travel, and I'm also into yoga, gardening, cooking, and health.
Story Behind The Book
When Jeanette Feldman, my late mother-in-law, died unexpectedly in December 2008, we were unprepared for the treasure trove of journals and other writings that she left behind. I began to organized them, intending to create a keepsake for family members, but I found Jenny's story so compelling that I decided to share it publicly. With the blessing of Jenny's husband, Norm, and knowing from Jenny's own words that she would support such an effort, I created Patchwork and Ornament.
Reviews
<p>From Feathered Quill:</p>Reviewed by: Lynette Latzko<br /><p>
Review Date: December 28, 2009</p><p>The unique collection of art that goes behind such creations as
patchworks, mosaics and collages really set them apart by joining an
assortment of unique individual ideas or pieces together to work
collaboratively to make an entire work of art. This is exactly like the
stories, journals, letters, poems and drawings that make up <em>Patchwork & Ornament: A Woman's Journey of Life, Love, and Art.</em>
Collected by Nadine Galinsky Feldman (and her family), the editor and
daughter-in-law of the author, Jeanette Feldman, the writings in this
book work together to create a complete recollection of a life well
lived. Now, one may believe that selecting a few important stories from
Jeanette's life would be sufficient, but to do that would not do her
life the honored justice that it deserves. Instead Jeanette's
daughter-in-law breathed life into many varied works and displays them
together in one book for all to enjoy.
</p><p>Although Jeanette Feldman's life was not an easy one, as she
grew up in the Depression Era in the South Bronx, NY, a poor daughter
of an immigrant mother and disabled father, Jeanette's struggles did
not get in the way of her artistic passions. Studying art at Cooper
Union School of Art, she was able to surmount her difficult life and
bring beauty into her world through not only the written word, but
works of painted art, which have been proudly displayed in galleries in
New York, New Jersey and Texas, and are also included in full-color in
this collection. The following is a wonderful example of poetry written
by Jeanette, taken from the pages of <em>Patchwork & Ornament:</em>
</p><p>The trees, the flowers grow<br />
and bloom and fruit<br />
because they must,<br />
because they're alive.<br />
I do what I do because I must,<br />
because my being says I must,<br />
and because I'm alive. (p. 128)</p><p><em>Patchwork & Ornament</em> is simply an extraordinary
collection of writings that not only honors the life of an artistic
woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend, but truly has the power to
inspire the creativity in us all. Despite a not so perfect life, and a
career in the art world that was sometimes wobbly, Jeanette persevered,
and she has left us an everlasting legacy of her creations. </p><p>Quill says: This work is a touching
celebration and tribute of life in all its glory, from love, to family
and children, to the heartaches of death and all other life struggles.
No one should miss reading this book, and should consider it a
privilege to be able to get a glance into the complex life of such a
remarkably creative person.
</p><p>
For more information on <em>Patchwork & Ornament: A Woman's Journey of Life, Love, and Art</em> please visit the website: <a href="http://www.patchworkornament.com/">Patchworkornament.com</a>
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