Tea in memory of my friend Gina

Today I'm having a cup of tea in memory of Gina Wise, my dear internet friend who died last Friday. I hope this small memorial to her will help me, and possibly a few of her close art friends, find some closure in this absolutely unfair way that Gina was taken from us. As mentioned above, Gina died last Friday from a heart attack she suffered on Monday night. Cards and letters may be sent to her family by requesting her address from me. My e-mail is on my profile page.


Gina and I were in many swaps. Many of them were ATC swaps. I didn't have time to dig out the ATCs Gina made, but I took time to find the art she made that I found in some of my bound books. From left, the 6th Anniversary Swap, the 7th Anniversary Arches swap, and the Houses swap, all on ABC (Altered Book Club), and the Halloween stand alone page she sent as part of a hostess gift during the 12 Days of Christmas Swap. Today, along with Kimmie and the rest of the tea participants found on Kimmie's sidebar, I'm honoring Gina in the best way I know how: through her art.


Gina made two Arches for this swap. This one was witty and humorous.


For the Houses swap, I believe Gina told us this was a photo of her parents. Gina's photo is the one of the angel who sits on the roof, blessing the house.


I was never able to get a good photo of the other Arch Gina made for that swap.

On the left is one of 25 ORIGINAL zentangles Gina made. Although they were all very similar, there were minute differences in each.


Gina had one extra hand left from the swap. When she learned I was making a "Hands" themed book, she told me she was going to send it as soon as she found it. She laughed when she finally found it, and put the date she mailed it on the bottom. The back was actually made in June, 2009 and she sent it in November, 2009. I didn't care. I would have waited forever on Gina's wonderful art!


I'm not sure what swap Gina was in, but she made this "extra" one for me, because she knew I had a Halloween themed AB that had tip-ins in it. As soon as I get the Halloween book back from Dana, I will add it to the book.


Something you won't see on the table, because I only decided to show it after some gut wrenching moments. On Friday I received a package from Gina with a "thank you" written on it. When I opened it, inside was this note: "I'm sending you the prototype Mendhi hand I made for Patty. I thought you'd enjoy having it!" It was haunting seeing the hand written message on the same day I learned of her death.


But Gina was like that. Once she knew you, she was so generous, so sweet, so supportive.


And although the light was streaming onto my dining room table, Gina, at age seven, looked almost surreal, much like the angel she now is. Rest in peace, Gina, and teach everyone in Heaven about altered art. You sure influenced me.

Ironically, Gina left me a message a week ago Friday, after I showed the last of the Teal journal. She said she had not yet worked in the book I made for her, but planned to. Having left the message with her blogger icon, instead of as "anonymous," I was able to track down her blog. I was especially delighted because this is what she wrote when asked if she had a blog in a private swap group we were in:

I started a blog in the middle of the night a couple of years ago and have
re-visited only once so, no I don't.  For quite a while I couldn't remember my
password!  Elizabeth is always encouraging me to get back to it but I haven't
invested the energy yet. 

So today, please take about five minutes while enjoying your tea to visit Aunt Gigi's House. And if you want to see more of Gina's art, please visit Patty's tribute to Gina here.