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ArtmakersWorlds is my portfolio space. This is where I show some of the art and crafts I've made. Anything I have for sale on any kind of click and buy it now is on ebay. Or look around here, ask me if your interested in anything. Enjoy your visit.

You will NOT find me on etsy, nor will I promote anyone on etsy. Sorry. Read the whole story here.

Artfire just joined my shit list for horrible sites. And they started out so good too. But they sold out. Ads slapped everywhere, and like SO many other sites in the past, complain too much and get booted. So fine. I always said when it stops being fun I stop doing it. Except, people do keep contacting me asking if I have this that or the other for sale. I actually have TONS of stuff I made and had listed elsewhere.
Hoped to build a store right here, but wow. Coding has changed, and software to build a website that is suppose to be so easy? It's not. Ebay has improved some since I last stopped ever listing anything, and they have all the stuff needed for taking payments etc.
So for now, I'm going to try that again. Not counting on this lasting, (didn't before) but we'll see.

Anything you may have found on pinterest or elsewhere (my photos all have watermarks so most people can still find me.) Just contact me directly.
I have sold many pieces directly, it's a little bit more of a pain to e-mail me, find out what I have, wait for me to send a pay pal invoice, and go like that. But it can be done.

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I am utterly heart broken. My husband of 40 years has passed. He just quit smoking last Sept. Then we found esophagus cancer around Thanks Giving and started chemo and radiation.
HE BEAT CANCER! YEA. But then he was diagnosed with emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis. Probaby had the emphysema for awhile thanks to a lifetime of smoking but the fibrosis seemed new.
Possibly triggered by the radiation but they don't really know what causes that.
There is no cure for fibrosis and no real treatment. Not long after the diagnosis he was on oxygen, and was doing ok at home.
Then he took his brand new retirement toy, a nice loaded pick up truck he just got, picked up his brother John and went to Illinois to photograph the Big Boy steam engine. One of his favorite things to do, chasing steam trains.
While there, panning to video this monster, he must have stepped into a hole and fell down hard.
Broke his leg bone just under the hip, and somehow managed to drive all the way back to Michigan on this. OMG.
He actually fractured that bone and had to have hip replacement surgery. But anesthesia on such diseased lungs left many side effects.
First they found a small clot from all the bleeding from driving on a broken leg, small so just gave him blood thinners to prevent more,
Then some mystery infection, they finally tracked it down to an easy to treat bacteria and started the proper antibiotics.
Fluid in the lungs after anesthesia is common so they put him on a diuretic to get the fluid out and we were told they were optomistic.
He was in the ICU for over a week while they balanced all the medications.
The plan was that he could recover from all this, go to a regular room, then onto physical therapy, then home. But...

On Sept 23rd, 2024, My daughter Charlie and I showed up for our daily visit, he was in good spirits, smiling, got big dimples when Charlie gave him one of her butterscotch cookies.
But... he was on 100% forced oxygen and still panting like he just ran a marathan.
The staff called us in for a meeting and explained nothing they do is working. The fibrosis has advanced too far, we can either keep doing what we are doing, keep him alert as long as possible,
or put him and us in a private room and start "pain management." But Jim had to decide.
We came back into his room and explained the situation. His face fell, he got teary, then trying to get up to use the bathroom which he really couldn't do, the nurse gave him a cup but he just couldn't go.
At that point he got agitated, just said that's IT, pulled off his oxygen and immediately his blood oxygen started plummeting.
Jim at this point knew it was his time and basically pulled his own plug.
Charlie and I were both at his side, telling him we love him, she played steam train recordings for him to hear, and slowly his breathing decreased until he slipped away.
I simply cannot stop sobbing. I miss him so much and probably will for the rest of my life. And I know Charlie does as well.
Jim beat many deamons in his life, he was a great dad, husband and provider. This just isn't fair. He was suppose to have SOME retirement time at home after working his ass off all his life.
Life just isn't fair sometimes. I know at least he isn't suffering anymore, the being out of breath must have been torture.
He explained it's like trying to breath into a closed envelope. The doctor said that's actually a good description, but I will never stop missing him.

OBITUARY FOR
JAMES LOUIS MEHLENBECK.
James Louis Mehlenbeck, 69 of Keeler, passed away on Monday, Sept 23, 2024, at Corewell Health in Saint Joseph.
James was born on July 24, 1955, in Chicago, the son of Robert and Emma Ruth Mehlenbeck.
James was employed at A. D. Transport. He loved his family, loved being an over the road trucker. Loved chasing steam trains, loved every pet we ever had, dogs, cats, a macaw and more. Loved roller coasters and camping and so much more.
On June 28, 1987 James was united in marriage with Jennifer Reynolds and she survives along with daughter Charlie and her partner Aspen Mokma as well as two brothers, Paul and Kathleen Mehlenbeck, and John Mehlenbeck.
James was preceded in passing by his parents and sister Carol Mehlenbeck.
The family will welcome friends from 6 - 8 p.m. on Monday, September 30, at the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford
and from 1 - 2 p.m. On Tuesday October 1 at the funeral home, where at 2 p. m. the service to honor James memory will commence.
James will be laid to rest in Keeler Cemetery.
Pastor Lonnie Truelove will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the family.
Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at
www.calvin-leonardfh.com


(actual obit pending, probably be up soon. This post was written on Sept 26th.)

Note, I will actually give a long talk at on Oct 1 at 2pm, as will our daughter Charlie. Really hope our closest friends can attend that one.

I set up a new page, called Old News

Just like it sounds, old stories I had on my main page here get moved. Too good to trash, but too old to keep on the front page. And when that page grows too long like most blogs tend to, I will add some navigation so you can find what interests you most and skip the rest.

Site building update, clearly it's not. I cannot figure out web building tools by myself. This site is hand coded and it's outdated. So here it sits. Yes I have tons of polymer clay stuff here but sales have to be one on one. Few people go to the trouble. And right now my clay stuff is still on hold, got a room to use but before I could sell some old furniture covid hit and everything ground to a halt.

Jenny Mehlenbeck is the creator and owner of Artmakers Worlds copyright 1999 - now. Copying, linking to, downloading, or using ANY images off this site without permission is expressly prohibited!
Want to use something here? ASK ME FIRST!!!!

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