Your Comments & My Sleep Strategies
January 11, 2007 in Well-BeingDear friends out there in Blogsville......It's funny, the comments so far have typically been along the lines of: "Enjoying your blog; Thanks for blogging, Like your stuff, etc" (which I do appreciate!) - but 
"Wee hours in the Morning" struck a chord and inspired some advice of how to get to sleep; what to do in the middle of the night; to "why don't you go down in your basement and work on art!" I guess there is always the choice - do you keep trying to fall back to sleep, or do you just resign to the fact that's probably not going to happen and do something productive! My current policy is to try for at least an hour to fall back to sleep. (of course, it does depend a little on just how early it is!)
Sleeping well has been a life long challenge for me. I remember as a little girl, lying in bed and hearing the opening and closing music for The Tonight Show coming out of the "rec- room".....(my dad was a big fan of Johnny Carson!)
And it just seems the older we get - everything gets a little more challenging - including a good night sleep. I don't know how you keep from waking up in the middle of the night, but after years of struggling to FALL asleep, I have quite a list of strategies that I've tried over the years.... So, hopefully - Sweet Dreams. Debbie
My (Counting Sheep has never once worked for me) “Getting to Sleep" Strategies:
1. Wear Socks to bed - so your feet don't get cold
2. Take a nice soak in the tub (with Epsom salts) and stretch before hitting the hay to relax
3. Drink warm milk before bed (calcium helps make you sleepy) - if you add a little drop of whiskey- that might really zonk you!
4. There's always the good old standby of a glass of wine on your bedstand paired with a good (but not too good) book
5. Layer blankets - so you can shed one if you get too hot (don't you just love those middle of the night hot flashes!)
6. Put your pj's on at least an hour before getting into bed - signals your brain that it's almost time to sleep
7. Plan on working on something in bed (like your blog!) - and you will barely be able to stay awake
8. Treat yourself to the softest sheets and the most comfortable pillows you can afford
9. Remove the TV from your bedroom - clicking the remote control from one stupid show to the next (that I really don't want to watch) puts me in a trance - but not to sleep.
10. Run a fan in your room for white noise (don't point it towards you if it makes you chilly)
11. And it's easiest to fall asleep when your teenager is home and safe (and his car keys are under your pillow)
Good luck getting to la-la land.....Debbie
Comments
Hey Debbie,
I have two gals that have the hardest time going to sleep and the remedy is Melatonin. You can get them at Wally World (aka Walmart) in the Vitamin section. They come in 1 mg and 3 mg. My sister also takes it (she is perimenapausal...sp?) and when she doesn't get a good nites rest the night before she takes one the next night. The secret it don't take it to late at night....If you take it a 8pm, you'll be zoked by 9pm and wake up by 6am refreshed. If you take it at 3 am you'll feel like lead at 6am!
Good luck! And I know what you mean about , do I stay in bed and just try to sleep or get up....but to me getting up wakes me up, at least laying there you are still in some form of resting.
Sweet dreams,
Tilda
Posted by: Tilda | Jan 11, 2007 6:46:37 PM
Dear Debbie,
Have been using your calendars for years. They are head and shoulders above anything else out there.
One thing you might want to consider for future issues. In my opinion, the year should be more prominently displayed. i.e. larger font.
Also, since I have to cut your calendars down slightly to fit into the door holder, the year gets partially cut off. Could you consider placing the year about an inch more away from any edge?
I know, thats two things.
Its always fun to see your work.
Larry Perenic
Posted by: l. perenic | Jan 11, 2007 9:22:31 PM
Larry - Thanks for your suggestions about the format of the calendar - I'll pass it on to our Calendar Company. And especially thanks for putting them up over the years!
Best, Debbie
Posted by: debbie | Jan 12, 2007 11:32:31 AM
Forgot to add to my comment.....always check with your doctor first before taking anything....AND this is suppose to be the natural way (herbal) to help falling asleep! :0) Didn't want to come across wrong! :0(
Posted by: Tilda | Jan 12, 2007 12:01:13 PM
Thanks Tilda for your suggestions!! D
Posted by: debbie m | Jan 12, 2007 8:30:40 PM
I think number 11 could play a big part in my future, I have two boys and the thought of them driving terrifies me.
I too don't sleep well, I go to bed exhausted then wake at about 3am, it's not fair, it's just not fair.
Good luck with you quest for a good night sleep.
Posted by: Maddy | Jan 13, 2007 3:31:51 PM
Hi Debbie,
How nice to discover you have a blog. I have always loved and admired your amazing work, and I would love to know what process you go through to produce each drawing? Do you draw everything in pencil first before you handpaint them, and do you draw them on a larger scale so that you can get the fine details just right, then later reduce them down? I always enjoy how different artists go about creating so if you'd like to share, I'm sure there are many of us who would love to hear.
Thank you for sharing from the heart here on your blog. I don't think many of us would be wanting anyone to think we are still in our "jimmie-jams" at 3pm ever for any reason, although of course we all sometimes have those days and horror of horror we are not all size 4 and we do have to work at it. It's just very refreshing to see how very down-to-earth you are.
Thanks again for sharing.
Warm hugs from another aussie from that wonderful land downunder,
Julie.
Posted by: Julie | Jan 13, 2007 10:43:10 PM
Hi Julie (that's my sister's name too)
Yes, I always draw in pencil first on tracing\tissue paper. I continue to modify that and can do a few versions until I'm happy.....next comes a color pencil version. That way I can test our where to place colors and make changes if needed. Then, using a light table the design is transferred onto watercolor paper and then it is ready for the painter. Yes, we often paint it just a bit larger than we might need it - then when it's scanned in to be a digital image that we can share with all the companies that license our art - there is quality resolution and they have have the option of reducing or enlarging (a little) the image to suit their product. Debbie
Posted by: debbie M | Jan 16, 2007 11:25:48 PM
Dear Debbie.
I am french and let me tell you that you are really famous in France. I enjoy your patchwork designs and I am really happy that you created this blog : it is exciting to communicate directly with you. I have decided to participate to the 2007 Quilt Web Project : such a good idea ! Thanks a lot ! Best regards
Posted by: Pascale | Jan 20, 2007 11:09:42 PM
Debbie, I just discovered your blog - Yay!...bookmarking it as we speak!
Thanks for the tips on falling asleep, as it is 12:30, and I just got up out of bed to go "blog surfing" because I can't (sleep, that is!)...you had me ready to go try again until you mentioned the teenage drivers - my son just left here to drive home (college boy) and I'm still waiting for the text saying that he made it!
I've been a huge fan of your art since way back when (love your recipes too!) so, I'll be visiting often!
Posted by: Pat | Jan 25, 2007 11:35:39 PM
Just found out about your blog! For years you've been a source of inspiration, I used to do some tole painting, but now, as a work-at-home mom of three boys have not had much time, just wonder why I have not seen your items here in Brazil in stores for sale, only some fabrics... Great sleep strategies, the only one that works opposite for me is TV, it really makes me sleepy, so I have to watch it every night a little before falling asleep, and of course, my kids are too small for me to worry about them coming home. Best regards, Cris
Posted by: Cris | Jan 30, 2007 4:14:39 PM