Friday, July 3, 2009
A little peek
This is the stuff that's been keeping my hands and mind occupied the last few days...making samples for the Kumihimo class I'm going to be teaching next weekend, and propose for the national shows for 2010. The more I make, the more ideas I have.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Wheee!
From June
I did something this week that I've never done before: I used one of those electric shopping cart/scooter things at Target. I've often envied shoppers who would whiz past me on a cart, but even in the worst throws of my arthritis pain, I resisted using one. I could still walk, I reasoned, and those carts were for seriously handicapped people.
Well, after my physical therapy appointment, we decided to stop at Target and pick up a few things. I really didn't think I had enough oomph left to do much walking with the walker - after all, I was only 6 days post-surgery. So I accepted the help of a nice Target worker who brought the cart right to me, and took my walker to Customer Service to hold.
Using the scooter, I had some observations:
1. The thing has no brakes! Granted, it slows down quickly when you take your finger off the accelerator, but seriously - no brakes?
2. The perspective is really different when your line of sight is down at waist level.
3. You can go fast enough to actually generate a breeze.
4. Wheee!
The rumors that I was seen trying to pop a wheelie are unfounded. Who knew grocery shopping could be so much of a challenge, and so much fun at the same time?
Thanks to everyone who have sent well wishes - I love hearing from you! Even though I am having a bit more pain with this knee than the last one, my physical therapist says I am doing amazingly well. My pain is already lessening now that I have a more formalized exercise plan. So I'm doing great. But still, keep the e-mails coming!
I did something this week that I've never done before: I used one of those electric shopping cart/scooter things at Target. I've often envied shoppers who would whiz past me on a cart, but even in the worst throws of my arthritis pain, I resisted using one. I could still walk, I reasoned, and those carts were for seriously handicapped people.
Well, after my physical therapy appointment, we decided to stop at Target and pick up a few things. I really didn't think I had enough oomph left to do much walking with the walker - after all, I was only 6 days post-surgery. So I accepted the help of a nice Target worker who brought the cart right to me, and took my walker to Customer Service to hold.
Using the scooter, I had some observations:
1. The thing has no brakes! Granted, it slows down quickly when you take your finger off the accelerator, but seriously - no brakes?
2. The perspective is really different when your line of sight is down at waist level.
3. You can go fast enough to actually generate a breeze.
4. Wheee!
The rumors that I was seen trying to pop a wheelie are unfounded. Who knew grocery shopping could be so much of a challenge, and so much fun at the same time?
Thanks to everyone who have sent well wishes - I love hearing from you! Even though I am having a bit more pain with this knee than the last one, my physical therapist says I am doing amazingly well. My pain is already lessening now that I have a more formalized exercise plan. So I'm doing great. But still, keep the e-mails coming!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Naps and ice packs with a few beads thrown in
Kathryn emailed me tonight, scolding me for being well past an acceptable blog update time. She's right, darn her.
I got Mom home around 2pm on Friday, and we've gradually been working out a system for everything. We planned so much for the first surgery that it was a well oiled machine. But we got a little "oh, we've done this before" attitude for this time around, and as a result we're finding we weren't quite as prepared as we should have been! We're adaptable, though, and it's coming together. The main thing is keeping a rotating schedule for the various medications, pain pills, time spent on the continuous motion machine, ice packs, walking, etc.
She's in more pain this time around because there were some muscles that had to get cut this time that weren't cut in the first surgery. Turns out her left knee is a bit bigger than the right one was.
The best part as far as I'm concerned is that the super medicated dopiness has worn off. It was like Abbott and Costello here the afternoon she got home. We were trying to communicate, but the meds were making her mix up her words and thoughts. She would very confidently state something that made absolutely no sense whatsoever, and then look annoyed with me when I had a totally blank look on my face as it was clear I didn't understand her. I finally sent her to bed that day and told her we'd talk about it later (it was insurance stuff that's horrible to deal with in the best of circumstances.) She drifted in and out of that "crazy lady" state for most of Saturday too, but Sunday brought my real Mommy back to me. Thank goodness!
There's been some beading going on too - even Mom! I spent my evening tonight playing with samples for my Quick & Easy Kumihimo: Incorporating Beads class. I worked for a few hours on a necklace using all drop beads, but was very disappointed that it lost the look of the drops because it was so dense. It just looked like I was using Size 6 seed beads. So I cut it apart, and worked on it again, but this time used Size 8 seed beads on half the cords with drops on the rest. MUCH better! As soon as I get it a little longer, I'll get a photo posted. In the meantime, here's a photo of the faux bead crochet bracelet I made with Kumihimo the other day. Love it!
I got Mom home around 2pm on Friday, and we've gradually been working out a system for everything. We planned so much for the first surgery that it was a well oiled machine. But we got a little "oh, we've done this before" attitude for this time around, and as a result we're finding we weren't quite as prepared as we should have been! We're adaptable, though, and it's coming together. The main thing is keeping a rotating schedule for the various medications, pain pills, time spent on the continuous motion machine, ice packs, walking, etc.
She's in more pain this time around because there were some muscles that had to get cut this time that weren't cut in the first surgery. Turns out her left knee is a bit bigger than the right one was.
The best part as far as I'm concerned is that the super medicated dopiness has worn off. It was like Abbott and Costello here the afternoon she got home. We were trying to communicate, but the meds were making her mix up her words and thoughts. She would very confidently state something that made absolutely no sense whatsoever, and then look annoyed with me when I had a totally blank look on my face as it was clear I didn't understand her. I finally sent her to bed that day and told her we'd talk about it later (it was insurance stuff that's horrible to deal with in the best of circumstances.) She drifted in and out of that "crazy lady" state for most of Saturday too, but Sunday brought my real Mommy back to me. Thank goodness!
There's been some beading going on too - even Mom! I spent my evening tonight playing with samples for my Quick & Easy Kumihimo: Incorporating Beads class. I worked for a few hours on a necklace using all drop beads, but was very disappointed that it lost the look of the drops because it was so dense. It just looked like I was using Size 6 seed beads. So I cut it apart, and worked on it again, but this time used Size 8 seed beads on half the cords with drops on the rest. MUCH better! As soon as I get it a little longer, I'll get a photo posted. In the meantime, here's a photo of the faux bead crochet bracelet I made with Kumihimo the other day. Love it!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Coming home Friday
Another quickie post tonight....I've been at home very little the last few days between errands, the hospital, and dinner with friends last night. Tomorrow morning, Mom gets released from the hospital and comes home - Yippee! But then I become the 24 hour nurse, too. I don't mind it a bit, but naturally, I get less Tapestry Beads work accomplished as a result.
All of which explains why I decided yesterday to bow out of the Puget Sound Bead Festival to be held weekend after next. I feel like leaving Mom so soon after her surgery is the wrong thing to do and it's been eating at me. Now that I've decided, I feel a big relief, so I know I made the right decision.
I'll be adding two home classes the weekend of July 11th instead, then. One will be Kumihimo with Beads. I think the other will be Celebration Collar, but I'm going to send out the official announcement sometime Friday. I'm still working out details.
Today's news of the passing of both Farrah and Michael Jackson has left me saddened beyond what I would have expected. Growing up, I was one of those little girls watching Charlie's Angels and wishing my hair would look like that. I had her iconic poster on my wall for a time. She was dazzling. And Michael Jackson - oh, Michael. The very first record I bought (and it was real vinyl!) with my very own carefully hoarded babysitting money was Off the Wall. My high school years are set to a soundtrack dominated by Michael Jackson songs. My first huge concert was traveling to Dallas for the Victory Tour. I still see my friends in my mind, group dancing to Thriller in unison at a birthday party. I watched with increasing disbelief as he physically and mentally declined in the years since. But in his heyday? MJ was a musical genius from the age of 10 on. I choose to remember the music, the dancing, and the videos, and part ways with the rest.
And now...I need sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.
All of which explains why I decided yesterday to bow out of the Puget Sound Bead Festival to be held weekend after next. I feel like leaving Mom so soon after her surgery is the wrong thing to do and it's been eating at me. Now that I've decided, I feel a big relief, so I know I made the right decision.
I'll be adding two home classes the weekend of July 11th instead, then. One will be Kumihimo with Beads. I think the other will be Celebration Collar, but I'm going to send out the official announcement sometime Friday. I'm still working out details.
Today's news of the passing of both Farrah and Michael Jackson has left me saddened beyond what I would have expected. Growing up, I was one of those little girls watching Charlie's Angels and wishing my hair would look like that. I had her iconic poster on my wall for a time. She was dazzling. And Michael Jackson - oh, Michael. The very first record I bought (and it was real vinyl!) with my very own carefully hoarded babysitting money was Off the Wall. My high school years are set to a soundtrack dominated by Michael Jackson songs. My first huge concert was traveling to Dallas for the Victory Tour. I still see my friends in my mind, group dancing to Thriller in unison at a birthday party. I watched with increasing disbelief as he physically and mentally declined in the years since. But in his heyday? MJ was a musical genius from the age of 10 on. I choose to remember the music, the dancing, and the videos, and part ways with the rest.
And now...I need sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Second knee - DONE!
Just a quick post tonight as I'm dead tired and simply must collapse on my pillow soon or perish.
Mom's second knee replacement surgery was today at noon, and just like before, she's doing amazingly well. Sailed through the operation, and had the nerve to be PERKY by the time I met up with her again in her room. I hung around until she started getting really tired, then came on home to spend the evening with the dogs. They're spoiled and not used to being alone much. We were worried about damage!
I guess my nerves about the surgery betrayed me...I was stiff as a board when I tried to go to sleep last night. Every muscle tightened up in worry, so I only slept about 3 hours. I'm very glad it's over now, and we can concentrate on recovery.
Mom's second knee replacement surgery was today at noon, and just like before, she's doing amazingly well. Sailed through the operation, and had the nerve to be PERKY by the time I met up with her again in her room. I hung around until she started getting really tired, then came on home to spend the evening with the dogs. They're spoiled and not used to being alone much. We were worried about damage!
I guess my nerves about the surgery betrayed me...I was stiff as a board when I tried to go to sleep last night. Every muscle tightened up in worry, so I only slept about 3 hours. I'm very glad it's over now, and we can concentrate on recovery.
Monday, June 22, 2009
My progress
I adore this bracelet. Really adore it. It's so soft and slinky and sexy on the wrist. I still have the clasp to add, and there will be optional Czech firepolish on loops on the outside edge to match the description I have of the inspiration piece.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Progress being made
Stand back! Actual project progress is being made here. You may be in danger of getting hit by a flying crystal or an out of control needle. Use caution.
Mom has been finishing a number of necklaces lately. Is she trying to show me up? She's had this
vision of a triple Butterfly Kisses necklace, made out of Size 11 seed beads instead of the Size 8s, and I have to admit, I'm so in love with it, I think the kit may migrate to this version instead of the current one.
I've spent the last two nights wrestling a netted bracelet in the Huichol style to the ground. What I thought would be so simple to whip out, instead challenged me and made me learn new things. I love it when that happens! I finally have the skills to create it, the design tweaked to my liking, and seed bead choices I'm happy with. The final version is getting beaded tonight, and I'll share the whole ugly design process with you tomorrow since I have each and every little sample bit I made in pursuit of perfection. I'll leave it to you to let me know if I succeeded!
Also on tap for Sunday - work on assembling the Ikea furniture we bought last weekend. If we don't get it put together Sunday, then it will either sit here until Mom's well into recovery from her knee replacement, or I'll have to put it together myself.
Lastly, we've got a smallish amount of kits and patterns to make and print so I can get the boxes of goodies shipped to Tacoma for the Puget Sound Bead Festival. It's weird not doing that at the last minute and paying for 2-day shipping like the procrastinator, er, I mean deadline driven, person I am.
Mom has been finishing a number of necklaces lately. Is she trying to show me up? She's had this
vision of a triple Butterfly Kisses necklace, made out of Size 11 seed beads instead of the Size 8s, and I have to admit, I'm so in love with it, I think the kit may migrate to this version instead of the current one.I've spent the last two nights wrestling a netted bracelet in the Huichol style to the ground. What I thought would be so simple to whip out, instead challenged me and made me learn new things. I love it when that happens! I finally have the skills to create it, the design tweaked to my liking, and seed bead choices I'm happy with. The final version is getting beaded tonight, and I'll share the whole ugly design process with you tomorrow since I have each and every little sample bit I made in pursuit of perfection. I'll leave it to you to let me know if I succeeded!
Also on tap for Sunday - work on assembling the Ikea furniture we bought last weekend. If we don't get it put together Sunday, then it will either sit here until Mom's well into recovery from her knee replacement, or I'll have to put it together myself.
Lastly, we've got a smallish amount of kits and patterns to make and print so I can get the boxes of goodies shipped to Tacoma for the Puget Sound Bead Festival. It's weird not doing that at the last minute and paying for 2-day shipping like the procrastinator, er, I mean deadline driven, person I am.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
