Sorry to have disappeared without notice. I've been struggling with some particularly irksome work stress. I'll spare you the details. Let me just say that I realized anxiety was taking over my life and I needed a mental health break, so I took vacation Tuesday through Friday.
I went to the grocery store on Wednesday and, in a moment of sheer stupidity, lifted a small case of bottled water from my buggy into my car trunk and felt my back, which already was touchy, slip completely out. By the time I got home (less than five minutes), it had swelled enough that I couldn't bend over or lift my arms. I definitely couldn't lift my sewing machine onto my worktable, pull out heavy boxes of photos, or even sit in a chair in front of the computer for any length of time. What was I going to do with all this time that I had set aside for art?
My solution: I hand-stitched backgrounds for a few collages. I'm excited that I've been accepted into the ACAC spring show and nervous that I need to have five pieces ready in a couple of weeks. I have one existing piece I want to enter (New Hats), but that still leaves me with four to complete. Normally, with just a few hours a night to devote to collage, I'd have to look for shortcuts. But several days on the couch with the heating pad were the perfect excuse to experiment with fabric scraps, beads, and quilt batting. I ended up having so much fun!
I finished a couple of backgrounds, and I have two more nearly done. Blogger won't let me upload photos right now. When things are running smoothly again, I'll post a couple of images of the finished pieces. As usual, they'll form the backdrop for antique photos and whatever detritus I can find to form some kind of story. The photos and quotes are picked already. I'm still gathering the odds and ends.
I got up this morning to find that my back, while still sore to the touch and a bit cranky, is cooperating with me again. Time to return to Planet Earth. I showered and washed my hair and brushed my teeth and acted like I was going to leave the house or something. (I probably won't, but it's nice to be fresh and ready.) I threw laundry in the washer. I cooked some potato soup. I paid bills. I even had fleeting thoughts about what I want to tackle first when I get back to work on Monday. My mental health is definitely on the mend. Art does that for me.
The biggest thing I missed during the back crisis and bad weather: Eggshibition. I'm dying to know whether Jonathan's and my piece entertained people and whether it sold. I'll call Youth Home on Monday (admin offices aren't open on the weekends) and let you know what I find out.
2 comments:
I hope this little comment finds you feeling better! My back is having sympathy pains for you! Snuggling tiels and hugs from friends are the best therapy on the planet and me and the flock are here if you need us.
**healing hugs**
I have seen those beaded fabric backgrounds that Denise describes in this post, and let me tell ya, they are GORE-JUSS!!!! I think my mouth hit the floor when I saw them.
Post a Comment