Here’s just a quick hello and update (as I’m typing with one finger of my left hand)…
I’m still in transition mode living on the mid-north coast with my brother and sister-in-law (and loving it!) while working on rehabilitating my hand. I did end up having a second surgery because it was all pretty messed up….tendons and a very irritated nerve were encased in scar tissue and stuck together. Another tendon had become adhered to the bone, plus the plate that was too bulky for my small frame was removed. I had been expecting a minor miracle after that but it was, in fact, a move back to square one rehabilitation-wise. Expectations were adjusted and I’m back to work exercising.
I managed to get one more key fob gift woven before being advised to stop weaving until I’ve recovered wrist rotation. It’s quite limited right now. I was kidding myself thinking I could manage weaving with my injured hand. I was, in fact, compensating with my shoulder and ended up injuring it.
This fob is for my hand therapist, an occupational rather than physio therapist, and has the name of her business. The name will only make sense if you understand that the last two letters are capitals and are pronounced Oh-tee.
So, weaving is on the back-burner once again and I am entertaining myself by designing a hand-themed triptych which will be a story of my Indian roots, my 32 years in South America and the new possibilities that will come to me now that I’m back in Australia.
I’ve joined an organisation here called the Fibre Artisans Network and am excited about being able to exchange ideas and share skills and perhaps exhibit some of my work alongside that of the other members one day. We’ve met up twice already and will do so again tomorrow. The first thing I’d love to learn more about is dyeing with eucalypts.
I’m going to leave you with something I’ve posted before but which brings me joy and makes me want to share it again. I hope the melody isn’t an ear-worm for you. I’ve added some bits since I last showed it to you.
MY FAVORITE THINGS (a few of)
A beater, a shuttle, a small weaving sword,
Plant fibers twisted and woven like string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Others to strum across threads that are sticking,
Laid out before me the pleasure they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Books that tell stories of teachers I’ve known,
Covered with fabric and carefully sewn,
They hold the memories to which I will cling,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Dipped in a dye pot of cochineal red,
Patterns of summer, fall, winter and spring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
When I must wait,
Cannot cre-ate,
And I’m feeling sad.
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don’t feel
So bad.
Spring has sprung here and it’s glorious! The air is drenched with the aroma of jasmine and the sound of bees. An increasing number of surfers can be spotted bobbing about in the waves and it’s time to make friends with all the magpies I encounter on my walks lest they start swooping me at nesting time.
Until next time when maybe I can reveal some of my hand-themed patterns. I’ve made some good thrift store purchases of cotton (I love how thrift stores here in Australia are called “op shops”) which I’ll dye for this project…..or maybe I’ll use eucalypt-dyed wool. It’s exciting to think about.