Back to school edition! Happy to be back at school where art is everywhere, all day long. Am disappointed at the pain levels I'm experiencing, but am trying to deal with it. It gets very old!

My mantra has always been "and this too will pass..." but I am finding it just isn't passing, and Da Feet and Legs are becoming nightmarishly consistent in their high pain levels.  I walk because I have to, but every step is very painful and difficult. I can not think of any way of living with this and making it better. A cane doesn't help as it is both feet/legs. A wheelchair is too much help, really. Maybe I just need a segue. I literally Google'd "walking with two broken feet" and "assistive devices for two broken feet"  to see what came up. Nothing about two broken feet, lots about what to do with one. People with this problem just end up sitting too much, getting too fat, and bringing on a host of other problems. I can understand how this happens. Got to push through the pain and keep moving. Even if it kills me lol!

Looking forward to the next art piece I want to begin, now that the Eternal Temptation (Stonehenge) piece is finally done. It will be on display this week at the Albion Cultural Exchange Art and Edibles exhibit. Come on down. I will be hanging out on Friday night, when my "interactive" edible quilt will hopefully be consumed! Huge thank you to Andrea Willey for her amazing organization and insight in putting this exhibit together. I can't wait to see it!

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! It is great to have art time again. Have caught up on the embellishment of my digital "Stonehenge" piece and also have made something else...! I can't reveal what it is as it is going to be part of an upcoming local show (Art and Edibles, Arts Collaborative of Wakefield), but can say it took 12 pieces of digitally printed fabric to make.  And has NUDITY. In fact, this will be the first time I exhibit a "naked" quilt -- in addition to imagery of appropriately nude figures, it will have zero beads on it. Mostly because I have no time to do it -- my brain is rearing to go at it with threads and beads galore, though. Maybe later...we shall see...! Here's a sneak peek. It was fun to print out and assemble the large image, and took about four hours non-stop to quilt it yesterday. For the first time in ages I let myself get lost in just DOING and not worrying about all the other things that need to get done in my cray-cray life. Felt great. Must do it again sometime! 

Listening to a long audiobook about the history of the American west and Native American tribes. I knew they were a violent lot back then, but seriously was not aware of the grisly punishments they exacted on their enemy tribes and settlers. Peaceful nation, my foot! Wow. Ugly history. 

Spring was in the air for the past two days with temps in the mid to high 70's and warm sunshine. All windows were open, and Kizzy went for a ride in the car just for fun. We all needed it. A little bit of spring. I love these surprise warm days...reminds us all that spring is really around the corner. Add to it that Irish daffodils arrived at Market Basket, and the continual warmth is just a few weeks away. The parrots are in spring mode -- Hapi bit me last night while demanding head scratches, and Kizzy has the lightest of "musty" macaw scent in his feathers. Adolescence and springtime...

As always I am frustrated by my lack of energy and inability for my body to keep up with my mind. No easy answers, there. Sigh. Takes so much energy to put one foot in front of the other, literally and figuratively. I am grateful to my friends and family for understanding and being there when the going gets rough. Which seems to be a lot lately.  And to my Elderhostel, who though they make a total mess of my house, also are a continual and crucial loving presence in my home. 

​Onward to Thursday. 

What a month! Long time no write due to being ill for most of the time since the last post. Finally coming out of the fog and able to function a bit better. Everyone is so sick around here!  Happy to get a few warm days tossed in to the otherwise winter mix we've had, and have even seen a little bunny in the yard a couple times. Spring will be here before we know it. Hopefully the overpopulation of bunnies will continue, too. 

Almost done with the big piece I've been working on. It's been a long project and I will be glad to see it done. Then on to the next! I'm really loving the digital connection and exploring ways digital fabric can be combined with hand and machine stitch, and fabric collage, and beads, and maybe paint, lol, is what is next. So much to do! So little time. 

I came across an artist whose work I love on the Facebook Mini-Textiles page. Boisali Biswas creates with mixed media stitching and weaving. Her sense of color is dynamite. I particularly love the small mixed media weavings she creates and am using her work as inspiration for my 6th graders' upcoming project. Small, jewel like little pieces that are perfect in scale and material choices. Love them! Her larger work is just beautiful too and I am so inspired. Wowza! The concept of re-purposing old pieces of art / reassembling pieces is great and relates to the kantha quilts that I love, too, and the boro sites I've been watching on Facebook. Such a simple idea, but so rich with possiblities. 

A day ahead of battling very significant sciatic nerve, foot and ankle pain, with side orders of elbow and hand pain. A to-do list with 47 items and all I want to do is finish my Stonehenge piece. Sigh! I tell myself that someday things will be different and I will have more time (think dog maintenance, here) -- but know that there are no guarantees for any of us.  Cheers.