rusting up like the tin man

Slipping the bonds of the days expectations I go back to the bedroom and open the curtains. When I lay down I can see the breeze rifling through the leaves; the branches bounce and I imagine them laughing and pushing back as the birds sing and the turtles dry out in the hot sunshine.

Relaxing.

Taking a deep breath, letting the tightly coiled spring unwind, riding the spinning circle of thoughts to the center of myself.

Letting it go.

The last few weeks have been difficult.

Days full of things to get done, I come to a grinding halt today and just stop. I need to rest and think of nothing until I feel like working some more.

 A few weeks ago I had a severe pain down my leg and after a visit to the doctor I found that it was nothing but a pulled muscle, due to sitting at the computer (or sewing machine or spinning wheel) for long lengths of time with my left leg crossed (ankle on right knee) causing a strain. It's just a bad habit. My joints hurt.

Like when I put my elbow on the desk and rest my chin in my left hand. That caused a sharp pain in my shoulder blade up my neck. I was reminded how often I do these things, as I would sit, because the pain would stab, quick and sudden until I changed position. I decided to change my habits. A friend also suggested a ball chair.

 

So I got one and when I sit on it I can't cross my legs and I sit up straighter, using my core muscles to stay balanced. The ball can come off for exercises if I ever felt so inclined, which must be a bonus, but I haven't gotten that crazy yet. I do have a small trampoline that I bounce on a few times a day, to get my lymph flowing around and help speed metabolism and improve my immune system.

I have been walking more and sitting less. It's summertime and when it's this hot you sweat all day it seems and it's so nice to stay inside in the air conditioning. When you go for a walk it has to be early or late and I am just trying to work that in to my new routine.

I have been planning what to have for sale at Atomic Holiday Bazaar this year and what I want my display to look like. I have been making paper dolls and mermaids and I bought a vinyl banner for my booth. It's just like the banner on the blog except 3ft wide and the font is a bit different. I like planning and dreaming about what to make. It helps me get focused. Staying focused is a whole different subject.

I bought some more stamps to create some new art dolls and hope to make some 3 dimensional fabric dolls as well as some shrinky dink jewelry using scans of some of the mermaids. It's fun and challenging to digitally alter and print the dolls and I bought a huge dry erase board to write down all my projects and plans. I have examples to make for a big project and things I want to enter into local galleries and for publication. I'm working on aprons and getting thoughts together to make something for Apronology again.

So as I get some things finished I will show them here. I started a 5 week class last week at the Venice Art Center with Joanna Coke- doing mixed media altered boxes and am pretty excited about that journey. I hope all my blog friends are doing well and having a lovely summer!

stay cool and sweet!

calamity kim