Day Twenty-five in a cast
Having one hand in a cast and the other in not-so-great shape gives one lots of time to think. The forced inactivity of recovery has frustrated the “doer” in me. Being run down while in a red car, lights on and horn blaring has reinforced my feeling of being invisible. (I am always surprised when people remember me or notice my work. Really. Still.) Don’t be alarmed if I appear at your guild one day with gray and pink hair, I fear I may be reentering my “starved for attention” phase of glitz and gilding.
The purple cast was just the beginning. I knew that sporting a cast would call attention, but I wanted that attention on my terms. (Oh, my, control issues, wouldn’t you say?) I didn’t want sympathy (well, maybe just a little), I wanted smiles. Off to my stash of hot fix crystals. What? You don’t have a stash of hot fix crystals? I thought everyone did! I mean really, what if you have a bling emergency?
I started with the fire opal for the centers, added pink and purple gems for the petals and the sweetest citrine green for the leaves. It cracks me up when folks notice the cast and then smile. I’ve been tempted to do more but there is such a fine line between Rodeo Drive and trailer trash.
To satisfy my fiber cravings I have tried doing more punchneedle work. Using the same design from the earlier project (with my mouse hand out of commision there’s been no way to work up anything new), I added flowers to a very boring “Welcome” base I had bought, um, eight years ago. I had started the project using wool strips and a rug hook. I got as far as “We”,decided it was too boring and there it’s sat until now.
Thinking that I could handle the simple punchneedle with my left hand I pulled out the wool strips, embellished “Welcome” with some flowers, thank goodness I was able to trace the flowers with a sharpie and my left hand. I reloaded it into my hoop and punched away, this time with yarn from my colorwork stash.
I can only work for a short time before my left hand tires, but at least it’s something fiber related. I’m not sure how much of a convert I am to punchneedle, seems kind of boring, just pushing that needle through the cloth. But then knitting is nothing more that repeated motions, so maybe I’ll find the zen of it in time. But I keep thinking what a great applique design it would be, but I’m a thumb short of that project for now.
March 13th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Beth the cast looks great. You are doing a great job being positive which is very good for healing. For me my right hand is everything the left is just there for balance that you can do anything with your left hand puts you right up there on the princess throne.
Wishing you good healing
Colleen
March 14th, 2010 at 6:50 am
You have my sympathy - late last year my left arm was in a cast for six weeks, both radius and ulna broken in a fall while on holiday in Toronto, Canada (I’m normally in Australia!) Getting it working again has been slow at times, and painful at times, but each little step is a milestone. It was boring at times - couldn’t sew by hand, couldn’t knit or crochet, but I had some leftover pieces that I could feed through a sewing machine so I made little blocks. And I couldn’t begin to tell you how many books I read….
March 14th, 2010 at 7:18 am
Love the purple and all the bling. If you’ve got to be in a cast, why not make it spectacular. Way to make the best out of a situation!
March 14th, 2010 at 9:13 am
Oh my goodness, I feel for you. I can’t imagine how I would handle your situation. I’ve been bedriden for 2 days now. I have a fever and a sore lower back and hip. The most that I can do is read emails and sleep. I’m planning what I’m going to work on next and can hardly wait to get out of bed….
Your accident just goes to show that no matter how careful we are when driving, we still have to watch out for the other guy!! What was the problem???
March 14th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
It sounds like your itchin’ to be stitchin’.Speaking of knitting,have you discovered one of my favorite uses for aluminum knittng needles yet?When I was in a leg cast, long ago,my Mom’s knitting needles came in real handy for the itch that you can’t reach under the cast.Saying prayers for your sanity and recovery.
March 18th, 2010 at 5:25 am
The cast really does look fantastic. Thank you so much for the wonderful patterns you give us. The Be Still My Heart is gorgeous and now I am eagerly awaiting the next one - trying to anticipate is it going to be season related or totally different. Sincere thanks for a beautiful pattern. It is really awesome. I wish you well with your hand. When my son’s cast was taken off, lots of little things were found inside (but then he was very young).
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:40 pm
I was checking some blogs today and just found out about your accident! I’m so sorry this happened and glad you’re going to be okay! Hang in there and try to enjoy your forced rest. Sometimes we get slowed down for a reason, I always try to remind myself. Soon you will be back to your usual activities!
March 24th, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Dear Beth, I have just spent 3 months overseas visiting my eldest & youngest sons & their lovely families in Kamakura & Vienna. I was hoping to follow you while away but the time difference & access to the web plus finding some spare moments did not go well for me, I sure missed my daily dose each morning of popping in to see you Pam & TQS. I have been catching up on all your blogging since I returned & then was soooo sorry to read about your little red car & you been hurtled in to a forced resting period. I cannot imagine what that must be like. I’m enjoying you dry humour on waiting for the problem to heal, sure hope you have lots of friends who can make you laugh through it all. Take care Glenda Down Under
April 12th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
Dear Beth,
I just read your blog, for the first time, I’m sorry to say, in ages. I was sad to learn about your cast; I hope you soon be branching out. It’s hard, but think forsythia.
Anita