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Crazy as a Loom

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Lame Brained.

Everyday is a learning experience, it seems.
I am finding out what I can do, and what I cannot do, in my present state of recovery.

I thought, oh so mistakenly, that I could thread my little Leclerc loom for dish towels.

Winding the warp was ok, and I did thread the loom, over two days, but the price was steep.
Two full days of misery ensued.

You don't know..............and I KNOW you don't pay attention, because I didn't either.........how many fine, tiny, movements you do with your cervical spine......your neck.  You lean your head in, and those vertebrae in your neck tip and slide and pivot.  Even when you eat........watch yourself next time you pick up a fork, you tilt your face in. That movement is 'allowed' by your cervical spine.  C1 and C2 are responsible for all the rotating, tilting, sliding, that allows you to move your head.

Since my surgery, I have had sharp pains on occasion, in both ears.  I also have had issues opening my mouth wide enough to eat some things.  All of this was new, and a mystery.

Here is a picture of your cervical spine. Looking at it helped me to understand my limitations, at least for now...........I have two titanium rods fusing C1, C2, and C3.   It's really no wonder I still have pain, I guess.
Not to mention the hole in my head.

 


 Two steps forward, one step back.  Or is it one step forward, and two steps back?
Well, whatever.  The short answer is, I'm back on the couch with Roy.

I can walk, however, because that does not require me to bend my head forward.  I walk with the 'best posture in town' per DH.
So Roy gets his 3 mile hike every day of the week.





Sydney says:

Walking is highly overrated.



Someone asked about my shawls, and what the threads consisted of.
I have to confess, my shawls are pretty much like mystery soup.  There is a little bit  of everything in them.
I pull down a couple of spools off the shelf, that speak to me.......and then just keep walking around, mixing and matching, muttering to myself until I have 10 or so that I think look good with each other.

Then I take a piece of plain paper, and cut a piece from each cone, and tape them all together, to see what they will look like.
So there is chenille, there is wool, cotton, polyester, rayon, you name it.
They definitely turn out to be one of a kind, and that's the way I like it.   Sometimes the color choices surprise even me.
When it comes to the actual weaving, I change weft colors for each shawl.  On the loom right now, there is enough to do about 7-8 shawls, so I definitely have room to play with color.
One weft is midnight blue chenille, one will be purple chenille, and one turquoise chenille, one magenta.
One is a blend of many colors.



There are many more talented weavers out there than me.  I think that every weaver just needs to find what really moves them, what kindles their passion to keep weaving.
Mine is crazy color, and  a lot of spontaneity. 
Now if my head and neck would just get with the program.
Damn.







6 comments:

Hilary said...

You have the best eye for cheery colour. Your creations truly don't reflect your pain. I sure hope that the headache part of this program ends really soon. You've had far more than enough.

Country Girl said...

But you are figuring all this out. It takes time time time. Oh, Hilary. I hope that the day comes soon when you'll be looking back at this and wondering how you ever survived it. And you will be tilting your head every which way and all will be well. I hope this makes sense. I am having a bad day.

Loomatic said...

If it was me, I would probably use a neck brace when I was threading the loom. That way you could probably figure out how you should place your neck when setting up your loom. Of course I would do this when no one is around to see but it might help you stop bending your neck without thinking about it.

After my back was fused I wore a cast or brace for 6 months and now years later I still bend my knees to bend down. Not because it is proper form to bend at the knees, but because of the 6 months I HAD to, I never really got out of the habit.

I love the colour combinations you come up with! They make me smile:-)

Susan said...

Hilary, chronic pain is the hardest thing to cope with, but you're doing it with grace and listening to your body. I'm glad you can still go on your walks with your pal. Take care, XOXO

ain't for city gals said...

I kind of surprised they don't have you wearing a neck brace also. I just ordered the PBS dvd Easy Yoga..for easing pain by Nancy Cappy. Just watching her on PBS the other day showing her stretching and easy yoga..for any ages and those with limitations...made me more relaxed...

Daryl said...

i wish your doctor read your blog ..

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Because every thread counts

Because every thread counts