What I'm making/thinking/watching/writing right now...

[untonuggan]

oursin recently made a post asking "what people are doing, thinking, wondering about, reading, watching, making, writing" as a general response to the recent friending meme. I thought it was interesting, and am responding in a rather haphazard way right now by talking about my general creativity goals atm.

What I'm making
I've been working on a lot of sooper sekkrit knitting projects, which shall probably be revealed after the recipients receive them and if they give their permission for them to be shared.

I am mostly finished, and am now working on things for me and also some for Etsy or maybe just...I don't know? I'm letting the muses take me where they will.

My "craft space desk" is currently littered with jewelry making things; every couple of days I make a pair of earrings or something. Yesterday I turned a just-started knitting project into a choker, so clearly my interests are combining. It was a lot of fun, I may start knitting things specifically so they can be chokers. (Quick project, anyone?)

Currently, I'm knitting a dishcloth out of fair trade cotton left over from when I made ta-tas for a friend of mine, as well as an "art shawl" that is glorious and fun but not a good travel project because I use so many different colors of yarn and so there's a lot of changing colors. Am looking for a good travel project, which is not going to be the next thing I'm casting on (or planning to, at least), which is an "adult surprise jacket" in earth tones made out of natural fibers.

What I'm thinking about
Mostly, crafting. It's what's keeping me going right now, at times when I'm stuck in the house due to (a) not being able to drive/get to public transit; (b) low spoon days. I'm thinking a lot about gauge and how many stitches to cast on for Adult Surprise, but I won't bore anyone with details unless they ask.

Also, I'm thinking about the birds in the backyard; what it means to be disabled under the US disability system (which always feels so infused with guilt to me, but that could just be my weasels); my partner and family and things to do with them; setting up my Etsy store and what that means.

I'm also thinking about how much I enjoy teaching knitting, as I've been giving pointers over IM and helping my mom/partner out with some things. Are classes a possibility if I get to the point where I could actually schedule them with some regularity? That would be awesomesauce. I know nothing about how to set that up, though.

What I'm watching
Partner has mostly been choosing shows lately, which I'm fine with. We've been rotating between Futurama and occasionally How It's Made, which is rather hypnotic and puts me to sleep. She really likes it, though, so I tolerate it. Also, I've been watching birds and the fire in the fireplace, and worrying as I watch my aging dog hobble around the house.

What I'm writing
Hopefully, soon, more haiku and tanka and other poetry. It's been on a back burner for too long. I don't have the concentration right now to read or write at length, which is super sad but I've rather grown accustomed to it at this point.

That's all for now, off to an appointment.

Comments

[the_rck]

I'm glad you've got so many projects that make you happy. It really is a help when you're housebound to have something to do. I find it helps keep my brainweasels at bay.

Being disabled is a hard thing to accept, especially when it's a change in state (even if it came on gradually or is an acknowledgment of something that's been going on for a long time). It's a loss. Brainweasels like things that really are difficult because they can make them bigger and harder to face. It doesn't help that our culture has a big heap of shame to pile on those who can't do 'normal' things. We're conditioned to believe that it's all about trying hard enough, but sometimes, trying hard isn't going to do anything.

On the plus side, a person who's disabled can have a very fulfilling life. It doesn't mean an end to everything. It's a change, and it hurts, but it doesn't take everything.

[untonuggan]

Agreed about the "big heap of shame" comment entirely, that's mostly what I've been pondering (as well as how much I've internalized it). I think it's a very good healing process.

Projects = YAY!

[oursin]

Current UK policy seems to be going in the direction of 'guilt the disabled', alas, with ghastly policies involving getting them into work: as if work were the Pool of Bethesda. Sigh.

[untonuggan]

Rhetoric in the US involves a lot of "guilt the disabled"; it seems to be a common theme. I also frequently get mail from the Social Security Administration about the "Ticket to Work" program, which is supposed to help provide job training. What they don't seem to understand is that I have qualifications to work, just not energy.