What are you doing in quarantine?

That's probably a question people are asking all over the place.  I can't believe we've been inside for six weeks now.  When I was hearing all the stories of quarantine in Wuhan I remember thinking of what life must have been like for all those people.  Honestly I'm uncomfortable, but I realize how fortunate I am, I have a home and a yard, and food I even have a few rolls of toilet paper.  I feel for the people who have to go to work on the bus or subway and are risking exposure, many can't afford not to work.  All the medical personnel that are risking their lives, I'm so grateful to them.

Anyway, what I've been doing is logging major studio time.  And I haven't just been painting but I've been sewing, spinning yarn, and knitting a lot.  I find that especially knitting with it's rhythmic nature to be of comfort.  There is something in the action of working with your hands that quiets the mind.  And you can find a calm inside.  You forget about the worries for a little while.  Craft is a moving meditation.

I am not kidding about logging those hours I just keep doing things even if they are ridiculous like decorating packages to be mailed.  

Art Trading card, and a handspun, handknit bag for my friend.  Which will be mailed in the decorated envelope.  Because she's my friend who reminds me to stay cheery and enjoy life in the moment.

One more thing...if you'd like to learn to knit here is some instruction I did...it's really short, I'm no youtube vlogger (not yet anyway), but it will help you learn a knit stitch.  Maybe I'll make a matching video to teach you to purl. 

Hummingbird

We have hummingbirds in my backyard!  And yes, in southern California we have hummingbirds year round, but this year we have a nest with tiny babies in it right outside of our patio door.  So this litte hummingbird family has become a pleasant distraction from our uncomfortable feelings while sheltering at home during a pandemic.  The Animal Medicine card book describes the hummingbird as a symbol of joy.  It says that hummingbird feathers conjure love and can open the heart.  It says that hummingbird asks us to "Drop our judgemental attitudes and relax" (Carson and Sams 214).  I really needed to read that today, I have been experiencing a lot of feelings during this quarantine.  I know its not news to anyone, we are all feeling a lot of the same things.  Part of the difficulty about staying home in a large family is finding solitude.  The exact opposite of people alone are experiencing.  And don't get me wrong, I'm a very social person normally, I love people and visiting, but I counter balance that with solitary time.  During my solitary time I process my ideas, it's essential to my creative practice.  Sometimes I wonder if the experiences we live are supposed to give us some kind of insight into ourselves. Is there some universal power guiding me towards enlightenment?  So admittedly I've been feeling a bit judgemental of people I'm quarantining with and I think that is not really making things any easier for me.  So dropping that a bit today.  I'm just going to watch the hummingbirds and make some more art.

Carson, David and Sams, Jamie.  Medicine Cards.  Santa Fe, Bear & Company, 1988.