Rebuilding my life

I’ve been uploading photos to my picassa and flickr photo stream these past few days. I’ve had to scrounge around old cd files for some of the earlier works. I’ve been on computer hiatus for six months and I haven’t started using one again until two weeks ago, so this is going to take a while longer than I expected.School’s about to start again so I’m going to have to put this off until this coming weekend. I teach three days a week at a university here in Manila.I’ve given away some of the unfinished dolls just to lessen the work that I need to finish and have retained only the dolls that I’ve committed to a swap and to a patron. There are still some unfinished dolls that I can’t seem to say goodbye to. Its been difficult making this decision.I’m just finishing these dolls in my work-in-progress bin and the Circle of existence quilt, then I’m giving up making pieces that involve needle work. I have to face the fact that my hand isn’t getting better despite the year long hiatus from doll making and needlework and the 6 month hiatus from computer use. I have to start consider other mediums that wont involve so much stress on the joints of my fingers. I work in 3 hour intervals with 2 hour breaks and 5 minute breaks every 30 minutes, but that’s not working anymore. There are days when I can’t even write with a pen. I have to limit typing and using the mouse too. My fingers are numb after 2 hours of continuous typing. This is what arthritis does and I’ve developed carpal tunnel from the kind of work I do.I’m hoping that if I use clay for the head and the extremeties that my hands will have the rest they need. I need to cut back on beading. I love textures and beading is my way of adding texture to the costumes of my dolls or creatures so that’s another issue that I’m trying to find an alternative for.Whatever the outcome will be I will continue making creatures, just in another medium and in some other form. Art is my life and I am most unhappy when I’m not creating so visual journaling has been the only solace I’ve had this past year. I probably would’ve shriveled up and died if it weren’t for those pages.Do bear with me. This will be an interesting ride. Exploring other mediums is, afterall a happy adventure to be embarking upon. Happiness ever!