negotiating transitions - over 8,000 page views!

 

finished hottie cover, with reverse applique, embroidery and buttons

This is a group art project initiated by CurlyPops, whose blog the link above leads to.  I love these mini challenges, as it makes me do something creative to a deadline. Last year I did an apron swap, namely making an apron for someone selected at random from Rhonda Hetzel's extremely popular Down to Earth blog, which was really fun. In this project the finished hotties will be exhibited at Open Drawer in Melbourne. Cool, or, er, hot, hey?

 recycled textile art from Brisbane City Council exhibition in May

collage

I've been thinking a lot about women this week, so much  sexist commentary around, it seems to be endemic at the moment. The Socceroos' coach said that women should shut up outside the house, and Julia Gillard was insulted (again) in the menugate affair. I am so over this...and then there was the furore over the very public assault on Nigella Lawson, who apparently was condemned for not speaking out - whoa, do people who think up this stuff understand the dynamics and impact of domestic violence? Perhaps not.

aerobics class embroidery...designed by Kate Pudney, embroidered by me

I have rejoined the BCC gym at Hibiscus Gardens, and I remembered today what is great about it: the gardens! Fernwood had no windows at all, except clouded glass at the front, and it felt quite strange for that reason. I have been sampling classes; so far I have been to yogacise, (whacky) body attack and body balance (already love this class). Body attack is loud and full on, but I will try to stick at it until I have a better idea of whether I really like it - sadly, its not body combat!

I also had a fitness test today, which turned out to be more about taking measurements so I have a baseline, but I will also be getting a gym program to follow... its been weird making the transition, as I had got into a routine...so hard to establish new routines. And Hibiscus is a mixed gym - now that takes some readjustment.

So excited, I have now had over 8,000 visits to this blog! This seems amazing, as I have been blogging so intermittently recently. Welcome, so glad you came by, and please come again sometime. Leave a message if you'd like to. 

Now, I am going out to dinner at Boucher, to celebrate the end of another long semester, and my son J's fantastic year 12 semester one results.

more later.

inbetween times: the power of intervals

 'grateful for today' - pastels (April)

I have not been writing this blog much recently, for a variety of reasons, alluded to in my last post. Strangely, since I didn't remember doing that much this semester except STUDY, I now have a small 'backlog' of drawings, some of which I have posted here. This one (below) is what most of the past semester has felt like: a big race through meteorite (ok, then, rain) storms, to get through to the finish line.

 

'study deadlines' - pen drawing (May)

 'letting go of the thoughts - river of awareness' - pastels (June)

Clearly, it has been difficult to keep up the momentum of blogging, with all my other writing tasks:  not really that surprising. What is surprising, is the fact that I have still maintained some helpful routines, in addition to the occasional drawing, for example:

• daily meditation
• regular Lifesprint cycles at gym, 
• PT, and 'auditioning' new yoga classes
• walking the dog
• Fast 5/2 'diet'
  

What most of these activities have in common is intervals. 

Meditation is about trying to find a space between thoughts and busyness to just be. Noticing the spaces between the thoughts, however small, is a mindful act. 

The lifesprints exercise, similarly, is based on alternating periods of fast cycling with periods that are slower and less intense. Intervals are the key to more efficient fat burning, apparently. 

Lifting weights (and any other exercise) depends on rest periods as well as reps. Yoga needs a relaxation period afterwards, or I feel cheated. Walking the dog is an interval of  easy exercise, before the day really begins. 

The fast diet has intervals of calorie restriction, interspersed between days of normal eating. 

Intervals.

The power of the interval seems to be, to experience a small recovery period, regularly. In the case of lifesprints, every ten seconds or so. I haven't had much time off in the past year, due to studying through the summer semester, when most people are on a break. So the intervals have been really important, in terms of staying on track.

Another interval coming up soon, I am going to Sydney for the World ACT Forum in early July. Despite being called for jury service, being asked to 'verify my student status' for conference registration, and semester 2 placement starting the same week, I am ignoring the obstacles, and am hoping it will be really good.
 

brown horse - felt

 hottie-cover challenge -  fabric, work in progress

Obviously, creative challenges also provide great opportunities for (arty) intervals. This one is for a good cause. I hope to do some more embellishment, perhaps embroidery, before sending it to Melbourne.

Just had another cool interval experience: a visit to the Sunshine Coast, (in the pouring rain, with intervals of drizzle), for two days, to celebrate multiple family birthdays. Probably the most home made cakes I have seen on one table, at the same time, ever. Delicious.

more later.