Health and Self Care – Page 3

Let There be Light

July 17, 2011July 22, 2011Health and Self Care, Humor, Product ReviewsLeave a Comment

One of the joys of “maturing” is that my eyes do not like to look at lots of crochet stitches without good light. They will punish me by creating whirling vortexes of pain in my head if I persist.

So every time I have seen a good sale on OttLites my little ears perk up. I do not work for the OttLite company in any way shape or form. I simply adore their lights, because they really do live up to their claims to reduce eye-strain.

Currently I own 5 different desk-style OttLites. I also purchased a portable OttLite that has a large rechargeable battery. It reminds me a bit of those first mobile phones. The ones called “The Brick”.

It weighs about 3 1/4 pounds with an adaptor that allows it to be plugged into an electrical outlet that weighs an additional 1/4 pound. I purchased it because I wanted a good OttLite to use at classes at conferences.

Lighting in convention center rooms is typically not great for working on needlearts, and I usually find myself dealing with the aforementioned whirling vortexes of pain. Electrical outlets in these same rooms are also a bit hard to come by, so something that doesn’t have to be plugged in is quite handy. I purchased my “portable” OttLite in preparation for the Buffalo Chain Link conference in August, 2009. Thus began a bit of an educational adventure.

First of all, I think that the solid brickish nature of it alarmed TSA. It was in my checked baggage and when I opened my bags at the hotel I discovered a nice note from TSA telling me my bag had been searched.

Being that the light is actually pretty hefty I decided to use my small rolling carry-on bag to schlep the light and my other class materials about with me. It was handy to have the light, but hauling it and the bigger bag around got old quickly. By the end of the conference I was leaving the light in my hotel room to use while stitching there in the evenings.

I still use it a lot at home, it’s especially great to grab when I want some extra lighting for shooting photos. But it hasn’t gone to anymore conferences. Too much additional weight in my luggage and to lug about at the conference.

So I was very excited this past Thursday when I was doing some retail therapy at Michaels and I saw a small LED Flip Light by OttLite. I was even more excited to see that it was regularly $20 and on sale for $10. I quickly grabbed one of the lights to purchase, the light had a white housing and was just a bit bigger than a pager.

Unfortunately, I had not checked the package very well. After taking the package out to open it at home, I discovered someone had already opened it. The compartment for the batteries was broken. It was a very sad moment. Fortunately, my family and I were planning a trip to Denver the next day. So I put the light and the receipt in my bag to take with me.

That morning we stopped at the same store on our way to Denver and I exchanged the broken light for a new one. The clerk at the shop was very nice and I looked over the packaging to be certain it hadn’t been opened. I set it aside and had a fun outing at the Aquarium with my family.

Once I was home again I quickly grabbed a couple of batteries and opened the package. I was talking on the phone at the time with my friend Stacy and she got to witness first hand my displeasure on discovering that the clip on the back of this light was broken. The packaging had disguised that fact earlier.

The following day I was headed to Denver for my monthly stitching group meet-up. Which was the reason for Stacy and I’s phone call…we were planning out our day and when to get together. Of course, discovering I would have to exchange the light again put a wee dent in our plans. I would need to stop at Michaels on my way to Denver once more.

Then Stacy came up with the brilliant idea of me taking the light to a Michaels near where we would be having dinner in Denver. That way she could purchase one of the little lights too and we would have more time to visit. I decided to bring batteries, a small screwdriver and my utility knife with me so I could open the package and check that the light worked at the store. I really did not fancy another trip up the mountain and back down to get a working light.

Saturday afternoon I headed down the mountain and picked up Stacy. We arrived at the Michaels store, which was one of the largest I’ve ever been in. We began wandering around the store looking for the OttLites, but couldn’t find them. Finally I accosted a Michael’s employee, who turned out to be the store manager. He quickly took us back to where the OttLites were displayed. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the little flip light.

I had told the kind manager the tragic story of the 2 broken lights and he said he would check with some other Michaels stores to see who had them. In the process he discovered that they were supposed to have the lights in stock at his store. So he had us make ourselves comfortable in the store class room and he went on a hunt for them.

A little while later he returned with this package. I was excited because the light was PINK! And not just pink but “in-your-face” Fuchsia Pink, one of my favorite shades. Note: this photo was taken today after I had already customized my light with my 2hands logo.

Fortunately they also had the light in white or black so Stacy wasn’t stuck with a wild pink light. She does not share my enthusiasm for pink. Though it’s a good thing there wasn’t a purple one as we might have had a battle over it.

Lil-Light-hand — A Wonderful Palm Sized Light

We opened the packages and put in the batteries I had brought to test that our lights worked. Then we did a bit of shopping in the store, made our purchases and headed off to have some dinner. After dinner we went to PJ Jam where we both showed off our nifty new lights.

I am thrilled with my little light. It is very light weight in my project bag and the light output is marvelous. The clip on the back will allow me to attach it to my clothing or on my notebook to use it easily at conferences. It is also going to be very handy when I am doing color matching for fabrics and yarns when I go shopping.

My Mission

June 20, 2011June 19, 2011Celebrating, Health and Self CareLeave a Comment

One day, about 15 years ago, I met a lady who admired the crocheted scarf I was wearing. She recognized it as crochet and commented sadly that she used to crochet too, but had to stop because it hurt her hands. This would not be the only time I would hear this from former crocheters.

While I was in massage school there were numerous times I met people who had to give up stitching hobbies due to hand injury or pain. I also learned that many massage therapists ended up leaving the field of massage work due to injuries to their hands and arms. This motivated me to learn as much as I could about ways to prevent injury to my own hands and to share that information with others.

In this modern age of technological devices our hands, fingers and arms are subjected to myriad opportunities to develop repetitive stress injuries. Add all our hobbies and driving in automobiles to this means having a strategy to prevent injury is important for everyone.

Which is why I am so pleased to be teaching at the 2011 Crochet at Cama CLF Retreat this October.

One of the classes I am teaching is “Getting a Grip on your Crochet” where I will be sharing numerous stretches, strengthening exercises, as well as methods of modifying hooks and different hook and yarn holds to prevent injury.

The other class is “Contemplative Crochet” where the focus of the class will be about using our crochet time as a way to balance out everyday stresses and connect to the expressive creativity that is inherent in all of us.

Conductivity

April 11, 2011Crochet, Health and Self CareLeave a Comment

Conductivity is all about how well energy travels thru a material. In the case of crochet hooks it’s about how well that material conducts heat.

One thing that can affect how comfortable a hook is in your hand is the material it is made from. If your hook is sucking all the heat from your hands, it could increase your risk for repetitive stress injuries.

For some crocheters, there is no real worry about conductivity. They don’t spend hours on end stitching. Their time with the hook is interrupted and intermittent. That is actually a good thing. Because it means breaks are sort of “built in” to their stitching time.

But what about folks that spend a couple of hours at a time stitching or those who are plagued by arthritic pain in the hands? Then the material their hook is made of can make a world of difference.

Boyes-and-Bates — Susan Bates and Boyes Hooks

Metal hooks are the big culprit when it comes to discomfort crocheting. They are also the most commonly available and affordable hooks out there. In the US particularly, the aluminum hooks manufactured by Susan Bates and Boye are the most frequently sold hooks.

Any kind of metal though is a great conductor of heat. And heat is something you need to keep in your hands to avoid repetitive stress injuries or arthritic pain.

Personally I love metal hooks. They tend to be smooth and fast with most yarn fibers. They are also durable, especially when it comes to working with non-traditional materials. It works much better to crochet wire with a metal hook as opposed to using a wood or plastic one.

EtimoandClover — My Tulip Etimo and Clover Soft Touch Hooks

This is one of the reasons that I like my Clover Soft Touch and Tulip Etimo hooks so much. I get the best of both worlds. Metal hook with a warmer less conductive handle. But they can be daunting to some crafters as the individual cost per hook is about 3 times that of regular metal hooks.

BatesBamboo — Susan Bates Bamboo Handled Hooks

Susan Bates also has a hook series with Bamboo handles that I’ve heard good reports about. My hook hold is such that they aren’t that ideal for me, though I need to use them a bit more to decide if I would recommend them.

If you are only working with yarn, then wood or plastic hooks could be fine for you.

A very affordable option for a wood hook are the bamboo hooks from ChiaoGoo, they come in a wide range of sizes and are often my choice for design projects that need a larger gauge hook.

The Laurel Hill hooks are lovely if you are willing to pay a bit more. They sit beautifully in the hand and are finished super smooth to glide thru any yarn fiber you want to work with. They do have a very tapered throat, so that can make gauge a little trickier.

CloverReflections — Clover Reflections Ergonomic Hooks

My favorite plastic hooks are from Clover. They currently are only available in sets of 3 hooks. Size N, L, & K and Sizes J, H, & G are packaged together in a handy and decorative tube. They are not as smooth as the other hooks I’ve mentioned, but they are quite serviceable and the shape is very hand friendly as well as the plastic will warm up to your touch without cooling off your hand.

Modified-Handles — Modified Hook Handles

If you are more of a DIY kind of crafter you can always modify your hook. I have an article at the Crochet Uncut website on using shelf liner to add width to your hook. Making a Hook Friendly.

The Importance of Being Needed

December 31, 2010February 19, 2024Creativity, Health and Self Care, HumorLeave a Comment

The end of the year always marks a time of reflection for me. While I may not necessarily come up with resolutions for the coming year, I do re-evaluate what I have accomplished in the previous one.

2010 is nearly over and it has been an amazing year for me as I have moved from working part-time to full-time in my efforts as a crochet designer.

I have sold 10 designs this year to various magazines and yarn companies. Some that will not be published until 2011 and others that are currently available to crocheters.

I have spent countless hours swatching and sketching design ideas for submissions to magazines and yarn companies. As well as working on designs for publishing in my independent line of patterns.

I have discovered that I was actually doing much more work in my life before going back to “work” than I realized or credited myself with. The fact that my time is taken up with “work” work instead of those other tasks has made that abundantly clear.

I love to design. I love to teach about crochet and healthy crafting. I love to crochet for myself, gifting and charity. But I am also realizing the limits on my time and energy as well as the importance of being needed.

My children are quite young still. They have made it rather clear in the past few months that they still need me and my attention. The last 8 years have gone by in a flash and soon enough, they will be far too independent. So I am looking at how to find balance between what they need from me and what I need to do as a designer.

The next 4 months will be about finding greater balance with my work and home life. That may mean focusing more on my blogging and Independent Pattern line. Possibly the opening of my Etsy shop. All things that allow me flexibility with my deadlines.

As much as I enjoy working with editors and creative directors in the Magazine and Yarn business the deadlines are often quite tight. If one of my children becomes sick or my husband has to travel for business it can really make it challenging to meet those deadlines.

Being a re-covering Perfectionist I get very stressed if I can’t meet a deadline. I hate to let down editors or others that are counting on my project to be in on time.

The interesting thing is, slowing things down is in many ways an act of faith. Faith that my skills will continue to grow and that I will find the opportunities that I need at the right time. I hope you, my friends and readers will join me in this journey of faith.

The importance of being needed is key, especially what we need from ourselves.

Twas the Week before Christmas

December 17, 2010December 17, 2010Crochet, Health and Self Care, Humor, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

I hear you all out there scrambling to finish gift projects. You are crocheting (or knitting) like mad fiends in every spare moment you can find. Meetings at work are viewed as an opportunity to get a few rows done. And that long train/bus or subway commute isn’t too bad if you can find a stable spot to sit or stand and stitch.

You are staying up late. You’re stitching for hours on end. And very likely you are ignoring those twinges and aches in your shoulders, neck, arms and hands.

I know I’m not going to persuade you that you should stop tormenting yourself. Heck! I’m in a similar boat. But I’m doing okay because I’m adding in a few ways of taking care of myself.

I like to listen to music or watch movies when I am working. Sometimes my TV shows are on. I make sure to set some sort of interval that I am going to stop for a moment and do something else. Every time the commericials start or at the end of a certain song or scene.

Yes, that is a sneaky way of saying I take a break. Remember the rule with breaks is, you don’t have to go do yoga in the corner. Get up and move! That’s it.

Go switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer. Get a drink of water. Run to the loo. Just move your body in a way that is different from crouching over your crafting.

Of course, I’m also reminding myself regularly not to “crouch” over my project. Keeping my shoulders and neck relaxed really gives me more energy and efficiency when stitching. So between my “Get up and Move” breaks I take little mini-breaks.

Mini-breaks are just a quick moment to take a deep breath, relax my shoulders, maybe look up at the ceiling or gently twist my neck from side to side. Anymore these are such a habit that I do them without thinking. I can even keep stitching often times.

I know it seems counter-intuitive that taking time for a break of any sort will speed up the progress of your project, but it really works. Those little breaks add to your overall energy level and improve your chances of working “smarter” instead of “harder”.

Also a reminder. If you are still looking for some quick gifts for some of the folks on your list my first pattern “Little Christmas Wreath” is very speedy. You can make it as a brooch or a fun little ornament for the tree. Even makes a great Fridge magnet.

Take a look over at my Happy Holidays post to get the coupon code for a complimentary copy.

Getting something off my Chest

October 3, 2010Activism, Health and Self CareLeave a Comment

Think Pink it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Yes, not a humorous topic, and something that many may be tired of hearing about. Still it needs to be said. I now have the privilege of having lived long enough to know a number of Breast Cancer survivors. Their stories can be heart-rending, and a few of them are still battling the big C.

Cancer is scary stuff, expensive to treat and all around not something anyone wants to think about tangling with. Some folks get a lousy draw of the cards and others are just exposed to the wrong combo of environmental or food influences that cause cancer to visit them.

Any way you look at it though one thing is quite clear. The earlier cancer is detected the better your prognosis is (Prognosis is basically Doctor-speak for “your chances for survival” which seemed a bit grim for even me).

So ladies, and any gentlemen reading this, take the appropriate steps to be on guard for cancer in its early stages. Self Exams, awareness of what is “normal” for how your skin and breasts appear. Regularly visiting your healthcare practitioner for wellness check-ups and appropriately scheduled testing like PAP smears and Mammograms.

And make an effort to learn what you need to know about your family health history and how simple lifestyle changes can position you for optimal health and wellness your entire life.

Now we will return you to our regularly scheduled drooling over yarn, crochet design, chocolate and art.

The Breaking Point

June 6, 2010Crochet, Health and Self Care1 Comment

Time flies when you are having fun, and even when you are just working hard. But if you don’t take regular breaks during your work, the fun is likely to be replaced with pain. Not a good thing in most people’s book.

When I talk about taking breaks, people who are working on a deadline project just shake their heads at me. Who has time to take a break? But taking a break doesn’t mean that you always have to have a yoga moment.

Taking 30 seconds to stretch your hands and breathe deeply every 20-30 minutes can save you hours or days of hand and neck pain.

Our bodies are designed to move. Just getting up and doing something different for a moment can make a difference. Move the laundry into the dryer, take a walk to the bathroom, or get a drink of water. Doing another task is as much a break as stopping to stretch.

Ideally, you should take a break every 20 minutes. It’s easy to get so engrossed in the task at hand that an hour can slip by un-noticed. Setting a kitchen timer for 20 minutes can be a handy reminder.

You don’t even have to get up from your seat every time. Just set down your hook (or needles if you’re knitting) and wiggle a bit in place. You can stretch your hands, lift your arms above your head looking up at your hands, then twist from side to side. That might take all of a full minute, then you are back to working on your project or previous task.

A wonderful result is you will find yourself feeling more energized and better able to focus. Keep in mind that the longer you wait to take a break, the longer and more active the break should be.

Making breaks a habit while stitching or even working at your computer can help you avoid ever reaching your Breaking Point. And allow you to enjoy many years of pain-free stitching and typing.

Three Things I Love

May 30, 2010May 31, 2010Celebrating, Creativity, Crochet Design, Health and Self Care3 Comments

I may not be the most knowledgable person on these three things, but I am passionately interested in all of them.

Crochet, Math, and Healthy Crafting

Everyday I am thrilled to discover there is more to learn and explore in each of these subjects. Very likely I will spend the rest of my life happily doing just that.

In the world of Crochet I am growing as a designer. Yet there are still stitches and techniques I’ve not mastered. In fact, there are many I haven’t even tried— Hairpin Lace comes quickly to mind.

That’s why I enjoy going to conferences like the Knit and Crochet Show in New Hampshire this July (AKA Chain Link). It is great fun taking classes and talking with other crocheters. I am so inspired by seeing the work of others and learning new techniques and approaches to crochet.

In the world of Math I am a dilettante. I haven’t any mathematical degrees or other honors attached to my name. I just love exploring math theory, especially quantum physics and applicable geometries. I am not a human calculator; in fact it is shameful that I often have to grab the calculator to do fairly simple equations.

Much of my passion for math and geometry has been revived by my work as a crochet designer. I use math for figuring yardage requirements, shaping and garment sizing almost every day. Geometry is also often a source of inspiration for me in creating designs. A prime example of this is my “Lace with a Twist” wrap, which is a mobius.

In the world of Healthy Crafting I love to discover ways to maintain the health of my hands and body and then to share that information with my fellow crafters and artists.

Ever since I took my basic anatomy and physiology classes in massage school I have been fascinated with how the human body functions and malfunctions. During my time in school I found myself thinking that someone needed to translate the technical information so that everyone could understand simple and effective ways to maximize personal health. I retired from massage therapy this Spring with the goal being to concentrate further on this mission.

My career as a massage therapist enforced the value of taking good care of my body and particularly my hands. My hands are still important tools in my work as without them typing and crocheting would be difficult. Working with yarn and at the computer can challenge the strength and endurance of anyone’s hands.

One could say that some of my expertise in healthy crafting has come about thru my own pain. I’ve frequently overworked my hands while crafting. Then halfway thru my pregnancy with my oldest child I started developing carpal tunnel symptoms. I had to modify my lifestyle fairly severely and that included advice from my doctor that I would have to stop crocheting.

I did take a sabbatical from my massage work, but there was no way I was giving up my crochet (!!). The solutions I came up with during that time are the foundation that I am building on now. Writing and teaching on these methods is a passion, because I know how much richer my life is having crochet in it…and I want to help other’s avoid losing crochet (or knitting) from their own lives.

I have been writing articles on healthy crafting for the online quarterly magazine “Crochet Uncut” for a year now, and hope to one day publish a book. You can find links to my articles here.

Tomorrow evening I will be talking with Mary Beth Temple on her Getting Loopy Podcast about Healthy Crafting, so come have a listen. If you miss the show you can always download it later.

Sometimes Ya Just Gotta Wiggle

May 12, 2010Health and Self Care, Humor1 Comment

I was reminded of this basic rule by my 4 year old son the other day. He had been quietly playing with a book and then coloring in his sketch pad. Suddenly he jumped up and was moving all around, wiggling his body.

I was very entertained and after I stopped laughing, and he did too, I asked why he did that. “Sometimes ya just gotta wiggle,” was his answer.

And he is completely right.

Our bodies are built to be in motion. That old saying about “Move it or Lose it” is quite on target. I’m not a huge fan of the avid exercise regimen. It may be fine for many folks, but I don’t do anything to extremes (with the exception of the consumption of chocolate…which is not a subject for today’s post). But regularly moving about can help your brain be more alert and your body avoid injury.

Often when discussing preventing hand injury with crocheters and knitters I talk about taking breaks during your stitching time. I’ve given suggestions on what to do during that break time. Walk about, get a drink of water, maybe stretch…but wiggling works as well.

So the next time you take a break from your stitching try this.

Stand up and move away from your seating area so you have a bit of room around you. Stretch your arms up above your head then let them flop down by your sides. Then wiggle your shoulders front to back and let your arms flop around like limp noodles. Don’t worry about looking silly…trust me, you will look silly. But you will also feel great afterward.

Just a few minutes of wiggling gets your blood flowing and helps your muscles re-balance from the restrictions of typicial stitching postures. Plus it will make you smile, possibly even chuckle…and laughter is always good medicine.

The Energy Equation

February 12, 2010Health and Self Care, Humor1 Comment

I have finally solved a problem that has bugged me for months. How can I be insanely busy and still not do all the things I think I should be able to do? This question kept frustrating me because I’m super speedy at most of the things I do.

I crochet quickly and I type somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 wpm. I read like lightning– devouring entire books in mere hours or at most a few days. Turns out it isn’t a matter of how much time it takes me, it’s a matter of the energy it takes.

If memory serves me, physics addresses this particular problem. There is an equation that goes somewhat along the lines of:

Energy + Time = Velocity.

An easy way to understand this equation is to apply it to driving your car. If you wish to travel a set distance, the amount of gasoline required remains fairly constant, whether you travel that distance quickly or slowly. There is some wiggle room in there depending upon the efficiency of your car engine and the condition of the road surface. But the amount of gasoline remains equivalent for all practical purposes.

In the equation Energy is a constant. The variables are Time and Velocity. For my purposes Velocity represents the Amount of Work I can finish.

Turns out the problem isn’t I’m running out of Time, I’m running out of Energy. And of course, less energy = more time needed to complete the tasks on my To-Do list. The real trick is how do I harness more energy? The answer is…no one can.

Time management and good self-care can certainly maximize how the energy is put to use. But in the end there is only a finite amount of energy available to me on a daily basis.

Recently there have been lots of new opportunities opening up in my life. I have started designing crochet patterns and selling my art and fiber creations. Opportunities for teaching hand health/healthy crafting and crochet are popping up. But since I am dealing with a finite amount of energy, I need to shift things around to make more room (and energy) for the new.

So I’ve finally bowed to the wisdom of the ages and the science of physics. I’ve reached a decision that I’ve been seriously wrestling with the past four months.

At the end of April I am retiring as a massage therapist. It is a scary thought. In many ways I have identified myself with that profession for over 11 years (more if I count the years I was in training).

As much as I love working with clients and helping them to feel better, the thing I love most is educating them on how to care for themselves so they aren’t back on my table in knots too quickly. I will eventually continue my role as an educator with my writing and teaching classes on those subjects.

Like all changes in our lives this one promises to have its ups and downs. But I am really looking forward to having more energy to devote to my family and my creative work.