Studio, Interrupted

February put me in time-out. I was using my glass cutter to recycle wine bottles for different projects, per my last post, when an accident occurred. The bottle shattered, a large piece jabbed the base of my wrist and severed 7 tendons in my hand/wrist, my ulnar nerve, and hit an artery. A trip to the ER and a surgery later, I am now on a long road to recovery. I have lost sensation in my palm, ring and pinky fingers, and the only finger I can safely move is my thumb.

I really miss being in my studio, working on projects, painting, and being able to easily put my hair up in a ponytail. I am fortunate for the friends and family that have shown up for me to offer support, warm meals, and helpful advice. I’m not sure if it’s the physical pain or mental pain that I am more afflicted by.  Unfortunately, losing touch with making art feels like a loss of identity, which I am aware sounds very dramatic. Hyper fixating on projects is how I ground myself. It is when I feel the most comfortable, the most certain, and in control. Not having access to that and having to find that inner peace from a restful state instead of one in motion, has been difficult.

While I was binge-watching entire seasons of TV shows, the Accent Cellar dwellers were keeping the creative energy going in my absence. We celebrated Valentine’s Day with an art market hosted by the Dahlonega Arts Alliance.  I hope all of the vendors had success and our guests found gifts for their loved ones. We finally had nice weather on a Saturday which felt like such a gift in itself. 

We kept the celebration going the following Saturday with Australia Day! Tristen manned the grill for the sausage sizzle. Will crafted a flavorful ginger beer flight with our Root Awakening as the base. We had a friend bring his pet snake to pose for photos, which now both my boys really want one…  Tristen’s dad even had the mayor of their town in Australia make an official declaration approving our delayed Aussie Day festivities! (It is on our Instagram)