RA at war with Quilting | Arthritis Information

 

RA is at war with Quilting

For my 50^th birthday, I learned how to quilt which delighted me and my whole family. That was 2 years before RA started, so technically, Quilting has property rights of me. Right from the start, RA came charging in to invade and take over. Quilting lost more and more ground in the first year, then started fighting back and promised me to never surrender. One major battle it lost was my ability to continue to do hand-sewing ie applique and hand-quilting. I enjoyed the mobility to do it anywhere ie  in lawnchair-under a tree-by a lake, or at my mother's, or just at home watching tv. Now, I’m restricted to my sewing machine, although I do take it to my mom’s. I was sorry to lose that battle. Others are won, then lost on another day, then won for a short time on another day. Another year, RA was in full attack mode claiming more territory. Then Quilting pushed back again. RA has an arsenol of weapons to use against Quilting… fingers- painful,  stiff, swollen…shoulder-pain, weakness…hips- painful, stiff. Then, there is the big weapon-of-mass-destruction called Fatigue that is blasted every day, robbing me hours of enjoying my fairly new hobby. In defense of this country of survivors and fighters, Quilting trained us in new techniques of warfare that have improved morale. Now, I only use my machine, cut fabric with a rotary cutter(like a pizza roller cutter, big handle) or have someone else cut for me, I have special thread scissors, and only work on small projects... some wallhangings, but mostly pillows, placemats, small framed landscapes (my new fun thing) and I work for short periods 15min-or more if possible. Yet it’s so hard to get anything done when bullits are coming at me and bombs keep going off. It makes completion of every quilt project such a big victory that I wish I could dance and jump with joy. I love quilting.

 

Does anybody else struggle to continue doing a hobby?

Yes Cathy, sorry to hear about your hobbies, my main hobby was running, it was awful having to give that up, riding a bike was a good substitute but can't do it anymore, swimming laps became a good substitute, now that is restricted, bad shoulders, knees, neck etc, and the awful fatigue!  Now scrapbooking is restricted and playing pool with my boys, which I thought would be real easy isn't really!  It steals everything, we have to keep finding alternatives but it ain't easy!!!  Regards Janie.  I hear you about quilting.. I make stained glass as a hobby. I haven't cut a single piece since 2003. This sucks doesnt it? I used to enjoy cross stitch and crewel embroidery. I would design my own pieces, such fun! Hand problems have caused me to give that up, just pinching the needle between my fingers would kill me, if I could even do it. I am also a pastel artist, which also necessitates holding a chalk tightly in my fingers and making tiny movements, all agonizing.

I have other options though. Holding a brush might be possible, though painting has never held as much appeal for me. I used to do stained glass also, don't think I could manage that now.

I could also try pastels with bigger blocks of color rather than the intricate details of my previous style.

I don't see how I could ever embroider again, though. CathyMarie, I'm glad you can use the sewing machine to do some of your work. I own an art gallery, and one of my artists does the most lovely landscape scenes and flower pictures using a sewing machine. Creativity will always find a way!oh girls!!  I truly get it.....  I too am a quilter!!  unable to do my own finishes.... I send them off now for stitching....  and I've been putting off starting my new grandson's quilt cause I know the pain such love will bring....  I also was a cross-stitcher.... and an artist.....  I find all that is just painful on most days though some of the bigger stitch patterns are workable.... not as pretty as past projects but I get some enjoyment....  using pencils for sketching small details is impossible in that I don't have the control to work the way I wish... I just wanted to add, that I've thought often of doing my pictures w/ fabric....  I wish I had the time.... sounds like you have some beautiful things at your gallery, Blue.Well I am proud of all of you ladies! You all sound very talented! I'm sorry RA robbed you of the things you loved to do. It couldn't take it from me because if I'm trying to do a simple task like repair a seam that opened up I end up sewing the piece to myself! So either I throw things away or take them to the cleaners for repair.Hi fellow creative people!

My easel, pastels, oils and acrylics are in the spare room waiting to go to new owners. I recently downloaded a trial version of Painter II, software that converts photo files into paintings before your eyes, and you can use your creativity to modify the results. Its worth trying out because while a lot of the photos look like mush, if you pick the right style (impressionist/modern/pastel/illustration etc.) you can end up with a lovely picture.

It's not that expensive so I'll probably buy it. My favourite part is watching all the brushstrokes splashing across the screen. Very mesmerising.Oops, I gave the name of the graphic artists software. The easy home version is called Painter Essentials 4 here is the link
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