Trash to Treasure
Ask and thou shall receive.
I asked for people to send their diabetes trash, and the packages started to arrive, boxes wrapped with packing tape and big fat envelopes. Inside were the paper backs of all things adhesive, test strip bottles and boxes, tubing, cartridges, inserters, even several bottles of expired unused test strips, which delighted me so since I love to use my own test strips for art-making, but couldn’t offer anything that might be considered medically hazardous to others. My plan had been to sort through and get the materials organized the weekend of the 16th, but because of my family issues, my entire presentation was all but forgotten until last Friday, when I set aside my father’s papers, and tried to focus on putting something together.
Because most of the workshop would be spent making art, I didn’t have to worry too much about the actual presentation, other than to pick and choose the bare essentials of what I thought needed to be conveyed for the sake of putting the art task and the materials into context. I did want to give them something to take home to read in the event they wanted more information, so I spent most of my time getting that organized before Jason and I made a midnight visit to Fed-Ex Office, which I will probably forever call Kinko’s simply because that’s a catchier name. We made packets, returned home, and I went to bed at 2AM despite the fact that I had a 14-hour day ahead of me on Saturday. Naturally, I couldn’t sleep either just because sleeping is very hit or miss for me lately.
The conference went well overall. There were some parts of it that got to me, like the workshop on using fabric arts in art therapy groups. That reminded me of the quilts my father has that my great-grandmother made, and the many associations I have to both of them as they are intrinsically connected in my mind. It was good to get out of the house though. Putting on a happy face doesn’t always feel natural right now, but what’s that saying? Fake it till you make it? Or something to that effect. So I did a lot of faking, and towards the end of the afternoon, I was plenty distracted by my anxiety about giving the evening presentation that a little real estate cleared in my head for something other than my father.
I wasn’t delighted with my presentation only because my public speaking skills leave a little something to be desired, but everyone there seemed to enjoy it, and the artwork had me as close to giddy as I’ve been in a while. Everyone graciously allowed me to photograph their creations, and since many of you had a hand in this, I want to share the final products with you. The participants also encouraged me to submit a proposal to the national conference and for a daytime workshop slot at next year’s local conference. I needed something good, and I was grateful to get something good.
What a great idea! I’m always looking for ideas for something different to do with Isabel (3 years old) who loves arts and crafts. Time to start collecting her diabetes trash (and her Daddy’s) and get creative! I’m glad you were able to focus on something other than your grief, if only for a short while. Thank you for sharing!
Kerry xxx
Comment by Kerry Cracknell — January 26, 2010 @ 6:18 pm
Awesome-ness! =)
Comment by jaimie — January 26, 2010 @ 6:26 pm
Your pics make me want to create something too. I think the boys would get a kick out of making something from their leftover supplies. I can just see all the good you are going to do in the diabetic community with your work! Just keep swimming!
Comment by Meri — January 26, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
I am grinning. SO AWEsome. Thank you for sharing.
Comment by Crystal — January 26, 2010 @ 6:36 pm
Wow, I love it! So great!!
Comment by George — January 26, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
How fun! It makes me want to play!
Let me know if you do something like this again. I’ll send more trash.
Comment by Cara — January 26, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
Awesome, Lee Ann.
Comment by jennifer cumming — January 26, 2010 @ 7:27 pm
Love the test strip art (and the others) – just love it!
Comment by Rachel — January 26, 2010 @ 8:11 pm
i think you should display all your art in a subscription content area…
Comment by wayne — January 27, 2010 @ 1:01 am
Love all of it! Beautiful artwork. Girl, you’re good!
Comment by Cherise — January 27, 2010 @ 1:42 am
Love the creations!
Comment by Penny — January 27, 2010 @ 8:51 am
OMGosh – fantastic – what a release too to create from the stuff we don’t exactly love!
Comment by Ellen — January 27, 2010 @ 10:43 am
This. Is. AWESOME.
Comment by Chris — January 27, 2010 @ 10:44 am
OMG – I have a huge box of stuff for you and forgot to send. Let me know if you think you’ll need it for a future one and I can ship away.
Comment by Becca — January 27, 2010 @ 11:27 am
I love that you do this.
Comment by jane — February 4, 2010 @ 12:02 am