Rachael said...
Hi Rachael, I am really enjoying you're blog it is well written, and i like how your answers to class content is woven into a story. I am a photographer myself and am enjoying your photos. Have you explained all of the photography 'language' to the readers f-stop, shutter speed ect, this may also be another opportunity to add in some more quotes and references.
well done :)
Rachael said...
Hi Matt, I enjoy how passionate you are about playing your guitar it makes you're blog an easy read. Just a bit of a question about your language, im not actually sure what is expected, but do you think we need to be using professional language as it is an assignment?
I have enjoyed reading :)
Rachael said...
Hey Jo, i really enjoy the honest relaxed style of writing you have used throughout your blog. It is an easy read. One tip, I think i remember being told in class to avoid the use of lists within out blogs. (not that helpful since that's all we do in class.) Instead use those headings then write paragraphs specifically to do with your painting and drawing. Check out some other student blogs for examples. I wouldn't change what you have done, but just for next time.
other than that, good work :)
Rachael said...
Hey Kylie, Good use of Relevant Occupational Therapy quotes throughout your blog. In your blog are you talking about just one time that you made a beef stir fry? just wondering if you are supposed to be that specific? Maybe check out some other student blogs on cooking, and see what they are about. I also like the use of YouTube examples! good idea.
Happy blogging :)
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Saturday 8 October 2011
Friday 7 October 2011
What NEED is French Knitting fulling for me?
I am finding this quite a tough question to answer, as ultimately it is physical relaxation while keeping my mind occupied by the rhythm of knitting. As this feels like a productive way to spend my time.
So relaxation, why do i need to relax...
Many reasons, maybe because i have done too much on my feet through out the day, pushed my body too hard at the gym, had a full day of class and study, have a lot going on personally and emotionally. So i guess all these things get me physically or cognitively/emotionally stressed enough to NEED to relax, in this case by French Knitting.
In a bit more depth..
I have been doing more reflection on my need to for French knitting. I have established that i actually use French knitting as a self-help technique for me to deal with my daily pain. French knitting is relaxing because of the repetitive motion and flow of the activity. Ergonomics of French knitting push me to sit in a relaxed position, often with my feet up to recover. I really enjoyed and related to Jungersen's work about her weaving. Jungersen spoke about how her weaving is like a ‘thread’ that links her to her balance of academic occupational therapy work and her creativity. This therefore, represents the weaving of her professional and personal self. I feel in a similar way. I use French knitting as a pain self-help technique; I feel it is the occupational therapist in me, balancing with my creative personal self.
so ultimately French knitting is my self-help technique to deal with my daily pain through relaxation and creativity.
Creativity i have established is my second need as, I have a need to express my creativity as it holds a very significant sense of self. My creativity has always been something that makes me different to everybody else, very individualistic. Because of this I like to have an art or craft project on the go, which gives me self worth and self-satisfaction with progress and completion.
References:
Jungersen, K. (1994, April). Te Whare Pora (The house of weaving): Reflections on weaving and occupational therapy. Occupation, 2(1), 34-41.
So relaxation, why do i need to relax...
Many reasons, maybe because i have done too much on my feet through out the day, pushed my body too hard at the gym, had a full day of class and study, have a lot going on personally and emotionally. So i guess all these things get me physically or cognitively/emotionally stressed enough to NEED to relax, in this case by French Knitting.
In a bit more depth..
I have been doing more reflection on my need to for French knitting. I have established that i actually use French knitting as a self-help technique for me to deal with my daily pain. French knitting is relaxing because of the repetitive motion and flow of the activity. Ergonomics of French knitting push me to sit in a relaxed position, often with my feet up to recover. I really enjoyed and related to Jungersen's work about her weaving. Jungersen spoke about how her weaving is like a ‘thread’ that links her to her balance of academic occupational therapy work and her creativity. This therefore, represents the weaving of her professional and personal self. I feel in a similar way. I use French knitting as a pain self-help technique; I feel it is the occupational therapist in me, balancing with my creative personal self.
so ultimately French knitting is my self-help technique to deal with my daily pain through relaxation and creativity.
Creativity i have established is my second need as, I have a need to express my creativity as it holds a very significant sense of self. My creativity has always been something that makes me different to everybody else, very individualistic. Because of this I like to have an art or craft project on the go, which gives me self worth and self-satisfaction with progress and completion.
References:
Jungersen, K. (1994, April). Te Whare Pora (The house of weaving): Reflections on weaving and occupational therapy. Occupation, 2(1), 34-41.
Practical Considerations:
For French Knitting you need:
-Wool or acrylic Yarn
-French knitting spool. Which has been known to be hand made from a cotton real and four nails.
-a stitch lifter, much like a short knitting needle.
To buy a French Knitting Kit it will only cost around $12. Which gives you everything you need except wool, which you can buy for approximately $3 a bundle. It is a nice and cheap activity, which is very necessary!
It is a socially acceptable activity, by this i mean i can take my knitting anywhere and do it without being inappropriate. I can do this activity in the lounge with my flatmates, in the sun outside, in the library while listening to lectures online, in a sunny cafe in town or on a bus or plane.
I don't need any extra space to participate in this activity than my body usually takes up. French Knitting is also very easy to pick up and put down without dropping or loosiung any stitches. this means i can do my knitting around other activities and pick it up and put down as i please.
-Wool or acrylic Yarn
-French knitting spool. Which has been known to be hand made from a cotton real and four nails.
-a stitch lifter, much like a short knitting needle.
To buy a French Knitting Kit it will only cost around $12. Which gives you everything you need except wool, which you can buy for approximately $3 a bundle. It is a nice and cheap activity, which is very necessary!
It is a socially acceptable activity, by this i mean i can take my knitting anywhere and do it without being inappropriate. I can do this activity in the lounge with my flatmates, in the sun outside, in the library while listening to lectures online, in a sunny cafe in town or on a bus or plane.
I don't need any extra space to participate in this activity than my body usually takes up. French Knitting is also very easy to pick up and put down without dropping or loosiung any stitches. this means i can do my knitting around other activities and pick it up and put down as i please.
Affordances:
I understand affordance as the potential for this activity to lead me onto other activities. "It is through our activities that we…practice skills, express our feelings, experience pleasure…” (Hopkins & Smith, 1983). Also Hagedorn (2000) states that Affordance is anything which the environment can offer the individual which is pertinent to the role challenge and can facilitate role competence.
When i first began my French knitting in my flat it provoked conversation, "What are you doing" "What are you going to do with it?" Knitting also would afford me to go shopping when i ran out of wool or wanted new ideas. Knitting mainly affords me to relax, I am someone who likes to be constantly busy, when physically relaxing i need to still be occupied by a task like knitting.
References:
Hopkins, H.L., & Smith, H.D. (1983). Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy. In Crepeau E. (2003). Analyzing occupation and activity: A way of thinking about occupational performance. In Crepeau, E., Cohn, E., & Schell, B. (Eds.), Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy (10th ed., pp.189-198). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Hagedorn, . (2000). Tools for practice in Occupational Therapy: a structured approact to core skills and processes. London: Chirchhill livingstone.
When i first began my French knitting in my flat it provoked conversation, "What are you doing" "What are you going to do with it?" Knitting also would afford me to go shopping when i ran out of wool or wanted new ideas. Knitting mainly affords me to relax, I am someone who likes to be constantly busy, when physically relaxing i need to still be occupied by a task like knitting.
References:
Hopkins, H.L., & Smith, H.D. (1983). Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy. In Crepeau E. (2003). Analyzing occupation and activity: A way of thinking about occupational performance. In Crepeau, E., Cohn, E., & Schell, B. (Eds.), Willard and Spackman’s occupational therapy (10th ed., pp.189-198). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Hagedorn, . (2000). Tools for practice in Occupational Therapy: a structured approact to core skills and processes. London: Chirchhill livingstone.
Thursday 29 September 2011
Labor, Craft and Play
Labor:
i really don't feel like knitting is a labor it is an activity, something i do by choice, to relax. Although the history of french knitting may well have been a labor to create clothing for warmth.
Craft:
Jacobs (2009) explains craft as "An object usually made by hand using tools and skill." (p.58) I view this as creating something tangible something aesthetic to touch, play with, made my hand using a combination of skills. I feel as though french knitting is a tribute to my granny who tourght me everything i know about art and craft. My Granny she spent the time to teach me french knitting as a child, and many other types of knitting this reinforcing a great relationships in my life. I enjoy craft the process and action of creating something from nothing. Also usually enjoy the process and the result the tangible item i have created.
Pacing of the activity, it is a long term commitment to create enough meters to turn it into a scarf the end activity. Here i am also creating/ training my patience a good skill for Occupational Therapists
I also use this activity to capture a moment of thought.
creating something for gratification of completing a task.. as i am known to start things and never finish them.
Plays:
According to Jacobs (2009) Play is "Any spontaneous or organized activity that provides enjoyment, entertainment, amusement, or diversion" (p.193)
I personally treat this activity as being light hearted, an activity that does provide enjoyment, entertainment and a diversion.
Its a generic need to be satisfied and this activity is satisfying my need to be occupied and to use my time wisely. This recreation gives us a break from our every day maindain life.
References:
Jacobs, K., & Jacobs, L. (2009). Quick Reference Dictionary for Occupational Therapy (fifth ed., p. 58-193).
i really don't feel like knitting is a labor it is an activity, something i do by choice, to relax. Although the history of french knitting may well have been a labor to create clothing for warmth.
Craft:
Jacobs (2009) explains craft as "An object usually made by hand using tools and skill." (p.58) I view this as creating something tangible something aesthetic to touch, play with, made my hand using a combination of skills. I feel as though french knitting is a tribute to my granny who tourght me everything i know about art and craft. My Granny she spent the time to teach me french knitting as a child, and many other types of knitting this reinforcing a great relationships in my life. I enjoy craft the process and action of creating something from nothing. Also usually enjoy the process and the result the tangible item i have created.
Pacing of the activity, it is a long term commitment to create enough meters to turn it into a scarf the end activity. Here i am also creating/ training my patience a good skill for Occupational Therapists
I also use this activity to capture a moment of thought.
creating something for gratification of completing a task.. as i am known to start things and never finish them.
Plays:
According to Jacobs (2009) Play is "Any spontaneous or organized activity that provides enjoyment, entertainment, amusement, or diversion" (p.193)
I personally treat this activity as being light hearted, an activity that does provide enjoyment, entertainment and a diversion.
Its a generic need to be satisfied and this activity is satisfying my need to be occupied and to use my time wisely. This recreation gives us a break from our every day maindain life.
References:
Jacobs, K., & Jacobs, L. (2009). Quick Reference Dictionary for Occupational Therapy (fifth ed., p. 58-193).
The last time i did french knitting...
It was a Monday night, I was lying on my bed quite relaxed looking at my knitting that had ended up in some sort of spiral knit mess. I tied off the last strand and started the process again, this time it wouldn't end up spiraling around itself.. i don't know how it ended up doing that in the first place but it wasn't going to make a nice scarf so i started fresh. Continuing with the white wool i knitted for about an hour. During this time i had my laptop on my bed listening to my music. My mind was trailing off i was thinking about my mums birthday coming up, what i was going to get her, what was i going to do for her. I have been quite stressed about what i am going to do next year for accommodation and what i am going to do for a summer job to afford this accommodation. I was coming up with options and ideas and adding them into my notes on my laptop beside me. I was using this knitting time to think logically and practically about next year's options. I was enjoying myself, getting some very productive thinking done, and letting time fly buy, although all of a sudden i realised it was 6.30pm and it was Friends time.. good buy knitting. :)
Thursday 22 September 2011
Aesthetics, Spirituality, History and Health
Aesthetics:
All french knitting comes out the same but the beauty is creating and turning it into something new and individualistic from this raw knit. loom knitting is something i would like to look further in to something that could take my french knitting aesthetics further.
Spirituality:
Since beginning my study as an Occupational therapist, the word 'Spirituality' and my understanding has been constantly evolving and changing. I assume for the rest of my life and carrier as an Occupational therapist it will continue to change as spirituality is, and changes with the individual.
Jacobs (2009) describes spiritual activities as "Religion- or spirituality-based tasks." and spirituality as "the personal quest for understanding and answers to ultimate questions about life, about meaning, and about religion-ship with the sacred or transcendent, which may or may not lead to or arise from the development or religious rituals and the formation of community" (moreira-Almeida & Koeing, 2006, p.844)
With the risk of sounding far to complex i also found a simpler definition which i think i can relate to. Also stated in Jacobs (2009) Spirituality is a "Pervasive life force, manifestation of a higher self, source of will and self-determination, and sense of meaning, purpose and connectedness that people experience in the context of their environment" (p.249)
Spirituality is also Inter-subjective, how the world influences us and how we influence the world. With regards to the final simple quote this french knitting provides me with a 'connectedness' with my family. Bringing back memory's of me as a child, at Christmas, receiving this unusual wooden block with nails for Christmas. what is this? and also the memories of sitting in front of the t.v with the rest of the family, sitting on the floor very content and happy with my own creation that i could own. I have the self-determination to do such an activity as it provides me with a sense of meaning I dont think this is because of a higher force or manifestation of a higher self but is an experience of spirituality none the less, I like the joy and rhythm of such a peaceful activity.
History:
Creativity has always been my thing, expressing myself in a creative way, defiantly evokes my sense of self. I have been bought up in a supportive family who believed that i would 'make it' as an artist, that i was different and no one else thought and created like me. My granny has been my tutor for everything arty and creative, when i am doing arts and craft i feel a definite connection with my granny. often reminiscing the times i have spent with her is her Art studio.
Health:
"Health is more than the absence of disease (WHO, 1986), from an occupational perspective, health includes having a choice, abilities, and opportunities for engaging in meaningful patterns of occupation for looking after self, enjoying life, and contributing to the social and economic fabric of a community over the lifespan to promote health, well-being, and justice through occupation. (adapted from CAOT, 1997)" (Jacobs p.108, 2009)
how does this activity influence my health? This activity contributes to my psychological health. it is calming, restful, therapeutic in a sense of i can get lost within the activity. Individuals with injuries to lower limb or trunk this is an activity that they can do without limitation. Can give these people a sense of completion of an activity, self satisfaction. Hand therapy as-well could look into french knitting there are a lot of benefits for task related hand therapy activity's.
Refrences:
Jacobs, K., & Jacobs, L. (2009). Quick Reference Dictionary for Occupational Therapy (fith ed., p. 108-240).
All french knitting comes out the same but the beauty is creating and turning it into something new and individualistic from this raw knit. loom knitting is something i would like to look further in to something that could take my french knitting aesthetics further.
Spirituality:
Since beginning my study as an Occupational therapist, the word 'Spirituality' and my understanding has been constantly evolving and changing. I assume for the rest of my life and carrier as an Occupational therapist it will continue to change as spirituality is, and changes with the individual.
Jacobs (2009) describes spiritual activities as "Religion- or spirituality-based tasks." and spirituality as "the personal quest for understanding and answers to ultimate questions about life, about meaning, and about religion-ship with the sacred or transcendent, which may or may not lead to or arise from the development or religious rituals and the formation of community" (moreira-Almeida & Koeing, 2006, p.844)
With the risk of sounding far to complex i also found a simpler definition which i think i can relate to. Also stated in Jacobs (2009) Spirituality is a "Pervasive life force, manifestation of a higher self, source of will and self-determination, and sense of meaning, purpose and connectedness that people experience in the context of their environment" (p.249)
Spirituality is also Inter-subjective, how the world influences us and how we influence the world. With regards to the final simple quote this french knitting provides me with a 'connectedness' with my family. Bringing back memory's of me as a child, at Christmas, receiving this unusual wooden block with nails for Christmas. what is this? and also the memories of sitting in front of the t.v with the rest of the family, sitting on the floor very content and happy with my own creation that i could own. I have the self-determination to do such an activity as it provides me with a sense of meaning I dont think this is because of a higher force or manifestation of a higher self but is an experience of spirituality none the less, I like the joy and rhythm of such a peaceful activity.
History:
Creativity has always been my thing, expressing myself in a creative way, defiantly evokes my sense of self. I have been bought up in a supportive family who believed that i would 'make it' as an artist, that i was different and no one else thought and created like me. My granny has been my tutor for everything arty and creative, when i am doing arts and craft i feel a definite connection with my granny. often reminiscing the times i have spent with her is her Art studio.
Health:
"Health is more than the absence of disease (WHO, 1986), from an occupational perspective, health includes having a choice, abilities, and opportunities for engaging in meaningful patterns of occupation for looking after self, enjoying life, and contributing to the social and economic fabric of a community over the lifespan to promote health, well-being, and justice through occupation. (adapted from CAOT, 1997)" (Jacobs p.108, 2009)
how does this activity influence my health? This activity contributes to my psychological health. it is calming, restful, therapeutic in a sense of i can get lost within the activity. Individuals with injuries to lower limb or trunk this is an activity that they can do without limitation. Can give these people a sense of completion of an activity, self satisfaction. Hand therapy as-well could look into french knitting there are a lot of benefits for task related hand therapy activity's.
Refrences:
Jacobs, K., & Jacobs, L. (2009). Quick Reference Dictionary for Occupational Therapy (fith ed., p. 108-240).
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