Yay I finished the Picnic Blanket Backpack.

The only change I would make is I need to make the straps 3" longer. I can get into it, but it's way too hard to get out of it. I got my new juggling balls and they are all wrapped up inside the blanket. I'm taking them on the train tomorrow. I'm so glad I got this finished today. Started and finished all in one day. That's a new record for me.

Picnic Blanket Backpack

You know how when you juggle in the park and you get park goobers on your juggling props? I'm going to make one of these. I can use it to carry some props by modifying it a bit. Then when I'm done juggling I can take a nap. It will also be great to use for yoga or stretching. Yes, Threadbanger does it again. That show is genius!


I just figured out how to modify it. Instead of stuffing the pillow, I will leave it empty and put my juggling bags or journal or whatever inside the pillow and tie or velcro it shut. If I actually need to use it as a pillow, I can just empty out the items and use a handy sweater or scarf stuffed inside to make a quick temporary pillow.

Hey Mr. Mailman where is my package

I was hoping my new juggling beanbags would come today but alas no. In fact our USPS11:30 to 2 mail deliverer didn't even get here until 5:30 PM. All the more reason to anticipate with excitement their arrival soon.

Friends help friends juggle.

Helping Jon with his juggling.

Fire Juggling Balls

A tutorial.

Club tricks

Tom and I did some spontaneous club juggling today. Here is a video our friend David made of us.

Shifting priorities

I wanted to start working on 6 balls again so I made a new set of balloon juggling balls. My left hand is really rusty so I got frustrated this morning. As far as juggling skills you really do have to use them or lose them.

I made a very hard decision yesterday. Etsy is taking up a huge amount of my time for very little financial return. So I'm slashing my Etsy hours to the bare minimum, and I'm going to revamp my juggling show and make performing my main focus again. I'm going to make a juggling show with a pirate theme.
I had to ask myself, what has been the most lucrative work for me over the past 30 years, and the answer to that sure wasn't arts and crafts. Most of my income has come from juggling or hypnosis or face painting, or belly dancing. So I'm going to be spending my time where the money is. Sure beats starving. I will still keep my Etsy shops, but I will no longer worry if things sell or not. And I also made a new Etsy chatroom to celebrate called Pirate's Cove. So when I need to socialize, that's where I will be. If you see the room open drop by and say hello.
In the meantime, I'll be clearing all my arts and crafts out of my tiny apt. to make room for juggling and belly dancing. I will keep 2 or 3 projects handy to feed my craft addiction, but I'm tired of everything else being underfoot and making a huge mess. It's hurting my relationship too. We can hardly find each other in all this clutter.

Five Bag Juggling Practice

I made these beanbags with balloons and rice. Not only five balls in the frame, but five in the air at the same time. Self-portrait.

Flats

If memory serves me right these are Juggle Bug clubs. I almost ordered some Henry's, but I decided I don't earn enough money juggling to justify the cost at this point.
Today I was practicing right hand flats. I totally suck at left hand flats, but as soon as I feel 'unrusty' I'll start working on left hand flats so I can do a full cascade with all flats.

Haskett Library park photos

These photos were taken at the park by the Haskett Library in Anaheim CA. I only took my batons and my flower sticks with me so I could focus on just those two things.
I absolutely hate being this fat, but I'm not going to get any thinner sitting on my couch and pouting.

Ugh some people just don't get it

I was in such a good mood when I got to the park when this India(n) man comes up to me. He starts asking me all these questions...
Him: What are you doing.
Me: Getting some fun exercise
Him: Are your children all grown up (now how did he know I had children?_
Me: Yes
Him: Well are they in college?
Me: No, one already graduated and one is married and expecting a child.

By now this is really getting on my nerves.
So then he says Is your husband at work?
So I say yes.(I'm divorced but I sure wasn't going to tell this guy anything else).
And he says, "And you are just here doing this?"
So I say, "He's at his job, and I'm at mine.I have to practice during the week so I can do shows on the weekend."
Well, that totally confuses him. And things just kind of went downhill from there.
Finally I just turned my back on him and he left. But that was the end of my good mood. What the hell is wrong with people? And more to the point, why can't I just say, "Sorry, I don't give strangers personal information." That would have been rude but would have nipped it in the bud.

Now I'm using the library computer. I should have practiced longer, but I'm not in the mood now.

Balancing clubs/pins

I'm best at balancing things on my nose, but tonight I decided to work on forehead and chin balancing. Here are the best photos from my practice session tonight. The best way to learn is in a still room with a peacock feather.

3 clubs

I decided I better get off my duff and practice some juggling at the park before the 3 rainstorms heading our way hit. Even so the park was still soggy from the morning mist. My goal today was do take self-portraits doing 3 clubs. So here are the best photos from my little experiment.

Club Juggling

Cairo Carnivale a few years ago.

Bounce Juggling

A very inspiring bounce juggling video.
Viden One Of The Best Bounce Juggling Video - Funny home videos are a click away

Hooping it up.

Teapot Hat and Juggling

It was sure a nippy day for outdoor juggling. But I had to try out the new teapot hat I just made. Remind me to find a gym or something to practice in.

Juggling Wisdom

When I was in line waiting for the Harry Potter book to come out, I met some jugglers in line and I really wanted to juggle with them. So I ran inside Barnes and Noble and bought yet another set of cube bean bags made by Klutz.

Then yesterday I was sitting in a park, and decided to use my Sharpie marker to write on the blank sides of the juggling cubes. For one thing, now they won't get mixed up with anyone elses. But I also chose inspirational words that are qualities that will make a better juggler. I'll see if I can remember all 9.
1. Joy
2. Confidence
3. Devotion
4. Humility
5. Determination
6. Imagination
7. Inspiration
8. Peace
9. Originality

These qualities also apply to dance and other performing arts.

Orange Jugglers

For a few months the Orange Jugglers were meeting at the Buena Park mall but last time I dropped in they weren't there. Turns out they lost a spot again as the Mall is building a new Chucky Cheese in the spot where the jugglers met. So now they are once again looking for a new free or very cheap spot to juggle in.

I just joined world of blogs.

I just joined Globe of Blogs to see if I could meet more people interested in juggling.