Juggling Practice

Practicing four beanbags.

It was so sunny and nice outside that I decided to juggle.  But I wasn't feeling that great. The grass was wet; the neighbors let their dogs poop all over it, and the sun was so bright. In short, I have to be comfortable to juggle, and I wasn't. I asked my boyfriend to take some photos. Most of them I hated but here are 2. The problem with the juggling photos is my body is in them, and I just feel lumpy. I just wasn't happy in my own skin today.

Make Juggling Balls

This looks like a fun way to make juggling beanbags out of scraps. Make Juggling Balls I may have to try this.

Okay, I got the fabrics cut and the first sides sewn together but at this point the photo tutorial completely loses me, so I found this one with more photos. Hopefully that will get me off top dead center.

History of Juggling

I'm doing some research on the history of juggling and trying to find documentation of leather juggling bags. This Wikipedia page is amusing and useful to me. History of Juggling. I have some great repurposed suede to use for juggling balls.

I want to start a new business that sells juggling props made by hand for SCA and Renaissance aficionados and also belly dancing accessories.

Parts For Juggling Club Project

I think I have most of the parts for the juggling club DIY now that I mentioned on Hubpages. I picked up the tennis balls at the dollar store yesterday. Now I need to carve out some time to work on it. I was going to wait until after Christmas, but now that our apartment might go up for sale, I'd like to finish these before all the parts get lost if we suddenly find ourselves moving. It's too soon to tell yet.

Making Juggling Clubs With Dowels and Plastic Bottles

Yesterday I found myself unexpectedly at a hardware store. So I got most of the parts I didn't already have for making the juggling clubs.  I got 3 dowels to cut in half, as well as the furniture tips for the end of the handles, and some screws. I hope I have all the other parts at home already. Here are some photos for ideas on decorating. 
I'll have to go through my tape box to see what colors of tape I have for the decorations. I'm writing an article about the project here because not many people come to my blog and I want a wider audience. Of course now comes the hard part, the actual making of the clubs. I was planning to start after Christmas because I'm swamped right now. But we'll see.

Make Your Own Juggling Clubs

I think you might like my story. I met a homeless club  juggler who told me he got the directions on Youtube. When I first learned to juggle in 1977, we made our own clubs, much like these from directions in Carlo's Juggling Book. Eventually we got professional clubs, & I forgot all about DIY clubs. I've met so many ball jugglers without the resources to buy clubs and it never occurred to me to tell them to make their own. Now 34 years later, it seems DIY clubs are the green version and cool to own again.

Only in this version the handles are padded, which is a nice plus and ours were handle heavy, so I think the tennis ball on the end would help a lot with the balance. Now you have no excuse for not making clubs and then learning how to juggle them. Right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8apAP_FZ01U

My Jester Days

Last Saturday I ran into someone I went to college with. He said he had a photo of me juggling from my college days.  Today he emailed it to me. It's so odd to see me as I was then and I even had a waist.

I'm so touched.

500 People

This is fun.  See if you can spot the juggler.

Twitter

I've been following a lot of jugglers and juggling equipment manufacturers on Twitter. That way if I need something or want to stay motivated, there it is.

Hubbers Who Juggle

I write for a site called Hubpages along with a lot of other writers.
So I started to wonder how many of them know how to juggle. I know of at least one author there who juggles.  Can't wait to see if anyone replies.

I Won

I won a prize for registering on the IJA site for World Juggling Day. Last time I won a diablo. This time I won a DVD of one of the IJA competitions. I've been to a few of their conventions and their shows are always spectacular and inspiring. So I'm happy to have my own DVD to watch now. I think it's from 2008, but I didn't go that year so it will all be new to me. This year's convention is in Nevada. Wish I could go.

And here are photos of me juggling on World Juggling Day. I was sad no other jugglers showed up. They probably went to Irvine to juggle with the Orange Jugglers.

Making New Juggling Videos

I've been waiting until I was thin enough to look decent in a juggling video then I had to accept the fact I'm going to be dead before I'm ever thin enough for it to matter, so I'm making the videos anyway. Maybe someone will enjoy them or learn from them. I'm uploading two videos of my five ball practice even as I write this. And here is a photo of me juggling on World Juggling Day 2010. And I also won a prize from the IJA website.

World Juggling Day 2010

I'm totally geared up for World Juggling Day tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have photos to share when I get time to upload them.

And here are some photos of me juggling at a SCA event last Sat.

Juggling Event in Long Beach CA

On June 19, 2010 at El Dorado Park there is an event that combines World Juggling Day and Knit in Public Day. It's at an archery range. So I'm going to take my hoops, juggling equipment, archery gear and knitting supplies. There is a small fee to drive into the park. I think it's $7.00. Bring something to share at the potluck as there are no food booths. We are on our own. If you do not live near Long Beach, CA you can check the IJA website for other World Juggling Day events near you.

Juggling Video of Me

Me juggling clubs /pins. Singles I didn't warm up first and it was stinging my hands. I definitely need to get some thicker skin going.

Sat. Juggling

It's Sat. and a beautiful day for juggling. Only it slipped my mind. And the sun is setting. But if I hurry I can get some tosses in. So see you.

Getting Ready For World Juggling Day 2010

Getting ready for World Juggling Day on June 19, 2010 with some deadly and dangerous teddy bear juggling.

Why juggle? It makes me feel joyful.  It relieves stress.  It makes me feel young again. It fulfills my circus fantasies. It makes me money. It's more interesting exercise than a lot of things. I get to play with toys. People laugh. I get to follow my bliss. People remember me. It fights against gender and age stereotypes. It helps me feel like I'm in show biz. I get labeled talented a lot. It improves my balance. It gets me out of the house. It's fun.

Back to Juggling

I really need to start juggling again. I feel flabby and lethargic. I'm not sure what happened to my neighbor's dog but I noticed the front lawn no longer has dog droppings all over it, so maybe I can actually get some hooping and juggling done out there. It's really the only convenient place I have to practice. My backyard is too small and I don't want to have to drive to a park every time I need to practice for 20 minutes. I want to hone my skills before world juggling day on June 19. That way maybe I can actually pass clubs with someone.

Tom Mills asked me to pass with him at the camping trip last weekend, but he was entirely too busy with the archery shoot and the atlatl competitions. That man could clone himself four times over and still not have enough of him to go around.

World Juggling Day

Don't forget World Juggling Day is June 19, 2010. http://www.juggle.org/wjd/ I'm going to a local event at El Dorado Park Archery Range.

Ericalev's Bunny Juggler

My friend doesn't even know I have a Juggle Bunny blog and she made this ACEO in her Etsy shop that matches my blog. She said I could post it here. She has lots of other cool cards and unique paper arts at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8097187 Check it out.