#guided hands

[flowercrowncrip]

In other news, look at my handwriting improvement just in this month! I’ve been journaling most nights and it’s making such a difference to my writing (as well as being good for my brain).

ID 1: a photo of an A5 sheet of paper in a Guided Hands device which is holding a black fountain pen. The paper reads “22/5/26. Look at my writing now! I can even use the fountain pen I bought for myself as a treat!” With a picture of a smiley face. The writing is very legible and much neater / end ID.

I can’t maintain that level of legibility for long, and those two sentences took me 3 minutes to write, but the fact I can do it at all is amazing!

This is how my writing looked at the beginning of the month:

ID 2: a photo of a page of A5 paper. In shakey handwriting it says “3/5/26. Look at my handwriting now! I can’t believe I’m doing this! It’s still shakey but I’m also going 10x faster!” There is a photo of a smiley face. / end ID

Before I went to uni I planned to get myself a really fancy fountain pen as a graduation gift, but by the time I graduated pens weren’t really a thing I could use any more. Now it’s possible something I’m going to be able to do for myself which is so exciting! (I just need to figure out how to stop the screw that holds the pen in place from damaging the pen. I don’t mind so much on cheap biros, but it needs solving before getting anything worth protecting)

[random-xpressions]

The intimacy of my hands being guided by hers, to places where she longs to be touched...

Random Xpressions

[flowercrowncrip]

Art has been made!

ID 1: a photo of Echo’s hand using a guided hands device to paint using watercolours. Echo holds a joystick on an to control a paintbrush held on a frame over a paint palette and paper. /end ID 1

ID 2: Echo uses the same device to create digital art on the procreate app /end ID 2

This device is absolutely incredible – I am so happy I’ve got art back as a hobby!

The guided hands worked really well for digital art and I was even able to use my watercolour paints once we’d managed to get everything within reach.

I can use the device in my comfy chair, my bed or in my wheelchair which is absolutely fantastic.

I think I still need to do some experimenting with my set up for watercolours so I can make everything a bit easier to reach, and I need to find a better way of supporting my elbow and shoulder while using it. The company recommends using a pool noodle so I’ve ordered one and will report back when it arrives.

Another thing I need to figure out is how to protect whatever implement I’m using from the clamp screw that holds it in place. I’m using a silicone straw at the moment which is better than nothing but not perfect (and does look a bit ridiculous).

[flowercrowncrip]

My Guided Hands device for art/ writing has shipped and should be arriving on Monday! I’m so excited for it to get here so I can start getting back into art again.

ID: a photo of a guided hands device being used to hold a pen. The user’s arm is supported by a movable hand/ arm rest. A small bendy “arm” about 5-10cm long comes out of the side of the hand rest and holds the pen to the paper /end ID

I want to create my own Christmas cards this year and I’m hoping that this will help me to do that!

[flowercrowncrip]

It’s so weird watching my handwriting on my Guided Hands device becoming more like my handwriting from when I could hold a pen better.

I sort of assumed that because the Guided Hands device uses different muscles that I’d get completely new handwriting from it, and there are definitely differences (although some of that might be the shakiness), but with some letters it’s so clear – those are my ‘f’s, that’s my little dip in the loop on the ‘y’. It’s nice.

[flowercrowncrip]

On the left is one of my first attempts writing with Guided Hands where I was tracing letters on a children’s worksheet. On the right is today’s writing. It’s still messy but so much easier and I’m going so much quicker. It’s definitely beginning to feel more like writing than drawing letters.

ID: two screenshots of someone practicing handwriting. On the left the person has traced the names of different toys in very shaken letters. On the right they have written on his lines “Look at me go! It’s only a bit neater, but so much faster!” And drawn a little heart. The wiring is noticeably less wobbly on the right. / end ID

[flowercrowncrip]

My writing with my Guided Hands device is good enough to start journaling again! After a heavy first entry I wanted to end on something positive. It’s hard work still, but I’m getting to the point where it feels like I’m writing again rather than drawing letters which helps make journaling work for me.

ID: a handwritten note in shaky but legible handwriting reading: “Things to be happy about: my writing is better; new wheelchair tray/ controls; spring flowers and birds; sunshine; trip out tomorrow; poetry workshop; my friends love me; new glasses (= less pain I hope); strangers also care” / end ID