I'm a blog slacker...

You know you've been neglecting your blog when you forget what your login and password are! A lot has happened since my last post in July....some good, and some bad. I've been helping out my husband at the practice by doing some dental assisting in addition to my cleaning, decorating, and supply purchasing. I've learned a lot...more than I would ever want to know about dentures. lol I've also developed a "stronger stomach." I had a brief overnight stay in the local ER after having chest pains and an accelerated heart rate in Oct. My neurologist in Miami finally diagnosed me with Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that can affect nearly any organ of the body. I've developed some arthritic symptoms, some swelling, and the fast heart rate is also caused by it. It's been a bumpy ride, and I have my good days and my bad days. At least I know what is causing my host of symptoms and caused the nerve damage in my arms.
The good news, is that I've branched out in my creative work, and have had a ton of fun creating art dolls. I've also acquired a vendor space at a local antique store called Laura's Emporium. I sell vintage & antique items, along with my artwork & jewelry creations. It is a great place, and has been a wonderful experience so far.
I am offering two of my newest art dolls on Ebay starting tonight. Clicking on either of these pictures will take you to my Ebay auctions. I will be offering more on Ebay, and have a bunch of new felted flower brooches to add to my Etsy store too. Thanks for checking in! I've missed you all!

Head on over to my new Art blog!

We are finally settled in our new home (though I have now moved on to pretty-ing up the outside), and I have sat down and made some new goals and plans. Each year is different, things are always changing, and I feel myself headed down a new, exciting path. I have a big love of vintage items, creating art, and making unique accessories, so I thought I would combine them all and create a new website. Hip Heart Studio is my new website, and I will be selling from it, with payment available through Paypal. I am still on Etsy, but due to the onslaught of resellers (selling imported items and claiming they made them...when they are usually made in a factory in China...) I really want to transition to my own site. I hope you will enjoy it. I am also picking up on an old blog I had started, but got distracted from. If you like tips, coupons, sales, tutorials, and free clip art, head on over to Thrifty Artist. I will be posting something new each day....I PROMISE! Thanks for sticking with me. Let's enjoy this new path together.

Movin' right along...

The past month has been a whirlwind, and I have a feeling that these next few weeks will be also. We are in the process of preparing our new house for us to move in May 21, and that are SO many things to do. I have lots of painting to do, and today I am shopping for a garage door opener. Thank goodness for my Dad, as I would have had no idea what the heck to buy. There are chain, screw, and belt models. Some are noisy, some aren't. There are several brands to choose from. Let's just say that picking out paint colors was a lot more fun! lol I haven't had much time to create, but am looking forward to getting settled in this month, getting my studio set up, and getting back to painting on canvas instead of walls. I am also itching to get back to making some jewelry and felted flower accessories! Hope everyone has a safe & happy month....I will check in later!

You know it's been a long time since you blogged when....

....you realize that you can't remember your blogger password. We've been super busy with new events in our life. We are in the process of buying our first house and are supposed to close around the end of April. I have also been working part time at my husband's dental practice. As such, I haven't painted or made any new accessories in weeks. I am having creative withdrawal. I have a ton of ideas to explore, but they may have to wait until we are moved into our new home. I will finally have a large, tiled room on the first floor to paint in. For the past few years, I have been sequestered to my tiny little corner of our kitchen. I hope everyone is enjoying the arrival of spring! I will check in again....hopefully SOON!

My Article in Somerset Apprentice!

I received my copy of the March 2011 Somerset Apprentice magazine, and it was so exciting to see my work published. I wrote a step-by-step article on how I created my Alice in Wonderland mixed media painting. I am on page 100. I do have the original painting and prints available in my Etsy store, if you are interested. I do have to say, that the photos in my Etsy store are more true to color. The background is more yellow in the magazine, and it is a pea green in person.
I haven't had much creative time lately, as I have started working at my husband's new dental practice. I spend most of my time in back, sterilizing equipment and getting surgical supplies ready. We've also been house shopping, which is stressful, confusing, and exciting...all at the same time. I just finished a black cat painting and will post it soon. I just found out I have the day off, so off to paint I go! Have a super week, and thanks for stopping in!

To sleep, per chance to wake back up and...

keep thinking about ideas for paintings! Last night, I tried to get myself in "sleeping mode" but it didn't work. I was obviously tired, but found myself out in my tiny "corner-of-the- kitchen" studio, playing around with an abstract painting in a dim light (so as not to wake my hubby). When I finally did go to bed, all I could think about was more painting ideas and colors.
My arms have had some nerve pain "flare-ups" lately, so I have been working on some more abstract & expressionist paintings. My book proposal was denied, but I think it was a good thing. There are a lot of things going on in our lives right now, and writing a book suddenly seems like very bad timing. I am meeting with my local neurologist next week to discuss a referral to the Cleveland Clinic for a nerve biopsy, and any further testing they can do. Until we can figure out what is causing this, I have to remain on medicine that prevents us from trying to have children.
I was able to find time to list some art on Ebay this week, including my Alice in Wonderland painting that is featured in the next March issue of Somerset Apprentice Magazine. I have 2 other paintings listed, and a few prints.
I have some felted accessories to list in my Etsy store, but need to photograph them.
Today looks like a great day to stay indoors and create. I woke up to a still, cloudy day. Rain is expected, and we need it! Hope everyone has a good weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

I'm not sleeping...I'm just resting my eyes!

I haven't blogged in a while, and thought I would start my newest post with one of my favorite "Mom-isms." Did your mom every say this to you when you were little? I find myself using this phrase myself. Life has become pretty busy lately and naps are sounding like something that once existed in some far off fairytale land. I will be working part time at my husband's dental practice, still running my Etsy stores (which entails finding time to create...that's the hard part), house hunting, and attending meetings in various towns for a new church calling I just received that involves working with our Young Women's group (the teen girls age 12-18). I hope that I can do a good job of juggling everything and do well with the new journey I've been given. I will close with a common "Teen-ism." I have to laugh whenever I hear a teenager complain, "I'm bored!" Just wait a few more years and you will never utter that phrase again! Hope everyone has a fabulous week! I will do my best to pop in again soon. I am working on finishing a 3 part painting and will have some more brooches and hair accessories in my Etsy store soon!

A terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day....

I started coming down with a nasty cold yesterday and feel a bit useless right now. I am a busy body by nature, and when an illness wipes me out and leaves me a foggy minded, sleepy, stuffy nosed person, I become extremely annoyed at that fact that I can not keep up with my to do list. I have decided to give in and try to sleep this thing off. I can't think straight and I am certainly not in the mood to paint, sew, or design some jewelry. So, off to la la land I go....hope everyone is doing well. Take those vitamins and if you are sick, stay home so you don't share it with someone else!

Happy New Year!

I can hardly believe that today is the last day of 2010! It flew by in the blink of an eye, it seems. After a computer crash, lots of errands, and hours of creating & photographing, I was finally able to add a load of new items to my Etsy store, TheRoyalBead. I will be getting back to doing some more painting and jewelry making soon too. I've been pondering goals for 2011 during the past few weeks, and I hope to press forward and succeed. I wish you all a safe & happy New Year!

I'm back!

We just returned from our 5 day cruise today, and my Etsy stores are back open for business. I've been cleaning, running errands, doing loads and loads of laundry, making some more Christmas gifts, and catching up on life in general today. I hope to pop in soon with some new pictures and a better update. I hope everyone has a fabulous holiday! See you soon!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.....

or should I say, "Have yourself a hugely joyful Christmas!" I will be doing a bit of traveling, and have put my Etsy stores into vacation mode. I will be back with more new goodies after the 23rd. I have new brooches done, new hair accessories, and will get back to working on some new paintings! I won't be able to check my email or phone messages for a while, so please don't get upset or worried if I don't respond. I wish everyone, a happy, healthy, tasty, relaxing holiday!

My poor, neglected blog!

The holiday season has crept up on me, and my to-do list is getting longer each day. This is the first year that I haven't put up my Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. In fact, I've decided that this year, we might just do a Christmas wreath instead. Rob is doing a lot of traveling for work, we are planning on going on a cruise, and when looking at the calender, I realized we will barely be here to enjoy a tree. It reminds me of the time in college, when my roomies and I didn't have a tree. We had a large house plant, which we put lights on, and a "Christmas chair." Yes, we decorated that chair!
I finally had to sit down and make a to-do list this morning, to keep me on track. Updating my blog will be the first thing I cross off today. I've had some exciting opportunities pop up recently that will happen in the new year. I will have my artwork and an accompanying article published in one of my favorite magazines, I am sending out two book proposals, we will be purchasing our first home, I will be helping my husband out at his new practice, and I am already setting some New Year goals.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will try to post more often on my blog. One of my goals is to get more paintings up on Ebay each week, so hopefully, I will be able to start on that goal very soon. Thanks for stopping in, and here's to a happy & safe holiday season for all!

New paintings, new projects, new hobbies....

I never tire of learning new things and exploring! Unless of course, it involves anything with extreme heights, deep water, or creepy crawly foods! I've come to love antiquing, and it's one of my favorite "girly day" activities. One of my best friends has me hooked. She finds such cool stuff and is great at refinishing furniture. I just picked up a handmade vintage table on Craigslist this weekend and will be refinishing it. I'm thinking of either deep red with white crackle, or sage green with antiqued brown glaze over a crackle finish. I'll post before and after pics!
I also want to learn to sew with an actual machine! I've known how to hand sew since I was a little girl, but never progressed from that. I've been buying lots of wool & cashmere sweaters, felting them, and making beautiful flowers to sell in my Jewelry & Accessories store on Etsy. I've become a button collector and renewed my addiction to thrift store shopping! I've found all kinds of deals. I just have to do a bit of driving across town.
I've been blessed to make a few new friends, get in touch with old ones, and do a better job of finding the blessings in the trials I've been handed.
All and all, this fall is starting out wonderfully. Autumn is my favorite season. I usually get all pumped up to try new things, get busy, and prepare for the holiday season. Here are some pics of a few recent paintings, and a peek at the flowers I am working on!
Thanks for stopping by!

My favorite Cupcake Frosting Recipe!

I made some super chocolate-y cupcakes last night for a group of gals I am going antiquing with today. I had to use all of my self control to keep from licking every last bit frosting from the mixing bowl after I had finished frosting them! Here is the recipe I used....

Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting recipe:
Makes enough for 24 cupcakes (halve it if you are making a smaller batch)
16 oz cream cheese (at room temp)
1 stick of butter (or 1/2 cup at room temp)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups sifter powdered sugar
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey's Special Dark)
1 cup Ghirrardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: Mix/beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until creamy and well blended. Mix in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Last, add cocoa powder and whipping cream and mix until well blended. This frosting can be piped on or spread with a knife. It is creamy, but stiff enough to hold shape. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Keep cupcakes refridgerated.

I took a little vacation from blogging....

I realize it's been over a month since my last post. After my nerve pain medicine kicked in and I could finally paint and make jewelry, the last thing I wanted to do was spend time on the computer. I have a slew of new paintings and jewelry listed and have even started working with fiber/fabric and leather. The good news is that my nerve pain is not related to an auto immune disease. We have finally figured that out. I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Repetitive Strain Injury. I've been told I still need to get an MRI done of my arms. With RSI, all of the nerves in your arms (ulnar, median, radial) can be affected do to over use and swelling of the muscles/tendons in the affected area. I will have to remain on my medicine and work on strengthening exercises. It may go away, or it may be chronic.
The bad news, is that my meds aren't working as well as they did a few weeks ago, so I am getting less done. My painting style has had to be adjusted, my jewelry will no longer involve metal work or lots of wire wrapping, and I will be spending less time on the computer.
I look forward to sharing my new work with you! Thanks for checking in, and thank you everyone for the nice comments and prayers. They are very much appreciated!

Progress

After 2 months of being in severe pain, I am finally getting some relief. At the highest dosage one can take of my medicine, I can finally do some things I haven't been able to do in a while...like clean my own house and pick up my cats. Heck, I even opened a soup can yesterday without wincing in pain. I went and got a second opinion with my regular doctor, and he agrees with me that something is definitely going on that needs some more looking into. He believes I have some type of Collagen Vascular Disease (Sjogren's, Lupus, ect.) that is doing this to my nerves and causing a variety of other symptoms. So, I am headed to the Mayo Clinic next month for a nerve biopsy and 2 days of testing.
I have still found that being on the computer (the typing and the mouse) for extended periods will lead to pain, so I am limiting that. I believe that my painting style, which was very tightly rendered, will be taking a big turn in another direction. I am going to focus on abstract mixed media paintings. This week, I've been making my own mixed media papers to use in collages, just to get into the swing of things, and test what I can do as far as my pain level is concerned. I have not gotten back to jewelry making yet, but if and when that happens, it will also take a new direction. Right now, I am proceeding slowly, and just being grateful that I finally have some relief, and may get some answers in the near future as to what is going on in my body.
Thanks for checking in! I hope to share some new work with you next week!

Open for Business!

Finally, after 2 months of waiting, my medicine level has been increased and I am finally getting some relief from the nerve pain in my arms. I was able to clean my own house ( except vacuuming..that is now hubby's job) yesterday for the first time in a month. I had been using a gal I found online that did a super job and was a real sweetheart.
No exact cause has been found yet for my neuropathy, so more tests and visits are in order. The good news is that I finally reopened my Etsy stores this morning and hope to be back to painting soon. In fact, I may play around with some paint today. Using the computer for long periods of time is still causing me some pain though, so I will keep this short. Thanks for checking in! Hope everyone is having a good week! Try not to melt in this heat wave!

A Special Thank You...

I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have offered kind words, deeds, and prayers for me. I really appreciate it. My medicine dosage increased today, but it can still take a while, or a higher dosage for me to get relief for my nerve pain. So far, there's no change for the better. I have some days where I can do more and drive short distances, and then have parts of the day with horrible flare ups. The nerve pain in my arms is running a bit past my elbows now. I was told that iron has nothing to do with it, so it is still a mystery. As soon as I have more "better" days, I will open my Etsy stores back up. I hope I can soon return to painting...even if it is looser, more abstract work. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks again for caring.

Etsy vacation

Hey there,
You might have noticed all the empty boxes on my blog....they are where my Etsy store links used to be. For the time being, I have put all my Etsy shops into "vacation mode" until my arms start to feel better. My test results came back today for blood work, and everything looked normal, but the Dr. didn't check my iron. Anemia can be a cause of neuropathy, so that needs to be looked at yet. At least I don't have type 2 diabetes. I am grateful for that. So, until I can do more typing, writing, packing sold items, and driving them to the post office with less pain, I am closing up shop. I am sorry for any inconvenience!

Diagnosis

So, this will be short, but just wanted to update. I had a Nerve Conduction Study and an EMG done on Tuesday. It turns out that I still may have carpal tunnel, but in addition, I've been told I have Peripheral Neuropathy. It is affecting both my arms now and after testing my legs and feet, it is there too. My nerves aren't firing as fast as they should for someone my age. So, I started on Cymbalta for the nerve pain in my arms, but it could take about 2 weeks for it to start to improve that. In the mean time, they will try to find the cause. More tests for me. I will still be meeting with a hand surgeon in August, but they want to do more tests first. I will keep you updated. I am itching to paint! I sadly, will not be going back to doing any of my metal work jewelry. The hammering and cutting of metal is just too much on my arms. Any pieces left in my jewelry store on Etsy that are this style, will be the last ones ever. Once it's gone, it's gone.
Hope everyone else had a nice 4th. Thanks for stopping by!