FA+
Shop
Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated
a year ago
Shop! · Tip the Artist · Tumblr · Weasyl I realized I hadn't written a journal here in four years even though I have kept my gallery updated in intermittent chunks. A lot has happened! We had a pandemic! I got top surgery! We went back to cons again! Last year in early autumn, I developed a cervical spine injury that didn't get properly diagnosed until January! Holy hell. That last one there is why my gallery here hasn't been updated since September. I've talked some about what happened as it was developing, and again once I'd started making progress in physical therapy; suffice it to say the whole thing was incredibly painful and debilitating, and while I have started to feel like myself again, the emotional recovery from such an experience doesn't necessarily happen at the same rate as the physical recovery. However, I am still here! And that is something!
► What's next?
As my ability to work was severely affected during the worst of my injury, I'm getting back on track now with my project schedule, personal goals, gallery updates, and convention planning. I'll be updating my FA gallery later today and responding to some comments I received over the last while. Next up, you can find me at FURNAL EQUINOX March 15th-17th (so this coming weekend as of writing), where I'll be splitting a table with
catmonkshiro at J2. I'll be open for commissions there for the first time since last summer. My next planned con after that is Anthrocon, where I continue as staff making the Friends standees and other signage and graphics as needed. In between, I'm hoping to bring back some shop favorites that have needed reruns for a long time and introduce some cool new stuff, too! 🐛 Lots to do!!
► Help make the magic happen!
I'd be lying if I said the past half a year hasn't been incredibly difficult, and the support I received from my patrons has been stupendously helpful and encouraging. I retooled my tier system for the first time since I first launched in 2016 and now have more reward options, including a tier where you get to vote on some of the things I'll make next and a limited tier where you can get a sketch request from me every month. Please check it out if you haven't in a while or weren't aware I had one! I try not to be too annoying about it, but I absolutely appreciate everyone who decides to fund some of their favorite artists existing in one way or another. Even a tiny pledge makes a difference in creating stable ground for creators to work from.
Thanks for your attention for a bit! I hope you've all been keeping well and enjoying what I've been posting since I last had much to say. Maybe we'll run into each other at a con sometime. Until then, back to the drawing board for me!
► What's next?
As my ability to work was severely affected during the worst of my injury, I'm getting back on track now with my project schedule, personal goals, gallery updates, and convention planning. I'll be updating my FA gallery later today and responding to some comments I received over the last while. Next up, you can find me at FURNAL EQUINOX March 15th-17th (so this coming weekend as of writing), where I'll be splitting a table with
catmonkshiro at J2. I'll be open for commissions there for the first time since last summer. My next planned con after that is Anthrocon, where I continue as staff making the Friends standees and other signage and graphics as needed. In between, I'm hoping to bring back some shop favorites that have needed reruns for a long time and introduce some cool new stuff, too! 🐛 Lots to do!!► Help make the magic happen!
I'd be lying if I said the past half a year hasn't been incredibly difficult, and the support I received from my patrons has been stupendously helpful and encouraging. I retooled my tier system for the first time since I first launched in 2016 and now have more reward options, including a tier where you get to vote on some of the things I'll make next and a limited tier where you can get a sketch request from me every month. Please check it out if you haven't in a while or weren't aware I had one! I try not to be too annoying about it, but I absolutely appreciate everyone who decides to fund some of their favorite artists existing in one way or another. Even a tiny pledge makes a difference in creating stable ground for creators to work from.
Thanks for your attention for a bit! I hope you've all been keeping well and enjoying what I've been posting since I last had much to say. Maybe we'll run into each other at a con sometime. Until then, back to the drawing board for me!
I've been going through gross pains in my neck, shoulder, back, and down my left arm that matches something like cervical radiculopathy and have NO idea what happened. Went to bed one night while having the flu and woke up to this spine problem. I am too young and health centered for this weirdness ToT
The best guess we have is just questionable posture and long work hours took their toll on me over time. Some doctors have told me early 30s is not surprising for this, while others have said I seem a bit young for it. I changed a lot about my work station and the exercises they have me doing have helped a ton.
Feels like I am getting improvement but it's so incremental. Two small steps towards recovery and one big step back into pain on a daily basis. Scoliosis or any kind of alignment malformity is definitely a worrisome outcome while enduring this process.
I'm glad you're recovering and hope you never have anything like that ever again. If you can get through a nightmare so bad it gives me hope on my recovery chances, too <3
One thing I was suggested (since PT isn't covered where I currently live) was to get even a consultation for exercise recommendations if I couldn't manage more; trying stuff on your own without a professional taking a look at your exact problems can be dicey. Recovery is definitely possible, just be careful! Good luck!
Bending forward doing toe touches helps a little and small, simple bends and twists help. "Do on to one side as you would do on to the other." ~Yoga
One thing I think is probably pretty safe and I've had recommended to me by multiple professionals is chin tucks, to strengthen muscles in the neck we otherwise don't really exercise well. If the problem is in your cervical spine, strengthening your neck and shoulders gradually would probably be called for as it was in my case.
I'll see you at FE! I'm only planning to drive up for Saturday, but I will be sure to pester you for a bit. :)
Please say hi, it's been ages! Have a safe drive.
Seeya at Furnal!