I'm back! Brain tumor surgery

Happy New Year Everyone!

 

It has been almost two looonnnng years since I posted.  So much has happened.  I do work a "real" job and this is my fun, and I was travel nursing for a while.  After coming home, I settled into a job close to home. 

Over the past 5-6 yrs I have suffered from "migraines".  They began to increase in frequency and intensity.  I saw my doctor.....regularly, but because I kept working (a necessity) and I kept working out (also a necessity for my sanity) I was the picture of perfect health.  I was really just surviving.....my art completely stopped.....no painting, no stamping, no designing.  And believe me when I tell you, I lived for my art time.  Now I went to bed when I got home.  Sometimes as early as 5 in the afternoon.

Anyway, I finally had a seizure, vomiting in the morning, and having vision changes so they did an MRI.  Brain stem tumor!  Very large because I had ignored it for sooooo long.  It was pressing on my brainstem and about the size of a small lemon.  I had to go to a tertiary care hospital (highest level) for surgery (October 19th 2012) and it has been a long road to recovery.  I almost lost the sight in my right eye, have trigeminal nerve pain and vertigo, but I am getting back to my old self.  I still lack depth perception as my eye is still in healing mode.   

I also lost my beloved Madison.  My faithful dog of 15 years who loved me and stood by me when I often felt alone (I wasn't but it felt that way).  I love you Maddie and I miss your happy doggy grin everyday!

I thank all of you that have stayed with this blog so patiently waiting.......I should have discussed it with you, but honestly what do you say....I feel horrible....everyday?   I would have lost you for sure!

Life is precious and my journey is still in the works, so I close this post with my usual and heartfelt "enjoy your journey in life my friend"!!!

Love to each and everyone who comes across this blog.

 

 



Tulips

I decorated this scrapbook page using Deborah's Tulips image, as it was my Mom's favourite spring flower. I used pro-markers to colour it, if you'd like more details on how it's made please visit my blog...link in the sidebar. Scroll down the previous posts and you'll find this beautiful image available to buy. 

Tulip Still Life

Isn't this a beautiful image?  It's another one by Deborah.  I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get around to sharing my work with you.  My next one will be the adorable bunny.  Look on the page down a ways, and you can some of her latest work.  She's an awesome artist.

I just had to do the vase in blue.  That's how I saw it, when I first got a look at the image.  I won't say it's my best work, but I'm fairly happy how it turned out.  Have a great day, and if you'd like to know more about what I used on the card, please stop my blog <a href="http://desigsnbydj.blogspot.com"> here</a> and you'll learn a little more about it.

Have a great day.

Hugs,

dj1952

Red Eyed Tree Frog

Isn't this Tree Frog just adorable. I've always loved tree frogs so I've looked forward to playing with this fella. I intend using him a lot and have planned to make a new home, and a get well card soon.  This card is for a Friend with Terminal Cancer, he has learning difficulties and they haven't told him how little time he has left. He's getting loads of visitors but as my daughter and myself can't see go to see him I wanted to make him a bright cheerful card that he'd enjoy looking at all day. He's coloured here with blendable pencils 

Here he is on a Clean and Simple card, so you can see exactly how much impact such a detailed image has entirely on its own. I did this one in promarkers. 

As with all of Deborah's images, he was a delight to colour, with so much detail he almost coloured himself lol. If you'd like more info on how I made the cards, please pop over to my blog, link in the sidebar. 

Free Orchid at Stitchy's

Free Orchid Design!

Stop by Stitchy's and sign up for the newsletter this week and get this as a free download. This week only! Also, all my digis are 25% off....including the tulip vase so beautifully done in the last post!

http://www.stitchybearstamps.com/

I just want to thank my designers for the beautiful work. I am looking for one or two more designers! If you are interested send me a link to your blog so I can see your work. The digis are free if you design, I just ask that you use them, and post something to the blog!

Thanks for stopping by....don't be a stranger, so come back soon!

D

Vase Of Tulips

I needed to make a Sympathy card today and felt this beautiful vase of tulips that Deborah designed would be perfect. A gentle relaxing image without being morbid in any way. I enjoyed colouring it and had fun with the vase, which I wanted to try and make look like china. I used a mixer of promarkers and Sakura pens. If you'd like more details please pop by my blog, link in sidebar. 

New Digis! A Bunny for Spring

Lop Eared Bunny

This little fellow is just waiting to grace the front of a little childs Easter card, or for any occasion. He is so cute and inviting. See the previous post that one of my fabulous designers made up using the bunny.

You can purchase this bunny here for $3. Stitchy Bear Stamps is a secure website and a great place to browse my stamps!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your journey in life my friend!

View other designs on my blog