So, I have been beading and creating for years. Literally. However, over the past 5-10 years, I have been noticing that my hand cramps to the point that my fingers lock up when doing certain things (stringing beads one by one on a string, crocheting, embroidery, hand sewing, writing, etc). I can understand cramping when you have been at it a long time, but we're talking after about 5 minutes, folks...10 minutes, tops.
I paid a visit to my doctor who sent me to a neurologist to explore the possibility of Carpal Tunnel. 'Great', I'm thinking, 'I hate surgery'. However, I failed every carpal tunnel test the neurologist put me under. After sitting for a few minutes with his arms crossed, his hand supporting his chin, he tried a simple exercise. He gave me a clipboard, paper and a pen and asked me to write. Sure enough, after several sentences, my hand started to cramp, my fingers started to lock and my handwriting began to change. I had always noticed this before, but just thought I was over-using my hand. He said that my hand was spasming
while I was writing. Freaky.
His diagnosis? Focal Hand Dystonia (aka musicians cramp, aka writers cramp). Turns out, it is a neurological muscular disorder in which the basal ganglia in your brain sends signals to the affected area to involuntarily spasm. The spasm is what is causing the pain and the locking fingers. It is a very uncommon disorder afflicting persons of certain professions who use the same repetetive fine motor functions with thier hands. As a side note, dystonia can affect anything from your hands to your head to your whole body.
Well, I'm sitting there thinking, "Well, now what am I supposed to do? Beading and creating and jewelry is my business? I really don't want to close up shop and go back to the office!" Well, there are treatments. Unfortunately, there is not alot of research about this disorder and we really don't know alot about it. Drug therapy treatments are basically ineffective, the side effects of the drugs usually being worse than the benefit. Botox injections do help as they slightly paralyze the muscles that spasm without rendering your hand useless, but toxin injections? And you need them every three months. Physical therapy has shown to help in some cases. My plan of attack? I don't know yet. I have to go back to see a neurological muscular specialist to confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatments. All I know is I don't want to stop working on my business. I love doing this and am so complete in my life between business, family and God, that to give up my business would be very devastating to me. I don't know where things are going to go from here. All I can do is trust God that he will take care of me and that he knows exactly what he is doing. I'll tell you what, though. I am going to keep working my business, kicking and screaming all the way, until I absolutely cannot do it anymore. I think I may just design jewelry for shorter periods of the day...1/2 hour here, 1/2 hour there, etc, instead of 4-5 hours all at the same time.
I will keep you posted of the progression of this soon-to-be saga. For more information about Dystonia, visit the
Distonia Foundation. If you think you or a loved one has dystonia, please get to your doctor!
April Dogwood
Ecume - Recycled Skirt
I have been working on some new brooches for my shops. They are constructed of two layers of wool felt with a form-fitting piece of acid-free mat board in between the layers to support the weight of the button. A hand tatted medallion has been appliqued to the felt so that it does not separate and wrinkle all up. Finally, the brooches are topped with a collectible button. The picture above features a large painted wood button and the picture below features a hand painted poppy on antique pearl. The artist is unknown. Last night, I listed a brooch in this line on 1000Markets.com featuring a leaf shaped button encrusted with rhinestones on black tatting and dark green wool felt. I have several made up and will be listing them on Etsy and 1000Markets over the next few days. Feedback is always appreciated!
Why do we hate getting taxes done so bad? Well, for starters, a lot of us have to pay something back. We are terrified of screwing something up which might end up in more money we have to pay out. Not to mention the fact that the government always seems to be standing there with their hands out to collect money, but you don't really see the government handing out money to help people (well, most people, anyway).
Well, I'm glad you asked. I would be horrified if I saw a piece of jewelry containing some of the buttons above in which the button was harmed....shank cut off, hole drilled in the button, button glued to something. The problem is that this happens all the time. A button is just like any other collectible...once it's damaged, it's not worth anything. It would be the same as drilling a hole in a Hummel, or gluing some depression glass to your wall. The piece is rendered worthless. The same thing with collectible buttons.
The Queen is hereby giving away this fabulous bracelet! The bracelet contains turquoise dyed howlite, a mash of other turquoise colored glass beads and those fabulous little butterflies...who doesn't love butterflies...all strung on memory wire. Reminds me of a breezy walk along the beach by the sandy grass dunes!
The first Give Away is from Punky Monkeys. She is going to be giving away a free custom blogger blog design from Subjective Beauty. Now, who doesn't want a blog face-lift! The best part is that even if you don't win, you still win! Subjective Beauty can still design a custom blog design for you for 50% off if you adhere to all the rules in the GiveAway! Be sure to pay attention to detail and follow them exactly! Visit Punky Monkeys for more details on how to enter!
The second Give Away comes to you by RockerJewlz and includes 3...yes, count them, 3 prizes! Very easy rules and after a click or two, you earn entries! Shoot on over to her site to learn more!
The Beadings and Buttons of Random Creative
