New StencilGirl Post and Update

Hi All,

I’ve got a new post up on the StencilGirl®️ Talk Blog.  The theme for the month is stenciling on food.  I made a Piped Chocolate Giant Cookie Topper with stencils designed by Gwen Lafleur and MaryBeth Shaw.  There’s a step out complete with pics so that you can see how it’s made along with a self critique and my thoughts on how to make it better next time.  Check out the video below for a quick preview, read the post and let me know what you think.

 

In case you were wondering:

I’ve been pretty quiet on my blog and social media since the day before Thanksgiving.  That’s when my life was put on pause after waking up with unbearable pain in my left arm, (on a scale of 1 to 10... think 13+).  I was later diagnosed with Cervical Radiculopathy, (aka my spinal cord was compressing, (actually strangling might be more accurate...), the nerves running from my shoulder to my fingertips).  Two and a half weeks and many, many pain med refills later, I had a successful double discectomy and fusion surgery.  I’m now in PT and am recovering.  Although I still have some numbness and tingling in my arm and fingers, the intense pain is now, thankfully gone.  I’m finally feeling good enough to start playing in my art studio again.

It’s been a long road.  The experience has made me rethink my priorities and to appreciate things that I am truly fortunate and grateful to have.

• Good Medical Insurance.  It opened doors that would have been closed to me; covered costs that we would have had either bankrupted us or impacted the way we lived for the rest of our lives; and minimized the amount of time I was in pain. I’ve heard horror stories about people going without treatment because they can’t afford to see a Dr, never mind surgery.  I can’t fathom going through this experience without insurance - Everyone deserves accessible healthcare.  I am saddened that so many people don’t have this. 
• Great Doctors, physicians assistants, physical therapists, and nursing staff.  My GP, Surgeon, (and their staffs), PT, and all of the caring medical professionals at Hartford Hospital’s Bone and Joint Institute and Integrated Rehabilitation Services were and are outstanding.  (And as it turns out, my Surgeon actually dabbles in encaustics; I can’t tell you how comforting it is to have your surgeon put you at ease talking Encaustic techniques, supplies, and artists...)
• My awesome husband who took care of me, in all my moods, (crying spells and all) these last three months.  I love you Jim!

In short, I’ve been rebooted.  It’s  good to be back in my studio and happily getting my hands painterly again!

Hugs,

Jill