Sunday, June 12, 2016

From LC Pony Merch to Lexia Fira the Cranky Crafter

THIS IS MY FIRST DEPRESSION CHRONICLES POST!

So this is going to be the start point. In which I will divulge info about me to base the rest of the posts from.

HI! I am Lexia Fira, Formerly LC Pony Merch/LC Pony Nerd. Real Name: Lauren.
Most of this can be found In the about me link.

What said page DOES NOT inform you of is this:
Besides being a 36 year old stay at home mother who sells her soaps and cosplay props from home, is that I suffer from long term anxiety and depression. In my lifetime I have been admitted twice to a mental hospital - psychiatric ward or whatever the term per building or floor is.
I have suffered through with or without friends or family being there many a breakdown and crisis, done damage to myself and many relationships.

                                     

HOWEVER I HAVE learned how to deal with it, have a circle of trusted friends and family and have a crisis plan in place. I HAVE learned how to keep going and to trust - TRULY TRUST - the people in said trusted friends circle. I have learned that age, race, beliefs, gender etc DO NOT define or matter to depression as it affects US ALL. I have also learned that instead of trying to tell people what to do or have people THINK that telling someone what to do in depression that the best thing they can do (tried and true method) is be there for the person and LISTEN.

Of all the things I was, am and will be in this life, most of it has been shadowed in depression and difficulty mentally and emotionally. This is my creed and uplifting statement that has helped be get through. (It has changed from what it was to this now to fit the situation but it has helped still)

"I AM STILL HERE. I am alive, I have my daughter and I have my husband. I DO NOT want to stop. I may want to (insert whatever has gotten me down or started crisis) and that is ok.
It is ok to stop and take time."


So....these next posts will be tidbits, lessons learned and sharing of wisdom or what have you through my life and depression and how in my experience you can learn from this and/or use it to help others.
Or at the very least, it is something to read.




Of all the times I had been down, in despair and thought nothing would work it was so easy to forget, I AM IN CONTROL of how I feel, and even in the midst of the spiral of emotions, once I can find that bit of clarity or sanity to grab onto I CAN do this.

And yes, for many people in the midst of the crisis, or emotional mess it is VERY difficult to find that and grab on. I am not sure how to describe it beyond learning and being able to see past it in a way in my own mind. As if one is in the dark spiral and all one had to do was look up and see, there, there it was reaching out and I just had to grab it and go up.
Again, this is from years, 20 plus years of dealing with this. It takes time per person. But THERE IS HOPE.

Thank you for making it through this jumbled mess of a post with me, and hope to see you at the next one!


Depression Chronicles, the explanation and what lead to this

Greetings all!
Its been AGES since my last post, october 15th 2015 if i recall. in where I had a meltdown.

well. since then I've had much to think about and recollect myself etc.
And during that time I have come to realize that some of my medications my dr put me on were part of the cause.
Some medications I am not supposed to be on because they CAUSE said issues.



Short little story, I have been with this dr since BEFORE she transfered offices. OB/GYN. and my general family dr.
The ob/gyn was who was prescribing my birth control while the other my anti-depression and other meds and both worked in conjunction as i made sure both had notes from the other's offices etc so that no medicine reactions could happen and both knew what was going on without much issue and could work accordingly etc.

Well, when ob/gyn transferred to her new office apparently my old records - with notes on which birth control were BAD for me - DID NOT transfer....SO....I ended up being back on that birth control.

(and this is what it felt like in the beginning)

FOR THE RECORD LOESTRIN IS A BAD BIRTH CONTROL BECAUSE IT CAUSES MOST* WOMEN TO BECOME INCREASINGLY ANGRY OVER TIME. (NOTED most because there are a few it does not cause this)
no. REALLY, I mean angry, angry and things that don't normally cause them to be angry, angry at things that they KNOW wouldn't cause ire or frustration, and would cause rage over things. And other side effects, break outs (like acne), worse cramps. It does its job in helping regulate and HELP prevent pregnancy (HELP prevent, its not 100% because you are supposed to have your cycle unless instructed otherwise) Besides the horrible cramps, weight gain, and sex drive changes. (for those who have a sex life kudos, for people like me who...it happens or doesn't. this was a drastic change)

Don't believe me? fine, check some of these reports
Lo Loestrin Fe User Reviews

Ask a patient reviews of Loestrin (newest to oldest)

Viewpoints on Loestrin Birth Control

There are reviews out there that it DOES work for some women, and great for them. For the rest of us, without concrete evidence beyond our word and having a family member come in to back this up its difficult to convince or advocate to our doctor about this and have them believe us.



Yes this is also an issue, getting one of my past dr's to believe this was happening. So i dropped that dr fast. This was during the process of finding out what was causing me SUCH pain before and after my monthly periods that FINALLY LED to the discovery that I have endometriosis.

Mayo Clinic's What is Endometriosis

http://www.endofound.org/endometriosis (WITH VIDEO)

Daisy Ridley (actress who played Rei in Star Wars) Struggle with Endometriosis


(MOST RECENT revelation from Daisy Ridley OMG!)

So to get to the point, the birth control I was on - Loestrin - to HELP with my endometriosis was in fact making everything worse. So i had to STOP EVERYTHING, Stop my birth control, stop my mental meds as I call them and start ALL OVER AGAIN. I am currently in the process of telling my dr.'s to sod off. WHY? Because of all the complications with this and what made one of them think with all the BAD reviews and info out there with loestrin that it was going to help me, someone with depression/anxiety/emotion issues with endometriosis. (In which i STILL FEEL that many people with hormone imbalances are caused by their female parts OR thyroid being out of whack but because its a long process of ruling things out.....its hard to pinpoint)

So for me who was already having hormone and chemical imbalance NATURALLY, this wasn't helping.
So it caused some issues, and lead to the break down after a convention......yes....

so now I have returned, and thank you for still continuing to read as I have gotten to my point.
I will now be posting little factoids about my life that have to do with depression. The next post will help explain some as I hope to have a decent format going.

Thank you for reading and see you next post!


Friday, October 30, 2015

the artist community shuns

its funny.
i do fan art for people on tumblr or because I want to. i ask to have it reblogged or shared....nope.
but their friends or people they have as friends on tumblr do fanart and its fucking reblogged instantly.

i have worked for 10 years to get where I am as an artist but because i am where I am or whatever the reason my art isn't worth much to others....

i go out of my way to spread the word about other people and be nice because i want to be. and yet not one word when I am doing something. I have to ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO SHARE mine.
and by that I mean not share this in a post or check this out on facebook. no i mean go up to people face to face or private message or hand out my business card etc....NO
so....no matter what my efforts its never good enough.

I don't want fame i just wanted enough so that people would want to buy my art or creations....but no....
don't give me the spiel about starving artists...i have done all i can to promote myself and for naught.

i am one of the few or many - i dunno, people don't talk about that - that have worked for years and have not gotten any further....

I don't draw for others, I draw what I like, if someone wants to commission me I will do so, as long as its paid first.
but i draw it my style my way and if the person doesn't like it and asks for a refund i will do so.

but until now...i am not even scrapping by i just am....
before you start spewing off reasons. i have tried to see if it was something I did, my actions, my facebook, my name all of that....no real conclusive answer or evidence.
I am still going to draw what I want. but do not ask to see my work, do not ask anything of me. because just about every time I show anyone my work there is always some insult. NOT a critique or this is bad but can be improved, but an insult....
20 plus years of this. yes i drew as a child and kept going because my parents encouraged me to an extent and it kept me sane. 20 plus years of this and not one nice thing. i admit to showing it off in hopes of "thats nice or cool or hey you drew that." nope...

all you other artists out there, enjoy what you have and the praise you get cause you must be great or pretty enough to get it. i hate that. it just digs at what little like i have for myself. yes. i used to like myself. its back to hating...

Monday, September 21, 2015

This is what happens when it goes bad




I drew each of these in about 20 minutes. this is how i am feeling.
rainbow dash is so many in one. the anticipation/hope.excitement, then anger and upset...then to pinkie....its like why. why do i fucking try. just why....i swear to god keep pushing me people. keep pushing me and see what happens

you want to see what happens to a person with depression when they have a bad day? forgive me or hate me. you know cyndago? this is what happens when you push people with depression, they either explode in a hellfire rage, or they do what he did....me. i will disappear. i will take my kid, my life and disappear and you will never know where i went. did me taking my facebook page down not mean shit?



Here is some music for your listening pleasure oh how i feel right now


"Ya'll gotta cigarette" trap remix

FNAF Die In a Fire Song With Eli Monty

Big Sean "I don't fuck with you"
I don't give a shit about you! I gotta million trillion things I'd rather effing do than to be effing with you, i don't fuck with you!

SO STOP DOING THIS TO ME.





Thursday, September 3, 2015

Compromising sucks

its come to my attention that i must compromise on some of my wants or rather needs to please other people. In doing so, in compromising some of my needs to please other people I am not getting what I need to stay sane. It wasn't hurting anyone.....

And now that i am suffering and slowly going mad, its still not fair for me to do these things that i need to get what I need because of jealous or butthurt people.

This is ok, this is why i haven't been posting, because i have been GOING MAD!
All the family and friend drama, all the things I did or let go or gave up to suit YOU.

NOPE. i am done. i am doing it MY WAY.....which CONTINUES to NOT HURT PEOPLE. if you get butthurt over it thats your problem. i wasn't physically/emotionally/mentally or spiritually hurting people to get what i needed to be a non violent non psycho person. and then you and the rest of the people that caused this just pushed it with me.....

This is part of why the blogs have been, well NOT POSTED until now.

Stop expecting me to suffer or go without because it makes you jealous or butthurt.


Don't tell me its ok to ask for help. All the times I have come to these people to ask for help or ask for help from anyone it turns into this drama fest or big to do and makes me wish I hadn't asked for help at all.

Monday, July 6, 2015

After The Conventions Sale

SO YOU KNOW I AM HAVING A SUMMER SALE in my Etsy Shop.
For Free Shipping you can use the coupon codes BOTTLECAPSTYLE (yes all caps as they are case sensitive) For Free Shipping. OR
SALESALE for 10% off your order no minimum purchase required!

LC Pony Merch/ Lexia Fira The sale lasts until July 20th then will be closed down for two weeks.


Enjoy some of my latest pony art

So its been a while, a long while. Apparently even after recovering from a convention, there is much work to be done.

Such as rip up the floor and get the crud out then put the floor back down until we can get new floor and padding in the den. Then sort through and store the remaining convention items and clean house.

Then get Lisa registered for school and prepare for a two week trip at the end of July so that when we returned Lisa is ready for school and no worries there.

So yes, this is why there was no post since before Bayoucon. I apologize.

Much has happened! NEW Products and NOW A SUMMER SALE!


So, I have created some new soap and prop items! Soaps go first!

 Piece of Heart Hand Soaps.
They are Peppermint and Wild Berry Scented and each order comes with one large heart cut or whole and two mini hearts! They are about one inch long.

The next hand soaps are Bouncy Ball Hand Soaps!  Hand soaps to encourage children to wash their hands and gain a reward in return! A toy surprise inside! They come in four scents, Apple, Blueberry, Peach and Peppermint!

These are bullet or sphere shapped. The Sphere shapes are from a different mold and to make up for the difference if I send a bullet mold a little extra comes with it!





An example photo of the sphere sized molds, they are 2 inches in diameter. And all molds have the same scent as the bullet molds. Thus why if I send off the bullet mold hand soap you get something extra. I believe for the spheres I only made Peach and Apple scented.

I ordered a Rupee Mold from Van Yulay and made a bunch of hand soaps as they are TINY! This is a close up photo of the little baggie of about 40-50 of them. These go with another item entirely which I will get to!





 

The final set in hand soaps are The My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Shaped Hand Soaps!
They come in 6 scents and are rather thick.  These are NOT to be confused with the My Little Pony Scent themed bar soaps.

 It is the mane 6 plus Spike the Dragon and an MLP Logo. And as you can see below they fit in your hand and are an inch thick.


And NOW THE PROPS!
 The Bob-omb prop from Cyphacon only now in a smaller size!
These are made to order so each one is unique and special just for you! They are now available in standard size as shown or large size.



And as with my pokèballs comes Yoshi Eggs, available in Red, Green, Blue and Pink and are given a clip attachment to clip to your belt, or cosplay!

(Shown before the clip was added)

 The next prop is from the Animal Cosplay hats, same design but now made into drawstring pouches! Great as a cosplay accessory, dice bag or what have you! They can be tied on to your cosplay, belt or given a clip to clip on as needed.


Speaking of drawstring pouches, here are the Rupee Wallets!
If you are a Legend of Zelda Fan you know the Orange Rupee stands for 200 Rupees.
Each Rupee Pouch/Wallet has a special surprise of hand soap rupees which was shown above!
 


And that is about it for the latest items. I am working on a new item as we speak and will be showcasing it on my facebook LC Pony Merch as time goes on.

I know this blog post ended up being a plug for my products but at this point I am finished with conventions and wish to sell off my remaining inventory and get down to working full time.
Thus why there is a sale.

OH ALSO check out my friends Conquistador Creations! They were my booth buddies and brought their 3D printer for awesomeness, Gir even bought their Cubone Skull WOO

Thank you for reading and see you next post!

Friday, June 5, 2015

Second Convention and Bath Bombs!

So from the last post to now I have managed to register in time for Bayoucon! June 19th - 21st
Lucky me I was able to snag a SECOND convention! I managed to sell enough to register for this convention, and I am also VERY THANKFUL to be able to help and have the HONOR to sell
Twootie Tarte's awesome wares!

 
 Twootie Tarte Signature Scent Bubble bar, Signature Scent Liquid Soap/Bubble Bath and her Free Them! Soaps with hidden pokèmon within!

 (yes as a fan I feel they are awesome as she makes her bath bombs and soap but will GLADLY alter them for people with skin/scent/soap allergies. Such as for me certain soap bases irritate my daughter's and my skin. Its a big deal for me because growing up I could not enjoy regular bubble baths due to something in the ingredients breaking me out. Then hypoallergenic things came along after I had outgrown it. Twootie has rekindled my want to take a bath just for the bubble bath items! Thus why the praise.)


Twootie Tartes Outer Senshi Bath Bomb Set, Paralyze Heal Bath Bomb Cube and Solid Perfume Tin Set!


Twootie is known for her Anime and Video game themed bath products! Some of my favorites of hers are the Outer Senshi Set and perfume tins which tie in with Sailor moon!  I especially love her holiday themed items when they come out. There are too many to list however to find out you will have to check her Etsy shop and her facebook to find out!

 I am bringing some new items to the table as well with my Friends Melissa and William aka Fox and Iron man (eye-ron) as I pronounce it for fun)
They will be bringing their 3d printed star trek badges WOOT!

(as seen here in the making)

 
LC Pony Merch Soaps! Piece Of Heart soaps (also offered as half a heart packages,) Bouncy Ball Surprise Soap in its variations and in the works MLP Shaped Soaps and Rupee bags!
I also have mystery bags and many items left from Cyphacon!

So tune in as Bayoucon Draws closer! (June 19th through the 21st!) I will have more items available!

I have been a busy bee so to speak! The best is yet to come as I have Bob-omb props and yoshi eggs coming!

Thank you so much for your patience and thank you for reading!