Friday's Featured Artist - The Eclectic Element!!!

I'd like to introduce all of you to an artist who has become very special to my heart! Kayla found my blog randomly one day, left a comment, I commented back, and beautiful friendship was born! Kayla deals with dibilitating health problems (more on that in the interview) and we've really connected. I hope you enjoy getting to know her as much as I have!

1. What type of art work do you do?

My main craft is jewelry and jewelry design!

2. How did you get started doing art work?

Wow, for that question I'm going to take you way back to when I was just a little one. My mum is a very creative person so she had a whole craft closet for us to play in. She would put my sister and I into our high chairs and just set things in front of us like paints,

play-do, and anything else she seemed to find and let us go to town.

3. Do you do any other crafts?

Oh, I do many kinds of artwork and crafts! From painting and drawing, to

scrapbooking and card making, to knitting and crocheting. Throw in a little bit of sewing and cross stitch. There are others but I can't think of them. Lol I plan on trying everything at least once!

4. Where do you sell your work?

My main venue is The Eclectic Element branches on Etsy, but soon, I hope to start my own website.
www.theeclecticelement.etsy.com
www.theeclecticelement2.etsy.com

5. What's your favorite piece in your shop right now?

My favorite piece would have to be Au

Natural(http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21945868)
It was one of my earlier pieces and my first wire wrapping venture.

6. Do you blog?

Yes I do! I love my blog :D
www.theeclecticelement.blogspot.com

7. Are you on any social networks you'd like to share?

As of right now, I'm on Twitter: www.twitter.com/theeclectice

8. Do you watch or listen to anything while you work? If so, what?

Oh yes, I love to listen to music or watch t.v. when I create. I guess it all depends on what day it is or what mood I'm in at the time. One of my favorites to listen to is Iron & Wine.

9. Tell us one random fact about your self *wink*

I love reading self help books(that should tell you a lot about me) haha

10. Would you mind sharing a little bit with us about your journey with Lyme Disease?

I first got sick back in 04' in the middle of my 8th grade year. The first thing to go was the use of my right arm. In searching for an answer for that, we were put on a medication, and within days I stopped walking completely. From then on, it has been a whirlwind of doctors, hospitals, treatments and travels. We learned it was Lyme Disease and started treating for it in the end of the 3rd year I was sick, but by the time we started, it was already chronic. Since then, it has been an uphill battle with it's good and bad days, weeks and months. It would be easier to tell you what symptoms I didn't have, but the ones that never seem to go away are severe fatigue, joint and muscle pain, joint and muscle weakness, sporadic paralysis, severe insomnia, nerve pain, back and neck pain, memory loss, brain fog, confusion and depression(I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them at the moment). Because of the fact that I don't know what's going to happen from day to day, I haven't been able to hold a job or go to school at all which is why I started my shop on Etsy and my blog. If you have any other questions or comments, feel free to email me atTheEclecticElement@yahoo.com. I'm always up to talking about my situation-If it can help prevent this happening to another person, I will gladly do it!

I asked Kayla to share a little bit more with us about what causes Lyme and what can be done to prevent it. This is what she had to say:

Lyme is said to be caused by mainly the deer tick and found mainly in the northeast part of the united states, but those two facts are wrong. You can get Lyme Disease from any type of tick, and it is said now mosquitoes carry it, as well as, anything that bites or stings. It can also be found everywhere and anywhere; I have friends ranging from the east coast in California to the north in Michigan and Wisconsin, to the south in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee to a great deal on the east coast(That's just to name a few). Canada and Europe aren't discounted either!

The best thing you can do is practice prevention! When going outside or around wooded areas, make sure to wear long sleeves, pants, a hat and sturdy boots. Also, make sure to tuck your pants into your socks; That way, the ticks don't have a way to get in. Deet is good to carry, along with any other type of bug spray and repellent. When you get home, make sure to take everything off and check yourself extremely thorally. They like dark, dry places. If one is found imbedded, DO NOT burn it off. Take tweezers and try to get everything off. If you can, save it in a plastic bag for further testing.

Don't take any chances if you find you have been bitten, immediatly see your doctor and request 2 weeks of antibiotics. I don't care what you have to do, you fight for those meds! Better to catch it early, then end up chronic like me and a whole bunch of others who are suffering with this nasty illness.