Factor V

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.

"Factor V Leiden is a common inherited genetic disorder that can increase your chance of developing abnormal blood clots (thrombophilia), usually in your veins." - The Mayo Clinic

I have a girlfriend who had two miscarriages and some serious trouble getting pregnant because she had this hereditary gene called Factor V. My youngest cousin ended up in the hospital and almost died only to discover she had the same thing. Neither girl knew they had the factor V Leiden protein before these experiences.

Unfortunately, the test to discover this rare protein is incredibly expensive and not common enough (so it seems) to be mentioned by any doctor until after you have had multiple failed pregnancies or are in the hospital recovering from thrombophilia. "Oh, you've had 2 miscarriages and have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant for 3 years? Oh we didn't mention that you have this "factor 5" thing which could have killed you those 10 years you were on the pill? Whoopsie!"

I know this is a bit more morbid than my usual blog entry, but it seems like Factor V should get more attention than it does. I started thinking that there should be a foundation that raises money to help women pay for the test either when they start taking hormones or before they start trying to have a baby. This resulted in a "dream creation" (like this year's Dream Holiday Christmas card): I dreamed that my girlfriends and I started a fundraising foundation for Factor V, and within the dream I came up with the logo like what you see above.

I don't think a foundation is in the cards for us right now, but creating the artwork and writing about it can at least raise awareness on a small level. A little bit of awareness is better than zero awareness.

And now a bit about the artwork: The lettering is all done with black Hi-Tec C on a watercolor paper which was wiped quickly with a water-loaded brush, and then the red "mark" (symbol of a blood clot, my subconscious is very in-your-face) was made by dropping an undiluted drop of red watercolor onto the still wet page.

Again, I'm not a doctor, please read more about factor V Leiden at the Mayo Clinic.

Tuesday Coolsday - Mackenzie Haley

Every Most Tuesdays, I will feature a Louisville artist whose work I admire.

Mackenzie Haley - Illustrator

It's possible you haven't seen much of Mackenzie Haley's work - yet - because she is a moonlighting illustrator. She spends the weekdays working for The Man and has to then summon the energy to create some of her adorable pictures. It's truly a shame there isn't more of her stuff out there because Mackenzie does some really creative things with her unique drawing and collage style.

Her "critters" are drawn with a lively and playful line, and the colors are funky and fresh without being overwhelming or busy.

Right now, it looks like the best place to see her work is through her Carbon Made portfolio, but she also has a blog that is updated every few months. She is working on a children's book that is sure to be delightful and funky, just like Mackenzie!

I should mention that Mackenzie is a fellow University of Dayton Flyer with whom I had the pleasure of sharing Illustration classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 am :)

Yoga in Louisville

Sorry, no art in this post. Instead just some nerdiness. I sought out yoga classes all over Louisville and made a calendar so I would have no excuse for missing a class. The master calendar for yoga in Louisville is below (click link for a GIANT version), and I'm sharing it with anyone seeking the same info.

Disclaimers:This calendar was created for personal use. The class times might change and this does not include ALL yoga classes, especially ones too far east for me to attend. If this gains popularity, I'll add more classes and I might even color code based on style. I encourage you to contact me if you notice a schedule change or want me to add bikram*.

Enjoy!

*I am afraid of passing out in the heat of Bikram, so it does not interest me at this time.