Hi guys!
Sorry for the delay in DNA this week. I've not been near the computer for a while as I've been running a fever with a darn sore throat too!! This update is bought to you by my phone so sorry for any weird predictive text errors!!
Hope it'll be gone soon as it's really not helping me sleep which is making me cranky! >.<
Anyways I'll try to get the computer on soon so you can have the next page of DNA!
Much love
Emi
Xxxx

Told you I'd be feeling a little better soon ^^

My sister showed up today with my newborn neice and I got to have my first one-armed cuddle with her - that cheered me up
Also Dad came round and fixed up my garden as it was covered in weeds - my family are lovely! ^^

I've also started working on an incredibly fluffy picture which has the sole purpose of me using my markers again - so here's hoping it turns out ok! :3

Until next time!
Emi

Hey guys!

As the title suggests I'm feeling a bit blue... I'm also feeling a bit sorry for myself and it's all because of my darned wrist!!
I mean I can get by with just one arm but it's just so tiresome and time consuming to do anything! (just imagine trying to put a bra on with one hand. Yeah.) I know I've not got long left in it (just over a week to go!) but I guess I'm just fed up that's all! :/
Cause of my mood I've not been able to dig in and finish anything either... I'd like to but I just can't seem to find first gear!! ; I mean I haven't even turned on my computer today... All my deviantArt-ing has been done on my phone!!! Lazy...

Anyways I'm sure I'll bringing back to normal soon! And DNA still has a few pages before I'm caught up with myself... ;;
Expect a happy journal in the future!

Emi
Xxxx

That's right!
DNA is now available to purchase through the Amazon kindle store! [link] I figured as I was running low on printed stock I'd gt it up on kindle - also gets rid of delivery charges!

If you don't have a kindle but have a smart phone/device the Kindle for android app is free! (I don't know if it is on iDevices as I don't have any...)

While you're there you could also check out my little illustrated children's poem (aimed at ages 0-3) about a silly cat called Pongo (based on a real cat who is rather silly) [link] which is free to download for the next 5 days!!! So please help me by downloading it so it can get in the chart! :3

self update - I'm still in a cast and one handed typing is really annoying! In fact, one handed most things are really annoying!
I get to find out tomorrow if they need to operate on it so keep your fingers crossed for me!
As soon as I know, you'll know!
Emi
xxx

Hey guys!
Thanks for your kind words & concern! Its much appreciated! :3
The update is that the specialist confirmed I have fractured my Scaphoid bone. I was taken out of my cast and put in another - then referred to a fracture clinic in another hospital yesterday.
At this hospital they removed my second cast and I had several Scaphoid xrays  (that really freakin hurt cause of the position I had to put my hand in) and another new cast put on - this time made of fiberglass!
I get to keep this on for two weeks then they want me back for more xrays because apparently it can take up to ten days for a Scaphoid injury to show how bad it really is. If its any worse there's a possibility they may have to operate on me but I'm keeping everything's crossed that this would be worse case scenario!!
So that's it really! Can't share much else at the moment as all I've done this week is go back and forth to hospitals!!!
Hopefully I'll draw something nice soon as this wasn't my drawing hand that's broken! Hurrah!!
Emi
xXx
-----------

You know that "non-DNA" journal I promised? well here it is!

As I write this (one handed) I sit in a sling & plaster cast ...this morning I started walking from my front door to my car - not a difficult journey normally only takes one attempt and about 30 seconds... however, today I slipped on some frozen snow.

So, being human, I attempted to stop myself from falling by steadying myself on the garage wall. This didn't work. I merely continued to fall forwards/sideways leaving my outstretched arm on the garage wall and twisting it nastily!

The initial result was pain in my shoulder at being forced to move quickly in ways it wasn't meant to move. Then I (foolishly) attempted to lift myself up with that arm and discovered the searing pain in my wrist

So, a doctors appointment, referral to hospital & two xrays later I have my fractured wrist in a plaster cast ._.

How's Monday treating you guys so far?
xxxx

I promise I'll make a journal about something other than DNA at some point >.>;;; It's just consumed me at the moment!!

Anyways - it now has it's own Facebook page! Hooray! Where you can catch up with me, share your love of Helix the series and even post stuff yourself!
[link]
Head on over and give it a "like"! Also if you know someone else who might like it too - please share it with them - I'll bake more cookies!!

Must dash! Working on the next volume!!
Catch you later!
Emi
xxx

Hi Guys!

So I had a fantastic weekend at the Birmingham Comic Con!
This was my little table all set up...

I was really pleased with now it looked in the end! ^_^ I think that if I wanted to push my comic more though I should have given in more room.... the Perils of having an A3 portfolio!! (It's a lesson learned)

I had AWESOME neighbours in & (I keep wanting to write Nominom!!) who kept me fed, dancing and laughing for most of the weekend! You guys rock - hard!

I managed to sell 10 copies of DNA while there which I didn't think was bad going - that's at least 10 more people who know about my baby! <3 and got a really nice e-mail review from one of my purchasers (Thank you Laura!!)

Prints were definitly a better seller though - with Major Teddington (Sold with permission/demand from his commissioner) being my best seller for the weekend...

(I sold out of him on Sunday!)
We're now contemplating a Major Teddington T-shirt campaign... but I digress!

I did however feel like I was glued to my table! I didn't want to leave it alone really which did mean I didn't have chance to mingle with people as much as I would have liked (Sorry!) but I did bake white chocolate & fudge chunk cookies for the Sunday shared between my neighbours and me! NOM!

I had a proper heart melting moment when a young girl showed me some of her drawings she pulled out of her pencil case and asked me if I could give her any tips! She was adorable - and so polite! I told her to enter the drawing contest! I'll keep my fingers crossed for her!!

That's about all to report really - I had a fantastic time and I can't wait to do it again! To anyone who hasn't done this before but has always wanted to I would encourage you to get up and BOOK! It's an amazing experience! I loved every minute of it!

Until next time!
Emi
xxx

Hey Everyone!

As the title suggests I have exciting news!

DNA is finally in print!

This volume takes us up to page 50 - further than we are online (I like to keep a few steps ahead of myself ;3) and will be making it's purchasable debut at Birmingham's MCM next month!(16th - 17th of March) [link] Following that event I hope to pop some up online to sell to those unable to make it!
....there will be badges!


Also I made it into Neo Magazine's Artist showcase this month! Huzzah!!


Thanks for your support guys!
Emi
xXx

So it's 2013! Happy New Year everyone!!

So far this year is off to a chaotic start for me! It's been so hectic that as I write this I still have my Christmas decorations up... apparently that's bad luck... and it's twenty THIRTEEN! oh noes!

Good job I'm not superstitious really isn't it?

I'm hoping I get to be a little more active in my arts this year... but if this first couple of weeks has been anything to go by I may not have the time!! D:

However - I am determined to lift the "Holiday Hiatus" from DNA and get cracking! I already suspect that I'll miss my Midland's Expo deadline as I'm just over half way through the first Volume and I'd need to get it printed... all before February 16th... hrm. yeah. Might miss that - but I'll still try if I can then great!

Hopefully my new copy of Manga Studio EX 4 (a Christmas present from my Ben) will speed things along (once I get round to installing it! *facepalm*)

Also I got the Kimi Ni Todoke anime for Christmas too! I have loved the Manga so I was intrigued - especially as I haven't watched any anime for what feels like ages - the last series I really enjoyed was Slayers XD
It's super cute though... really fluffy and I totally feel for the main girl in her awkward shyness! If you haven't already give it a shot!

Right! Best be off! The laundry calls!

Emi
xxx

Hi Guys,

You may be wondering where DNA was last week... well to be honest I was feeling pretty rough! with everything that's been going on lately I have fallen behind on DNA So with a heavy heart I'm taking a brief hiatus until the new year... just so I can cope with health/work/the holidays!

Have no fear though, Helix's tragic story of heartache and misfortune will continue in the New year! I'm not giving up on DNA - I just need to deal with life for a bit

I'll upload some doodles in the mean time so I won't be totally dead!

Love & Hugs
Emi
xxx

Sorry I've been a little non existent lately!

As some of you may know I've been going through a rough time and have been pretty sick. I'm starting to feel a whole lot better now!

I've been back at work for a couple of weeks which has kinda helped take my mind off everything!

You know what sucks though? Wednesday night I started getting the sniffles! By Thursday it was developing into a full on cold & Friday (Which I'd booked off to do some baking ahead of a friend's Baby Shower) I was pretty much a wreck! >.<
I did bake though... but I then felt guilty that despite washing my hands, antibacterial hand wash & holding a lot of breath I may have baked "influenza cake" so I didn't go to the baby shower & am left with lots of bite-size star cakes... ._.

I'm starting to be able to breathe again (Hooray!) so I'm hoping that by tomorrow I'll be just peachy! (Ironically I just sneezed. ¬.¬)

I'm totally into my baking at the moment... a friend of mine recommended a magazine called "Baked and Delicious" which comes with silicone bake ware each issue! I found a couple of them in my local news agent &  got them... one came with a recipe for chocolate orange marble cake which just sounds heavenly... when I'm not likely to bake the plague into it I want to give it a go!

DNA is plodding along slowly... those of you who know how I work with it will know I try to keep a few pages ahead... but with everything that's been going on lately I'm finding myself catching up very quickly o.0;;;; I haven't drawn anything in ages... I miss it but I'm really struggling to keep focus!

I picked up Star Ocean: The Last Hope again recently... I#m beginning to suspect that my earlier suspicions about Faize were right on the money... (no spoilers please!!) but I wish they weren't... he's one of the strongest in my team D: (As of re-landing on Aeos and discovering it in ruin)

That's pretty much what's going on with me at the moment. I have some pictures that I need to work on fairly quick so expect some stuff at some point!!... how vague!

TTFN!
Emi
xxx

surprised me with this in my devwatch this morning... DNA - First HalloweenMynk sat quietly, watching as Raine carefully and painstakingly gathered the fabric for what would later form a petticoat to go beneath the dress Raine was making. The was situated on a nearby mannequin, pinned together for now as Raine still had to make a few adjustments for Mynk's comfort.

For the moment, Mynk was bemused to why Raine was making her more clothes. Raine had made her a whole wardrobe full of them, pretty dresses and blouses, leggings and sleeves. Mynk had more clothes than she knew what to do with and yet Raine had insisted she needed this one for a very specific purpose.

Something to do with the oddly carved pumpkin Len ha and I couldn't think of a better way to start my morning!!! ^_____^

Inspired by the Halloween picture I inked on Ustream a few days ago...

*bluster-squall has written a fic about Mynk's first halloween! And I love it!! Just had to share it!!

Thanks again *bluster-squall

come keep me company :3
[link]

So the end result was this...



Enjoy ;D

Hi guys.

First  and foremost I want to thank everyone who gave me their kind words and support on my last journal - it means so much to me.
I know I shouldn't dwell on things and that moping in it will only make things worse... so I'm holding my head high and getting on with what's important to me!

That being said I have just installed a "Like" button on DNA's smackjeeves website... [link] so now you can share your "like" of the comic with facebook friends :3

I also sketched a picture yesterday to cheer me up and I'll post the lineart in a sec! I'm trying to decide whether to use markers or digital colours... hmmm

I type this all as my kitty has curled up for cuddles - he seems to know when I need them!

Thank you all again! and expect more merriment from me in the future
Emi
xxxxx

Hi Guys...

I feel it's only fair to warn you that this journal is basically me pouring my heart out. Coming clean about myself if you will and it's something quite personal. I don't really want to go into too much detail but I just wanted to get it out... vent... just hope it helps me to share what I'm feeling at the moment.

There's something wrong with me. Great start right? But hear me out...
I suspected something nearly 5 years ago (around the time of my first DA disappearance). I'd been to the docs a couple of times before for different things and tried to explain it casually at the end of the appointment but they never seemed to have time for me.
I finally made an appointment with a doctor I'd never seen before purely to discuss my concerns. He took me seriously and after blood tests, scans and observations I was diagnosed. There was something wrong with my reproductive organs. Something that can't be treated and that has loads of side effects.  The doctor told me that conception was not impossible... it would just be more difficult and that I should consider fertility treatment when/if the time comes.
Apparently the condition effects around 4% of women so it's not THAT uncommon and it's not life threatening (or cancerous) but finding out that you have something "wrong" inside of you is a horrible feeling and I didn't know how to deal with it so I buried it. I found myself thinking "the biggest thing that makes me a woman.. is defective"

I'd not realised before that my bouts of self-loathing were linked to my condition. When the doctor gave me information about it everything seemed to fit. The reason why I get so down at times, struggling with my weight among other things - all of them now pointed to this one thing. Maybe I should have felt relief... but I didn't.

I basically carry on as if I'm "normal" but every now and again I'm made aware I'm not as I should be inside.

Recently I've been suffering with a lot of pain. I had dismissed it as one thing but ended up in so much agony that I phoned NHS Direct and they told me that with my condition I should have seen the doctor straight away... apparently I'm more "at risk" than someone with normal insides.

So off I went. And have been there and back since the beginning of August. I've had an internal examination, scans and blood tests to see what the cause of the pain is.
Largely they think it's cysts and swelling but I have another appointment with the Doctor on Monday to discuss my scan results. I could see clearly on the scan that things weren't as God intended inside me... Then to top it off the Nurse discovered something "strange" with my uterus. It's split. I have what's known as a Bicornuate Uterus which apparently effects 0.1% of women.
It's so rare that there's not that much information about it to find. The nurse doing my scan said she'd only read about it before, and the other nurse said I was the first one she'd seen in 15 years of working there. I was named "case of the day" as to top it off my Ovary's had swollen to the largest they'd ever seen - explaining the pain.

The Nurses were lovely and kept me calm through the whole process... but I now just don't know what to think... People with these conditions can have children but my chances have been reduced yet again as depending on which side (or horn) of my uterus a baby was to form in would decide whether I would miscarry or not. I've been told I have less eggs, large cysts on my ovarys and that I have a split womb. What would you think?

I know there's no point worrying about something that can't be fixed.... but I can't help it. Like I mentioned before... it feels like my right to be a woman is being taken away! It sounds pathetic but it's just how I feel at times. When I'm able to get on with things you wouldn't know I had this syndrome... but other times I feel like it consumes me and I just dive into a pit of low.

Like I said... just needed to vent a bit - I'm sure I'll be back to happy again soon! I'm looking forward to it!

Hey guys!

Got a bit of news regarding the October release of DNA... It's unlikely to happen ._. There's a few reasons contributing to this but largly due to the cost of stopping in London/Getting to London/Printing (Around £4/500ish in total) & whether or not I can get everything ready in time as I'm in & out of the doctors lately as they try to figure out what's going on inside me! :<

This doesn't mean I'm going to stop posting a page a week! That will continue! :3 I just would have loved to be in condition to have gone to London in October and I think I'm kidding myself if I aim for it at the moment...
So I'm now aiming for February! Midlands Expo is right up the road from me so I can practically have a table in my home town! It'll give me more time to make sure it will be beautiful - and who knows I may even have some prints or an artbook with me too :3

DNA will continue! It will be released in paper soon! I promise! If I get it finished sooner - I can sell it online if people are interested :3

Thanks for your patience
Emi
xxxx

I use Letraset Markers! [link]

Hey Everyone!!!
I'm back and have internet access again! woop!!!!

Sorry it took WAAAY Longer than expected! We had some issues getting the internet up and running in our new home but we have it now- YAY!!

So... I have officially flown from the nest and now have my own place!! :3 It's a lovely house with lots of space (and still MANY boxes needing unpacking) It's been a lot of fun furnishing the house but there are still a few rooms without curtains!! XD;;;

SOO Sorry to my commissioners who've had to wait longer to receive their pictures but I can now say that they're all done and will be uploaded shortly! :3

So.. yeah! I'm back!

Emi
xxx

Current Commission Progress list - Commissions are now closed
Rachel: 3 Character Digital Complete
*NightOttsel 2 Character Traditional Complete
~Snowypaint 2 Character Sketch Complete!
*Jonrah 1 Character Digital, Complete!
*Black-Wren 3 Character Digital Complete! 1 Character Digital
Samantha - 1 Character Digital
Thomas - 2 Characters Digital Complete!
Thank You!!!

Hi Guys!!

Sorry it's been a real infrequent while but I wanted to say a huge thank you to all my commissioners for your help!! I was able to buy my Daddy a beautiful stone bench for his Birthday and he loves it!!
Those of you still waiting for your pictures - thank you so much for your patience!

So! Now for the update... I can't remember whether I posted this on here or not but our Landlord put the house up for sale... long story short - We're moving on Friday the 13th!! so now all my spare time is going into getting the house into boxes... so I'll be on a little Hiatus until we're all moved in later this month!!!

I'm so sorry for the wait.. but I really hope you'll understand!!
See you soon!!
Emi
xxxx

Current Commission Progress list - Commissions are now closed
Rachel: 3 Character Digital Complete
*NightOttsel 2 Character Traditional Complete
~Snowypaint 2 Character Sketch Complete!
*Jonrah 1 Character Digital, Complete! 1 Character Digital
*Black-Wren 3 Character Digital 1 Character Digital
Samantha - 1 Character Digital
Thomas - 2 Characters Digital Complete!
Steve - 12 Illustrations for a children's book! (Too many Stars )

Thank You!!!

Hey peoples!

So if any of you caught my last journal you may have noticed that I'm having a spot of money trouble at the moment >.>;;; and by that I mean I've just discovered I have £17 to last me the rest of the month... and it's my Dad's 75th Birthday on the 20th and I really wanted to get him a new bench for his garden ._.

So I'm opening up commissions! I have a scanner again now so I can offer my marker commissions again!
Please let me know if you would prefer a traditional piece or a digital by posting a comment of interest on this journal entry & I'll reply!
If on the off chance you've found me and you're not a deviantart member please e-mail me at emily.mcgorman@googlemail.com with what you would like.

Current Commission Progress list
Rachel: 3 Character Digital Complete
*NightOttsel 2 Character Traditional Complete
~Snowypaint 2 Character Sketch Complete!
*Jonrah 1 Character Digital, Complete! 1 Character Digital
*Black-Wren 3 Character Digital 1 Character Digital
Samantha - 1 Character Digital
Thomas - 2 Characters Digital Complete!
Steve - 12 Illustrations for a children's book! (Too many Stars )

Thank You!!!

Price guides

Single Character sketch
Example...

Price: £5
Single Character Lines
Example...

Price: £10

Single character Full coloured picture - No Background
Examples... (Traditional - Digital)

Price: £15
Additional Character(s): £5
Note: please specify if you want your picture to be full body or whether you'd be happy with bust up like

Single Character full colour - simple background
Example... (Traditional - Digital)
*
Price: £20
Aditional Character(s): £5
*This example has 3 additional "critters" on it, as they are small I would be willing to treat them as only 1 additional character.  

* * * * * *

Terms and Conditions

All Payments accepted by Paypal Only
If desired, I can post the picture to a home address so you get a hard copy! Depending on how much this costs I may ask for Postage and Packaging to be paid too!
Please be patient with me! D:

What I will and Won't do
I won't do Yaoi
Same goes for Yuri
I won't do Hentai
I won't do excessive violence either
I will do fluff
I will do most things... but always check first! XD

If my commission prices are too high but you'd still like to help me out then please hit my Paypal donation [link] I really appreciate it!

I really hope I can draw for you soon! ^_^
And thank you so much in advance!
Emi
xxx

Ever have those moments where just NOTHING is going right?!?! Well We've having one of those years where we can't seem to hold onto Money!
So firstly my sister got married - this was a costly experience as my Bridesmaid dress alone cost me £190... then the hotel room cost as much again... then there was a cock-up with the shoes which ended up in 3 pairs of shoes being purchased cause we got the wrong colour, then the wrong height and both times we realised outside of the refund time!!!
We thought that after April we could have a month where our bank ballances could recover... but then the motorbike packed up! So that had to go to the garage and £150 we got to bring it back... only to run over a nail in the road puncturing the tyre - meaning Ben had to get a Taxi into work & back (£20) as I'd gone into work early on an event!! So new tube + fitting = £69.
Today - it was my sister's (yes the same one) Birthday and we went to the zoo (£36 entry) and a Birthday meal (£32 for the two of us) now don't think I'm stingy here - I know weddings & Birthdays are one offs & I don't mind spending the money.... but then we got home... I fancied a cuppa. Boiled the kettle, opened the fridge.... Milk is now cheese. Fridge has packed in.
Not only that but it's a fridge-freezer - so we have to replace the lot.
£219 to replace the same spec we already have! -.-; I literally JUST got paid today... an now once all my direct debits have come out for the month I'll probably have about £80 left for fuel etc. Not great when it costs me nearly £50 to fill up the car and I have to do that twice a month!!!!! >.<
Oh yeah - and to top it off we were supposed to have a great time at Download Festival on the 7th-9th and now we're barely going to have any cash to EAT there!!
Bye bye savings!

Ugh. Seriously. Why can't I win the lottery or even get a bonus for all the damn hours I work?!?!?

Sorry guys. Happier journals will follow - I'm just sick of there always being SOMETHING that stops me from having any fun!

UGH!!