Commissions Are Currently Open.

Okay - real talk : Update and how I've been

So I've felt very overwhelmed these past few months - mainly due to being preoccupied with keeping a roof over my head, putting food on the table and bills paid. I'm still very much preoccupied with all of these things. But slowly, good things are happening amongst the bad and I want to focus on those things.

Firstly, in early February three of my queer art pieces (pictured) were unveiled along with the works of 9 other artists in the Tir Cwiar exhibition in Elysium Gallery in Swansea, in collaboration with On Your Face Collective. It's something I'm immensely proud of and happy about - so many people came to the opening of the exhibition on the 7th and I met so many wonderful people on the night.

Secondly, I have been buoyed by connecting with other queer people in Ceredigion - especially at events like Friday's Aberration Cymru event and I've been buoyed by the support of my friends here in Aberystwyth. You know who you are reading this!

I've been through a lot - so much. So much I can't even begin to describe or explain. I've had losses, I've jumped through hoop after hoop. But I keep going. There's been setbacks aplenty - but I have no intention of putting down pen or paintbrush any time soon.

So, with that in mind - since November I officially became self-employed and declared myself as such to HMRC. Right now, Llyfr Enfys is my sole source of income. Which means, I'll be ramping up selling my prints, poetry and dissertation to help support myself as well as taking on freelance work where I am able.

I've been overwhelmed with the love and warmth of the response to my last post and can confirm as of today I have paid the last looming bill (for now). Thank you so, so much to everyone who has helped support me monetarily - I will be buying more stamps ASAP and then sending everything off to you all 💜

But from here on in - expect a lot more from Llyfr Enfys - solidarity forever and much love 💗

reblog if you:

- are aromantic and want to kill

- think aromantic people should be allowed to kill

- think fish are pretty cool

Cymru Queers for Palestine disrupting and leading the Cardiff Pride Parade, Saturday 22nd June by Hannah Tottle

Mari Lwyd mini-project teaser trailer! / Trelar 'teaser' i prosiect-bach Mari Lwyd

20th December / 20 Rhagfyr

Music/Cerddoriaeth: 'Fire' by/gan Vox Poetica

#marilwyd#yfarilwyd#wassail#wassailing#hobbyhorse#foryou#Welsh#Nadolig#nadoligllawen#Cymraeg

(last upload of this went a bit wrong. Thanks tumblr. But here it is again. Hopefully there'll be less issues this time)

[If you enjoyed this please consider leaving a like or sharing this to help a guy out. It will be much appreciated and helps support my project. Diolch!]

Translation of text:

/NEW DISCOVERY IN THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS

/ LOCALS ARE UNSURE... PERHAPS IT IS A WILD MARI LWYD?

/ PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WARNED TO KEEP AWAY... HAVE *YOU* SEEN THE CREATURE YET?

This has just occurred to me -

How would you folks feel about a survey asking for terms which you'd like to see Welsh equivalents for if there aren't already?

Something like a Google Form where you can suggest terms you would like to see translated. E.g. as far as I'm aware there's not yet terminology for detransitioning or retransitioning, for example.

Welsh Gender Neutral Terms Tournament #4 - Grandparent(s)

Following on from this post I made yesterday, in which I listed some possible gender neutral Welsh terms for family brainstormed in the discord, I'm going to make a series of polls to find out which terms people prefer for each concept. In each poll I'll have two options and example sentences using each term (you are welcome to create your own as well). Your feedback is very much appreciated too! Reblog with tags or send an ask- either is fine!

And of course, please reblog for a larger sample size. Diolch!

Grandparent(s):

Dain (Deiniau) f. - "Mae fy dain yn nofio bob dydd Sadwrn” (My grandparent swims every Saturday)

[‘taid’ (grandfather)+ t > d + ‘nain’ (grandmother) ]

Nam-gu f.- "Ble mae nam-gu?" (Where is [my] grandparent?)

['fy nhad-cu' + 'fy mam-gu']

Thank you so much for all of this! I think being tested to see if I have developed allergies is a good idea. I live in rural Wales so there aren't any dermatologists around, but I could try asking my GP - hopefully I'll luck out and they'll listen!

Hello there - I had a question which I think(?) you might be able to help with. Or at least point me in the direction of more information.

I have a few chronic illnesses and disabilities and as such there's many gremlins I deal with. One thing that crops up a lot are comorbidities between my conditions.

I'm trying to be more vigilant with regards to my health - as a child there were many, many missed opportunities to get my symptoms seen to by a doctor (all squandered due to my parents nor believing me about my symptoms).

Anyway, I wanted to ask about MCAS and if you know it's possible to have it but not realise it?

I've had a few incidents like this, but mostly forgot them or ignored them. But yesterday I ate some basil from my windowsill plant and I had what can only be described as an allergic reaction. I'm not allergic to any foods (as far as I know) but I've eaten from this exact plant before and been fine. I have mint growing next to it which I also ate and it caused the same reaction. Again, I've eaten from this exact plant before. It was like my mouth was burning or stinging and the leaves felt, spicy? In my mouth. I'm not sure how to describe it but I hope you know what I mean. Today I ate from the exact same plants and had no reaction whatsoever.

I've definitely had similar things happen before- but events like yesterday are few and far between. But utterly confounding when they do happen. I have urticaria (diagnosed since age 18) which I suspect is relevant, somehow.

I'm starting to wonder if a lot of my symptoms I've written off have actually been MCAS. But I'm not sure. Do you have any advice around talking to a doctor about this or if I have a leg to stand on so to speak?

Sending my best wishes!

Hey friend, sorry to hear you've been dealing with some neglect.

And considering MCAS was only really recognized as a condition in the last 15 years, it's absolutely possible to have it and not know until symptoms get worse. I was experiencing anaphylactoid reactions my whole childhood, but because I tested negative on IgE tests (I still do), it was dismissed as anxiety right up until I hit my 30s and I experienced my first episode of full-blown idiopathic anaphylaxis.

(Note: anaphylaxis is not a requirement for diagnosis, and not everyone experiences it.)

You should discuss your inconsistent allergies with your doctor or allergist. I would also advise pursuing allergen testing, as new allergens can develop at any time, even if you don't have mast cell instability.

If you suspect some form of mast cell instability may be the root cause of your issues, I'd suggest checking out The Mast Cell Disease Society. (Their website is in the process of being updated, still. But they have good resources there.)

Their signs and symptoms (and triggers) page has recently been updated and is fairly concise:

If any of that rings a bell, it might be worth bringing up with your allergist, but fair warning, not everyone is receptive to the idea of mast cell disorders outside of mastocytosis. (And even then some doctors gaslight their patients to hell and back.)

If you do find yourself in this situation, try joining a couple of support groups to see if there are any MCAS aware doctors in your area, or alternatively, try the TMS physician finder tool:

TMS - The Mast Cell Disease Society, Inc

Find a Physician - TMS - The Mast Cell Disease Society, Inc

Find a Physician Loading store locator from Stockist store locator…

Sorry if it seems like I'm just throwing a lot of links at you, but they are very useful links and I'm not at my best right now to explain things.

I hope this is helpful and if I missed something, please let me know.

I wish you luck in remedying your chronic health issues <3

I have made some Welsh LGBTQ+ Prints!

P'nawn da! Today is the day I'm finally launching my Welsh LGBTQ+ prints for sale (find them here). Like with my dissertation, they're pay as you feel (min. £2 plus postage) and I can post them to the UK, US, EU and Canada! Designs include the 2017 Gilbert Baker flag with the stripe meanings in Welsh and English, the map of Wales featuring my pride redesigns of the historic county flags of Wales, lesbian redesign of the Cardiff flag and a brand new design featuring 12 pride flags with the names of each in Welsh and English. I have 5 of each print in stock!

If you're new here or didn't know, unfortunately I experienced several major life changes this year which have really affected my finances (hospitalisation, long term relationship ended, emergency house move, job loss due to employer discrimination and a family member diagnosed with a terminal illness. For more details see this post). In order to help support myself I'm offering these prints for sale while I search for a new part time job. At the time of writing, I only have enough money in savings to cover 2 more months of rent and bills (not including food), so anything you can spare will help me afford food and keep doing what I love. I also have a patreon if you want to support me there.

I have also got my 47-page undergraduate dissertation on the development of Welsh-language terminology between 1972 and 2022 available here as pay as you feel (even £1!). Any support is hugely, hugely appreciated.

aderyn-marw -> celtydd-cam

Welsh Gender Neutral Terms Tournament #3 - (Neutral) Niece/Nephew

Following on from this post I made yesterday, in which I listed some possible gender neutral Welsh terms for family brainstormed in the discord, I'm going to make a series of polls to find out which terms people prefer for each concept. In each poll I'll have two options and example sentences using each term (you are welcome to create your own as well). Your feedback is very much appreciated too! Reblog with tags or send an ask- either is fine!

And of course, please reblog for a larger sample size. Diolch!

(Neutral) Niece/Nephew:

(There is no gender neutral equivalent in English, though some use Nibling for this. Nibling was apparently coined in 1951!)

Naith f. - Niece/Nephew - “Bydd eich naith yn gwisgo'r siwt las” (Your nibling will wear the blue suit)

[‘nith’ (niece) + ‘nai’ (nephew) ]

Naib f. - Niece/Nephew - "Pryd mae eich naib yn cyrraedd?" (When is your nibling arriving?)

[‘nith’/’nai’ + Eng. ‘Nib-’, from Nibling]