Chaosfay's Bit of Madness

Eponine staring down the paparazzi like "YEAH, WHAT ABOUT IT??" while Lucanis is just absolutely lost in the Rook sauce as usual

a swapmas gift for my beloved friend, the stupidly talented @cravingcoconutredbull — merry holiday, girl!!!! I adore your Rook, I spent a truly insane amount of time painting this and i was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time ❤️

Next up someone is going to claim that the Narnia series isn't kids books.

Bonus points if you make posts on social media! Link back to my ko-fi page. Remember, commissions are open until October or when I run out of slots, whichever happens first.

As many of my followers know, i had a severe hip dislocation in April.* This requires surgery to repair, and recovery will have me on bedrest for several weeks. It looks like surgery likely won't happen until this autumn.

I'm raising money to acquire the laptop i'm crowdfunding on my Throne list here. This laptop will provide me with the means to write my book, and access to entertainment in general. There are other things on the list that will help keep me occupied as well. You may choose to purchase the listed items on my behalf, with the option of remaining anonymous.

In order to acquire necessary funds, i'm opening commissions. I will work on these until i can't. What i don't complete prior to surgery will have to wait until until after i recover. If you buy a commission, this is something you need to understand. If i have surgery this summer, i may not be back in the sewing room until this winter. You could be waiting for several months for your commission.

Now, that being said, let's get to the good stuff!

Pay What You Want - starts at $57 USD, what you receive won't be seen until it arrives. What you pay will influence what i choose to make, so beware this is a bit of a gamble.

Mug Rug - starts at $62 USD, 6x8 to 12x12 inches. Foundation paper piecing is an option. These are large enough for a mug and snack.

Single serving dining set - starts at $98 USD, and includes one placemat and matchint coaster. Foundation paper piecing is an option.

Set of four coasters - starts at $112 USD, with the option of adding more coasters to the set. Foundation paper piecing is also an option.

Table runner - starts at $246 USD, with the option of using insulated batting for this to serve as a long hot pad. Foundation paper piecing is also available.

Four piece placemat set - starts at $246 USD, with the options of adding a set of coasters and a table runner for a full collection. Foundation paper piecing is available as well.

Mini quilt - starts at $281 USD, and foundation paper piecing is an option.

Pine tree wallhanging - $292 USD, and can serve as an alternative for a yuletide tree. I have one, in pink, blue, and purple, and my ornaments are pins and buttons.

Potted plants wallhanging - $464 USD, and made using mostly scraps.

Just the quilt top - starts at $481 USD, with options for larger sizes. You will receive the finished top and will have to either do the quilting yourself or hire someone to do it for you. If you wish for me to use foundation paper piecing, pay twice the amount and mention you want me to use FPP and the size range. If there is a pattern you would like me to use, feel free to ask but I promise nothing.

It’s Erica with your new dose of Feel Good News — stories to remind us the world’s not so bad after all.

1. A nonprofit has erased more than $40 billion in medical debt across the U.S. People don’t apply, they simply receive a letter saying their debt is gone, including one woman whose $3,200 medical bill was wiped away

In 2018, Jessica McIntyre faced a challenging situation after developing postpartum eclampsia, leading to significant medical debt from her hospital stay. Despite having health insurance, she owed thousands due to her plan’s coverage limits. Eventually, McIntyre fell behind on payments, and her debt was sold to a collections agency, negatively impacting her credit score. In 2022, she received surprising news from a nonprofit called Undue Medical Debt, which had erased her remaining $3,200 debt, significantly improving her financial situation. Undue operates by purchasing unpaid medical debts for a fraction of their value and eliminating them without requiring an application from recipients. The issue of medical debt in the U.S. is widespread, with a 2024 report estimating that Americans carry over $220 billion in such debt. North Carolina has a high rate of medical debt, affecting 13.4% of adults, and many suffer despite having insurance due to high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. In 2024, a collaboration between Undue and North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services aimed to address medical debt more holistically, requiring hospitals to relieve debts for low-income patients and preventing them from selling such debts to collections. This initiative helped erase $6.5 billion in medical debt statewide. Additionally, local fundraising efforts, like a campaign by Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church, further contributed to debt relief, raising over $22,000 to eliminate significant amounts of medical debt in the community. These initiatives highlight a growing recognition of the burden of medical debt and efforts to provide assistance to those affected.

2. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces “Click to Cancel” rule to rid NYC of subscription traps and junk fees

Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York City has introduced a groundbreaking “Click to Cancel” rule aimed at protecting consumers from subscription traps and hidden fees. This regulation mandates that businesses must allow customers to cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up for them. The initiative was announced in collaboration with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and is expected to save New Yorkers approximately $162.5 million annually. The rule is designed to help consumers avoid financial burdens from persistent subscriptions, such as gym or hotel memberships. Mayor Mamdani criticized the business practices that complicate the cancellation process, stating that if sign-ups can be done with one click, cancellations should be just as straightforward. Failure to comply with the rule could result in civil penalties for businesses. However, concerns remain about the enforcement of the rule and its associated costs. A similar federal rule had been proposed but faced legal challenges.

3. A restaurant owner found $12,000 hidden in an old cabinet. Instead of keeping it, he tracked down the previous owner, who needed it during a serious health battle

A South Carolina restaurateur, Sak Yiengjuntuek, owner of Lemongrass Vietnamese Pho & Thai Cuisine in Myrtle Beach, has been celebrated for returning $12,000 found in an old cabinet to its previous owner. After a neighboring store’s fire caused power outages, Yiengjuntuek was clearing out leftover furniture when he discovered a sunglasses case filled with cash. Shocked, he recognized it belonged to the former proprietor. Although initially struggling to contact him due to a disconnected number, Yiengjuntuek eventually reached out live on air with WLBT3, receiving an emotional response from the owner, who was facing health challenges. His act of honesty has garnered him local recognition, and he hopes to inspire others to do the right thing and uphold honesty in their own lives.

4. Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen at scale 7-2-2026

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a device that addresses both plastic pollution and hydrogen production using sunlight. As hydrogen demand increases, the majority of current hydrogen production relies on natural gas, which contributes to environmental concerns. The new device breaks down plastic waste, converting it into hydrogen in a sustainable manner. This innovative solution builds on the team’s previous work on a solar-powered reactor that utilized expensive semiconductor catalysts, which limited scalability. The new device is larger, easier to produce, and employs a cost-effective paint sprayer method to apply light-absorbing materials and catalysts. Tested outdoors, the reactor efficiently extracts hydrogen from plastic bottles and plant biomass. While the production method is now more affordable, the hydrogen generated remains too costly, necessitating improvements in reactor efficiency and durability. The findings are outlined in the journal *Nature Chemical Engineering*.

5. 18 donkeys have kept Doñana National Park in Spain free of wildfires for 9 straight years by grazing dry scrub daily where vehicles cannot reach. Doñana sits at the heart of one of Europe’s most vital wetland ecosystems. It shelters Iberian lynxes, endangered birds, and hundreds of migratory species

In Spain, donkey firefighters have successfully protected Doñana National Park from wildfires for nine years by grazing on dry scrub that could potentially fuel fires. This initiative, started in 2014 with 18 donkeys from the El Burrito Feliz association, utilizes the animals’ eating habits to maintain the landscape, especially in areas inaccessible to vehicles. Doñana, a vital ecosystem home to endangered species, has notably avoided wildfires during a period of increasing fire activity across Spain. Donkeys are particularly effective for this task due to their unique digestive system, allowing them to consume and transform tough vegetation into energy, which in turn diminishes fire risks over time. Grazing supports fire prevention while also restoring agricultural practices lost to mechanization and rural depopulation. Efforts to replicate this model are emerging in other regions, such as Catalonia, where additional donkey programs are reporting similar successes in fire prevention. Moreover, the program benefits from collaborations with volunteers and military support, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive wildfire management strategy that includes land management and early detection measures. Overall, the reintroduction of donkeys for fire prevention demonstrates a sustainable and efficient approach to ecological restoration and wildfire management in Spain.

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That’s it for last week :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

i HATE self-censorship for a lot of reasons, but being in crisis work makes it even more frustrating. who are you censoring for? like i am being so fr, WHO are you censoring for? have you even thought it through? people who have been raped know that they have been raped. if someone attempts suicide or is grieving someone who did, saying "sewer slide" isn't going to protect them from any of the feelings. a murder victim's family isn't going to feel better bc you said "unalived" instead of murdered. if anything, it's just extremely invalidating and othering. it's saying "what happened to you is so bad that i won't even say the word," which is NOT trauma-informed care. you are not protecting survivors/victims when you self-censor. the ONLY things you protect when you self-censor are the puritanical ideologies that are being encouraged by rich fascists who want your money and obedience

This is the story of Mira, a dying kitten I rescued. I have started a GoFundMe to help pay for her medical bills as I am in a rough place financially. Her full story is posted on the GoFundMe.

Any support is appreciated, either through donations or shares 💖

Thank you for taking the time to read my little comic~ have a lovely day! ✨

'i'd fight angels and demons to find you my dear ... i'm alright now you're here'