Time out...and change

A break from the normal is what is needed sometimes, and the last few weeks have been tough on the body and soul. My health has hit the stairs in another fall, and right now i'm recovering from cracking a rib whilst fighting fibro and depression. Pain is quite high, and to say i'm dizzy would be an understatement. As i sit here and type the world is spinning quite well. Thank goodness for gravity!


Our garden is a delight , the cherry tree in full bloom and from my pink themed bedroom, the view of this tree is a daily delight, especially first thing in the morning, when the only sound is birdsong and the odd car passing by.

Today i have been resting, but also crafting. Punching out flowers and then making little blooms for future cards. I guess the spring feel to everything is coming into my crafting too. It's been lovely to see the sun, and the bite there was in the air is starting to slowly move away. Even the cat is liking outside so much more now, and right now, his main resting area is in the herbs that get the sun in the afternoon. Sadly the greek oregano has become his bed for reasons only a cat would understand, and i'm hoping that the twigs i have put around it will save it's fate and a summer of herbs will be well ahead of us. Nothing like a greek salad with fresh herbs and some crumbly feta on a summers evening.

And talking salad, we've made a change in this house, and now buy our fruit and veg from a company called Abel & Cole. All the items are organic and only what is in season is delivered. You can choose a box for your household size, but also decide whether certain veg that you really can't palate, will not be included. No artichokes here! We have been really enjoying the surprise of opening the box and seeing what is on the menu this week. Purple sprouting broccoli anyone? Have to say it's lovely and fresh and oh so tasty! I feel it's a good change and with the fact that fruit and veg from the main supermarkets seems to have such a short life once you bring it home, i felt the change was needed. Not disappointed so far.

Now it's time for me to rest myself some more, the evening drawing to a close and bed is calling, though sleep will be sometime away.

Happy crafting, even if it's in your dreams

Just a card.

As a reader and crafter, the Mollie Makes magazine has opened my eyes to other crafters, whose livelihood depends on people buying their art and creations. I'm a big fan of Etsy too. There are some very talented people out there who create beauty in so many forms, each one made with love.



So the  Just A Card campaign is something i feel passionate about. Too many big firms have started to add their "handmade" style in their products, which is taking people away from the smaller businesses which depend on every single sale they make. Both my parents had their own businesses, and to this day, my mum is still doing hers. Imagine a day where you just made enough to pay the rent for your stall, but haven't made enough to cover the fuel to get there, and no extras for every day things.It's a tough life, and getting harder into today's climate.I have often been told my makes are good enough, it's my mental health which is making me fear the thought, that maybe, just maybe they are something people might want. I admit i have no confidence even though each project i do, is filled with love, and the urge to create something so beautiful. Yes i enjoy crafting, but for me it is so much more, it's a chance to forget the pain for a little while, it's a chance to take my minds of the bad thoughts that linger in my head on a daily basis. A chance to forget the fear of the outside world, and just create.

Happy Crafting , whether it's for yourself, a love one or to sell.

Subconscious Crafting

For the past few weeks my card making has been weddings. Why? I haven't had a wedding invite, i know of 3 couples getting married, but not anytime soon. My relationship isn't heading down any aisle and right now, i have no clue why i'm making these cards.

The fact that i am seeing wedding everything at the moment though, makes me wonder, is my subconscious saying something? Something i'm hiding inside, something which hurts, so i'm trying to bury it, but it's coming out in little bursts, especially in my crafts. The time when i am trying to focus on something which doesn't hurt.

But in making these cards, am i pointing to something i would like to happen, or is it regrets that it is unlikely to happen again? That part i don't know but this, whatever it is, is showing no signs of hiding quietly.

I have made other cards a long the way, floral seeming to be a theme, but right now, most of my cards are wedding, and i guess i have to go along with that, till whatever is going on, heals.

Whatever you do today, enjoy, and happy crafting!

Retro freebie from Far Far Hill

    http://farfarhill.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/new-freebies-kit-of-pin-up-illustrations.html

 
Aren't these fabulous? They are a freebie from the very talented Far Far Hill blog site. Leave a comment on their site if you download this awesome freebie.

Now i'm a big fan of retro pin ups, a time when a hint of naughtiness had major appeal, without the whole stripped off bit.These will certainly come in usual for a project i plan to do in my bedroom, when i finally get it sorted! I have a few photos of vintage ladies in various costumes that are a throw back of days gone past, and they certainly had some glamour in those days.

And talking glamour i have a date my wardrobe, time to get dressed, i can't  be in pj's all day, much as i would like. Happy Crafting!

Catnip and craftbits

Our cat, Bubbles, charging around with the catnip tub and the rug being sent into disarray and our morning starts with fun and laughter.

Today i hurt, and fatigue more than usual, but a day of crafting awaits, a chance to rest between chores, and of course the food delivery, that i've had to bring forward a day due to kid and cat supplies running low. If kid and cat would eat normal food, like what i have enough of, it would be so much easier, but hey ho, these challenges are sent to try us.

Yesterday was my pip assessment , a challenge beyond words, and the amazing mental health advocate came with me. the questions were hard, talking how an illness effects you aren't easy when most days you try to put how you feel, at the back of your mind, but yesterday bringing up everything was hard, and as for the memory and maths questions, well, i have no idea what was asked, except cat was an answer, i only know this, because i thought of our cat, the cute lovely furry who brightens our day.

And now my mind forgets yesterday, something that is now out of my hands and in the hands of whoever decides my fate , my minds turns to crafting, something to do whilst i recover my strength and rest through the pain, my fatigue present throughout it all, and the cat, well he will i'm sure help with the craftbits, ribbons are of course plaything, to be chased, pulled and nicked.

So now i'm going to read the latest Crosssticher magazine that arrived through my door , and drink my second cuppa of the day. Happy Crafting!

A lot on the mind

I have a box, a box with Styrofoam shapes, and ribbon and sequins, hundreds of sequins in fact. Straight dress pins are in the bottom too. So i guess, crafting in this home is taking a different turn. I'm thinking of trying these :- homemadesequineggs

I'm sure i can do this, though today may not be the best day to start something this complex. But crafting will be used today to help get through what will be a tough day. My pain and severe tiredness is taking a toll on my balance today, stress from the up coming assessment late in the afternoon, plus the lack of sleep due to a great many nightmares, means i look like a panda. Oh well, at least pandas are cuddly.

This is did yesterday, a card for easter, and finally a use for the cute buttons i had. Each bunny button is holding a mulberry flower to hid the holes, and the egg background is from CraftsUPrint, and the ribbons are from my ribbon basket, which is overflowing with goodness.

Other easters have been made too, by my son and myself, they are just awaiting the envelopes and to be posted, something that i feel maybe a little expensive, since the stamps price has risen again, but every penny will be worth it, a chance to make people smile when they open their mail.

I'm sorry this is a short post, but as i said i'm not on full form today.
Take care and happy crafting!

Paper crafting in 3D

So Craft Creations, you know i like them, right? Because currently i am working on some of their designs that are in their bargain area. These are the first 3 finished and all that is needed is some box frames and they will be sorted, but first i have to do two more.

The two sheets below are for the final two designs. Each picture is cut out, depending on which seems to be the background, slowly being removed, till the front facing items, stand out. I'm not explaining very well, but i'll be honest i'm not quite sure how to explain it. Sticky fixers help with each layer too.

Tiny sharp scissors, a lot of patience and slow cutting will all in the end go into each design, and the effect is worth all the time spent on them. As for whether these are toadstools or mushroom, i have no idea, i'm not that up on my fungi.

But at 5p a sheet, yes i did say 5p! They are too good a bargain to leave, and of course, being craft minded, i'm sure you will find the site will have many more delights for your stash, after all we all have them.

The next 3 designs are again from Craft Creations, and these are for our landing, which has a whole nautical theme going on. Again 3D decoupage, using careful cuts, and sticky fixers to mount each layer. The effect is certainly awe inspiring, if i do say so myself. But my son loves them, even though the shark may be a lil scary.

I'm thinking of trying to find a box frame for all three, so that the impact isn't lessened by multi frames.. I haven't decied on the fungi yet. Going to see when i finish them all.

I know one thing, i'm made amess with tiny confetti everywhere, but it's helped me take my mind of the fact i still feel way off colour with my throat and ears, but with the sun out, i feel spring is round the corner and i'm aiming to get back on track with sorting out this house of chaos. Untill then, i'm on the rest order from the doctor, and i must obey of course.

Happy Crafting all!