Time for a change

 

It's a very long time since I shared anything that wasn't a craft tutorial or samples but I thought I would take a moment to let you know a bit of news.

The end of 2023 was very hectic with highs and lows. There was the GKR karate nationals in November, Black Belt grading in December. I gained a silver medal for kata and a bronze for kumite at Nationals and then was awarded my second Dan (Nidan) at grading. Never in a thousand years would I have thought I could achieve so much in Karate, and I am eternally grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way. 

It is truly humbling to see how much love and support comes from my Karate family, both instructors and students alike.  I feel very much valued and appreciated. 

When Steve's Dad passed away only a few weeks off his 103rd birthday it wasn't really a surprise, but when Mark (63) passed only days later it was both shocking and thought provoking. If there was one thing to take from it, it was that life is too short, and to be stuck doing things that you no longer love was wasting it. After some soul searching, I decided that after 4 years it was time to step down from the Crafty Individuals DT. In the early days I loved their stamps so much, but as time has gone on I was struggling to find the inspiration to work with the more recent designs. I don't intend joining any other DTs but am very very happy doing what I am doing with Bee Crafty. Bev and Sam have been so very kind and supportive and crafting with their products is my happy place. 

Some more positives that came out of 2023 were re-connecting with my cousins. As the 'baby' of the family I have 5 female cousins who are all older than me and some I hadn't seen since I was about 5! 

I also spent a few weekends in May and June looking for wild orchids at various sites around Notts with a very knowledgeable horticultural friend, and hope to do more in 2024. My other project is going to be turning most of the vegetable patch at the bottom of the garden into a woodland garden. The trees have grown a lot since we moved in 24 years ago! 

I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends who need some support, like Dad, who will be 95 next month, and a close friend who is recently bereaved. 

Now life is as normal as it is going to be post-pandemic, I want to enjoy my retirement a bit more. During lockdown we got into the habit of doing an hours bird watch in the garden once a month. This fell by the wayside in the past 6 months, but we will make time for it once more. I am also looking forward to spending more time and head space keeping fit and healthy, going out walking and of course continuing with my karate. 

Anyway, that is enough from me for now. Hope your 2024 is full of things you love. 

Been away...

I'm catching up with blog land after two weeks in Wales with very intermittent internet via my mobile phone. We had a wonderful fortnight of walking, visiting castles, gardens, fresh air and relaxation - wonderful!

 

There was quite a bit of food as well!!!

Thanks for looking and for all the lovely comments you left whilst I was away. I will try to catch up with you all very soon x

Anything but Christmas!

 Thanks for all your lovely comments last week. It has been a busy time with our school panto. Dad went to the hospital on Wednesday, but they decided not to operate as they think the pain is more likely being caused by a trapped nerve than by his hip, so they gave him his breakfast and sent him home! He is in good spirits and has an appointment for a CT scan to see if they can find the exact problem.
We have had a great day today, celebrating Steve's Dad's 93rd birthday. We were joined by the youngest member of the family, young Elliott, who is just 7 weeks old which meant there were four generations present. here are the oldest and youngest together.

On to my make for this weekend. The theme at Allsorts is 'anything but Christmas'. I am still making Christmas cards, but I needed a few calendars too, and wanted to experiment with an idea I'd had. I've made a few easel card style calendars and have seen ideas for post it note holders, but wanted to combine the two and still leave space for a picture. Here is my attempt at doing this - not perfect by any means, but I am quite pleased with it!

The scene was created using ink dusters, Inkylicious stamps, a white gel pen and Memento inks in dandelion yellow, lilac posies and grape jelly. The nesties are the spellbinders timeless rectangles using the largest one. I used a calendar tab from a set I won on Sarn's Rudolf day challenge.
I  would have liked to add something just above the calendar, but then it would have been really hard to post, so I left it as it is.
Thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments. I hope I will get round to visiting you all over the coming week now panto is over and I will be home by 5.30, rather than 8.30!

January Birthdays

There are a few Birthdays hot on the heels of new year in our family, so as soon as Boxing Day is over I start making cards for them. My MIL will be 86 on 4th January, and for her card I decided to do one of those half aperture swinging card things (If you know the proper name please let me know!). She is very fond of Pansy's and butterflies, so this year I've used a Hero arts butterfly, coloured with promarkers. There is a little bit of DP (MME) behind the butterfly and lots of stamping and distressing with wild Honey Distress Ink. The music background is a very old stamp from Stamporium, and the ornate corner is from Elusive Images.

My Dad also asked me to make a card for his dear friend Eric who is 80 on the 4th. They used to teach together and every Easter holiday they would disappear (along with another friend, John) for a couple of days up to the Lake District to plan the annual school camp. If I'd known a bit sooner I would've bought a camper van stamp for this one, as that is what Eric drove for many years. Anyway, the main request for this card was to have mountains on it, so what better excuse to get the brayer out!

The only stamp on this one is the 'spruce scape' from Clarity stamps.  I'll be back tomorrow with my Brother's birthday card (7th January) and a few others I've been playing with.
Steve was back at work today, so Meg and I decided we would go out for a while. We had tea and cake at Derby garden centre (very nice), a quick look in craft central there and then back to IKEA and Decathlon. What possessed me to go anywhere near IKEA? It didn't seem that busy, but it took us 45 minutes to escape from the car park! Although I guess he will never read it, I'd like to thank the bloke that let me into the queue in front of him. Might still have been there otherwise!

More Cuttlebug cards

I've been double embossing again - this one is using the diamond rough and friends forever (combo). It is for my Nephew and his Fiancee who got engaged at the weekend.

This one used the paisley folder and a border from the 'with love' set I think! I finished it off using prima flowers and punched leaves to hide where I didn't quite match it up, lol!

Today got better!

Today might not have started off too well, but it has got better. Just after lunch I got a phone call to say Julie was home! She had her operation on the 26th January and she has already come home. To quote another friend, 'What a fighter!' Mohamed Ali has got nothing on her! Meg and I popped up to see her for a little while, and she looks great! The trip back from Manchester was without problem until they got to our street. Julie wasn't going to be defeated though - she walked the last little bit with a hand from her hubby Paul. She is still going to be recouperating for a couple of months yet, with no lifting -not even the kettle, but she is surrounded by those who love her which I am sure will help alot.

Real Mushrooms!

I took photos of these mushrooms in Glen Trool whilst on holiday in the summer. Definitely the Amanita family, but which member I'm not sure. We all enjoy woodland walks, and Fungi were some of the first things that helped fuel Megan's love of nature and photography (She has posted some of her Mushroom Pictures from the same walk). There are also some great mushroom photos on D.K. Fisher's blog too.