A Little Update

Hello my dear Crafty Bloglanders - oooo, I miss you!  Just thought I'd give you a little up-date so that you know why I'm not posting at the moment.

I'm still having problems with my rheumatoid arthritis - the darned thing just won't get better at the moment.  I'm waiting for my new drugs to start but I haven't got a date yet and, boy, am I getting frustrated!? Still, hope to have some news soon.

The current flare is making it really difficult for me to make anything.  I can't colour in the lines with my Copics; I can't put enough pressure on to colour with my Prismas and using a knife or scissors is just hilarious at the moment!  So you can see that it would be pretty hopeless trying to keep up with my usual timetable. 

My design teams have been just marvellous about the whole situation and I can't say a big enough 'Thank You' for their patience and support. 

It's so frustrating not being able to take part in Crafty Blogland but I'm stocking up on new papers and gathering inspiration along the way and I hope that my mojo will be bursting at the seams by the time I get back.

Thanks for keeping me delighted, inspired and entertained with all your lovely blogs - I sit and read them regularly and often and you are all so fantastically talented!  What a great place Crafty Blogland is!

So, keep your fingers crossed for me that I'll hear some news soon.  In the meantime...

Happy crafting!
xx

Help For Katie - You Can Make A Difference

This is my first post for 2011 but it's not yet time to say 'Happy New Year'.  I've ventured out of my rest to join in with an amazing piece of blogging by many of your favourite crafters and illustrators in aid of a very special lady.

You can read more here, at Jak Heath's blog.  Today we are joining in raising funds for a special lady and her family.  Katie is a young mum, wife and crafter who has been dealt the biggest blow - she has been diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer and is currently undergoing her only option, which is chemotherapy.  Many of you will have come across Katie in your blog hopping - she is an inspiring and inspired crafter.  You can see her work and read her story in her own words on her blog, My Paper Heaven. 

This is how you can help.  Jak and her many friends and contacts have put together an awesome selection of digi stamps and you can have the whole lot for a donation of just £15.00.  The value of the package is way more than your donation, but the value of your donation is immeasureable in terms of what it can do for Katie and her family.  We're hoping to be able to raise as much as possible to help Katie with her treatment and to provide a wonderful treat for her darling children.  Please, check out Jak's blog where you can see all the images and learn more about what we are trying to do.  I know you wonderful Crafty Bloglanders have hearts of pure gold and you are so good at helping and supporting those in need - please, please do what you can for Katie.

For my part, I'm hoping to inspire you with one of the collection of images donated by Clear Dollar Stamps:

This is a great collection of cooking and lovin' stamps - Lovin' From the Oven'.  The minute I got it, I knew what project I would use it for. 

Over the years I have collected and concocted all sorts of recipes that have become firm family favourites but they're all stored in a nasty plastic sleeve, shoved down the side of the 'real' cookery books.  So it was time to do the thing I've been wanting to do for so long - get a box ready for some recipe cards.

I have to say, dear friends, that this is not my finest work! I'm still having some trouble with my hands and so things are a bit shaky. Once I'm better, I'll tart it up some and re-post but it was important to show it to you today.

I've been preparing to do this task for some while - I even bought the index card box. So what better base to start with - a plain black index card box.  This is what I did with it:

Papers: October Afternoon, 'Modern Homemaker' collection (new and very yummy!)

I can't wait to get it filled with recipes - it will look so much prettier on the shelf than a tatty plastic sleeve!

Again, I can't say how much your donation would mean to this wonderful family at this awful time.  And just as an added 'thank you' for your kindness, there are prizes to be won.  Every time you donate you will be entered into the prize draw for a full set of Letraset Promarkers (worth over £200) or a prize package donated by Paper Temptress of paper packs and a $25.00 gift voucher. 

Thank you for reading and thank you for caring.
Hugs to you all

Happy crafting
xx