Over The Past Year...

I realised that I had written a post of "Hey, look, I'm back!" but didn't explain why I had been away...

Last year my father had been quite ill, and on September 11th, our family were told not to worry, he'd have a simple operation and then all would be well. On September the 16th, the surgeon and doctors changed their minds drastically, and my dad was told he had cancer. But... not to worry, as it was operable, and his outlook was good. 11 weeks to the day after this, my wonderful dad passed away. It was such a shock to us all, and it sent me into a spiral of grief and depression. I have been diagnosed with 'prolonged extreme grief' which is similar to PTSD in some ways.  I don't write this here for sympathy - only to let people know why I haven't been around and why I may seem to have changed a bit in the past year.

Things are sometimes a little better, and I take each day one at a time - never expecting to have a good or bad day, but just hoping to get through it and remember my dad with a smile and fewer tears than the day before.

This photograph was taken on my birthday - the last birthday I had with my dad.

I have a wonderful family - Mum, brother, husband and children - who have all helped me (are still helping me) every day... and great friends who understand.

So... there it is.

I'm not sure if I ever updated about my dog Lily, or my cat, Baby - well, Miss Violet... but I always called her 'Baby' :) Poor baby was run over and died in my arms on the way to the vets. I do have other pets now - but miss her terribly. My jack Russell Terrier, Lily, had mammarial cancer, and we had to have her put to sleep. I swore I would never have another dog... and that thought lasted about 5 days before I went out and got a little Yorkie who we named Barkley McScruffles. He'll be 2 years old on January 1st 2016.

When Miss Violet died, I eventually got another cat who we named Kitty Belle. She is a cross between a Persian and a Black Bengal - so she dribbles a lot and meows all the time :)

Kitty Belle had kittens, and I kept one because she was so very tiny, and her name is Coco (but we all call her Coco Bean)

This is Coco and Barkley.

Kitty Belle

Kitty with one of the kittens (not Coco)

 

 

 

Still Crafting...

It's been over a year since I blogged here - but I do blog other places too :)

So much has happened - but I'll condense it down...

Miss Violet had kittens.

Miss Violet got run over and died.

I got another cat called Kitty-Belle.

Lily-dog got old and ill,  and had to be put to sleep.

I got another dog - Yorkie called Barkley McScruffles.

Kitty-Belle had kittens.

I became a millionaire selling my crafting and jewellery items.

That last statement was not true :)

 

I've actually spent all day crafting and getting ready for a fete in July - I am making door plaques, pirate chests, "I'm Bored!!!" jars, jewellery... loads of items :)

Here's a few I made or finished today:

 

The pirate chests now have little diamante gems on the middle finger of the skeletal hands... and I so wish a photo could capture how adorable the door signs are - lots of decoupage, googly-eyes, glitter, and 3-D bits and pieces.

As I am doing a lot of fetes and fairs through until December, I thought I would amalgamate Patchwork Apples with my Elandesse business... making jewellery and craft items for children (as well as jewellery for dogs - really! lol)

I am going to save the hand-crafted more exclusive jewellery designs for jewellery parties and Etsy :)

 

I shall now spend the next three hours poking my nose around blogland :)

Hello There!

Although only a few weeks really, it feels as though I've been 'away' for much longer! I have a lot to catch up on, but that will have to wait for a few days, as crafting comes first :)

So, no new layout today... just a catch-up on the little bits of gossip I have to share.

I'm going to be a Grannie again! I have scan pictures of my future grandbaby, but have no idea as to whether my daughter is having a boy or a girl. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another grand-daughter... only because her partner has agreed that if the have another daughter, then they will try again for another baby in the future. If it's a boy, then no more grandbabies for Nonna :( and this particular Nonna (that's what my granddaughter calls me) wants LOTS of grandchildren.

The pregnant daughter is also getting married in September. Of course the baby wasn't planned for just yet, so she'll be walking the aisle with a huge bouquet covering her beautiful bump.

My other daughter is single again (any 20-ish good looking lads want to date a real stunner?? *lol* joking - about the dating bit - she really is a stunner) and is currently in Benidorm. I really don't want to see her holiday photographs this year - last years' made me have a few more grey hairs than before I'd had he shock of seeing them, and I have enough grey now thank you!

The credit crunch has finally hit home. After seeing my credit card statement last week, Hubby has confiscated my store cards and cut up my credit cards. Oops... I have definitely NOT been a good girl on the spending front. I really can't say I am undeserved of Hubbys' treatment... but I am going to TRY and curb my excessive spending. Without credit cards or store cards, I reckon not spending could be a breeze!

Lastly, the dog and our kitten... Best friends now! It's just too sweet to see them together, playing and running around.

That's about it for now... hope everyone has been enjoying the summer weather (I hate it *lol*) and getting all that Christmas crafting ready - it is July after all :)

Hopefully I'll have a layout to publish here very soon, and will try to keep posting a bit more regularly.