Sad day

I know this is not to do with craft, but I'm sure that any readers will forgive this post creeping in here.

When John first had a guide dog (some eight years or so ago) he was still going up and down to London for evening meetings etc and the dog gave him independence that hadn't been possible with the use of a white cane.

Having suffered a heart attack and a consequent heart bypass op in the autumn of 2005, John's health hasn't been too good, the complications of diabetes catching up with him in all sorts of ways, he has had to settle for a less active lifestyle (not that it was that active before that!).

Over the years, John has also had quite a few problems with ulcers on his feet which always take ages to heal. Recently he had one on a toe that went from bad to worse affecting the health of the whole foot and he had to have the toe amputated. He's had an ulcer on the other foot, which, thankfully, has now healed after quite some time. It is now thought that one of Josey's hairs might have got into the ulcer and made it worse (however careful we are with cleaning and grooming Josey, it's inevitable to have stray hairs).

Because of the recent foot problems, John hasn't been able to go out with Josey at all, so she hasn't actually worked on the harness now for over a month.

We've had to very reluctantly come to the conclusion that it's no longer viable for John to have a guide dog because the need for one isn't as great and the dog herself isn't getting the exercise she needs when walking with him because his pace is now much slower and he has to stop quite often because of breathlessness. And a lot of the time now he has to have a taxi rather than public transport to go anywhere.

So, after much discussion and tears, earlier this week John phoned Guide Dogs and the result of a phone conversation yesterday was that Josey would be taken back. We were told we would get a phone call telling us when this would be - little did we know it would be so quick as a call at 8 o'clock this morning and someone came to get her about 11.30 am.

She will be six in May, so she still has a working life of about four years left, so Guide Dogs are going to access her in the next couple of weeks to see whether it's viable to allocate her to anyone else (depending whether there's a suitable person to match her to) - if not, she will be adopted by someone on their list.

This is a very sad and difficult time, especially for John. Obviously we will both miss her so much and for John it's the realisation that he really isn't that fit.

We're hoping that Josey will continue to work as a guide dog because she has always been so willing and confident.

Salt: Lent

How the weeks go by! Today sees another Salt challenge launched and this time it was Lythan who chose the topic. This is what she said:

As Kimberly is on maternity leave it is Lythan's turn to do a challenge. You can find out the latest here. Kim we miss you. Actually I think the rest of the group decided just how much they missed you when I posted this challenge.

Lent.

I thought it would be a decently tough challenge but I honestly hadn't realised how much. Although the denomination I am part of (United Reformed Church) doesn't make a huge deal out of Lent, it is part of our cycle of the Church year. I took it for granted that all denominations use the various elements of the Church year as a hook to hang certain ideas of discipleship. So I have learnt something new. Its actually been a good experience as we have reflected why we think Lent is or isn't important for faith. Although I promise to give a simpler theme next time. Something like transubstantiation maybe. Kidding, just kidding.
For those who want to learn more about Lent - look here for a brief summary

Here are our attempts to express our views of Lent creatively. We pray that our challenges are a blessing to you and ask that if you'd like to create a "Lent" themed project to leave a comment, with a link back to your gallery or blog, so that we might share with you!

Please take a look at Salt

My LO started with thoughts of the traditional 'giving up' for Lent - something I've never done really and it got me thinking of areas of life that need to be put at the foot of the cross and left there, living life in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who wants us to produce the fruit of love, joy, peace etc. So the flames at the bottom represent the fire of the Holy Spirit. The song in the box at the top left is Marilyn Baker's beautiful composition 'Jesus, You are changing me', which seemed apt for the concept behind the LO.

The background paper is 'Flowing with faith' by Be Blessed.

Thank you, Lythan, for making us think through this topic - even those of us who perhaps normally pay little attention to observing Lent.

ATCs I've received

The first two here were for the January swap 'Numbers' on CBC. The left one is called 'what size' by Lyn and the right one is by Shirley:



The next two are swaps for January from Susan on Paper 'n' Lace, the theme being 'Winnie the Pooh':



Thanks, girls, for these lovely little pieces of artwork.

Winnie the Pooh ATCs

I'm late sending the swap ATCs to Lynn on Paper 'n' Lace - no excuse really other than that crafting hasn't been in evidence much recently. Anyway, the theme was 'Winnie the Pooh' and I got these done last night, using some decoupage pictures of Pooh that I'd had in my stock. I drew the trees in the background using embossing pens and embossed with clear powder. I know that the bee in the one on the left is far too big, but I'm sure that poetic licence is in order!

RAK and ATCs received

I've been waiting for the postie to bring me my ATC Number swaps from CBC, organised this month by Carole. Postie came with them this morning (just as I was going out to go to the chemist to pick up prescriptions - I know, what an exciting life I lead!!) - the envelope felt a bit fat for two ATCs - and when I opened it I found that there was a RAK inside from Carole:



Carole, it is so lovely and such a kind thought.

I received gorgeous ATCs from Shirley and Lyn:



Thank you, ladies, for brightening my day.

Steph's Yummy CJ

I've completed my DLO on Steph's (Nerdbird on CBC) yummy CJ: Naughty but nice. Steph asked us to supply two recipes, if possible one savoury and one sweet. Here's my contributions:

Salt: God's astounding grace

Heartfelt greetings to all our visitors! We continue to be encouraged by those that visit, leave comments, and join with us in using the gifts that God has so graciously bestowed upon us to create projects focused on His goodness and attributes! It has been a blessing to join with you in this endeavor!

This week it's my (Kim) turn to set the challenge and since I've had a song running through my head, "Grace by which I Stand", for the past few weeks, I chose:

God's grace

God provides us with a measure of grace each and every day, to face hardships, to grant us patience and forgiveness, to strengthen us in a time of temptation....but most importantly God's grace delivers us from the bondage of our sins by enabling us to trust in Christ as Savior. I am encouraged by this description of grace from D. Scott Meadows' booklet, "God's Astounding Grace" and pray that it might be a blessing to you as well:

"The word grace is a kind of shorthand for the whole sum of unmerited blessings, which come to men through Jesus Christ. Primarily, it describes what we, for want of a better expression, have to call a "disposition" in the Divine nature; and it means the unconditioned, undeserved, spontaneous, eternal, stooping, pardoning love of God."

Amen and Amen! Surely, God's free gift of grace can cause us to sing His praises each and every day!

We pray that our challenges are a blessing to you and ask that if you'd like to create a "Grace" themed project to leave a comment, with a link back to your gallery or blog, so that we might share and rejoice with you! Please enjoy the work below that our team has created based on this week's theme.

Please take a look at Salt

I decided to do a LO based on Ephesians 1:7 and a well-known acrostic of the word GRACE. I used a papermania vertical strips background paper. The lettering is from a jumbo pack of DCWV that I bought ages ago (they come out of storage now and again) - I backed the GRACE letters and mounted with silicone so that they are raised, although they don't look it in the photo. The crosses are a See-D Easter stamp and the chipboard pieces are part of a box bought last week from QVC: 30 Sheets of Chipboard Punch Out, Alphabets, Words, Icons & Shapes (will keep me going for a while!):

Some ATCs

I thought it was a good idea when I signed up to take part in the CBC and Tanda monthly ATC swaps - plenty of time to get them done - ha ha - here I am at the end of the month and having to get them done on the last day.

The swap on CBC this month is 'numbers' so I went with the 'vital statistics' and produced these:




The Tanda swap is 'A question of Sport', so I chose golf and football. The golf stamps are See-Ds and the football boots are Tanda:





I'm more pleased with the top two than the others. For the background of the golf one I sprayed the card with Adirondac Color Wash lettuce (first time I've used it - need more practice!!)

Must now get on with my contribution for the new Salt challenge which will be launched tomorrow morning.

At least I've done a bit more crafting.

I've been neglecting HS:MS photos for a while - did a catch up recently and resolved that I'd get back into the swing of it, but ...

DLO for Kathy's lovely CJ

I am so grateful to the girls on Bumbleberries - it's time to post CJs tomorrow and I have to confess that I still haven't felt like doing any crafting - so, earlier this afternoon, I made myself tackle Kathy's gorgeous CJ and do my DLO. And it's strange, because the title is 'My Comfort Zone' and somehow using some of my favourite papers helped me get some motivation for getting it done. I didn't actually eat any chocolate this afternoon though, although the box was from a few days ago. When I told John what the subject of the CJ was he said straight away that chocolate must have got a mention! (Don't tell my doc though, because I have high cholesterol - but there's a bit of a debate over chocolate and it seems that good dark chocolate is good for you - so that's my excuse!).

The papers are Basic Grey Scarlet's letter and I've used a few pergamano white rub ons and a few blooms and brads. The wording was done on my Dymo Letratag:

At last!!

In the last week or so I've been neglecting my blog and haven't done any crafting to show anything anyway. This is partly because things have been a little different with John coming out of hospital - Wednesday taken up with another visit to Guy's, getting home at 6.30, having left in the morning - so far so good with the toe (or strictly speaking I should say 'lack of toe').

During this past week I've also been having a bit more of a turn out of some of my craft stuff, particularly knitting and cross stitch materials etc - sadly now, because of the problems with my back, I just can't sit at knitting or cross stitching, so I've come to the conclusion that it's silly to hang on to stuff that I won't use, so I've spent time putting items on Ebay (particularly as yesterday was a half-price day) - it's amazing how much time it takes to actually do the descriptions and the photos and then put them on - I'm glad I started some of the descriptions the previous day.

Anyway, today I couldn't put off the crafting any longer because we have more family birthdays on the near horizon.

The first card is one for a friend's birthday tomorrow - using one of my favourite stamps:



Then the next ones are for mum to give to three of her great granddaughters:







Then I needed to also make cards from us. The large numbers for these cards were done on the robo and the background papers are the English Paper Company:



The colours of these two are much more vivid irl:





I really don't feel into my crafting atm - the above are feeble efforts really. I'm hoping that more motivation will return soon.

Yay!!!

John got home at 7 this evening. He's obviously got to rest the foot, be careful, go back to clinic on Wednesday, but at least he's home. Thank you everyone for your good wishes for us - much appreciated. No crafting today!

HS:MS dangle

This morning's HS:MS prompt: 'dangle: To hang or swing loosely. Find 'dangle' in your space today.'

At first I took a photo of keys dangling on hooks, but then I thought of Josey's well-worn harness and the fact that atm she can't work because of John being in hospital - in fact, she's gone to friends for a holiday:

John update

I know this is a crafting blog and I try as much as possible to keep it to that, but I just want to thank everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers for John - much appreciated. He had the op this afternoon and when I went to the hospital at 7 this evening he'd just been brought back to the ward. He seemed fine and had something to eat. His foot is heavily bandaged and hopefully tomorrow we'll find out what's what regarding infection etc. There were definitely four toes peeping out of the top of the bandaging, so the offending one has gone!

Two more cards

I'm trying to keep myself occupied while I wait for news of John. I've managed to make a birthday card for mum to send to my brother - with an English Paper Company paper background that also wraps round the entire back of the card, because it seemed a shame not to see all of the jobs depicted. It's a very simple card, but I just felt that the paper and the saying went well together. As with my card for my brother, I printed on the computer, edged with a chalk cat's eye blue ink and then mounted on another piece of DCWV textured:



I've also made a very simple card for John, using some Jolee's embellies - I wanted to make something but can't concentrate to do anything more complicated. (I would quite like to do a more luvvy-duvvy one - perhaps I will in a day or two - one that he doesn't display on his locker):

HS:MS catch up

I knew that I'd missed a few of the HS:MS prompts, but I hadn't realised how many! I feel like a lost sheep with John in hospital so I decided to take my camera in hand and catch up.

First is 'bling' - just some of my cardmaking 'jewels':



Next was 'steam'. I tried getting photos when the kettle was boiling, but no evidence of steam, even though it was there irl. Earlier this morning I had emptied the steam iron and put it away - not thinking about the prompt - so this one is almost a cheat, because it's the box rather than the steaming iron:



Ah, the next prompt was 'thread' - I have plenty of threads, so this one was easily done:



'Colc' - oh, I had to think about this - it is cold out, but no actual frost, so in the end there's just a picture of part of the door of our freezer:



Next is the catch up of SPS which should have been done last Saturday:



And Sunday was SOS day. I've chosen this, not because it's a good photo, because technically it's awful, but because it's one that I love and it's just right for today:



Next is 'CD':



Then 'away' - easy one to choose - John's chair:



'Indulge' - wish I'd got some expensive Hotel Chocolat bar to show - the really dark scrummy stuff, but, alas, this is the only 'indulge' I could find:



And today's prompt is 'number' - I have plenty of them in a box:

Birthday card

John's having his op today and I must admit that I couldn't sleep very well (I never do at the best of times) so I was up very early this morning and have been trying to occupy myself. For a while now I haven't really felt like crafting, but there are quite a few cards that I need to get on and make and one of them is for my brother's 65th birthday on Monday. I'm glad I needed to get this done, because now I've started crafting again I feel more motivated to continue - which is just as well, because I told mum I'd make a card for her to give to my brother.

As it's his 65th - and official retirement, although he will still be doing some work - I thought I'd use some sort of leisure theme and he enjoys his golf, so here is the card:



The background paper is from PDA - I'm not sure of the make of the golf adhesions - either K & Co or Crafty Bitz - and DCWV mat stack card printed on the computer and edged and smudged with archival sepia ink. It's a simple card, but one that came together well, so I'm pleased.

I might be back later to show others if I get motivated enough to do them.

Salt: Encouragement

For this coming fortnight it's my privilege to set the topic for the Salt challenge - here's what I've said:

It's Hazel here; it's my turn to set the challenge this time and I've chosen

'Encouragement'

Here on Salt we have been very encouraged by your comments and by the wonderful creations that you have shown us as together we have combined our faith and our love of crafting.

I love that verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: 'Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.' - in fact, there is so much about encouragement in those letters, and indeed, in other letters from Paul. Encouragement is such a blessing to receive and also to give.

We'd love to see your take on this challenge
so please leave us a comment when you are finished your piece,
so that we and others may see your work.

To get you inspired the team on Salt have come up with some beautiful pieces.

Please take a look at Salt

I decided to make a card for a friend who has been a great encourager. The background is a lilac parchment paper (from a pack that I bought by mistake, thinking it was card, although I should have realised why I thought it was cheap!). I stamped the swirly designs (I think the stamp is from HOTP)using Brilliance pearlescent purple (I love that colour) and embossed with pearl plum EP. I printed the 'Thank you for your encouragement' on the printer and then stuck the banner in the right place for it to print and quickly embossed with pearl plum when it came out of the printer. The vellum flowers (their beauty doesn't show up enough on the photo) I've had for ages from a QVC kit - I added a bit of depth to them by rubbing the ink pad over the back of them and embossing with the pearl plum. I finished off with a few Papermania lilac adhesive stones:

Postie came with goodies

What a lovely surprise this morning - well, I knew that at some time I'd receive a PIF from Melissa on CBC, but wasn't sure when it would arrive, but I also got a prize from It's a Creative World.

Here is what I got from Mel:



and this is the sheet of rubber stamps I got from Maria on IACW:



I want to apologise to anyone who visits my blog, that for a while I haven't been visiting others and leaving comments as much as I'd like, but life isn't that easy. We're waiting for the phone call to say that John's got a bed at St Thomas and hopefully going up there this afternoon for him to have the op on his toe tomorrow. (I say 'hopefully', not because I want him to go, but because it would now be a disappointment to gear ourselves up and not get there.)

Thank you to all those who have left me comments and encouragement - much appreciated by us both.

Why does it have to have a title?

I've spent all evening on one card (can't show it yet because it's for the next Salt challenge which will start on Thursday morning). I seem to have lost both inspiration and confidence. Lots of bits went in the bin tonight and I've finished up with a big dollop of glue on my trousers (art institute 'dries clear' - oh my, I wonder how that will look in the morning! - fortunately they are old trousers).

There's still been no contact from Pat, so I got John to draw another name out of the hat and it's Helen (H), so the blog candy will be in the post to you, Helen, in a day or two.

Meanwhile, Pat, if you read this, please let me have your details because then I'll also send you something.

Blog candy draw winner

Pat's name was drawn as the winner last Monday evening, but there is no blog to get in touch and I'm not sure, Pat, how to get hold of you. (I thought I knew who you are, but it wasn't the person I thought).

Please get in touch with me so I can send the crafty bits to you - or if anyone knows how I can contact Pat, please let me know.

If I haven't heard anything by tomorrow evening, I'll get John to draw another name - would like to be able to send these bits to someone - and if Pat gets in touch, then I'll send some more goodies.

And I'm afraid atm I have little crafting to show, except a Thank you card for the challenge on CBC: 'It's all Greek to me: Your challenge is to make an item that includes a word or phrase from a language other than English. You might already have items to hand or you might want to handwrite or use the computer and printer - use your imagination and see where it goes!' This is a card I made with 'thank you' in a variety of langauges (printed from the computer) with primas and brads added (I've just noticed that in the photo one of the petals on the bottom prima is hiding - it's showing properly now irl!):

Karen's CJ DLO

I received Karen's lovely CJ before Christmas and, as usual, thought I'd got plenty of time to do my DLO ... and here we are very near to the deadline!

I have to confess that crafting has taken a back seat since Christmas, for a variety of reasons, one of which is that we've had hospital visits with John, resulting in a decision to admit him, hopefully next week, to amputate a toe which has had an ulcer that's been getting worse, so I shall then be up and down to St Thomas hospital to visit him - they think he'll be there for about a week.

Anyway, this is 'my crafty outlook', so back to the matter in hand!

Karen's CJ is part of a group on Bumbleberries and is called 'surprise' - such a good idea - each person has to set the theme for the next person. The lovely Rach (turtlestres) set my theme: 'If I won the lottery' - I must say that I found this difficult to do, because not only do I not do the lottery (so therefore wouldn't win it!) but money doesn't buy happiness or health, although admittedly it can make a big difference to how comfortable you are if you are in illhealth - and we certainly wouldn't say no to a chauffeur driven car to be at our disposal!

So here is my contribution, using Jenny's creations Dizzy papers and other bits and pieces (there are a few white spots showing in the pictures - too impatient to wait - Art institute 'dries clear' glue, which, when dry, will show no white: