We shall remember them

On this special day, I would like to give my thanks for those who gave their lives... and give their lives for our freedom's. This is one of my favourite poems, written by John McCrae to commemorate the death of a friend who had died the day before in battle and I would like to share this with you after a long absence from blogging

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

     between the crosses, row on row,

   That mark our place; and in the sky

   The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

   Loved and were loved, and now we lie

         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

   The torch; be yours to hold it high.

   If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

         In Flanders fields.

                                            Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was a soldier, physician and poet

An Heirloom and an Apology!

Firstly, sorry I haven't been visiting for a couple of weeks, (bad blogger) 

I took a little break from technology for the last 2 weeks of the Summer Holidays. Although I don't often blog about non crafty stuff, I would like to explain my blogging being a bit on and off for the last months. I wasn't well at all. I had a chest infection which turned to pneumonia and went on and on and on. 3 lots of antibiotics, repeated Xrays etc.It was all a bit scary and I had so many doctors and hospital visits and generally feeling awful. Somehow, my mojo is still being  very sporadic and sitting at the computer hurt (still does sometimes)

Now, I am planning a phased return to work and working hard on trying to improve my fitness levels and lose weight. I have found myself totally apprehensive about the return to work... I teach teenagers (subjects they don't always want to learn) and my job is quite stressful at the best of times. I am hoping that returning to work will make me feel more like my old self., but, I am really nervous and stressed by the thought.Wish me luck!

Anyhoo, I'm back even if I might not visit so often for a little while or comment quite so regularly, it'll be more regularly than the last few weeks! and I will be reading everyone's blogs (I think getting back to work is going to be exhausting as well as a bit scary)

Ages ago I gave up smoking and took to knitting to help me. I have been making a giant bed throw in the softest pure cottons. I hope it will be an heirloom for my daughter. I have done quite a lot of it (there are more strips than shown in the photo) The colours are softer than they appear in the photo, especially the Denim Blue... It looks quite Cath Kidston in reality! 

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, La la lah!

The title to this post needs to be hummed! Any one old enough to remember the band Altered Images? Clare Grogan the singer, Happy Birthday the song... now there's a memory from the early eighties! Ah, happy, carefree times. I digress!
I love wrapping presents and coordinating papers and ribbons making even the simplest gifts look pretty. As I finished the last one of my daughters gifts... I realised I had totally forgotten to make her a card (shame on me!) It's late, so this is probably the quickest card I have made in years... not a stamp in sight! just 2 pieces of free paper from a craft magazine and some dodgy freehand cutting, I like it though. 

Happy 15th Els... you are and always will be the best thing I ever made!

xxx

Kept it to one colour... couldn't find anything to disguise the Wok though! No, it's not cleverly disguised in the photo's!! Small gifts, loadsa love.

Lookie, Lookie! How Cool is this?

I know I often improvise with my crafting, but I didn't realise quite how much my daughter takes after me! She wanted to take part in her first challenge, but liked small flowers - so she found a way to make them out of the middle of Tim Holtz bookplates!
She made a great tag and spent forever getting it till it pleased her eye. She nearly wrote a tutorial too, it's a good little step by step.
Bear in mind the fact she is only 14! Please go and see her blog (link on the right) and give her a round of applause (Proud mum? What me? Oh Yes... very... very proud!) Miss Els
Signing off most proudishly! I am so behind with my crafting, strangely enough Els 'gets' creating links better than me!

xxx

A Chip off the old Blog!

My lovely, shy, artistic14 year old daughter (whose work I often publish here on my blog) has now taken a deep breath or 2, taken the plunge and started her own blog and is hoping to share some of her creations. I am so proud of her and love (and often learn from) her art. I would be so pleased if you would give her a visit and follow her if you enjoy what you see.

There is a link on the right hand side of my blog at the top of the page and a link here:

Els begins with an E