It's Been a While

I need to apologise to the people who have emailed me to see how I am.  I'm really sorry I've been absent for a while.

First my granddaughter visited, then I was caught up in family stuff  and once that was sorted, because I'm heading a campaign for something personal, I had a lot of radio interviews etc.  One each morning, and me being me, I managed to get a Depeche Mode reference in all of them. A bit cheeky of me, but heck, why not?

I almost look like I know what I'm doing!
Last week we had a family bereavement so I had to go to the UK for a few days to help my mum sort out paperwork etc which meant that while it was a difficult time, I did get some sunshine.  It seems so long since we have had any summer weather.

 I'm back now and still feeling reasonably ok though I have chemo, CT scans and reviews coming up and sadly they can only go in one direction at this stage.  I try not to let it stop me though.

I've been playing with paints again; embellishing and varnishing finished ones and doing a couple more to try different techniques.

I'm going to add a little wolf howling to the green one, on the combed 'mountains'.

I've had a grotty day; a dodgy crochet pattern and then a dodgy tension (my own fault) meant I hadn't achieved anything crafty today. I hate having a day pass without something to show for it, so I grabbed the pink and white baby blanket I made and did a baby cake for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice shop.

I didn't finish my granddaughter's snowman but I did make progress. 3 year olds are not conducive to cross stitching!

I've left the best for last. I had my meds and for some reason I signed up for the VHI Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin. It's 10 kms.  I think I can do it. I'll probably be walking and I'm ignoring the fact I get breathless going up and down the stairs haha.  It will be on a week when I have no chemo so you know what, I'm going to just go for it. The moral of the story is don't go online when you are feeling spaced out on meds!

I'll be raising money for the Mayo Roscommon Hospice charity, who provide my palliative care.  I'll also be releasing a new chart to go towards the fundraising.  One to go with Holmsey's Spring.

I've got a 'Just Give' type page.  Wish me luck!

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11369364_gaynor-french--running-away-with-herself--.html

A Holmsey Happy Easter

 A gift from Holmsey.  Simply click here;

Five face cloths! It was lovely and relaxing making these. I've a few more to go to use the wool up.

And a little more stitching progress. Not enough because real life keeps kicking in.  I will get it finished, I will! I will!

Have a Happy Easter/long weekend!

Spring time!

We've had two days of sunshine. Two whole days and it's wonderful. I just hope this isn't our summer!

 My pretty Camellia is in flower, as are the daffs. Only in the polytunnel however. It's still too cold outside!  I've further down the valley and for some reason this means my plants always come out later than everyone else's BUT my planting summer goes on until October sometimes.

I've a little bear cub visiting soon so I'm going to try and finish this for her birthday in April. She will be 3! Can you believe how quickly this has gone?  And I'm still here!  Amazing (though some days are better than others!)  

I had some cotton yarn left over from the free workshops I gave so I've decided to make a load of washcloths.  When I'm tired I can just lie and crochet and not think too much.

I've done a few more paintings; still trying to work out the technique.  The long dark painting actually has lots of hues of lilac and green with some golden highlights.  It's for my daughter.  The photo is terrible but once it is varnished, those colours should shine through.  The colours were chosen to order so I'm pleased that I did at least get those right!

Once this one has cured I think I'm going to paint and embellish it for my granddaughter. Anyone else see the potential white pirate dog?  haha...  I still have a lot to learn but I rushed these.  I knew I should have waited until I felt better but did I wait?  No.  Sigh.

I've had a streak of creativity and have a new design which will be a freebie.  I will put the link to it in the next post.  Holmsey wanted to play in sunshine before it disappeared again!

Happy Stitching!

Death by Sheep

A whole week without creativity...unless you call getting 29 escaped sheep out of forestry creative!

Hubby and I have been looking after 32 sheep, 3 goats, hens, ducks and a turkey for neighbours. It's been great fun. Knackering but fun.

If you want to learn about animal husbandry, forget James Herriot, ignore the old 'Emmerdale Farm', and watch Shaun the Sheep! It's exactly what sheep are like!

It's been an informative week. 

I've learnt how to feed sheep without being trampled; how to treat minor foot complaints; when to call the vet; how to get sheep to follow you; how to steer them and most importantly, how not too (they weigh more than you do!); how to get stuck going through a barb wired fence with a herd of sheep on my heels; how to get unstuck whilst keeping hold of a bucket containing sheep food , as said herd overtake me (and not one of the buggers stopped to help me!); how to check for prolapses (because sometimes 'lamb beds' come away when ewes are heavily pregnant); how to rescue lambs who have climbed into their hay rack (only to find they didn't need rescuing after all because they could jump out); how sheep antibiotic spray turns your hands blue: how to calm a sheep when a vet shoves his hand up her bum; and just when you think you have had enough, how to scratch them behind their ears when they want you to make a fuss of them, nudging you if you stop making a fuss of them before they are ready, making your heart melt!

And we mustn't forget the turkey who loves cuddles or the hen who wants you to carry her around all day, with you stroking her like a criminal mastermind strokes a white furry cat rofl, or the goats who sulk if you forget their apple!

Animals are much more aware than we give them credit for!

It was tiring but my, so much fun.  I wish I could back to tell 7 year old me, busy playing with her Britain's Farm Animals, that one day she would get to do it for real!

It's at the end of a treatment cycle and I had an infection so when their real mummy and daddy came back, I'm afraid I was bed bound for a day or two.

Just before sheep duty took over however, I had another play with my acrylics. The photos are nowhere as vibrant as the real pictures but I LOVE this abstract art form!

Hopefully, after a couple more nights sleep and chemo on Thursday, I can do some more and actually do some stitching.  I've got a couple of things I want to get finished, including an embroidery piece I started when I visited the Irish Embroidery Guild.

Fingers crossed for some crafting!

Until then, I would like to leave you with some beautiful flowers my children surprised me with for Mothering Sunday.  I wasn't expecting a delivery so it was a real pick me up.  I also had lots of chocolates but they seem to have disappeared!

What more can a mother ask for?

TTFN xxxxx

Brrrrrrrrrr

Thank you for your kind comments in my last post.  You are all so very kind.  The cancer is active again but I knew that. A day at a time. It's all anyone can do.

I was going to change my blog background but snow is very appropriate.  Ireland has been 'closed' for business from 4pm on the 1st of March and won't be opening until Saturday.

We have had lots and lots of snow so everything is closed; there's no planes, no trains, no busses, no shops, no hospital appointments.

We have closed down big time. 

Only we didn't get any snow at all; it seems to have missed my village which isn't such a bad thing.

We prepared for it; bought a loaf of bread; bought a bottle of wine; bought coal and hunkered down.  We didn't get snow but we did get cold; very, very cold.

So what do you do when the weather is pants?

You start a new craft.  I found acrylic pouring!  It's art meets science!

This is my first attempt. I'm more than happy with it.

 Here are some of the elements from the painting. It was so much fun; mixing paints not so much, but it was worth the work. This is called a 'dirty pour'.

I'll be trying another type of pouring tomorrow.

I haven't done any stitching this week but I did manage to crochet a simple baby blanket.
I held a crochet class at a local cancer support centre and made some examples to show the ladies what they would be making.

The Granny Square was for the second week and for the first, I made a facecloth, a coaster and a bookmark.  The attendees got to choose what they would like to make.

I used the grey to leave the women the prettier colours of the cotton yarn that I used but since my bathroom has grey and chrome, it will fit in well!

The baby blanket is in pink and white.  I've got so much baby wool, I decided to make baby blanket for future grandchildren.  Life hey? Scary.

The third in my Everygreen Angels is about to be released. Everygreen Holly!

I had a lovely lady from Norwich, Jo, model stitch for me but it seems my designs are just meant to be photograph unfriendly!

I will leave you know and hopefully do some stitching.  Thank you for sticking by my irregular posts.  Keep warm and safe and I'll see you soon. xxx

Crafting 2 :Health Nil

Missing in action again. Sorry.  I spent a week at my daughter's and then she and Missy Moo came back with me for a week.  Toddlers are wonderful but exhausting!

Unfortunately my health is now deteriorating now and it looks like the cancer has spread.  I will find out for sure on Tuesday.  If it is then I will be back on chemo and hopefully, hopefully, I will still respond to it.  I am so desperate to get to live until June, to see my youngest son reach 18.  I never wanted anything this bad.  To see my youngest become a man; that is all I want. And yet I feel greedy asking for this extra time.  Cancer sucks.  

Anyway, on with some positive news.  Do you remember Evergreen Angel Mistletoe?

 I finished Everygreen Angel Ivy today.  My photo skills suck. I will try to get a better photo tomorrow morning for sales through Lakeside Needlecraft.

I also had some crochet finishes; some I can't show you because they were part of the workshop I taught.  The final one is this Saturday so I can show you after that.

I made my granddaughter a sleeved, hooded poncho. I'm not entirely sure I attached the hood right but it looks ok when it's on.

As you can see, she is really pleased with it!

Right, onwards and upwards.  Evergreen Angel Holly next!

TTFN

Thank you!

Thank you all so much for your kind words regarding my angel.

You are all very kind.

It's so hard to get a decent photo when all you have is months and months of rain.

I finished Mistletoe as a simple hanging ornament.

I'm busy crocheting as well.  I'm making this for a certain little bear cub. 

And I'm using Wendy Aurora Wool

This is the colour it should look like but yada yada..no natural sunlight.

So when I photograph it, this is how it comes out.

Which is a shame because it is soooo much prettier than this.

And once I get my butt into gear, I will start on Everygreen Angel- Ivy.

Happy days!

(Though I would be happier if there was a little bit of sunshine grumble grumble).

Happy crafting!

Wanted!

Wanted! Some lovely natural sunshine that will enable me to take a decent photo!

The first of three (possibly four) Everygreen Angels; Mistletoe.  Next up - Ivy!

Stitched on Belfast Linen; light sand.

Happy days!

Almost but not quite

It's January the tenth and I feel..bleumph.

Do you know what I mean?

I'm almost but not quite over Christmas

I'm almost but not quite, ok with my elder children going back to the UK to get on with their lives.

I'm almost but not quite finding my crafty mojo.  It seems to have gone into hibernation. I don't know why, I have lots to be getting one with but I'm almost but not quite there yet.

I have some finishes to show you and a beautiful gift which came from a friend.  It was totally unexpected and brought a smile.

Let me show you the gift first.

It's a lovely little Christmas ornament and it was sent by Julie whose been a blogging friend for a long time.    (https://juliesstitchingjournal.blogspot.ie/)

My photo doesn't do it justice. It's stitched on a lovely blue which is actually a lot darker than my photo shows.

I love it. It's beautifully finished and it's not gone away with the rest of the Christmas ornaments. It's hanging on my stitching lamp.  A reminder of the joy that comes with a gift of friendship. 

I finished the blanket I was crocheting for the  Black Sheep Wools CAL, A Spicier Life. I chose my own colours and in the end, even my own combinations and tweaked a few stitches here and there to suit, as you do.  I'm really pleased with it. I called my colour combination 'Spice Market' and based it on the colours of the spices and herbs used in Indian cooking.

There were so many new stitches but I loved every one.  It's increased my confidence so much that I'm actually giving a free crochet workshop at one of the cancer charities that I use.  I've been busy test stitching a combination of things which I think new learners could manage in one day.  I've completed my lesson plan and nearly finished the instruction booklet that they'll be given on the day.  It's almost finished, but not quite!  

I have new designs in my head, but I can't get them out while I feel bleumph.  Bleumph and creativity don't really go together. 

Until I do, I'll hopefully be stitching on this; The Snowman.  I know, it was meant to be for my granddaughter at Christmas but I just didn't get time to finish it. I haven't even done enough for it to come under my title!

I will love you and leave you. Feel free to comment if you have cures for 'bleumph!

TTFN and happy crafting