Im Back!!!!!!!!!

Hi Folks,
been a crazy few months, very little crafting, sadly, I been renovation my mums apartment from a scruffy messy shell into a lovely 1 bed  luxury ;) apartment. Mum lived with us for 6 months while we completed on the sale....(nightmare seller) I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
New kitchen, bathroom, lounge, fireplace, bedroom and hallway.Although she was on hand to choose lots of bit and bobs I decided to do it in true 'changing rooms' stylee.....
I wanted the kettle on, clothes in the wardrobe, food in the fridge and all her bits and bobs around the house ready for the big reveal. On the big day mum walked-in and cried, it was so emotional 6 months of proper stress and at 84 that's not easy, she was rushed into hospital by ambulance just before Christmas with  suspected stroke but think it was the stress...just too much for her, but back to the special day, she said it was amazing she was so shocked and so happy and so relieved and so at home everything I could have ever wanted ...just perfect.
so I need to get back in the crafty saddle starting with Stampin Up Peterborough training this Sunday, off now to find my crafty mojo...sure its around here somewhere?

Shocked........could things we looking up for Lady C?

I'm in a state of shock...
Some may know what a difficult time we have had getting support for Lady C, Its been a real struggle but we now have 'Statement of special education
needs' this has taken nearly 7 years and is very overdue but we choose to look forward and know this will help her through difficult times ahead.

Today things got even better, we decided to apply for a DLA to help with lady C's ongoing therapy, we didn't expect much but I received a text to say it will take up to 8 weeks for the decision to be made so I wasn't hopeful, that was 3 days ago and today I had another text to say its been approved! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! When you have had so many doors slammed in your face and many let downs and so much lack of support you think that's it...this is it for me...
What feels so good is that people seem to understand what we are going through...this is not just a naughty child who get cross, and who get out of control this is a child who needs help and she needs it now..

Whoever you are I thank you, and as I always used to say to my Sis ..I thank you INFINITIVE RECURRING.....+1

I feel a freebie coming on.....I will not be swayed on my new year mood!

When life throws you a curved ball I find it hard to carry on as normal, not worry , not stress.....I working on this...
But life must go on and I want to keep my positive stance for 2014
So I thought it would be good to start with a freebie!

I am giving away a cheery red spotty bag for a Happy New Start to the year!


Anyone fancy it?

will add a pic tomorrow x

Happy New year!

Happy 2014!

What a year its been.......not sure where to start but I think I have been through every emotion possible this year.
I have watched my little Lady C have a complete meltdown and at 10 years old not able to manage school, not even for an hour. Home schooling is not my bag but I have tried (and often failed) to step up and do my best. After a very quick change for the better we have moved to a new school , a school that is much bigger, much more equipped and supportive, don't get me wrong its not a 'special needs' school (something we did consider) but a school where she feels safer, cared for and a school where she feels they have not given up on her...sadly that is how she felt for far too long. What is amazing she is now learning, not just getting through the day she is actually learning and on top of that she is loving it! For me my life has changed so much, I am no longer waiting by the phone, waiting for that call. Its important to note that she isn't cured...in the day time at school she is ok but its such an effort for her that when she comes home she lets it all out and doesn't managed situations very well so the stress is still a massive strain.
After 6 years of fighting we have also had a Statement of Special Education Needs agreed...what a fight! should it take this long?....
Work has changed massively, in my Interior Design day job I have separated from my Business Partner which was hard at first, like a bereavement we were close friends (or so I thought) I felt very let down to begin with but after I had brushed myself off and taken time to look at my own ability and experience Ive managed to get my confidence back and have been working on some great Interior projects , I hope to share some pictures with you soon.
Stampin up is still a big part of my life without this I would be a crumpled mess on the floor , it is my de stress my ultimate pleasure.
Scentsy is still going strong with orders coming thick and fast over Christmas, and of course my house smells lush!
Lastly my spotty bags are still flying out, I sold out over Christmas my fingers were sore from sewing! I have some new design ideas for this year due to my competition to give me some design ideas in exchange for a bag and the lovely Sue Jackson was the winner of the bag which was a brown spotty bag with teal lining.

My mum who is 84 has moved in with us for a while, she sold her house and is buying an apartment locally so we can look after her more easily.
Sadly she has been ill over Christmas and we had to have a very fast trip in an ambulance, to hospital, Ive never been in a proper  'der der' before! but the good news is is was ok after a few days, she's not very mobile but is getting better slowly, I hope she will be in her new home soon but its taking a long time to get it sorted. I am going to gut it , new bathroom, kitchen, décor, carpets curtains lighting fire etc....cant wait! I will send you some pics as I get on with it.

So for 2014 I have plans.....lots of plans, lots of changes and I will try not to be a bad judge of character and to be taken for granted...I plan to spend more time with my 'proper' friends , the people who have supported me through this challenging year, a big thank you to you!

Love theses little monsters and have to have them!!!!

New addition to the family....

If I said I was obsessed with animals it would be an understatement....
I adore animals..
For Lady C's birthday we decided to get something she could take care of, be gentle with, something to call her own, knowing nothing about Guinea Pigs at the time I didn't realise the huge commitment...they need a pal, they need a 120cm cage and Peruvian Guinea need a daily brush.
But after all they have fitted in really well, we are keeping them inside for the winter and will get a hutch for the summer.

I love the fact they know my voice and come over to the side of the cage for cucumber or curly kale and actually take it from my hand, so cute. We have called them Bubble and Squeak, squeak is the one snuggling in my home made snuggle sack, (what did you expect? a new Guinea Pig line is on the design table..)

whats the film crew about?

well theres a odd story...my mums friends grandson....you keeping up?....makes product videos and has been searching for long haired Guinea Pigs and saw we had 2 on Facebook so that brought us to Friday. We has a photographer, 2 camera men, a model (Chris) the product licencee and James the producer! What a day, it took hours but a great experience, bubble only weed on Chris 3 times...the table twice but they do say never work with children and animals! Lots of other stuff going on but heres a little snippet!

Envelope Punch board!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbo1dRpJpwk&feature=youtu.be

This too nearly 2 weeks to upload!!!!!!!!!!
Hope you like this tutorial, I am very technically challenged and found this a little confusing at first but with a few tries I found how easy it really is to make beautiful envelopes in a flash!

So much has been going on , I will fill you in over the next few weeks but I am hopefully back and up and running soon!