Beauty Grace & Strength. A step by step. ….

Beauty Grace & Strength. A step by step. ….

Hello!
Enjoying the sunshine and the Olympics?
We spent the day getting the Rugby Club venue ready for
all the lovely Clarity crafters who are arriving for Day 1 of the Retreats tomorrow.

It was all going so well!
Breakfast for the lads to give them energy –

Hahahaha.
It always makes me laugh 
how I can paint such an idyllic picture on here…

We like charred, they cheered!

“Let’s have a Bar-B in the garden and kick back this afternoon,”
said Dave.
“Oh spiffing idea!” said I.

And then we found 32 painty dirty Gel Printing Plates, 
which got forgotten from last time weeks ago, 
and never got cleaned.
Big job to sort them out….
Dave and Steve did the sink part.

I did the lubing up with baby oil, 
(sounds kinky! Let’s call it conditioning)
so they’re all lovely and ready to use on Tuesday.

Ah well. If the grill was anything to go by, 
the Bar-B was going to be a real challenge anyway!!

But here’s a neat little canvas I rustled up for Grace in New York.
She’s been through it a bit lately, but coming out the other side….

Wrapped a splatty scrap around a little A6 Canvas Board.

Have I introduced you to these little beauties yet?
Jim made a new set of Wee Gymnasts to celebrate the Olympics.
They are so lovely!
Well, I stamped them out on a scrap, to check them out.
Then I cut them out very loosely, to help me with composition. 

Then I looked for 3 key words for Gracie. 
Beauty. She sure ticks that box
Grace by Name, Grace by Nature
Strength. She ticks that box, too.

Laid them out on the canvas board
and figured out where to balance the little gymnasts…

Then simply stamped the words into place, 
one at a time. 

The words are from our Word Chain set No. 12
I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of these words.
Truth and Harmony.
Yes please. 

Stamped the girls carefully on top of the letters.
Life is a balancing act, isn’t it?

We don’t always get it right,
and things happen which we cannot control – life is life – 
but it’s never the situation or the event,
but how we handle it that will affect us in the long run.

Ran a strong black edge around the ledge to frame it.

All done.
Shall send this one to New York….
lest she forget.

Paul asked me to pick a winner for who guessed what I was doing in London the other day.

Well, nobody got it right! But my oh my!
You do have a vivid imagination!

Jennifer Kirk-Smith, you win hands down!!
I think Barb is in secret talks to join the Gymnastics team as a coach, to demonstrate and come up with more challenging and intricate moves ready for the next Olympics.
The trampoline routine was just a ruse 
as she is a secret World Champion.

Hahahahaha!
That’s worth a tenner!
(said the Tena Lady!)

Bye for now.
Got to go do my daily special mission session….

Love & Peace,
Barb
xx

80 thoughts on “Beauty Grace & Strength. A step by step. ….

  1. Brilliant Jennifer – a well deserved tenner. Sorry Grace is having a tough time of it – I am sure this will cheer her up no end. Enjoy the next round of retreat visitors – I know they will have a ball. I am definitely coming back next year – have really missed not being there this time. xxxxx

  2. Hi Barb,
    Sorry to hear that Grace is having a bit of a tough time over in New York but I'm sure she'll be fine – she's her mother's daughter after all. Congratulations to Jennifer – good one! I love the canvas you've done for Grace, the words are perfect for her and the wee gymnasts are so cute. Good luck with the retreats although you won't need it. Love Alison xx

    1. Hi bloggy friends,
      I'm getting in early today just before the Men's gymnastics begins. Hope everyone is ok and that you've all had a good day. It's been another chilly one here unfortunately. Took my sister up to Newcastle Airport as she and hubbie are off back to Switzerland for 5 weeks so I'm on gardening duty at her house! Love and hugs to you all, Alison xxxx

    2. Hi Alison – also watching the men's gymnastics! Sorry to hear that your weather is not so good – be careful not to overdo things in your sister's garden! You still need to get over your cycling trials! Love and hugs Gilly xxx

    3. Evening Alison pleased you got to see your sister off at the airport .how are your bruises now ?don't be doing to much in your sisters garden leave some energy to craft hugs xxx

  3. Chin up Grace! Congratulations Jennifer! Best of all Crowborough countdown is well underway…four sleeps and counting until we travel down….Whoopee!!!! My friend Anne and I are first-timers and sooooo excited to be making the trip…Sat Nag is already pre-set, shopping lists made out (probably change when we get there – lol!) So just need to fuel the car, cool bag the butties and we'll be on our way!

  4. Chin up Grace! Congratulations Jennifer! Best of all Crowborough countdown is well underway…four sleeps and counting until we travel down….Whoopee!!!! My friend Anne and I are first-timers and sooooo excited to be making the trip…Sat Nag is already pre-set, shopping lists made out (probably change when we get there – lol!) So just need to fuel the car, cool bag the butties and we'll be on our way!

    1. Enjoy your time at retreat Su. I am there on Wednesday and Thursday and can tell you it is wonderful. I went last year and have been really looking forward to this year's. Safe trip. x

    2. Thanks Lynn – not been so excited about anything for a long time – Anne's just the same…we're worse than children on Christmas Eve!!!!! You have a great time…you never know we may meet up next year…will be starting to save up (like that's ever going to happen with all the fab groovi plates/stamps etc) soon as I get back – lol x

  5. Hi Barb – what a perfect way to cheer Grace up, she will LOVE that! So sorry to hear that recent times have been difficult for her, but glad to hear that she is coming out the other side! The new stamps are very cute and sure to be a success! Well done Jennifer – a very worthy winner! Enjoy the next round of the retreats! Hugs to you all, Gilly x

    1. Hi to all my lovely blog friends – I hope that you have all had a good day. Our weather is beautiful, and this afternoon Neill has decided to give our garden seat a new coat of paint! Isn't it wonderful when you choose a paint colour, and it turns out exactly what you wanted – that hasn't always been the case for me! It is called Seagrass – beautiful! I have rested today, but at long last have felt well enough to unpack my Clarity goodies, from the members sale! Ooh, Morag you are so right, it was SO good to stroke them and put them into the Folders that I had ordered! Just done my list for this Groovi sale and about to send it through! Still waiting for the Tennis to start – I think it must be running late. Love and hugs to you all, Gilly xxx

    2. Hi Gilly,
      Bet your garden seat looks lovely now it's all spruced up! I'm in the middle of doing my list for the Groovi sale but I keep changing my mind! Enjoy your goodies. Love and hugs Alison xxx

    3. Hello gilly pleased your feeling up to painting your seat with Neil I love sea grass colour ,so pleased you got to open your sale parcel and topping up with the new clarity sale goodies happy shopping hugs xxx

  6. Well done Jennifer! Certainly worth a tenner!
    How lovely that you have made a piece of art for Grace! She's s beautiful young woman that you can be very proud of!!! Acorn and tree!!!
    Hope you have a fabulous week with 3 lots of retreaters.. . I wish I was coming again!
    Love and hugs xxxx

  7. Well done Jennifer! Certainly worth a tenner!
    How lovely that you have made a piece of art for Grace! She's s beautiful young woman that you can be very proud of!!! Acorn and tree!!!
    Hope you have a fabulous week with 3 lots of retreaters.. . I wish I was coming again!
    Love and hugs xxxx

  8. Blog certainly cheered me up and re-runs of Clarity shows. I spent all morning at A & E as the bee sting has turned quite serious. From dodgy leg to dodgy arm – doing my own track event with the poison spreading ever upwards. Once again on the old antis and spending time in bed. But onwards and upwards, chance to see all the tips and tricks.
    Wishing everyone happy, sad, ill or well all my good wishes.
    Anne (Reading)

    1. Hi Anne,
      You are certainly having a rough time. Sorry to hear you ended up at A&E but hopefully you'll be fine now – just keep indoors! Bee stings can be very nasty. Love and gentle hugs Alison xxx

  9. Great step-by-step Barbara. Good one Jennifer, congrats! Wish I could be at a Clarity Retreat this week(it's going to be another hot couple of days). Maybe next year. Just back from a lovely family gathering to celebrate an important birthday at Groombridge – 15 of us. Fab Sunday lunch then an hour in the pub garden. Gorgeous. I feel very relaxed and thankful (No thanks to Tunbridge Wells though Traffic a NIGHTMARE as usual no matter which route you take, gridlocked A21 + A26 awful, but Hey Ho). Hope you got to enjoy your afternoon once the plates were cleaned. Good wishes for Grace.
    Tonbridge Sue

  10. Hi Barbara, thanks for the laugh, needed that today. Paul's cooking can't be up to much if he prefers your burnt offerings!!! Beautiful artwork, it's bound to put a smile on Grace's face. Thank you for sharing. Glad to hear she's coming out the other side from her troubles. Hopefully the next time you have time together it will be all happy, and you won't have to go through the hurting and anger that you were the last time she was home. love these wee stamps, added to my want/need list.

    It was Dressage Floor Cleaning for me today. The routine had to cover every area of the competition arena. I didn't make it through to the freestyle to music round, but that's ok, energy tank is empty after the first round!!! Daisy says I'm more like a bull in a china shop than an elegant dancing horse!!! I think that's a little unfair to say, especially coming from her!!! I had to do another discipline today too. Daisy put in a protest over my win in the tag relay last week. She said tagging tails shouldn't count because I don't have one! Her protest was upheld, so we had to have a rerun, and another, and another, until she was sure she had won!!!

    Hope you have a restful evening before your marathon retreat run.
    Love Brenda xx

    1. Hi Brenda,
      You do make me laugh!! I wish I had some of your imagination! Hope you're enjoying the gymnastics, tennis and golf today. Like ve and hugs Alison xxx

    2. Brenda forgot to say I got my urgent app for my liver scan 2nd September my Drs secretary rang for an early one my GP rang to get an early one but its up to the radiographer so that the appointment I got not long to wait now just have to go with it as cannot change it .xxx

    3. Hi Brenda, what a chuckle I've had, I can just see Daisy putting in a protest! Sounds like you two had fun. These new stamps are beautiful aren't they. Sending hugs xxx

  11. Hello Barbara

    What a day you have had! I am sending positive thoughts to Grace. Whatever she is going through she will come out the other side stronger. She has a strong family at her back supporting her.

    Wish I was joining you all again, tomorrow. Enjoy.

    Love
    Roz.x

  12. Hello Barbara

    What a day you have had! I am sending positive thoughts to Grace. Whatever she is going through she will come out the other side stronger. She has a strong family at her back supporting her.

    Wish I was joining you all again, tomorrow. Enjoy.

    Love
    Roz.x

  13. Loved that Jennifer well done that next session came around quick hope you have a good week seeing old friends and making new ones. Would love to join you some time for know ordered tickets for Ally pally on the Sunday so will see you then enjoy what's left of Sunday hugs Joy xxx

  14. Erm…… nobody notice that our queen of crafting hasn't revealed what she was doing yet………
    Well done on your win Jennifer.

    Hi Barbara and the gang……have another marvellous retreat, wish I could be there but have Jury Service this week…….I know for sure that all those that are going will have an excellent time.
    Hugs to all Xxxxxxxxxx

  15. Lovely piece of art for Grace – I'm sure it will cheer her up no end. So sorry to hear she's been through the mill a bit recently and hope that knowing that we are all thinking of her and wishing her the very best will help a little. Well done to Jennifer – hilarious and well deserved winner x

  16. A fabulous canvas Barbara which I'm sure will cheer Grace up and sorry she has been having a bit of a trying time recently. Congratulations to Jennifer and hope the retreat goes well tomorrow. x

  17. Beautiful canvas for your beautiful daughter I'm sure when she spoke to you you will have elevated her fears and made her feel better .life eh .cute wee stamps xxx
    Congratulations Jennifer well deserved enjoy spending your voucher .xxx

    1. Evening dear family of blog friends sending heartfelt hugs to you all and all on the blog xxx
      I had a rough start to the morning had to go back to bed slept till 12pm so rested up then did a little stamping rested again but now in bed .xxx

    2. Hi Sheila,
      Sorry that you got off to a bad start today but hopefully with all the rest you've had today, you will feel better tomorrow. Love and hugs Alison xxx,

    3. Hi Sheila, sorry you had a bad start to the day. I'm back my hols but haven't had a chance to catch up on the last couple of weeks blogs. I hope you have been well.

    4. Sheila, Corfu was lovely – hot, scenic and it was time away from work. We even did a day trip to Albania which is only two miles away as the crow flies. Unfortunately it was a bit of a struggle as husband and I are splitting up. Don't feel sorry for me though as my life will only get better in the long run. I also forgot to mention that Jennifer got her exam results while we were away – 5 A's and a B. Absolutely delighted for her and she was gobsmacked.

    5. Wow Julia you must be so proud of your daughter and she must be so proud of herself too tell her congratulations from me what brilliant results. Pleased you enjoyed your break away .
      Sad about your marriage but sometimes it happens and you go forward with it ,hopefully your clarity orders won't suffer you can always borrow some of mine Sending lots of heartfelt hugs xxx

    6. Thanks Sheila for the offer of a loan of your stash. I have quite a stash myself but I'm sure I'll still manage a little bit for new stuff just not as much as before. Crafting is something I'm not going to give up as it keeps me sane. Jen announced to me today that she needs to get a wee job so she can save up to leave home…and go to uni in a couple of years time. By that time Sarah may well have left home as well so all I'll need is a wee shed at the bottom of someones garden with a bed and a craft table, he he!

    7. Bless you julia like you my crafting is my sanity your two daughters seem very switched on to what they want in life .and you will come through too hugs dear blog friend xxx

  18. Lovely canvas for Grace. Mmm cooked breakfast, Good start to the day. Thank you for putting the designer cards on Facebook they are amazing, I've been sharing them, hoping you'll get even more orders, hope that's ok, well everyone deserves to see them. Could you put them all on the gallery then even people not on Facebook will see them. I'm sure the Retreats this week will go fine. Congratulation Jennifer, liked that one. You haven't yet told us Barbara what you went to London for. Weren't any of us even close? Just going to look what I need to order.xxx

  19. Hi to all my lovely blog friends, hope you've had the sunshine and have had a good day. We've had cloud nearly all day but it's been warm. The sun came out early evening then we had a beautiful clear sky. xxx

    1. Hi Pam,
      We haven't had sunshine today, in fact it's been quite chilly. So much so that at the moment Scamp is curled up tight in her basket in front of the fire – I think dropping a subtle hint that she would like it switched on! I think she's going to be unlucky as I'll be off to bed soon and Dave wouldn't dream of putting the fire on! Love and hugs Alison xxx

  20. That is a lovely piece for Grace, I'm sure it will cheer her up no end. I'm back from my summer hols but haven't had a chance to catch up on all of the blogs. I hope I haven't missed anything.

  21. Well done Jennifer wonderful idea. We managed to have a BBQ today, not very warm but ok. I hope Grace will be ok hard when as parents we can no longer put everything right for our children. Finally it is my turn for retreat, so looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us. Maggie Craner has made sure I have not seen anything she has done but tells me I am going to enjoy. See you Wednesday. x

  22. Hi bloggy friends, hope everyone is well today. Need to catch up and read all the comments from yesterday and today…….probably in the morning. Had a fun time in London yesterday. Xx

    1. Hi Donna,
      Glad you had a good time in London. Did you find all of the dream jars? It's such good fun trying to find them isn't it and a great way to see London. Dave and I did the Paddington Bear one a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. Love and hugs to you and Phoebe xxx

  23. Hi friends in blog land. I too am so looking forward to the last Retreat next week – my first one. No-one is letting on what to expect though!!!!! I've bought a new apron anyway just in case!!!!! Love to our Grace – I hope whatever has been troubling her will soon go away.

  24. Hi Barbara
    What a beautiful canvas, Grace will love it. I'm sorry to hear she is having a tough time at the moment, you must be hurting too with her being so far away and not able to give her a hug. She's a strong beautiful woman so will come out the other side a better person. Well I wonder what you were up to then!! Congratulations Jennifer, love your suggestion. Take care
    Love Diane xxx

    1. Hello my lovely friends, I'm very late tonight, been to my sisters for a BBQ, it was lovely to relax and have a catch up. Hope everyone is ok. Sending hugs all round xxx

  25. Hello Barb, hope Grace is getting on ok now. I think your little canvas will be a real boost for her, it is lovely. Looks like your retreats have brought the good weather. Take care, hope it alll goes well. Bx

  26. Morning Barbara, Wow !! we are second in the Table for medals at the Olympics, fantastic !!
    This is fabulous, Grace will love this.
    Congratulations to Jennifer.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

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