Craft-along-a-Barbie – Part 2

Craft-along-a-Barbie – Part 2

Hi there

Thanks for popping in.

How has your day been? Have you enjoyed it? I have.! Mind you, it got off to a very shaky start. Cannot tell you why I get so anxious and fearful – but it seems to kick in in the wee small hours, when I wake up. The head hooks into something, starts gnawing at it, then starts whizzing, starts projecting and picking up momentum. By 5am I may as well get up, because lying there panicking in the dark just serves no purpose. All the rationalizing in the world doesn’t slow the head down, does it?

Only one thing for it: get out of your head Gray – and get with your hands. Which is precisely what I did. By the time the SHAC party and 10am rolled round I was feeling just dandy. A couple of hours of doodling whatever, scrolls actually, and the demons were dispelled. In fact, I thoroughly enjoyed the SHAC this morning. Real nostalia trip!

The mind is a minefield, isn’t it? It really is.

Went to our pottery class this afternoon. That was great too. Even though I have an all singing all dancing pottery studio at home, the classes are still very important. I see loads, learn loads, and most importantly, I really like the group. Smashing bunch of ladies. Oh. And I love the teacher! She is my kind of woman, if you know what I mean.

Still watching and waiting before we make a call on the Clarity Summer Retreats in August. WE HAVE TO BE SAFE, and it is too early to know. We are going ahead with the October Parchment Retreat, because we reckon by then it will be SAFE, but August is not that far away, and once again i repeat: WE HAVE TO BE SAFE. Bear with us while we watch and wait.

So all that remains this evening, is for me to chat to my bloggy friends here, tell them about our VIRTUAL get together next week – and then I can SLOW DOWN!

That’s it, you see. From the minute the first Covid Lockdown happened last March, the only really SAFE thing we could do was craft together in the SHAC-SHACK every morning, and then later in the Moment of Clarity Sessions. It may not be the real deal, but it’s better than nothing. And what’s more, It’s 100% SAFE.

Craft-along-a-Barbie – Session No. 2

Remember our Moment of Clarity last Friday? It was a real back to basics stamping session. Well, next week, on Wednesday 2nd June at 7pm on Facebook Live I thought it would be fun to ramp it up a bit and have another crafty session together, using those wonderful Linocut Stamps of ours again.

All of the bits and pieces you will need are all in one place over on the Clarity website HERE

Apart from the stamps, you will need the Triptych Frames

a selection of Distress Oxide ink pads (on Special Offer)

a spritzer bottle

some Spot-on sponges

If you missed the first part, you can watch it here

and don’t forget we have an amazing Offer of the Week – available HERE

and our W.I.G.I.G – available HERE

I think that’s all I want to share with you today. I am going to try again to write this ere blog early in the mornings. I do flag in the afternoons nowadays! Must be an age thing. Or could it be the early morning starts?! Perhaps a bit of both…

In the words of Simon and Garfunkel…

Slow Down! You move too fast. You Gotta to make the morning last!

Stay safe.

Love always

Barb xxx

15 thoughts on “Craft-along-a-Barbie – Part 2

  1. Hi Barbara I too have days where I can’t sleep and my head is doing over time. Distraction is the only thing that works. I do love Simon and Garfunkel. Have a good evening. Take care. Hugs xxx

  2. Loved the SHAC SHACK this morning and was so pleased that we were travelling gently with the banners. I am so happy for you Barbara, that Grace has booked her flight home, it will be a wonderful reunion and will be here before you know it!
    Once again, can only Thank You and your team for the SHAC, Groovi Tuesday & Moment of Clarity, a wonderful way to stay SAFE but connected with like minded people. Due to ongoing health issues they have all been invaluable to me during the most surreal time since March 2020.
    Take care, keep safe everyone

  3. We have had a good day, been out for coffee with our eldest granddaughter and a bit of shopping. First time for months. It was lovely to treat her and spend time with her. Got back home to a call to say workmen are coming tomorrow to start our drive extension will be glad to get it done .
    I think you are right to wait before deciding on Summer retreats. I have booked hotel but on basis that I can cancel free of charge. We still have to be very careful. Like you with pottery class ,workshops are just a lovely chance to be with like minded people. X X

  4. Like you I have a whizzy head from time to time but with me it’s as soon as I put the light out at night. I lay awake till around 4-5am fall asleep, then get woken up suddenly by a nightmare or hubby who is on the bounce and raring to be up and about. OK for him, he sleeps all afternoon!!!!
    Found a lovely new hairdresser at last, the place is spotless, so feeling good after our session today. The discussion in the salon was how safe we really feel about going out. The concensus was not that we fear going out, it is that not all people are being careful or considerate. We are going to carry on as we have been for the last 18 months, staying safe and Covid free.
    Clarity has been a life saver for me, wouldn’t be without it. I hope all your events are able to go ahead later this year. I’m just sorry we will not be able to book any for the forseeable future as we are not able to travel far.
    You must be overjoyed that Grace is going to be with you soon. Will Mark be coming too? What a reunion that would be.
    Sending virtual hugs. Stay safe.

  5. Enjoyed the SHAC SHAC this morning. Sometimes it’s a relief to have a one session project.
    Personally I don’t expect to feel totally safe any time this year. I accept that having had vaccinations and by minimising contact I can feel safer than last year. But it’s not a very stable feeling as it depends on the behaviour of others.
    Looking forward to your Linocut stamps tv programs and Moment of Clarity part 2.

  6. Watched on catch up, loved the scrolls. So happy for you that you’ll have some time with Grace.Lovely to share your memories and to see “proper” photos. Will be able to join you live on Monday. So pleased that you want to carry on with the Shac it is a life saver for so many of us and helps to keep the worries and fears at bay. Thank you so much

  7. Like many others although I have had both vaccinations am fully aware that covid is still out there. Hate the thought of going into shops and at the moment am worried because my granddaughter is coming home from Liverpool for a few days and has not yet been vaccinated as she is only 27. Like you these thoughts wake me early in the morning and the only thing to do is get up and doodle.

  8. The shac shack is great love watching you doodle while I colour in 😊 xxx
    Loving the lino stamps they look great on gelli plate backgrounds my friend and.me have being playing at her house with the gelli plate,acrylic paints and stencils
    Hugs xxx take care

  9. I felt the same today and was awake in the middle of the night. Some of it worry over 6yr old grandson who had an op last Friday and is going for check up tomorrow. Fingers crossed all is well now. Have missed the Shack this week as been making family are all ok. Hope can get back to it soon. Good to craft to switch off but that will have to wait a few days as I’m making a Star Wars cake tomorrow ready for my daughters 30th birthday on Saturday. Got my 2nd jab tomorrow too. All go here 😂. Take care everyone xxx

  10. Hello Barbara
    Sorry to hear you had a ‘washing machine’ head earlier today but glad to hear you managed to get it under control.
    I have everything crossed for August. Like Lynne Bishop the hotel is booked just in case. Really looking forward to getting together and seeing everybody.
    Love
    Roz.xxx

  11. Hello Barb, I know exactly where you are coming from, and glad to hear that getting crafty helped calm the spinning down. I know that a lot of us are wondering how we would have coped without the Shac-Shac, and Moments of Clarity, it is like being in a safe creative bubble, so thank you for all you do. So glad you got out to your pottery class, nothing like being with people of the same fabric and determination. Take care and stay safe everyone. Bx

  12. Looking forward to part 2. Have given in and ordered the stamps! I love them. I really must not buy anything else for a while……. p
    Sorry you get washing machine head Barbara, but pleased you have ways of coping and getting back on track. Take care

  13. Struggling at the moment as my husband had a heart attack on Monday and it was a blue light job from one hospital to another finally arriving in Q&A Portsmouth where he had a stent inserted and being diabetic his heart is apparently not great and it’s to heal after the attack before they can do a bypass op. Life can just turn upside down in a flash. NHS brilliant treatment so I know what you mean lying awake in the dark with all sorts flashing around! So will catch up later on this weeks Shac Shack

  14. I too, am so grateful for Barbara’s video’s. I can’t partake in the drawing lessons due to chronic arthritis including my hands. But, I do love watching them, & A Moment of Clarity has been a revelation for me. Owing to very serious heart disease I have mostly been shielding for the past 15 months, & crafting has been a lifesaver.
    I’m not scared of going out, but, it’s the idiots that ignore the rules that infuriate me!
    So, I will go out when I have to & continue to wear my mask.
    Thank you so much Barbara & the team!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *