Hi there

Thanks for popping in. Only two more sleeps before we celebrate our BIG 30 ! We’ve got some fabulous new stamp and Groovi plate designs lined up to tickled your fancy, and I hope there will be something there for you! From cool penguins, beautiful baubles and wreaths to fantastic lino cuts and super free gifts with purchase – there’s bound to be something to get your creative juices flowing. Paul and I are teaming up for this one too, so a job shared with a friend.

I spent the day at Clarity Towers today. Several meetings and official stuff today. Plus some forward planning. There’s never a dull moment here! Sue and I packed 2 huge boxes of wonderful soft and beautiful toys, and superb things so many of you kindly made and donated for our Pat & Bill’s shoebox Charity. My oh my. So much loveliness and generosity. AND SKILL!!! There wasn’t a single thing we couldn’t send. Everything was absolutely perfect for the Charity. Brilliant job, dear Team Clarity!! Sue put it well: ‘There is so much goodness in the world Barb’, she said. I shed a few tears, I must be honest. The kindness was overwhelming.

Wurka and Hollick were back to their old tricks, causing consternation and angst just before the Big Weekend. But worry not! They were evicted before they could get comfy today.

Tomorrow it’s time to clean my artroom up. It has erupted!

It doesn’t look any better backstage, behind the cameras either..

A mop up and general put away is what my head needs.

That’s it. I think if I put stuff away where it belongs, and push the hoover round, it will make me feel calmer. I can’t leave it like this! If a burglar broke in, he’d think someone had beaten him to it!!

I enjoy a tidy workspace. It clears my head. Just long enough to get creative and messy again. But if the chaos is perpetual, then I lose my way. No no. A clean workspace is no bad thing at the start of a day.

Clean your space, clear your mind.

I don’t think I’m the only one who gets a sense of calm when I’ve cleaned my space. Whether it be the kitchen, the bedroom or the artroom. I’m talking about controlling the controllable I suppose! Decluttering the head. I think of cleaning more as a ritual than a chore. In this mental world we live in, we all need a safe space, a quiet space, a serene space. Where’s yours? Mine is actually in my pottery studio. And actually, I always clean that space religiously when I finish a session. Never leave the wheel dirty. Always wash it, clean the tools and wipe the surfaces down. There’s nothing like walking into a clean pottery studio, then putting on your apron to begin your work. Like crawling upstairs at the end of the day to a bed all lovely and made, fresh linen with plumped up pillows, nightie laid out and cinched at the waist, rose petals and chocolates on the pillow. Hahaha. Now you’ve gone too far, Gray!!

There was a time in my life, many years ago, BC (Before Clarity), when I nearly always got into an unmade bed, and never had anything in the fridge except a bottle of wine and a lump of cheese. Smoked like a chimney, drank like a fish and worked like a Trojan.

Now I just work like a Trojan. But the bed is ALWAYS made.

Love always,

Barb x x x