Hi there!

Thanks for popping in. Sunny day here in the South East. Crowborough, East Sussex, to be more precise. It was fresh early doors this morning, but once the sun came out to play, it started warming up nicely. What about you? Where are you, and what’s the weather forecast? Leave a post below, tell us your whereabouts, look out the window, then tell us what it’s doing outside! It’s just interesting for all of us to know where your world is located, and what the skies are like above you. Surely I don’t have to bribe you with blog candy, with a gift voucher, to open up and share a little? Or do I? Let’s just be friends here, let’s start a dialogue about the weather – that is, after all, what we Brits always talk about!

Society has become so transactional nowadays, that we sometimes forget the niceties, we neglect relational interaction. There was a time you’d sit at the bus stop or on a train, and you’d tell your life story to a stranger – or listen to somebody else’s! Nowadays we are mostly heads down, staring at a screen, and conversing with somebody somewhere else. Not everybody. Just the majority.

Relational? Transactional? These are long words for a Sunday morning! Definition and difference please:

Simply put, being transactional means one expects something in return for any contribution. If there is no reward, then the contribution is not provided. It’s that “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Relational, on the other hand, means one is willing to contribute without reward, but for mutual benefit. All very wordy, but I’m sure you get what I’m saying. I so often hear people bemoaning the fact that folks aren’t just plain helpful or friendly any longer. But it is so easy to mirror how we are see the world, isn’t it? We’re here to buck the trend, friends!!

I think one of the best things about Clarity is the Design Teams. Do you know, they don’t receive any monetary payment for all their amazing work. Of course, they have an enviable stash of craft materials, because we are very generous in that regard, and they need all the gear to make their fabulous artwork! win – win! But think about the amount of time and energy they invest in us all, every single week, month. How unstintingly they make all that artwork for us, for the TV shows, for the weekend blog. Then think about how often they help with advice and encouragement on our Facebook pages. What I’m saying is, they do far, far more for Clarity and the community than I would ever dare expect or hope for – and I am so grateful that they do. Not only because their hard work helps us immensely in executing our jobs; the fact that they are so invested in us as a team makes my heart sing. Do you get what I mean? It’s the love and loyalty that I value so immensely. And many of them – both on the Groovi team AND the inky team – have been with me for many, many years. We are blessed. The proof is in the pudding. They must enjoy being part of the team too, eh?!

Quote for today?

“We are much greater than the sum of our parts”

Anyway, enough rumination. Let’s talk WORDS! #madeinmay. I made a crossword for you today. Just for fun. I thought you might enjoy it. Just for fun. You can download it at the bottom if you’d like to have a bash. I’ll post the answers mid-week for you xxx

Across

2. A synthetic paper perfect for use with alcohol ink

5. A permanent, waterproof ink pad

6. Rubber roller used to spread ink or paint

8. One of our latest papers – Just my cup of tea!

9. In which month do the Clarity Open Days fall?

14. Our Designer Paper named after an Italian region

15. Claritycrafts is based in this town

16. An embossing/watermark ink pad

18. T is for —– in our Floral Alphabet

19. How many Clarity Clubs are there?

Down

1. A lovely light blue archival ink pad

3. A colour you get if you mix red with yellow

4. Monoprinting but with out the press!

6. The thing you use to burnish the back of a print

7. What we call shape-dies of different sizes that sit within each other

10. Barb’s favourite Ink Pad brand

11. The SHAC: Safe Happy and ________?

12. Special fineline black pens Barb uses all the time

13. The catchy word we use for small stamps

17. A range of Claritystamps, designed to Keep It Simple

18. How many metres on a Clarity Roll-a-Tape Runner

I’ve had such a good day today! Just brilliant. Friends round for breakfast, then pottery in the sunhsine. Had a major breakthrough on the wheel, which is very excitiing. Threw 9 bowls, all well, and they’re about twice the size I usually manage! I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow! I also loaded up the kiln for a bisque firing, and ran a couple of new low-temperature glaze experiments – just for fun.

Have a great evening. And I’ll see you in the SHAC tomorrow morning at 10. We shall be turning those hippy chicks into some cool cards !

Love always

Barb x x x