Hi there

Busy day at Clarity Towers today. Had a good meeting with the team, and ticked a load of boxes. Since we are launching brand new, really REALLY useful stamps designed by Jazz, and a new game-changer product this Sunday (invented and made almost entirely by Dave), there is a lot to consider!

• Production,
• Product assembly,
• Packaging,
• Printing,
• Pricing,
• Promotion,
• Photography,
• Presentation

…Like I said, there is a whole can of P’s for a 2-hour TV show! But I am really looking forward to showing you what we’ve come up with. I hope you can join Paul and myself on Sunday 5th January 3-5pm.

I have been thinking about getting into parchment art a little more this year too. I can do it, I know how it works, but I really haven’t had the time to enjoy it in the past, because of P for Pressure at work! But I was at Mum’s the other day, and there, on her dining-room table, was something I made for her yonks ago. So I took a photo of it, to show you, because I remember being so chuffed with it. And here’s the thing: Mum uses it every single day.

Such a simple thing really. A little coaster. No colour either. Just a load of dragonflies and a little whitework – the easy dots that I love doing! I remember making it in such a way – placing the dragonflies in such a way – that it gave me loads of picot cutting opportunities. Anyway, I thought perhaps we could get together one evening, and make one of these coasters together. Would you fancy that? Whether you’re a parcher or not, this is a lovely technique to learn.

Here’s what I used, Tina’s Doodle Flowers – although you just need any shape design that is not too intricate to cut out. See the dragonfly, bottom left? CLICK HERE

But you can use ANY design! It just has to be small enough to be used several times inside a 4×4 inch square (aka Coaster) CLICK HERE.

Anyway, how about a little parchy craftalong one evening soon? 15th January is the week after next. That’s a Wednesday evening. 7pm sound good? Nothing formal, just a casual sweatshirt and slippers affair 😂😂😂😂. But if we plan it for the 15th, that gives you time to order anything you might need, and for us to get it sent to you.

A Starter Kit really is key.

If you want to get into picot cutting, then you need scissors, a two-needle bold tool , or a two-needle fine tool (if you want to go more delicate and advanced) and black super foam. I have to say, the Groovi Guard is a must have too, when you’re doing this picot cutting in between the lines.

If you are going to use the Dragonfly, just like I did, that plate is an A6. So you need a spacer to use the Plate Mate in the Starter Kit. Spacers agogo on the website! It’s the £4.50 ones that work with A6 plates. See this one here? The Butterflies on this little spacer would work great for the coaster too. And it’s only £4.50. Maybe I’ll try this instead. You decide what you want to use anyway. The process will be the same.

Like I said yesterday, if we set ourselves little creative tasks like this one every day, maybe switch it up a bit, sometimes ink, sometimes groovi, sometimes sewing – etc etc etc. – I know I will feel better for it. Think of somebody you’d like to make a coaster for. We don’t have to include the name if it’s long. But it is always nice to make a gift for a special someone.

Reading the messages from you yesterday, clearly I’m not the only one who has lost their mojo. So. let’s tackle it together. I will come up with lots of easy, fun, useful projects for you to try. Put this one in the diary xxx WEDNESDAY 14th January, 7pm. It will take a couple of hours.

One more thing: this kind of cutting practice will come in really handy. And when we launch the new collection of Riche Lieu Lace plates by Linda Williams, YOU WILL BE SO HAPPY! That’s why I want to get my eye in again! I HAVE TO MAKE RICHE LIEU LACE !! You will understand later on in the month…

Love always,

Barb x x x