This too shall pass.
Hi there –
Thanks you so much for watching our Clarity TV shows today at 10am and 2pm! If you missed them, they are available for you to watch in the Catch-up section on our website HERE and Youtube Channel HERE
We’re getting into the swing of the New Order of things at Clarity. And I have to say, there is a cheerful atmosphere at work. I am certainly enjoying my work life much better now; I think we all are. I had had enough of chasing up and down the M11 most weeks, and staying at the hotel next to Peterborough Services. Gutty. We did it because it was necessary, but it was gutty. Call it what you want: Create & Craft/Hochanda/The Craft Store – It’s still the same building, and it’s still a long way away from home!
Our Clarity Social TV is gaining momentum too. Slowly gradually, the number of viewers is growing. The general consensus is positive, and I am quietly optimistic that – by jingo! We can make this work. Now wouldn‘t that be brilliant. We will do whatever is needed to keep Clarity going – of course we will! But oh how sweet is this freedom.
In the 2pm show today, I had prepped a little teabag Mini-Make, but didn’t get to demonstrate it…
It’s pretty straight forward, but I do want to shine a light on the sentiments:
This too shall pass, and
Sometimes in the winds of change we find our true destination.
Ironic? Certainly very poignant. here’s the little stamp set £6.99 HERE
I do enjoy artwork which carries a meaning, don’t you?
Maybe you watched the show to the end, and saw the Castle mask demo?
You see, I picked the castle mask to go with LOVE CONQUERS ALL quote, because that word conquer has a sense of force or power doesn’t it? And a castle also reflects strength and power, doesn’t it? But I was trying to say that we don’t need a fortress. LOVE conquers all.
A bit obscure I guess, but I hope you get it. If you watch the last twenty minutes of the 2pm show, you can see how the masks are used.
Time for me to kick back now. Long week. But it’s the first time in a long time I have been genuinely calm and happy at work.
Like I said earlier this week. Perhaps finally turning the page on last year, closing that C&C door, has helped. You see, it’s not just about accepting that we were conned and cheated by people who masqueraded as our friends for years. No. The important thing is to learn from it, shut the gates, bolt them tight – and pull up the drawbridge. They apparently get to roll the dice again, but without us, and more importantly, we get to move forward without them and their ruthless approach to business.
THAT WAS THEN. And this is NOW.
Have a great weekend! Make something! Tomorrow, I will announce the winner of the Limerick Competition. You do make me laugh.
Love always
Barb x x x
52 thoughts on “This too shall pass.”
Great shows today. You and Paul make great Selly Telly presenters too. Love the banter and giggling between you . Glad you now feel happier at work. You certainly have looked more relaxed, it shows in your face and smile reaches your eyes . Onwards and upwards with all you do. Enjoy your weekend xx
Thanks Maureen xxx
Glad you are not getting caught up with the latest Craft Store incarnation. Clarity Social TV is a big improvement on ‘Selly telly’ and I love the direction you are going in with the collaboration with Janice. Onwards and upwards.
Exactly. Thanks Sarah!!! Xxxx
I certainly 2nd Sarah’s sentiments. Onwards and upwards,and think the Janice Timestamp collaboration is brilliant. We certainly love Clarity Social TV.xx
Thanks Tina xxx
Loved your shows today, I love Clarity TV it’s such an inspiring way of showing how to use the products you make. Love it love it love it. Well done you and your team are doing a terrific job
Well thank you Sue!!
Clarity TV is so much better. Seeing the product getting to see demonstrations without the constant interruptions so much better for us the consumers and you the seller. This is defiantly the way to go. Love the collaboration between you and Janice the stamps are fabulous it’s also so good to see you so relaxed .❤
Thank you for the encouragement ! X
It’s fab you are enjoying Clarity TV and we are certainly enjoying watching.
I bet you don’t miss the journey – travelling and staying away from home can be exhausting! May the clarity family continue to grow – I’m sure it will- and with all the new innovations its onwards and upwards!
Thanks Sonia. I hope you are feeling better? It’s been too long! Xx
We are loving the smelly telly and are so very glad that you are feeling better about life. It’s showing. And we just love your humour
Fantastic shows again today. Thrilled to see Paul and you laughing, smiling and appears you are having fun again. So many times throughout the shows I was laughing with happy tears (just like Paul). The banter between the two of you and how you finish each others sentences is the very best. After watching, learning, laughing and being inspired with Clarity it is always the best time spent. I always feel like I am part of a family.
The demo’s were so inspiration – WOW, the castle mask demo – what a powerful and inspiring project. The sentiment created by Jazz is perfect – words to remember.
Very impressive after an incredibly hard last year after the C&C situation what the Clarity Team has done. All your incredibly hard work, long hours, dealing with all the understandable emotions and more – what the Team have created is the absolute best – Social TV, , continuing the Shac, Groovi Tuesday and all the other creative online events you host.
So exciting to watch the show with Barbara and Janice. It was fantastic to hear how the Clarity Team worked together to build the Timestamp brand, associated packing, the most incredible stamps created from photo’s.
It would be the most remarkable experience to be a fly on the wall when the Clarity Team are in the boardroom sharing ideas, coming up with new ideas, brainstorming, etc, etc.
Wishing the Clarity Team some r&r this weekend.
Thank you for such words of encouragement Marilyn! Xxx
Last year after being involved in something for 24 years, the rug was pulled from under me and I walked away. Always hard when you realise that “friends” aren’t always what they seem. It was a shock and deeply hurtful, but I’ve moved on. Watching his Clarity cope with the downfall of C& C spurred me on even more and gave me the push to move on. A truly inspirational company! Thank you x
Well I hope that you are ok now too, Jan. Xxx
Enjoyed today’s shows! Even though I’m a parcher at heart , I do enjoy watching your stamping demos! I am in the stamp club so I do have a little go sometimes.
Glad to hear you’re feeling happier about work!!
I really am. Can’t remember a time when I actually looked forward to a TV show!! But nowadays I really do. I love working with Paul; he gets me xxx
Loved the shows today, had to catch up on the 2pm much later as a visitor arrived just as it started. The banter between you and Paul is a joy to see and the atmosphere is so relaxed it is a pleasure to watch.
It’s great that you are supporting Janice and her stamps and I look forward to the launch.
My stamp pens and mini make stamps arrived this morning so I’ve had a play with them and am impressed. Can thoroughly recommend them to anyone who may be hesitating.
It has been a great start to 2025, long may it continue.
Have a good weekend.
Thanks Cherry! I always enjoy your posts here xx
I really enjoyed todays shows, as with all the Clarity tv shows, they are brilliant, although I still need to catch up with a few. It’s something I look forward to. It was great to see you and Janice yesterday, Janice’s stamps look great, so pleased that you are supporting her. Have a lovely weekend, hope all goes well with the dentist visit. xx
Thanks Janine! Have a great weekend! X
Surely C & C have not started up under another name —–OMG!!!!!! All trust gone in them and much gained by you – so glato hear about all the new things you are doing now – all looks so interesting so catching up in between packing for house move! Love to all at Clarity/
Good luck with the house move Colette! It will be lovely when it’s all in. Xxx
So glad to hear that you have finally shut that door and can now be true to yourself. Your TV shows are great and the downloads a real bonus. Yes you have a wonky camera that won’t always behave but at least you have one from the very first Shac days unlike some others who are still trying to use mobile phones. Onwards and upwards with vigour my dear friend xxxx
Backatcha my dear friend . Let’s make this year a good one Bev xxxx
Much prefer your telly ! Leave the rest behind onwards and upwards, I did see there was going to be an announcement but haven’t seen what it is. Must make sense to drop the middle man if you can and especially that drive and overnight stay. Have a good weekend, I guess it might be too chilly for pottery? Hope your Mum is ok. Xx
Thanks for always having our back, Jackie xxxx
Love the way Clarity have evolved to make the very best of what to most was an unexpected situation. The ability for us to chat amongst ourselves or ask questions whilst you are demonstrating is great but also love the banter/laughter between you & Paul- the Clarity family is growing fast as is shown by the number of people who have joined the new mini makes FB page & taking part in the ATC &/or PTC. Long may it continue xx
Thanks Sue, for your unstinting support xxxxx I see you so so caring and helpful x
Haven’t caught up with the shows yet but I have seen the lovely stamp collaboration with Janice , how cool are they?
I love how Clarity shows with you and Paul are being received and glad that the days of trekking for miles are in the past for you. Can’t believe those rotters are reinventing themselves, my OH was made redundant (first he knew about it was when his pay cheque bounced) and we later discovered they had been quietly moving assets to a new company for months. Some people have no shame.
It’s a wicked world Karen. Travel gently xxx
Full of admiration for you Barbara. You were dealt a huge blow last year but you “turned it around” instead of feeling sorry for yourself. I’m so glad you don’t have to travel up and down the M11 anymore. All that time spent, and all that fuel! It must have been exhausting. Onwards and upwards from now on . Clarity tv is so much nicer to watch . Hope you get some R&R this weekend xx
Thanks Liz! Time to do some housework for me. Way too cold for pottery! Xxxyou too xx
enjoy watching shows, usually on catch up. love all Clarity, your craft stash, your demos, hints and tips, inspiration. thanks for all everyone does to keep us crafting
Thanks, Barbara. It’s enjoyable at this end too nowadays xxx
Hello Barb, I loved the shows with you and Paul, the interaction between you makes me laugh and smile. I am so pleased that you, Dave and the whole Clarity team are showing the big Sharks, what the little minnows can achieve. I think that you have a faithful following, people who would rather stay with you, watch shows that really inspire us, and pay the money directly to a smaller family run company, rather than big corporates. The collaboration with Janice is amazing, I love the range of stamps and will be on the lookout for the release news. I love the shows, and go back often to watch some of my favourites. Keep it up, I will certainly continue supporting you as much as I can. Stay warm everyone. Bx
Thank you so much Bridget! And yes. We just have to stay in our lane. xxx
So glad you’re feeling happier with your still fairly new independent situation at Clarity. I think your shows are so much better than the old TV ones. More crafting information and a better “feel”. I really enjoy them and your inspiring ideas. They way you’ve turned a nasty situation around and it’s working is a real example for us all. Thank you.x
Thank you for the encouragement, Catriona! It is what it is. It’ll all work out in the end. Just as it is supposed to. x x x
It’s great to hear everything is going so well, I don’t watch a lot of telly but it’s great to see you looking so well, I don’t know how you coped with all the travelling. I only watched create and craft a few times but it was where I discovered Clarity last January .
Last year I made a concertina card for my daughter full of little pictures of things she loved with the lovely M from the flower alphabet on the front. I just thought I could make something similar for our new grandchild, due in March, I’ll search the Clarity website for some suitable baby stamps, how exciting.
I would just like to say thank you for the club stencil I think it’s my second one and it’s absolutely beautiful ,I was quite taken aback when I opened it and all the lovely ideas in the booklet should keep me entertained for quite a while.
Enjoy your weekend ,I have to pack up the kitchen ours is being replaced starting on Monday, unfortunately a lot of flooring also has to be replaced. You would think buying an 11 year old house it would have been built properly but no whoever passed the building regulations was incompetent and apparently we wouldn’t win a fight against the local council, so unfortunately an expense we didn’t expect. As you say you just have to move on ,life is too short to stay angry and I have plenty to look forward to. Xx
That’s frustrating about your kitchen, Sarah! But nothing that money and time won’t sort out. Like our situation: Money and Time – and a cool head. No point in losing your rag – it won’t make a blind bit of difference to the floor ! xxx
I can’t believe that those people aka b…… are allowed to start again.
Looks like Crafters Companion is in a bit of trouble too (if I’m reading it right).
It’s brilliant how you are managing (by hard work, long hours and clear thinking) the storm created by others and that you are so obviously enjoying the freedom that the severed ties have given you.
I’m loving the Clarity TV shows: you and Paul are naturals and your friendship and respect for each other is evident.
My dilemma: do I go down the stamping route for 2025? Have never been very good at it despite that’s where it all started on my Clarity journey; I’m a much better parcher but I love the artwork you demonstrate.
Hopefully this quandary may soon pass.
Well how about a little variety, Lynn? You know what they say about variety and spice… x x x
Hi Barbara, love watching Clarity TV. You and Paul are a great double act, it is so much better than C&C. No interruptions, more demonstrations and inspiration. Be assured that your Clarity family will always support you. Keep doing what you are doing, love Margaret xxx
Thanks, Margaret xxx
Clarity Social TV is an absolute winner! It’s full of all the Clarity ethos and values, which makes it so enjoyable to watch – you and Paul are a great team and so looking forward to seeing what the new collaboration with Janice brings!
It’s so good to hear you talk about how much better you are feeling about life – I think 2025 is going to be a great year for Clarity xx
Thanks Deb. Let’s hope it’s a good year for all of us. And thank you so much for all you do for Clarity xxxx
So pleased you are feeling better Barbara its been a tough time for you, l love your shows, stamping and parchment and don’t watch any other shows now,
I found you on C & C and now my Dave is surrounded by Clarity stuff, my house lookes like one of those horders places, where you have to wade your way through, I have to hope the mail man comes when Dave has taken the dog out. Ha Ha. Well take care and love to all the Clarity team.
Janet Cummings xx
Delighted to hear you are enjoying Clarity! I’m the same about my pottery stash!! xxx
Lovely demos, really enjoying the Clarity TV shows.
Needed to make some cards quickly this afternoon – thank goodness for Clarity dies and Monet postcards/old calendar!