Life. It turns on a Sixpence…
Hi there
Life turns on a sixpence, as my Dad always used to say. One minute you’re all set and ready to go live on HobbyMaker TV, just about to get your best top on and put your lippy on. The next, you feel like somebody’s punched you really REALLY hard in the sternum, you’re seeing stars, and you have to lie down on the floor before you fall down. That’s what happened Wednesday.
Two things to add to the moment:
- The Management Team at HobbyMaker. Absolutely brilliant. Big shout out for Scott, Liam and Catt. They were so kind and caring. It was all a bit overwhelming as you can imagine. The Show must go on Vs I am going to throw up. But the minute I took a funny turn, they were all 100% about my welfare. Which confirmed that we have definitely hitched our Clarity Waggon to the right TV channel this time.
- Dave. Thank goodness Dave drove me up there that day. I had been taking myself up to Hobbymaker, just because it’s a day wasted for anybody who drives me. Like I need a minder! (clearly I do !!). But this time Dave insisted. Only because it’s a long way there and back in one day, plus the shows, of course. Anyway, it felt safe. I knew I was safe.
Long story short, we’ve spent a lot of time at the Hospital since then, trying to get to the bottom of it. It’s a process of elimination now. We’ve narrowed it down to gallstones and a pretty acute liver infection. More will be revealed.
The power of hindsight tells me, once again, that I ignored the symptoms. I’ve been complaining about back ache since we got back from the States. Put it down to a very uncomfortable plane ride; must have twisted something. Now I find out that back ache is a symptom! See?? The body was trying to tell me again, that something was wrong! But did I listen? Nope. Now that I think about it, there were plenty of other indicators too, that there was something wrong. But you just keep going, don’t you. Until the scales are tipped, and the body says,
“Right, Missus. You keep ignoring my messages. Try and ignore this one!”. Thwap. 🥊
Feeling better today; have to be back at the hospital on Monday. So that’s the SHAC cancelled. Sorry. But Paul kindly said he’ll cover, and do another End-of Special-Offer-Demo-Show. Please tune in and support.
I had so many demos lined up for Wednesday, too! So I’ve mothballed the HobbyMaker show, and am going to try again on September 24th. Will remind you nearer the time.
Here’s a quickie demo that I had lined up, using the castle mask set from the Scenescapes pack of masks.
Here goes…
- Pick an acrylic paint scrap. If you did my workshop in Ditton last week, you have plenty of these!
2. Cut it down to postcard size and place the castle mask.
3. Cover up the upper area of the painty scrap with copy paper.
4. Now we can begin with the inking. Use one of our Clarity brushes to brush Archival Sepia down into the castle area.. Sweep in off the mask. Once you have done a light coat with the brush, use a Spot on Sponge to pull in more Sepia, and sharpen the outline.
5. Now for the shadows on the castle wall. Use a sponge and black Archival ink. Use a piece of copy paper to add turret shadows.
The reason we’re using Archival, permanent ink rather than dye based or water based inks, is because we are working on an acrylic background. You can wipe any water based inks straight off an acrylic surface.
6. Once you’ve done all the turret shadows you think this castle needs, gently peel away the mask, and replace on wax paper or its own carrier sheet for next time.
7. Add a few windows with grey and cream Polychromos from out set of 12. Done.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times: pound for pound, hour for hour, these mask sets are amazing. The amount of potential creative play locked in this set alone is crazy. CLICK HERE
Tell you what else is crazy. That we have had to temporarily stop selling online to our customers in the USA, because of the US tariffs, and the De Minimis exemption being ended as of today. Put simply, up until now, anything under $800 was tax-free. Now Everything is taxable. We are working on a solution on the website, but it’s not an easy fix. As if it weren’t hard enough to steer a business through these turbulent times! Honestly, it’s just about enough to make you scweam!!!
This too shall pass…
Love always
Barb x x x
72 thoughts on “Life. It turns on a Sixpence…”
Well it a relief to see this post I’ve been wondering about how you are. Hope that they get to the bottom of it and can get treatment sorted out pretty quickly . Take care of yourself , I know you will find that hard but please do xxxx
Phew Barb me dear, I just knew something was going to happen. I’m so glad Dave had that feeling too and drove you there. Now then, be a good girl and listen to your body and those treating you.
We all love you so much and have been concerned 😟
Lots of love and healing thoughts.❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh Barbara, what a drama! I am hoping that they find and fix the problem very quickly, and rest up in the meantime. I remember when I was a child, my dad had to stop on the hard shoulder of the motorway on our way home from a football game as he had very similar symptoms to you. It was his gallbladder, which had to be removed. How he got us home, I’ll never know. Thinking of you xx
Thankyou for taking
The time to do a blog. We have all been so worried about not.
Am glad you are getting some answers at the hospital and hopefully they will have a plan of how they can help you to get better. But you have to do your part and that is to take it easy.
We will all be here waiting for you when you are better.
thanks to Dave for taking care of you and to all at clarity for all that you do xx
So glad to hear from you. You poor thing! I hope they sort you out so you can feel well again soon. Sending love, hugs and prayers. Xx
Oh poor you Barbara, I hope you are on the mend soon, take care sending love and hugs 😘😘😘
Sending gentle hugs. Look after yourself. Hope they get to the bottom of things and you are on the road to recovery soon.
Hi Barb good to see you posting and really sorry to hear what a terrible time you’ve had. Such a relief that Dave was there and it sounds like Hobbymaker was spot on. Just as well it didn’t happen halfway through your show! Lots of things to be thankful for. Even when we have the signs, we think we’re gonna be okay until someone decides otherwise for our own good. Glad the hospital are investigating well and good luck in getting it sorted out.
Listened to Paul this afternoon while travelling home from Dorset after a lovely week with the kids and dog. When I go up to unpack the suitcase I shall check to see what dies I need or more to the point haven’t got we need them all don’t we?😹
Was greeted by our Mikey and Skye 🐈 the cat next door but one and then in walks Milo the cat from next door and glad to be back amongst them! Always good to be home.
Lots of love and take care now it’s Dave‘s turn to look after you and I bet he does a damn good job xxx
Oh dear Barbara what a shame! Sending hugs to you! I am sure you will get the best treatment! My brother -in -law had the same and he is fine now.
So glad your feeling better Barbara . Very glad to hear that Dave was with you, it must have been very frightening for you. Now you must let the doctors find out what is going on and then listen and do as your told!!!!! Until then please rest.❤
Gall bladder problems are excruciating hubby drove home from Oxford with the problem. To be honest I don’t know how he made it home but add to that a liver infection well, it’s not surprising you’ve been wiped out. Do take care Barb and listen to your body xx
I like others have been worried about you. Let’s hope the gallstones will pass and the liver infection clears; but you have to rest. Here is wishing you a speedy recovery xx
sorry to hear this but hopefully the hospital will get it sorted take time and rest you have a good man Dave looking after you sending hugs
Oh my goodness Barbara
Hope they sort you out soon and get you ‘fixed’.
Lots kid love to you and Dave
So sorry to hear you are poorly. I hope the hospital gets a diagnosis for you real soon. I had gallstones and I can honestly say the pain was worse than labour. So glad you had Dave with you and that the staff at HobbyMaker looked after you. I hope you will soon be fully recovered!
Rest up Barbara. We will be support Paul for sure! Take care much love !
why do we never listen to our bodies! I think we all take our bodies for granted until we get flattened!
Do hope the hospital finds the cause of your problems and can solve it all very soon! now sit back and relax because that what the doctor ordered!!! love the stencil picture! xx
Really hope the hospital get you sorted soon. Please take care of yourself and allow time to recover after any treatment. We are all happy to wait and want you to be fit and not pushing yourself. Xx
Have ‘been there and got the t-shirt’ re those symptoms; it took a year to finally get an ultra scan which revealed my gallbladder was on the point of bursting so brilliant that you got to the hospital and got the diagnosis. Please take things easy and listen to the advice and, of course, your own body. Brilliant that Dave was with you, such a long way. Thanks for the update and posting the demo – you’re a real trooper! You know we will be waiting for the bus to come along patiently whilst the Clarity team pull together and carry on. Shame about the US but know you will Dort that too. Best wishes Carole
Talk about “there’s light at the end of the tunnel, no there’s not, yes there is etc etc”. Clarity has to get a break soon. You are such a helpful, friendly lot I am praying for you all. As for you Barb, rest up and take it easy (I know easier said than done). Your health is the most important here xxxxx
Sorry to hear your news but glad you are on the way to being well again. We will be here when you have recovered…. Avril ❤️. Meanwhile, many thanks for the project.
Dearest Barb,
Rest.
Just rest.
Really hard for someone whose ideas could power a Space Rocket, but you need to be well – for yourself, and for Dave. The Good Ship Clarity is in safe hands
Phew – I’m glad you are seeing straight now!
Lots and lots of love (and tickle the cats from me!)
Maggie (York UK)
I am so sorry to hear how poorly you are at the moment but so pleased that you have been lucky enough to be seen by doctors that are prepared to keep looking to get you a diagnosis and thereby a plan of treatment.
We all do it, don’t we? Ignoring what our bodies are initially gently telling us that something’s not quite right; putting off going to the gp; it’s nothing – it will pass then, wham! Knocked for six.
And why are you apologising for no Shac on Monday? We can all get along without the Shac however much we love it. We all just want you well.
Good luck for Monday’s appointment.
So worried about you Barb! Hope you’re on the mend – we’ll all be waiting for your return when you are 100%! ( BTW – this US customer will not be deterred by the extra tariff/tax!!)
Take care of yourself ! X
Take it easy for a while and hope you will be back to normal soon x
Hi Barb
Glad to hear that you are on the road to recovery, I know I’m not the only one to have been thinking about you and hoping you were ok. Thank heavens for Dave! Now to rest up and get better. Can I recommend watching Gardener’s World, Monty Don has such a calm voice that you can’t help but slow down.
Take care and remember that we Shac people have plenty of Clarity stash to play with until you are better so there’s no rush.
Zara xx
OMG you are in the wars, as everyone has said gallstones are so painful, and if it’s a liver infection, you will have to take things gently and do what the hospital say. Good job Dave was with you, he must have a sixth sense. Do rest up and I hope you feel better very soon. Best Wishes – Ann
Hi Barbara,
Glad you are getting things sorted, I know how you must feel as I had similar episodes that they thought was my heart then a eureka moment by GP … thinking gallstones and they were removed and no problems the last 11 years. Thinking if you take care xx The last 11 years, t
There’s lots of evidence to prove that you’re a workaholic Barbara and although we appreciate you writing an update but we would appreciate so more if you rest until you get your diagnosis and follow the advice the professionals give you. Wishing you a speedy recovery 🙏 ❤️
Thank you for taking the time for your blog to let us know how you are doing. Keep resting and travelling gently, so pleased Dave was with you on Wednesday to take care of you. Love the castle mask demo, will give it a try. Take care, love and gentle hugs. xxx
I love that castle picture – so atmospheric and mysterious!
Take care Barbara – you are in my thoughts and prayers!
Travel gently and hug a Dave and a cat 🐈 XXXXX
Hope you are soon on the mend xx
Lovely to read you are getting sorted……we never learn to listen to our bodies! Hope all goes well on Monday and you MUST take note and get you back to full health. Without your health it’s a struggle even more, you come first this time. Lots of love and hugs xx
Oh Barbara, what a shock you all got!
very glad that you were well looked after by all at hobbymaker, and Dave of course. As for you ignoring all the signs… we have all done something like that at least once.
Please take care of yourself and rest. I know it’s not your default setting, but bodies need time and rest to heal themselves.
sending much love
Alison xxx
Oh Barbara you must listen to your body. My cushion won’t help that backache will it!?!! Do as doctors say and let Dave look after you. Hope you feel better soon x
What a frightening experience for you. Thank goodness Dave was with you and the Hobbymaker team were on the ball. I’m sure the hospital will help you but you must rest and take it easy. You have a great team behind you at Clarity who will keep the good ship sailing. Take care and look after yourself.
Carol xx
Why do we always wait until our bodies can’t stand any more before we check things out? I am so sorry for you Barb and hope that you begin to feel better soon. You have a lovely team around you and your customers are friends who will wait patiently until you are recovered
Thank goodness dear Dave was with you.
Take care and do as you are told, it’s for the best.
Ros x
Oh goodness me – you have my sympathy. Having had many gallstones attacks and trips to A&E myself, I know that pain, and there is nothing you can do to ease it or prevent an attack, other than sticking rigidly to a low fat diet. Had keyhole surgery to remove mine coming up for 2 years ago, and it was the best decision ever! I hope they can settle your liver infection and sort yours quickly too xxx
Glad you are being looked after. Here’s hoping you are soon on the mend. Take it easy and look after yourself. xx
So pleased you are getting sorted you need to listen to your body and rest up to get better. We all miss you dearly. Paul and the clarity team will do a fab job looking after things and we’ll be tuning in and supporting.
hope you feel better soon feel for you i had same problem had to have mine out in the end take care xx
So sorry to hear about the cause of your feeling unwell, it sounds very painful. As you say we need to listen to our bodies but it all too easy to ignore & keep going on regardless. Hopefully the hospital will get to the bottom of everything asap. Its the waiting for the various tests & scans that seem to take the time. Meanwhile take a well earned rest & let the team at Clarity Towers keep things running smoothly for you.
I love the step by step you have given us & will definitely give it ago once I have sorted my craft room out. A major overall is in process as I need to downsize my stash of non Clarity items. Who knew paper & card was so heavy when packed in boxes 😂😂
Wishing you a speedy recovery! Take it easy!
Hi Barbara so sorry to hear about you being taken poorly, Dave must have had a feeling that you needed him, I’m sure the clarity team and your loyal customers will keep the ship sailing, Look after yourself and allow your body to rest and recover, You’re in my prayers so god bless and take it steady as rushing never does any good, Love and best wishes,
So glad to hear from you. I’ve been worrying about you. Sounds as though you’ve a way to go before you’re out of the woods so please take care and be sensible. It’s not a good idea to take chances with your health. And what would we all do without you!!
Sending lots of love xx
Thank you for letting us know, take care and hope you will be fighting fit again soon.
Oh gosh what a shock I got on Wednesday, tuned on to watch the recording of you but it wasn’t you!
Had a look at the other recording and I was informed that you had been taken ill. Thank you for blogging. We’re all so worried about you. Rest and let’s hope the doctors get you better soon.
A double whammy of gallstones and a liver infection thrown in for good measure! The pain must have been awful, and very worrying too. It’s good to know that things are underway for you to receive treatment, thank you for taking the time to update us all. ❤️
Thank you also for the step by step project, it’s amazing what can be created with a paint scrap and a mask, thanks for the inspiration.
I hope that you manage to find a solution to the US tax hurdle that you have to navigate. Steering the good ship Clarity certainly has its challenges!
Wishing you all the best for a full and speedy recovery. Take it easy and look after yourself.
Jane x 🌸🌼🌺
Take care, Barb, travel gently, lean on Dave and let the doctors sort out getting you back to good health. Give yourself time to take it easy, and get better soon.
Oh my……Thank you for the update I, like many others, have been worried about you. Your Dave must have a sixth sense mustn’t he so thank goodness he was there. Gall bladder problems are indeed extremely painful I ended up having mine removed in the end. Keeping everything crossed that the hospital will get to the bottom of your problems quickly. Just take it easy and rest up. Xxxxx
Dear Barbara
Thank you for letting us know what happened on Wednesday, I tuned into Hobbeymaker and saw your programme had been cancelled due to you not feeling well, I thought you were tired after all your work at the reatreats, you do work hard, and we love you for it, you need to go into the slow down box..
Please take care and get well soon, love Janet xx
So sorry to hear you are so unwell. Please, please look after yourself, I’ve been very worried about you since I heard the news. Listen to your body, the doctors – and Dave – and rest up until you are truly well, no jumping back on the bus until you are!
So very pleased to hear that you are feeling a little bit better. I have been thinking and praying that you will be on the mend. Do take time out to rest and recover.
Thank you for the update, I’m glad your getting sorted hope all goes well. Thank you for the demo, looks awesome.
Take care, look after yourself, hugs
Oh dear, I hope they get to the bottom of your problems soon and they sort out your problems quickly for you. Thank god for our loved ones. Take care of yourself.
Dear Barbara, thank you for your beautiful step by step, you’re so thoughtful to think of us whilst you are going through the mill. Thinking of you and hoping the hospital can give you a discharge fairly soon. Rest up. With love always xx
Thinking of you and wishing you a successful outcome. Whilst it may seem like a waste of resource to take someone with you, it is obviously the right thing to do. Like many have said, thank you for taking the time to share what happened and the step by step. We’re all routing for you.
glad you’re ok, get some rest. we will be here when you’re feeling better. we need our bus driver x
Oh Dear. I’m sorry you’ve been through such a hard time and hope the hospital, Doctors etc find out what’s wrong and help to sort it out. That’s the trouble, our bodies tell us something’s wrong but if we don’t take proper notice we get “shouted at” and the “message” is delivered in a way we can’t ignore. Take things as gently as you can after such a shock to your system. Wishing you and your family, plus Clarity all good things ahead.
Take Care. xxx
Oh my goodness! So sorry to hear what’s happened. It must have been very frightening. Glad you’re getting sorted at the hospital and hope you get well soon.
In the meantime, try to rest and take it easy! xx
Thank you Barb for letting us know how you are. I tuned into Hobby maker for the first time to watch your Wednesday show and heard you were unwell. What a time you’ve had!
I too have suffered with gall bladder and stones problems- having two operations – to first remove the stones and later to remove my gall bladder. I carried my little jar of stones around just to show what they looked like – a small handful of pebbles causing such pain!
Take care of yourself, let others help and do as the doctors tell you.
And now I must check my die stash- I know I need a couple more!
Thank you for letting us know – I think a lot of people have been worried about you. So glad that the Hobbymaker team treated you so well, and what a godsend that Dave had driven you up that day.
Make sure you rest up and take time for you. I hope that you get the right treatments and will soon be on the mend. Xx
Thanks for letting us know how you are. Glad you are being seen and hopefully sorted. You have my sympathy, I know from past experience how painful it is.
I know it must be difficult when you have a business to run, but take time to get well. You have
a brilliant team to keep things going and we have plenty of lovely Clarity products to keep us going (mind you, Paul keeps tempting us with more) until we can have you back in the SHAC. xx
POW, that’s what the body tells you. Looking after yourself is paramount, I know! Take care Barb.
Love and hugs
Fran with a plan xxxx
Im sending you lots of love and big BIG hugs that you’ll soon be feeling lots better, thank goodness Dave was with you as it must have been very scary for you both. They say things happen for a reason and it was so right that you chose to go together on that occasion. Your amazing team at Clarity Towers have your back, so you are in safe hands and need to let time heal you properly.
Thank goodness Dave was with you.
You always drive yourself too hard Barbara.
Thank goodness you went to the hospital. I hope they can sort you out. Good luck tomorrow.
Sending you love and best wishes. Get well soon. xx
You are missed and needed for all the wonderful things you do but more than that loved, so relax as best you can being a workaholic. Get yourself completely better, and everyone and the business will still be here when you are fit and all the better for the break. I know you have good people working at Clarity so the business won’t suffer. Your body is telling you it is time to take care of yourself.
I know so many people who have had a bad situation made better or averted by a sixth sense coming to the rescue that I am sure we all have someone somewhere looking out for us.
So glad to hear from you. Had one of my weird witchy feelings that something was about to go wrong. Imagine my surprise to tune in to Hobbycraft and find you had been taken ill. I actually phoned in to check on you but at that time there was no news.
However the feeling did not go away and that night hubby got some food stuck in his throat, not for the first time, but it wouldn’t shift.. Stubborn cuss that he is he wouldn’t let me call a medic. I ignored him. Fortunately 111 sent an ambulance and we spent a long time in the hospital and he had 2 procedures which have left him very weak, unable to eat or drink or take his usual medication. The NNUH were brilliant and our local pharmacy have sorted his medication. We have a wonderful NHS.
DO NOT ignore what your body tells you, DO LISTEN TO YOUR medical team, REST LADY, and let work take care of itself, you have a superb team at Clarity Towers.
Sending you love and hugs.
I’m so sorry to learn you’re not well, Barbara. Rest & follow doctor’s orders. The superlative team at Clarity will carry on & all your lovely supporters will be here for you when you’re ready. Sending love & healing wishes.
Dear Barb, I am so glad to hear it has been diagnosed. PLEASE, PLEASE take time to recover and recuperate. Our bus will be going nowhere without the driver. Bxx