Hi there. Thanks for popping in. Apologies for not blogging this weekend. Took a couple of days out to regroup and reflect. Very difficult to see the spot you’re standing on, isn’t it? Sometimes you have to walk away to gain a little distance. Then, after a little while, things become clearer. There’s nothing bad or sad going on, at least not in our little bubble, but there are things which need my attention, Clarity things, and a clear head…
Hi there. Thanks for popping in. The sun is streaming in through the window, the shoots are just starting to green on the trees, and spring is in the air – at last! Is it time to pull out our short-sleeved tops and shorts yet? Not quite!! But we can certainly get in the warm weather mood with these superb butterflies (with their cut-to-fit masks) illustrated by Cherry Green. You may recall that I talked about them in the SHAC…
Hi there Thanks for popping in! So there I was, designing a Paisley sampler for Paul and your good Groovi selves to play with in the Groovi Tuesday sessions on Facebook Live soon, and another pair of very-handy-indeedy sampler plates surfaced in the Pergamano Show on The Craft Store today! Samplers really are a great learning tool and builder tool, aren’t they? The two brand new plates which Paul expertly showcased earlier have been designed by Josie Davidson – our…
Hi there Thanks for popping in! Typing extra fast, because there’s a Craftlaong-a-Barbie at 7pm on Facebook Live – and I’m up to my derriere in ink and lino here ! ! ! Dave treated me to a set of Swiss Lino cutting tools, which arrived today. So I had to try them out. OMG!! They cut through the lino like butter! What a difference! Day and night. Like getting out of a Ford Fiesta and slipping into a Porsche…
Hi there Thanks for popping in. Been drawing today. A Groovi Paisley Sampler plate for Paul to use in the Groovi Tuesday SHAC SHAC soon. I always think sampler plates are super for learning techniques. They’re bite-size pieces of art, big enough to make lovely artwork with, small enough to manage easily. We’ve already got a few. Linda’s Heart Sampler, Barbara’s Tree Sampler… Embroidery Sampler So how about a Paisley and Leaves Sampler? Looked up what Paisley symbolises. Apparently, it…
Hi there Thanks for popping in. Monday’s blog is Trees & Flowers, right? So let’s take a look at a rather special tree. This design is called “The Happy Couple” I drew this tree for our Wedding Invitation, as a paper cut, and we actually laser cut all our invites. Then, several crafter-friends mentioned that it would make a nice die – no sooner said than done! And that is how our Clarity Fresh Cut Dies were born: out of…
Hi there Thanks for popping in. Had to chuckle yesterday, when I turned my attention to turning Terracotta on the wheel. Many of you had been commenting about how the lino cutting took you back to your school days. Well, with the terracotta clay session in the afternoon, all I could think of was trying to wash our Mark’s team rugby kits after a particularly rainy day a few seasons ago, when he played for Crowborough. Can you spot him?…
Hi there Thanks for popping in. Woke up this morning and was overcome with the overwhelming desire to do something I have only ever done once many years ago in France – and that time it was rather rushed and a bit rough. Good grief! I hear you gasp. On a Saturday morning?!? And she wants to share about it on the blog?! My oh my… she definitely needs a holiday…. You know how it is. When the mood is…
Hi there Thanks for popping in. Just heard the sad news that Prince Philip died this morning. 99 years old. What a legend. End of an era. Who was at the Clarity Retreat at the Crowborough Rugby Club the year he landed on the Rugby field in a helipcopter? July 2014? One minute we were all heads down, getting arty and crafty… The next we were out in the sunshine, waving and clapping, cheering and whooping – and welcoming the…
Hi there,thanks for popping in. HOME. Let’s talk about HOME. What a word, eh? Home is where the heart is, Home is where I hang my hat… There’s no place like Home. It’s so good to be back home… Home isn’t a place – it’s a feeling. Home is a shelter from storms – all kinds of storms. Home is where our story begins. Pick a line, any line. They all resonate with me. How about you? HOME. We just…