Just get it out

An update, my war and peace so far.

For the last 6 months I've been keeping myself busy with all kinds of things. Many people say that arts and crafts are therapy and this is so true. Talking to family and friends is also of the most importance to keeping your sanity intact. So many are struggling with their physical and mental health due to the Covid Pandemic. I think everyone knows someone who has either lost their life or has been effected by this virus. On the horizon is a vaccine that hopefully will kick start the normality of life.

After 4 months of phone calls to the doctors surgery I was added to waiting lists at the hospital and as we had come out of the first lockdown I was hopeful that I would speak to someone with more knowledge of Bells Palsy. At 4 and a half months I started video calls with a fantastic physiotherapist who was the first person who had experience of Bells and has been a fantastic support. At this point I still had no movement or recovery. She gave me a series of stretches to do with massage to re-align my face which pulled to the left side. Eye exercises to encourage my eye to close.

In between all that was going on with me, we had to make the very difficult decision to say goodbye to our fur baby and send him over rainbow bridge. He has left an enormous hole in our life.

 A week later things started to change for me. I was achieving more movement in my eye and my right cheek started to lift. Along with the cheek lifting my right eye started to close when I puckered my lips. This was the beginning of Synkenesis which was what I hadn't wanted to happen. The next physio appointment we focussed on trying to minimalize the amount of movement in my cheek causing my eye to close. 

📞📞

At 5 months I was still having difficulty with facial functions so made another phone call to the doctors and finally they agreed to send an urgent letter to our hospitals ENT department rather than a letter of advice which is what the previous letters were. 

🔔

Yesterday, I spoke to a Consultant at the hospital who asked me to explain the time line of my Bells Palsy. I tried my best to keep it brief and only to the important events. He was really clear and questioned things that I told him. He is requesting an MRI scan and hearing test as the information I gave him doesn't sit with Bells Palsy and more to me having Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. This is the point I sit crying as I asked at the second week of this journey for a blood test to see if I had Ramsay Hunt and was told it wasn't necessary. I'm hopeful that the appointments come through quickly and can get some answers as to what has gone on. 

The recovery from RH is not as successful as with Bells, think I knew at 3 months my recovery wasn't going to be the best. I'm not an expert but have done so much reading and have the understanding, the longer it takes the less back to full facial functioning I'll get. I still have no taste, no automatic eye closing, headaches, no forehead/eyebrow movement, ear pain, tinnitus, lifted top lip, no sensation in my bottom lip, can't seal my lips make eating and drinking challenging. 

Over the next few weeks I hope I have a clearer picture of what is going on. I have been ensured by my physio and the consultant that there is still hope for improvement so it's not all doom and gloom.

Staying positive

Debbie xx

Update and New Start

 For a long time I've dreamed about using what I'm passionate about my job. With such an unprecedented year and the way my health has been affected, it has had such an enormous impact on me. I am still pushing to been seen by health professionals to guide me through Bells Palsy. I have finally got through the first maze and hopefully will have appointments for an MRI, hearing check and physio to help build the muscles on the right side of my face.

So sitting at home for me is impossible and I certainly had no thoughts about retiring. I love to make. Whether that is sewing, stamping and colouring, painting, knitting or any other craft that inspires me. My family are so supportive and often on the receiving end of 'in a minute, I'm just finishing this.'

For the couple of weeks I've been making and would love to have a look and know your thoughts.

It's a 'Fresh Start' for me.

Debbie xx

A bend in the road

 Today is the last contracted day as a teaching assistant. The job I have loved for 25 years. It will feel really strange this week as my friends and colleagues go back to work. When I had my own children and they started at nursery I found that the learning they were gaining was so valuable. Learning through play, interaction with other children and adults was so valuable. This is where my passion for working with children started. I have worked with so many talented educators in schools and through art workshops and I still love the way that they share the teaching and knowledge.

Over the last 12 weeks I have learned that stress can have such a massive affect on your body. I have always considered myself to be strong and have coped in many challenging situations. My husband has been my rock, he has said the right thing at the right time, listened when I've needed to sound off my frustration and kept our sense of humour which is so important to us.

Facial Palsy isn't life limiting but is life changing and during these unprecedented times there are so many who have more urgent needs than me. I hope that the new normal will become easier for everyone.

I truly appreciate every message I've received, they have certainly kept me positive. I am so lucky to have so many fantastic friends. I had to shelve my crafting and sewing for a couple of weeks as I couldn't focus well enough. Crafting and making is such a therapy for me and I needed to get back to it. A couple of friends have faith in me and have helped nudge me back into my craftroom which I can never thank them enough for.

So this week will be a fresh start for me as retiring doesn't appeal to me yet.

Thanks for popping in

Debbie xx

 

1 week on

 Last week I didn't realise how the effect of this condition would impact on my everyday life. I am still being positive that I will make a full recovery but if anything it won't be as quick as I hoped.

My phrase of the week was, 'This shouldn't have happen to me'

Sunday, a week ago putting eye drops in to lubricate my right eye was a form of torture, stinging and burning. So after a phone call to 111 they needed to stop until speaking to GP.

Monday, antibiotic eye drops and oral medication for thrush arrived with lots of relief. Steroids are wonderful things but do carry side effects. First of my beautiful flowers arrived and they were much appreciated.

Tuesday, the reality of eating with only a tiny amount of my taste buds working and only half my mouth doing what my brain tells it how to work. You can't survive on soup and rice pudding. Everything has been cut into tiny little pieces for fear of choking. More beautiful flowers and cards arrived which means so much.

Wednesday, the fly. We had a fly in the house and it seemed to follow me wherever I went. I know this because my super power at the moment is sound. If I could of caught it, it would have been a squashy end for it.

Thursday, a phone call to the GP again, who have been really helpful with as much advice they can give at a distance. The thought of being at work not being able to eat properly, no energy, sound or any louder noises, ear piercing, not being able to close my eye and dust, painful was just to much. On top of that how delicate my mental health is at the moment a sick note was advised. A couple of friends pointed me in the direction of a lady who is on the other side of the planet and her episode of facial palsy started within days of mine. Reading her social media posts she has been through it but is staying positive and said to get in touch if I wanted.

Friday, hubby finished work early which was lovely not to be on my own for so long.

Saturday, was a b****r of a day. Early wake up as usual and I hadn't slept well. Hubby was off to work at 6.45. My tummy just didn't feel right and I was having really hot flushes soon followed by stopping in the hallway and my legs giving way. The cool of the wooden floor felt good but not being able to get up not so good. Hubby found me and helped me to the settee. We decided he wouldn't go to work, thank goodness he didn't because there was another fainting session about an hour later. The rest of the day was spent on the settee. I'm pretty convinced the events of the morning were due to the finishing of the medication, I really don't want to experience that again.

Sunday, so far has been pretty steady and I'm hoping it will continue like this.

Tomorrow, will be a new start to exercises, carefully and positive thinking
Debbie xx

5 days of changes I can't control (bit of a war & peace read)

I'm hoping by writing this will help others and me.

On Wednesday evening last week I started with ear ache in my right ear that travelled down my jaw line. I didn't worry to much thinking, I could get some antibiotics the next day if it didn't ease during the night.

Took paracetamol the next morning and it eased. I had a funny twitching on my bottom and top lip but ignored as it wasn't causing a problem.
 By the evening of the Thursday I took my first photo as my lips were feeling like I'd had a numbing injection at the Dentist, (the ones we hate because something horrid is going to happen). Before getting in to bed my right eye lid was twitching and this was when Dr Google came onto my phone.
The first thing I checked was I could move my tongue to the left and right side 👅 I could raise both arms 🙌 and move both legs 🚶 So off to the land of nod I went.

Friday I wasn't at work, hubby had gone to work so usual routine of the last 12 weeks followed. Kettle on, feed the dog, pc on to check emails and peruse social media. Something was not quite right when I put cup to my mouth, the numb feeling was worse and the coffee wasn't going in properly. When I sat at my pc I took and other photo and noticed my right eyelid was down. A video was next and my eye was not blinking. With everything I suspected was happening now confirmed in my head I think I was first in the phone cue at the Drs.

One of our lovely Drs called back within the hour and suggested a video call, new to me but quite straight forward). She needed to see what I was trying to explain through a slur of speech. During our conversation she asked me to try facial movements and explained that from what she could see I have Bells Palsy. So now I had 2 experts confirming my thoughts, my GP and Dr Google. She explained that she would phone one of the Ear, Nose and Throat Consultants at my local hospital rather than do an instant referral because of everything going on at the moment, (i was a little relieved not to have to go at the moment but suspect in the future I will).

A short while later, another phone call and the advice from the Consultant was being relayed. In brief I had 2 choices. The first was an 85% chance of return to full facial function (This is important because it is not about the cosmetics for me) or 95% chance of full return with steroids. I did feel a little under time pressure but even in the early stages of this the small things like blowing my nose are difficult. I chose to go with the steroids for the best chance. It was explained that I need to self isolate and at the moment that is so important as not to pick anything up. I'm also taking medication for the herpes virus to help with the nerve problem that causes the Bells Palsy.
I've had chickenpox twice as a child and shingles about 10 years ago. One of the things I'm finding most problematic is the dry eye so regularly adding drops and wearing a handmade eye patch is helping.

My family have been so supportive and added a little tender humour. A proper eye patch has been ordered by hubby. My Daughter found me a facial physiotherapist and I'm following her demonstrations twice daily. My Son got in touch with a friend for advice which has proved helpful. My sister who is and expert in steroids gave me valuable advice while taking them.

So fast foward to Sunday morning, another cocktail of medication, facial exercises,getting dressed without catching my open eye with pj top and then the hurdle of washing hair without getting shampoo in it🙆. Copious amounts of eye drops while drying so my eye didn't become sore.

I love to be busy and if you really know me I never stop doing something, sewing, knitting,stamping, colouring. Over the lat few months I've made scrubs and bags for the NHS. Face masks for friends and family. Dt projects which I love being part of. Cleaned my house which is swearing in the crafting world.

I love deadlines and always have some form of targets or stress in my life. I've learned this last 5 days that, in the main I've been able to protect my mental health over this testing time but my physical I have not been able to do anything about. My body has shown me that stress has taken it's tole and I am not able to fight it only now everyday gradually encourage hopefully a return to my full functioning face.

While typing this I realised how much benefit I took from touching typing helped me with a young friend a few years ago.

I decided to do this post with the hope that anyone going through a tricky time at the moment will either write it down or talk to someone as a therapy. I haven't written this for a pity party just it may help someone. I am positive about how I will overcome this problem, others are going through far worse than me at the moment.

So this is todays me which is the most I want to share

Please take care

Debbie xx

When Stamps meet Glass

Hi. it's been a long long time since I posted on here.

Over the past few years my card making has become less and less. I stepped away from the Chocolate Baroque design team and have had more time to create for me. I will always be a stamper at heart and will love stamps. I am lucky to have been able to gain lots of skills and techniques from many talented artists from the UK and overseas.

I have always been interested in lots of crafts, sewing, painting, beading, metal, glass, clay work. For the first jewellery class I went to I took my husbands pliers. That was remedied really quickly with many different tools for my stash.

I'm fortunate that my hubby is a gadget collector and this year bought an engraving tool to use in his workshop. Light bulb moment for me. I had bought a couple of glass pieces, a large vase, a small vase and a bottle with cork lid. For a couple of nights this week I've been engraving.

The small vase is the first that I've done with three butterflies on. The glass is fairly thick which is why I chose it. I stamped Tracy Evans butterfly from All&Create number #45 and then engraved the butterflies. I'm really looking forward to buying some of the new designs to experiment with.

Here is the bottle with the sweet dragonflies. The glass on this one is much finer than the first vase.

The following photos are of the large vase which is holding the beautiful yellow roses with no water in. The majority of the engraving is free hand with the addition of the Tracy's dragonflies from set#45 stamps.

I'm now looking for more to engrave on and also there is a pyrography tool in the workshop calling to be played with.

Thanks for stopping by

Debbie xx

Some where ...

Hello and  I hope all is good this May Bank Holiday.

I indulged in spending time in my craftroom yesterday to play with stamps and inks.
I have seen Stripey the flamingo coloured in various ways so I decided to paint him with distress inks in his true colours, pink and coral.

I started with the Rainbow Stencil and used Finnabairs light paste coloured with black Brusho powder. I used the powder so it didn't thin out the paste.

For colouring the Rainbow I used Distress inks that were the colours closest and vibrant.

I didn't want the colours to blend as they would have gone muddy so waited till each had dried completely before adding the next. I think that when using Kassa Hayseldon stamps and stencils you can go crazy with colour and sparkle. . Ice stickles was added all over the rainbow.

I stamped with the staggered lines from the border stamp set. It is going to be a real worker stamp for me. Of course Mr Stripey had to be wearing his top hat as he's off to find the pot of gold.

Bright pages calmed

Hello, the journey of CJS has been paused as I'm back at work.
Saturday morning will be playing catch up as I want to make sure I've watched and had some time to play and then go back in a few weeks or months to refer back to.

These pages were worked on from Carolyn Dube recipe video. I did take mine off in a different direction but this was great for me. I felt that the colours I chose were clashing so added the black and white stamping.

Thanks for popping by
Debbie

Stencilled backgrounds

Oh my I've been having great painty fun with CJS. The lessons / videos have been so informative, inspiring and put together so well. Michelle Ward gave such great instructions of the techniques.

This lesson for making backgrounds was addictive and I could have filled my journal with more but will definitely make more soon

I used Finnabair's Impasto paints, I did water them down a little as they are really thick. I'm really pleased with the vibrancy and the way they blended.

Thanks for popping in

Debbie

Work in progress

This past weekend I took time to work in my journal. I have an ambition to fill one of my journals this year. Creative Jump Start has definitely kick started my fun. 

These pages are definitely a work in progress and it's been great fun so far adding more and more layers of paint with a brush, brayer, stencils and foam stamps. When I pluck up courage I'm going to add the word freedom as it's such a powerful word. I have more as I did another couple of pages.

Debbie

New Year and new Inspiration

Hi.

Very long time with no posts. 

Last year was taken up with massive amounts of weeding preparation for my daughters wedding.

She and her (now) husband told us in January they had found a venue for the event. The date was to be 31st December 2017.

My first questions were who is doing your cake and the second who will be doing your flowers. The reply was, 'Mum will you sort it for me'. So I set to work within the first week of being told and it carried on all year.

My intention this year is to fill one or more of my many journals and one of my gifts from my hubby was to sign up for Creative Jumpstart.

This morning I have watched the first video and been totally inspired by Mystele Kirkeeng.

I found a background I made a couple of years ago, followed the video and played with the techniques she talked about. The dress is made from some spare gelli plate scraps. I'm looking forward to the next video as this one has sparked my mojo.

 

 Thanks for popping in

Debbie

It's been a while ...

...since I spent time making a complete card, never mind two.

I have had the pleasure of attending three workshops with the most beautiful friend Tracy Easson. She is from Scotland and her very kind hubby has driven her down to teach at Art Workshops.

Tracy teaches her drawings in small steps making them achievable.

When I saw her newly released stamps I knew they would be fab, so I had to have a little purchase. I ordered the stamps on Friday at around 3 and they arrived at 10.20 on Saturday morning, great service from Which Craft.

The first is Francesca, which I have painted with DecoArt paint and Oak House Studio inks for the background.

Georgina is so dreamy to colour, I used alcohol pens and distress inks.

Here is Dawn and I with our 'Baker of Dreams' at the end of a workshop, we always have a giggle.

Last weekend I was talking to a friend about all the UFO's I have and this week intend to make a start on finishing some of them before I attempt to remember the steps for the painting that was done by the ladies and gents that attended the retreat.

Long time no blogging

I started my blog a few years ago to record for me, my creations. Looking back over the last couple of years it shows how my hobbies and loves have changed. I spend any spare time making allsorts of stuff. I have a passion for card making mainly using stamps and ink and that will probably never change.
Over the last three years, I have been fortunate to be involved with Art Workshops organised by my buddy Sue. I have met some lovely, talented, unique ladies and gentlemen during this time which I love to meet up with and I think of them as good friends.

We have a lovely location right by the river Tees and the room we use is light and airy, perfect for creating.

I have had the pleasure of attending two retreats in the past and thoroughly loved every minute of them both. Last weekend I was involved in hosting a retreat with Sue and it was amazing.

I will organise the photos and post later this week.

Debbie

xxx

Danelion Clocks with Brusho Inks

Sometimes it you just need to clear everything off your desk and limit the amount of things you work with. I am a terrible clutter bug as I like all things close by but it was becoming a hindrance.

So I selected a limited selection of stamps and a packet of note cards, I have in my stash, Brushos, white card, black and grey inkpads and clear embossing powder.

I started by stamping and embossing the Dandelions from three different sets of Chocolate Baroque which are firm favourites of mine. Very carefully I tapped the Brusho pots only wanting a small amount of colour on the dandelions. Next, I sprayed a fine mist of water over the powder and watched the magic happen.

I love the way the inks have spread around.

Here are a couple of close up photographs of these quick make cards.

Many thanks for visiting

Debbie

Abstract Patchwork Butterfly

 

Good morning.

 

I had time this weekend playing with an old friend, my Gelli Plate. Like many people that have purchased them mine is really underused. I attended a workshop recently and it inspired me to keep it on my work desk. If you haven't used yours for a while, they are perfect for making paint or inky papers and backgrounds.

 

I have a 6x6 plate and tend to cut the card or paper to the size when using it for ease.
The colours of paint were lime green, bright pink, orange and yellow. I used objects that were on my desk to make the patterns in the paint, bottle tops, corrugated cardboard, stencils etc.
The butterfly was the first print and the colour was a lot stronger and when dry I stamped with Versamark ink and black embossing powder.
For the background, only a small amount of paint was added and more printing then another print was taken. I love the abstract feel to the background. I stamped the beautiful Irish verse from the Patchwork Butterfly A4 set in the top corner.

Thank you for visiting

Debbie

Birthday Month Heart Stamp from Chocolate Baroque

 

Morning, I have a couple of projects to share today,
The first is the card that Lesley sent out a photograph of with the newsletter last Thursday.

 

I stamped the Floral Heart with black Memento ink and coloured with alcohol pens. The flowers were not coloured as the detail of them is beautiful. I matted onto pink and grey card. For the base card, I stamped the Baroque Orchid four times with grey ink.

 

 

My second share is again the Flowering Baroque Heart, this time the flowers coloured and I used Adirondack inks. The dye ink pads are great for water colouring with. I cut out the heart and added to the lace square die cut. The card is a square gate fold.

 

 

   

 

And finally, I was very lucky to attend a workshop with Kate Crane at the beginning of last month where we decorated the Journal that Lesley had in stock and it flew off the shelves. The journal is one of the favourites that I have as you can add to it easily and it's a great size for notes, the covers are sturdy and could be decorated with paints or papers. The inserts and covers are sold separately so more inserts can be added.

 

Many thanks for stopping by

Debbie

Flowers for all Seasons

 

Good morning.

 

I am always looking for different media to work with and when Lesley showed me these stamping blocks a while ago I knew what I wanted to do with them. The Wood Art Blocks make fantastic mini stamping surfaces, they sit on my craft desk and I look at them often.

 

Each of the blocks has been painted with a matt paint and then stamped onto with black ink. I stamped the quotes from Positive Beauty and the flowers are single clear stamps which I think show the flowers from different seasons.

 Magnolia, Remembrance Poppy and Snake's Head Fritillary Clear stamps.

The flowers were coloured with watered down distress inks, being careful not to add to much at once as the colour will bleed on the painted surface. I felt they need a little more detail so used the dots and crackle stamps from Natural Eggs.

                

I hope this post has given a little inspiration for using different surfaces and stamps.

Thank for visiting

Debbie

Spring Thistle Butterfly

Good morning.

 

 

 

For my card today, I reached for my Thistle Butterfly stamps, they are a definite go to set that I have in my stash. I made the background using circles that are die cut into a piece of plastic sheet. They are great to use as a mask. The distress ink colours I used are Twisted Citron and Squeezed Lemonade. I started with the large circles and overlapped with the smaller. The stamp was inked with Black Versafine and embossed with clear powder. I stamped and coloured a second butterfly to sit on top of the image.

 

Many thanks for visiting

Debbie

Babushka Frame Gift

I've been playing lots with the Babushka Dolls this month and decided to make a gift for my niece for her bedroom. She isn't a chocolate lover so I am not giving her an egg for Easter. Her bedroom has recently been decorated and I thought this framed project would look pretty on her windowsill.
The dolls have been stamped onto cream card with red ink and embossed with clear powder, then cut out. I stamped the mount frame with one of the stamps from Seasonal Fragments.

 

This card will accompany the gift. I dripped ink onto a strip of card and mounted onto red card the drew a broken line onto it to add a little more detail. The dolls have been coloured using distress inks. I attached the dolls with foam squares for dimension.

 

Many thanks for visiting

Debbie