BUTTON BLISS

New prettiness, I found my Mojo !

After my post the other day, I did what I usually do with anger - channel it into something creative and lose myself in my craft. I am so happy to show you this project finally completed. I did show you a little sneak peek but here is the Rag Ball Blessings.

Designed by Paula Hair for Button Bliss a couple of years ago, this little treasure was waiting til I had the time to make it special. I have stitched it using Cottage Garden Threads in Raisin, plus some bits and pieces of mine. The twill ribbon is hand dyed to match and the whole thing just stretched over a cheap canvas. SOOOOO pretty!!

I have just painted up a country version, with the tags stitched instead of being buttons and it looks awesome. Not sure when I'll have time to stitch but.... here's hoping! This design will be on my website this weekend, have to write up instructions and transfer design onto computer. Then of course there is my other life to contend with.....

Yes I did go on my two week nursing placement and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. I found it scary and confronting and hilarious and hugely rewarding. I am told I am definitely made of the "right stuff" ( which means I have a warped sense of humour) as I could come home and laugh about holding a strangers penis in a urinal bottle and having a conversation about the weather as if I do this sort of thing all the time! Of course there were some sad moments but overwhelmingly there was the sense that we were making someones day a little better, a bit easier and lightening the load.  I can't disclose any other details but rest assured I am confident that my studies are not in vain!

Hubby did a wonderful job with the kids - somehow I managed to be on placement for the entire school holidays. He got a taste of what it is like to be a constant kitchen hand to hungry teenagers, as well as play Barbie and Ken with Miss 7.

Next week I will be on placement again, this time district nursing and then I am back in the classroom til November. My teacher tells me there will be no time for anything other than study but I think she is underestimating the determination of a stitcher!

I hope you are all well and happy, needle in hand and stitching like crazy.

XXX

Lisa

VERY FRUSTRATED

Hello people. This is more of a house-keeping message.

I have been accused on a couple of occasions of not posting buttons to overseas clients.

Today a parcel was returned to me - I posted it at the beginning of March, and it had sat uncollected in an Italian Post Office, before being returned by sea, taking five months round trip.

Over those five months I have been called quite nasty names and accused of stealing and defrauding, and of course issued a full refund, all while wondering where on earth my little buttons have gotten to.

The fact is, I can't control the postal system or whether a customer will collect a parcel.

I am sad that I have been accused, frustrated by the limitations of post ( believe me if I could hand deliver to you all I certainly would) and wonder what more is possible.

If you place an order and do not list your full address, if you chose to not collect a parcel or do not wish to allow adequate time for a parcel to be delivered, you are bound to be disappointed.

To those customers and friends who have stood by me and believed in me, thankyou, I appreciate it.

Lisa

Stitching and studying

Tomorrow is my first day on my Acute placement for nursing - 2 weeks of hands on experience in a medical ward. I am nervous and excited (and just quietly FREAKING OUT!!!) It is scary to be actually playing with real people.

My placement coincides with our school holidays so Hubby-dear has taken two weeks holidays and is doing parent duty. He is hyper-organised in the house ( as opposed to my messy chaos ) so I am sure the kids won't know what's hit them!!!

Of course all the prep for placement has meant my attention the the world of crafting has had to take a back seat. When I first started studying I never anticipated just how much brain space the study would take up. Don't get me wrong, I love the learning and the end result of being a qualified nurse is fantastic, but **sigh** I miss my buttons, my threads and my fabric. I miss my crafty friends and going to my shows. I miss the feedback from happy stitchers and I miss the sense of accomplishment when a project or design comes together. I am holding on to the fact that this time next year, my studies will be complete and I will have a little more time to nurture the creative side of me.

I haven't been able to completely step away from the stitching though. Every now and then I allow myself an hour or two of soothing stitching. There is something very comforting in the rhythm of stitching, and for me it is prime thinking/ pondering/ musing time.

I have almost finished a small ragball project, designed a few years ago for Button Bliss by the lovely Paula Hair. I am stitching using Cottage garden threads plus left over bits and pieces out of my ridiculously large thread collection and just love the antique look combined with sepia linen.

 

Hopefully I will get it finished off and ready to show for my next post- fingers crossed!

As for the rest of our household, everyone seems to be on the road to recovery after a month or two of revolting colds and runny noses. The animals are happy and crazy. Last week I decided to wash Abby's beds as we had a rare sunny day.

She stood under the clothesline for hours crying at them as they dried.

Pussycat watched on with arrogant amusement.!

As soon as they came off the line Abby jumped in and spent a lovely couple of hours groaning and sighing in a delirium of joy.

A little bit like me when I get into my snuggly bed with a hot wheat bag and flannelette PJ's - Ah bliss!

I hope you are all happy and healthy, if not, pop into my little hospital and I'll do my best to take care of you.

XXX

Lisa