Planning, Research and Sewing Class!

 Hey Guys! I know I've been quiet again but for the majority it's because I've spent most of my time doing research, planning and writing to-do lists. I can't share too much right now but I have some really exciting projects coming up soon that I can't wait to write about!

The first make of the year that will be listed for sale in my White Fairy Etsy Store (hopefully tomorrow) is this gorgeous little applique pattern that I'm turning into a range of key-rings, brooches and hair-slides. The pattern itself is courtesy of Avondale Patterns and was a lovely item to work on, the blue one you can see here had a really good response when tested out among friends and I went a little bit mad working on them. There will literally be a rainbow of colours to choose from if owls are your thing, if not then drop me a message and I'll see what else I can find. I'm going to attempt to work on a new pattern every week under "Try it out Tuesday" as a way of getting through the mountain of crochet patterns I currently have on my to-do list (the last count was somewhere above 300!)

In other news, tonight I enrolled on a sewing course to hopefully win the war that is currently going on between me and my sewing machine. There is a much more exciting reason for the course but I can't release that yet, sorry! The photo on the left shows the block pattern that was today's task and I was introduced to a weird alien looking tool. I think it was named a French Curve? I'm loving learning a new skill but am very much a fish out of water with this one.

Unfortunately I have my accounts and Tax return to submit soon *shudder* so I can see the next few days being quiet on the blog front but you're never far from my mind! Until next time, Jxx

My big black dog

Happy New Year! In past years I have started each of my posts with an apology for how long it's been since my latest update. For people who follow any of my Facebook pages you'll know that I've pretty much neglected my online presence for a while and today I want to explain why. I'm not writing this for sympathy, I just want to settle the score.

I'll start by bringing your attention to a video that is so perfectly created I cried my way through the first time watching it; I had a black dog, his name was depression. I have depression. Although I don't use my Black Dog as an excuse there are times when he is so over whelming and I can't face the world. This is where I disappear off to.

When I picked up writing last year I had so many hopes and ambitions but never put any of them into practice. Working from home sometimes means I get caught up more in my personal life and people forget that just because I’m at home it doesn’t mean I’m free all the time. I try really hard to keep my work separate but I got into unhealthy relationships that gave my self esteem a pretty nasty knock. At the end of the summer I referred myself back into therapy and for the first time in my life I felt happy. I started to make plans for the future. I was confident not only in myself but in my work. This was short lived though. Over Christmas my Black Dog was at his most ferocious yet, almost as if he was rebelling to the fact that for once I was in control.

New Year is always a time for fresh starts and new chapters in your book of life. I can’t promise that this year I’ll write everyday because chances are I won’t. What I can do is try to be more open and share my experience. I don’t want to turn my blog into a place for me to rant, far from it! I want to show off my love of my work and hopefully get to know my followers more.
Here’s to an amazing 2015! Until next time, Jxx