It won’t be easy…

Hi there! Grace here.

I hope you’re all safe, happy and healthy! And if not, I hope you’re coping okay with whatever you’ve got going on. That’s the main part, eh?

On this well-being Wednesday, I found myself with not much to say. The world is mad, that is all I can say 😉 So I decided to have a calming afternoon, get away from the constant news and just play. I had my own little SHAC for one in Brooklyn.

Safe Happy And Creative.

Stay Home And Craft.

My Mum recently sent me a suitcase full of goodies! A lovely customer (and friend) kindly offered to bring me back a suitcase on her way through, from England to NYC.

All the way from the UK!

In this suitcase, there were CRISPS (and lots of them), 4 HUGE Dairy Milk chocolate bars in that white bag (not much left), hair products, some make up, perfume, Yorkshire teabags, a soft blanket etc etc.
My Mum knows me well 😀

Normally we get to have an NYC visit together, like this…

But of course we’ve been unable to this year… so I got the care package of all care packages!!!

Wrapped up in that new blanket was these…

Barbara Gray pottery! Lucky me!

Stunning, right? I had asked her for them nicely awhile back, but didn’t expect them to be in the bag. Honestly, I didn’t expect anything. Except for Walkers crisps and chocolate. So it was a real treat. A real gift.

Also included in the bag was a set of each of these! HEART EYES.

So today I went straight for the Christmas Collection and decided to try them out.

INGREDIENTS

STEP 1: I picked which poppet I wanted… Paloma. Mainly because she’s chatting to a Robin. And my Oma loves Robins. (Funny what speaks to each of us!)

STEP 2: I started with a little whitework on the snow & bobbles, from the back of the parchment. Because that’s the easy bit, right?

So far so good! 😉

STEP 3: I started working gently on her dress… I went a little overboard on her wings, but I’ve got plenty of time to get better!

Then, following my Mum’s advice…

STEP 4: I scribbled my colour choice of Perga Pen on the mix mat and put a droplet of water next to it.
I used my blending pen to soak up the water first and then went into the colour.
This enabled me to colour in parts of her scarf, hat and leaves with a much lighter and less intense look.

STEP 5: I then embossed the border around the edge using the nested scallop plate.

STEP 6: After trimming her up, I backed it all up on Northern Lights Designer Paper and a black card blank.

STEP 7: Don’t forget the sticker sentiment!

“It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it”… that just about sums up this Christmas for me. Whatever it ends up looking like. This is me asking the Robin to help me get home for Christmas 😉
Thanks Mr. Robin!

So, VOILA!
There’s my first COVID Christmas card.

I’m looking forward to playing more now… I’m not the most confident crafter yet. Would you be… if Barbara Gray was your MUM?! Talk about pressure to not be terrible 😉 I think it’s pretty good though, and you know what? It’s not actually about the finished piece. I had a reeeeeally lovely time doing it.

Thanks for spending time with me on this Wellbeing Wednesday!

Lotsa love, Grace xo

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-being.

34 thoughts on “It won’t be easy…

  • 7th October 2020 at 1:30 pm
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    It’s beautiful! Xx

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    • 7th October 2020 at 4:13 pm
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      Ah Grace I do feel for you being so far from mum and not being able to get together. Wow i bet you were overwhelmed with the contents of the bag of goodies- how thoughtful but then we Shackers know Barbara Gray is special!

      You are right was a weird time we are going through, let’s hope this all ends soon. In the meantime so many of us have found comfort in doodling and colouring together. Your card is really lovely and I like the meaning behind it! Crossing fingers for you!!!!

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    • 8th October 2020 at 8:28 am
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      What a beautiful card Grace. I know how you feel about being so far away from family. My brother lives in Virginia and I hate the fact that I can’t jump on a plane to visit him. I always have a suitcase full of goodies with me. My nieces all love chocolate, marmite. Picked onion whatsits, chocolate digestive, flying saucers, crunchy bars, tea bags and the list goes on. Doesn’t leave much room for clothes but leaves me a lot of space for bringing back goodies. Hopefully next year the world will be a better place and we can all meet up with family again. Take care x

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  • 7th October 2020 at 1:57 pm
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    Brilliant Grace xx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:03 pm
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    That looks beautiful Grace & your Oma will love it because you have made it especially for her. Thanks for sharing the step by step for the card & the content of your suitcase. What a lovely surprise. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon crafting- it certainly takes your thoughts away from everything that you can’t control xx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:08 pm
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    Hello Grace
    Well done with your card and enjoy your goodies.
    Love
    Roz.xxx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:09 pm
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    That is beautiful Grace xx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:16 pm
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    It’s lovely Grace, your Mum will be proud x

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:18 pm
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    How lovely. Enjoy your crafty goodies and your treats.
    I know what you mean about crafting with a super talented crafty mum. I refused to play tennis because my mum taught it and bridge because my sister in law was brilliant at it!!

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:50 pm
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    That was a kinda emotional blog from you today!!! BG is BG and you are you, perfectly and beautifully made. Always remember that your mum has had your life time to practise perfection – and more!! You have done really well with your wee poppet. The very light veins in the wings remind me of the veins in the dragonfly’s wings – almost imperceptible but beautiful. I must take those out and try doing something with them. I must use what I have!! That needs to become my mantra! Don’t look too far ahead, Grace. I will very likely be alone at Christmas this year so don’t really want to look that far ahead! Whatever happens, it will all be ok! A day at a time, lass, and it will be all be ok. Just waiting to hear what further restrictions Nicola is going to impose!! Lockdown would be best but that is not going to happen! Lol. I’ll just need to have my own lockdown. Enough of that!! Happy crafting, Grace. Lots of love. Hxx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 2:59 pm
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    It’s beautiful Grace, I also love robins but it’s my baby brother’s name. Love him to
    I do imagine your mum to be tolerant of others work, hope so she’s seen mine .
    My family have decided to take the pressure of waiting and hoping for a Christmas together.
    This year it’s donations to charities that are struggling. Next year with love, luck and a following wind, a big family get together, when we will have Christmas, even if it’s in July.

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  • 7th October 2020 at 3:28 pm
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    A lovely care package xx and a fabulous card I am sure your mum will be thrilled with the outcome xx glad you enjoyed the process and found it as relaxing as the rest of us do xx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 3:35 pm
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    Hi Grace
    Your card is beautiful and as long as you enjoyed the making of it that is all that counts. As someone often says “there are no experts in this building!” but we can all enjoy the process.
    Enjoy your crafting and maybe we will see you in the SHAC-shack one of these days!
    Zara

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  • 7th October 2020 at 4:01 pm
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    Hi Grace
    What a fabulous care package to receive, chocolate and crisps just what a girl needs! You will treasure those bowls too, what a lovely mum you’ve got. I think your card is beautiful, you e done such a good job on it and Oma will love it. We’ve all got to start somewhere and you’ve got a good teacher in your mum, even if it’s a big pair of shoes to follow. Stay safe, well and happy and keep crafting!
    Love Diane x

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  • 7th October 2020 at 4:32 pm
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    That is fantastic! I’ve not even tried using parchment!! I loved the suitcase of goodies too and you are a lucky lady to get those bowls from your mum! They are gorgeous!

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  • 7th October 2020 at 4:48 pm
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    Awww Grace….. I really feel for both you and your mum! My own daughter lives in the Canary Islands and I was due to visit when Covid hit. I’ve now not seen her, or my granddaughter, for over a year! It’s tough but, as ‘someone’ says, ‘this too shall pass’.
    Imagine all those hugs at the airport, eh!?!? Lots of love,
    Debbie

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  • 7th October 2020 at 4:56 pm
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    There is no SHAC for one, Grace. Or Christmas alone, even if you seem to be the only one in your home. SHACers are like air – they are permanently all around you, sustaining good life. Christmas is a day to welcome a special baby, not all the tinsel and presents. We can celebrate with nothing but ourselves, though I like the idea of including charity donations, so they can spread the love we feel to people who haven’t found the SHAC yet. We should clap the NHS on Christmas Day, so they feel our support and so do neighbours.

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  • 7th October 2020 at 5:05 pm
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    Lovely blog today Grace. How good that Mum was able to send you a ‘care package’ via a friend. The bowls would not have arrived intact otherwise. You will be able to cherish them for years to come.
    I do like your card. Well done and so pleased you enjoyed the process.
    Keep safe and keep well xx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 5:12 pm
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    Oh Grace. That’s an amazing card you made. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree at all!
    The suitcase you got was brilliant. I know it has some of the things you miss from the UK! Maybe your mum should parcel herself up and get a friend to bring her to you! I did think that the suitcase was as near to a hug your mum could give you right now. Maybe that’s why you got a blanket!
    Anyway enjoy your treats from home.
    Love and hugs xxx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 5:37 pm
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    Beautiful words and art from a truly beautiful soul. Thanks for being you, Grace! xoxo

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  • 7th October 2020 at 5:39 pm
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    Dear Grace. What a lovely surprise for you. That is what my family in San Francisco always want.crisps and chocolate. When my son comes over in the plane for work, he has a big supermarket trip to take the goodies back. Sadly he is not doing flights, except a few local ones. So haven’t seen him for such a long time, or the family.
    You did a very good job on your card, that is the one I like as robins are one of my favorites. Hope your all ok, Manchester is one of the top places. I haven’t been into town since probably January. And have only been out about five times since March. So glad I have a garden. Your wonderful Mum is getting brilliant at her pottery, they are lovely bowls, which you will enjoy using.
    Not good at drawing but enjoy the Shac shack, nice to have someone talking to you, even though Mum can’t hear what we say.
    Keep well. Xxxxx.

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  • 7th October 2020 at 6:14 pm
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    Hello Grace, from under my blanket that I bought with my daughter once…when we could still go out and go shopping together. Last time we shopped together it was my birthday treat in February. I am overwhelmingly sad ATM, too sad even to colour or draw. It has just become too much for me, how very special you care package is. I try to send my daughter somet in the post every week or so, she has been teaching throughout, and is exhausted. It will comfort your mum loads to see how much joy she has brought you. Stay safe over there. Much love. Xxx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 6:36 pm
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    Lovely blog post as ever Grace. x

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    • 7th October 2020 at 11:44 pm
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      What a beautiful card, you can tell you’ve got your Mum’s talent, your Oma will be delighted with it. How lovely to receive that suitcase full of love and treats from your Mum too. Her pottery is gorgeous and something lovely to treasure that’s been made by her. Don’t know whether we’ll be able to see our family at Christmas either until nearer the time what with them bringing in new restrictions, but at least we’ll be able to facetime each other. Stay Safe Grace.xxx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 6:41 pm
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    Grace, what a gorgeous card, beautiful.

    Plus, what a lucky girl you are, with such wonderful family and friends, to receive such a fabulous care package.

    Stay safe, and stay well
    Cx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 6:59 pm
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    Your card is lovely Grace, you should be proud of yourself. Remember a lot of crafters have had many years of experience and still have failures and others are beginners who feel as you do. However it is not the result it is the journey, and if this piece of art made you happy then it has served it’s purpose. I look back at my first efforts 20+ years ago which give me the horrors and were nowhere as good as your Poppet.
    Intrigued at the “care package” from your mum – what a lovely surprise. Nice to see the finished bowls too.
    Stay well, stay safe.

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  • 7th October 2020 at 7:42 pm
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    Wow you did so well, that’s a beautiful card Grace. Love the bowls they are super xxx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 9:04 pm
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    Lovely lot of goodies and a beautiful card. Perfect! Xx

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  • 7th October 2020 at 9:55 pm
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    Love your card. Enjoy all your surprise goodies

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  • 7th October 2020 at 10:46 pm
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    Lovely Grace
    Your card was beautiful
    Mum will love it
    Never say never you might get home ❤️❤️❤️

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  • 8th October 2020 at 12:40 am
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    What a lovely suitcase to receive. Enjoy ! i made my first Christmas card this week. X

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  • 8th October 2020 at 9:47 am
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    Hi Grace what a lovely gift from your mum. It is such a shame you can’t meet up I know you are very close. Hopefully one day we will be able to meet with our loved ones again. The card you have made is gorgeous. Is it for someone special? Take care and stay safe. Hugs Jackie

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  • 8th October 2020 at 2:46 pm
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    The talent apple does not fall far from the Claritystamp tree! It is gorgeous Grace, don’t be so hard on yourself, just enjoy the process and stay happy and creative xx

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  • 11th October 2020 at 9:48 am
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    What a lovely surprise Grace. I hope you get to see your mum soon. I’m sure this episode in life will end soon. I miss my kids and they are not as far away as you are to your mum x

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