Saturday Share Blog!

Hello hello! Grace here.

I hope this finds you well, safe, and enjoying your Saturday morning.

I haven’t shared thoughts for a while in a Saturday Share blog but felt compelled today. I hope you don’t mind my nattering away…

Life is a funny ol’ thing, isn’t it? This last week or two, I’ve felt more myself again. The dark cloud that was hovering, always not too far away, at the start of the year, is moving further and further away. I have even started dancing to music around the apartment again some days, which is a surefire sign of things being on the up!
This is not to say that I don’t miss my Grandad terribly, or worry about something bad happening again. I’m thinking of him always, checking in on Mum pretty constantly, and STILL dancing. Dancing with a little more depth, compassion, and gratitude, because I can. I’ve noticed that my Mum is able to share memories in the SHAC without crying. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t cry privately, or doesn’t feel his loss every moment of every day. It’s just a different space we’re moving into. We miss him constantly, but it’s no longer got ahold of us in the same way. We’re not constantly paralyzed by the pain of it… sometimes but not constantly, it’s different. Good memories are flooding in, and we must honour them by living life.
Anyone who has experienced grief knows what I’m talking about.
It’s just cyclical, isn’t it? Happy versus sad. Light versus heavy. Light versus dark. Up versus down. When you feel heaviness for a period of time, you notice when life starts to feel lighter again.

Perhaps it’s the seasons too. We’ve gone from Winter into Spring, and some days even Summer.

As I type this, my Mum is with Paul Church partying with the Create and Craft crew, to celebrate their 20th birthday. She’s looking as beautiful and healthy as ever. Grateful for that. My beloved family and friends are all doing alright healthwise, and there’s no immediate worry or threat to be concerned about. One of my closest friends just lost her dad last week, and so we’re forever reminded that life can be fleeting.

But the sun is shining on me today. This is not to say that it couldn’t change at any given moment. It’s to remind myself (and others) to be present and grasp at the lighter & brighter periods of our lives/days/weeks/hours when they present themselves. We never know how long they will last before we have to persevere through more growing days.

And perhaps you’re in the cloud at the moment, the eye of the storm. If so, I’m sorry. We’ve been there for months now, so I empathize with your pain and struggle. Keep breathing. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep making time for yourself. Keep crafting and making. There is light on the other side, I promise. A different kind of light, absolutely, but light nonetheless. And there’s power in knowing that it’s there, on the other side of the hill.

Anyway, just thoughts suddenly being written down! In my chirpy good (if not very deep) mood, I settled down to select my favourite cards of the week from Clarity Worldwide and Groovi Worldwide. What a treat!!

Grab that cup of something cozy and join me in enjoying these absolute stunners!!


Clive Welch
Lynn Bates
Julie Loasby
Trusien Löwenthal
Hayley L Chilton
Sarah Hudson Tysall
Sue Holland
Liz Johnson
Kath Peace
Gwyneth Mohon
Sharron Bradford
Ellen Koren
Gill Askam
Lesley Earing
Carol Gittins
Yvonne Weaver
Evelyn De Marco
Brenda Banister
Debbie Private
Val Hodgson

EPIC!!!! What a truly epic collection of your artwork. Difficult to choose, as always. But here we are! Another gallery of beautiful favourites to appreciate.

Good news! There’s crafty goodness to watch today!! Woohoo! Tina Cox is on Create and Craft at 1pm and 5pm today (UK time). Get Groovi with Tina!

Thanks for joining me for this Saturday’s Share blog. I hope it has provided a thoughtful & crafty start to your Saturday. Perhaps it’s time to turn some of your favourite music on and see where it takes you… Or grab some crafting products and see what you come up with. If not, if your mojo is off, keep doing what you’re doing. The time will come. And go. And then it will come again. Such is life.

I’m off to turn the volume up!

Travel gently, friends.

Lotsa love, Grace xo

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

13 thoughts on “Saturday Share Blog!

  • 22nd April 2023 at 8:58 am
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    Hello Grace
    I never met your grandfather, but I am certain he would not want any of you spending the rest of your lives being sad and grieving. He loved you all too much for that. Time doesn’t heal, but it makes the loss easier to cope with.
    My father died almost 43 years ago and the tears still come occasionally. My mother got great comfort from the fact he lives on in his children and grandchildren who knew him and can teach future grandchildren, great-grandchildren and now great-great-grandchildren about him.
    Sending you a hug.
    Love
    Roz.xxx

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 9:57 am
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    Hi Grace, nice to hear you feel like dancing again!! as you say the loss hasn’t gone away just moved to the next step of life. I can remember when we lost my father in law & about 6 months later my daughter aged 3 turned to me & said ” Baby Jesus has had Grandad long enough, Nanny needs him now ” I had to explain as best I could that wasn’t going to happen but it was difficult to do without crying & in words that a 3 year old could understand.
    Moving on this weeks selection of cards is fantastic & all so different. I have now caught up with the ODS & Facebook live from last week just need to finish my windmills off. Then today we have Tina with more inspiration using plates that are lurking in my stash. Not enough hours in the day & I’m retired !!
    See you tomorrow for the next project from the design team. Have a good week xx

    Reply
    • 22nd April 2023 at 11:31 pm
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      Hi Grace, been reading your Mum’s club letter today and the rattlesnake sounds a bit of a worry, do hope the bungler met him. Glad you’re in a better place today, things do get easier but it never goes away. Your Grandad wouldn’t want you to be in a sad place and he’ll be glad to listen to the music and know you’re dancing again. Losing my Dad was the worst but I just think of all the good times we had which we did. Thanks for the Saturday share, lovely work as usual by everyone. Don’t know how you pick ! X

      Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 10:59 am
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    The artwork once again, is beautiful. I’ve just finished making Gnome Kings, Queens and Guards (via an electronic cutting machine) for people poorly in hospital so they don’t miss out on the forthcoming occasion. I may now be able to concentrate on my purchases from the sale. Looking forward to the tutorial tomorrow.
    Thank you for sharing your feelings with us. The loss of a loved one is hard as everyone has said and you have experienced. Having gone through a death and then your Mum being hospitalised has unbalanced your world tremendously and it can take time for you to regain the balance, but you seem to be moving in the right direction. I read that you and your mum often connect whilst working on a video call which must be wonderful. This is when technology is at its best connecting loved ones who are apart. Have a happy weekend.

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 2:19 pm
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    Dear Grace. So pleased you are feeling a lot better, it all takes time just remember all the wonderful times you have shared over the years. It is lovely to see your Mum looking better. It’s very hard to go through illness and losing someone.
    The selection of cards are amazing, I have just posted my latest birthday one made with Linda’s last club plate, but forgot to take a photo. Keep dancing xxxxxxx

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 3:06 pm
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    Thank you for sharing. I can empathise with you and the family. Good days and growing days here. Shaking off Churchill’s black dog not so easy some days. However spring here and will be busy planting on my large allotment and with hope of a good harvest. Sending love to a lovely and talented Grace. Xx

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 3:40 pm
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    What a fab bunch of cards this week, and thank you for including mine!
    You’ve had so much on your plate in the first few months of 2023. Apart from your own grief, I’m sure you have been worrying about the impact of your dear Grandad’s death on your Mum and your Oma. And then your Mum being so poorly, must have been such a worry for you..especially when you are so far away. Thank goodness for technology, and you are able to keep in touch with the folks back home so easily.
    I’m so glad you feel like dancing again! But grief is a strange one……just when you think you are out of the woods, it has a habit of sticking a foot out and tripping you up! It might be a song, a scent, a thought or a memory that does it. BUT THAT’S OK! It will be fleeting and your dancing shoes will be ready and waiting for when you feel like dancing again. Take care of yourself Grace and enjoy your weekend x

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 3:42 pm
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    I have seen the way your mum has been learning to cope and talk about your grandad whilst joining her in the SHAC. It is good to see her looking better as the time passes, but Grief is such a personal thing and there is no programme for dealing with it.
    Today is the 8th anniversary of losing my dear mum, so it has been a reflective day for me, remembering our happy times.
    Lovely cards as always today, so well done everyone. Have a good weekend. X

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 4:10 pm
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    Dear Grace I’m so pleased to hear that you have started dancing again and are slowly emerging back in to the light. It does take time though so continue to be kind to yourself in the months ahead. As usual this weeks selection of cards is wonderful. Very interesting to see two cards using the same flower but both are so completely different. Love them all. xx

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 4:50 pm
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    It’s great that you’re dancing Grace. Next step is singing and dancing! I love this week’s card choices. I’m struggling to fit much crafting in at the moment because golfing and gardening are taking up a lot of my time at the moment but I’ve got lots of inspiration for when I can get back to it xx

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 8:34 pm
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    Dear Grace, thank you for sharing your feelings with us. I hope that you can feel the love to help you carry on. I feel very honoured that you have included my card in your selection of fantastic art work. Thank you. God bless.

    Reply
  • 22nd April 2023 at 10:16 pm
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    Dear Grace, thank you for sharing your feelings with us. I hope it has somewhat eased the pain. You have been very brave, and a solace to your mother and grandmother. You have kept going, never forsaking us. I hope you can feel the love. am very happy that you have included my card in this week’s wonderful selection. Thank you.

    Reply
  • 23rd April 2023 at 2:17 pm
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    Love all the cards in your selection.
    With all the marvellous Clarity products and tuition we are spoiled when it comes to card making
    Thank you all for the time you devote to us

    Reply

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