Shoshiplatypus

The downward spiral

In 2020 we longed for the normality of 2019. In 2021 we thought that perhaps 2020 hadn’t been so bad after all. “Three weeks to flatten the curve”? Hmm. The majority are ruled by fear and are willingly giving up their basic freedoms and submitting to totalitarianism. However, for the Christian, there is hope.

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Luke 21:28)

The words of Jesus in the Bible, where all the chaos in the world in these End Times – wars, rumours of wars, natural disasters, plagues, economic collapse, political mayhem, social unrest, moral collapse and more – was foretold thousands of years ago. We know where we are heading, and why, and why it is so important to get right with God now, before it is too late. Please visit my “New Life in Christ” page (tab at top).

Regarding my last post, I said don’t respond till you’ve watched all the videos in their entirety. Most clearly didn’t. I said don’t shoot the messenger. They shot the messenger. Oh well, one does one’s best. I only wanted to help. You can take the horse to water…

The nation’s loss

This year our Queen lost her beloved husband at the age of 99. I shall never forget the heart-rending sadness of that image of her sitting alone during his funeral.

God save our gracious Queen.

On a more personal note…

What I made in 2021

I’ve been pretty busy and productive this year! So button up, grab a coffee and let’s get going.

Crochet

I completed the Kitty Throw that I began last year for my hubby. Here he is on his birthday, thrilled with it. He had absolutely no idea I was making it so it came as a complete surprise.

I began the Persian Tiles throw.

I have not made much more progress than this.

Knitting

I completed my purple circles jumper.

Cards

I finally got organised with card making this year, and learnt how to do it more efficiently, which has made the whole process a lot more enjoyable than previously. I made several one-off cards for special occasions as well as some batches for my stash.

Valentine card for my hubby

Birthday cards

One of my Celtic knot designs.

An impression of our garden for my hubby.

One of my embossed butterfly cards – more later.

A card using elements cut with my electronic cutting machine.

Some “thinking of you” cards

One of my Florabunda designs, coloured with Tombow dual markers.

A card using die cuts over an inked background.

Wedding anniversary card for my hubby

Teabag art.

A thank you card

Using different techniques on the ToDo machine (more later).

In September I went to a church craft festival and took part in a basic card making class, which was an interesting experience, making someting with very limited materials and equipment.

Embossed butterfly cards

Another of the cards with an embossed glossy photo paper background with multi-layered butterflies.

Batches of cards

In the latter part of the year I got down to some serious batch-making of cards.

Folded down squares cards

These were designed in Inkscape and cut with the electronic cutting machine. Small cuts were made in the card in a regular grid pattern and then the corners were folded down to create the effect.

Butterfly cards

I bought a stamp and die set (more later) and used it for this batch of cards, employing a variety of techniques.

Patchwork cards

Using a variety of papers from my stash which I didn’t think I’d ever use.

Applying some ink added a bit of character to the papers.

Filling in the gaps with gilding flakes.

Using up all the little scraps.

Blue and white monochrome cards

A selection from the set of monochrome cards I made, using different techniques and adding 3-D flower embellishments.

Sentiments

I mass-produced several different sentiments for use as required on cards, foiling and die-cutting some, and printing some on the computer.

Inkscape and Sheba cuts

(Sheba is the name I gave to my cutting machine.)

I’ve done quite a bit of Inkscape vector designing this year, including the “folded down squares” cards above.

This is an example of one of the sentiment designs I found online, which I adapted and improved. Multi-layered.

Lattices cut with Sheba.

Frame design adapted from an image found online.

More sentiments.

Leaf designs.

Backgrounds

Some tags, ATCs and other pieces made by mopping up paints and inks.

Backgrounds created with Distress Oxide inks over 3-D embossed glossy photo paper.

Mixed media backgrounds.

Some ink transfer backgrounds using a technique by Jennifer McGuire.

Foiling

As well as making foiled sentiments, I also created some foiled backgrounds using hot foil plates.

Painting

A Pakistani-style art card that I made for the surgeon who performed my breast operation in the summer. Painted with acrylics, with added glossy accents and Stickles glitter glue, and some Perfect Pearls.

Die and stamp storage

As my collection of dies and stamps increased, I really needed to organise them better so that I would know what I’d got and actually use them. I began with the dies.

I added strips of self-adhesive magnetic tape to heavy cardstock and attached the dies to this. These were then put into clear pockets along with the original packaging.

They were then stored in baskets, with laminated dividers to separate them into categories.

I made a start on my stamps as well, but have not yet completed this, as I have quite a large collection.

Laminating

I bought a laminator this year and first put it to use making the dividers for my stamp and die storage. The card was printed on the computer and then trimmed to size and laminated.

Mosaics

At the church craft fair I also took part in a mosaic making class. I wasn’t over-impressed with my result, but it did give me inspiration for further ideas.

CD recycling

I discovered this idea online, to use old CDs and DVDs to make mosaic tesserae. It’s pretty labour intensive but I found I could cut up the CDs while watching TV.

After separating the layers of the discs, you have to clean off the dye with alcohol, and then cut the clear plastic into squares.

I printed off the alcohol from one disc onto a piece of card and got an interesting design, seen in the centre of the above picture. On the left is some of the foil, removed with packaging tape and then stamped. The holographic colour is greatly exaggerated when photographed. The squares were painted with acrylics and then melted in my multi-cooker and the tesserae were created. I’ve still got a lot more to cook, and many more discs to recycle too.

New art and craft materials

Quite a lot of new stuff this year, including a gorgeous new knitting back and pencil case from my hubby for my birthday.

I had a wonderful surprise gift this year, as well – a ToDo foiling machine, which can also be used for die-cutting and embossing, and because it is much larger than my Cuttlebug, I can now work with larger projects.

To go with this, I bought some hot foiling plates and rolls of hot foil.

Stamps and dies

Matching stamp.

Layering stamp and die set – Chinese, from Ebay. No instructions, so it took a long time sorting out how to use it!

I made this card with it, using the design created by stamping off the dye from a recycled DVD (see above):

Butterfly stamp and die set – very versatile. I used these to make the butterfly cards above.

Other dies.

 

 

3-D embossing folders

Inks and pens

New Distress inks.

Staedtler fineliner pens.

Replacement guillotine.

Gel press. I haven’t used this much yet – first attempts not very satisfactory!

Laminator

Something I have wanted for a long time. So far it has been used mostly for making the dividers for my stamp and die storage, but I had some fun laminating some pieces of paper napkin and incorporating them into cards.

Other miscellaneous bits of kit

T-ruler – something else I’d been hankering after for a while, seen here with a new 3-sized corner rounder.

Accessories for my stamping platform

I watched some of Jennifer McGuire’s videos where she has lots of hints and tips for using the Misti stamping platform. I have the Tim Holtz one, but the principle is the same.

Misti Creative corners – work just as well in my platform.

Sticky mat.

I created a grid on the computer and printed it on acetate, trimmed it down and added sticky mat adhesive.

Personalised stamp guides.

Personalised stamp jig – for centring my “Hand-made by” stamp on the back of cards.

Gyrocut revived

Ages ago I bought a Gyrocut at a craft show – a nifty little swivel-ended knife for freehand cutting. I’d never really mastered it so decidd to give it another go. Here is one of my practice sheets that I printed on the computer.

I think that pretty much wraps up everything on the creative front that I’ve achieved this year.

Guide dog sponsorship

This year I began sponsoring Lily, a German Shepherd puppy, as she began her training to be a Guide Dog.

She’s grown into a really handsome dog, and is doing well with her training.

Unfortunately my hubby’s dog, Ginger, has failed to make the grade as a Guide Dog because of some discipline problems. They obviously don’t know at the start how each puppy will perform and not all of them turn out to be suitable. Ginger is being adopted into a loving home and will not have to work for her living! My hubby now has another puppy to sponsor.

Outings

I haven’t been out much at all this year, apart from going to the hospital. Not that I mind – I am very happy at home, with lots to do, and I am never bored!

We went to Babbacombe in April.

A gorgeous spring day, and lovely to see the blossom trees.

We went to Oldway Mansion in September.

Food

I’ve continued to post about food and nutrition, and sharing recipes throughout the year. We continue to enjoy our whole-food plant-based lifestyle and appreciate its benefits, maintaining a healthy weight and having no problems with blood pressure or cholesterol etc. The doctor is very pleased with my hubby’s health these days!

New Kitchen equipment

Vitamix

I got my Vitamix earlier in the year. After a blip initially, with the first, lower-spec model going wrong and being returned, I bought the hi-spec one. A huge benefit all round – I love this machine!

Juicer

I also invested in a juicer and use this regularly to make mixed fruit and veg juice, my favouite being pineapple, celery, apple and carrot.

I also had to replace my iron which broke down.

A monster, but it does the job brilliantly!

Our garden through the year

We have continued to enjoy our beautiful garden, although we didn’t manage to spend quite so much time out there this year, with my health problems and my hubby being pretty busy. Here are some montages.

Apple blossom, early May.

Our magnificent Clematis montana, early May.

Apples from our tree – first crop, late August.

We had plenty of apples this year, but not quite on the scale of the bumper crop last year.

Kitties

I took far too many photos of our girlies this year to repeat them all here, so I’ll pick a few highlights, month by month.

January. My favourite picture of Ruby for the whole year!

February. Ruby helping me make the Kitty Throw.

April. Ruby enjoying the first spring sunshine.

May. They were four years old this month.

June. Lily peeking through the bannisters.

July.

August. Lily doing her shamelss hussy act.

September.

October.

November.

December. Things have come to a pretty pass. My poor hubby.

Health

Parastomal hernia

Still no news on my on hernia repair. I’ve been waiting three years now, and have more or less resigned myself to the fact that it is never going to happen. Fortunately I am managing it pretty well and it’s not causing me any major problems.

Breast cancer

My major health news this year was that I found a lump in my breast in early May, which turned out to be cancer. I have done extremely well and have now been declared cancer free. I had a lumpectomy in July, followed by five days of radiotherapy in September, and to my great relief I did not need to have chemo. I had a bone scan in September to establish a baseline as I began my oestrogen-blocking therapy, and was told that for my age, my bones are in a very good state. Whole-food plant-based living is great for your general health! Because the medication almost immediately caused the return of hot flushes, I have been adding soya (rich in phyto-oestrogens) to my diet at every meal, and the symptoms have gone away. I have to be on this medication for five years.

My hubby’s health

My hubby has diverticular disease, and we had a bit of a scare in August, while I was still in the early days of my recuperation after my breast surgery and still needing a lot of help because I wasn’t allowed to lift anything. My hubby suffered severe abdominal pain and was admitted to hospital, but after a few days’ observation he came home. It was an attack of diverticulitis and they booked him in for a colonoscopy which showed that the area of disease had spread a bit, which he suspected anyway because he was getting pain in a different area. They were pleased to hear about his diet because a high fibre diet is very good for this condition. The only thing he wasn’t doing was drinking enough, so I have taken this in hand and make sure he drinks his two bottles of water each day and this seems to help.

He was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism this year, and is on medication for that now. His weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels all remain very good.

 

I think that’s really all my news at the end of this year. I wish all my visitors a very happy New Year and it would be nice to think that things might improve in the coming year but I do not believe that is likely, given what is going on.