About Me and my Craft Shed

Friday 15 February 2019

Six Plus years later.......

Well, just over 6 years have gone by, and many things have happened.  My love for Crafting is still there inside me, and I am trying hard to make it come back.  

2018 I thought would be a good year, but it was not to be.  In late January, whilst driving home, I realised I was being followed, and then realised I knew the person doing the driving, they were definitely chasing me, as they went through a red light at a junction.  This gave me the worst panic attack I have had to date, they were trying to force me to have an accident, however I did manage to escape, I am unable to say much more than this, just know that it was the most horrific experience of my life.  I only wish I knew what I had done to deserve it, but that we will never know.

In May 2018, we had to move from our bungalow to temporary accommodation, and we didn't move back till mid October.  During our time away, my Craft Shed was vandalised, and many items were stolen, what they didn't steal was thrown about all over the place inside the shed.  I found it very traumatic, and I ended up having a Heart Attack.  As many already know my Craft Shed was my place to escape to when feeling stressed, now it's a wooden building in my garden that needs substantial repairs in order for it to be used properly again.  Just typing this is making me feel bad, so it's best I don't dwell to long on it.

I am unable to decide at present if I should continue with this blog or start another, as my type of crafting has changed direction since my previous postings.  I not only have my Cricut Personal machine, but also one of the early Silhouette Craft Robo type machines, and a much newer Silhouette Cameo 3.  I have also returned to my early sewing type crafts, and hope to use the cutting machines in with the sewing, that with a combination of my Embroidery Machines, I think will be very interesting, and calming.  It appears that I have a Panic Attack disorder, which causes my hands to tremble, so cutting paper is not a good idea at present, the shapes would not be recognisable.  Cutting fabric does not seem to cause me as many problems, and I am positive the cutting machines will help me, and maybe I can return to paper crafting as well in the near future.

If you have any thoughts about if I should or should not start a new blog, let me know by leaving a comment - all comments are moderated, due to spammers in the past.  I would love to still share my crafting life - even if somewhat erratic.  Things I have lined up to make/try, a fleece jacket with machine embroidery decoration.  I have plenty of projects that can be made in the hoop on the embroidery machines.  Oh I'm thinking of being adventurous and toying with the idea of at least 2 quilts - the first will be a lap quilt which has a current working title of "Cats", so I can get a feel for it, if that goes ok, then a full Super King Bed Quilt!!!!  Ambitious? Yes, but if you don't try then you will never know if you can do it.

If I can get the Craft Shed back to "normal" working, it will be great, but I'm afraid there won't be many visitors to the shed any longer, as I do not have any "Fur Babies".  The only visitors could be the wild birds who visit, or neighbours cats that decide they need to inspect the area.

Sunday 23 December 2012

Scrapbooking

Well - I know it's a long time since I posted anything of interest, but I thought I would let you know that at present I am doing a scrapbook - yes an entire Scrapbook relating to the 70's pop group Showaddywaddy, it might be more than one - not sure at present.




I finally achieved my life long - well since I was 15 - ambition of seeing Showaddywaddy live in Concert.  I first saw them on tv when they appeared on New Faces in 1973, and have been a fan of their music ever since.  My Son will testify to this, as he was subjected to their music in my car as a baby/child

I actually now live in what is known to many as WaddyLand - the County of Leicestershire, where they started and were based back in 1970's.  They still are, much to my joy as you can imagine.  Not that I have ever seen any of them on the streets of Leicestershire during my time living here since 1988.  But I live in hope of course.

I've also now been to my very first live concert - Showaddywaddy of course - on 14 December 2012 in Wolverhampton, and I now have 3 more booked for 2013 which will be their 40th Anniversary year.  How many groups can say they have been going that long - not many!

Their line-up has changed a lot since their initial performance on tv, but 2 stalwarts still remain - Rod Deas - guitar and vocals and Romeo Challenger - drums and that deep deep voice that drove loads of us teenagers wild!!!  Go on girls you know he did.  They are joined by Andy Pelos - who has taken over Lead Vocals and guitar, from the wonderful Dave Bartram (now the full time manager and writer) who retired in December 2011 - and who didn't want or think they would marry him one day lol.  Paul Dixon on guitar, Rob Hewins - vocals, drums, guitar and percussion, and Dean Loach on Keyboard, guitar and vocals.  These 6 fine gentlemen will take Showaddywaddy into their 40th year, and having met them after the concert last week, they are true gentlemen and so happy to meet their fans and so appreciative of their fans.  I had the time of my life, and I really do mean that.  I can't wait for the next concert in 2013.

I will add a couple of pictures at the end of this post of me with 2 of the band members, and hope to add more after the concerts next year, with all the members of the band.

I knew that making my very first Scrapbook, on such an important thing to me as Showaddywaddy, would have to be almost perfect, if not totally perfect, so the right album, the right backing papers had to be my main starting point.

I managed to located and buy a DCWV Rockstar Scrapbook Album Collection on the infamous site of Ebay, along with ribbons, chipboard shapes, backing paper pads etc.  But knew that just one would never be enough, so managed to locate another on the same site.  I also managed to find out that Creative Expressions produced a Rock Star pad, which has a variety of different backing papers including shaped papers/card, along with chipboard items in the pad.

I will be making pages for the 7" vinyl singles that I purchased many years ago, along with some that I am able to get hold of now - via that famous auction website.  I was rather pleased to recently obtain a 7" vinyl of Dave Bartram's Black Ice, which is believed to be hard to get hold of, so I hope that one day I might just get to finally meet him so that I can get it signed - nothing would make me happier.

I will also be making pages for the Albums - CD versions, I was never rich enough to be able to buy the vinyl's when they came out, but it's more about the music and my love of the music, and I hope to express this in different ways through out the album - even making my own backing paper that ties in with the thoughts and theme of the title.  Of course I will include the cassette tape that played in my first car for years and years, even on my drive to Leicestershire on the day I moved here from London in 1988.

So on to the pictures - these were taken for me by friends - and as I have said more will come along as the album progresses. 


Julia & Andy Pelos - 14 December 2012 - Wolverhampton

Julia & Andy Pelos - 14 December 2012 - Wolverhampton

Julia & Romeo Challenger - 14 December 2012 - Wolverhampton

Julia with Andy Pelos and Romeo Challenger's head, and friends from Facebook Showaddywaddy group - 14 December 2012 - Wolverhampton

Hopefully I will have some finished pages to show you soon, but as they are 12" x 12" in size I will need to scan and merge them before I can post, so do bear with me.  If you want to know more feel free to ask, I'm happy to answer any questions I can or find out the information for you.

Sunday 4 November 2012

Tuesday 13 December 2011

My Pink Stamper



My Pink Stamper 12 Days of Christmas
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