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Monday 28 March 2011

Major Catch Up & Why I Haven't Posted in a While {Sad Story}

Hi everyone, it's been almost 8 months since I last posted!
Gosh, it's a wonder I still have any followers left!

When I last posted in August, I knew that the next time I post would be in September, as I had a lot of birthdays that month, I guess I just never got around to it, and figured, 'oh I will post the pics at Christmas when I so my Christmas cards', however, my Christmas cards didn't photograph very well at all! So I though, 'ahhh screw it, not posting these pics'. On a better note, I got an awesome camera for Christmas!

Then in January, I got some news that would change my life forever.
At the time, I had taken up cross stitching again, which is another reason why I hadn't posted here, but I digress, (I will keep the story short and skip out a lot of details)...

In the early hours of 16th January, my younger brother went missing after a night out in the town with a friend.

At around 00:30, he became seperated from his friend, at this point he must have decided to make his way home. He was last seen about an hour later by a policeman, but because he wasn't aggressive he wasn't taken in, and because he wasn't paralytic no ambulance was called.
Yes, Steven had had a drink or two, but he wasn't a big drinker, so alcohol probably affected him quicker than some people.

The next two days there was an extensive police search including the force helicopter, dogs, police divers and boat, policemen on foot and horses. And of course all his friends and other people who knew Steven, and even people who didn't.

Sadly, on the 19th January Steven was found by a member of the public walking their dog, floating in the river.
When the ambulance arrived he was pronounced dead.

He had accidentally drowned.

Just one night and my baby brother was gone.

We had his funeral on the 2nd February, and we are trying to get back to normal now, though life without Steven will never be normal.


Steven, 08/03/88 - 19/01/11 - Aged 22

And this is why I am back. Steven always liked getting my handmade cards, (probably mostly for the money included in them though lol), and he wouldn't want me to stop doing something that I love, plus I have decided to start selling my cards for charity, one of which will be RASS riverandseasense.com which I have recently become involved in.

Anyways over the next few days you might see some changes to my blog, I thought it was time for a new layout. I am happy with this one, but I want to change this white part to a pink colour, but I can't see in the code where it is, so I will have to have a play with that.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I got an awesome camera for Christmas (I also got a Robo Lite!!!), so I have re-taken pictures of cards that I still had in my possession, so I will re-post those over the next few days.

Anyways, first up is a card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day. Which came as a complete card kit in a magazine, though I chose to omit the card it came with, and used my own.

Remember you can click on the image to view in full detail, and now that I have a new camera, the full versions won't be all crappy and blurry lol





I made a bit of a mistake in the top left corner, so I covered it over with a prima flower lol

I would like to enter this card in to the following challenges:


And that is all for now.
I will be back with more posts later!

PS. I am having a hard time trying to follow blogs at the moment, but I will keep trying!

13 comments:

  1. Very creative and beautiful card, thanks for sharing this with us at OSAAT. Hugs, Marjo

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  2. What a beautiful card the cross stitch is lovely
    Thank you so much for sharing with us at ooh la la this week
    Wendi

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  3. What dreadful news, I am so so sorry to read what's happened xxx Love your card, the xs is beautiful xxx

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  4. So sorry to hear your awful news. I'm glad you have started cardmaking again and look forward to seeing your new makes. Love the card you have made for your mum. xx

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  5. So very sorry to read your news - (hugs) Glad to see you back on MSE - Scatty Jan xx

    A lovely card you have made
    Thanks for joining us at OSAAT this week and hope to see you again soon
    xx

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  6. so glad to see you crafting again ~beautiful card.
    sending you many,many hugs
    vanessa xx

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  7. So sorry to read your awful news x
    Beautiful card

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  8. Wow! Your post is such a juxtaposition! The tragically sad news of your brother, and then the beautiful card for your mum.....Thanks so much for joining us this week at THE CRAFTY PAD this week. Hugs, Ali x

    Welcome back to blogland! x

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  9. Wow... what sad news about your brother. I am so sorry for your loss. I am sure crafting does help you feel whole again. This is a beautiful, bright and colorful card. Did you do the counted cross stitch on it? I am sure some Mom will adore it. Sharing your story will help you to keep the memory of your dear brother in your heart. God Bless You.
    Thanks for joining us this week at The Crafty Pad for our "Mother's Day" challenge. Hope to see you again on Sunday for our next challenge :)

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  10. Thank you Barbara, no I didn't do the design, it was a free kit from a magazine, I just did the actual cross stitch :) - And it is now winging it's way to my Mum, for Mother's Day :)

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  11. So sorry to read your story Jo, it must have been an awful time for you. I hope you are doing ok - it is good that you have your crafting to keep you occupied. Apart from that, love your sweet card, this is how I got into cross stitching too - great little kits aren't they? Thanks for sharing with us at OLL this time. Good Luck.
    Hugs
    Dawn x

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  12. Such sad news, i feel so much sympathy for you and your family.H
    Hope crafting helps you.
    Your card is beautiful! Love the stitching a lot! I can't do that.
    Thanks for joining us at OSAAT!
    Marianne

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  13. oh hun,bless you what sad sad news,my heart really goes out to you and your family,
    this is one gorgeous card hun,so beautiful your mum will just love it bless you for playing at creative inspirations this week,hugs cheryl xxxxx

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