Fe-Fe's World Of Craft, Creations and Kids.

This blog was started mainly for my crafting, however I also find myself writing about my family life too and in particular about my son Josh. Josh is just Josh to us and we're used to his quirky behaviour. As I don't want to have to mention Josh's autism every time I post about him, I thought I'd mention it here. Hopefully you will bear this in mind as you read and it may give you a little insight into the wonderful world of the autisic child in a very gentle way!

Sunday, 21 September 2008

Raspberry Ribbons Sketch Three

My mum and I had a fabulous time at the Harrogate Craft Fair yesterday and, yes, I finally am the proud owner of a CUTTLEBUG!!!!!!! and lots of dies for it too! I got a cracking deal on it and I have already had a little play with it this morning. I've made a snowflake and a scalloped circle frame. Too cool!

Anyway back to Raspberry Ribbons! I did two pieces of work for this. I made the card first and then Jayne set a "Back to School" layout challenge on PCJ's so I thought I'd use the Raspberry ribbons sketch for that too. I sent them both to Caroline and said to use which ever she liked best and she's gone with the card so that's ok. If you'd like to join in with the Raspberry Ribbon Challenge or check out the other DT members examples please click here.

The card is made using papers, ribbons and button from Hot Off The Press. The lettering was done on my Cricut using the Tear Drop Cartridge and the stamp is by Judikins.

For the layout I used paper and ribbons by Blonde Moments. Prima Flowers. A Fiskars Threading Water Punch and the wording was done on my Cricut using the ZooBalloo Cartridge.

12 comments:

Dawn said...: Hiya Fe
Oooh a day out at a craft show - Bliss!!
Have sent your mum off some bits and bobs yesterday.
You will love your Bug, I got an alphabet at a good price off E-bay the other week too!
This is a great card - love that stamp. The stripey paper goes so well!

Hugs

Dawn
x; 21 September 2008 at 11:53
Unknown said...: Hi Fe, so pleased you got your bug at last!! Sounds like you had a good time at Harrogate with your mum. can't wait to see your creations now!!

Barbaraxx; 21 September 2008 at 12:19
Debbie said...: Glad you and your mum had a great time at the show - and you got yourself a bargain - yeaa good for you Fe. :) :) See you have been using it on your two projects and beautifully done too - both are great - love the colours on your layout and the card is excellent for a man. :) :)

Enjoy your bug - I use the wizard myself but use the bug embossing folders in it. ;) :)

xxDebbiexx; 21 September 2008 at 18:16
Cass said...: Gorgeous scrap page and cards. Glad you've got your 'bug', enjoy it.

take care

Cassidii; 21 September 2008 at 19:03
ScrapMomOf2 said...: Love your card and your layout! That back-to-school photo is so cute! I'm so glad you have a new toy to play with! Enjoy your Cuttlebug!!; 21 September 2008 at 21:12
Michele Kovack said...: Love your card and LO! Both are fantastic!!!; 22 September 2008 at 12:08
carolann said...: Brilliant LO hun so vibrant well done xxxx; 22 September 2008 at 21:08
Dawn Wheeler said...: Wow these are fabulous ,love them both xxxx
huge thanks for stopping by while i was away ,xxx; 22 September 2008 at 21:54
Deborah said...: Glad you and your Mom had fun at the craft fair! You will enjoy all the wonderful CB folders that are out now! They just keep adding more and more! I really like your sailboat card! The kiddos are adorable too! Deb; 23 September 2008 at 05:31
Deanne said...: i am so into greens at the moment, love your LO (note to self, must stock up on more greenery) :)

I've started a new challenge blog, you can pop on over to my blog for more details :)x; 24 September 2008 at 00:41
jay670120 said...: cant wait to see all the things you do with the cuttlebug , have you got yourself some cut and emboss folders they are fab !; 24 September 2008 at 08:22
carolann said...: Fantastic work hun I went to the Harrowgate craft show last weekend it was brill xxxxxxx; 26 September 2008 at 19:17

Ode to Special Mums

Ode to Special Moms(by Erma Bombeck)

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint, Matthew.
Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint, Cecilia.
"Rudledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint, give her Gerard. He's used to profanity."
Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."

"Exactly," says God. "Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But has she patience?" asks the angel.

"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wear off, she'll handle it.
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."

God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."

The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a 'spoken word.' She will never consider a 'step' ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will be present at a miracle and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her child, she will see it as few people ever see my creations."I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side."

"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, pen poised midair.

God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

"Welcome to Holland"

"Welcome to Holland" By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.