Friday 9 October 2015

……. They all said "Hallo" and felt awkward and unhappy suddenly, because it was sort of a goodbye they were saying, and they didn't want to think about it. So they stood around and waited for someone else to speak, and they nudged each other, and said "Go on"……… A.A. Milne

It’s a bit of a sad day today, because I have decided to put  “Fiddle Fart” out to pasture! It will still be here, hanging in the ether, but after 5 years and almost 2,000 posts, I think I have done my bit in the blogging world. However, I still hope to post occasionally, whenever I feel the urge to “create”, to keep a record of that idea, so on the first of every month I think I will do a bit of a catch up...... as I have plans in the pipeline, like taking Tom's 30 year old wooden Galt bike and decopatching it for Iris for Christmas.
My life has changed so much in the past four years, and especially in the last 4 months, since leaving work, to be in Evesham for part of the week  to help look after Little Iris, which has left me with little time to craft, other than the odd family birthday card ........and ..... there's another baby on the way!!!!!
11889442_10205416578028813_7958093421656969358_nAs you know, I plan to move to Evesham permanently, fingers crossed, by the later part of 2016, and in an effort to be sorted and ready for that move, I have been spending most of my spare time sorting out my loft. This is a deliberately slow process as it is proving to be a valuable source of income (to help towards moving costs etc.), so I am e-baying an awful lot of the stuff I am finding up there, and in the process giving up the time where I would have once been crafting and blogging. At the moment, the pennies this activity is bringing in is “sadly” more important!  I have to be sensible and practical.  If I leave it until I move, it would probably all just get dumped in a mad rush, this way, I can do it with careful thought, especially, as I am rapidly finding, almost everything has a value to someone!
loI am also doing the same with my craftroom, slowly, surely and considered. I will keep all the tools and equipment and basic materials, but I am looking very carefully at all the embellishments etc. I have and questioning my need for them in the future. I have given myself about  6 months to get this all done…… and that is why I have to let “Fiddle Fart” go........
Face of MarmiteI shall, however, continue writing “Mum’s Monkeys” …. I owe those fellas so much, keeping me on my toes and making me see the funny, whimsical and poignant side of life, even on my “down” days. Whatever they get up to, they lift my spirits, no matter what, and they are a reflection of my life! However, I think that the number of posts may also have to change too, to take in the considerations of above. 
So ..... can I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has called by on a Monday and Friday and also those who occasionally drop in via Google, in particular:-  Pharmacy Michelle, Cheryl W, Tilly, Dianne, Di, Carol, Roni, Silvia, Mrs P, Pamela, JC2711, Krafty Karen, Susan, Marc and not forgetting Anonymous, for leaving so many comments, and I promise each and every one has been very much appreciated and never taken for granted.I will also always pop by and post a little something whenever I’ve been to London or Worcester to spend time with Marc, as our times together always send me on a mahooooosive roller coaster ride of creativity ……
…….. And that is the one thing that I will never be able to thank “Fiddle Fart” enough for, in bringing Marc and me together, the most special person I have ever known, we are true soul mates, and without “Fiddle Fart” there is no way on God’s Green Earth  we’d have ever found each other …….. and that’s one hell of a wonderful legacy for any blog to leave!!!!!

25 comments:

tilly said...

So sad to see you go..... we all have to move on in life and you have lots of exciting things to look forward to, especcially a new addition to your family.
Thank you so much for sharing your life and crafting activities with us, and your times in London, I think we all get on the ride lol......real life does have to take over and it will all be worthwhile..... hope you make lots of money from your loft and stuff to help you on your way. I shall look out for your updates from time to time. Mums monkeys will help us to know what special moments lie ahead!
Thank you, and we shall still have your creations to look back to... (as I did for McMillan coffee day ) lol.....
Tilly xx

Anonymous said...

Oh my, what sad news for those of us who read your blog. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading your occasional posts. You have inspired me to dabble in crafting and for that I will be eternally grateful. Xx

karen paulmonkey said...

It's been a pleasure to read your blog over the months-though I never knew what happened to the big blue box-life moves on so good luck in your new adventures and thanks for all the smiles your blog has given me.Good luck.x

misteejay said...

Life does bring changes and I find that I don't always get to stop & comment as often as I would like on all the blogs that I follow. I will miss your posts but will look out for any that pop up in my reading list in the future.
It sounds like life has lots of new adventures lined up for you Helen - make the most of them and enjoy.
Toni xx

grumpypickle said...

sorry to see you are "closing down" fiddle fart. Totally understandable - you have had some rough times. You gave lots of us such pleasure and we will miss you but YOU must come first now. Looking after Iris will be such a joy. So, good luck to you and the family and heartfelt thanks.

Susan said...

OH NO! Now I see the relevance of your A.A. Milne quote - I don't know what to say. When I've gathered my thoughts about this news I'll comment again :(

Susan said...

Following on.... You have so much to do and something has to give, as they say. I only found Fiddle Fart a year ago (almost exactly). I was stuck for male card ideas (3) with DIY theme searched Google images and a couple of yours popped up and gave me the inspiration I needed! The name Fiddle Fart certainly struck a chord with me - I could FF all day if left to my own devices! I visited your lovely blog regularly after that, eventually finding the nerve to leave a comment. I was amazed when I realised that you also made cards for departing teachers and school staff. What a coincidence.
I will be sure to check the site for anything new and perhaps look in on 'Mums Monkeys' too. Love the picture of Iris and Monkey (sorry, don't know what his name is)
Your resolve to take things slowly with the 'downsize' is absolutely the right thing and I wish you all the best for the move and new Grandchild-to-be. I hope you still get some time to craft your lovely inventive things.
This has to be the longest comment I've EVER made, but one more thing. I noticed the other day that John Lockwood from Creative Expressions has Fiddle Fart on his blog list (he's on telly y'know). www.johnnextdoor.blogspot.co.uk
Good Luck Helen and thank you!

Anonymous said...

This is so sad!! Thank you so much for all your inspiration, I've loved reading your blog and it's the perfect way to end a hideous Monday at work. I wish you all the best and thank you xxx

SeasideKaren said...

I know I don't post comments very often, but I always always read your blog and it always lifts my spirits.
I wish you all the best with your new life and completely understand why you need to concentrate more on real life than your blog right now, but just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU for the pleasure you have given me over the last few years.
Love and best wishes for the future, and I look forward to reading about your adventures whenever you find time in the future!
Love Karen x

Anonymous said...

This is sad news but it's a new chapter of your life and the monkeys will keep us up to date. I've loved reading all your posts and you have definitely inspired me, my bath panel is looking like it needs deco patching and yours is definitely the inspiration.

Wishing you all the best for your future!

Anonymous said...

I have loved all your posts (one of the anonymous bunch).....so many great ideas and beautiful makes. You let us all into your life, the good and the bad and that was very brave. I wish you every happiness for the future and a successful move, whenever that should happen. Best Wishes Moira

Di said...

Oh Helen - very mixed feelings here. Your blog is always such a source of inspiration and I learned loads from you over the years, it's also very genuine and from the heart. You will be sadly missed by us all but it's also great to know the reasons - and they're such positive ones. As always, Mum's Monkey will be my first port of call each day and, as Tilly says, we can find out what's going on from those cheeky boys :) So, putting selfishness aside, I'm so, so happy for you. Don't be a stranger if ever you're down in Hampshire!

Lots of love

Di xxx

Roni said...

I, like you, don't get much time to craft anymore and only manage to catch up on blogging once every blue moon (like tonight)! Our children are special to us but our grandchildren are just little treasures! It's a different kind of love and when they are in the room nothing else matters! The house could be a mess but when those wee faces look up at you and say 'gan can we pay on our tooters, peeeeeese' how can I say no! So out come the scooters as we go up and down the street, giggling and wheeing and the housework, worries and crafting is forgotten about so I full heartedly understand where you are coming from Helen! You have inspired me so much! I have loved your stories about your antics with Marc, I have laughed with you and even cried for you! I will miss you so much coz even though we have never met I still think of you as my bloggy friend! You take care of yourself and your gorgeous ever growing family and I will catch up with you whenever you feel the need!!

Huge big mahoooosive hugs
Roni xox

Ps I will also look out for any updates on Mums Monkeys and will still refer to your old posts on Fiddle Fart for inspiration! :D x

Simone said...

I have only just found you again and now you are leaving! Good luck with all the sorting out and eventually moving. Wishing you well with lots of good health, luck and happiness for the future. x

PharmacyMichele said...

A very wise (but sad )decision Ithink. I haven't even got a blog so goodness knows how you have managed to run two. Am glad you are still going to keep Mums Monkeys blog as its always a cheery place to visit.

I love your idea of going through your treasure I the loft & putting some of it on EBay- perfect solution.

Michele

Meatina said...

I only started reading your blog about a year ago, but I have read every post, picking up ideas for my own crafting. Hopefully Fiddle Fart will return, as I'm sure you'll be doing a lot of crafting with Baby Iris :)
Thanks for a fabulous site!

grumpypickle said...

So sad to see you go but really pleased for you also. You have been a delight to follow and have given so much inspiration to a lot of people. Good luck for the future and many many thanks.

Anonymous said...

Helen, I have followed Fiddle Fart almost from the beginning and have always found it a source of inspiration. I have laughed at your 'ups' and sympathized with your 'downs'. It is with such sadness that I have today read your 'retirement' news, but fully understand you have a new direction to follow. I have followed your Monkey Blog for the last couple of years and really enjoy seeing The Boys and their antics especially as I live not too far from you (I pass through your village from time to time), so recognize many of their haunts. I wish you all the very very best for the future and thank you for all the pleasure your blogs have brought. Good Luck

jc2711 said...

Hi Helen, so sad to read your post, but completely understand. Very sensible downsizing before you move. I moved earlier this year from a large property to smaller property, but massive garden :) I thought I did not own a lot, but now I have decided I do own a lot and need to move stuff on, however, finding time and the inclination is sometimes a struggle.
I will miss your posts dreadfully, I will cope by reading Mums Moneky and chortling at their activities.
Your book advent calendar is a fabulous idea, wish I had had one as a child, so much healthier than chocolates :)
Wishing you everything you wish for yourself.

Jackie and Bob

Silvia said...

Helen:
I know I will follow you with Mums Monkey and I'm so thrilled that you will be doing monthly posts!! Thank you for sharing your creativity, your joy and your life with the rest of us. You are one fantastic lady and an inspiration not only in crafting, but in living life to the fullest. You are so blessed with a wonderful family and wonderful friends and you are a blessing to all!
Happiness, always!
Silvia
(from Kansas)

Julie Oliver said...

I found this blog via Mum's Monkeys a few years ago and you inspired me to take up crafting. Thank you so much for all the tips and inspiration, it has been wonderful. Enjoy your busy time xx

marc said...

You may not blog about everything but i have so much planned for us lol your blog will live on as its a inspiration filled with so MANY WONDERFUL PROJECTS that peps will keep finding it ,Also Helen you have to show the little thing we made when i first came to visit you our little house lol .i to found a soulmate in you to ,YOU are true friend someone i have grown to love with all my heart , we were brought together by a RAK this FAB blog and our need to fiddle fart lol . we found a sparkle in each other that grew very quickly into a flame ,Helen we have cried together got drunk together and shared a hotel bed and a floor together we have done a wedding made 100s of things got covered in glitter and glue driven Rick mad with are constant craft talk lol BUT MOST OF ALL MY FAB CREATIVE WONDERFUL FRIEND WE HAVE LAUGHED TILL WE CRIED TOGETHER,Well Pal I would not let you give up fiddle fart a few years back as it was not the time to do it you needed it for so many reasons , but things have grown things have changed as so have you ,you are a new woman with a new path to walk one you have thought about and have decided is the right one for you and you know i will be there with rick and the gang to walk it with you ,Helen you won't ever stop being creative how can you when ever we're together and see something we can't help but think of the 100 we could do with it , Helen i have to say i have been inspired by your follows i have been touched by the love and care they showed in sad times ,i will look in on those who have blogs and wish them all ,all good things ,and HELEN YOU NEED TO DIRECT THEM TO YOUR EBAY PAGE AS YOUR ARE SELLING THINGS SO CHEAP AND THEY DESERVE AS YOUR FOLLOWERS TO GET A REAL BARGAIN BIG LOVE TO ALL and Helen i will see you soon big love pal marc

marc said...

lol i used a lot of Helens in that last post i nearly worn your name out lol and i must learn punctuation and how to spell, also as rick has told me for the last 25 yrs read it back before you do anything with it lol big love marc PS I DO LOVE YOU HELEN

Nicky Stevenson said...

Awww, I'm so sad to have just read this, I have gained so much inspiration from you over the years and am so glad that it will still be here as a truly fabulous resource for us all to use when we need an idea or ten!
We first got together using the crafty forums on moneysavingexpert, and it is such a shame that that isn't the fun inspiring place it used to be. :( I would also like to thank you so much for linking your readers to my blog, creativeflourishes, in the past. I SO need some motivation to get back to blogging!
All the very best with your new life and I will continue to look out for any new content and of course enjoy your 'boys' adventures.
Love Nicky x

KraftyKaren said...

Awwww thank you for the little shout out - I will look forward to your monthly posts and will keep up with what the boys are up to. I will always be grateful for your inspiration for the Liz Shaw mints - I make so many different versions of them through the year and they have become a part of the Marillion conventions when I make them into souvenirs of the weekend for all my friends. Just about to get cracking with some Christmas ones as we are on a cruise this year and I want them as token gifts for our dining companions, our waiters and our room stewardess. Good luck with all the eBaying and your eventual move to Evesham - it is such a beautiful part of the world, I have always enjoyed passing through whenever we have had a narrowboat holiday on the Avon Ring. Sorry I haven't commented lately, I have been up to my eyes with daily blogging for Blogtober and busy making for my fundraiser this week - I admire how you managed for many years to do a daily blog post and I always enjoyed reading your blog every morning whilst having breakfast.

Take care and enjoy the new direction that your life is now taking you xx