I didn’t say anything before because I didn’t want people of a dubious nature to know that I was away from home….. but on Monday I went off to London to stay with Marc for a few days …… needless to say it was WONDERFUL …. and I didn’t really want to come home!!
I really, really needed to see Marc ….. last Sunday I was struggling with the the idea of continuing to blog as I hadn’t got any scheduled posts in the pipeline or any inspiration, it looked like the end of the road, BUT I knew if I talked to Marc he would give me a “right good” kicking up the posterior ….. 
…… which, believe me, he did ….. he told me that I had become very good at “doing a very good job of doing nothing!!!!!!! ” … which was so true! When the Duke was with me I was getting up at 5.00 to work in the office, do a days work at school and then come home to get tea and then another hour or so of blogging or crafting…. and now, all I have managed to do since Christmas of note was a big fat nothing ….. except for Tom and Laura’s wedding invitations, but in the “olden days” those would have been done weeks ago, boxed up and ready to send out!!!
But now, thanks to Marc I am back on track ….. after my aforementioned telling off. We talked non stop craft, watched quite a lot of Create and Craft, going yuck or ahhhh in turn at the various items, perused the internet for ideas, and drank mahooooosive vodka and cokes from pint glasses and posh coffee …… it was bliss!!!! 
….. And when I got home ……. I immediately started work on the mahoooosive canvas that I had for Christmas, sketching it out at about eleven o’clock, within an hour of my getting home ….. mad or what?? As you can see I am going about it in a very hodge podge way, but then I haven’t really painted anything “proper” since I was at school ….. many, many moons ago!!!
However, I am back on track, there will still only be two posts a week on a Friday and Saturday, but there is a renewed spring in my scoring board ….. all thanks to Marc…… xxxxxxx
Marc sounds like such a golden person. So glad you have a good friend like him and he keeps you blogging. Your readers (me!) would miss you terribly if you weren't there. Can't wait to see the finished canvas--it's already magnificent!
ReplyDeleteIts you who is a inspiration and i only put a apark to the kindle that is your natural love and talent as i knew theat as soon as the winds of inspiration took hold you would burst in to flames the fires of your imagination would take hold and the air would be filled with the sparks of new idies first i love the photos of the scarfs and shoes they are a fab but what can i say about that canvas apart from WOW i want it lol only joking lol that is to go on your wall to show you what can grow from those sparks big love and thank you for a wounderful time and just for being you big love marc
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful that you two have such a fantastic friendship. True friendship is a gift. So pleased for you Helen.
ReplyDeleteSharon Louise x
Hi Helen, oh WOW - your canvas is going to be totally stunning. So glad you had fun with Marc and Rick - and that the gentle kick in the posterior helped. You're doing brilliantly, but the break and change will have been good - and what a fabulous friend you have in Marc. He's so like my beloved Alex was - ha, I bet you did some real bitching too :))
ReplyDeleteHugs, Di xx
So glad you had such a fabby time with Marc.
ReplyDeleteLoving the canvas.
Sounds like a great break away to refresh - everyone should have a Marc in their lives - he sounds fab!!!
ReplyDeleteso pleased you had a great time with Mark and Rick, sounds like a good kicking to start that canvas so quickly lol, love the shoes and wow, vodka in a pint glass !!
ReplyDeleteTilly
can't add anything to the above - just a big fat hug!! x
ReplyDeleteDitto! xxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteCarol.x
This is going to be fab Helen. I wish someone would give me a kick up the bahookie, I've been a bad blogger recently, just can't get motivated, think the dark winter days has a lot to do with it. Xx
ReplyDeleteI so recognise the feelings ...I changed after my husbands death ...like you I did loads and then I basically had asort of breakdown. I wish I had had a Marc ...my friends deserted me as they were really his and the kids did their best.13 years on and I so wish I'd been pushed ...I stll have never got back to the person I was.
ReplyDeleteLove what you are doing with the canvas....and those photos you took must inspire you ...take Care....and dont give up the blog xx
Sounds like you had a fab time, Helen, and pleased that Marc gave you a talking to. I miss logging on daily to see your posts, it used to be the first thing I did. But just to still get your little gems on a Friday and Saturday is worthwhile. Things have been tough for you, Helen, and you can be forgiven for wanting some time to yourself, and time to take stock and re-juvenate your home/craft space. But you do have a natural nack for creating some wonderful little things and what I like is that your stuff isn't overly flouncy as some of the things out there at the moment; everyone seem to make cards 'the same way' and it has become quite boring seeing the same things time and time again, which is why your blog is so refreshing. I like that you make a multitude of things, and nothing ever needs masses of expense, simple but very effective ideas. Thank you for all that you do and share with us... x
ReplyDeleteHello Helen, sorry I haven't posted any comments for a while. I have been looking at your very worthwhile twice weekly offerings but like you and one or two others, I seem to have lost my 'mojo' a little. We all seem to have different reasons for our lack of enthusiasm but I'm glad you still have Marc to talk to about your problems. He always sounds so positive about things and I know that his 'kick up the backside' will have been a very gentle one, encouraging you to keep going, using those fabulous natural talents that you have. Think I could do with visiting Marc as well, ha! ha!
ReplyDeleteYour canvas looks as though it will be an absolute stunner but then I wouldn't expect anything else from you.
Keep up the good work, we would all miss you very much if you didn't.
Take care
Toni xx
Hello helen. I am so glad that you had a wondeful time with marc over the half term. It so does you good to change scene sometimes. Love the piccy of the shoes. If i could i would have a pair of each. I used to be a killer heel person before the disability kicked in so am as jealous as anything of people that can wear them!!! Love the canvas and cant wait to see how it turns out. Good to see you feeling a bit more enthusiasm about your crafting. louise xx
ReplyDeleteHate the idea that the blog is a source of angst. Have you read this post? Bloggers without obligation. http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233 I am sure your Followers are hoping your mojo returns and happy that good friends like Marc are nudging it along. Love from a big fan. Linda x
ReplyDeleteCan i just say to all those who feel a bit lost or down or have lost that person they use to be dont look back and try and find that person you wont ever find them they were their for that part of your life but what you can do is take the parts you liked and move on with them bits your be surprised what roads your go down it will never be easy it will never be perfect but if you go with eyes wide open and a belife in your self then you will do what is best for you i have a saying that i try and do and that is to say your something special your the only one of your kind if you were a plant or another species peps would wrap you up look after you and so in that vein i am to special so it down to me for my own survivel and well being to take time out to make sure that you are told just how special you are and to try and give out a bit of love each day becuase what i give out in love and caring i know will come back to me a 100x over so take time out each day to think just how wounderful and special you are you really are one of a kind when you die you will be exctint and that will be so sad but if you leave your love in others hearts or touch their lives in some way your live on in them and thats you being special so BIG LOVE TO YOU ALL AND LOST MO JO IS ONLY REAL TALENT HAVING A SLEEP SO THAT IT CAN COME BACK REFRESHED IMAGINE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE IT TO LOSE HOW SAD WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN
ReplyDeleteMarc I don't kno you but I love you lots and thank you!! Thank you for your words to all us crafty folk and thank you for keeping our Helen here with us in blogland!!
ReplyDeleteHelen loving your canvas, it's full of fun!
Big hugs
Roni :D xox