Sewing ATC

I came across this picture yesterday of one of the atc's I did on a sewing theme for The Artist Trading Club. The background was handmade felt... my first attempt at wet felting (cool and so much fun to do ) I added chain stitch for extra decoration. The main image from lisa's altered art was added by printing onto t-shirt transfer fabric before ironing it on to the background. The only kind of ironing that I like to do...lol
I've been in a much better mood the last few days and I'm heaving great sighs of relief... the black dog seems to have been put in his place and has gone into hiding. I've been experimenting with some altered art...doing some sketches and painting and trying to find a style of my own. I love how you can recognise some peoples artwork and creating straight away, just by the style they have, but because I'm jack of all trades and master of none in my crafting I seem to flit around like a butterfly all of a flutter going from one thing to another without settling into a niche of my own. I do like to experiment as it's half the fun but I really want something I can go back to time and time again which lets out what's inside and gives me a head start. I feel that once I find my 'style' then I will have a starting block and I think you will see lots of journalling pages and altered art on my blog in the future. Wish me luck :D
hugs
Chris xx

If I were a rich (wo) man....

la la la la la la la la would I be any happier.... probably not :-D and as I hardly ever remember to play the lottery I guess there's not much chance of me getting rich any time soon... but if I feel like singing then that's good enough for me.
I did just that this evening....spending time with DG and my niece scrapbooking over the weekend definitely put a smile on my face (will show you some pics of their creations later in the week) they were so funny. Kids just seem to have such a unique view of things and I roared with laughter at some of the pages they did. Oh it certainly did me the world of good having that laugh and I was buzzing tonight... yes me!!! buzzing...lol
So I turned on the karaoke machine (okay I can hear you groaning) but I find singing therapeutic... specially when no-one else is listening.
I sang to myself (saddo...lol) for an hour and I enjoyed it soooo much I think I should do it again real soon... either that or I need to get out more!!
On top of that my mojo seems to have returned with bells on so today I'm not complaining (phew bet you're glad to hear it)
I got my hands on the new digital atc kits from Lisa's Altered Art and they are so cool.
I have worn out my fingers with all my previous doodling and journalling so 'doin it digi' was a welcome change. There are two digital atc kits to play with and the Christmas one really rocks my boat... tis BEAUTIFUL.

I can see this kit being one of my all time favourites :D

Hope you all had a fab weekend.

hugs

Chris xx

He sleeps....shhhhhhhh

It just wouldn't do to wake him .... you know who I mean... that pesky black dog. Like a naughty puppy.. he yapped and tortured me... he laid down and was quiet for a while and just when I thought he would give me peace he darn well decided it was playtime. I'm too old for this... believe me!!! Anyway don't know how long for... how long's a piece of string... but finally he decided I deserved a break and settled down to sleep and if we're all very quiet he may just sleep for a while ALL Together now.... SHhhhhhhh LOL

I managed a few more pages in my journal and took time out to smell the coffee
thought about painting my nails

and even managed to get me some beauty sleep

Hope you likeeee.

On a slightly more serious note I appreciate all the support I've received over the last week... thanks to each and every one of you who have left me a comment and/or emailed me. Depression can be a very lonely illness and although it saddens me that I'm one of MANY sufferers it does help to know that others can empathise.

I know that Depression is a difficult illness to understand (hey I don't bl**dy understand it myself and I've lived with it for years... it's become a lodger in my home) but from my own point of view I don't expect people to understand... only to accept. My close family and friends try very hard but often I shut them out completely and withdraw from everyone with my demons, but the joy is that when the light shines again they're there waiting for me no matter how many times the light flickers. That's all I can ask.

hugs

Chris xx

Don't read this if you're in a cr*p mood...

Just look at the pictures.
First go at a journal for when I can't see the wood for the trees.

The black dog had got me and because this is MY blog I feel like taking my frustration out here. I have nothing in the world to whine about but the black dog takes no prisoners and I don't get let off that easily. Two hours ago I was as happy as a pig in muck.... now I'm fed up, can't sleep and wish I had a punchbag tethered to my ceiling to take my frustration out on. I have so often put my happy smiling face out there and pretended there is NOTHING WRONG WITH ME but do you know what... THERE IS and why am I hiding it. Why are we so obsessed with people being happy and why is DEPRESSION a dirty word!! I suffer from depression... I always have.... its part of what makes me me... and part of what makes the good times better. I'm tired of pretending... tired of wearing a face on the outside that doesn't mirror the inside and the confusion that goes on there.

So from today I'm changing the way I blog... I'm going to blog for ME and if you join me along the way then that's great but if you feel like jumping off then that's fine too. If I feel like cr*p I'm going to say so and if I'm happy I'll say so too but WYSIWYG from now on. Some days I wanna blog but I can't... some days I wanna blog hop but I can't and some days I wanna create but I can't and anyone who says there's no such word as CAN'T has NEVER suffered from depression. I'm not feeling sorry for myself and I don't want pity... this isn't a pity party so don't bring cake... it's just a fact. It is what it is... and I am what I am.

Rant over.... could be deleted by tomorrow but what the heck... I did it cos I could... said it cos I wanted too and feel better for it!!

xx