Trying to be good!

My blog was taken off the air a few days ago, so I have copied and pasted it here. Please refer to the dates within the post.

Friday, 13 July 2007

For the past 2 1/2 years I have whinged daily in emails to my mum, aunties, friends and even complete strangers. They have all been very patient with me and for this I thank them. I have now decided to give them a choice whether to read my ramblings or to get out more...

Well, I have no idea what I'm doing here, but I guess I'm going to find out soon enough! I was thinking that I could get my thoughts down, show off my latest projects and discuss my latest ideas. I have many ideas. They pass through my fried brain at a rate of knots. Some pass out the other side and some stick fast. Trouble is I am what my mother calls 'a five minute wonder'. Some of my most earth-shattering, life-changing, wonderful ideas stay for about a fortnight only to be replaced by another earth-shattering, life-changing, wonderful idea! Maybe this blog is 'a five minute wonder', who knows?

I am fabricsmith, a painter, a creator of all things fluffy-wuffy, a cook, a mother, a wife and most importantly, 'a five minute wonder'.

The hobby that stuck the longest was bear making. That started in 1998 and only stopped in 2005 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Between 1998-2005 I made literally hundreds and hundreds of bears (http://www.sindiesmith.co.uk/) and picked up a few awards along the way.

I was featured in magazines and newspapers and designed patterns for Bears 2B With, Beary Cheap of Australia, The Vintage Velvet Company and Deans Ragbook Co. in the UK. Now, all this might seem like bragging but that is not the purpose of this dialogue. It is just to show that I can actually stick at something for more than five minutes mum!

So, what other smashing ideas have I had? It all started in 1990 when I decided to add an 8' beaded train to my wedding dress. This, despite me only ever previously using a sewing machine at school to make a much famed yellow wrap around skirt which I wore until it literally fell to pieces! The train was very successful and I hand-beaded it. I then added hand-beading to the bodice and leg of mutton sleeves...trust me, it was most cool in 1990! I then decided to make the biggest, frou-frou, fluffy blancmange veil known to the history of man. That was, of course, most cool too. I also made my bouquet, garter, knickers and bridesmaid posies. I wish I had a photo to show you but they're all in an old fashioned album and to be honest I can't be arsed to scan one! And anyway, you'd only laugh.

After that, I made my mum a beautiful full length red velvet hooded cape, numerous country & western outfits, curtains, quilts, and bags. Then I tried my hand at X-stitch, embroidery, sketching, flower-arranging and stencilling. I'm going to stop now as I'm even boring myself! But suffice to say, I reckon over the years I have tried just about every craft known to man. Oh, I mustn't forget glass painting, that lasted a little longer than a fortnight!

So.....here I am now in 2007. After 2 1/2 years of treatment for cancer; chemotherapy, radiotherapy and Herceptin (ongoing) I am spilling 'The contents of a frazzled brain.' It certainly is frazzled and now I have issues with memory and concentration. Also known as 'bunny brain', hopping about all over the place. My hobbies in the past couple of years have been card making (died a death) and currently painting (waning).

Emily, daughter, aged 15. Like the 'oh so moody' pose?

Gerard Way (apparently) of My Chemical Romance.

Painted for Mummy and Daddy. :0)
But now I have a new mega-doodle idea! I am going to be a world famous art embroiderer. I will sew art quilty things. I will be interviewed by Michael Parkinson and Jay Leno. People will ask for my autograph. Children will cry out my name in the street. In short, Victoria and David Beckham will walk in my shadow. But I'll have to start that tomorrow. That's if I can actually remember what the good idea was, or more likely, if I don't have another fantastic idea!!!