Day of Two Halves

Hi everyone 

Well my since my blog post on early hours of Wednesday morning, I have been trying to sleep off all my worries and not very successful but at least in my bed I wasnt having to deal with reality.

Today I got up and got Jayden out to school and saw Ian off to work and then went back to bed after uploading part one of my ballet shoe tutorial.

Set my alarm for 3.20pm to let Jayden in from school and then came back up to my craftroom and started decorating one of the ballet shoes (done the other one later on camera)

about 4.30pm Jayden shouted up "Jordan's back" and I thought yeah okay Jayden, he is going through a very annoying stage of winding everyone up just now.

But seconds later I heard footsteps coming up the stairs turned to see who was coming up and it was Jordan, I almost squashed him to death with a hug honestly I just wanted to keep hold of him forever.

but once I let him go I started with a million questions.

Thankfully his lawyer who had applied for a high court appeal got a last minute slot in the high court this morning at 10am by 10.30am Jordan got a phone call at the prison to say he was being bailed and released his lawyer was just emailing the paperwork through to them. After lunch he got released with a bus pass and his £30 we had took in for him but no change so he couldnt use the phone box so he had no idea how to get home and had to ask lots of people before he got on his way finally, bus from Polmont to Falkirk, then Falkirk to Glasgow, then Glasgow to Beith.

He has had a harsh reality check the prison was 23hr lock down so he was in his cell alone for 23hrs of the day because he is on remand there is no work or training/learning nothing.

So he really struggled but thankfully one of the kids he was brought up with was inside and on his unit, he took him under his wing and made sure he was okay and didnt get any bother.

But he has said it was really hard a lot of time to think and appreciate what he has and going to make sure he holds on to it.

The new bail has no curfew and he is on normal bail so he has more freedom but I have gave him the advice not to be out wandering about after 9ish as the police will just pick him up for breathing the wrong way because he is known to them and is back out.

He has agreed and said he doesnt intend to, and for a first time EVER he has agreed to work voluntary if needed anything to just get him some structure and let the court see when he does reappear that he is making a real effort to turn his life around and no go back down the path he was on. Jordan up until today has always moaned about doing nuffin for nuffin so to hear this today was music to my ears.

He is ringing his support worker in the morning to see if she can arrange some training or work experience for him and what elese she can help him with to keep him out of prison.

For me I feel like I am on cloud 9, I honestly feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders and I can relax and know where he is and that he is okay. and tonight he went round to his friends and came home about 8.30pm and is now sat downstairs on facebook talking to his wee G/F.

Me, Ian and Jordan took Max down the beach tonight for a wee walk (I stayed in the car while the boys walked) it was great I sat and literally sobbed with just pure relief and tiredness all the negative crap just ran out, ian came back and gave me a wee hug knowing I looked upset and I just wish that this feeling would last but thats unrealistic, we then drove to dominos and got Pizza, I got texas bbq on thin italiano pizza the boys got meteor (loads of meat) and we got wedges and twisted doughballs to share. then we drove home, I got a wee jack and coke (diet) and ian and jordan had a wee can of bud each, Jayden got a fruit shoot.

and we ate and drunk while watching eastenders just perfect.

I have had so much support this week you wouldnt believe 

my mum & dad, my wee sister, my soul sister nicky, my brother and my sis in law, my online friends Amanda, Melissa, Fatima, my neighbour Heather & Katie a friend who lives nearby, and my niece Kim, and Wee Laura (her brother was in prison with Jordan so she gave me a lot of good advice and encouraged me he would be fine) and honestly without these people I would literally have crumbled in a heap.

I am one of the first people to offer help when someone is in need and I do what I can to help so I know that is why I got so much support but it is overwhelming really to get it back.

Normal schedule will resume shortly tomorrow we have some appointments for support etc but then we are all done for now.

and I can get back to doing what I love crafting.

Heres a wee sneaky peek at the ballet shoes project so far and some monday cards for my you tube series coming up x 

Enjoy and speak soon

Love and hugs always Karen xx

Never Ending

Sorry for the no post yesterday but to be honest things have been hellish in my little world the past 72hrs.

Jordan appeared at court yesterday and the court liason officer emailed his support worker and said he had been bailed and they were sorting him out a bus pass to get home.

7pm is his curfew time ans he still wasnt home, by 8pm I was really worried thinking perhaps he had caught the wrong bus or lost his pass god knows but we jumped in the car and drove out the bus route between our town and the court house in Kilmarnock, no sign of him anywhere, we got home at 10pm and I rung his lawyer just to see if he knew where he had gone or with who but it was his voicemail, his friend had already phoned the local custody desk to see if he had been detained again but he wasnt there either. 10.30pm his lawyer called me back and said Jordan had not been granted bail and was in the youth offenders institute 50miles away, he was being remanded for 7 days (dont ask me why they say 7 days) but after very little sleep I got on the phone first thing this morning.

Spoke to his support worker and tore shreds off her for giving me the wrong information, then my phone rung and it was jordan he sounded very chocked up and on the verge of tears I honestly dont know how I held it together to speak to him but I did, no one had spoken to him since he arrived (beyond other prisoners) and he isnt allowed to smoke they took his tobacco off him, I said I would see if he could get and ecig but I have since found out thats no allowed either. We spoke for about 10mins and told him we would be through tonight with stuff for him and money told him to try behave and that I loved him and I couldnt wait till he gets home. I then rung the family laison officer at the prison and got an idea of what he needed. to be told underwear and money thats it, everything else has to be bought inside the prison for security and they were prison clothes.

I booked a visit for Saturday afternoon the visits are all afternoons and one evening Monday

so we can only go 2x a week at the most for 2 reasons 1 is Ian cannot afford to lose too much time work wise and fuel costs 100mile round trip 2x a week is a lot of money.

So we didnt get home tonight till 10pm had a chippy for dinner and then settled Jayden, had to ring his school today and explain to them why he might play up as their is so much drama at home, but he had already spoke to the teacher (my son has no secrets) but Im glad I spoke to them too incase they thought I was trying to cover it up.

Sadly crafting is just not on my radar just now which is heart wrenching but honestly the lack of sleep and worry my brain is just literally coping hour by hour.

I got a stunning kit delivered the other day from our Scrimpy 

absolutely outstanding and I have a gorgeous canvas (well 2 I have ordered another pair of shoes from Amanda) ready to work on this project one for my niece Mirin and my niece Leah both girls do dancing and ballet included in that so this will be a perfect little christmas present for the girls for their rooms.

I am also waiting on some stamping up stuff coming (Im excited)

Stampin’ Scrub

Stampin’ Mist

Embossing Buddy

Clear Tiny Treat Boxes

Metal rimmed pearls

Paper Piercing Tool

1 -1/2” circle Punch

Cookie Cutter Christmas Photopolymer Bundle

Merry Mice Clear mount stamp set

Candy Cane lane designer paper

and hostess gifts

gift of love

lots of love

So I am dying to get my hands on them and have also just ordered this week

Cookie Cutter Halloween Clear-Mount Stamp Set (it works with the punch for the christmas bundle) Foxy Friends Stamps Set + Fox Builder Punch (super cute wee animals) Oh what Fun stamp set

That scrimpy has a lot to answer for lol x my addiction to laces and trims and now bloody stampin up x

but they are brilliant quality and I do use the sets I have bought so they arent being wasted x

Anyway going to sign out I think if you havent gone and hung yourself over my depressing life,

but it is 2.30am and I really need to try get some sleep as I have a few phone calls to make tomorrow including one to my doctor for something to calm me to get me into the prison for a visit x

Dont know when my next blog will be but until things settle they wont be daily sadly x

Anyway stay safe and well x Love always Karen x

Weekend Gone

Sorry for no posts this weekend, I have been hit by the gloom cloud,

Friday I had slept most of the day due to Thursday being very busy and being out and about it totally zapped me and I felt agony.

Saturday was much the same only I went over to my mums about 7ish to collect Jayden, Ian had dropped him off earlier when he was working over that way, When we left the house Jordan was asleep on the sofa, I shouted him 2x and he didnt even stir so just left him.

When we got home he was still in the same position we had left him, we woke him up to get some food and then he went to bed.

Sunday I really felt just tired, I have got conjunctivitis and my eyes are streaming constantly so it is easier for me to just sleep and let my body recover.

Ian came in when he got home from work but I was still tired so told him to turn the light out and leave me be, he then came back in moaning about the police but I didnt really register what he was going on about and then Jordan came up and said he was being lifted by the police for breaking his bail conditions, while I was at my mums on Saturday night the police had chapped the door and Jordan slept through it, they assumed he wasnt in.

So he is now to appear in court today :(

I am all for him being punished and dealt with by the court for the offences he did commit but since he has been on his curfew he has been sticking to it as he doesnt want to end up in prison.

But to be lifted when your innocent I really felt for him last night, but at the same time proud of him, he told them calmly that he didnt break his conditions and they said it wasnt down to them he needed to appear at court and he got ready and didnt kick up a fuss which isnt normal for Jordan.

But the police were giving him room to play also and said to him he could roll a few cigarettes to take with him and they would let him out for a smoke. 

I spoke to his lawyer last night and he told me not to worry they will get him home today, and if needed me and Ian will give witness statements to say he was here and was asleep.

just not what I needed this week.

So this morning I am phoning support workers and lawyers, he will be fine and Ian is coming home early from work to go pick him up after court.

So I have done literally no crafting this weekend.

I am starting to feel it though and really need to do something, so hopefully if I can get all these calls and things out of the way, This afternoon I can do a few card making videos for my monday series.

Anyway

Have a crafty week Love and hugs Karen xxx

New Car Day

Wow what a day, I have literally been on the go since before 7am this morning.

Couldnt sleep as I had a migraine this humid horrid heat is honestly driving me nuts,

so I made a few small cards nothing too fancy but they are cute. 

Then I woke Jayden for school and thank the lord he was fit enough to go back to school yeeeahhhh 

Next issue was getting ian up to the bank to check what was in the account before I started paying insurance and tax for the car, he came home and I had rung up the dealer for the V5 number to tax the car online, only to get it start doing it to be told I cant as the cars last owner had it as a disabled car so It had to be taxed the old way in the post office and fill in a different form a lot of whohaa about nothing. So 11am my brother collected us and drove us out to Grangemouth (about 50 miles from us)

so we got there and signed all the documents and then the guy escorted us to the nearest Post Office so we could get it legal (shoosh dont tell the traffic police we drove round the corner un taxed)

But we got that done and then I realised I hadnt had breakfast so sent Ian to find a sandwich bar or takeaway, he came back with a greggs tuna and onion sandwich which was absolute heaven.

We then had to find a petrol station in a town none of us knew, and we hadnt lifted the sat nav out of the other car before we left (and my phone doesnt have data as I am in the house 99.999% of the time lol) but we managed to get a petrol station and then find out way out of the town and back onto the motorway home.

But one thing we noticed driving home the windscreen wipers were not the best so we got to Paisley and headed to Halfords and got a new set fitted, then drove up to my parents and see my mum (hadnt seen her since before she went to hospital)

so we had a wee blether and they had a nosey at the new car.

Then we headed home, drove over the back country roads so Ian could get used to the car on different roads. Got home and waited for about 2hrs for Jayden to reappear (he had came in from school before we got home and went out to play) but come 6.30 he was still not back so we had to go shopping before the shop closed.

We went shopping, yes we I went in too but I can tell you my hips and my legs are really really feeling it and walking upstairs tonight was a very painful task.

but it meant we got all the essentials (Ian forgets about shampoo and conditioner, shower gel and things) so I got all that stuff.

We got home and I honestly couldnt even make it up the stairs my legs were so weak, so I lay on the couch for an hour and then came up here, emailed Ian's clients he missed today due to the time factor and the weather (it has not stopped raining up here most of today) then I checked my social media and lastly on here to write up my wee blog for today.

It has been crazy busy and with 3/4hrs max of sleep last night I am honestly ready to collapse but I have a bottle of coke cola zero and I am going to have a shaky handed little glass of jack daniels and coke tonight, that with my medication I will sleep like a baby :) I hope 

Anyway hope you all have a fab crafty day

Lots of love and hugs Karen  

Midweek Happiness

This morning started out with Jayden being sick, he has complained of an upset tummy the past few days along with his headache so yet again he had another day off school.

The postman came about 10am with a lovely parcel from Handy Hippo Crafts with my prize from their August giveaway, I was absolutely over the moon with my prize loads of goodies.

A huge thank you to Edie-Jane and all the staff at Handy Hippo Crafts for the brilliant work they do.

Got a call from the garage about the car and we are going to collect it tomorrow morning, So when Ian gets home I need to get it road taxed and Insured as my brother is picking us up at 9.30am (ish) tomorrow morning to go and collect it. I am super happy, now just need to try and find bravery pills to get out and learn to drive lol.

Craft wise I have done little bits and bobs nothing major

have been doing some playing with my watercolours just getting the feel of them and learning the basics, I have die cut a few bits and bobs and then made this wee card that I think is quite cute x 

I am in a bit of a rut with my creativity have been scouring pinterest for inspiration but as yet nothing is jumping out at me, and even with my new goodies today from Handy Hippo I am still struggling but I am sure it is a temporary blip and will be back to normal before too long.

Sometimes I feel that too many supplies can overwhelm your thoughts and drown you with ideas, so going to try tomorrow choosing a small selection of things and working with them only.

On positive news mum got home from hospital today which is a huge relief as my dad being with his limited mobility has found it extremely difficult and my sister has been run ragged trying to do all of mums work plus the extra load of running back and forth to the hospital.

Anyway I hope you all have a fab crafty day

Love and hugs Karen x

Sick Kids

Sorry for no blog yesterday but wee Jayden-Jack had a migraine headache and was off school.

Jayden got woke at 7am and said he wasnt feeling well had a sore head and felt sick, so he had a wee slice of toast and then gave him some medication to help the headache but with him being poorly I was dealing with him, so didnt really have much time to do much.

I did tidy my craftroom a little bit, as I made a small butterfly from an altered CD

I love it and when I had die cut it, I needed to find my crop a dile so needed to hunt through everything lol.

I love the colours of this and will add jump rings and then chain to it will be lovely.

I also got my stampin up order, I had ordered softly falling (snow falling) embossing folder, and the thoughtful banners bundle which was the stamp set and punch, so hand for so many different uses I love it.

I havent slept much through the night and ended up making this card

The paper is from the silent night paper collection from First Edition.

It is a lovely soft tone and ideal for the idea I had in mind,

The snowman was simply 2 circles die cut and covered with Aleenes Glittered Snow which is a textured paste with glitter in it. so pretty. The snowflakes were from first edition dies and spellbinders dies and the words are from tim holtz holiday script dies I love it.

This morning I have applied for the trimcraft design team, I adore trimcraft products and so buy a lot of them mainly from Our Jo at Jo's Crafty Pad over on facebook

I uploaded 3 projects to apply so I chose my parents wedding anniversary canvas, my bow card, and also a selection of notecards so fingers crossed, but I am just happy to have applied and they are seeing my work.

Mum has finally been diagnosed with spondylitis so she is being referred to a neuro surgeon to see if they want to do some surgery, but I very much doubt that they will want to due to the fact mum has a LOT of other health issues including her having to be on warfarin for deep vein thrombosis so any surgery means she need to come off her warfarin to let her blood thicken up and then once she is post op they need to thin the blood again but slowly so that the internal surgery doesnt bleed.

so I think they may try physio or some other form of treatment initially. She is still in the hospital at the moment as he blood pressure is very low and they want that to be up before the let her home.

Jordan has a meeting with his support worker today to discuss his options for improving his life and turning things around, so fingers crossed that goes well, Jayden is still of school today with yet another headache, so I am going to be making him an appointment at the doctors asap to get him a  wee check over.

The car we are still waiting to hear back from them so I as yet dont know what is going to happen.

Anyway thats it for now hope you all have a lovely day 

Happy Crafting Love Karen xxx

Serene Sunday

Short blog today folk, things have been very mellow here for a wee change, Jayden has been over at my neighbours daughters birthday party today since 12 noon and it is now 9.10pm lol mega long party lol but they are all having a ball my neighbour has been posting videos and photos regularly all day on facebook.

This is the card I made Skye from us

it is her favorite TV show at the moment this is not © for me to use but I havent sold it so I will be fine lol x (I hope) shush just dont tell anyone haha x 

But it is pretty and girly but also a little more grown up which is good.

Spoke to mum for a bit earlier on today and she is doing fine, tomorrow they are hoping to get the Ct scan done but it will just depend on how many are booked in and how many emergency cases crop up wither she will get the scan and the results done on the same day which is annoying but nothing we can do about it really.

The garage called late yesterday and the car went through an MOT on Friday night and failed due to suspension brushes so they are fitting new ones on Monday and then will resit its MOT and if all being well we will pick the car up on Thursday, my brother has agreed to drive us through and means Ian can pick the car up, I just need to tax and insure it before Thursday so it is legal on the road.

Anyway folk thats all for today, I have done a wee bit of mixed media work tonight but I want to see if it works before I say too much, if it works I will be videoing it and perhaps do a tutorial on here too x Anyway Happy Crafting always Karen x