I started crafting about 7 years ago when my marriage broke up. It gave me something to take my mind off of things. After about 2 years I bought my marital house from my ex-husband and after moving back in soon realised that I didn't have the time for crafting and sadly packed away all my goodies and put them in the loft.
In March of 2011 I had the urge to start again! Down came the boxes packed with all my crafting goodies, out came the plastic and new goodies were added to my stash! For a couple of months I was in my element. Making lots of cards and realising how much I had missed it.
My happiness was short-lived! In May my beautiful youngest son suddenly, unexpectedly, heartbreakingly, tragically passed away!!!!! He was only 20! He had suffered a D.V.T. and pulminory embolism and had died instantly. No pain, no warning. He was an avid online gamer and my ex-husband, trying to find a reason why it had happened, wondered if this could have been a contributory factor. He set up a website,TakeTime-Out to try and make other people aware of the possible dangers of spending too much time playing on games or working at computers for long periods of time. He's not trying to stop people from doing it - just to try and make them do it safely! Please check out the link for advice.
I completely went to pieces! I didn't work, didn't go out. I just drank wine and ate chocolate (resulting in a 3 stone weight gain!) The only activity I had was watching Create and Craft, I didn't have to follow a story line, or try and remember what had happened the last time and try and piece together who was married to who; who was sleeping with who and who was trying to kill who!!!
Gradually I got back into crafting - the pain is still as raw but now I have something which I love to occupy my mind, I get a small break from the grief. I'm not better, I will never get over my loss, but I am still here which is an achievement in itself. I am loving my crafting again, every card I make carries my sons, initials CJS.
So goodbye 2011, we don't know what 2012 has in store for any of us, but what is certain is that life carries on, try and enjoy what we have while we have it. For me 2012 will be just another year but I wish everyone of you a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Crafty New Year.
xxx
Ps thank you for letting me ramble on and get things off my chest - my crafting and my crafty friends have been my godsend xx
