Memorandum Monday ~ Hair to Spare

If you're a Facebook friend, or follow me on Instagram, then you'll already know what's new around here this week. Apart from a short spell in my very early teens, I have had long hair almost all my life so it's a big change for me. One I'm happy to make for a good cause.

Sadly, far too many friends have had their lives touched by cancer over the past few years. There's not much I can do about that, but I am pretty good at growing hair. I found out about Little Princess Trust, the day *after* I had a hair cut, about 4 years ago. I decided to grow it again and I'm happy to report that this time I had a plait measuring just over 20" to donate.

Waving to Sian and the Mondayers on this damp and grey afternoon.

PS Several people thought I had my hair coloured as well as cut. The picture on the right is somewhat deceiving. I'm not really that dark. The first picture was taken just after lunch in sunshine and the second in the early evening. The colour, for now at least, is all my own.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #357

On the kitchen table this morning, the leftovers and scratch paper from sample making and kit assembling.

The first class of the month is a four card session. Usually building on skills I've already taught. Nice and relaxed with plenty of time to chat. It's not all about the card making. Here's one of them....

We've done ombre stamping before, but not directly to the card mat in one layer. There may have been a collective holding in of breath as the last few balloons were stamped. I think it's an impressive effect, using just one inkpad and one stamp.

An extra balloon was added with a foam pad to give some dimension and take the pressure off getting the sentiment straight. Also handy to cover up a less than perfect impression, if needed.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers this gloriously sunny afternoon. Happy Wednesday to you.

Memorandum Monday ~ April Fool's Day

AKA The One With the Left Phalange*

Friday dawned bright and fair. I jumped out of bed and promptly broke my little toe. So that was new. In all my 47 years, despite abseiling, D of E expeditioning, parachuting and a nasty bike accident, I've managed to keep tibia, fibula and phalanges intact. I'll spare you a photo of my injury and give you this instead.....

A new Sunday Social, photo a week challenge over on Instagram #dressmakers52
One prompt per week and there's a whole week to join in. That's very doable.

Week 1: On the Shelf ~ If you know me already, you'll no doubt be familiar with my set of Lemony Snicket books, used as a backdrop for my handmade cards. Pan to the left and you'll find a small, but growing, collection of sewing books.

Waving to Sian and the Mondayers, from the sofa, on this very wet afternoon.

*For the non Friends fans among you, here's a link.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #356

Desk Day again already. March is almost at an end and I'm yet to sew anything this year. The solution? A kit to make life easy and get my hand back in. I've always fancied having a go at making a tie and bought this, at the end of last year, when Sew Over It had a half price offer on their kits. I couldn't resist the polka dots.

Inspired by Jane and her friend Joe's tie making adventures, I dug the box out of my wardrobe at the weekend. I've ironed the fabric and pattern pieces, ready to cut out when an opportunity presents itself. You never know I might have some progress shots for next week.

Linking up with Julia and Co. this afternoon.

Memorandum Monday ~ Red Tape

Yesterday I learnt that my boy is (officially) eligible for help while at university. It has only taken the powers that be until now, well over half way through the academic year, to make a decision on our case. We applied in September.

I have filled in all the forms that I have been asked to and sent copies of all the supporting evidence that I have in my possession. The formal diagnosis, the Speech and Language assessment, along with various other letters from medical professionals and consultants, all experts in their field. None of it was considered to be good enough proof. They sent me this form last month.....

.....asking for the opinion of his GP on the matter. In the end it just took a couple of sentences from her (who incidentally has never met him), in a box on that form, for them to agree he is eligible. The letter she refers to is another copy of one I had previously sent stating his initial diagnosis.

The next step is a formal assessment, by an independent party, to decide what he actually needs to enable him to have full access to his course. Will that be by the end of his first year? Who knows? To say the process has been frustrating would be an understatement.

I have also learnt just how tenacious we both are. Although we kind of knew that already, from the three years it took us to get a diagnosis in the first place. I cannot help but feel my boy has been badly let down by the education system.....again. All the help, that the university said was available to him, is entirely dependent on Student Finance putting the funds in place. He has been managing (barely) with help only from me. A tall order when I am over a hundred miles away.

Waving to Sian and the Mondayers from a hilltop in Hardy country.

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #354

On the kitchen table today, a raft of Easter baskets waiting for ribbons to be tied to their handles. They are to be filled with little chocolate bunnies, ready to hand out to my nieces and nephews next weekend.

I taught a class this morning, which included those very baskets in a couple of different guises.

One to match an Easter card from the previous session.....

.....and a cheerful polka dot version with teeny tags.

Linking up with Julia and the Deskers on this beautiful sunny afternoon.

One Photo & Twenty Words ~ Landslide

I'm a little out of the blogging groove lately. There is nothing on my kitchen table for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. I don't have a set of photos to share for Snap! Instead I'm falling back on an old favourite. A meme begun by Abi and continued now and then by her readers, on the 9th of the month.

Not what I expected to find, when I reached Dinah's Hollow. The "School Run" was quite an adventure this morning.