The strangest 24/48 hours ever.....

Where do I start...

We were all struck by how covid-19 affected all our lives.  It continues to linger in the background, oh believe me it's still there. I live in Wales, Cardiff and being vulnerable is very frightening, I have had covid twice now and each time it affected me very differently. Long after covid started my first positive was during 2023 and the second time was 2024. The first time I did all the home tests and they were all coming out negative, my symptoms were getting worse so we were told to go to the hospital to get bloods done, this is where they informed me that yes I had covid, that lasted around 2 months of being positive. Yes I regained some strength afterwards but not back to how I was, then I got covid again.  This time a home test confirmed it,  and it lasted around 6 weeks.  Unfortunately everyone around me also got covid, we are not sure who had it to start but everyone, hang, K and Jon got it.  Covid literally drains your energy and leaves you feeling utterly paranoid as to how or where you're next going to get it.

Our family has tried to cope the best we can, it was only this year we all decided to stop wearing masks outside our home.  But still in wearing the masks in drs surgeries and hospitals just for added protection. Needless to say we will be returning to wearing masks.

Yesterday I found out how cruel covid can be, in fact I am still in shock writing this post.  I need to paint a picture of Jon, so that you can understand how shocking this is and has been. Jon, my husband is the most laid back person with so much patience I have ever met, he needs it with me and my autism as I am very unpredictable at times! He literally is a very calm person, never raising his voice never shouts, swears or argues, seriously calm! 

Out of the blue with no warning Jon started to shout but with rage and anger on his face, he ripped off his polo t-shirt like the Incredible Hulk, I am not kidding at all.  It was like watching a movie of Dr Jekyll and Hyde.  In a split second Jon had gone from calm quiet to screaming swearing, shouting, ripping clothes and everything he was doing was so out of character I instantly knew something was wrong.  The challenge was to get him help but he was not in any shape or form compliant or think he needed help.  After a couple of hours of coaxing and persuading I managed to get him to outside our doctors surgery.  The doctor (GP) was told what was going on and they thought he was having some sort of medical episode.  Unfortunately Jon didn't see that he needed help through the rage and aggression he was exhibiting so the police were called to keep him safe as a precaution.  Jon collapsed and was taken to A&E Monday night (2nd June 25), I met him in A&E and he was very quiet calm and had no memory recollection, missing around 6 hours when he was literally on the rampage. 

We were going to go up to the hospital yesterday to see him and find out what went on, but were told not to go as he had covid.  Not just covid, but apparently the new strain and Jon is now one of the only 8 people within Wales to have a severe reaction to this strain.  He has swelling on his brain which was pushing his frontal lobe? This is what caused the change in his behaviour. I am not savvy with all of this information but it's not good I know that much.  Then we found out that he has had this strain of covid for over a week,   it's scary as Jon showed no symptoms as all, he was fine, we had just finished shopping in IKEA! None of us are showing any form of symptoms, we all took covid tests, all negative, we are being hyper vigilant.

A few months ago Jon had a slight droop on his right side of his face, we went to get his checked out and were sent to the hospital where they did multiple tests and discovered that he had had a stroke.  The medical team were is shock as he is according to them very young to have a stroke, he is early 50's. That was a huge worry, so the thinking is that he was already compromised so when he got this new strain of covid it hit him hard. Thankfully Jon has his phone on him so that we are FaceTiming and talking via messages.  He continued to undergo tests and CT and MRI scans, after being pumped every 4 hours with anti-inflammatory medication. Apparently well enough to come home! So I await his return today hopefully!! 

I am so sorry my 2nd post back is so, well not probably what you expected, thankfully just heard in the last few minutes that even though Jon still has covid, the infection on his brain that caused the swelling has disappeared and he has the green light to leave.  I was really worried, and frankly still in a little shock at the events that occurred over the last 24/48 hours.  

Something lighter.... I have taken to dabbling in designing cross stitch charts, a sneak peek of something I am working on.

Here are some questions, if you can help, as I have been away a while and want to know:

1. Are people still interested in what's being stitched/embroidered?

2. If there is anything specific people want to see?

3.What don't you want to see? (be truthful then I will know and not post it!)

4. any returning tips? I literally seems to of forgotten everything!

If not responses they I will just do what I do lol

Until the next time, keep smiling 😊

Where has the time gone?

Firstly, I cannot express to you all that being here feels a little surreal after all this time!  I checked and my last post was 17th June 2018, literally 7 years ago!!! WOW! Let me tell you an awful lot has happened since then! I will try to unpack....

I had just completed my first year of my Textiles degree, in Sussex. Updating this now I am thrilled to express that I have completed my Textiles degree, after moving to Cardiff Wales to move to a better Textiles degree.  I graduated with First Class Honours June 2022.

For my final major project as part of my Textiles degree I created a a totally new 3D structure all hand embroidered apart from the huge wooden tree ring base, the tree branch within and the woven willow around the structure.  It was developed from exploring seeds and seed pods, I was fascinated at how seed shells protect the inner seed.  I using this concept to create an environment that was protected by a woven willow shell like form. Some photos of some of the elements I embroidered below:

It was whilst on my Textile degree that I started to push the boundaries of conventional hand embroidery.  I really liked experimenting with 3 dimensional 360 degree hand embroidery. Below a few of the things I have been experimenting with.  But also sharing with others as I launched an Etsy store with Hans (daughter) help. Sadly with all my studying my Etsy store had taken a back seat for a while, soon to be upon and running more active shortly now I am free again! 

I did go onto studying a Masters degree In Cardiff at the University of South Wales, and graduated literally this June 2025! More on this to follow!

I launched my own business : keeping a touch of Germany I adore so much having lived for so long there as a child and adult.  Zenf, this is something I love with my bratwurst when visiting Germany! Zenf is mustard! I will once I remember how blogger works again add a link on my page to my Etsy .... if I can!

How can I forget!! Whilst studying on my Textiles degree Covid hit..... OMG!!! Those were really tough times, thankfully out the other end now.

I did go through a really tough time alone in student halls all through Covid, to make things easier for myself I shaved all yes all my hair off! Thankfully its hair and grew back! As you can see from this photos that my phone recently decided to remind me off this time too! I left my eye brows! I mean I can laugh about this now, and think WOW I actually did shave all my hair off! Wondering what everyone else got up to during covid lockdown? I didn't really stitch through covid, I did however submerge myself into my university work, that kept me busy.

A few embroidery and stitchings I have done since I was last here! Oh I plan to stay this time, if there are still people that blog? I had to use Instagram for university but never really got on with it, so thought I would return to blogging now that I have the time.

1.Melting ice cream.

2. Front

3. Back

4. Crewel work tree of plenty I designed and embroidered.

5. Close of details.

6. Close up of details.

7. Close up of details.

8. Hand embroidered lizard eye close up.

9. Lizard eye.

10. This was a 100% hand embroidered project I undertook to create a Zen garden, the only element not hand embroidered is the wooden base.

11. Close of the red bridge and bamboo I had embroidered.

12. More Zen garden details.

13. The completed Zen garden.

14. A close up of the raked sand area that is made from thousands of tiny French knots.

15. This is a tiny miniature rubber plant I hand embroidered, only the pot that is not hand embroidered!

I have been cross stitching too, mainly adding a few stitches here and there to ongoing long long long work in progress projects!  I will probably get around to sharing here soon! I have also been designing! Something I never thought I would ever do! I currently have a fascination with strawberries, this one is one of my own creations I am working on, I will share more soon.

What else has happened.... hang got married! photos to follow if you would like to see them? Jon and I are coming up to our 15 year anniversary this Christmas Eve, yes we married on Christmas Eve! and going strong. We all now live in Cardiff, Wales and love it here, but would rather be in Germany! ha ha 

I think this post is long enough and probably a shock to most of you that follow me, to see that I am back after so long! Would be lovely to re-connect to you all again.                             

Wow! I have been A.W.O.L for too long!!

Wow! I cannot believe how much time has flown by! My goodness, where do I start.....

As a lot of you may remember, or not?! September 2017 I started university!! Eeeek!! I could not believe it, me going to university!! Doing a B A (Hons) in Textile Design.

I am so pleased and happy to say that I have completed my first year! That literally passed very quickly! I have loved every minute and cannot believe that a whole year has passed!!!

What have I been doing?? Oh, my!! LOADS!!! Ha ha creating my own fabric designs!! Print screen techniques on fabrics, heat press techniques on fabrics, Lino printing, mono printing, free motion embroidery, hand stitching, drawing, painting, mark making, essay writing, knitting, machine knitting, various fabric manipulation techniques, flocking, designing and generally having a wonderful time!

I set up an Instagram page as a kind of visual reference for myself to help me remember what I get up to! Feel free to go check out what I get up to whilst at university ..... HERE Lots of photos too!

Something interesting I did throughout the year was to take photos of my desk space...

Quite funny how it's constantly changing.

Oh yes! There is another place where you can view the projects I have done too ....... HERE please go see what I have been up to as I have really enjoyed it all.  |If I had to choose |I think the Gift Project has to be the one I especially liked doing as I saw my print and designs on actual items!! Surreal moment!

I have had such a great time, here is me and my helper Sue in the dye lab.... Sue is amazing, she is basically my physical needs aid, and to be homest I would not be at university without her help!

lol this is what happens in the dye lab! ha ha

And here is Boris, my pack horse! I use him every day to get around university.

Here is another photo, this one is of one of my peers, Amy, she is such a kind hearted individual .... oh and she loves pink!

Other news.....

I am still stitching for Hands Across The Sea Samplers as one of Nicolas model stitchers, I absolutely love stitching reproduction samplers.  Bringing a small part of the past alive again is rather special and I am enjoying my journey with HATS.  I have updated the TAB on my blog with the new samplers I have stitched.

I have the summer to draw, creat and stitch then its back to university in September.

Sorry for staying away for so long....

Hello! Yes....it really is me!!

Hello happy friends.... WOW! Where do I start? So much to tell you all....

I bet your all wondering what on earth my header is? Well something rather exciting happened....quite by accident too!  You all know me, how I love to create things, always doing something with my hands!! 

I shall start at the beginning! 

Unfortunately my glasses broke! Yes, they did...rather spectacularly too! 

How on earth I managed to snap the frame I just don't know!? So this happened and the opticians did not have another 'same' frame in stock..they ordered them in. Bearing in mind I cannot actually see without my glasses! That meant no stitching! 😧😕  I have been working really hard On the HATS design.... A little peek, this was me stitching watching my favourite box set! 

So no stitching meant I had to occupy myself with something else! I love doing wool appliqués, so thought I would have a go designing something! It's so much fun! I designed a Cacti and Succulent series, five designs!! And I offered them to lovely stitchers in two of my wool groups... Everybody really likes the first 2 I have launched so far. Want to see some? Ok!!

Here is 1,2 and 3! Little sneak peek for you! Hee hee 

They were a lot of fun to design and make up..... I have each one available in PDF.... That was fun! Ha ha Han and Kevin had to help out a lot!! As I am offering my designs free in the two wool groups I frequent on Facebook, I wanted to give something back..... To make fellow stitchers/crafters happy. If you would like to make these, I would love to send you a PDF! Just message me and put free PDF of cacti succulents! The last two designs are really interesting too 😊

Oh yes!! 'Jacqueline's Studio' - how did this come about?? It took me ages to pick a name, I wanted one I could use through uni too.... Do you like it? I mean Jacqueline is actually  y name after all!! Ha ha isn't it funny what I get up to!?

I have been working on some more designs, fitting that inbetween stitching HATS :) 

What else have I been doing? 

My tutor said if I do anything, to carry on drawing....so this is what I have been doing! I love drawing, love painting... So much fun. This was from when I had my uni interview! I am counting the days down until I start at uni!! It's currently 109 days!! Ha ha 

Just got my water ready to start painting and look.....Lancelot fancied the water! It's alright he's not up on my desk her! This was on my bed! 

Here is my desk! Me being creative...

This is out and about in our favourite coffee shop in town. I was savouring my oat milk coffee before drawing! 

I adore cacti and succulents...

Even drawing at the bingo with my dad! 

I found this plant, really liked it, not sure what it's called? Maybe it's a weed? 

Here it it....rather large! Do you know what it's called?

I have squeezed a little 'other' stitching in, just a small project....been meaning to do this for ages now! It's a Kathy Barric design called 'Good Intentions' ..... I stitched it 1over 1 on 32 count Belfast line in rue green.

A little perspective whilst stitching...

And my own personal touch ...

I have been out and about too.... Yes to the local coffee shop in town, I seem to be frequenting there a lot! It's the coffee!! The only place in town I can get a coffee, oat milk capacchino mmmmm!! 

I also went on a mystery tour with Han and Kevin....a lot of traffic on route

Ended up here! A huge yellow and blue place.....

Yes!!! IKEA!! I love it there, could visit it everyday if I lived closer.

Also went out to Brigton on the 12th...Hannah's birthday 😊

Jon came too, so we decided to make a day of it! 

Loading up the car with mine and Jones scooter....fun!

Thankfully our car is MASSIVE! so we know they fit! Han and Kevin do an amazing job fitting them in....

Happy birthday for Han.... Can't believe she 22 now! Where has the time gone? 

Here I am! I wanted to share with you all my ever changing face! Lol and my dark eyes from not sleeping very well! If your wondering ....yes those are decorations on the walls! Han refuses to take them down, she wanted to leave them up all year!! So why not?! 

I think that rounds everything up? I will try hard to pop back again soon but I am stitching loads to get this HATS design finished. We are all going on a short break (one week) to Cornwall soon..... So exciting as we have not had a holiday in so so long, it's going to be brilliant.  AND!!.... I am going to drop in on someone for a little visit!! Nicola Parkman, the person behind Hands Across The Sea Samplers.... Eeeeeekkkkk!!!!! I actually get to meet her!! How awesome right??! Soon!!  Will tell you all about it! 

Ok.... Thank you for popping in... Take care until next time 😊