Hi everyone,
I wanted to pop in here today just really to catch up in ‘real time’ with everyone.
As you know, I blog and film my videos ahead of time, and the posts that are appearing on here were written before I went to America in February and of course, pre Coronovirus. The upside to that is that each blog post is as much a surprise to me as it is to you!
But in the couple of weeks that I’ve been home from my trip, the world, literally, has turned upside down, so I wanted to grab some time to sit at my computer and catch up with you.
Many of you follow me on my Facebook Page or are members of the Pootles Craft Forum, also on Facebook, and I’ve been doing my best to keep up with everyone there, but not everyone is.
I’ve done a handful of Facebook Live Broadcasts on those places, really just to chat, check in (show what life is like with cats who can’t give me space on my craft desk…!) and reach out to those who are in the total isolation group – the vulnerable. While that previously didn’t apply to me, the UK has now gone into full isolation for everyone, with the exception of key workers, and I want to maintain that open channel and chat with everyone, no matter whether you’re in the vulnerable bracket or not. These are unprecedented times, and I don’t even vaguely begin to profess to be a psychologist, but what I do know is that I’m very well used to being at home on my own for hours and days at a time. This is not unusual for me, but for you, it might be hard. So as I recently said on one of my live broadcasts, please know that you can email me, pm me, dm me or call me. I am absolutely here to chat to you.
In our house, the 4 boys are all of school, and Chris has just been told today that he won’t be in work for at least 3 weeks now, so we are making some adjustments to our lives too.
Where normally I work inside ‘school hours’ those no longer exist! So Chris and I have drawn up a kind of rota where we each take time to be with the children and assist them with their schooling, but also have those moments of time to ourselves, and where possible, my job will keep going as it always has. I am extremely fortunate that I work from home anyway, however I’ve already come to the conclusion that I may well not be able to do 3 full video tutorials each week. Please don’t worry, I will still have a video on my usual 3 days, but now and again, it may be something a little different. I do plan an office tour – maybe even a ‘before and after filming tutorials’ kind of thing!
We are all adapting, but this won’t better me!
As for where Stampin’ Up! is right now, I can speak only for the area that I cover – the UK, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Austria – but our warehouse is still open and orders are shipping out. Our support team are all working from home (most efficiently I may add!) and pretty much, all normal service is still going on! (If you’re South Pacific or North America – chat to your demonstrator there)
So we are in the final week of Sale a Bration, we have just lost the Golden Honey DSP and the Kerchief Card Kit went last week, but SU did add a bunch of products from the Annual and Mini Catalogues too.
Oh and while I remember, although we haven’t got the retiring lists yet (and won’t for another month or so), what I do know is that the In Colours for 2018-2020 will be retiring soon, and those of you who’ve been around Stampin’ Up! for a while will know that those things sell out super super fast. So I’m adding in a link HERE to the In Colour Page
I think that’s probably it for me for today – I’m working around family life, and making adjustments as I can to make sure that my videos and blog posts still come out as usual, please do visit my Facebook page and click the Like button there because I’m pretty active on there when time allows. And over in the Craft Forum, we have some challenges and fun going on there. Heck, we have 13.5k members, it’s going to be fun!!!
Remember, if you’re feeling alone or overwhelmed, email me or message me somehow – sam@pootles.co.uk
Sending you all my love,
Sam x
Hi Sam, the world has forever changed. As for myself, I’m immune suppressed and can’t go out at all. I have pancreatitis and have flare ups frequently. I didn’t eat for a year and was given nutrition threw a tube in my arm. My husband works long hours so I’m home all day by myself . I pray you family gets through this awful time in our world. Stay safe and cherish your family each and every day ! Patti fortune
I’m in the US. We winter in Arizona and summer in Ohio. Our 55+ community has been totally shut down for 3 weeks now and will, in all probability, be down for all of April. We are suppose to fly back to Ohio on May 2nd but think that will be delaayed for at least a month. In fact, we may be finding out just how hot it gets in Arizona during the summer! Of course, the president (not really my president) of the US is saying that he might open the country next Monday. Thank goodness many of our state governors have taken on the job of shutting down virtually everything in their states.
Anyway, I have a monthly card making class which will not be meeting in April so I am making kits for them of the the cards we would have made. Great group of ladies. Our time together has two purposes – socializing and card making. Not sure which is the number one priority. Working now on Christmas cards and Thanksgiving and Christmas favors.
Take care everyone. Keep that social distance! Now if we could just find a store with toilet paper!!!!!!!
Thanks for all Sam. In France, we are beginning our second week of « confinement ». What an incredible period for the world!!
Take care of you and your family
I’m in the USA in the soutern state of FL where we are also still practicing our personal isolation but today I had to venture out for supplies…food mostly, box of wine and yes…the #1 item on everyone’s list…TP! I usually get to Sam’s Club every 4 to 6 weeks and today was the day. I was there when they opened and have never seen the parking lot so packed! I’m told they were initially limiting the number of shopping carts released just for crowd control! Since I showed up a little later I missed that part but was amazed to see that pretty much every cart in the store had a Sam’s size pkg of T.P (strict limit of one per person) and most had a pack of paper towels too…as did I! Since I hadn’t been to Sam’s for well over a month we weren’t totally out of TP but we weren’t going to last a whole lot longer so I was happy to get anothe 6-8 week supply of that luxury along with some add’t grocery items. Bit of a zoo with such a big crowd so early in tbe day but at least we are stocked up and now I can get back to life as we are coming to know it while hoping that I didn’t catch any bad germs whilst out foraging for provisions today. Spent the rest of today reorganizing my stamp room, cleaning windows and weeding out out some no longer needed items (expired catties,etc) …yes,I am getting hard up for entertainment!
Hi Sam
I wish everyone good health hope that everything is in a few weeks over. In meantime go dance, sing, and make cards and journals from old pictures. Most of all stay healthy and happy
Yes, worrying times indeed. Missing my grandchildren but we do live chats every now and then.
Stay safe and healthy. Thanks for all your inspiration.
Hi Sam.. Take care of your loved ones and give your children an extra special hug.
We are a very affectionate family with lots of hugs and kisses and we are finding this social distancing a very intrusive but necessary part of our lives. I have grown up children but still miss their hugs.
We have designed a iou chart for our missed hugs so we can catch up when this nightmare is over.
I’m sure I can speak for many crafters who probably have approximately 400 years of crafting supplies at home like me☺️ to keep calm and craft yourself silly.
Stay safe everyone x
Hi to all. Here in Hexham (Northumberland, England!) we have had sunshine so the garden is beginning to look a lot better. As we are allowed one walk a day I have decided to go the long way round and post a card to a friend who usually only gets a Christmas and Birthday card, so I may be running out of stamps rather than loo rolls! I am trying not to do Christmas cards as we are going to be isolated for a long time.
Take care and keep crafting.
Jennifer
xx