Angelicscalliwags Rag #08

I missed last week’s rag because I was up to my elbows in Charlotte. However, things have somewhat improved since our impromptu visit to hospital. So…this week’s update is going to be a hodgepodge of the past two weeks, minus Charlotte’s ill health…because we do not need to dwell on that 😞

Becca Turned 13

My youngest became a teenager! A teen! Oh my goodness! Where did all the time go? To be honest, she’s been a teenager since she was about three and yet she still likes nothing more than snuggling up on my lap for a cuddle and comes into my office multiple times each day just to get a quick mummy cuddle. She was always like this, ever since she was born and I’m so grateful that she has not grown out of this yet 🥰

There’s not many photos because she wanted money for her birthday, went shopping with her best friend and then had her group of friends round from church…all 12 of them! Needless to say, I hid in our bedroom, it was so noisy! Gary and I got her one present so she had something to open:

She also asked for pancakes with raspberries and white chocolate in them. There were nine of us (Thomas was here and so was JJ). It took me hours to make them and each one looked more revolting than the one before, although they apparently tasted good. In fact, I believe Thomas had many, many…

My youngest has, over the past year or so, fallen in love with reading. It’s weird because both Abigail and Becca are found snuggled up on the sofa reading every spare moment they have, including in the evening when they traditionally watched TV. The TV is hardly ever on now. Needless to say, Bec’s birthday was a huge opportunity to buy more books, because, y’know we don’t have enough…

Writing Retreat

I will be heading off with Gary for what for me will be a writing retreat and for Gary will be a training day and (I quote) a glitzy golf awards ceremony (who knew that such a thing existed?! – I still don’t believe it does and will only believe it when I see it!!). I’ve been wanting to go away to finish my Mesopotamia book. I know I keep saying this, but I think I need a change of scene, and this could be it! Gary’s work is paying for it all, which is such a blessing for us 🧡.

We’re driving up using the company car and Gary needs to go to some training sessions they are putting on for the afternoon before the awards. I intend to go to a coffee shop or maybe even somewhere in the hotel to work before checking in at 3pm. I’m spending some time right now figuring out all I need to take and writing a list of all I want to achieve.

Master’s Degree

I’m really enjoying my degree now I’ve moved away from ‘neuroparenting’ and onto ‘listening to children and allowing their full participation’ in their own life. It’s fascinating because I naturally give my children literally all the freedom they want to choose what they learn and study in school. What I didn’t realise is how much that freedom is actually written into the UK ratified international law. I’m finding that there seems to be a discrepancy in what the government claim happens compared with what actually happens regarding the choices children have in their own lives.

It’s particularly interesting when I compare all I learnt about neuroparenting (the basis of which is the belief that concern over parental incompetence has caused governmental professionals to invade family life, an area which has been traditionally out of bounds unless a child is in danger) with the rights a child has. It seems like over the past 30 years or so, the rights of average parents are decreasing somewhat whilst the rights of a child have been increasing.

Scrawlr Boxes

This year I decided to treat myself to a monthly Scrawlr box. Last week I posted my first box and all I got up to experimenting with its contents. This was my goal in subscribing. I wanted to learn to play with art in such a way that there is no end goal. So over the past few weeks I have been trying to get my head around soft chalk pastels with dubious results…

The first video I shot was an opening of the Scowler box and trying out the pastels. I’ll leave that one below, should you wish to take a peek:

Realising that I was, frankly, woeful at using soft pastels, I watched a few instructional videos and managed to create this apple:

And these sunflowers:

I then attempted to paint my frog. It is here I have to admit to having a small goal. I have wanted to create some play sticker stamps to go along with some stationary sets I want to make up. Honestly, I think I might be incapable of doing something without some kind of end goal in mind.

I Get There in the End…

The problem was, of course, I hadn’t quite mastered these soft pastels, and if I’m honest, I don’t think I ever will. I attempted three different frogs and on the third attempt, I managed one I vaguely liked:

So I cleaned it up in Procreate and added some stamp looking borders, printed many out on one sheet of sticker paper and had the Silhouette cut them all out. I was chuffed by the end result (it is entirely possible that I am easily pleased!):

Should you wish to see the entire, embarrassing process and the two dud frogs I painted before getting to an acceptable one, then feel free to take a look at the video below where I showcase my failures in all their glory. I also chat at length about where I see my business going in the future, having had a sort of light bulb moment over Christmas:

Photo for Anne

Last but not least, I am including a photo of the game we played during JJ’s birthday celebrations. Anne asked me for it in the comments, and I promised I’d upload a photo. Well, then Charlotte happened and, when I attempted to upload a photo to the comments, I couldn’t figure how! So I’m leaving one here! This is for you, Anne!

Sorry it’s taken me so long 😞

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week 🧡