GemmAZING Art, Craft and Pet Services

Hello Everyone/anyone who reads my blog still... I am slowly getting stronger and have now been allowed to restart my chemo which is a huge relief. Having been so poorly after my operation I see this as a positive (even though I obviously would rather not be on chemo again...) So I have started felting and am trying out some new ideas   Felted shell babies £5 each I am still enjoying making my hamsters £5 each And am failing miserably at making cats... I won't even put a price on it yet until I can improve her! Maybe she needs a tail...  I am going to continue to make some more, even if it is just as a distraction and a bit of mindfulness - but if anyone does want to buy any I have made just text/ whatsapp/ facebook inbox me anytime! First come first served!! I am not starting orders again just yet, as I have no idea how this chemo will make me feel, so don't want added pressure of having to make specific things just yet.    Back again very soon with another fun idea Rosie an

  Hello, Gosh what a long time away from home and feeling poorly. I am finally back home, starting to feel more human and ready to start finding my crafty self. I think it will be so good for my mental health to start doing something productive, and to give me more of a purpose each day. I hope it will give me something to focus on and help my healing.  I am going to do things a little bit differently for a few months to help take any stress/pressure off my time. I am going to make a few bits, then put them up here to sell to anyone who would like them.  When I am feeling ready to take orders again I will let you know! Watch this space. Thank you for all the love, kindness and support over the past few months. I love you all so very much.  

I have had a lovely time making learning packs for some friends. Lots of the bits I have made are printed and laminated, and can be used over and over again by the children. Some bits are like this (see photo above), things that I have made and the children can point to with a lollipop stick with a grown up to help. Others are things to match up, things to trace, and other ideas for maths, reading and writing.  I also put up a few home school craft/fun ideas in a bingo style worksheet - where your children have to work through it and tick off the activities as they go.  I hope to make more of these when I am out of hospital, so if you know of anyone who would like one, let me know! I could even make a start this weekend before going in to hospital on Sunday and finish it off when I am home and have recovered enough to carry on with my arts and crafts! I may be a bit quiet on here from now on, until I am back from hospital in a few weeks.  Thank you for supporting me and I hope those wh

I am enjoying making hamsters (yesterday and today), before moving on to my angel orders. These are fun to make, and same as my angels - no matter how hard I try I can't repeat the same one twice! I hope the children these are going to, love them as much as I do. To the adults buying my felting animals for their children, please remember little bits of felt may come off if the child tugs on the felt too much and that it is your reponsibility to make sure younger children don't put these bits in their mouths. 

My weekend work! I have loved making each and every one of these.  I have a few more hamsters then onto my angel orders!  I have also had another idea, which started last December when I first found out I had cancer but I never really put the time and effort into making them... watch this space for some GemmAZING worry dolls! I know my children have really struggled this year with anxiety about me, anxiety about covid, lack of social interactions with their friends due to lock downs, not seeing their Granny and Grandpa, and other family members. We talk a lot about anxiety and our worries, but sometimes they bottle it up. I know when I was little I used to talk to my teddies and sylvanians when I felt worried, so I am now making some worry dolls for my children. If they work out well, and the children think they are a good idea I am going to make lots more to sell on here.   Chat soon,  Gemma x

Hello, What a lovely weekend we have had here.  I have been a bit achy since my lung biopsy, and feeling a bit anxious about my operation, but between worrying I have enjoyed felting and making a start on some more learning packs. I keep getting new ideas so think they will develop and improve each time I make one!! For those of you who order and pay for one, I will make sure I send you and updates and new ideas as and when I add them to new packs (so you won't miss out!).  Plus we managed to get out in the snow yesterday for some lovely sledging fun! Don't worry I was very good and didn't do any pushing the kids down the hills or pulling the sledges back up, the kids had to do all the hard work so I could rest.   I have enjoyed making a start on all the felting animals and angels ordered last week. I have had a go at my first puppy - it was quite tricky but I think he was successful and is quite cute!    I also tried my first hedgehogs... I haven't decided which one I

  Everything I do is for these two! All of this blog, and trying to make a little money, is all for these two gorgeous babies of mine. I want to give them the world. I love them so much it makes my heart ache. So proud of them every day for how well they are coping with everything going on in the world with COVID as well as everything going on in their own little lives with me having cancer. Amazing, resilient and kind children I have... LOVE THEM SO MUCH.  Thank you so much for all the orders I received yesterday! I am SO SO excited to get felting, making my learning packs and drawing some aprons! It will be the most fantastic distraction this week, as I really do enjoy doing my art.  As so many of you beautiful friends and family have put orders in, I am going to now halt any more orders until after my operation so that I can really enjoy making these last few this week. I will let you all know when I am back home and made a good enough recovery to continue with my blog. And maybe a

Hello everyone,  So what a lovely, busy week. I have very much enjoyed starting on some felting orders. I have made two beautiful angels and some guinea-pigs. I am starting on another angel holding a star this time! I've never done a star so looking forward to trying that out! I have also had an order for an apron and can't wait to start on the design... Thank you again for your orders! Rosie, Finley and I are currently doing our first fundraiser for one of our chosen charities, The Willow Foundation. We are walking 50km in January as a team! Also we have baked 50 cakes for our neighbours and our friends... If you would like to donate here is the link (you may need to highlight, copy and paste into a new browser page): https://willowfoundation.enthuse.com/pf/team-smith The children are home schooling at the moment, Rosie and I enjoyed doing some art on Wednesday. We even lit a candle and played some Glee songs on Alexa to relax us into the mood! Bit of an update on my treatmen

SOooooooooo… my first home school learning pack for EARLY YEARS aged children is finished and ready go to Alfie (Reception school age) and Evelyn (preschool age) to try out for me! It has been exciting to make the first one so now I know how long they take to create and make, how much paper I use, how many laminating pouches, and knowing I need a few extra bits like paper clips (I ended up using hair clips!), velcro strips and pipe cleaners. Each pack will come with a reading buddy too… I have spent my evenings making a start on some angels, I am excited to see how they turn out. It always surprises me how different they all are, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot recreate the same one twice! I mentioned before about how I did a painting for a friend. It was a quote and image she had found and resonated with her, and she asked if I could paint it. I thoroughly enjoyed making it for her. If any of you have any favourite quotes and would like me to draw/paint them, send me an