A Mad Idea.....Yarn Bombing

Over the past year I have become very good friends with Daniel. On paper/screen I guess these days, we look unlikely friends, but we share a weird worldview in common, and have a lot of fun chatting to our other friends.

Daniel very bravely guest posted for me, sharing his experiences of living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I was really surprised that a lot of people didn't know about Duchenne and I was really proud of Daniel for sharing his story and helping people understand.

In 2013 I want to do something amazing to further raise awareness and to help raise money too, for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. There are many types of muscular wasting disease and over 70 000 people in the UK are affected. The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign has many functions, to raise money for research, to help with advocacy and campaigning, and providing support to families and to people living with these conditions.

My plan is to organise two yarn bombs. The first in Manchester in spring, with knitted and crocheted flowers, scenes, picnic blankets, knitted kites, a proper knitted spring picnic. People can then "pick" the items and purchase them, for a donation. Larger items can be auctioned. Knitters can also ask their friends for sponsorship.

The second yarn bomb will be in Cheltenham at Christmas time, probably the beginning of advent, but its Christmas with a twist, Geekmas! Knitted Christmas decorations with a geeky twist, all sorts of geeky yarn bombs.

I live in Manchester and Daniel in Cheltenham so I thought doing two would be great fun, and a way to get lots of people involved.

I am looking for lots of knitters, crocheters, sewing is fine too, anything creative. I'll set up some pinterest boards with ideas and you can go wild with your imaginations!

Please join us!

A New Beginning

I'm not a new blogger. I have recently decided to stop actively working on my beloved Not Even A Bag of Sugar. I couldn't imagine not blogging now, and have decided to have a pink fluffy blog where I can just chat about whatever comes to mind.

2012 has been a really interesting year for me. Most of the year, up until October, had been a time of consolidation, working in my caring job, looking after my son Joseph, and just tootling along. In June I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, and my world started to crumble.

The pain, the bloating, the weird bowel habits, the urgency, the need to know where a toilet could be located at all times, was difficult. However what was hardest was that I knew what was wrong, what was at the heart of it. And I couldn't tell anyone.

I was given an NHS booklet which told me all about it, and there it was in black and white. That adults sexually abused as children, often develop IBS in later life.

For the next few months I just tried to cope with it the best I could. I suppressed the feelings and emotions, and I just took the treatment my doctor prescribed and carried on the best I could. In October, in the UK, the news was suddenly full of adults coming forward with stories of child abuse. Suddenly it was almost ok to talk about. For survivors like me it was liberating, confronting and terrifying all at once.

One Sunday in October it all came crashing down around my ears. I had a rare weekend off, my husband and son were away, and suddenly I just had to talk, I had to tell someone. I chose, somewhat strangely, a man, Daniel, to tell about what had happened and to ask for help.

What followed was a blog post, which I will, in time, migrate over here. That post was a massive turning point in my life. I have since started treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety.

2013 is going to be a year of great change. I start it with a new job, new child care arrangments for Joseph and new friends. I want to take on some new challenges too.

What I want most is to create a legacy, not just for myself but also for my dear friend Daniel, who has helped me so much.

My plan is a big one, and I will reveal more in the new year, so keep tuned, and have your knitting needles, crochet hooks and creativity ready!