The Story So Far In 2024.

January

The year has started well for a change with none of the dramas of the last few years and I am in a much better place mentally too. 


I have decided to start the year with a new Temperature Blanket. I haven’t made one for a few years and this time have chosen to make a 12-point star pattern with a grey middle and then each segment for one month. For months with fewer than 31 days the remaining rows will be completed in the same grey as the middle.  


Thursday 18 January, Ryan had a follow up appointment with ENT after his sepsis episode in December 2023 and he is doing fine so has been discharged. You can catch up on that drama in the previous blog post. https://www.sarahloucrafts.co.uk/blog/blog-post-2023


Thursday 25 January, Dydd Santes Dwynwen, Welsh day of love. 


Friday 26 January, Band Tref Llandeilo Town Band Concert, Lampeter with Côr Pam Lai to support Diabetes UK & British Heart Foundation. 


Temp Blanket 2024

Dydd Santes Dwynwen

Lampeter Concert

February

Friday 1 February, Imbolc Celebrate the awakening of the land. Snowdrops appear as the heralds of Spring. 🌿🌱🌿


Sunday 4 February, World Cancer Day is a global event that takes place every year on 4 February. World Cancer Day unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer. https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/world-cancer-day.html


Friday 23 February, What an amazing day the #SBSEvent2024 was. Did you know that there are now 4,000 winners and 80% of them are women. Plus 53% of winners are sole traders, so that has really helped my imposter syndrome knowing my micro business is worthy of being in those numbers. I officially have my certificate, which will be going in a frame soon, seeing my winning entry to @theopaphitis on the big screen and meeting online friends I have known for years finally for real. The event was jam-packed with inspirational and informative talks. I was able to have a professional photo shoot for free. I spoke with Google experts and Dorset Tech about website options. Susan aka Dottie from @britishcrafthouse & @buyindie gave a brilliant talk about how she made her dreams a reality. Finally @staceysolomon was absolutely fabulous. She is funny, intelligent, insightful and gave Theo a run for his money with her entrepreneurial mindset. Her support for small businesses is incredible and she definitely has a new supporter from me. Thank you to all of the @thesbs_crew for organising and managing such a wonderful day. 🧡🩵

Imbolc

World Cancer Day

SBS Event 2024

March

Friday 1 March, Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus 


Sunday 3 March, Band Tref Llandeilo Town Band entertained the crowd for the Dydd Gŵyl Dewi celebrations in the National Botanic Garden of Wales.


Friday 8 March, Today I dedicate International Women's Day to my mum. She inspired me to start my degree in my 40s just as she had done and taught me to believe that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.


Saturday 9 March, Spring Makers Market at National Waterfront Museum, Swansea Marina.


Sunday 10 March, Sul y Mamau / Mother’s Day. You look, but you cannot see. You listen, but you cannot not hear. You follow, but you do not understand. You do not know me, but I know you. I will remember for both of us. I will keep with you in my heart as I know you kept me in yours. You were, you are, my inspiration. I am your daughter, you are my mum. ❤ #Dementia 


Monday 11 March, Commonwealth Day -  and you can celebrate any of our fabulous countries with colourful crochet cord Friendship Bracelets in a range of patriotic colours or a Rainbow Thread for love, diversity, unity, inclusion and hope. https://buyindie.co.uk/product/colourful-cord-friendship-bracelets/


Wednesday 13 March, To coincide with National Nutrition and Hydration week, I thought it would be good to share with you Ryan’s experience of malnutrition as a result of his lymphoma diagnosis. Malnutrition is a common problem among patients with cancer, affecting up to 85% of patients with certain cancers. When Ryan was seen by the Paediatric doctor in February 2016 he weighed 53kg. It took months of chasing the GP for an ENT referral and we finally got an appointment in May 2016. By this point Ry's weight had dropped to 49kg. We didn't see ENT until July when they discovered a tumour by which point Ryan’s weight was now 46kg and by formal diagnosis, at the end of August he had reached his lowest weight of 42kg. So in total he had lost over 10kg from Feb to diagnosis in Aug. The haematology consultant was quite concerned that Ryan's malnutrition by the time of diagnosis was going to make the fight even harder for us. Ry was not well enough, strong enough, or nutritionally able to begin Chemotherapy so the decision was made to fit him with a Nasogastric NG feeding tube, Ryan then went on to have a PEG, but this almost killed him with sepsis and peritonitis, but that is a story for another time.


You can read more about our journey on the blog. www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk


Sunday 17 March, Lá Fhéile Pádraig / Saint Patrick's Day ☘️


Wednesday 20 March, Ostara marks the #SpringEquinox, from dark nights to brighter days. 🌑🌗🌕


Thursday 21 March, IT'S MY 1ST BIZ-VERSARY 🥳 Yes I am shouting, not quite from the rooftops and can't quite believe it has been a whole year. 12 months ago I changed the direction of my small business. I rebranded and relaunched as Sarah Lou Crafts. I was nervous I won't lie, I had built a successful biz with my old Adventure Accessories but I felt I had niched myself into a corner and felt restricted creatively. What an amazing whirlwind it has been. The welcome back from old friends blew me away. New friends made. Winning SBS in Sept 23 to attending the event in Feb 24. 


Friday 22 March, A fantastic evening with my sister in Cardiff to see @martipellowofficial perform his #PoppedInSouledOutTour2024. The orchestra, backing band and singers were all incredible too, and @listentocasey as a support act was fabulous fun too. Thank you ALL for an amazing show.


Saturday 23 March, I have wanted this for several years but needed time to decide the perfect design to mark my journey since my breakdown in 2017. A semicolon is used when a sentence could have ended but wasn't. As a tattoo is used to represent mental health awareness and a time when you could have ended your sentence but didn't. The music note represents how important my Clarinet playing has been to my therapy and getting me back from the edge. I chose a semiquaver as I wanted the 2 tails to represent my two sons that give me a reason to live and also my partnership with my loving husband who holds me up and supports me everyday.


My story isn't over ;


National Botanic Garden of Wales

Marti Pellow - PISO 2024

Semicolon Tattoo

April

Tuesday 2 April, World Autism Day. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people. https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2017/04/april-is-autism-awareness-month.html


Sunday 7 April, World Health Day. Schools place a great deal of focus on targets and will often offer incentives and competitions to encourage and increase attendance figures, but what if your child has a serious illness and is not well enough to attend school. What happens then?

https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2017/09/missing-education-due-to-illness.html


Monday 8 April, mum passed away after 11 long years living with dementia, 8 of which were spent in care homes and 5 very long days sat by her bedside as she succumbed to bronchial pneumonia. My father, brother and sister were all with me for those 5 days and it was special that we could all be together to say our final goodbyes and to support each other in our own ways. 


Sunday 14 April, my father’s 80th birthday and my brother, sister and I had organised a surprise party back in February and we decided to still go ahead with it, despite losing mum this week. I needed to get dad to Bristol and had to come up with a good ‘lie’. I dad was staying with me at the time so I telephoned the music shop in Bristol (it was my sister) and booked my Clarinet in for a service. I then suggested to my dad, “why don’t you come with me for the day and we will go out for lunch. He totally believed the story and only realised when we stopped at a nice restaurant and all the family were there to greet us. Yes, he cried and we had a lovely day. 


Thursday 18 April, Neo is 9 today. The naughtiest but also cutest beagle in the world continues to defy the vets and lives to hoon another day after being given 6-12 months to live in February 2023 after a Mast Cell Tumour removal.  


Monday 22 April, Autism Awareness Month, I Am: Interview with Ryan (15) gives an insight into an autistic mind. https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/i-am-autism.html


Tuesday 23 April, St. George’s Day. Celebrate any of the fabulous countries that make up the British Isles with a colourful cord friendship bracelet in a range of patriotic colours or rainbow thread for love, diversity, unity, inclusion & hope. The can also be made in other colour combinations too. 

https://buyindie.co.uk/product/colourful-cord-friendship-bracelets/


Wednesday 24 April, World Stationery Day - Plan and record all your adventures. Travel journals are the perfect way for you to plan trips, jot down ideas for places to see and record the amazing experiences you have had.


A travel journal is a great way to store your memories, mementoes, discoveries, and delights. You do not need to rely on a phone signal or Wi-Fi, it can be as private or as public as you like.


There is a joy to be had in writing down your thoughts, plans and ideas the moment they pop into your mind. You can take it with you anyplace, anywhere


Read more on the blog post: https://buyindie.co.uk/traveller-notebooks-and-mindful-journalling/


Thursday 25 April, I attended a workshop about sustainability and Carbon Cutting and researching my carbon impact. I am still working on reading through all of these reports and researching if there are better options for me to use instead. Sustainability is an ongoing process that needs constant attention and updates. 


Imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time. Done is better than perfect and a year from now you will be glad that you started. You can read more on the Sustainability Policy.

https://www.sarahloucrafts.co.uk/sustainability


Monday 29 April, Walk with me my darling. I'm here to hold your hand. Talk to me my darling. I'll try to understand. Read the full poem that celebrates the diversity of having a child with Autism. 

www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/06/walk-with-me.html


Today was also my mum’s funeral and I read this poem for her. 


Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep

I am the thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond glints on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumnal rain

When you waken in the morning hush

I am the soft uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and shed a tear.

I am always with you, always near. 

Neo the Beagle

St. George's day

Traveller Notebooks

May

Wednesday 1 May, Beltane blessings to you all. Celebrating the powers of light and new life.🌱🔥🌱


Saturday 11 May, I attended my regular pitch at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea for their Summer Market from 10am to 4pm. It was a beautiful day for some summer shopping however the day wasn’t as successful as previous events, although I did still make a small profit for the day. 


Thursday 16 May, Today is #NationalNotebookDay and a perfect day to treat yourself to a beautifully handcrafted cork fabric Notebook Journal. With 5 gorgeous designs and a choice of paper inserts to fill however you choose.


They can be used for:


Monday 20 May, is World Bee Day. Do you have an area in your garden to encourage bees to visit? 


They particularly like purple and yellow flowers. You could make a small area into a wildflower bed for them and plant Honesty, Aquilegia or Herb Robert for example and perhaps allow dandelions and buttercups to grow in a section. 


You could also make a small Bee Watering Station, using a small shallow bowl and some brightly coloured marbles to attract the bees and for them to rest on while they drink.


Beltane May Day

NWM May

World Bee Day

June

Saturday 1 June. A new challenge for the summer. 🎵 I am working on adding Bass Clarinet (the big one) to my musical journey and am enjoying it so far. I have been playing soprano Bb Clarinet (the small one) for 9 years now and playing in my local community town band since 2021. I am hoping to be good enough to play Bass at our Christmas concert in December if our MD is happy with my progress. 


Sunday 2 June is Cancer Survivors Day. Ryan has been in remission for 3 years and 9 months. 💜One of the things that Ryan said soon after diagnosis when he was just 14 was "Cancer is like a game of Poker; I am going all in on a high card".


The other thing is that Cancer doesn't end when chemo does. People think you are in remission means you are healthy again and that sadly isn't true. Ryan was in hospital for 9 days in December 2023 with Sepsis for the 2nd time as his immune system is still weak and likely always will be.


We share our story about living with Lymphoma on our blog,

'There's A Panda in my Bellybutton'. Bellybuttonpanda.co.uk.


Monday 3 June marks the start of #VolunteerWeek. In April 2021 Ryan began volunteering at Swansea Community Farm (Welsh - Fferm Gymunedol Abertawe).


Volunteering allows Ryan to build resilience after a gruelling 5 years of cancer treatment and helps to nurture and develop his social skills due to his autism. He is gaining confidence, learning new skills and developing new friendships that all build on his Animal Care qualifications.


Ry doesn't want his face on social media so here are some photos taken by him on various days at the farm.

https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/swansea-community-farm-in-april-2021.html



Thursday 6 June, D-day 80th Anniversary. I am proud and privileged to be performing with Band Tref Llandeilo Town Band this evening at the 80th anniversary concert as we remember those that served and gave their lives for the D-Day landings on this day in 1944. Their legacy lives on and we will commemorate the veterans with honour.

❤️🤍💙


Tuesday 11 June, is World Pet Memorial Day. If you have ever lost a pet then you will probably also heard of crossing the rainbow bridge. A rainbow paw print picture is a way to remember your beloved pet/fur-baby. It is made with Stylecraft Special DK to be as special as your ‘pawsome’ pet.🐾 https://buyindie.co.uk/product/paw-print-picture-rainbow-mosaic-crochet/


Saturday 15 June, We had a fabulous day at Llandeilo Pride on Saturday despite the weather not being great. Playing, It's Raining Men in the rain was entertaining. 


Thursday 20 June, Litha - Summer Solstice Salutations to you. ☀️🌝☀️


Friday 21 - Tuesday 25 June, What an amazing 5 days away with Dad, eldest and daughter-in-law to attend the Spanish F1 Grand Prix in Barcelona to celebrate my 50th, Dads 80th plus son & DiLs 25th birthdays. It was an incredible adventure and once in a lifetime bucket list item for us all.

Pet Memorial Day

Pride 2024

Spanish F1 GP

July

Monday 1 July, unfortunately all four of us brought back an unwanted gift of Covid for each of us and sadly I also managed to pass it on to my youngest son but miraculously hubby didn’t get it. 😷


Friday 12 - Monday 15 July, husband and I had a wonderful long-weekend break to the Isle of Man where good friend’s of ours live. It was my first visit to see them since they moved there and it definitely will not be the last. 


Monday 22 July, A devastating day as we had to say goodbye to our 14 year old Jack Russell Terrier Mojo. 💔


Wednesday 24 July, Sarah Lou Crafts celebrated a year since the website went live at sarahloucrafts.co.uk


Sunday 28 July, I was taken ill and ended up in A&E where I spent two miserable days having a CT scan and x-ray, then on an IV drip for fluids and antibiotics for suspected Colitis. I was finally discharged with a cocktail of oral antibiotics for a further week and a follow-up appointment with my GP.


Not a great start or great end to the month, let’s hope August is better. 

Isle of Man

Mojo

Sarah Lou Crafts

August

Thursday 1 August, Lammas blessings for the first fruits of harvest as we welcome August and celebrate reaping what has been sown. 


Saturday 3 August, My Dad, Sister and I scattered mum’s ashes today. Surreal and sombre but I am glad it is done.  


Monday 5 August, we collected Mojo’s ashes, our 14 year old Jack Russell and scattered him in our garden. 


Thursday 8 August, I celebrated 9 years of Clarinet playing. I have been playing Bass Clarinet since June this year and am enjoying the challenge. 


Monday 19 August, is World Photography Day. Ryan said about his photography hobby, “With my photography I am not having to interact with people or do the social thing that I find difficult.”  You can read more on our blog about living with Autism, called ‘There’s a Panda in my Bellybutton’. 

https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/Photograblog.html


Thursday 22 August, GCSE Results Day. If you are worried about your future, there are lots of options available and different paths that you can take. Ryan said to me recently. "Childhood gave me Autism. My teenage years gave me cancer. What will adulthood bring?" Big worries for someone so young. You can read more on our blog.  https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/worrying-about-future.html


Monday 26 August, Today is International Dog Day and I know many of you have pawsome pooches. You can celebrate your pawdorable pal with a paw print picture or even a whole blanket. What 2 colours would you choose to represent your pet?


Here are some ideas:

Jack Russel – Mocha & White

Beagle – Caramel and White

GSD – Caramel & Black

Golden Retriever – Buttermilk & Cream

Collie/Dalmatian – Black & White

Old English Sheep Dog – Grey & White


https://buyindie.co.uk/product/paw-print-picture-made-to-order/


Wednesday 28 August, Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day and it has been almost 5 weeks since we said goodbye to Mojo, our Jack Russell Terrier. Tomorrow would have been his 14th Birthday too.


If you have ever lost a pet, then I am sure you will have heard of the Rainbow Bridge and a Rainbow Paw Picture is a wonderful way to remember your past pet.

https://buyindie.co.uk/product/paw-print-picture-rainbow-mosaic-crochet/


Thursday 29 August, I had my 3rd follow up appointment this month with my GP about my ongoing stomach issues that put me in hospital at the end of July. I have had various tests which have ruled out colitis and I am not being treated for IBS and have been referred to a Gastroenterologist but that is a year waiting list. I am on a different set of medications that do seem to be giving me some relief. 


9 Years of Clarinet

Ryan's Photography

International Dog Day

September

Sunday 1 September, The Winter Collection is live. If you are looking for warmth and comfort when hiking on the hills or walking in the woods, then fingerless gloves, boot cuffs, hats, ear warmers and cowl scarves will keep the chill away. https://buyindie.co.uk/shop-category/sarah-lou-crafts-winter/


Monday 2 September, starts Blood Cancer Awareness Month. On 28 August 2016, we received the devastating news of Ry's Lymphoma diagnosis. After a gruelling year of treatment and 7 operations he managed 3 months in remission before relapsing and then had a further 3 years of immunotherapy treatment and in a serendipitous twist of fate finished treatment on this day in 2020.


It is wonderful that Ry has been in remission for 4 years today and long may it continue.


You can read more about our story of living with Autism and Cancer on our blog 

https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/Cancer-Remission.html


Saturday 7 September, I had my most successful market ever and I cannot thank you all enough, for the wonderful sales and lovely chats with so many amazing customers. It has been a fabulous day and I am already looking forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday 7 December, so put it on your calendar now.


Friday 13 September, World Sepsis Day. Sepsis was another unplanned diversion as we rode yet another bump along the ever winding Lymphoma road.

https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/sepsis-and-cancer.html


Saturday 14 September, a small group from Llandeilo Town Band travelled up to Cheltenham to support Crwbin Silver Band in the National Brass Band Championships. It was an amazing day. 


Sunday 15 September, Lymphoma Awareness Day. Today is Lymphoma Awareness Day. Sometimes you get to choose your battles, and sometimes the battle chooses you!


Have you ever heard of NK/T-cell Lymphoma? I would love to hear from you if you have and you can read more about our story on our blog called, There's a Panda in my Bellybutton. https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/nkt-cell-lymphoma.html


Wednesday 18 September, Have you ever entered the SBS competition? 🧡🩵 If you haven't, I encourage you to try, and if you have won, I would love to hear your experience too.


A year ago, I discovered that I had won the SBS award from @theopaphitis. At the time, I went into a major imposter syndrome moment of feeling completely unworthy for winning, but being a part of the amazing SBS community has helped my confidence and the other amazing small business winners are inspirational. The incredible Annual Event hosted by Theo and meeting him to collect my certificate was unreal, and I totally fluffed speaking to him on the day. The Facebook group is full of daily help and support for all things small business riding the lows and celebrating the wins together.


I was going to celebrate by running a competition but due to some personal circumstances I am unfortunately unable to follow that through, however I will be having a small random draw for a little gift to one of my email subscribers instead to show my appreciation and say thank you for their loyalty and support over the last 12 months.


Sunday 22 September, Mabon blessings for the Autumn Equinox. Thanks-giving for the fruits of the harvest to bless us all for the coming winter months.🍂🍁🍂


Friday 27 September, Today is Rare Cancer Day. The Epstein Barr Virus causes glandular fever and in rare cases cancer. Ryan was one of those rare cases.


You can read our story of living with Lymphoma on our blog called There's a Panda in my Bellybutton. https://www.bellybuttonpanda.co.uk/2023/07/epstein-barr-virus.html


Winter Collection

Best Sales Day Ever

SBS Winniversay

✅Free from AI. This post and all posts on the Sarah Lou Crafts blog are written by me from my own rambling thoughts and are typed by hand. Thank you for reading. 

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