Stampin Up Hostess Party

As some of you may know I love crafting.  I enjoy a variety of crafting activities.  Here are to name a few - Sewing, Knitting, Scrapbooking, Taking photos, Baking. 

I just love seeing things evolve from pretty to "WOW thats stunning!!"

I had known about Stampin Up products from one of my scrapbooking divas.  I found a woman who does a class using this products and I went along and discovered I liked the products that were used.  I decided that to fund my hobby I could think about becoming a demonstrator.  So I had a party where I was the hostess and Victoria came along to demonstrate.  I also had a go demonstrating too!

I have decided that I will be doing a class once or twice a month which will encourage me to stay creative and make things that others can enjoy.  People think 'Oh I cannot do that - I do not have a creative bone in my body' - well the truth is... you do NOT need one!!

If you are interested in coming along to my classes, please let me know.

Here is what we got up to!

Caroline and I waiting to get started!

Some of the cards that I have made on display.  This is only a few - as I have made quite a lot!

Some of Victoria's Cards

Everyone worked really hard and produced some beautiful cards and tags.  It was a great evening.  We are all looking forward to the next one!!

 This is what we made on the night.  Gorgeous isn't it?

If you are interested in having a party at your house or coming along to my little classes - do let me know.  Also if you have any questions please feel free to ask.  Take care, speak soon. F x

Basic British Sign Language

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE - The Alphabet. 

As you know I speak.  This is thanks to my amazing parents and the speech therapist I had as a youngster.  I did not start talking properly till I was about 7 or 8 years old.  Even to this day I need some help with my speech as I cannot hear my own voice.  Yes, even with my implant.  That is just the way I am .  There are times when I am so nervous that I talk so quietly that people have to lean in to hear me.  There are also times when I am a little excited or animated that I get louder and louder without realising and I have to be told to quieten down!!! He he he ...

I use spoken English with the aid of British Sign language.  British Sign Language is a language in its own right.  

British Sign Language is the standard form of communication for the Deaf community in the United Kingdom. It’s as rich and complex a language as any other, and just like with any other language you need at least the basics to get by.

Take a look at a few of the most useful signs.

This is the alphabet.   The alphabet is probably one of the most important tools you will use when using sign language.  If you are right handed then I call this the dominant hand which does all the pointing etc.  Your left hand is the platform for the alphabet.  You need to do the opposite if you are left handed.  

 Here is a clip of me demonstrating the alphabet .... 

Now test yourself.  Can you finger spell your name?  As you get better at doing this, you need to mouth your name as you are spelling it out.  Or spell it first (do not mouth the letters - this is irritating) and then mouth your name after you have spelt it.  
Now open a book or a dictionary - and spell some random words.  You will get better with more practice! 

If you have any questions - please ask.  

Take care, speak soon. x

Sign Language and Communication

This is going to be one of many pages on sign language and communication - Early Years

I will be exploring the different modes of communication over time.

I will also be putting up little British Sign Language Tutorials to help my lovely friends and family learn some basic signs, only if you want to! :)

As you know I was born Deaf as a baby.  My parents had to think hard about how they were going to communicate with me and how I was going to communicate.  I was born in the best place (to be deaf) which was Cambridge.  The teaching team for Deaf children was excellent in Cambridge.  I do feel if I had not been born in Cambridge I would have a totally different experience with my Deafness.

My mum and dad decided that they wanted to give me the best of both worlds (hearing and deaf), so my communication modes were to be spoken English and sign language.  At the time Paget Gorman was the most common to use.  

The Paget Gorman Sign System, also known as Paget Gorman Signed Speech (PGSS) or Paget Gorman Systematic Sign Language is a manually coded form of the English language, designed to be used with children with speech or communication difficulties.  The signs are normally done near the face or the mouth so I can lip read at the same time and look at facial expressions.

http://www.pagetgorman.org/basic-signs  - this is the page where you can find out more about Paget Gorman and look at the signs. 

Paget Gorman sign for animal

This is the sign for animal and to represent the sign for meat all you had to do was twist your wrist so that your palm was facing upwards.  This would represent the dead animal.  This sign used to really upset me!!!

My first signed word was HORSE, which I signed in my sleep apparently.

I had speech therapy all the time as a child (something that I will discuss in more detail at another time).  This was hard work, and my parents had to practice with me at home all the time.  They never gave up and tried so hard to communicate with me and made sure that I knew what was going on (to the best of my ability!) One this that was my savior were the little non-fiction Ladybird books with all the pictures and words for different things.  I would put a handful of these in my little bag and take them everywhere with me.  If I could not make myself understood I would get one out and point to the picture.

The amazing classic!

It was a long journey for me to develop me spoken speech, but at 3 years old I said 'Dad' - this is what my Daddy tells me (I am smiling at myself as Dad says this is genuine!)

Hearing Aid - I was given my first hearing aid as a toddler.  Oh my word, this was the most unattractive most awkward piece of technology for a youngster to wear!  But I needed to ...  so being the good girl I am (!) I did.  I cannot find a photo of me wearing one.  My mum must have a copy.

This is a picture with me wearing my second hearing aid, I will find the first one!  I am with my cousins here in this photo. :) 

That is all for the moment.  I hope you found it informative!  Take care and speak to you soon! x