Frances Black Designs

*****Christmas Orders Close this weekend **** Anyone else getting a little excited now about Christmas? Watch this space this week for some Christmas items to start coming out. As usual I’m super busy behind the scenes working on a million things. I still need to catch up with posting photos. Christmas orders are closing this weekend as my order book is looking pretty full. I will be getting the last few orders that I’m behind on finished as well.... As always thank you for your patience and your support. I have no idea how I would have made it through 2020 without it!

We will always remember the debt of gratitude of those who have fought and given their lives for our freedoms we have today. ‘All gave some, some gave all’ Lest we forget

9 YEARS!!!!! That’s insane! I cannot believe it’s been 9 years! Thank you for all the support over the years, it’s been a whirlwind, especially the last few months, but I couldn’t have done it all without you!

***Trigger warning *** Infant loss ^ ^ ^ ^... ^ I was asked to make these bears after an angel was taken too soon this year. They were made from her sleepers, and weigh the same as her birth and passing weights. I used some of my personal fabric stash that was made for miscarriage and infant loss (by Twisted Needle Textiles). There is a tear drop in the coloured heart, and this poem goes with the fabric Since Heaven has become your home I sometimes feel I'm so alone; and though we now are far apart you hold a big piece of my heart. I never knew how much I'd grieve when it was time for you to leave, or just how much my heart would ache from that one fragment you would take. God lets this tender hole remain reminding me we'll meet again, and one day all the pain will cease when He restores this missing piece. I hope these bears bring some comfort to her mama and family.

Thank you for all your messages of support last week. It meant a lot and I truly appreciate you all! I turned a corner over the weekend and now on my way back up again, and back to work. This week I have some bears to finish up, some alterations, stockings to embroider names on, masks and shirts on my list. I will also be starting Christmas items, getting up to date with posting photos etc. I’m looking forward to the week ahead!... Thank you all again

I’m moving into my final day of finishing up Halloween items. This week has been hard, really hard for me. I’m very open to people who know me about my mental health but now more than ever I think everyone should feel that they can open up and talk to someone if they need to. I suffer from depression, anxiety and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I have been living with these for years and am used to the ups and downs they bring. I thought I was going ok, I was coping well... with all the craziness in the world this last year. Until I wasn’t.... and that happened at the beginning of this week, when I was paralyzed with anxiety and panic attacks and no energy to move. I couldn’t place my finger on what was causing this. Luckily my doctor is well versed in my history and so a trip to see him helped me to realize that everything had been building up little by little over the last few months and finally the dam had broken and all of weight came crashing down. So we came up with a plan to overcome this hurdle. There’s no instant fix or bandaid, but right now I’m taking it step by step and day by day, some days are better than others. Sewing is my release, so I keep pushing myself to just get started, because that’s the thing, the effort for me right now is in just getting started, once I start I get momentum and keep going. Finishing each task is a small win. This is probably the hardest post I have ever written, but I believe in honesty and open conversation. I hope my story encourages anyone else feeling the same to seek the help they need and feel no shame, because mental illness is exactly that, an illness that deserves the same care and attention as a physical illness. Sending love and strength to anyone who needs it right now