June 30, 2010

midnite lullabies...


I'm becoming a bit of a night owl...keeping odd hours...doing what chores I can while my guy is at work...slowly adapting to his crazy hours...

Working around his schedules..spending as much quality time together as we can manage..

I'm learning to navigate life as a couple...biting back hurtful words when tempers flare, setting up the new house...learning the meaning of compromise...

 I'm missing my wonderful family..adapting to life in a small town...meeting new people.. a new experience, another adventure...

I'm learning that when you're in  a new place you discover who you really are...

I'm nurturing long distance relationships..looking forward to text messages and phone calls....reconnecting with my family out on the west coast.

My fingers are itching to play with my new craft supplies courtesy of my aunt via my mom..anticipating setting up my craft space...creating for hours listening to music or the tv late into the night...

I'm missing one of my favourite people in the whole world..one who knows me best..one who's always there; my sister..

I made this keepsake book for her to fill with her own memories ..something to tuck special cards,trinkets, ticket stubs; to pour over and to remember that I'm thinking of her miles and miles away...

A small piece of my heart;my creativity..
Something I spent hours joyfully creating with her in mind...keeping my hands happy even when my heart was not...
 Trying to take in what I can everyday, knowing I'll get by with support from great new friends, old friends, family and my special guy.
Thanks for visiting.
Have a good night my friends,
~Becks

June 18, 2010

summer's beauty...

It looks like we're turning the corner here in British Columbia. The weather this week is more summer-like, and I couldn't be happier. Summer is my absolute favourite season...I was fortunate to have lived  in Bermuda for majority of my life. How I used to look forward to summer vacations as a child. Lazy hot days, beautiful clear blue skies,camping, heading down to the beach, or out on the boat.. summer was definitely a treat. Having moved to Canada it's the season I look forward to most. It means the winters are over and its time to head on outdoors and enjoy the sun. I've been spoiled the last few years living on Vancouver Island; our winters can't really be considered "winter". Hardly any snow, lots of rain...really, compared to Ontario(where I lived before moving here) winter here is nothing to complain about.
Just as the weather is getting nice here, I am moving...just my luck. Hopefully it will be nice and hot near the lake...One can only hope. Here's a photo album all shabby chic-ed up for my friend Jo. We really hit it off when we met, have had our ups and downs, and I'm gonna miss her when I'm gone...So I decided to make her a memory book to remember me by.

A little pocket on the inside cover to hold tags, spare photo's odds and ends....
 A spot to write memories..or a favourite story or quote..and a ribbon band to tuck photos, mementos..perhaps a ticket stub or two...
A hidden tag sits behind a favourite photo, ready to write in details of the photo proudly displayed...
Dark chocolate ribbon creates wonderful loops...adding a little drama to the page..a little photo tag to jot down a date...
A picture frame to slide in a photo of someone special..
Another hidden tag peeks out, ready for journaling, perhaps the story behind the photo..
Another peek-a-boo tag...since the mini album is only 6"x6" I wanted to leave as much space as I could to display photos...maximizing any extra space to add bits and pieces like journaling tags without compromising valuable photo real-estate :)

A handmade kraft envelope, stitched together with some lace..stamped, stitched and just waiting to be stuffed with letters, postcards...anything special she wants to keep and pull out to reminisce about...


Finally, the back cover..very feminine and soft...distressed around the edges..just the way I like it.

I used a ton of my favourite items.. and some new favourite items.. Some Ali Edwards stamps..all the sentiments you see here are by her..Basic Grey papers came out of my hoarded stash... my beloved Papertrey Ink stamps- Fancy Flouishes, Giga guide lines,Background basics: Text style, Polka dots  and wood grain...Tim Holtz stamps, K&Company papers and ephemera...lacy trims, ribbon, buttons, seam binding..Tattered Angels framed fonts and Glimmer Mist..... all fun things that make my crafty fingers happy..
I hope to get in one or two more posts before I have to pack up my craft area... I'm missing all my usual challenge haunts...can't wait to get back into them...get those crafty processes all fired up..
Hope that you're experiencing all summer has to offer...Thanks for visiting!!
Til next time,
Becks.

June 10, 2010

happy hands...


My hands are happy lately.. lots of crafting has been done, and not just with paper. I do apologize for my absence. So much to do; time seems to allude me these days... just not enough hours. That all will change now that I'm finally done with work and can settle into a slower pace.

I can indulge in the roles I enjoy most-sister; daughter; friend; crafter. I no longer have to worry with my less favourite roles of student and manager...I am thoroughly enjoying the weeks I have left at home; the family dinners are well worth the effort I put into learning how to cook.Everyone coming together at the end of the week and enjoying each others company. Spending some great time with family and friends...all help nourish my soul. Good times that I will miss in the coming months.

Happy hands are trying to tame a mischievous Siamese snowshoe, who loves to jump on my lap lately bumping my hands as I type; demanding my full attention...my adopted fur faced friend who follows me like a shadow- begs for attention; who misses his mama oh so much...I will miss him terribly when I move...

Happy hands are selfishly creating..taking a break from sketch sites and challenges(for now..I do miss those challenges!) Working on a few mini albums...some conventional and some not.

A newly discovered love of all things Kraft- that can be prettied up with bits and pieces,odds and ends, ribbons, buttons, paint, ink and stamps...I'm resisting the urge to hoard every single inch of my newly acquired Melissa Frances papers;so gorgeous and feminine..they are being used for a very special album.

My happy hands are frantically trying to finish a beautiful crocheted quilt for my sister...only three weeks to finish.. it is gorgeous in cream and burnt orange...I know she will love it.


All good things to bring a smile to my face and lift a somewhat heavy heart..I'll pop in as much as I can with my finished creations.. Trying to get in as much crafty time as possible,leaving the craft supplies out and unpacked until the last possible minute...until they are unpacked in their new home, in my new studio...happy times ahead.
Hoping your hands are happy tonite too.
~Becks