the gathering storm...

My little 'helper' Keiko, digging through my box of goodies

The days here are getting more summer-like as the days go by. After a week of nothing but grey skies and rain, we are getting warm sunny days. Around here after hot summer days come the thunderstorms. They bring with them charcoal grey clouds. You can see the storm gathering, clouds blocking out the sun...thunder rolling and rumbling in the background..quiet at first then louder as the storm approaches. Sometimes the thunder and clouds are accompanied by big,fat raindrops; sometimes not.

I too have been gathering.. some of my favourite items...sorting through boxes of embellishments and ribbons, trims and chipboard...collecting fabrics of all sorts. Patterned and plain, faded and pale...a nice muted colour palette. Can't wait to dig in and start my art quilt project.

It was fun digging through boxes and my stash to find wonderful things to play with...doilies of all shapes, sizes and mediums..my handmade trims..dainty old flowers, sheet music is a must..it will be incorporated in all sorts of ways.. Music, after all, is my first love. Mini crocheted flowers courtesy of my dear friend Ros; shells and fabric flowers(which I may dunk in some tea to add some vintage goodness) some lacy medallions.. So many ideas floating around..

Chippy white bells, rusty coloured brown bells, chipboard, bling..beads...tea stained trims, mini ornate metal frames and my favourite creamy organza ribbon.. yummy.

Pearls, book print. Buttons.. there will be buttons. Lots of lovely buttons. Tea stained envelopes, resin embellies.. gorgeous seam binding from 5dollar french market..(take a peek.. I adore this etsy store!With such great names of seam binding colours, like Cafe Creme, Mint tea and French Vanilla, how could you not?)

Isn't this fabric stack just delicious? I'm drooling...I love the colours and patterns.. such inspiration. My quilt base will be muslin.. the bottom layer of the stack.. the squares(sizes yet to be determined) will be tea stained broad cloth and these goodies will be incorporated over and over and over..
A closer look:

Heavy on the pictures today, I know... but I hope you get some idea of the fun I've had gathering all these items. And the fun that's yet to come. My little helper,Keiko, was purring furiously while digging through my box of goodies.... I think she understands just what my feelings are towards that now full box.
Another storm has hit...I must go
~becks

live inspired...

Life around my way is busy...
Not enough hours in the day..
Projects around the house taking up too much of my time...
Drained physically, mentally, creatively.
Needing new outlets for inspiration.
So many projects swirling in my mind...

I'd love to make one of these for my craft space... I'm disenchanted by my little crafty space.. one of these could cheer me up.

                                            (courtesy of  Stig and Lolo )

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A display like this could brighten up my hallway.. I adore!

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Lucky for me, we just cut down a white birch tree... this is on my summer to-do list!

I think its time to take a different direction on the blog-o. I need to break out of this un-creative, mojo-less funk I am in.... time to slow down and appreciate the little things in life... have you seen this over at Ali Edwards blog??? I'm excited to start this...solely on the blog here.. I'm not much of a scrap booker...By no means do I lead an exciting life, but I'd love to see what I come up with...keeping my camera within reach all the time.. a little glimpse into daily life... I feel it will be a fun experience!

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My idea of perfection...so inspired...I could spend days in a library like this..

Another project on my list... hopeful that it will bring back some creativity...allow an outlet to just create and be happy.. Melissa Phillips and Mish are doing Art Quilts.. amazing idea.. I can't wait to find some tea stained, shabby chic, buttoned blinged goodness to make my squares out of..

                                                             (Country Living)
MMMMMmmmm button love... there will be many of these on my squares.

                                                       (Life is a beautiful place to be)
OOOhhh layered lacy goodness... my gears are turning now... I predict some of this will make its way on my art quilt too...

                                                                                (Etsy)
I want, no I need. to make one of these.. or two.. or five...
My posts will hopefully be more consistent..I'll still be doing cards but I won't feel so obligated to post.. when I don't I beat myself up about it..I feel I should be posting more.. then I get all worked up and that's not what my blog was intended for. More posts like these..my art quilt blocks..a week in the life(and a few day in the life of me.) Making blogging a lot more fun..
SO, I'll be taking a slower approach..I'm looking forward to working in the garden... immersing myself into everything culinary;baking a TON of goodies... cooking new recipes.. enjoying good food..good wine.. fires with friends...traveling back home to visit my family and my guy's family...visitors from out of town.. my four footed fur babies...being inspired by life.
Hope you will be along for the journey
Night my friends,
~Becks

new beginnings...

" A new baby is like the beginning of all things- wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."

We have babies arriving left and right in my little spot of the world. Many sweet, little babies...full of promise..an infinite future ahead of them. Sweet couples become a little family.. very cute indeed.

I'm very content to keep my fingers busy making all things baby related. There's something about baby items that relaxes me.

This little number is for a cutie pie that arrived last month. I've been so busy lately.. better late than never..I love these little anchor buttons.. I had to enhance the image by rubbing the buttons with white paint.. just the effect I was looking for. I hand stitched the onesie. I am fighting with my sewing machine lately. One day we will make up..no time soon it looks like.

It feels good to be back crafting. Still not as frequently as I would like.. our monstrous fence project is still on going...my in-laws came to visit last week, and I am doing up a special order of baked goods for a wedding reception for very good friends of ours for tomorrow... I've missed my little blog.  I need to visit your blogs and leave some love.. Boy, I can't wait to get back to normal life!
Before I go I must send a thank you to my dear friend Ros.. look what showed up in my mail box this week(we are having postal strikes here in Canada...I don't know how long it's been sitting there.)

How sweet?! I now have a Ros original to display in my craft room. So excited:) Thanks a  bunch Ros! You are too sweet. Can't wait to get crafty with your goodies.. I'm a lucky gal!
Well folks, I'm off to finish off 5 dozen cookies with drizzle icing.. I'll have to post pics when I'm done.
Hope to be popping in here regularly again.. want to get back to challenges and some crafty projects.
Thanks for visiting..
Happy Weekend
~Becks