Best Friends

I had a best friend growing up.  We spent every minute together and when we weren't together we were talking on the phone.  

I miss her.

We don't see each other very often these days because she moved away ~ those damn grown up responsibilities, but no matter how much time has passed, when we do talk, it's girl secrets just as before (and kids, husbands, cellulite...).

My BFF is an inspiration for quite a few of my creations like this journal; a convenient place to jot down all the secrets you would tell her if you could.

I've also created cards with her in mind.

Our friendship will last forever, and it's one I cherish every single day.

My girls are at that point in their lives where they're forming their own friendships.  Maybe even a best friend.  I want that for them.

Mackenzie and her BFF, Haley

Madison and her BFFs, Kaylynn and Emma

Molly and her BFF, Vanessa

Here's to you and your best friend!

M.

Busy as a bee in spring

My favorite time of the year is summer, but it's so short-lived here in Maine that you have to have a back-up, and for me that is spring. 

The flowers and trees are starting to bloom and bud, the birds are back singing their songs, and the peepers are croaking till all hours of the night.  I love the smells that come with spring as well...the best being freshly cut grass.  I don't even mind the wafting smell of chicken poo coming from the farm fields around the corner as they prepare for planting.  It all reminds me that summer is just around the bend.

While mother earth readies herself anew, I'm running around like a crazy woman.  School is winding down to its final days, and I'm trying to finish up as much as I can before I'm inundated with children all day long during the summer break.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love all the hustle and bustle that comes with having 5 kids (sometimes up to 8 when the neighborhood kids stop by) around the house, but it doesn't leave much time for the normalcy of work and running errands.

Spring is also a time for catching my nephew's evening baseball games.  Kade plays for a local team, and I so enjoy watching him.

 

The entire family shows up to support Kade and his team.

June evenings in Maine are sometimes chilly...

There is nothing better to me than spending time outdoors with family and friends, and those of us who live in Maine know enough to take advantage of every single opportunity since the season is over in a blink.

But as much as I prefer to be outside on these beautiful days, I have to remember that I have responsibilities (both to my family and to my customers).   Over the last few weeks, I've managed to spring clean each of my daughter's bedrooms as well as the basement, and I've been busy creating new items for my Etsy shop.

I often purchase supplies from other Etsy members as a way to give back, and I was recently inspired by the packaging of some crinkle seam binding I purchased from BeeCreative2.  It arrived wrapped around a card stock dress form.  The dress form reminded me of warm weather and spring which led to this:

and this:

I actually used the original dress form from
BeeCreative2 on this card

I love how pretty they turned out.

Most of the supplies are from my scrap stash, so I can't tell you exactly what was used, but I did delve into my new petite paper pack from Webster Pages ~ Ladies & Gents and Trendsetter.

 

I hope you're enjoying your spring and spending this precious time outside with your family.

Have a wonderful day!

M.

A journey to love...

"There is only one happiness in life ~ to love and to be loved."

George Sand

How sweet is!  I can remember falling in love for the very first time.  Although we parted a few years later, I will never forget that feeling...as if every tiny euphoric moment was dancing on my skin.  All was perfect with the world, and I wanted it to last forever, but like all good things, it came to an end.  A rather abrupt and permanent end.

I see him every once in a while at the store or walking down the street, and I remember that lovely feeling of new love from way back when (though I am thankful for our subsequent demise).  I've been in love a few more times since, and each is ideal in it's own way...just a different dance.

With that being said, there is a reason I've dragged you down memory lane.  I have a customer who is in the midst of planning her wedding, and she asked me to create a journal where she could memorialize all the little moments that led her to the love of her life.

And since I'm a romantic...

For "Journey to Love", I started with a vintage 1913 Webster's School Dictionary.  

The cover was such a beautiful deep burgundy.

inside front cover and page 1

page 2 ~ page 3

I used quite a few antique items from my personal stash as well as some printed vintage images of young couples in love.

page 4 ~ page 5

In between pages 4 and 5, I inserted an embellished envelope to store little mementos. I also included a small glassine bag with a few dried rose petals (from a bouquet my husband gave me years ago).

page 6 ~ page 7

There are a total of 8 embellished pages with pockets and double-sided tags.  I also included fifty (50) sheets of hand torn paper. 

It was so much fun creating this journal, and it brought back so many pleasant memories.  I certainly hope you take some time to reflect on all the little moments that have brought you closer to understanding the "one happiness in life".

Enjoy!

M.

Update...

Two posts in one day! 

Has to be some kind of record (for me), but I wanted to share with you the completed class page I did for my daughter's teacher.  It will be included in the scrapbook album that the parents are presenting to her on Friday afternoon.

I have such a hard time with photos like this...all sorts of different colors, so this one took me a few hours to do.  In the end, I didn't think it turned out too badly.

Happy Tuesday!

M.