More creativity - -

- - thanks to Clare Charvill of the Graphic 45 Design Team 2012. I have been working on this project for a couple of months now - and it has been so amazingly helpful as I deal with the tremendous loss in my life. It has given me sometimes hours of respite from my thoughts - which circle endlessly - with no answers - and has been a lovely project to make. Clare offered this on her blog as an online class - and I signed up to it, to give me something else to think about - not every day - or even part of a day - but it has really helped me.
It is my version of the Reflections on Past Times Album by Clare Charvill, as my thought was to try to make a dent in the huge stash mountain I have aquired over the last 8 years. It is totally inspired by Clare's design and videos - it would never have got made as my own ideas seem to have deserted me along with my boy. My book is slightly smaller than the original I think - and my pages are made from black 6 &1/4 x 9 envelopes, most of which are sealed, though I have left a couple open and used them as pockets. I have used many of Clare's suggestions on my pages - just adapted them to suit my page size and my own paper choices.
It has been real therapy for me - so thank you Clare, you will never know how much help it has been.
Here are some photos of my pages - I hope you like it.

Thanks for stopping by -

til later,
Bannaghtyn, J x

Flip-Flop Wallet mini album - -

- - inspired by Clare Charvill of the Graphic 45 Design Team 2012. Clare made this as a Christmas album - (and her name will take you to her You Tube channel) but I really wanted to work with Graphic 45 Old Curiosity Shoppe papers so this is my version of her wallet album. Clare takes no take no credit for the original design - as she posted a link to a lady in Australia she had found on You Tube - but Clare did tweak it slightly herself, and I myself have worked from Clare's design. With the circumstances in my life at present I have found crafting to be one of the few activities that totally occupies my mind - so is therefore good therapy I think - it gives my mind a rest from the endless questions I have going around in it. Here are a few photos of my version of the wallet album.

It gave me a lot of pleasure to make - and I find Clare's videos are very inspiring - in my opinion she is up there with Laura - of Following the Paper Trail, Kathryn - of The Scrap Beach, Shimelle - of Shimelle.com, Jim - The Gentlemen Crafter and indeed anyone who shares their talents and skills via the web. Graphic 45 have an excellent eye indeed for picking up on new talent in their Design team.

Thanks for stopping by -

Bannaghtyn, J x

One day - - -

- - - at a time - it is the only way to cope - some days are good - some are very bad  - but I can now at least be creative again. It takes my mind off my loss and that can only be a good thing surely? Planning our next project for Craft club has been surprisingly helpful - so I do hope I am up to going to next meeting.
Thanks for stopping by - your visits are appreciated even though - at present anyway - sitting in front of a computer screen means tears are very close to the surface, so I am not blog hopping much, to return your visits.
Bannaghtyn - J xx

Ben - -

- - my darling boy

Ben

Remember me in sunlight, remember me in rain

Remember me with laughter - please forget the pain,

For though I am not with you – please think of me with joy

A blue eyed mischief maker – a smiling happy boy.

Think BMX, and skateboards, Heavy metal and head gear

Remember those beach parties, and Jonny’s basement beer.

Remember me with kindness, remember how to smile

Remember though I’ve gone away, for a little while,

I might be watching Countdown, or maybe, Babylon 5

Or maybe I’m crowd surfing with Black Orchid playing “live”,

Remember Raging Speedhorn , festivals or “dirty south”

Remember that I’ll be there – from those days of our youth,

Think Star Trek, well, how could you not? Or System of a Down

So smile when you remember me – from when I played the clown.

Jennie Hall

June 26^th 2012

A knock - -

- - at the door - a few words from a stranger - - my world splinters into millions of shards of glass -- all sticking in my heart - - my darling beautiful boy. I love you my beloved son - I always will. I pray you now Rest in Peace my darling.

A little break - -

- - from blogland - got a few things to see to in "real" life. Back soon!

The Sound of - -

- - my life. I was so sad to hear last night that Robin Gibb has lost his battle with cancer, and as I watched that snippet on the news I realised that the music of the Bee Gees has been there in the background almost all of my life -  I can't call them my favourite band - but they have always been there - well their music has - right from the very first hit Massachusetts when I was about 12/13. through the Saturday Night Fever era - (oh happy days! ) to Islands in the Stream and later songs - in the background and you know - I can't think of a single song of theirs that I dislike? I hadn't realised just quite prolific song writers they were - or how talented in their field yet I don't think  I possess one of their albums or singles.
They spent their formative years here on my island home and have been back to visit and play in local music festivals  - and so I would like to thank them for the pleasure they have given me all this time, even though they didn't know it and without me really knowing it either!  - -  Rest in Peace, Robin - you and your brothers will be missed.

 Image from GettyImages.
I have thought about their songs rather a  lot today - and would find it really hard to choose just one as a favourite I have found the lyrics running throuhg my head as I work - and have even been tempted to burst into song (NOT to be recommended I can tell you!!)- but amongst those on my shortlist would be Words, To Love Somebody, Heartbreaker, Islands in the Stream, New York Mining Disaster and Jive Talkin'..
Which of their songs might be on your shortlist I wonder?

 Thanks for stopping by.
'til later
Bannaghtyn J xx