Quilt is done!

A week or so ago, Paul came up to visit and we spent some time laying out the quilt. This week I sewed all of the pieces together. 168 squares into 84 pairs, into 42 large squares, into seven strips, then the final quilt. It is by no means perfect as I am not a professional, but it is something I am so very proud of. 

Then, my mom and I figured out which colours would be best for the border and finished it off today. We are planning on leaving it as is so it's easier to sign for our guests. But the craftaholic in me wants to complete it while I have so much time!

I love the idea of a 'guest book' option that Paul and I will use rather than store away in a bookshelf. 

Wedding Guest Quilt... and other musings

Well, wedding prep is officially underway. Now that I've finally shaken my cold, I'm ready to jump into action. My week goes like this: Monday and Tuesday I'm working at the print shop and when I get home I spend some time working for my Etsy shop, rdprints. Wednesday to Friday I sleep in a little bit, then I help my mom inputting into the databases for Squigly's Playhouse. After that, I brainstorm and work on wedding things.

The first and most pressing thing on our list is making a quilt. I saw online somewhere an image of a wedding where they had their guests sign a quilt instead of a book, and right away I knew I wanted the same for my wedding. First, Paul and I looked for a pattern we both really liked, and my dad helped us figure out how much fabric of each colour we would need. Then, my mom and I booked time back in September 2013 to go to a local fabric sale. There we were able to find all the fabric we needed (and more) in the perfect colours and patterns.

The past few days for me have been primarily working on the quilt. Ironing, cutting, placing, pinning, sewing, cutting, ironing. All of our squares for the face of the quilt are finally done!

We already used one of our fabrics to make 90-100 small favour bags. Thanks to my mom's sewing expertise, we finished them in no time. We now even have left over fabric which we can use to make small table runners for the reception!

Paul and I already have our favours. Since they are consumable and tightly air-sealed at the moment, we can't assemble them until right before the wedding. I've been getting everything else ready to make that process much easier, because I have no doubt in my mind that mid-June is going to be a very busy time.

Not only that, but my schedule has also been filling up with wedding related appointments. Meetings with our venue, food tastings, wedding dress fittings are some. Wow. This is actually happening!

Paul and I also made the decision to add four of our friends to the wedding party. We wanted them there from the start, but decided to keep numbers down and made cuts. The other day, after reading an article titled "What I would re-do about my wedding," it dawned on me that I would re-pick my bridal party to include those two friends. I talked to Paul and he agreed, and invited two of his friends into his side of the party. This means we need to get my two new bridesmaids fitted and ordering their dresses as soon as possible. Luckily, they can both go this weekend. I'm so happy they can be a part of our big day.

Here on out, my mom and I are brainstorming creative decor ideas for the ceremony and reception. This whole process has been so exciting and I know it is going to be so worthwhile.

Until next time,
Rebecca

New Year, New Things

So much has happened in the past year and it is definitely time for an update. Now that 2014 is here, I've decided it's time to start blogging again.

2013 was so good to me. I learned so much, made some mistakes, experienced some major milestones and had a lot of fun! In 2013, I stood beside my friend on her wedding day, got my best mark on a university-level paper, saw my favourite band in concert twice, saw the ballet, graduated from university, started a Facebook page for my business, rented my first car, got engaged to the love of my life, celebrated my Opa's 80th birthday, shot two engagement sessions, showed my art in two galleries, bought a couch, and had the busiest season on my Etsy shop to date with 18 orders in three months. Of course, none of these would have been possible with out some hiccups and sacrifices along the way.

Now it's 2014 and there are so many things to look forward to. On June 27th, Paul and I get married, and then we will live together in Barrie. Paul is currently living in Barrie and working across Simcoe County as a Paramedic. I will search for a new job, and continue with my Etsy and Photography businesses. Paul and I have been through a lot over the past 6 and a half years, and I know that we can make it through anything we set our minds to.

In the meantime, there is a lot to do in terms of the wedding. Wedding planning is definitely overwhelming at first. I've never been one to have huge birthday parties and get togethers, and I never like being in the centre of attention. This makes planning a wedding — which is essentially a huge celebration of the love Paul and I share — very difficult. However, it is a milestone I've been looking forward to for a very long time, and I'm eager to make it happen. I know I won't regret one minute of it once the day comes. I have so many personalized and DIY details that will keep me busy. My boss at the print shop is away for all of January and my hours are reduced, which will give me lots of time to make some headway on those plans. I'm planning on posting updates in the upcoming months for anyone who is interested.

This blog post is getting long, so I'll leave it at that for now.

Until next time,
Rebecca

This is the end.

So, this is it. I am officially a university (and college) graduate. I now have two pretty pieces of paper to hang on my wall, which represent all of the toils I suffered through and the knowledge and experience I gained. I feel like the past four years have flown by, but at the same time, they didn't.

What a bittersweet feeling.

The day of my convocation started bright and early, getting ready in formal attire and packing up the cars for the day. It was not the nicest weather-wise, either, being rainy and chilly. We set out for Toronto in two cars — Paul and I in his Corolla and my parents and Emma in the Rav 4. Paul and I followed the Rav for the majority of the way down, and I sat in the passenger seat in awe that this day had come so fast.

After my parents and Emma stopped for a last minute refreshment/bathroom break, Paul and I continued on since we were running out of time. Once we got off of the highway, the traffic was frustratingly slow, and I tried to remain calm as friends texted me concerning my whereabouts. Finally, we arrived at Convocation Hall, where Paul dropped me off to pick up my guest tickets, and he continued on to find parking. I walked through the rain in new shoes (which turned out to be a bad choice in the end considering my blisters) and gathered the tickets.

Upon leaving the building, I started heading over to the Croft building to pick up my gown. I looked up to find my parents' car driving by at that very instant, so I flagged them down to give them their tickets. As soon as I entered the Croft building, I heard shouts of, "Last call for the 2:00 ceremony!" meaning I had just made it. Whew.

The rest of the day flew by. The ceremony was beautiful and surprisingly fast. I was so thrilled to have my parents, Emma and Paul there to celebrate with me. Due to the rain and our rushed and empty stomachs, we couldn't stay long to socialize with my fellow graduates. We went for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants from my time in university, which was the perfect ending to such a great day!

I can't believe the day came and went as fast as it did, but I am SO happy I decided to take the plunge and go to university. I've learned so much and met so many amazing people.

The End is Near

Hello Everyone! It really has been a long time since I've written on this blog. For my last year of university, I found myself busier than I could have ever imagined, and I found I had barely any time for myself.

It's almost over, though. I'm sitting here in my room and about to get back to studying for my final exam of my undergraduate career. It's so surreal. I can't believe I'll have no more classes to attend and it's time for me to start looking for a job. Ever since my first year, I've been looking forward to today. Now, here it is and I can't be more terrified. But, only time will tell what the future holds for me.

Just some updates on other exciting things in my life:

Right after Emma's convocation she started working for the University of Waterloo at the Centre for Extended Learning. She is a LMS/QA Specialist. Don't ask me what that means because I have no idea, but that's what it says beside her name in her email signature. She even has her own apartment and everything.

In December, Paul was also hired as a part time paramedic for Simcoe County. He loves it, and I couldn't be more proud of him! Paul is living in Wasaga Beach at his family's cottage, and while he's not at work he's taking care of his Grandpa.

In March, my Photo 4 class and I had a group show called 5 Corners downtown Toronto at the VMAC Gallery. It was so fun and a great opportunity to exhibit the work I'm most proud of. Below is a picture of our invitation.

For Easer this year, my family and I decided we'd cut down on our travel time and meet up in Waterloo. This was especially great since Emma has a place all to herself. It was so fun to do something a little bit different. Here are some images from that weekend, and some are also posted here.

Updates About Everything!

Hello all! Now that October is almost over, I figure it's about time for another update.

It's really been a hectic few weeks for me but I'm finally able to sit down for a few minutes and type about my life. The past two weeks have been especially busy with the completion of midterms, papers and photography assignments. Today, I have to get ready for my grad photos, and then have a hopefully relaxing weekend.

Last Friday, I was able to travel down to Waterloo to celebrate Emma's Convocation with my parents and Aunt and Uncle. After five years of hard work, it has come to an end. Now she's on to bigger and better things! Congrats, Emma!

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding inspiration shoot for my friend. She has recently gotten into event planning and had an amazing idea for a butterfly-themed wedding. This inspiration shoot will be printed in a wedding magazine, sometime next spring. I can't wait! I will post pictures later, once I know the publish date.

I was contacted by my work from the summer with exciting news that my IP is finally ready, and should arrive in the mail shortly. This means I can finally include images from my work into my personal portfolio. I'm looking forward to receiving a hard copy of the final Swag Catalogue, which will be a great piece to include in my portfolio. Here is a picture of the Creative Department from my work:

Speaking of photography, my Photo 4 class will be having a show in the new year, probably around March. I'm so excited to be a part of it! Also, I will be submitting work for the Grad Show which will be held at UTM's Blackwood Gallery. This will also be in the new year. These shows will be a great experience for me.

Well, that's all I can think of in terms of updates. Bye for now!

Week One: Done!

It's Thursday night and I've completed one week of my fourth year classes. This year should be full of fun things and also a lot of hard work. I have six classes in total, which is one more class than I usually have. Most of my classes are art-related, but I also have a geography class I need to fill my social science requirement. I am taking Photography 4 and Sculpture 3, which I am really excited about. I also have a visual culture course, a course about photography and new media, and a course about curatorial practice.

Right before summer ended, I was able to get my website created and up and running! If you haven't been there yet, check it out! A big thanks goes out to my dad, aka "Techno Dude" for all his help!

In other news, today marks five years of dating for Paul and I. This is exciting because although it feels like I've known Paul my whole life, the past five years have flown by! I'm so glad to know such an amazing guy! :)