Classic Becca

♡Christmas Competition♡

2011-11-24T23:52:00.001Z

I Love Christmas, I love the build up the most. This is my first Christmas in my own home with MrP and I get full rein of making our home look like santas grotto! My actual theme is going to be a Nordic-esk red & white look. But I am positive that will sway in every other direction. I have made a wreath and some baubles so far to challenge the M&S ones I actually wanted. Next up is Salt dough letters to make a NOEL letters decoration for the tree. I again saw some M&S ones but want to see if I can make my own first, I shall take pictures along the way and if it works I shall of course blog it! (They seem to have sold out of the Noel letters so mine better be good!)

So it's less than six days now until I am allowed to decorate the house, listen to Christmas music non-stop and start to watch my Christmas movie collection. There will be new traditions starting of course, as I have a partner in crime and he will have things he does at Christmas. So far I have discovered that his one contribution is that I am adding The Muppets Christmas Carol to the film collection. I have never seen it, but it appears to be a major part of everybody else's holiday season! So I shall embrace those muppety characters with all my heart and if it gets me, I will allow it in. The next is that I have never had a a real Christmas tree (Apart from the time I stayed in an apartment in New York for Christmas & New Years but I don't want to brag about that as it was only a small tree anyway). So we will be going on a little tree buying adventure, I might need to price the competition up first though as I don't want to find out I could have had a cheaper tree! Luckily we live in an area where lots of people sell them which is lovely. There are also lots of local Christmas events, my heart just swells thinking about being part of a community that holds so many events and festivals and especially at Christmas. There is a light turn on and I am very excited. There are also lots of craft fairs which I will love to browse through. I like to look out for something 'different' to add to my art collection.

I have made most of my presents so far this year and also bought thriftily. I have wrapped quite a few and they look devine if I do say so myself, just a shame the ribbon bows are most likely to get crushed in transit. Ahh well, might pop a polite note in asking to re-poof them!

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There's just been an absolute poor down outside, it was quite refreshing actually not heard rain for a while. I think I would prefer a rainy winter this year or just a blue sky frosty one. I am terrified of it getting so cold it snows and becomes icy, I fall every year without fail - two years ago I fell on sneaky black ice and did a 360 and smashed my hip off the floor. Luckily I was just a bit bruised but I hate to think what could have happened and certainly makes me think more about the elderly now. I currently have a broken arm (if you haven't heard) and it has and is a long process that involves a big mental strain and a lot of other problems that have come with it, be it a physical one or a mental one. I currently have what we call the invisible illness. Besides the obvious arm in a sling look I sport when I go out. There are things I laugh about when I am with people, that make me cry when I am alone but things are getting better. I know that because when I have flash backs, I know things arn't that bad. I am off til at least January 1st then I will be looking at whether I am capable to go back to work, the thought of that becomes more terrifying by the week. I joke that I left work on 30th July 2011 and walked back in in 2012 - my life has changed forever but at least I get Christmas off.

I don't want to be frightened, I'm only 29 and on 7th January it's my birthday. I can't start the next decade of my life an unconfident scardy cat, that would be rubbish. I've not had a drink since then or a cigarette. I stopped everything. I'm vegetarian too. Any ideas what I should do for my birthday? I truly feel I have left a chapter of my life behind and am starting a new one. I don't know if it's for the better or not. There are fleeting moments where I want to go out, get drunk, smoke a pack of cigarettes whilst talking so much I could enter the book of records for words per minute. But then I wouldn't be able to do all the things I am doing at the moment. The two just don't go together. I can see certain friends are confused by me now, but if all they wanted was the performing monkey they will have to learn to love this side of me as well. I am the same but just not quite as manic. Although MrP would probably beg to differ. Anyway onto lighter notes.....

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION!

Recommend my website www.classicbecca.co.uk & my Classic Becca Facebook page to your friends (Twitter, Facebook etc) and leave a comment here with 3 things you LOVE about Christmas and be in with a chance of winning a Christmas present from Classic Becca. A wonderful surprise all wrapped up for Christmas day. No peaking! I'll maybe let you open it on Christmas Eve... But only if you're good. The winner will be chosen at random with random.org & a runner up will be chosen by me & will be my 3 favourite words.
Competition open internationally.

Winner Prize - A secret Christmas present & special Christmas joy

Runner Up Prize - A mystery Christmas item

So get spreading the joy until December 12th 2011 and YOU could win a surprise. I hope you agree, there really aren't enough surprises left in life.

Christmas love & hugs.

CBX

Tutorial: Decoupaging Your Christmas Bauble

2011-11-22T23:13:00.001Z

Hello crafters, Christmas lovers, readers of my blog

'Decoupage (or découpage) is the art of decorating an object by gluing coloured paper cutouts onto your object in combination with special paint effects, gold leaf and so on'

I am here to tell you that you need to get crafty with your tired old baubles! Get your Christmas box/suitcase/trunk out and have a good sort out. Throw away the bits of fluff and broken tinsel and find all the bits and pieces that you think can be made into something else and pop them in a separate box for other craft projects. Find all the baubles that should be thrown away and find the things I will list, head for your kitchen table and make the old into the new. For free (or very cheap!)

Old baubles

Tissue paper

Newspaper

Paints (acrylic/poster/emulsion)

Paint brushes

Ribbon

PVA Glue
Strips of patterned paper
Glitter glue

I bought four baubles from a charity
shop at 25p each.

I held the bauble for most of it but
to make sure it was done neatly and
you don't get covered I used a skewer
through the hole and you can also
then stick the skewer in a plant whilst
they dry!

Get your tissue paper and tear it into
little squares. Don't cut it as it will
leave lines.

Decoupage your bauble by painting PVA

glue and sticking your tissue paper

all over the bauble and painting

the PVA all over the top. I usually water

my PVA down a little to give it a little

more fluidity. Then let it dry and it

should look something like this.

Get yourself some strips of a repetitive
design from anywhere you like, this is
from some wrapping paper.

PVA around the bauble and stick a
patterned strip around and PVA
over so it is all completely stuck down.

When dry get your glitter glue and get it
on the red bits thick and shiny!! Wait
until they are dry and hang them on your
Christmas tree.

Add some red ribbon and there you have your completed bauble. I made some different ones too, pretty pink roses. These ones were made by decoupaging with newspaper, then painting white when dry. Once that layer is dry, decoupage some pretty tissue paper and add a pink ribbon. You can buy those ones in my shop.

Available to buy on Folksy

I hope you have enjoyed this bauble decoupaging tutorial. As always comments are welcomed. If there are any Christmas crafts you would like to see just drop me a comment about the sort of thing you like to be able to make and I shall give it a go for you!

Happy Decoupaging.

CB X

Christmas Wreath - The Thrifty Option

2011-11-18T00:39:00.001Z

I have spent a few days looking for a wreath I could buy, I have never had one before and as this is the first year in my own home & living with my partner, I decided I would like one for my door. After looking at various shop bought ones, I came across one in Marks & Spencers that I quite liked & that was in the 'affordable' range but still expensive at £15. I was flicking through my Ideal Homes magazine - that's right I am becoming 'that' person - and there was a comparison of expensive to cheap options from different shops and it hit me, I should try and make a wreath the thrifty way. So I went about finding bits & pieces to make my own & it turned out pretty well, infact I love it. I decided to take pictures along the way so you can too make it if you want to add some Christmas wreath love in your home to. So here we go. My first craft tutorial.

£15 Wreath Vs Becca's £5 Wreath

Some things you will need to make this wreath; Scissors, wire cutters, round nose pliers (you can get away with just scissors as long as they aren't your best ones!) Also a glue gun can come in very handy to secure up a few of the decorations.

Some tartan ribbon or any thick ribbon you have, be creative & choose something that will fit in with your choice of colour theme for Christmas. I am using wired ribbon here and you will need 2 Metres for the full effect, but you can get away with using enough for a bow and then using string to hang it. I found both these ribbons for around a pound. One is from The Works & the other from eBay.

Some gold wire, or florist wire..infact any wire! As long as it is no less than the 6mm wire as it won't hold your decorations in place. Some festive rope (not sure what it's actually called...) I already had the wire but you can buy from all good craft stores & florists for around a £1. The rope was from Fred Aldous and is a metre.

Get yourself some decorations that you would use on a table, I have one table decoration (£1 Poundland) and a decoration for a candle (£1 Poundland) Buy what ever you think looks nice. Here I am using one to take apart and one as the central display

Take apart the candle surround so you can use the various pieces in the new wreath. They should all pull out quite easily, but if not do take care when pulling them out.

This is my wreath from Poundland. Take off all of the bit's of tat from the front & then turn it over so you have a clear frame. Now you have your blank canvas we will start to decorate the wreath.

After you have removed all the original features, attach the table decoration to the middle bottom of the wreath by poking the wire through the branches and wrapping the wire round until it is fixed. Try it at different angles and see what looks most asthetically pleasing before attaching.

Part One: Wrap wire around both ends of the rope whilst leaving a length of wire to wrap around the wreath. Start on the left hand side behind the decoration you have placed and wind the wire round, then wrap the rope round the wreath. Wrap the wire round the right hand side of the wreath to attach at the end. Part two: I have also attached the apple, pine cone and some extra berries from the candle decoration that I took apart with wire and the glue gun.

Get your ribbon and fold in half and cut so you have two one metre strips, then tie yourself a bow & straighten it out.

Put the second strip of ribbon underneath and tie a knot and direct it upwards making sure the knot in the middle is neat.

Then cut the top of the ribbon strips so they are neat & cut the lower ribbon by cutting out triangles.

Tie the ribbon to the top of the wreath and tie a little bow in the top of the ribbon & hang from your door or where ever you want to display it.

I think it is quite effective & shouts Christmas!

Look out for more wreaths and Christmas decorations soon! I want to make a crafted felt/material wreath next. I hope these can be displayed all year round as I am very attached to them as a wall hanging! :)

I hope your Christmas planning is in full swing, mine certainly is. I have to say it is only because I am off sick with a broken arm, I don't normally have time like this available. So don't feel pressured, just do things that make you happy and when you have time to. make it fun, and part of the celebrations. I am always a fan of the build up....I get quite sad when the day arrives as it's nearly all over.

Merry Christmas & see you soon.

CB X

P.S. Please do contact me with any questions you may have, I am always here to help! :)

Nature in Green - Mixed Media Art

2011-10-28T18:44:00.000+01:00

Now the present has been opened & hung, I am able to share my latest art work with you that was a gift to my friends for their wedding.

Unfortunately the pictures are not very high quality because I was still using my old iPhone camera at the time, hopefully I can ask the Bride to take another for me of it hung up. It looks a lot better in person (I think!).

I had such a lovely time creating it for them, I just hope the happy couple like it just as much as I do.

It was a beautiful wedding and I am so happy for them both, I shed a tear or ten at the church which was beautiful but not as beautiful as the bride.

♡ Congratulations Mike & Helena! ♡

CB X

All artwork is copyrighted by Rebecca Martin

My First From Scratch Cupcakes

2011-10-25T22:47:00.001+01:00

CB X

Baking Cupcakes

2011-10-23T01:21:00.001+01:00

Today I had my first attempt at baking cupcakes, I have discovered I can make them without the tin. I have been stressing out over that and I am now going to end up with a million muffin tins! I will be able to start a catering company by the time they all bloody arrive! It started with me asking MrP to get me one off Amazon and for some reason he was unable to do it, so I decided to get one myself then MrP thought his order had gone through, half an hour after that Mum texts me and tells me that shes got me one, so now I've got at least two en route. The one I ordered is pink & silicone though! It will match my scales, they are Typhoon ones - they're amazing. My friend bought me them years ago & now they are finally in my own home. I have some gorgeous salad plates I need to bring over from home soon too, as they are the finishing touch to my new Craft Brunches & tea and cake mornings I have started at my place. MrD bought me those too it's like he knew one day I would have a great use for them. They are called salad plates. But are clearly more suited for cake. They are bright colours & each one has a fashionable lady in London/Milan/Paris/NewYork they come in their own case too. Beautiful. I will show you them as soon as they hit Chorltonia. Before you see the evidence of my kitchen dabblings today can I just answer this question: Can you bake cupcakes without a muffin tin? Answer: YES! Yes you can, you just have to double up your muffin cases. I was very upset yesterday when I thought I was unable to make cupcakes due to my lack of tin, so if I can prevent even one lady having the same disappointment as me, my work here will be be done ♡

Toffee cupcakes - I don't have the recipe to these cupcakes as I cheated on my first attempt with those ones from a box (Asda's own) I wanted to play it safe so I could see the process without too much damage. But I will definitely show you my next batch which will be being made for Tuesdays Baby Brunch, my friends with babies are coming around. I shan't explain my event naming process to you, as I suspect you are quite clever. After all you're reading this aren't you? I have a colour of icing I want to do, and have been wanting to do for such a long time I simply cannot wait!

Anyway I must dash, it's late & I need my beauty sleep ♡

Cupcake Dreams CB X

♡

2011-10-21T17:30:00.000+01:00

My GherkinGate™ Lunch

(Story below - Warning Contains Swearing)

Ingredients:

Serves 2-3 people

Romaine Lettuce - Thinly shredded

Cos Lettuce (Delivered in my Abel & Cole veg box) - Chopped

5-6 Sundried Tomatoes - Thinly sliced

1 Gherkin - Thinly sliced

1 Avocado - Scooped out & sliced

1/2 Cucumber - Sliced & halfed

2 Spring Onions (or called salad onions in some places) - Sliced in circles

2 Soft Boiled Eggs - I boiled mine for 4 minutes & rested for 30 seconds before peeling

Salt & pepper

Garlic & Herb Dressing - Shop bought, mine is an Asda one

Pop it all in a bowl, lettuce first then Cucumber, spring onions, sprinkle the sundried tomatoes on, then place the avocado over the top. Slice the gherkins and sprinkle over. Serve up into a bowls & put the peeled egg on top, sprinkle with salt & pepper and then cut open and let the yummy yolk run through the salad. Drizzle with salad dressing.

Enjoy!

Love CB X

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GherkinGate™ Story

I decided to make a salad for lunch & I was trying to open a large jar of Gherkins, but I couldn't get it open because I have a broken arm & I can't use to much force, because if I did my arm might fall apart. So as one does when they are not of sound mind I shouted "Fuck you Gherkins!! Fuck you!!" Then went off to the living room & sulked whilst being mean to my boyfriend online. I then went back to the kitchen because it was gone 3pm & my hunger had reached a new level, ran the gherkins under hot water like a form of torcher before trying to release the lid again, but nothing. So I stepped the heat up, steam began to rise, the moment becoming more intense. I put my hand on the hot lid, gripped it with all my right handed mite & turned it...POP! Finally juicy Gherkin goodness. Then whilst chewing on a good bit of gherkin I thought ooh that's what I'll put on my lettuce sitting lonely in a bowl, and so GherkinGate salad was born. It was very tasty, but make sure you've got a nice warm surrounding before eating it. It's comforting but you may need to team it with a good brew!

♡ RECIPE ♡

2011-10-21T00:16:00.000+01:00

Becca's Easy Apple & Blackberry Crumble

Feeds 4-5 People

Ingredients:

The filling:

3-4 Bramley Apples

1 Punnet of Blackberries

4 Teaspoons of Caster Sugar

2-3 Teaspoons of Cinnamon

Lemon Juice (1/4 of a lemon or a few splashes of lemon juice from a bottle)

The Topping:

A Cup of Porridge Oats OR Muesli

1/2 a Cup of Plain Flour

4 Teaspoons of Caster Sugar

6 Cubes of Unsalted Butter

What to do:

Preheat the oven to gas mark 6 or 200℃
Peel & chop the apples into small chunks, leaving out the core. Then layer into the dish.
Squeeze or splosh some lemon juice over so the apples don't discolour & take in a little flavour.
Put the blackberries over the apple, making sure there are some all over the dish.
Sprinkle 4 teaspoons of caster sugar over, then the cinnamon. Use your own judgement as to whether it is too much or too little & adapt.

Then for the crumble, grab a nice bowl and pour in the oats, flour, sugar & spoon it all together.
Cut two sticks of butter (I used unsalted but it doesn't really matter) and cut them into 6 cubes.
Add the butter cubes one by one & rub them into the mixture until you have a nice buttery crumble mix.

Sprinkle the mixture all over the juicy apple & blackberry layers and pop in the oven & cook for 40-45 minutes. Check your makings at about 30 minutes.

You can also make this up & leave it for a few hours. For those times when preparation is essential. ie. When you have visitors.

I made this for my parents today, who visited. They loved it. When it's ready, leave to cool slightly for 5 minutes & then make or buy some really good quality custard and pour lashing of it over the crumble & enjoy. It's a perfect way to warm up, now there is a definitive chill* in the air. Curl up on the sofa & tuck in.

Love CB X

*For people living in the places that have sun, it's nice then too! Oh and congrats on all your sun.

♡

2011-10-18T22:31:00.000+01:00

Sweet Potato Veggie Chilli

Becca's Semi-Made-Up-As-We-Go Recipe

Serves 2-3 People

Ingredients:

2 Sweet Potatoes

1 Red Pepper

1 Green Pepper

1/2 a Large Onion

Handful of Vine Tomatoes (4-5)

Tin of Chopped Tomatoes

1 Tsp Cumin

1 Tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 Tsp Mild Chilli

1 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Tsp Coriander Leaf (Dried)

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

2 Cloves of Garlic

Milk

Tortilla Chips (My personal choice of tortilla chip was Jalapeno flavour) OR Rice & Sour Cream

What To Do:

Turn the oven on to Gas Mark 6 or 200℃
Peel the sweet potatoes and chop into bite size pieces
Put the sweet potato into a roasting tin/dish and sprinkle with a pinch of cumin, cayenne, mild chilli & cinnamon. Then pour over a glug of olive oil and some salt & pepper & toss the sweet potato until cover in the spices
Slice and dice the onion and Chop the peppers into bite size pieces. Then chop the garlic
Pour a glug of of olive oil into a deep pan and put the onion, peppers and garlic in and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Put the sweet potato into the oven & cook for approx. 40 minutes
Add the rest of the spices (Cumin, Cayenne, Mild Chilli, Cinnamon & Coriander Leaf) and stir in then cook for another 10 minutes, stirring every few minutes
Quarter the vine tomatoes and put them in the pan and cook for 2 minutes the add the tin of tomatoes & 1/2 tin of water
Leave on the hob cooking for around 25 minutes
Taste & add a slosh of milk to cool the spice down if needed
Check the potatoes with a skewer or fork, if soft in the middle take out of the oven
Turn off the heat on the pan and add the sweet potatoes & allow to cool slightly

Putting the dish together:

Grab a bowl of your choosing, put a few ladles of chilli in your bowl and add some tortilla chips & a big dollop of sour cream. EAT.

Enjoy!

CB X

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

2011-10-06T15:29:00.000+01:00

An amazing speech by Steve Jobs. So many points to take on board for life. Life is about death, about doing the things we want to without fear of what others may say, of living YOUR dream. Stay hungry & stay foolish. To be creative, a genius, an innovator, to have courage, to want to change the world. In your way. Watch, listen & take what you need from it. Always do what the tummy bubbles tell you.

Be brave.

Be different.

Be you.

CB X

I Had a Little Dream

2011-10-06T00:04:00.000+01:00

Last year I had a dream that within the next year five people I knew were going to have babies. Something I thought no more about until one day the first friend announced to me secretly that there was more than lunch in her tummy. Soon afterwards another friend told me pre-telling time, a month later another & a while later I discovered someone else was too. Four down, but who would be the fifth, if at all. Someone very close yet far away was the fifth and it was amazing news as there had been a long road to get there. The first to be born was a little girl more stunning than her parents, the second with eyes like her dad. The third a boy so cute with a smile to melt any heart. The fourth another girl, the cutest thing her parents have seen, I have yet to meet the newest addition to the world & the fifth, well that one is still cooking. To see people close to me producing such tiny newness in the world makes me feel so proud & warm & snugly inside. A baby so small & innocent, so new to the world looking around at all the shapes & colours & big smiling faces. It's an amazing thing. I have never been a fake auntie to so many little people. I'm not broody, nope not me. I just really like small things.

CB X

The All-New Craft Corner & Life Update

2011-10-03T15:38:00.000+01:00

My table & shelves are positioned ready for supplies

Supplies have started to be arranged. It will be a while before it's perfect!

Here is craft corner so far. I think I'll take some pictures of key items to show you soon, like the vase which is from the Craft & Design Centre in Manchester - Infact there may be a past blog post about it.. Yes here it is VASE.

There have already been some changes, like some more art work on the walls & more 'stuff' on the table. I have also bought some new art supplies on my few days out of the house. The first was hard with only having one arm but I had some very helpful shop people. The Conrads art shop (Chorlton) lady let me stack things at the side of her whilst I shopped & we had a little chat. B n M's not so helpful so I just stuffed a couple of canvases under my arm & a children's robot plate & cup set for MrP. The lady in Holland and Barretts was very helpful finding me some (On Sale) vitamin tablets to mimic my actual tablets and help with my bone health and nervous system. The one thing I didn't check whilst being helped was the size of the caplets & capsules. My oh my, I wish I had! After my short trip, I started to make my way home, which is when my back started to give way and my arm(s) hurt. Left because of the obvious break & the right from carrying my first-time-out-alone shopping. But a successful first time out I think.

My second trip out was for Sunday lunch with some friends & MrP, it was lovely to be out but I get so tired so soon that the social thing is a work in progress. Especially as I have run out of one of my tablets and am in some discomfort at the moment. After lunch, and me quite frankly getting momentarily hyperactive and telling everyone "We must now go to Spain" & when that was rejected a counter offer of "Then we will go to Openshaw. And back" we departed and walked over to Fred Aldous for some more art supplies. This time I had MrP & his arms so I made him carry a basket whilst I filled it with canvases, watercolour paper, paint, brushes, and some very expensive 'treat myself' alphabet stamps by Dumpling Dynasty. There were quite a few other things I wanted to treat myself too but I decided to be good* and pay for what I had so far accumulated.

Tonight I am being taken to Ikea by my Male bestie MrD, I saw something on their website I want. Everything. I will probably get tired quickly, but at least they have those ready made bedrooms for sleepy customers.

Let me know what you think of my craft corner so far. Hopefully I will be able to start using it soon rather than just setting it up like a Barbie Caravan before Ken, Cindy & Blue haired Steve** pop round.

CB XX

*MrP was getting bored. **Did anybody else have Steve??

Mind, body & craft

2011-09-17T22:04:00.002+01:00

You would think it'd get easier, but every day is a challenge. You wouldn't believe what a broken arm could do to your life until you live through it. It's not just the physical aspect of not being able to do things it's the emotional & mental side too. I am going through the mental side at the moment. I sit at home and I am OK but then I start to feel my elbow where I can feel pins and hard elements that I don't understand. As I start to process it, I think of all the different outcomes from that moment onwards. About mobility and whether they will have to operate, and why I can feel the pins when no one told me I might. I feel weak for crying when I have been through so much more pain but I don't know how else to deal with it. I am sorry to all the people around me who's life styles have had to change and also the emotional, mental adjustment. This has meant a lot to me & I couldn't have done it without you all. I wish I had a constant contact to the hospital so I could ask the stupid to the more thought out questions & be relieved of the self torture I cause myself thinking of all the different turns this could take. One would think I am being dramatic and maybe I am. But it's my arm, not yours, and I am quite fond of it.

I've been getting into a catch 22 drama too. My craft supplies are at my parents, so I thought I would get inspired via the internet. I watch videos of others creating then I go on a blog hunt and I get excited and it all builds up until I want to get on with my website, which this is part of. I have nothing to write about in my new pages because all my craft supplies are at home. Even if they were here, I wouldn't be able to do use them because of my arm. Although I'm sure I could find a way to use my gorgeous, lovely, crafty goodness. Touching my beads and seeing them gleam in the light. Picking up my art supplies and seeing what I have, and dreaming up my next piece of art work. But for now, I will have to continue to dream and search the internet for inspiration hoping one day I can be that person who is inspiring someone else.

I think I will attempt at writing about other peoples art and blogs, I started something last night so hopefully that will come along nicely and give me something in my life to take my mind off the current confusion and self pity. What did the world do without the internet, what did it do without Facebook or Twitter or places to blog? Well, for that I am certainly grateful. I won't name the creators, it could start to sound like an awards speech. But I'd like to thank my Mum & Dad, my beloved partner Paul, Charlotte, Sam, Kaye & all the people that took their time out of their lives to come & see me whilst in hospital and beyond. You know who you are!*

Thank you for listening.

CB X

*Sean & Vero, Chris Corns, Cath Lambert-Richardson , Ben Gibbs & Family, Andy Threlfall, Bob & Sandra, Richard & Kelly, Richard Downer & Mike & El. Apologies if I have forgotten you, I have been on a cocktail of very strong medication throughout, you and all my hallucinations have meant a lot.

Something-todo-with-the-Palace-Theatre

2011-09-16T15:42:00.000+01:00

I just found this really boring partially written blog from years ago, lurking in the drafts section. Thought i'd post it anyway for the purpose of clearing out my drafts section. Writing is writing after all, isn't it?

"Morning" She exclaims. The room ignores her but allow a gentle titter as she always says morning when she arrives at work at 6pm. She changes into her restricting uniform and drags her feet over to the office to be greeted by "Are you ready for a night of suprises...." "No, not really...go on then what do we know so far..?" "Well, the support act are an hour and then a 30 minute interval..." She stops her there. "So the support act are a whole proper gig long and then the real gig starts...?" "Yes, so thats nice.." she says sarcastically. "We have between 156 - 1600 patrons* in but were not sure which"

*[There were 250 patrons]

Well I hope you enjoyed that. I am sorry.

Go out & buy some pink roses, they will make you smile.
CB X

Friendship

2011-09-15T02:21:00.000+01:00

Friends, they are something i've always had and something i've always wanted. They have come and gone over the years, so many I'd hate to try and count. Some friends are there for a short while, and are intense. The kind of friendship that you think you'll burst if you don't see them or speak to them. They never last but they are full of memories, always good ones. They are usually when we are young. Then there are the ones where you slightly idolise the person you are friends with, always looking up to them slightly & following. Asking them how and why they do things, and not focusing on your own life because you secretly feel in their shadow.

Acquaintances, mates, chums, buddies, bessie', best friends, BFF & these days online friends the special breed, the ones you've never met but will tell your whole life too. You have time to think before typing, so every word spoken to each other is perfect and beautifully formed. If you ever met, you most likely wouldn't get on or have a real world friendship* but that's ok because you are where you are needed - on the other end of that keyboard.

There's also the collective friends, 'work friends' 'college friends' 'school friends' 'uni friends' 'pub friends'. Pub friends are the ones you have good times, great times, absolutely rubbish times and times you can't remember, they are usually there when you need them, in the pub I mean. You generally don't know these people very well outside of the pub you talk about current affairs & things in the now. Every person we meet is a potential friend, I have said in the past "I don't need anymore friends I have enough". Well that is utter tosh. You can never have enough friends, and if you are lucky to have more than one good one, you are doing well. Treat them well, because one day you might need them, for more than a drink in the pub.

A really fluffy description of friendship - Friendship

If that didn't do it for you, then watch this and then go out and hug someone. But not a hoodie, don't be a conformist.

Becca X

*This doesn't count for online 'relationships' who knows what the porcupine happens within those realms.

2011-09-11T02:09:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I wrote a blog about my day, going to hospital, the happenings of the day & that like. But as a phone call came in from my beloved, it was wiped from existence. I had chosen to write it on the Blogger App. for iPhone. Who knew that a function of that app wasn't to auto save like its older sibling within the interweb. I was devastated by this for a few reasons. I hadn't written a blog for a long time, I had written it all with one hand on an app for 'ease' & I'm emotional so had a good cry because it was sarcastic writing at it's best. But what is done, is done.

So I went to the hospital yesterday and had my dressing taken off, and told once again to work hard on moving it about. I have been doing my physio on it since the day after the surgery. I am trying hard & I think there has been definite progress. It just wont bend, that's the on-going (for many months I am sure) battle I have to try and win. Later in the evening, my fingers, whilst resting upon my keyboard limp and yearning to dance across the letters with it's counterpart, went into spasm. Part of my arm caved in and the rest swelled up, it was blinkin scary but after some help from a nurse friend it all seemed to go back to 'normal'.

Mine & MrP's anniversary was on Thursday, he bought me a monkey & I called it Charlie (Charles on posh occasions) and a lovely card. As I can't go out, we stayed in and watched Studio 60 & had a Dominos. I had a vegetarian supreme with extra dips - I like my dips - and he had a pizza with meat from the new gourmet range. He came and sat in snuggle kingdom, that's where I live all day & night at the moment. It is a fake Cath Kidston duvet covered duvet & pillows and cushions with my blanket & the 'kids' Max (Tiger) Oscar (Tiger) Charlie (Monkey) Marley (Moose) and currently Clive (Giraffe) who is a guest & a present for my friends new born baby Luke. We had a lovely night together.

I was quite ill on Saturday, as if I needed to add to my problems. I slept most of the day whilst trying to write this blog. I am starting to extend my blog & will be slowly but surely creating a feature page of creative people in my life that do amazing things. I will also be creating a dedicated craft page so I can talk about blogs and crafters I come across. As I can't actually craft or create my mixed media art at the moment I shall explore others and enjoy looking & learning and gaining inspiration.

Go out & get inspired too while you're healthy. Enjoy life, be safe & look after yourself. You only get one life. Live it.

Love, life & beauty

Becca x

An Arms Story in Picture

2011-09-01T12:19:00.002+01:00

Lunchtime Eggs

2011-07-07T16:00:00.001+01:00

Seeded batch toasted with poached eggs, asparagus & hollandaise sauce.

Secret Square of Colour

2011-06-19T23:19:00.004+01:00

ClassicBecca

Rebecca Martin is fundraising for Cancer Research UK

2011-04-26T17:19:00.000+01:00

Rebecca Martin is fundraising for Cancer Research UK

Please give a little if you can for this great cause. I am doing the Race for Life in July, for the people who are living, fighting & have lost the battle.

Much Love CB

Pea & Mint Omelette

2011-04-12T13:09:00.001+01:00

I love omelette's and my favourite one at the moment is pea and mint. I have a set recipe for this, but in the past two days I have discovered a slightly lower calorie and tastier alternative to two of my ingredients.

My original recipe Ingredients:

Olive oil
Butter
Half an onion
Frozen garden peas (enough to cover the bottom of your chosen pan)
2 eggs
Dried mint
Salt & Pepper
Creme Freiche
Cheddar cheese

Put your pan on a high heat and put in olive oil & a knob of butter.
Finely chop half an onion and add to the pan, sofening but not browning.
Crack two eggs into a bowl and add salt & pepper, mint & creme freiche.
Add peas to the pan and stir until bright green.
Pour in the egg mixture and stir a little bit and then leave to set.
Put under the grill to set the top and add grated cheese til melted.

In my tweeked version instead of adding creme freiche & cheddar cheese, get cheese slices (any brand but like the type in the link) Use two and rip into the egg mix.

It adds the creamy element of the creme frieche & the cheesy bit & is less calories generally and a bit tastier.

Enjoy! Becca xx

I've Been Tagged!

2011-03-29T14:31:00.000+01:00

Three by Nine Meme

I have been tagged by Sarah at Loves2crochet so that you can learn a little more about me, so here goes.

Three names I go by: Becca, Bexlea, The Martinator

Three places I’ve lived: Manchester, that's it. I visit other places with hotels though, do they count? :)

Three places I’ve worked: Florist, Guardian International Television Festival, Theatre.

Three things I love to watch: TV series DVD's, My friends smiling, People creating Art.

Three places I’ve been and loved: London, York, Prague.

Three people who email me regularly: Work, My Boyfriend (@p7r), Facebook notifications!

Three things I love to eat: Pizza, Eggs, Pasta.

Three things I’m looking forward to: Friends wedding in May, Seeing Much Ado About Nothing in London, Moving in with Paul (@p7r)

The three people I’m tagging in this meme: @piscesolya @jennylemac @fundinewithme

Have a lovely day! CB x

Marching Through

2011-03-10T15:45:00.002Z

Hello everyone,

Well it's been just over a month since my last blog & the list of doom. I have scraped myself through the horror that is February & steamed ahead into March, which without the sun wouldn't be much better so far. But as there are only a select number of days within a month, one cannot spend time waiting around for something to happen. I saw a tweet on Sunday this week that profoundly changed my attitude towards people & the world, and that within the internet people are not always cruel, sometimes caring, helpful & magical. Here is the link, it is called 51 Hours to Live.

Myself & my boyfriend have been invited to a wedding very last minute, not because we were on the reserve list but because they only just got engaged and then won the wedding! We can't really afford it, but after deciding to live life NOW I searched the internet for cheapness. We are now staying at Tower Bridge near the wedding (which is in the walkways in Tower Bridge) in a very nice hotel, & travelling by megabus. can't win 'em all, but it is only costing £67 each for a one night stay in London inc. travel. So can't really complain. So once again, just as I was about to enter payday with money left, I am now not (That is me complaining).

I have two weeks off from work, but have decided to pull a few shifts at job 2 (The big Theatre) for social reasons. Got quite a few things booked in now, from having nothing. Need to remember must rest & not be tired when i go back to work.

Over in crafty land on the first 4 days off from work, I started making some Mothers Day Cards & some earrings for a friend. I sold one of the cards straight away & hope that many of my cards go out to very lucky & loved mothers. So here are the cards & links to the shop if you wish to peruse. Enjoy.

Red Poppy Mothers Day Card

Lollipop Flower Mothers Day Card

Red Poppy Mothers Day Card with Funky Pollen

For other gifts for that special lady in your life browse my shops ETSY & FOLKSY

Classicbecca

It Can Only get Better...?

2011-01-24T22:16:00.000Z

1. Paul is given a months notice

2. I am fined for 'littering' by dropping a cigarette

3. I get drunk as I am annoyed

4. I get up early for swimming with a hangover, but Charlotte never turns up as she hadn't woken up.

5. My friends Mum dies

6. I get a cold.

7. Hair appointment takes 4 1/2 hours & makes me 1 1/2 hours late for work.

8. Pauls card gets blocked

9. My card gets frauded

10. My card gets blocked.

11. Go to South Yorkshire to be with my friend & travel back the next day very tired.

12. Get drunk again & get laryngitis

13. New week starts...

Gortonian Snow

2010-12-01T11:10:00.000Z