Life on hold...

As I write this, I am waiting for an agent of Air Canada Reservations to take my call...they are 'experiencing a higher than usual volume of calls' as they have been the last 3 times I attempted to call them...but at least I'm able to do something productive at the same time. I really hate getting stuck in that situation where you have been on hold for ever, but dare not hang up the phone because 'what if they were about to answer!?'

I suppose you could say that I have left my life in the UK on hold for four months...my friends and family are awaiting my return (at least I hope they are)! I am looking forward to seeing them and finding out what the next chapter of my life has in store. I'm trying to make it sound exciting, because the prospect of prolonged unemployment is terrifying me! Getting a job can be so tough right now...

Enough on that though - 'what have you been making??' I hear you cry! And the answer is - bracelets!

They both have a sort of friendship theme - each has been inspired (albeit indirectly) by two of my closest friends.

Firstly, my best friend (visit her blog Creative Therapy) is getting married in the not too distant (although distant enough) future. I'm going to be a bridesmaid! I'm so excited - and I want to make some beautiful crafty things for her wedding. Looking for inspiration I came across this beautiful felt corsage and although in my opinion I am not sure felt is the best material for a wedding corsage - I decided to make one just for fun.

 Here it is! I wasn't making it with wedding in mind, just as a daily accessory for life. I've worn it a few times now and had some lovely comments.

The next bracelet I made is a replacement for the one below, given to me by another close friend, at least two Christmases ago.

I put it on and didn't take it off until I got my job which required me to remove all jewellery and shower every day - and 11 months later when I finished that job I put it straight back on and didn't take it off until yesterday, because it was about to fall off and I didn't want to lose it! As the picture suggests, it is well worn...

I had seen these nautical bracelets earlier in the summer and flagged them as a project I wanted to try...however even after raiding the spare rope bin of the kayak company I'm working for, I just couldn't find the truly inspiring piece of nautical rope I was hoping for. About 2 or 3 weeks ago though, a short piece attached to the fly of a tent caught my eye. After determining that it's removal would not in any way affect the functioning of the tent (as it was not an original fixture) - I took it and stashed it until last night, when I finally got round to making the bracelet.

The fastening was difficult to make as I couldn't find anything like the anchors used on the originals, so I had to settle for a button! I'm not sure how long my binding will last either - I might need to go over them again.

Still, for now at least I am happy with it as a replacement for my much love and much worn friendship bracelet. I think I might make one of these to give to that special friend!

How about a picture of an awesome white sided dolphin just to finish things off? This was from a whale watching trip last week - which was probably the last time I will get to see the orca and other fantastic marine mammals of this area before I head home.