Keeping my treasures close to my heart

So...

I feel like here I am first Monday of the month with yet another excuse, so I'm going to be honest. I'm having a bit of a hard time at the moment, and I'm not feeling particularly creative or productive.
Last Thursday my Nanna died, and I spent the weekend away with my family saying goodbye. Also my other grandmother is also very sick in hospital, and that is weighing heavily on my mind. I'm feeling a bit stressed about things going on back home with my family, and hating being so far away being unable to help, as well as feeling confused and unproductive about work and where I'm wanting to go.

So there is my whinge. I don't say it so that anyone feels sorry for me, because I am fine, I just say it to justify to myself why the first Monday in May has come around so quickly and I am empty handed...

I was very excited about this months project and I knew what I was going to make from day one, so I will try to explain my ideas, and hopefully soon it might come into being?? Along with my storybook locket.

I wanted to make another locket (yup I'm a sucker for moving parts and hidden compartments) that on the inside was broken up into little sections, and each section was going to have a mini "treasure", things to represent what was important to me.

This morning as I was thinking about it a bit more, I started to lean towards another idea, which was a heart shaped locket and on the inside make some little figurines to represent all the people that are important to me, because at the moment I'm starting to appreciate that these are my real treasures, and that would be a way to keep them close and in my heart...

okay enough mushy stuff...

In light of my not getting around to making either of these, I'm going to share something else.

This little box is an important box that keeps all my collected knick-nacks and trinkets safe, sound and tucked away, but the box itself is a treasure too. I got it on my 15th birthday, at a surprise party thrown for me by my beautiful friends. The box was a present from some of those friends, their names all burnt in on the back.

I get it out occasionally and go through it all, marvelling at the contents I have collected over the years, and at the craftmanship and the time taken to make it. I remember a time back in highschool and all the years since, all the fun I have had, and the sad times I have gone through. The people come and gone, the adventures had, and the many more to come. It makes me feel happy and loved.