Designer Spotlight - Belinda Venables

This month we are spotlighting the talented Belinda Venables from our Contributing Design Team. She writes all the way from Down Under!

Hi all. Belinda here. Here's a bit about lil ol' me...

When I was born, everyone had to have a say in my name. So, on the 17th of February 1980 I was born and named Belinda Michelle Grace Venables. My mother chose Belinda, my father chose Michelle and my nanna (mum's mother) chose Grace - which is one of her middle names. I was born at 5pm on a Sunday afternoon and was a chubby little thing with jet black hair. I was born in a small town called Renmark which is in South Australia, Australia. My mum and dad brought me home and that's where we lived for my entire life, until I moved out with my partner Mathew just over 8 years ago now.

I now live in a small town called Barmera, which is only a 1/2 hour drive from my home town, where my family still is. My mum and dad even live in the same house as when I was born! I live with my partner Mathew and our two precious children, Miss Madelin (nearly 6) and Mr Makenzie (2.5). I currently work in a small local video store (exciting huh? not!!) every second weekend. It's nothing flashy, but it gets me out of the house and gives me the opportunity to make a little cash to support my scrapbooking habit!!

I am a HUGE lover of chocolate and pavolva. I am a scaredy cat when it comes to snakes and spiders. I have never been overseas, but would love to one day and I am a sucker for romantic movies (with an extra box of tissues next to me!)

How do you think your scrapbooking has evolved over the years and what brought about those changes? And please show us one of your earlier layouts and one of your more current layouts.
Ohhh, do I have to show you an earlier layout. Ok...ready? Here goes? Eeeek! Here is a layout that I scrapped back in 2005 (be kind - please)

 

and one of my most recent layouts...

I feel that my style has changed so much over the years. For one, I now scrap in the 8.5" x 11" format, rather than 12" x 12". I don't use near as many products on my pages as I used to, and I just feel totally comfortable in my style these days and don't seem to doubt myself like I used to. I draw inspiration from so many places - online mainly. There is so so so much talent out there, it's easy to get inspired when you have the www. I find when I have a fabulous photo and a story to tell and a strong coffee by my side, my layouts just flow. If I am not into the photos and I am stuck for that story - I really do struggle!

Do you have a nickname? If so, how did you get it?
My main nickname is "Bindy". Ok, so I know what you're thinking - Bindy the Jungle girl I don't look anything like her and I am not named after her either - pinky swear (not that there would be a thing wrong with it if I was.)  I really don't know how I got the nickname to tell you the truth (I must ask mum or dad), just something I have answered to all of my life. I also get Bin (charming!), Binda (just an extended version of the last), B (very original) and Spindy (as Mathew calls me) not sure why, I just think he wants to be different!
 
What is your scrap space at work/home like?
We built our home just over a year a go now and we built a room just for my scrapbooking. I love having my own space. Somewhere I can hide away and create - pure bliss! Mathew often says to me that all I need is a toilet and a small bar fridge in there and I would never come out. He's right you know! On one side of the room is my large desk, which covers the entire side. I have a small flat screen tele above me so I can scrap and watch my favourite programmes at the same time. I have my printer and scanner on one side of me and my clip-it-up on the other - loaded with scrumptious American Crafts Thickers! I also have a homemade clip-it-up that sits right in front of me that Mathew made - I of course was the supervisor - which also has Thickers on it, (can you tell I love them?) some other yummy AC goodness, and a lot of the products that I use often. On one wall I have a corkboard filled with goodies which is great as I can see it all and therefore I use it and I have homemade frames (made by Mathew - he's handy isn't he?) on my walls with layouts inside. On the other side is another desk. This is the "Madelin" desk. This is where all her art is created. I also have bits and pieces over there, some she can use, some she can't. All in all, it's comfy and it's my space and I love it! :D

Tell us in as much detail as you can remember about how you first got into scrapbooking!
It only seems like yesterday! My sister was right into scrapbooking at the time and was the one that first introduced me to this amazing craft. I remember attending my first crop with her and a few others from the town she lived in. It was in the local hall and everyone was so friendly and willing to share their ideas! I still remember the nervous feeling I got when I went to cut my first piece of patterned paper....crazy I know! That was six years ago now - how times flies. From that moment I was hooked. I would take zillions of photos of Madelin and go to bed dreaming of titles and layouts. Looking back at it now, I really had no idea what I was doing - just having fun and doing it the best way I knew how I guess!

Scrapbooking products were very hard to find in our local area. There was only one store that had a small range of scrapbooking products in the corner of the shop. I would go there on a regular basis and got to know the owner quickly. Soon after (and after her obviously seeing that I was slowly becoming obsessed with this hobby) she asked me if I would like to teach a few classes and I of course said YES! The small lot of products in the corner of the shop became larger and soon after she moved into a larger store where I eventually started a day job at. A real life scrapbooking store - what a dream!!  Of course I said yes! I have only just stopped working there due to family commitments, but if it wasn't for the owner, the classes, and that store, I may not be here loving this crafts as much as I am today! Oh, and like they say in the movies - the rest is history. :)

What is your favorite subject to scrap, and why?
My two babies - what else?! I love to capture moments on camera and tell a story. To me that is the most important part. I want my children to be able to look back in years to come and have a giggle at the things they use to say and do as children!

Thanks for letting us get to know you better Belinda!

-AC

Comments

[julie]

Love getting to know a bit more about you B.

[Michelle Vass]

Hi Belinda.... wow... what a great write up! Am glad to know a bit more about you now. Thanks for sharing your story. :)

[Sandra]

Nice to hear some more about you Belinda. I really like that newer layout of yours - very simple and effective.

[Antonella]

What a great story Belinda! Your work is as always inspiring!!!
Well Done

[nichole]

you are the sweetest of sweet, belinda! great learning more about you & i adore your scrap space!

[Tanya]

Hi Belinda - awesome write up! Love your scrap space and reading a bit more about you :)

[Richard M]

Great storage solutions for all your stuff. I like the simplicity of your layouts –– I think it makes them more dynamic.

[Amy Tangerine]

your style and scrap space rock!!!