First and foremost, Becky has been collecting my original work since my studio was in my parents' basement and the washer and dryer served as the shipping and receiving table, the exposed copper pipes as something the mobiles could hang from. Becky appeared at each event faithfully, with all 3 tussled blond headed children trailing behind like a mother duck with her chicks. They would search through scraps and pieces and unfinished works, looking for the most unique things that I would be willing to part with. They would send pictures of how they finished and placed the artwork, as well as gifts they made themselves for me. One year they appeared with a purple vest with bottle caps sewn all over the front.

Becky was never without keen interest and knowledge on a number of subjects. Whether it was to bring me her children's latest creation or to let me know how the real estate game was going, she always kept in touch.

When I became engaged to Greg a year ago and was having trouble with the 2-3 hour commute (not to mention building the private studio in Norfolk), Becky helped find me an affordable but unique property which I now call my home. You have been viewing pictures of it monthly and experiencing my growing passion for gardening.

Recovering from the shock of the eviction notice, I called Becky and she immediately went to work trying to find me the best location for my career and artwork. We were soon searching through Wethersfield and historic Rocky Hill. Wanting an inspirational space, older homes with all their handmade details and locations by the water were my immediate attractions.

While touring a house built in 1750, we heard an unusual knocking sound. Ignoring our fears that there was someone in the house or that it was haunted, Becky told me about the tradition of builders placing shoes in the walls when they finish a project. We left that house quickly and decided to go to New Britain.

We stumbled upon Briana's Bed and Breakfast was a perfect find as it was close to the New Britain Museum of American Art and in a wonderful artist driven community. When the owner was showing us the attic he pointed out a shoe that he had found in the wall. This and the Fanciful Flight over the sink made me contemplate running the Bed and Breakfast as well as my art career until I realized I was getting caught up in trying to handle too much.

Our next set of tours found us in Newington. A fellow artist posted his beautiful clean, sunny home for sale with the dream of moving into New York City and into a loft studio space. Over my budget, his place was perfect from my business. It was ironic that I was seeking to move out of our dirty, wet, leaking; moldy studio loft space into his clean studio and her was thinking the opposite. Through all the driving and looking, Becky would regal me with stories of her life and career. We also made a few of our own

Drawn to yet another water location, we scoured Portland and Middletown during a torrential rainstorm. Following the last stop, in a fringy part of town, Becky motioned me over to her car. I had been sharing my excitement over some of my newest licenses and talking about our fabric and quilting endeavors, but Becky had a few of her own. Piled high in the front seat was a bevy of beautifully executed handmade quilts. Becky likes my work because of the color and whimsical designs, and here her work was bursting with the same joy and exuberance. I opened one after another with her and most loved the one she created with her children's stamps of coffee cups. Finally we drew a crowd so we packed up and called it a day.

Besides more stories about Tommy Tickets and the Romanian builders who are working on my house, there have been the growing story of her husband's trips to the Caribbean to build their dream home. Of course Becky wrote a book and we have started dreaming of the mermaid gallery we would love to open in St. John.