Little Red Riding Hood

I started sketching this girl in the woods yesterday afternoon.  It didn't take long before she started looking like Little Red Riding Hood.  I'm not sure what season she went to her grandmother's house in the story, but doesn't Autumn seem to fit?  

I love the wind blowing her hood and cape, 

and the leaves twirling down around her.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Go ahead and visit

Paint Party Friday... 

see what other artists 

have been up to this week!

Happy PPF everyone!

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,

 

 
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

 Then leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day

 

Nothing gold can stay.

~ Robert Frost ~

 

Useful Again

 

I've had this dark green, rooster-painted box with drawers for about a year now.  My mother-in-law gave it to me in the hopes that I'd figure out a way to give it a facelift.  Upon looking it over again today, I realized I just wasn't in the mood for sanding and painting...

For now, all I wanted to do was create an easy autumn display.  So I cleaned the box off, removed the drawers, and placed two glass canning jars inside. 

Then I picked a few pretty stems of marigolds and mums to form my bouquets.  The gourd came out of my daughter's garden.  I moved this from the table to a corner so you can't see the rooster who's still perched on top, upside down.  I'll save the complete redo for another day... still have the drawers too.  For now, it's just nice to make this little wooden box useful again. 

Hope you have a great day...

and find something to make useful again 

in your own home as well!

Happy Beginnings & Ever Afters...

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things, 

hope, a dream of possibilities."

June 16th, 1985 was Father's Day... 

and the day a precious baby girl

~ Miss April Schmelzer ~

was born.

 

Nearly 18 months later, an event occurred 
that would shape this little girl's future, 
but she nor the little baby boy realized it.  

 

You see, September 24th, 1986 
was the day my brother
(and her future husband)  
~ Mr. Evan Ross ~ 
was born.

Five or six years went by before they would meet.
On that day, three children were introduced to our Sunday school class. 

 ~ Philip, April, and Paul Schmelzer ~  

I was immediately drawn to April.  She was being very shy, with her head hung low.  

I went over and took her by the hand, then the class formed a circle and prayed.  I remember thinking she was just so pretty and sweet ~ a little lady.  

I hoped she liked me, and wished we could be friends...

Sunday after Sunday, we all got to see each other at church.  I can remember weaving through churchgoers, looking for Mom after the service to ask if we could go to the Schmelzers' house ~ and if not ~ well, then could they come to our house?  So many Sundays we spent together.  The Schmelzer and Ross families blended into one big family.  Our parents were friends, April was the sister I never had, and Paul, Philip and Evan were brothers.

Years went by, and gradually we stopped asking to go spend the day at each other's houses.  We were still good friends, but there were just things that got in the way ~ homework, boy & girlfriends, Summer jobs...

Most of us eventually went our separate ways, but Evan & April continued to be friends and see each other regularly at church.  They got one another's sense of humor, and were so happy when they were together. 

Only one problem... Evan got engaged to another girl.

She was nice, and would've been welcomed in to our family.  
However, things just eventually dissolved... including their engagement.

When Evan & April started dating, I think everyone who knew them was holding their breath ~ hoping and praying they would see how naturally they just 'fit.'  
Christmas Eve of last year Evan proposed, and happily she said YES!

Ever since, plans have been made, a shower given, 
and with the wedding rehearsal tonight... that will be it.  
Tomorrow is the day.

Twenty five years ago, September 24th was a wonderful day... full of happiness that a son had been born.  I see it fitting that this was also the day chosen for Evan & April to enter in to their wedded bliss.  Another celebration, new life ~ two become one, and so much happiness for them both.

I cannot wait to see their happily ever afters... 

because, unlike the end of a beautiful movie or book, this is not 'The End,' 

it's merely another beginning!

         "...like the beginning of all things, 

         hope, a dream of possibilities..."

Congratulations!!

May you be blessed 

beyond even 
your own  
hopes & dreams... 

Love ~ your sister

Timeless Beauty

You never know when inspiration will strike... as I was visiting everyone else's blogs & checking out their art last week, I stopped at Faye's Adventures in Art.  Seeing her lovely lady reminded me I hadn't done any sketches of women in quite some time.  Here's some of my work leading up to this week...

~ Collage of a few high school sketches from about 10 years ago ~

~ Christmas card angel from 7 years ago ~

 

~ ... and here is my sketch from this week ~

I titled this post after her.  

She's acquired a few wrinkles over time, but is still beautiful.  

It looks like she's thinking about something amusing... 

or maybe she just knows something we don't know.

Thanks for visiting!
Happy PPF!

  

Also have to add...  

my brother is getting married Saturday!  

It's also his birthday ~ how cool is that?

Congratulations Evan & April!!

Love is... patient and kind; 
love is not jealous or boastful;
it is not arrogant or rude.
Love does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
Love bears all things ~ believes all things ~ hopes all things.

~Paul (A.D. First Century) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7~

I have been

one acquainted with the night. 

I have walked out in rain ... and back in rain. 

I have outwalked the furthest city light. 

I have looked down the saddest city lane. 

I have passed by the watchman on his beat,

 And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still ... and stopped the sound of feet 

When far away an interrupted cry 

Came over houses from another street, 

But not to call me back or say good-bye; 

 

And further still at an unearthly height,

O luminary clock against the sky 

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

I have been one acquainted with the night. 

~ Robert Frost ~

'Acquainted with the Night'

I've loved this poem since first reading it in 5th grade .

 Appropriately, this post was finished at 2:45 a.m.

I have been one acquainted with the night,

but now I'd like to get re-acquainted with my bed, so...

~ Good night ~

Wintertime Cabins

With dropping temperatures come thoughts of preparation for the holidays... they'll be upon us before we know it.  So... this week I've been working on a few Christmas cards.  I like to give them directly to the recipient if I can... that way I'm sure it arrives safely.  It's also fun to tell them what inspired the artwork.

I love creating a 'feeling' such as in this card... I can sense the warmth from a fire burning inside, and candles flickering in the windows.  Wouldn't you love coming home to this?

As my friends and family could tell you, I love including cabins in winter scenes.  I just found a stash of cards my mom insisted I keep instead of handing out.  I'm glad I listened, as it's nice to reflect on some of my earlier work.  (Thanks Mom!) 

The card below is from 2004.  I can remember drawing this one because I spent so long getting it just right.  With this one, it feels as if I'm looking down at a home where everyone's nestled in for a long winter's nap...

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  it is the time for home."  

~ Edith Sitwell

Hope everyone's enjoying their day!  

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy PPF!

Thinking of You

"If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, 

I could walk forever in my garden."  

~ Claudia Ghandi ~

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, 

they are the charming gardeners 

who make our souls blossom."

  

~ Marcel Proust ~

Happy Birthday Dad!

"Babies are always more trouble than you thought

...and more wonderful."

~ Charles Osgood ~

"My mother had a great deal of trouble with me,

  but I think she enjoyed it." 

~ Mark Twain ~

"A father is someone 

who carries pictures in his wallet  

where his money used to be."

 

~ Unknown ~

 A father is someone that
holds your hand at the fair,
makes sure you do what your mother says.
He holds back your hair when you are sick,

brushes that hair when it is tangled 'cause mother's too busy.
He lets you eat ice cream for breakfast,
but only when mother is away.
He walks you down the aisle
and tells you everything's gonna be okay.
 

~ Anonymous ~

Happy Birthday Dad!

Love,
~ your grown up little girl ~

10 Years Later...

"We will not tire,

we will not falter, 

and we will not fail..."

 

~ George W. Bush

 

 

"You can be sure that the American spirit 

will prevail over this tragedy."
  

~ Colin Powell

 

  "Those who believe in God know that 

evil and death 

do not have the final say." 

 

~ Pope John Paul II

 

We will never forget.

9-11-01 ~ 9-11-11 

 

 

 

Summer & Winter

These watercolors were painted on the same day.  Six days before I had my first child, I woke up early with the idea in my head to paint something special for my daughter.  I think part of me knew soon I'd have little time to pull out paints & brushes.  The entire day was pure bliss, sitting there painting and dreaming...

Summer scene... I feel happy studying this one.  

I also find myself wanting to see what's just around the bend.

Winter scene... so peaceful.  

It took some time to paint the sky, but I think it was worth it.

The original idea was to paint all four seasons, but I just never got back to paint 'Spring' or 'Autumn'.  For now ~ I like the pair and the memory behind them ~ I'll save the other seasons for another day...