Roses & Summer Sky

Summer Sun

Above the hills, along the

blue, round the bright air with

footing true, to please the child,

to paint the rose, the gardener

of the world, he goes.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson ~

Here are the sources & free

graphics used in my artwork:

*The Graphics Fairy*

Back of an old photograph

Round frame

 

*The Vintage Moth*

Antique ledger page

 

*Vintage Images*

Rose bouquet

 

*bumble button*

Theater program graphic

*Altered Bits*

Grungy texture

 

Sweet Baby Bird

The Little White Bird

“The reason birds

can fly and we can't

is simply because they

have perfect faith,

for to have faith is

to have wings.”

~ J.M. Barrie ~ 

A bird image from The Feathered Nest was used to make this clip art. I placed a piece of paper against my computer screen, then loosely traced in pencil. Missing details were filled in, freehand. Next, I carefully went over the lines with a fine-tipped black marker. After erasing the pencil, I scanned and digitally cleaned the image.

The first bird has a white background, and would be best for coloring. The second image is a PNG file with a transparent background. It's ready for adding to digital artwork. I don't mind if my signature/date is edited out for your project.  

Please see the "About My Free Images"

tab for guidelines for use. Thanks!

Summery Pink Geraniums

"Then followed that beautiful

season... summer. Filled was the

air with a dreamy & magical light;

and the landscape lay as if new...

created in all the freshness

of childhood."
 

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ~

I've written about my husband's

great-grandmother Hazel, and geraniums:

her favorite flower. Since then I've learned

her favorite color of geranium was pink. Days

ago, we visited Hazel & Kermit's graves and

planted a pair of red and pink geraniums in

their memory.  We paused to listen to a

few stories about little things he remembered

about her. She was a very special lady!

As far as the images, I designed the

first for use as a simple note card, and left

it blank so you could personalize it with

your own special messages...  I didn't have a

particular use in mind for the second image,

but thought it turned out so pretty that I

included it!  The third image is a stationery

page. Love the effect of the shadows cast by

the flower. The last geranium is a PNG file,

which means it has a transparent background.

Here are my sources & free

graphics used in my artwork:

*Vintage Images*

Pink geranium (pelargonium)

*The Graphics Fairy*

French sheet music

*Altered Bits*

Grungy texture (broken link 1/2026)

*bumble button*

Theater program graphic

*The Old Design Shop*

French postcard

*Shabby Blogs*

Post divider #7 (broken link 1/2026)

Grandma Hazel's Geraniums

My husband's great-grandfather

Kermit took pride in his roses.

His great-grandmother Hazel,

enjoyed her geraniums.

Here are the sources for

"Grandma Hazel's Geraniums"

gift tags & lined stationery:

*Vintage Images*

Red geranium

*The Graphics Fairy*

French sheet music

*Altered Bits*

Grungy texture

*Green Paper*

green frame

What are your favorite flowers?

Queen of Blossoms

"May! Queen of blossoms

and fulfilling flowers, 

with what pretty music 

shall we charm the hours?"

~ Lord Edward Thurlow ~

Here are the sources & free

graphics used in my artwork:

*The Graphics Fairy*

French sheet music

French Chocolate

*The Old Design Shop*

French postcard

*Carol Anne's Boutique*

1908 French letter

*Vintage Ephemera*

French Script, 1816

*Green Paper*

green frame

*Vintage Images*

Rose bouquet

*Altered Bits*

Grungy texture

My Cup of Tea

Portrait of a Lady

"I smile of course, and go on drinking

tea, yet with these April sunsets, that

somehow recall my buried life and

Paris in the Spring, I feel immeasurably

at peace, and find the world to be

wonderful and youthful, after all."

~ T.S. Elliot ~

I've been reading "The Secret Garden,"

after putting the kids to bed. A cup of

honey vanilla chamomile tea hits just right.

Here are the sources & free

graphics used in my artwork:

 *Vintage Images*

Pansy-filled teacup & saucer

*The Graphics Fairy*

French sheet music

 *Altered Bits*

Grungy texture

Love this beautiful poem,

"Mother's Hands," written by my dear friend,

Janet Martin. She wrote it in honor of all the

women in her life. Visit her at Another Porch.

You'll be so glad you did!

P.S.... I'm sharing these tags at
Angie's Knick of Time Tuesday
Vintage Style Link Party ~ stop by for
plenty of vintage inspiration!

An Amazing Place

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

~ Psalm 118:24 ~

I've been spending more time outside, enjoying beautiful weather.  Sunday afternoon I asked for help clearing out some weeds from a front flower bed.  After much-appreciated shoveling and pulling, I was left to the fine-tuning.

Sitting there, my hands and thoughts were busy.  I was thinking about my sister-in-law and her newborn son.  It brought back memories from when my children were babies. There were sleepless nights and times of worry, but also laughter and many tender moments. I felt a twinge of longing and a bit of sadness.

Just as I was getting lost in those thoughts, my little boy of 5 years ran over.  He didn't say much, just plopped down next to me.  Like he sensed I could really use his company.  After catching his breath, he asked what I was doing and if he could help. With that, he brought my focus back.

"Children have neither past nor

future; they enjoy the present,

which very few of us do."

~ Jean de la Bruyere ~

He grabbed a shovel and was able to get some dirt turned over here and there.  Then he looked for worms.  Soon, he was just there, sitting next to me.  Out of the silence, I heard, "Mom, I like being with you."  It made me look up at him and ask, "Why?"  With his green eyes linked to mine, he said, "Because... you're so Mom-like."  Then he smiled and went back to his dirt.

If I ever needed to hear those words, it was in those moments. Yes, I've raised my babies but they're still my little ones... they'll grow into bigger children. Teens, adults. But they'll always be mine, and I'll always be "Mom."

There are still the occasional sleepless nights and times of worry... they will exist, as long as my children and I are together on this earth. But for all that, there's still so much laughter and many tender moments yet to be. We've come through much to end up where we are. Right now the present is an amazing place to be.

"Rejoice in the things that are

present; all else is beyond thee."

~ Montaigne ~