Sunday Sketches: Pocketful of Memories

The weather has been quite lovely this week with light rain showers tucked in a few afternoons here and there. I don't know about you but I love the smell of the grass after a rainstorm. It reminds me of all those times growing up, sprawled out in the back yard at our neighbor's house, smelling the grass and watching fireflies dance around above us.

This past week, I started sorting through boxes in one of our closets, stumbling upon pictures and memories long forgotten. Such as, little notes of love my father would write and leave on the table for me to discover every morning before he left for work. I broke down in tears as I read each one, longing for just one more kiss on my forehead. He's gone now. He left this world way too early. I held in my hands a pocketful of memories I'll cherish until the end of time.

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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your website/blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging and lifting others up in their creative endeavors as well. Thank you.

Grandma's Backyard

Growing up, I spent a lot of time playing in my grandma's backyard. It was the most incredible and magical yard to explore in, surrounded by what must have been a dozen maple trees with other miscellaneous flowers and bushes tucked in here and there.

The steps leading down off the enclosed back porch met a row of old grey cement slabs nestled down in the ground just a few inches apart. These paved the way to my grandpa's tattered white wooden shed which was tucked in the corner of the yard to the left. Grandpa died when I was very little, so playing around the shed where he carved my first baby doll bed meant so much to me. I felt close to him there.

Grandma's backyard holds some of the happiest memories in my life. In fact, I remember countless times where I pretended to fall asleep on their old black leather couch in hopes of my parents leaving me to stay the night. Grandma and grandpa's house was a safe haven for me and I never wanted to leave.

The illustration above is me as a little girl in my favorite red dress, playing in grandma's backyard.

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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your website/blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging and lifting others up in their creative endeavors as well. Thank you.

Sunday Sketches: Mr. Fox's Birthday

I've been keeping busy this week with the illustrations for my upcoming children's poetry book, "Ladybug! Ladybug!" as well as, practicing some digital painting skills. Although watercolor painting will remain the primary medium for my children's illustration work, it's important to add the ability to digitally illustrate if/when necessary to my portfolio. Especially since I'm now seeking an agent representation.

Mr. Fox's Birthday turned out wonderfully and will be a part of the birthday series for the UK card company I'm currently designing greeting cards for. In fact, take a peek at one of the cards already sent to the printers this past week - Dash of Love.  Isn't she darling? I'm looking forward to sharing more of the cards once I've received them in the mail.

Lastly, this weekend I had the opportunity to speak before a group of people within the community, sharing my life as an illustrator which included what my typical daily schedule looks like, how I became an illustrator, my process when illustrating a book, how I navigate and market myself on social media, and more. I had a great time and look forward to the next event. Oh, and a big thank you to my hubby for always being my photographer, art director, roadie and more, for each of my events. I couldn't do it without him.

OK, I'm off to visit and catch up with each of you. Here's to a lovely weekend!

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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your website/blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging and lifting others up in their creative endeavors as well. Thank you.

Springtime & Mason Jars

I've fallen in love with mason jars. If you were to visit Michael and I, you'd find them used in various ways throughout our cozy home. Some have paint brushes and markers while others are filled with misc. succulents sitting in our kitchen window. My favorite? Tying a ribbon around the top and slipping in some fresh cut flowers. The most beautiful peace fills my heart every time I gaze at the jar in our kitchen window and I think it's because it's a reminder of how precious life is; to never take it for granted. If you had mason jars, what would you choose to fill them with?

We had a lovely weekend and ended it last night cozied up at a local coffee shop, sipping on lattes and doing our own little things across from each other. I cherish those moments. The occasional looking up from where we're sitting, casting a soft smile to one another and then returning to whatever was keeping us busy at that moment.

Sometimes, I'm utterly taken back when looking at my life, the blessings that fill it and having the most incredible man by my side. Without him, my life would feel empty. He's my joy and my strength. He's also my confidant, my best friend - my husband who supports me and lifts me up in everything I do. Life is truly good and I couldn't ask for more.

Sunday Sketches: Mr. Dandy on a Saturday

Between saying good-bye to an old friend at breakfast this morning and venturing off to Barnes & Noble for my story-time and book signing, I'd say it's been a pretty busy weekend thus far! Uh huh. I had a wonderful time reading to the group of children and look forward to the art classes I'll be teaching at the store this summer.

Above is Mr. Dandy...a little guy inspired by one of our long walks this week. Michael had taken the most incredible picture of a dandelion field as the sun was setting - amazing! Maybe we'll all be lucky and he'll post it on his own blog this week.

It's been quite nippy here with it raining cats and dogs all day. I'm off to cozy up for the evening.
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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your website/blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging and lifting others up in their creative endeavors as well. Thank you.

NaPiBoWriWee2016 - Writing My First Children's Book

I'm sure you read the title to my post, wrinkled your nose and asked yourself, "What the heck is NaPiBoWriWee2016"? Ha! Well, it represents something important to many across the world and I feel blessed to be a part of the 200+ member group this year.

NaPiBoWriWee stands for "National Picture Book Writing Week" and is an annual event challenging individuals to write 7 books in 7 days. Of course, you don't have to really do one every single day but if you can - go for it! It's a great way to get motivated with ideas you've jotted down over the past several months, while meeting other, supportive writers along the way.

Today marks day 5 and I'm thrilled to share with you all that I've written my very first children's book! Yay me! Many have asked what it's about, as well as, the title. However, I've decided to keep the details quiet for now but plan to announce it and the other 3 books I've started writing this week, sometime time summer. So many good things coming up!  Eek!

Sunday Sketches: Doodle on, little fingers

I've been doodling my fingers off this week. Things have been incredibly busy trying to push through work on my desk for both children's books and greeting card projects. On top of that, I'll be participating in the annual, "NaPiBoWriWee", where I'll be writing every day this coming week on each of the children's books I'll be personally writing/illustrating. Super exciting!

We've got another weekend of rain/snow, so will be spending most of the time inside and cozied up with hot water bottles and tea. Uh huh Perfect for visiting and catching up with everyone!

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If you're participating in Sunday Sketches, you can grab the NEW Sunday Sketches button HERE.

Submit your artwork by signing up below with a link to your website/blog. PLEASE make sure to visit each other! One of the biggest reasons for this co-op is encouraging and lifting others up in their creative endeavors as well. Thank you.