Sunday, November 22, 2009

Memory Box for VernaAnn Gabrielle


Here is a memory box I've painted up for Allison & Ross and their family to store treasured memories of their sweet angel, VernaAnn. The text on her wings is from poems printed in her funeral service program.


I printed her name on scrapbook paper and then sealed it under diamond glaze.


Since VernaAnn touched so many hearts around the world, I wanted that to be a part of this piece. I used scrapbook paper in a map theme, cut it up into small pieces and decoupaged it to the inside along with small photos also used in the program. I love the photo with her sweet little feet adorned with her parents wedding bands♥ (Click to enlarge)


Along the sides, in silver, I wrote a lovely little poem that Colleen shared with me.

"The angel from the book of life wrote down your baby's birth, and whispered as she closed the book, 'too beautiful for earth'"

I then added a little eye hook to dangle a beautiful charm I found at Michaels. It's a wing and a cross.

Thank you all again, so very much for your prayers for VernaAnn!

Allison is having a tough time, the tears seem to just keep flowing, so please, if you would, continue to keep her and her husband Ross, their 2 little girls (Faith & Sophie) in your prayers. Healing will come in time, but for now she needs love and support more than ever.

Thank you♥

Friday, November 20, 2009

Weekly Challenge~ ROMANCE


This is my very first challenge for Inspiration Avenue. The theme this week is 'Romance' so I painted up this girl in vibrant, rich tones on 6 x 8 watercolor paper. She's a young woman, waiting and hoping for the romance that ALL the fairy tales have promised. She knows he's out there.....she just knows it deep inside.



Click on this~to check out a wonderful blog!


I also did a quirky little abstract which I (sorry to admit this) LOVE! :)
Happy Friday!
Darla

Pudgy Bird of Gratitude~Journal pg 14

In doing last night's journal page, I searched extra hard in the background to pull out something other than a girl. I was just in the mood to paint something different and I found a fat birdie :)



I painted and stitched up a Christmas ornament also, but I'm having trouble accepting it as completed! It's tea-stained muslin quilted with a denim back. Any suggestions? Should I do some decorative stitching around the edges, or sew trim or sequins on? Or is simplicity best in this case? He has a sprinkling of diamond dust (tiny glitter) on him, not sure if you can see this in the photo.


(Design inspired by Jamie Mills-Price)

My oldest and middle sons (Derek & Ryan) went out to western ND hunting yesterday morning and Derek got his mule deer! He sent me a pic and I thought I'd share. Mule deer tags are harder to come by so he was excited to get the chance this year. I'm glad he had a successful hunt. I WISH I could find the photo of when he got his very first buck. He was 10 years old and he got it with his bow. His little pic was in the local paper. Since his Dad has basically been the one to lead him down the hunting road, I'm sure that picture went to him after the divorce :)
You'll have to take my word for it, he was beaming and so proud.


I'm not a hunter, actually I feel sorry for the hunted, but my kids are good hunters and I respect that they do things the right way. Their Dad taught them the rules and ethics of hunting ~ I'll give him credit for that :)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Some fun with glitter! Journal pg.13


I had fun with glitter, some new pastels, stickers, rub-ons and my parallel calligraphy pen!


It was just a fun girly-girl page for me :)

My friend posted this on facebook and I thought the funny part was going to be that it's a song about Potato Salad but nooooooooooooooo. I present to you, The Ross Sisters! You have to watch past 45 seconds.......you WILL tilt your head and go 'huh'? Guaranteed :)


28 years ago today my mother passed away :( I remember the weekend prior she was SO looking forward to Thursday's episode of Knot's Landing so she could see if Sid (Michelle Lee character's hubby) would survive. He did not. I always found it ironic that he died on tv the same night my Mom did. Rest in peace sweet Mother-o-mine!♥

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

A thank you and Journal pg 12 update

Good morning!

Carrie from Cottage Cozy sent me the sweetest gift!

These are wonderful Thanksgiving gift bags for giving out holiday goodies and a sheet of stickers too! How sweet is she??????? She's a wonderful person, please visit her blog and see for yourself♥ THANK YOU CARRIE!

Ok, so I recently purchased this print on Etsy from The Mincing Mockingbird!

It's titled 'It is folly to assume my awesome lies dormant'
I totally love his birds but the titles and phrases he puts with them take them up to a whole new level! They're great! If you visit him, I bet you WILL heart him :)

So I kind of 'borrowed' his quote for my journal girl. I changed one word but yeah, it's his wonderful quote for sure! I just felt it fit her so well :)


My eye appointment went well. Very nice clinic that I hadn't visited before but will definitely return to. My eyes have gotten a little worse, but I knew that. Now to pick out glasses. I don't like that part very much.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Darla

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Journal Pg. 12


We are wordless at this point :) I want to write something on the left side but I'm still thinking on what I want it to be.

It's Tuesday and I'm off to get my eyes checked this afternoon. I know they've gotten worse since my last check up and it will be nice to get a new prescription. I've always had 20/20 vision but once I turned 45........I need glasses to even read the recipe on a cake mix box! :)

Have a super day♥
Darla

Monday, November 16, 2009

A sketch & some Maya words of wisdom


Whenever I try to find the image in these textured backgrounds, all my girls seem to be facing in the same direction! Either I'm not looking hard enough or something strange is going on :)
I will try paint her up tonight after I finish a little more on a memory box I'm painting for VernaAnn.



I received this in an email and really wanted to share it with you all!


Maya Angelou

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour....



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..


a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........


a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....



A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..


a feeling of control over her destiny...
how to fall in love without losing herself..



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....


how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....


EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....


when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...


that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...


what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .


whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...


where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....



EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...


What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...




**One last thing**
I bought a tripod and my son is going to help me set up and take a video while I paint something! I'm excited to try this, yet somewhat SCARED TO DEATH! I need to know how to edit the video, how to choose music that won't get cut from Youtube, etc. Any tips would be great!

Thanks,
Darla