Commission piece complete

Small pic but you can click to enlarge a little. There is a buck and a doe towards the right and I think it's safe to assume my wildlife won't be making it onto any US postage stamps :)
I realized on my first WIP that I had the tree shadow completely backwards so I had to try fix that. I seem to do that quite often!

I woke up with a headache, stiff neck and stuffed sinuses :( It's supposed to be a nice day and my plan was to get outside and do a little yard work before the snow flies. Might have to save it for spring! I feel a lazy, cozy, couch crashin' kind of day coming on!!

Take care,
Darla

Commission Work in Progress

A ways to go.......but this is where I'm at so far today. This is a 4-5' hand saw that belonged to Dale's father and his nephew asked me to paint 'something' on it. "and maybe some deer or elk'
yeah.........THAT'S going to be my biggest challenge yet! I pray it won't be one nasty cartoon critter :)

Hope you're all having a nice weekend!
Darla

Journal Pages 9 & 10

SLEEP PERCHANCE TO DREAM



FIND YOUR BLISS


Thank you to ALL who've prayed for VernaAnn! She is touching hearts around the world and that was my hope♥

CALLING ALL ANGELS!

My blog has mostly been about me and my (sometimes silly) little art journey. Today, it all seems so trivial. I feel the need to open it up to a sweet little angel and I am asking for your thoughts and prayers.


I'd like you to meet VernaAnn Gabrielle Johnson. She's waving to you!

Verna Ann is an angel waiting to be born. She was diagnosed with Anencephaly at 13 weeks gestation.

This is her beautiful Mommy, Allison.



Allison with her loving husband, Ross. Ross and Allison had to make the very difficult decision as to whether to terminate the pregnancy or continue on, leaving it in God's hands. That is what they chose to do.

In Allison's words:
Since Anencephaly is 100% fatal, donating her organs was the reason we wanted to carry to term. Also to spend more time with her since she is just fine in my tummy. Also, we believe God has a plan for her and we wanted to do everything we could to give her that chance and for Him to take her in His time, not ours. We did find out that we cannot donate organs.

Allison suffers from polyhydramnios (excess fluid) at the moment. She recently had some of the excess fluid removed resulting in a weight loss of 17 lbs. She wanted so much to carry VernaAnn to term but the doctors are telling her it is just too dangerous. She is 33 weeks right now. VernaAnn will be arriving Tuesday, November 10th as her Mommy will be induced.


Allison, Ross and their two sweet little girls, Sophie and Faith.


Allison and Ross are very good friends with my son, Derek and his wife, Jeni. They are ever present in each others' lives, good times and bad so I feel as if they are my extended family in a way.

I'd like to offer this original watercolor paper painting (5 x 7) as a giveaway prize to be announced on VernaAnn's birthday, next Tuesday.
This little guy is named 'Patches' as he has little patches sewn onto his clothing with a heart-shaped patch on his chest.


This piece is titled: Nothing to Fear

To enter, please say a prayer for VernaAnn and her family by commenting here and if you'd be so kind as to post a link on your blog and let me know, I'll enter you twice!

I'd like this to travel the world♥ I'd like as many of us as possible to send up a prayer for this young family and their sweet angel.

As Allison says..........'Some people only dream of angels. We will hold one in our arms.'

Thank you all so much!



**Photos courtesy of Gail Mooney

Journal Pg. 8

I don't know why but I couldn't bring myself to paint natural skin tones on this one and I actually like her better.......blue! I used acrylics and pastels on this one.

Oh my! Lucky me!

As I wrote earlier, I've been blessed to receive recognition from 3 BEAUTIFUL BLOGGERS recently!

Sharon of Mana Moon Studios, Lisa of Priti Studios and KeKe of In My Sepia Studio all presented me with the Kreativ Blogger award! How absolutely cool is that?♥

Please, please, PLEASE visit their blogs if you haven't already found them. I totally enjoyed reading their lists of SEVEN interesting things about themselves that we may not know.

When visiting Sharon you will find the most amazing and beautiful jewelry and super sweet blogger. I'm so glad I've gotten to know her through this blog journey!

With Lisa.....aw, my funny Lisa! Her posts make me smile (and even chuckle out loud sometimes) and her art will touch your heart for sure! She has a sense of humor and an honesty that I can only dream to possess!

To describe Keke best in my opinion, is I think she is a beautiful old soul in a vibrant young body living in today's world. Her vintage image creations and beautiful posts are a pure joy to read! I'm glad she's in my blog world, that's for sure!

On to the award and the rules...

1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link back to the person who nominated you.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.
5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'.
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each blog letting them know you nominated them.


Don't worry.........I won't list 21 things and bore you all to tears! LOL I'm not even sure I can list 7 but I will try!

1) I had encephalitis in 1984........it hurt and I didn't realize how scary it was until afterwards when the doctor told me I was lucky to survive it.

2) I'm twice divorced. I first married when I was 18. He was my first serious relationship and my parents thought he was so nice. We were married 14 years and had 3 sons. We grew apart, or grew up? Then Don Juan (EX#2) came along and brought romance into my life and I was swept off my feet and promptly dumped on my arse when he found his third wife. (we were married exactly 750 days)

3) I've always wanted to please people (see #2`my parents')........just now learning to say 'no' to things I don't want to do or don't have time to do. It's so freeing!

4) I was stood up at a Sadie Hawkins dance in 8th grade. If you're unfamiliar with 'Sadie Hawkins' it was a dance in which the girls asked the boys. I know that sounds odd now because girls do that without a care, but back then it was a huge deal. I have never asked a man out since then. I was mortified.

5) I have a strong fear of rejection. (See #4)

6) I wish I could sing. When I attend a concert and hear someone sing, I. am. in. awe. TRULY a gift from God. I know there are angels singing in heaven, but do you suppose they have a need for bookkeepers? I'm very good with numbers :)

7) I have a great job as an office manager for a pinto bean plant and this week it just got better as my boss has installed cable and is mounting a 32" flat screen tv on the wall :) And next year I'll have been here 10 years and will be up to 4 weeks vacation! Oh yeah!


Can I please share this with all of you? Any of you that made it this far into this post is nominated for this wonderful award! Please snag the photo and enjoy! You are all VERY special to me. You inspire me daily and you encourage me when I need it most. I adore you!


One last thing.........Can you see her? This is the girl I found hidden in this journal page. Might try to paint her tonight unless it turns into an ACEO night for me. I just never know when those will hit! ha


Hugs,
Darla

Journal Pg 7

'And ever so slowly.......she unraveled'

I just took a night to play in my art journal. I haven't painted ribbons in awhile so tonight was the night to revisit them. It was fun :)

I've been playing online Veterinarian the past few days and I believe poor Mieko may have Colitis. Is anyone out there familiar with this?

I've been honored to have received 3 blog awards recently and I will be taking a moment to acknowledge them tomorrow. I'm so grateful when someone takes the time to think of me and I want to post my appreciation. You lovely ladies who did this, please know I haven't forgotten you.....I'm just slow like molasses sometimes :)

I also wanted to share one of my favorite youtuber's latest videos!


Have a great night,
Darla