Sisters Three -Paint Party Friday

I have a busy weekend ahead and last week I was just swamped.  So I am re-posting this older pen and ink piece, which was inspired by a vintage lithograph.  This drawing portrays the wonderful relationship between sisters of all ages.

Here are my dear friends Melissa, Casandra and Lyric when they were very young.

Thank you for dropping by, your comments give me much joy.  May blessing and hope be yours, sweet Friends!  Happy Paint Party Friday.

Their Guardian Angel -Paint Party Friday

When I was a little girl, my Mother gave me a beautiful painting for my bedroom.  "It's your little brother and you," she would say.  I loved that picture.  I would often fall asleep looking at it--knowing in my little girl heart that my own Guardian Angel was there beside me.  That print still hangs in my office today. 

This past week, inspired by that wonderful vintage picture, I drew my own version--only with sisters crossing the bridge.  I have the sweetest sisters in the world--and this is for each of them.  I love them dearly and I am incredibly blessed to have them in my life.

Above you see the wonderful artwork which encouraged me for so many years.  I did some research and I discovered there's an interesting backstory to this painting.

In the 1800s artists across Europe began selling paintings of guardian angels watching over young children as they traveled perilous pathways along dangerously high cliffs.

In 1900, a German postcard maker broke that tradition and published a painting by an unknown artist featuring two children and their guardian angel watching over them as they crossed a precarious bridge over treacherous waters

The postcard found an especially receptive audience in the hills of Appalachia, where just about every family used a broken-down, dubiously safe bridge to get home.  Those bridges were built over  steep valleys where flash floods and swift waters were common.

Over time, people associated the painting with God's protection in all of life's hardships.  Mothers and Grandmothers across the mountains began hanging this picture in their living rooms. Today the painting is recognized world wide.

Thank you, dear ones for reading this fascinating bit of history and for dropping by!  It is a happy treat when you visit.  I deeply appreciate your encouraging comments.

May God protect your dear ones and bring hope to your hearts.  Happy Paint Party Friday!

Sending Hope -Paint Party Friday

This week I have been pondering over the story of life and the intricate bends and turns of each person's journey. Every single life story is unique and precious and each of our steps on life's path leaves a footprint.

I am grateful for the friends God has led into my life.  So often they send hope when I need it most, sometimes when no one knows I am struggling.  Their footsteps have joined onto my own path and have left footprints of hope next to mine.

Here are some of God's sweet promises, found in Psalm 18:35, 36. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped. 

It is encouraging to read these beautiful verses. God is my protector. He cares so much about me, He gives strength and guidance with His own hand.  He is gentle and kind and He makes the often difficult path I tread wide, so I do not lose my step and tumble down.  I believe Friends who encourage are often those whom God brings alongside on the pathway of our lives, so we do NOT slip, or fall. 

I pray the footprints I leave behind are ones which bring hope and strength to others.

Today my heart is inspired and I am looking into the future for what God has for me and excited about the work He has called me to do. I hope you are all having a beautiful morning. God is good.

Above you see my beautiful reference models, Heather and Rena.  They are the sweetest of friends and I love them dearly.  It is a privilege to share them with you!

Blessings and peace to each of you dear ones.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Your visit has brightened my heart.  Have a lovely weekend, sweet Friends and Happy Paint Party Friday!

Sisters of the Heart -Paint Party Friday

There are Sisters related by blood and still others who are Sisters of the soul.  I am SO blessed to have both in my life.  In fact, I don't know how I would have survived this past year without the precious Sisters God has placed in my life.  Thank you--you know who you are.  You have a tender place in my heart.

I just finished inking this in, this morning.  I am working on a coloring book, and each night before I go to sleep, I ink in some of the artwork I've done over the years.  This is yet another drawing of the lovely ones who walk in my garden in Spring and Summer.

Here are my lovely models.  These two young ladies are as beautiful inside as they are outside.  It is a privilege to work with them.

Happy Paint Party Friday.  Have a lovely weekend, dear Friends and thank you for dropping by.  ((Hugs))

Sisters -Guest Heart Thursday

Here is another graphite drawing from my sketchbook.  Of course, there are hearts around the neckline of one of these sisters.  I thought this to be perfect for today's Guest Heart Thursday.

Above you see my lovely models--and yes, they are sisters! 

Have a lovely day and Happy Guest Heart Thursday! For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Nouveau Baby - Guest Heart Thursday

This is my beloved Sister Clytie and our youngest Sister.  The drawing was done in the style of Art Nouveau, which I love.  It was last year's Christmas gift--of course both sisters received a print. 

My inspiration was a small black and white photograph of my sisters when they were small.  I was a freshman in high school when our youngest sister was born--as a teenager, though I liked her, I wasn't as interested in a little one.  So, our baby sister became Clytie's delight.  Over the years the friendship between us has grown.  Our sweet baby Sis continues to be a blessing to this day--she is a lovely young woman--all grown up with a little girl of her own.

I love being a big sister--I am indeed rich in love and family.  How I thank God for them both.

There are hearts hidden in this picture, of course!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.
 

Fairytale Sisters - Guest Heart Thursday

I'm so sorry I haven't posted for awhile--it has been a pretty hectic summer so far.  This is one of my newest pieces.  It was commissioned by a dear young lady for her sister on her birthday.  Yes there are hearts, hidden of course, in this drawing!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!
 

Sissy Clytie is Home!

This is a commissioned piece I've been working on.  It is a picture of how I see Psalm 91.  These verses show us that The Creator's shadow overshadows our life's shadows.   I couldn't get the camera to do the graphite drawing justice--so when I'm done adding pen and ink, along with color, I'll put it up for you.

I am posting this drawing in celebration of my darling Sister Clytie's release from the hospital.

God was protecting her! As you were Praying for Clytie, the emergency room doctor got a bee in his bonnet.  Though the tests had come back with inconclusive results -- normal or just a tiny bit high, that wonderful doctor was convinced there was a blockage -- he would not give up looking.  Amazing, amazing!  He even asked for two-year old data in order to find the problem.  Because of this doctor's dogged persistence Sissy is going to be just fine.

Clytie had an angiogram yesterday morning, during which the actual blockage was discovered.  They cleared the vein, and put in a stent.  I spent yesterday afternoon with Clytie in the hospital and had the huge pleasure of picking her up and bringing her home this morning.

THANK YOU everyone for your thoughts and prayers.  I know there was an angel hanging over that doctor's shoulder, telling him to look further, when the tests said something completely different than the truth.

You can visit Clytie to welcome her home, at Random Hearts.  She tells me she can hardly wait to go walking!!!

Sissy Clytie Rushed to Hospital

I am letting everyone know that my sweet little sis Clytie was rushed to emergency this morning.  She was in tremendous pain.  This is the second time she's gone into emergency over the past few weeks.  Turns out what the doctors from local urgent care thought might be acid reflux disease--is in reality a blockage in her heart.   

I spoke with Sissy about an hour ago and she is feeling MUCH better.  She says they will be doing an angiogram tomorrow to find out where the blockage is.  After that, they are talking about putting a stent in.  Looks like she will be in the hospital for a few days until they figure out what's going on.

I would appreciate your prayers for Sissy's complete recovery.  She is heart of my heart--and the world would be a terribly dull place without her in it.  She's not only one of my own best friends, she is beloved to many people out there.

I will keep you updated here and on facebook.  Please drop by her blog and leave a note of encouragement for her.  You can visit her at Random Hearts.

Leigh Grin

This is a portrait of my delightful youngest sister Leigh. She actually liked it, and hung the original in her house!

Using acrylics, this painting is one of the first surreal pieces I've ever created. The funny thing is, it actually does kind of look like my sister--the impish, fun side of her.

Truly, I have been blessed with two of the most wonderful sisters in the entire world.

Beauty Sleep Revisited

When I first started blogging my Sister Clytie and I were bantering about (as sisters do).  This is the challenge I received from my Sissy: "...I hearby challenge thee to a dual!!! You must post a blog of something artistic you did/saw today. And I must do the same!!! Ha! No backing out now!'

And my response: "Oh, Darling and Funny Wench sis, I take up thine challenge! No backing out now--mine gauntlet hath been flung."

.

To which she replied, "Ouch! I've been guantletized! I accept thine acceptedness! This will be fun!" Love -- Random Wenchedness in training

The lovely sleeping beauty above is what I came up with that day. (grin) Heehee--Sisters are SOOOOO fun! (grin)

It seemed like too much fun not to post this again!  Have a great afternoon!

Sissy in Hospital

No photos, no art today. Just a request for your prayers. My darling Sister Clytie had a stroke at 5 a.m. this morning. I have been at the hospital most of the day with her and as of this afternoon, I believe a miracle has taken place.

She has miraculously regained movement in both her right arm and leg and the numbness in her face and limbs has gone. But she is not out of the woods yet. Her blood pressure is still fluctuating and she will be in the ICU for the next 24 hours. She will probably be at Meridian Park for the next couple of days.

I would appreciate your prayers for my sister--and if you would like to send her a hi and hello and a word of encouragement, you can find the links to her blogs on the sidebar of this blog.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I will update you as I know the facts--please pray. She is one of my very best and dearest friends.

Saturday Morning

When my children were small, Saturday mornings were a celebration--Bugs Bunny ruled the television set, and a myriad of toys covered the floors, draped across the coffee table and over the couch. I would sit in the midst of it all and sip my coffee, my face wreathed with smiles at the children's funny antics.

They are nearly grown now--In another year or so, we will experience what is fondly called an "Empty nest." Those years went by so quickly.

I am not sure I enjoyed my children as much as I could have. In the meantime, I smile remembering.