The Daddy Book by Robert Stewart

Recently, daughter Rachel came over with the intent purpose of going through my collection of Little Golden Books. She was looking for duplicates that she could take home for her kids. I have no idea just how many Golden Books I have, but I know this....it's a lot! I sewed on a project, the kids played and she searched. She searched through the books stashed in the closet under the stairs. She searched through the bookcase. She looked in two chest drawers that are packed full. She looked on the kid's bedroom shelves. She missed the stack resting under the basement television.

I bought most of my books at thrift stores and second hand bookshops. Sometimes I see a book and unable to determine if I already own it, I'll buy another copy. Needless to say, I've collected doubles and some triples that way. Rachel was able to take home a big sackful. I'm happy to know the kids will enjoy them and perhaps learn to appreciate everything wonderful about these particular books.

In their heyday, Little Golden Books employed some of the best children's authors and illustrators. Authors like, Richard Scarry, Lucy Sprague Mitchell, Margaret Wise Moon and illustrators Tibor Gergely, Garth Williams, Eloise Wilkin, Gustaf Tenggren and many others. The thing that draws me to Golden Books are their simple sweet children's stories as well as their wonderfully imaginative illustrations.

While Rachel was looking, it occurred to me that I needed to pass The Daddy Book on to her for Elijah. It's not a Golden Book, but it was the favorite, read again and again, of his Uncle Brandon when he was a boy. No other of my children loved it like he did. Because Elijah is crazy about his daddy, I bet he will love having this classic read to him again and again.

Before I let it go, I had to scan some of my favorite images. I'm sure those of you who remember the 70s will recognize the daddy's floral shirts, long haircuts and mustaches. Your father's and husbands probably looked much like these Dads.









If you are fortune enough to come across this book when you are out thrifting or yard saleing...buy it for the children in your lives. I'll just bet that they will love it too!

Tornado

I've been offline for a couple of days. My little pint sized city of Clay was hit hard by a tornado before daylight Monday morning. I went down to the basement, because if there is anything we all learned from last April's terrible tornadoes, it was don't ignore the warnings. I think it was because of that lesson learned and the grace of God that there were only 2 fatalities in the whole county. The tornado has been determined to have been a F-3 with winds of 150 miles per hour.

I thought it was a non event because it was barely raining at my house and I heard no wind at all. My sister lives only 3 minutes away. Her neighborhood seems to have been the last hit before the tornado lifted and didn't set down again until it was out of the county...we are on the northern edge of Jefferson County.

Over 200 homes in our tiny town were damaged or destroyed. I think I read that there are 500 damaged or destroyed homes county wide. One elderly man lost his life on the opposite side of the county and sadly, one teenager lost her life on our side.

My sister and her husband are fine. They lost 7 trees, but none fell on their home. In fact, theirs is the only home in that neighborhood without structural damage.

We have a lot to be thankful for here in Alabama this week. It is heartening to hear about and to see the number of volunteers who have poured in to help those in need. Area churches have opened their doors as shelters and are serving meals to victims and volunteers alike. But, please remember to say a prayer for those two families who lost their loved ones and for those who've lost their homes.

Handmade

Spoonflower, the online shop that prints custom fabric from your photos or artwork, had a great sale on fat quarters on Black Friday. I used a few of my old sketches to design some kitcheny type fabric and had it printed on a cotton linen canvas. The website gives you the choice of how your image will appear. I chose the mirror repeat. It was easy.

Here is a post from 2008 where I was playing around with Photoshop and some of the same images.

I wasn't sure how my artwork would translate into fabric, but when it arrived I was sorry I hadn't ordered more. I used what I got to make tea towels for my craft night girlfriends. This year I'm going to be on the lookout for another sale so I can stock up and make towels for my sister, SIL and DILs.

Check out Spoonflower's website here. You can browse and buy fabric from lots of very talented designers.

It's Time for a Comeback

10 things that I would like to see make a comeback in 2012:

1. Sidewalks in every neighborhood. 
2. Wide front porches that are within talking distance of people who walk past on those same sidewalks. 
3. Porch swings and rockers to lazy about in while waiting for someone to walk past on those sidewalks. 
4. Well designed kitchens that include washers and dryers, because it is so convenient to have them there rather lost down in the basement.
5. I've mentioned these both before...screen doors and clotheslines.
6. Instamatic cameras. 
7. Black and white photo booths.
8. The genuinely funny family sitcom.
9. Hip length shoulder bags with skinny straps that don't slide off my non-existent shoulders.
10. Nationwide honestly and integrity....meaning what is said and saying what is meant. 

What would you like to see make a comeback this year? 

The Art of Mark Hearld

Have you heard of Hearld?  Have you seen his lithograph inspired work?  Check out this video.