Thursday, September 16, 2010

IllustrationFriday: Proverb - and Giveaway! (starts today, ends on 9/25)


"Love is Blind"

Every morning, as I drive my kids to school, we cross an overpass and we wish our fair city, a huge "good morning!!!". Sometimes we see the fog which has settled over on the coast (Santa Cruz area) which makes for a beautiful scene. I often say, "look at that, girls, look at the clouds, the sky, the sunrise..". We have many moments of reflection about the gifts that are all around us. This morning was especially wonderful. As I got my youngest out of the car, we stopped and heard loud honking. Not cars, but flocks (three huge flocks) of geese overhead..coming toward us and so we stopped and watched and listened. It...was...amazing! My little one loved it, too.
~
I wanted to thank all of my friends out here in blogland for your kindness through the year and a half that I've been blogging. I have grown from this experience and it has become such a joy to me. I plan to keep blogging for many years. To thank you for your kindness, I am having a "giveaway". The giveaway will be either an 8.5x11 print from my Etsy shop (smileshop.etsy.com) or 8.5x11 print of anything that you see on the blog to date. Some of the images have never been printed, so I will do my best to try to make a nice print of it. In honor of the upcoming 300th follower, I will give away 3 prints.

Here's what I'd love for you to do (in your comment):
1) let us know what the best piece of advice you've ever heard and take to heart to this day
2) be kind to someone today
3) notice something in nature that brings you peace today.

I'll use a random generator to pick the three recipients. I hope that you all feel you are winners when you scroll through the answers everyone shares.
Giveaway starts today (9/16 and ends on 9/25)

33 comments:

  1. 1. Best piece of advice: It's OK to care and love for others, but don't forget to take care of yourself as well. If you don't love yourself above all, you can never fully love others.

    2. I forgave someone today for seriously hurting me.

    3. I noticed the beautiful, cloudy but cool morning. That type of weather always soothes the soul..happy or not.


    Beautiful watercolour you posted today. I love what you do with your girls as you take them to school.

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  2. I want to thank YOU for sharing all your beautiful work on your blog! It is always so much fun to visit. And what a great way to celebrate it with a give-away :)

    1. Best piece of advice: no matter what happens (bad things), always try to see a positive aspect in the event. Maybe not at the same day, but eventually.

    2. I bought some extra ice-cream for my husband.

    3. This morning I saw a web (with spider) and small dew-drops, the sun shining on it - it was so beautiful. To bad I had no camera with me to share it with you.

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  3. 1. Best piece of advice...live for today, yesterday has past and tomorrow is yet to come.
    2.I sent a friend, who is a long way away, a message of support, her gran has just passed away.
    3.It was a rare (non working) day at home for me. I went for a walk and found the first conker (fruit of the horse chestnut tree) of this autumn. Even in my 4th decade I still get such joy from finding these shiney brown treaures from nature. Takes me back to my childhood and my children's young days.

    I am a recent follower of your blog Shirley, I'm so glad I found it! I read it here in the UK and just love your drawings.
    Have a peaceful day, Jane x

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  4. Sweet story and illustration! Earlier this year I stop my car to let a family of geese cross. It was two adult geese and four little babies. One of the adult geese was in the front of the babies and the other adult followed behind the babies...it was one of the cutest things I ever seen.

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  5. Oh, congratulations to you - Shirley! I always enjoy visiting your beautiful blog and seeing your adorable artwork (which ALWAYS brings a smile to my face). I will keep my fingers crossed that some of your magical critters will find their way home to me.
    1. The best piece of advice was last year - from my husband. Be patient, he said. I have only just started out on my blogging and shop journey. Whenever I would doubt myself, he'd say "be patient." I didn't always want to hear that, but I never did give up!
    2. On my blog today, I have helped another blogger. She is relatively new to blogging (I can so relate) and so I wanted to give her a shout-out and let people know that she is there and to kindly go and visit with her. We all need friends and support!
    3. On my way to the grocery store, I noticed a vibrantly colored fall leaf! Alas, it had blown away by the time I got home and could grab my camera!
    Good luck to all! :) Theresa

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  6. Awww!!! Yes, love is blind. So good thing he's got big safety goggles. I love the colors here in this most adorable painting! You and your girls always make me smile.

    1. Best piece of advice -- always try to see through someone else's eyes. It increases tolerance and understanding. Sometimes, I play a game with my girls where we try to figure out why a person is doing what they are doing. Like the impatient man at the crosswalk who was pushing the crosswalk button so hard that the pole was swaying. Maybe he really needed to use the bathroom.

    2. I l talked to someone I love dearly who was in distress. I hope I helped by listening.

    3. The sun was shining this morning, and the warmth felt so good on my shoulders!

    Love you, Shirley!

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  7. I love this piece! Such a great imagination you have! All your watercolors are beautiful!

    1. In life you get back what you give, so give your all.

    2. I helped someone who was being treated badly by listening and comforting them.

    3. The calm breeze reminded me to take a deep breath and just enjoy the day.

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  8. Aw, how adorable. I love your style, Shirley.
    1. Do what you love and 2. and be true to yourself.
    2. I was there for a friend whose daughter has special needs, I hope I helped with support and listening.
    3. The September clear blue sky reminds my of the gift of being alive...

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  9. Awww, this is so cute Shirley!
    ok, my all time favorite advice is from my grandmother "never go to bed angry with anyone" and "love people for who they are, not who you wish they were"
    I try to be kind everyday, today I promised to give a perm to my friends mother and helped my daughter out with my grandson.
    I'm taking care of some baby squirrels, the mother was killed and I'm working with a rehabber. We are going to try to release them here, so they will be in a familiar area. Just watching them makes me smile.

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  10. 1) "Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." -- Henry Van Dyke

    2)I gave a smile to someone who looked like they needed one. :)

    3)I drove home through the metroparks. Living in the city is hard sometimes, and a slow drive through the beautiful trees and an occasional squirrel was exactly what I needed!

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  11. Enjoy every day of your life to the fullest ..don't wait for special times to celebrate your life!

    I encouraged my sister today....
    and I stood on the balcony and watched the golden sunset!

    Thank you so much! I love your art!

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  12. Hi Shirley, How sweet of you to do this. Thank YOU for being such an inspiring artist and blogger.

    1. To treat others the way you'd like to be treated.
    2. I bought a friend a cupcake.
    3. There was a nice gentle breeze today and seeing it blow my plants around made me feel relaxed and happy.

    P.S. Your morning route sounds so dreamy.
    xo

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  13. How lovely! Shirley, you are wonderful! I suppose the best advice I was ever given was to treat others with kindness. I am going to visit my cousin at the hospital today and bring her some flowers (she just had twin boys!), and I have been marveling at the leaves changing colors and feeling grateful for how beautiful autumn is. Very grateful to have inspiring creative friends like yourself!

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  14. wow, your work makes me want to pick up my water color paints again.

    #1) "Working hard towards the day we can live like everyday is summer vacation." -my wife

    #2) i work with kids, it's in the job description.

    #3) i saw a woodpecker and found it fascinating, despite the fact it looked nothing like the one in from my childhood cartoons...

    thanks!

    -xenos
    www.xenosmesa.com

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  15. Okay here goes...
    1.Be nice to everyone because everyone is having a hard time. I try to remember this everyday. You never know who is having a rough day. Remember that before you yell at the person in the drive thru etc.
    2. Didn't flip out when I was feeding my little girl and she knocked the spoon full of food all over the place. I just got up and cleaned it all up with a baby wipe. Whew! :)
    3. Went on a drive with my baby today. The weather is just so gorgeous! Makes my heart want to sing. Sunny, breezy, 70 degree weather. Oh yeah! Driving with the windows open.
    I love your artwork I just found your blog on Tuesday and it made me want to skip and dance. You truly have a gift!!! Jenn Bontrager froggie.22@juno.com

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  16. Hi Shirley!

    How exciting I would LOVE to own a piece of your artwork and put it up in my new art space!:0)

    1. Best piece of advice I guess would be not to let life pass you buy, don't procrastinate or hesitate and follow what makes you happy!

    2. My youngest was all wound up after a birthday party today and was very teary at bed time, after the 3rd set of tears and mulitple tuckings in bed I laid down with him and read him a story to calm him down even though I just wanted to collapse myself! And I didn't get cranky! ;0)

    3. It's spring here and the blossoms are really starting to come out and I'm noticing the fresh smells of flowers and plants, it really snapped me out of that yucky winter feeling!!!

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  17. The best piece of advice " Learn to love yourself. With all your flaws and what not, there will never ever be another you in this life time. First love yourself then you can freely love others."

    Last night we celebrated Yom Kippur. The day of Atonement. My family and I had such tender moments that left both adults and child in tears. We talked about how and what we struggled with this year. We apologized to each others and promised to be more kind and loving towards each others.

    I hear and smell the delicious breeze of fall in the air. I can just taste the mapleness on the breeze.

    I love this illustration Shirley. I sure do hope he can fly with those thing. At any rate. I have lots of band aids hugs and kisses and all kinds of mommy love.
    he he he he he!
    Great illustration.
    Hugs and and much love to you.
    V

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  18. Shirley, dear, I have been here several times. I cannot respond, for you see, read Bella's act of kindness. I was that person. All is well. It's a matter of perspective and the heart being in the right place. I would like to reply properly sometime. Tsup! Tsup!!!

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  19. Hi Shirley. I really like the Proverb which you have chosen. And I really like your illustration, which is superb. as usual.
    Unfortunately not understand much of what you say in your post. because I do not know why I can not copy and paste the text into google translator.
    I send you a kiss, and wish you the best. Continue to use your watercolors, in that wonderful way that you know it.

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  20. Shirley, You give us so much too - every time we visit you here.

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  21. Hey hey Shirley, you won at escape from illustration island! How cool is that :)

    congrats (by the way I love this work) :))

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  22. The drawing is beautiful!
    My english is not good. So I hope i will be readable...

    1 Feel happy and the event in your life will be better (the translation is not good, sorry...)
    2 I stay calm even if my children didn't make is home work..
    3 The fly of some birds, and the flowers of my gardens...

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  23. Let's see - Love God with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. I didn't yell at my husband and I like turtles,and also your pictures.

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  24. oh your work has always been a favorite for me!!! I love it!!

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  25. love isnt blind...
    love is colder than death.

    sighs...

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  26. i missed you Shirley.
    im still trying to find a nice thing for Monsieur.
    it's not so easy...

    please be patient :D

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  27. oh your faeries :)) xxoo

    all good here, Shirley.
    soon as i found something for Monsieur i'll send it along with my prints, okay...

    bye Shirley.

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  28. Thank you for this wonderful chance to share wonderful things. I love reading all the comments. They are so enjoyable.

    This is one of my favorite piece of advice from Albert Einstein-"There are two ways to live your life - one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle".

    I am kind to my dear friend who is sick,and help her out to watch her little one. She have been truly a wonderful friend and support in my life,and I am lucky to have her. Being kind to other is the most wonderful gesture that you can pass along daily.

    I am enjoying the view of my cider tree outside of my studio window which is dancing in the wind under the sun. A wonderful day indeed!

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  29. HELLLOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

    THANK YOU dearest sisterfriend for your warm wishes. I am well, thank you. Thank you for thinking of me and the lovely gifts! TSUP! TSUP!!!

    I have an award for you!

    I wish you a great weekend. Tsup!!!

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  30. OK. I've got to make it a point to get out more often and not let this happen again. I missed so much. So many wonderful illustrations. You are a talent! Have a great week!

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  31. I found you too Shirley. Love your work. Thank you for stopping by my blog!! Lesley

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  32. Okay, I know I've missed the giveaway, but this is the cutest illustration so I'm glad I got to see it anyway. You are such a sweetie. I'll be around for the next giveaway. My internet has been down so I haven't been able to visit my friends as often or post as often as I like.

    I'm finally back up now, and hope to do a lot of catching up. Have a great weekend and as per usual your work is astounding!

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