30 Days of Gratitude - November 3rd

Day 3 - Thankful for Family & Friends & the courage to Create

Have you been following my Cindy Rippe - Artist page on Facebook?  I have challenged myself to sketch and post something I'm thankful for each day in November. It's kind of a big deal for me.  2 years ago I passed out here at home (Dr over-prescribed a medication) and sustained a concussion near my brain stem.  Post Concussion syndrome (as well a few Auto Immune issues) has been interesting to say the least. Things are SO much better.  I wasn't prepared for the loss of my Creativity though.  There's this "fear of failure" thing that I've been fighting for the last year.  So, again, sharing my sketches with my facebook fans is a huge step for me.  My family and friends have been so encouraging and keep telling me that I just need to get started and it will all come back! So this blog post is dedicated to Lee, Jon, Jason, Sarah, & Bella, Bev, Alice, Lauri, Jeanette, Kelly Hoernig & Madeline Faiella.   Thanks everyone!   LYM

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”  Desmond Tutu

Holding Hands - Staying Strong in the Journey

Bev, Mom and I holding hands ©CindyRippe2014

Haven't been blogging much lately.  Mom is on hospice.  Each day is a new adventure.  It's been a very long journey.  Not often easy.  We don't have much help but we are lucky we don't have to struggle alone.  The help we DO have is good and very much appreciated for sure.  On those days that we wonder just how much longer we can stand it somehow we pull it together and make it through another day.  She has declined so rapidly the last few weeks that we aren't sure how much longer she'll be with us.  We've talked about her faith and I'm sure I'll see her again some day.  But I will miss her.

She's been very loving and appreciates all the help we give her now.  It wasn't like that most of her illness. She now holds our hands, gives us a kiss and says "I love you" or "Thank You". I think of it as a gift from God.  He knows we are tired and need to have loving memories to carry in our heart after the struggle ends.  We are all ready.  Dad is waiting for her too.

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. - Psalms 16

Flora loves Pink - Valentine's Day

Flora loves Pink - ©CindyRippe2015

Happy Valentine's Day!  Lee and I don't have any fancy dinner plans and we don't buy expensive gifts for each other but we do take the time to recognize how lucky we are.  We know that our relationship is special and realize that it is a blessing.

This post is supposed to be about Flora's Art Adventures today but I've been pretty busy as a caregiver and helping family members and there hasn't been enough time for art.  But I guess that's what love is all about and I'm lucky to be here on earth to celebrate that love and those relationships.

So I'm spending my Valentine's Day today taking care of Mom and loving all the pink that I see in the holiday decorations around me.

We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 

Fabric Painting Fun - Flora's Art Adventures

Bella, Flora and Sage have a painting party ©CindyRippe2015

Bella and her doll, Sage, came to visit for a few days. As usual, we worked on projects and she has a great time in my "craft room" sampling things like washi tapes, paints, colored pencils and more.  Today we decided to make a blanket for Sage.  One of the easiest ways to personalize a fabric design is to use Pentel Fabric Fun Dye sticks on pre-printed cotton fabric.  The line work and shading is already on this fabric panel.  I just taped it to a foam core board and Bella used the dye sticks like crayons to fill in the design.  Of course, Flora was on hand with suggestions for colors and technique.

Close up of the fabric print - I'm sorry that I don't remember the manufacturer.

Bella really enjoys this easy project. ©CindyRippe2014

Just fill the design with color and iron to set the dyes.

I love the fact that this product is permanent when heat set (follow product instructions) but will wash out before ironed. This eliminates the worry about kids ruining their clothes with dye.  The hardest part of teaching a project like this is that it's so smooth to apply that the kids can get carried away with their scribbles. By the time it's ironed it will soften a little and become a little more translucent so the scribbles won't matter as much.

Intro to Watercolors - Flora's Art Adventure

Samantha and Flora learn to mix watercolors ©CindyRippe2014

We celebrated Samantha's birthday last night.  She's a budding artist and wants to use "real" art supplies now.  I don't get to see this part of our family very often so last night was a special treat for me.  Flora came along for the fun too!  We gave Samantha a set of watercolors for her birthday present and I brought the rest of the supplies for the kids to play with.

Nolan, Samantha, Cash and Flora mix watercolors and we have a great time! ©CindyRippe2014

During our Art Time I told them all about Flora, how to use watercolors; along with the reason for the special palette, brushes, papers and mixing the colors to make new ones.  They are all so smart!  They shared their own insights and things they've already learned with me.  We had several discussions about pigments and how crayons have pigment in a wax base, oil pastels are pigment in an oil base, watercolors are water based, etc.  They already have a basic understanding of the color wheel but were eager to learn more.  I can't wait to have more mini art lessons with them and hope to continue with the rest of my nieces and nephews, and of course my granddaughter, Bella, very soon through the magic of the internet.  We have been crafting together since they were babies but now that they are growing up we're ready to move on to "real" art!

I've been playing with watercolors again in my sketchbook and Drawing Devotions project and this was a way for me to share my inspiration with them.  I had a wonderful time and we imagined that Flora did too!

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. Pablo Picasso

Lighting our Way to a Happy New Year - 2014

Illuminations Display at Morton Arboretum - The perfect backdrop for a bright new year!  ©CindyRippe2013

We're having a quiet evening at home as we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome 2014.  It's snowing and really cold outside tonight so we are feeling blessed inside our warm little house, thinking of our loving family and grateful for our health and faith.  Lee is building a Lego kit and I'm gathering the names for the Name the Mannequin contest while we watch old movies on Netflix.

I took this photo at the Morton Arboretum Illuminations display this month. I hope you were able to enjoy some beauty and spend happy times with your friends and family this holiday season.  Best Wishes to you and yours for a wonderful and blessed 2014!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

Perfect Gifts

Photo - ©Cindy Rippe 2013

I enjoyed another day at the studio today.  Kelly came over and we created style boards again. I also ended up taking pictures of a few Christmas decorations and the mini pumpkins that are still hanging around after Thanksgiving. We enjoyed the time together and have lots of reference photos for future projects.

My Mom's Christmas cactus is in bloom this week.  This plant has been blooming once or twice a year for at least 10 years but has never bloomed so close to Christmas.  What a special treat for me!  I thought it would be nice to photograph my Mom's plant with my Mother-in-law's Nativity figurines. She passed them down to us a few years ago. We treasure family connections around here so this seems to be a perfect match.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Counting 100 blessings

Thanksgiving Sunflowers ©CindyRippe2013 - Bible verse - Philippians 1:3

I hope you'll take some time, at least today, to give thanks for the blessings you have.  I know from first hand experience that life isn't always easy but there are always things to be grateful for.  This verse, from Philippians 1:3, inspired me to share one way that I do that.  When I go to bed, I silently try to count 100 people that I'm grateful for.  They may be only a wonderful memory now but have blessed my life in some way.  It could also be the checkout girl that finally made me smile that day, a friend that shared something special that happened to them, a gifted writer that inspired me or an artist that captured a beautiful moment in nature with their talent and skills.  But it always includes my very wonderful family.

I can usually find 100 people to be grateful for and rarely fall asleep before I finish the list.  It's a good reminder though, on the roughest of days, that I am truly blessed.  God's blessing to you and yours on this THANKSGIVING DAY!

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.  Cicero

Mystery Painting with Bella - Halloween project for children

Painting with watercolor over crayons with Bella - ©CindyRippe2013

Bella came for a visit last weekend and loves the new "crafting room".   The studio has two desks. One is for computer and paperwork and the other for painting, drawing and other creative endeavors.  When she walked in she was thrilled that "we both have a painting table now!"  My sentiments exactly, Bella. 

We painted several pumpkins and spiders, cut them out and taped them all over the house with Washi Tape.  Then while she was busy decorating the windows I quickly drew a few ghosts with white crayons on bright white bristol board.  (a little heavier than card stock)  The whites were a  perfect match and you could hardly see the ghosts.  Then I drew a few stars and the moon in yellow.  When she came back in to the studio we mixed up some Cobalt Blue watercolor paint and I suggested she color in the night sky. (I covered the ghosts a little so she wouldn't notice them right away).  As soon as the loaded brush went across the page she saw the ghosts!  She had so much fun filling the page and revealing the rest of the hidden picture.  We blotted extra paint off of the wax as she worked.

NOTE:  We used my professional watercolors to make this but there are child friendly, (less chance of staining), products out there.  We work on a silicone mat and Bella wears her painting shirt to avoid messes. 

“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” – Pablo Picasso

Apples and Autumn

Apple Harvest 2013 - Treemendous Fruit Farm, Michigan - ©CindyRippe2013

We took our annual Autumn trip to Michigan last week.  Jon and Tawn couldn't be with us so we brought them goodies when we returned.  Even though it rained this year, and we couldn't go out into the orchard to pick the apples, we did enjoy a warm fire and a breakfast treat. After the car was filled with our favorite varieties we spent the rest of the day stopping at farmstands, a garden center and gift shop while Jason checked out a brewery in Sawyer.  We enjoyed the changing leaf colors that surrounded us, and of course, we had lunch at Redemak's in New Buffalo.  It was delicious as usual.  Fun times with family!

Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.  Samuel Butler

Easy Fabric Painting - "Sweet Dreams" Pillowcase for Mom

Pillow case painted with Pentel Fabric Fun products - ©CindyRippe2013

We celebrated my MIL's 90th birthday recently.  She wanted a party with just her immediate family and we were lucky to get most of them to attend. I understand how she feels. Those are my best visits, when we get to spend time with our own little family.  Lives are so busy now that it's not easy to get everyone together. Many times it's at a larger event, which is fun too, but doesn't leave much time for a more personal visit.

We had a picnic at Larry and E's house and everyone chipped in to keep things easy.  I did come up with a few activities including this Sweet Dreams Pillowcase.  There are 25 people in the family, including Mom, so I came up with the idea to create a very simple design to mimic a quilt.  (Mom is an expert quilter and still quilts each week with the ladies at church)  I told her we made it so that she could sleep with the people that love her.

After ironing freezer paper to the inside (to stabilize and prevent bleed through on the fabric) I marked off the squares and Karina drew all the stitching lines.  I did a simple outline of each leaf and flower while leaving enough space for each person to be creative within the square that they chose.  We used the Fabric Fun Dye Sticks to color and the Gel Roller for Fabric for their name or additional details.  (there are few unfinished squares in this image but they were completed the next day)  Mom just had to cover the design with a pressing cloth (or printer paper) and iron to permanently set the dye.

I love the variety!  For Romas, the youngest, almost 2 years old, we held our hands over the edges to keep his drawing within the square.  He's pretty creative though, he quickly reached over our hands to draw on additional squares.  You can see one of the marks on Bella's square.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and wanted to make sure that Mom knows how much she means to us.  It was a really nice day.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.  Desmond Tutu

A Cheerful Heart is Good Medicine

Pink Cosmos Watercolor Effect - Smile - ©CindyRippe2013

It was "one of those days" yesterday.  Lee and I both had aches and pains that we were dealing with.  Part of getting older I guess. Between the "ouch"es and limping though we kept finding things to laugh about, smile about and be grateful for. Don't get me wrong.... I'd rather not see him hurting, or myself for that matter, but I am so grateful that when things go bad we find some way to smile.  If there's anyone on earth that I would choose to grow older with and deal with days like that, it's Lee ... and I'm glad he chose me.

A cheerful heart is good medicine.  Proverbs 17:22

Bella's Fairy Flying School

Bella's Fairy Flying School ©CindyRippe2013

As part of a Design Challenge we were asked to create a design that was inspired by playground equipment.  I had just spent the afternoon at the park with Bella and she loved swinging on her tummy as she pretended she was flying.  I can still hear her saying "I'm Flying!" with each push.  The swings were made of soft rubber with really long chains.  She could really "take off" each time.  

I wanted to keep the look hand drawn and a little "sketchy" (since that is a design trend I see growing). Of course, I wanted to include flowers (that's my design style) and even thought about the current Woodland trend. When I put it all together it added up to a little fairy child learning to fly.  The butterflies are there for encouragement and the swing is made from the morning glory vine.

I didn't move forward in the GTS Design Challenge but Bella is really happy with the finished design.  I was even able to add the pink streak in her hair, as requested.  She named it Bella's Flying School and we've decided to continue the story about that little Fairy girl someday.

Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly! Author Unknown

Bella and the Lightning Bug

Bella and the Bug - photo ©CindyRippe2013 - quote - Author Unknown

Bella celebrated her 5th Birthday over the weekend.  We had so much fun at her carnival themed party with Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Hot Dogs and Nachos.  Oh, sure, we had a fresh veggie tray as well, but the idea was fun, fun, fun.

The kids had a great time playing carnival games, jumping in the "bouncy castle" and creating crazy designs with face paint. As evening approached the girls started chasing fireflies, or lightning bugs. After I shot this picture I realized that it is the perfect representation of our little Bella.  She is a very sweet "girly girl", loves shopping for cute outfits, jewelry, manicures, flowers, Princesses, Barbie, and Paris.  She is a graceful ballerina and loves gymnastics and swimming. But there's that other side of her that has always loved trains, running, and Star Wars. She doesn't mind getting dirty, has times where she just doesn't care what her hair looks like and her best friend is Larry the stuffed monkey.  We think all of this makes her just perfect!  I bet you know a little girl that's a lot like her.

A little girl can be sweeter (and badder) oftener than anyone else in the world. she can jitter around, and stomp, and make funny noises that frazzle your nerves yet just when you open your mouth she stands there demure with that special look in her eyes. A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot.
-- Alan Beck

Face Painting Fun

Face painting fun at Bella's birthday party ©CindyRippe2013

Our "MUSE Monday" challenge this week in the facebook Art Amusement group is - a FACE - it can be an animal, a person, a part of one - stamp, paint, stitch, it does not matter....

Well, with the way things have been going for me the last few weeks I thought, I haven't painted much of anything, never mind having time to paint a face!"  Then I remembered.... I painted lots of little faces this weekend at Bella's Carnival Birthday.  So sweet!

Little girls, like butterflies, need no excuse. Lazarus Long, from Robert A. Heinlein's "Time Enough For Love"

Daisy Centerpieces for a Baptism

My little nephew, Cash, is 4 years old this week.  I thought it would be fun to share the quick and easy floral centerpiece project that I made for his Baptism party.  It was a picnic and the decor was casual but I still wanted it to be special for Cash and his family.  So, I took a small picture of Cash, added wings with Photoshop, and printed a whole sheet of them.  After cutting out circles of glossy blue cardstock, I layered the photos (cut just a bit smaller) on top of the cardstock with Glue Dots.

Then I printed a Bible clip art image to reinforce the blue and white theme. After all the circles were finished I attached them to the centers of inexpensive daisy flowers with Glue Dots.  The daisies were sold as a bunch and I just popped them into the vases. Light blue twin sheets from Walmart ($4.00 each!) worked perfectly for tablecloths.

I used the same card stock to make the cupcake toppers.  Again, I used Glue Dots to attach the images.  This time I glued them to lollipops after trimming the excess cellophane around the candy.  So cute!  I wish my cupcakes were as tasty as they were beautiful.  I tried to be creative with the recipe and they turned out to be more like heavy brownies than light and fluffy cake.  Lesson learned!  Test and Taste before you serve dessert to a large group of people!

Let the little children come unto Me, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. - Luke 18:16

Little Ballerina Bouquet for the Candy Land Ballet

Bella's Candy Cane Ballerina Bouquet - ©CindyRippe2013

 Bella's Ballet Recital was today.  It was really cute!  She danced as a candy cane in "Candy Land" and had so much fun.  I was able to make her Ballerina Bouquet this year with candy canes that her Grandpa saved from Christmas. He said they were still good. I just thought they would be perfect as the handle for the flowers.  Last year I made her bouquet with mini pink roses and tulle gathered like a tu-tu.  I guess it's officially a tradition now.  Spend some fun family time at the Spring Ballet Recital and make the flowers to match the theme.  It's fun to create these memories together.

Bella and her Little Ballerina bouquet with a few pics from the rehearsal ©CindyRippe2013

A happy family is but an earlier heaven. George Bernard Shaw

Summer Picnic Memories at Ravinia

It was the afternoon of our trip to Ravinia to see the Moody Blues. Even though we were looking forward to the picnic and concert, our lives had been so crazy busy that we didn't actually plan ahead.  I knew we had Jason and Sarah's small picnic table, four lawn chairs and a cooler. We thought about buying food and wine but not much more. Well, I think Sarah and I both got inspired at the same time and when I called we collaborated on a really quick and delicious picnic. We loved the finished tablescape!

We started with a Roll Up picnic table.  So cute!  It's 30" X 30" and 15.25" high. We brought our aluminum lawn chairs (a little vintage but really light weight, easy to carry and comfy).  We also had a good quality set of acrylic glasses and plates with matching flatware.  The Bamboo plates, which we used as chargers, were a perfect way to tie everything together.

Sarah found this cute cloth napkin, matching paper napkins and the votive cups in the clearance bin for .99 cents each.  I gathered my small cylinder vases, cut a bunch of Hosta leaves from my garden and grabbed the "moss" balls from my stash. (artificial but they look so real) I used bottled water from the cooler for the vases which gave them an unexpected but nice frosty look.  I didn't see the colors of the napkin until we met and packed the car but the colors look great together don't they?

I brought cheese and crackers for appetizers.  The basket is lined with a king sized cupcake liner, the cheese ball with almonds is on a vintage milk glass plant tray and the herb and garlic cheese spread came straight from the grocery store. A glass of wine (beer for the guys) and we were good to go!

View from the top. The early evening light, right before sunset, really highlighted the texture of the leaves.

I picked up Destroyer Subs from the Sandwich Shop at D'Masti Catering. This is a long time favorite of the guys, well actually lots of people in Blue Island, since they've been selling it for as long as I can remember.

Sarah made the Waldorf Chicken Salad recipe from Southern Living Magazine. We would use less dressing next time but it's really good!  You should try it. 

   

Fresh, crisp grapes and Butter Cookies in my little antique wooden bowl lined with a king sized cupcake paper.

Lovely candlelight on the table and Citronella candles on the ground, that outlined our picnic area, helped to set the mood and protected us from those pesky mosquitoes.  Time spent together with family, a lovely picnic, absolutely perfect weather and familiar songs at a live performance of The Moody Blues.  What a wonderful night and very special memories.  I hope we can do this again soon!

The summer night is like a perfection of thought.  Wallace Stevens

Love is the Flower - You've got to let it Grow.

Isabella and the Irises - quote by John Lennon - photo ©CindyRippe2013

The Japanese Irises are blooming.  They are almost as tall as Bella and she loves them. There was one that had a bent stem so we cut it to put in a vase.  She was very excited about displaying it in her bedroom because "sometimes her Dad gives her a flower and she puts it on the nightstand".  I love that she loves flowers too.  She even worries about which flowers she can pick just in case "they are still growing".


Grow what you love. The love will keep it growing. Emilie Barnes

Rainy Day Blessings

Driving between the raindrops - ©CindyRippe2013

I had a great day today.  Even though I got caught in a major traffic jam in the morning (causing me to run late), forgot my camera (I bought a disposable camera), almost forgot my wallet, kept choosing the wrong streets to drive on which meant I had to turn around many times, drove through several torrential storms, and ended up exhausted, it really was a good day!

Everyone's schedule finally lined up just right so that I could take my grand-daughter and great-niece to the Children's Museum and a few other places.  It's been one of my goals to get them together to play since they don't have that opportunity very often.  They had a wonderful time, played so well together, and it filled my heart with joy to share that with them.  Yes, it involved lots of driving but it was so worth it!

So tonight I'm thankful for the Blessings I received and for safe travels through the storms.

Thank you, dear God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough. Thank you for the rain.  Garrison Keillor