30 Days of Gratitude - November 4th

Today I'm grateful for a change in my point of view. Even though I am still struggling with my self confidence I continue to take small steps on the Journey to find my Creativity again. Even more amazing, to me anyway, is that when I was having a bad day today I followed through on my 30 days of Gratitude Sketching.  I'm slightly embarrassed each time I press the publish button but at least I'm trying. Follow me at Cindy Rippe - Artist on facebook.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9 NIV

30 Days of Gratitude - November 1st

I've gone through quite a bit with my health the last two years.  Fortunately, things seem to be under control and I have so much to be thankful for.  Join me in 30 days of Gratitude in November.  Maybe my posts will inspire you to share what you are grateful for too!

Today I am grateful for the last minute decision to stop at The Gardens at Catigny Park over the weekend after a fun lunch visit with our son, Jon. The weather was unusually lovely, for this time of year, and the roses seemed to be enjoying it just as much as we were.  Aren't they lovely?  The faded petals and rose hips really put on a show!

“The rose speaks of love silently, in a language known only to the heart.” -Anonymous

Colored Pencil Play Date - Snow Drop Love

Snow Drop Love - a beginner class in Colored Pencil Play Date 2015 ©CindyRippe2015

I taught this class in the online workshop "Colored Pencil Play Date".  14 teachers and 16 projects over the course of 16 weeks.  Students were able to watch the video lessons at their leisure and create new projects along with each teacher as many times as they like for 9 months.

I sketched the idea for this design around Valentine's Day.   Taking a few creative liberties, with the way the plant actually grows, I styled it like a heart.  The flowers nodding toward each other was originally sketched to create a more pleasing design but I noticed later that it looks like they are connecting with each other.  Like two flowers in love.  My class started the week that Spring began so the Snow Drop seemed like a good choice.

For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12 ESV

Flora's Art Adventures - Helping with a Lily Study for Art Play Date

Flora helps out with the Lily Drawings today - ©CindyRippe2014

I'm working on my project for Art Play Date and Flora was a big help.  I was able to move the flowers around to study each angle. Her bendable arms really helped!  Most of the time I use a scientific clip to hold the stem of flowers, while sketching, but this was a lot more fun.


To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat.  Beverly Nichols

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

Color Trends, Pantone and my Research addiction

Image - Pantone's 2014 Color of the Year - Radiant Orchid - Pantone.com

I've long been known as the "Research Queen" by my creative friends and co-workers.  I'm not sure whether it's a love of learning or a procrastination tool (to avoid beginning a new project) but I do love searching out color trends.

Pantone's 2014 Color of the Year, Radiant Orchid, was announced today and it is a lovely mix of "fushia, purple and pink undertones". They describe Radiant Orchid as a color that "inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health." All qualities that I need to work on in the new year.

Of course I love the picture too.  I've been a bit fascinated with orchid flowers lately and this is a lovely variety.

Do you see this as a color you would wear or use in your home decor next year?  I'd love to know what you think. Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead! 1 Peter 1:6

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

The Sunflower's Point of View

Change your point of view Sunflower image ©CindyRippe2013 - quote by George Alexiou

Have you ever just felt like you were struggling to achieve a goal?  Trying hard to just get all the things done (that you think are important) by the end of the day?  This sunflower at Lake Katherine today reminded me of the change in my point of view.

The other day I had a bit of a meltdown and felt like a failure at the end of a VERY busy week.  The plan to finish some of the projects around our house by the end of the long Labor Day weekend just wasn't going to happen!  After I calmed down I was reminded that there really were many of the jobs  finished.  Lee and I had worked hard physically and in the long run, were proud of what we accomplished.  My list was just interrupted with jobs that needed to be done "in the moment" and I was probably too ambitious. There were only a few things left to do.

Thanks for the change in the way I thought about the situation and thanks for working so hard to help Lee!

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Saying Good-bye to the Lilies

Lilies in my August Garden ©CindyRippe2013

As I watered the garden today I realized that I was saying goodbye to the lilies. I'm sure they'll be gone in the next day or two. They were magnificent this year, lasting for several weeks, and scenting the air with sweetness.  You can see the Rudbeckia flowers peeking their yellow faces out from underneath.  It looks like they are ready for the next act in the perennial bed fashion show.

Each moment of the year has its own beauty.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

Finding Flowers - part 2 - Playing with Paint

Finding Flowers ©CindyRippe2013 - quote by  Henry David Thoreau

As I promised in yesterday's post, Life's Canvas, this is what I ended up doing on the painted background layer.  Once the paint was dry I found areas that could be flower centers.  All I did after that was to sketch a few daisies with a fine point permanent pen. I thought it might be finished but then I decided to soften the background with a layer of translucent white. (the bright colors were a bit much for me)

I added the frame and quote with PicMonkey.  Don't you think the black frame pulls everything together? Yep, I think this one is finished.

Have you ever created a project like this?  It's a challenge sometimes to let yourself make a mess and just let the paints flow.  It's really fun to discover shapes that you can turn into a completed design though.

Delight in the beauty that surrounds you.  Author unknown

A Week of Words - Day Two - Believe

Believe - Tulips - ©CindyRippe2013

It takes a lot of inner strength to BELIEVE that your ideas will work when you try something new.  As I develop my new business plan it might be easy for self doubt to creep in.  The tulips remind me that I have to BELIEVE and it will be successful!  They amaze me each spring as they spring forth with lovely flowers.  After the flowers fade the leaves feed the bulbs, and die back, leaving the brown bulb to rest until the next year.  If you look at the bulb by itself it's hard to imagine all the work that's going on deep within.  It takes imagination and patience to BELIEVE that you'll see a beautiful flower next spring.

The word BELIEVE has the same meaning as : be certain of, have faith in, have no doubt, and trust.  Do you  have the determination and faith to believe in your own upcoming plans?

... Do not fear, only believe. Mark 5:36

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

Handpainted Wedding Dress

My anniversary is this week and I started thinking about some of the Wedding projects I've done over the years.  I designed and hand painted this dress for a CHA Designer Showcase Display one year.  The CHA Conference and Trade Show is an event for professionals in the Craft and Hobby Industries. 

Ivory Wedding Dress Painted with DecoArt Fabric Paints - copyright Cindy Rippe

I really had fun with this project.  I used DecoArt So Soft Fabric Paints and and a Gel Roller for Fabric Pen by Pentel Arts.  After I sketched the flowers with the pen, I used the fabric paint to add shading and reinforce thick lines.  I also painted few of the flowers on the bodice and made a black satin sash to update the look. (one of my few sewing projects)

Close up of Dahlia - copyright Cindy Rippe

Border Close up - copyright Cindy Rippe

What a great way to update and personalize a dress for your special day!


True love stories never have endings.  ~Richard Bach

Sketching on Shoes

Wedding Shoes painted with Dahlias-copyright Cindy Rippe 2013

You know I love to sketch flowers.  Did you know that I like to draw on clothes too?  I used a red Pentel Red Gel Roller for Fabric on this pair of shoes to match a wedding dress.  The only problem I had was that after I sketched the Dahlia on the first shoe I had to get the pattern off of it and reverse it for the other shoe.  (Reminder to self: Don't free hand a design on an uneven surface if you need to repeat it.)

I added Black Satin Ribbon and a bow using my favorite glue for fabric -  Beacon Adhesive's Fabri-Tac.  It grabs hold right away and stays on.  Perfect for a pair of shoes that will probably see lots of dancing at the Wedding Reception!  I bet you'll be looking at some of those shoes you haven't worn in a while a little differently now, won't you?

Close up of Dahlia on Dyeable shoes - copyright Cindy Rippe 2013

The music may have stopped but my heart beats to another tune, this rhythm called love.  ~A.C. Van Cherub

With all my Heart

White Bleeding Heart Flowers in my Garden - quote by Vincent van Gogh - photo ©CindyRippe2013

I'm still working toward my Design goals.  Some days I can't seem to focus (or maybe choose not to focus) and my interests wander all over the place.  The bottom line, though, is that I am "all in".  I have no intention on giving up on my goals, sharing my vision with others, and working in a field that I love.  Even the little snapshots that I take for this blog bring me joy and I hope inspire others to find beauty and happiness in their own lives.  When I look back over the weeks that have passed I can see progress and feel blessed to have the opportunities that lie ahead.

Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.  Buddha

Abundant Lilac Blooms and Blessings

Our lilac bush went crazy this year with lovely flowers ©CindyRippe2013

I'm not sure if you can see the top of the fence, but it's 6 ft tall.  This French Lilac bush is about 25 years old and has never grown to more than 6 feet.  It's always been really delicate, with few flowers. Enough flowers, but still only a few compared to the more common variety of Lilac bush. That might be due to the partly shady location, but was labeled as a variety that would grow to about 5 feet tall. I liked that trait.  Well this year, along with all the rest of the Spring flowering bushes and trees, it bloomed abundantly.  I mean, it's crazy huge, with tons of flowers that I've been sharing with the neighbors and smells fabulous!  Maybe it's making up for last year when an early heat wave zapped all the spring flowers.

There won't be too many days left for these flowers, as it's getting warmer, so I thought I'd take a few pictures to document this years growth.  You never know what to expect each year with Northern Illinois weather.  I'll be grateful for the good times, that's for sure!  I hope you enjoy it too!

When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.  Joel Osteen 

Life is Beauty -The Path can be Sweet

Path at Morton Arboretum - May 2013 - quote by Mother Theresa - photo ©CindyRippe2013

A beautiful path with lovely trees and a blue sky.  Just what I needed at that moment, that second in time, that feeling in my heart.  I'm glad that I was able to capture the image and enjoy the peaceful surroundings at Morton Arboretum as I worked this day to collect inspiration for my art and research.

I hope you take the time to enjoy it too ... along with these words by Mother Theresa.


Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is life, fight for it.  Mother Teresa

Nature's Bright Spirit

The brightest crab-apple blossoms I've ever seen  - quote by R.W. Emerson - photo ©CindyRippe2013

The flowers on this crab-apple shrub were intense!  I saw the large shrub from far away and it made me turn the car around to get a closer look.  I wasn't even sure what type of plant it was at first.  I'm pretty sure, after a bit of research, that it's a type of crab-apple that's been trimmed into a shrub shape.  Overgrown now, though, and filled with thousands of bright pink/orange/red blossoms for all to see.

All I know for sure is that the colors matched my mood this day.  My heart was filled with the beauty of abundantly blooming flowers on the trees as I walked along the streets in my town.  I hope to carry that feeling with me and bring back the memories on days when I need some happiness to lift my spirit. I don't know about you but my mood matches the weather and brightness that a day might bring.  I'll need to look at this one next winter, I'm sure, but right now I'll appreciate the beauty of a living Spring.


Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.  Ralph Waldo Emerson