Paws For A Bit - Lab Series, Part Two

I sometimes - emphasis on 'sometimes' - wish I was punnier...

It's times like this when I am in the midst of creating little illustrations

for my card series and I'm enjoying it so much I wish I could 

come up with more dog-themed puns.

Some thought I was going to introduce Golden Retrievers after my Collie series...

They are one of my favourite dog breeds, but I can't seem 

to come up with any humourous puns for Goldens...

Hmmmm.....  ...maybe one day.

As of today, I have 5 cards in my new Lab series!

I added a new design this morning!!

Here are the next three in the series:

Card Interior:

(blank)

 

Card Interior:

"Thinking about you today..."

Card Interior:

"Hope your day is sweet!"

The "Paws For A Bit" Lab series is available:

As a set of 5 (1 of each design)

As a set of 10 (2 of each design)

OR individually.

(Other quantity options available by request)

 

I do hope your day is sweet!

♥ Cath-

 

Paws For A Bit - Lab Series, Part One

As I mentioned in my previous post

I was inspired to design another set of note cards

featuring a different dog breed...

Introducing my new Paws For A Bit - Lab series!

This series - as of today - consists of four designs.

Here are the first two: 

Card Interior:

(blank)

Card Interior:

"Hoping you feel better really soon!"

As I state with all my cards,

interior message/sentiment can be changed/customized

or left out altogether to allow for use as a blank note card.

♥ Cath-

 

 

Paws For A Bit: Collie Series, Part Three

For those who may not know, there are two different kind of coats in the standard collie breed:

    "Rough Coat" (like Duncan)                AND                                  "Smooth Coat"

I felt that info was needed in order for the next two cards to make perfect sense...

And now on to the cards:

Card Interior:

"Sorry to hear you're having a rough time."

Card Interior:

"Hope you days are going smoothly!"

The series of six collie cards are available individually or as a set.

 

Coming soon... 

I was inspired to create another dog series while I was working on this one!

Stay tuned next week for a preview of a special 4-card series!!

♥ Cath-

We Interrupt The Current Blog Posts For The Following Message: Happy October!!

I FALL FOR AUTUMN EVERY SINGLE YEAR!

It's true!

That hint of crispness in the air...

That soft golden light of the sun as it begins its descent toward the horizon...

The jewel tones found amidst the changing foliage...

The crunch and rustle of a walk through the leaves...

That perfect moment when the sun is behind you, causing the kaleidoscope of autumnal colours on the trees before you to glow as though they were lit from inside and beyond those glowing branches the sky is thick with the deep blue-grey clouds of a impending rainstorm - WOW! The contrast of colours - the warm fall hues against the cool grey blue hues... the juxtaposition of the sharp angled leaves/branches and the soft misty motion of the storm clouds - it's just breathtaking!

Really, Fall is the only season in which a grey day doesn't feel quite so grey

 - the outdoors just seem to always glow with a soft pleasant light!

It seemed perfect timing that I was re-reading a beloved Canadian classic, 

"Anne of Green Gables" by Lucy Maud Montgomery 

I really love the characters L.M. Montgomery creates in this book 

- especially the main character Anne Shirley,

she sees everything with such a beautiful wide-eyed, child-like heart of wonder!!

I found so many inspiring quotes while I was reading it through this time!

One in particular struck me and inspired the following watercolour doodle:

"Autumnal Walk" 

(watercolour, 7" x 9.5")

Here is the context from the book for the quote I used above... 

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Chapter 16:

"October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry trees along the lane put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths.
Anne reveled in the world of color about her.
"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs" 'I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?"

 L.M. Montgomery's writing is very inspiring! 

One can so easily envision Anne, Marilla, Matthew and all the other memorable residents

who round out the beautiful village of Avonlea in Prince Edward Island!

Aww.... 

*contented sigh*

Happy October to one and all!!

Go outside, take a walk, take a deep breath of the crisp air 

- if you're lucky there may be even a hint of wood fire wafting on that breeze!

Thrill in the colours and soft glowing light that surrounds you!

God has made a beautiful season for us to enjoy!!

Be inspired by it!!

♥ Cath-

   

Paws For a Bit - Collie Series, Part Two

Here are the next two card designs available in my new card line:

"Paws For a Bit"

Collie series

Card Interior:

"Wishing you sunshine and abundance of every good thing!"

 

Card Interior:

"Just checkin' in, making sure all is well!"

 

These cards, like most of my card designs, can be left blank inside 

or customized with a different interior sentiment.

 

 

Hope you are not feeling "Melon-Collie" and that your day "borders" on inspirational!

♥ Cath-

"Paws for a Bit"

Do you ever get a jolt of inspiration?

Is your next step to frantically snatch up any scrap of paper you can find

so you can jot it down while the idea was still fresh in your mind?

Me too! 

Some of the ideas I have are so strong that jotting it down is not enough - 

I have to draw it out in detail and then paint it, and I'm not satisfied until it is completed.

Other ideas simply fill a moment and I jot them down and then happily ponder them.

I peruse them in my mind while working away at other projects...

These ideas, strangely enough, are usually lists - a whole group of ideas

that might work into something someday... 

...so they are carefully tucked into the back of my sketchbook 

or added to the small pile of  'thoughts' resting on my bookshelf,

waiting for the day that I revisit them.

Well, just a couple weeks ago while sorting through some papers on my bookshelf, 

I came across a list of thoughts I had started compiling a few years ago...

and the inspiring idea was still there! 

I carried the list back to my sketchbook and began to visualize the words on the list...

That list went from being a happy thought jotted down and tucked away

to a strong idea that had to be completed!

And from that I have created a new card line called:

Originally inspired by, and in memory of, our beautiful collie, 

Duncan McAndrew

 

 This new greeting card series features six new collie designs

and are available for purchase.  

I will post two designs each day over the next few days.

Here are the first two designs in the "Paws For A Bit - Collie" series:

 Card Interior: 

"Way to go! You really took command of the situation!

 

Card Interior: 

"Thinking of you..."

These cards, like most of my card designs, can be left blank inside 

or customized with a different interior sentiment.

 There are plenty more ' jotted-down ideas' waiting for me

~ An inspiring thought, indeed!!

♥ Cath-     

First Steps

This week has been difficult. I didn't know that it would be, but it is.

Every once in a while I get halted in my daily tasks 

by the realization that our little family is growing up.

We have reached the age where each morning our eldest now hugs each of us good-bye 

and steps out the door on her own.  

Mom's not driving her to her destination and Dad's not walking her to the bus stop.

Our youngest is now sitting in the highly sought after front seat of the car 

on the way to school and talking like a fifty year old.

~ mind you, this talking like a fifty year old is not uncommon, 

it only gets more interesting the older she gets!

She steps out of the car and I realize she has reached the age 

when it's kinda sorta embarrassing to hear your Mom say, maybe too loudly, 

"I love you! Have a great day!" 

- especially when a teacher is standing nearby! 

 (You think I would have learned from when our eldest entered this stage, oops!)

But she always smiles a little smile and says, "Bye!" 

before she throws her backpack over her shoulder and heads into the school.

I've been mopey this week because of all these moments of realization,

glad that we've all reached these new milestones in our little family,

but also wishing time would slow down a bit.

My dear friend listened to me for a while and then she said, 

"Grab your sketchbook and draw a picture of what you just told me!"

I said, "No, it's not a happy picture!"

"Yes, it is!, she hastily replied. 

She went on to express how we have brought God into our home in everything we do. 

We have raised, and continue to raise, our girls to honour Him and now our eldest 

is taking those first steps that she needs to take. She has a strong faith in God herself

and it's through her confidence in Him and in our training that allows her to do this.

She has simply begun to wade out into deeper water now.  The lessons will be bigger but we will keep guiding her according to God's will. Encouraging her to go to God for His help and care in all that she faces. Showing her that going to Him with gratitude and thankfulness alleviates much of the burdens we carry.

Oh, and my friend also said that I needed to include Proverbs 22:6 in my drawing.

I grabbed my sketchbook and it really did help me feel happy about this new beginning, 

these new steps that each of our children are taking on their own.

"First Steps"

(graphite, 8.5" x 11")

My friend is very wise.

We can't hold our children back.

We have to use all the time we are blessed with and teach them about the goodness of God

and His love for us all. We need to teach them His principles that make every day better and make situations in life easier to handle.  We have to let them grow and develop and begin to apply the things they have learned from us. Yes, some of us will still hold our breaths a little, but prayerfully, we must let go and let them take those first steps.

Thank you dear friend - I know you're reading this -

thank you for your wise words and the inspiring thoughts!

♥ Cath-