"Oh . . . to get my feet in the sand again!"

I'm missing the beach and just had to paint this!  In years past, my family always spent Easter at the beach, and I long for that again. Can you imagine the Sunrise Service at this spot? The next best thing is to capture my memories in a painting. This is a view, as I remember it, of the dunes outside the beach house where I spent many summers. I'm especially intrigued with the interplay of complementary colors in this scene. I know you can't imagine that I would be awake at sunrise, but this is the way I remember the sun coming up over the ocean early in the morning. This painting brings me back to that moment.

A Little Diversion from My Pastel Painting

OK . . .  those of you waiting to see the final product and to hear about Amy's reaction to the special little jacket made for Salem, here are some pics. This "painting" is created from scraps of fabrics I've been collecting for over 4 years to make a special heirloom jacket for my granddaughter-to-be . . .  (someday.)   Well after years of waiting, Amy and Drew finally met their little 11-month old daughter, Salem, in China on Christmas Day. They brought her home in early January and I began my "project."

The little jacket and dress you will see have several special pieces of fabric made into them including pieces of a dress Amy wore as a baby, embroidered Moravian stars, my Mom's lace dresser "doilies," and pieces of my grandfather's christening gown which both my girls wore. I hand-stitched into a quilted pattern those and other pieces I collected such as antique lace handkerchiefs which coordinated with the blues that I already had.

Many thanks to Kathy Phillips for coming up with the idea and helping to get me started . .
(as in the 5 hours in which we selected, organized and laid out the pieces for me to hand "quilt.") . . . and many thanks also to Prissy Armfield who sewed the jacket together and designed and made the dress to go with it.

Needless to say, Amy was touched beyond words, and it was a special moment for me, since I have been collecting these pieces and planning this for so long.


"You MADE this???  . . . . ("well . . . no--o-o  . . . Kathy  . .  and . . . Prissy  . .  and I  did.")

WOW . . . .

Here are some photos of the jacket and dress. Amy really was stunned beyond words and soooo touched at the hand all 3 of us had in this masterpiece. Salem was asleep tonight when Amy opened it. Salem is so tiny that Amy thinks she may be able to wear both next year too. Amy changed her mind really quickly about what she will be wearing Easter Sunday.

And here she is . . . .