Wedding Guest Sign-in Scroll

Sign-in Scrolls are a great alternative to the traditional wedding guest book which will be stored away after the wedding, never to be seen again. You have the option to frame and display in your home, as well as completely customizing with your color scheme, illustration preferences, lettering styles, size and paper type. (Not to make the choices too overwhelming, I'm always happy to take artistic freedom where I'm able to!)


This particular sign in sheet is double layered - A deep chocolate paper as the base - a thick cardstock feel to it. The ivory sheet is illustrated with watercolored cymbidium orchids in pale greens, and lettered in flourished Copperplate. This size, 16x20 easily fits up to 125 lines.

(Click the "Write Me" button in the upper left to receive a quote on a customized Sign-in Scroll.)

The Stolen Child - William Butler Yeats

WHERE dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water rats;
There we've hid our faery vats,
Full of berrys
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim gray sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
While the world is full of troubles
And anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-Car,
In pools among the rushes
That scare could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From ferns that drop their tears
Over the young streams.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Away with us he's going,
The solemn-eyed:
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on the hob
Sing peace into his breast,
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than he can understand.

Written in hand lettered Copperplate calligraphy using "McCaffery's penman's ink" in black. The edges were hand stained with dark green chalk, the paper is Strathmore.

My little bit of Flair

Did anyone notice my lovely little "Write Me" button? Of course you did. It's too cute! Miss B of the fabulous Blah, Blah, Blahg posted a few beautiful buttons for lucky readers to download and share.

Go here for the download.

Add this blog to your daily reads - there is always something useful or hilarious from Miss B to make your day brighter.

Portrait Art by Jerome

Today I'm featuring the work of my favorite portrait artist, Jerome Parker. His talent is truly nothing short of amazing and within just the past few years, has captured the attention of many art galleries, taken first at a number of showings and has been chosen as one of 15 finalist for Artists magazines annual juried contest, being featured in their December issue.

For many years, he put his talent with the brush and oil on the back burner while focusing on raising a family and his "day" job. I am so glad he is painting now! Not leisurely either... he turns out dozens per year with a skill and accuracy in portraiture that is breathtaking. See for yourself... the below pictures are a work in progress.


I love the expression on her face... it's as if she is waiting for you to speak to her, yet she knows what you will say when you do. The gentle breeze brushing her hair, the calm surreal feeling of her environment. Beautiful.

The following are several of my favorites from his recent work.

"La Canción " is 30x40" oil on canvas.

Third Place "Oils" LVAA Spring Arts Show, April 2008

Patriot 18x24" Oil on MDF panel (wood) June 2008. Self Portrait.

Be sure to check out his site for yourself, there are dozens of beautiful painting to go ga-ga over. (I believe he takes commissions occasionally as well!)

"Elena" 11x14" Charcoal on Strathmore

P.S. Ok, I almost wasn't going to say this because you might say I'm biased.. but....he is my UNCLE!! I'm too proud of the fact to hold it in - and if you look at his paintings, it doesn't take a genius to see that I just have a good eye for talent ;)

Calligraphy Signs

These fun little signs were made for the lovely letterpress studio, Lark Press. The lettering was written with these perfect-for-signs brush tipped markers:

(No close-up of the "sepia" color to be found anywhere on the net- I searched, uh, endlessly...)

The orange "swirly's", (a calligraphic term you may or may not be familiar with) were drawn with the prismacolor markers:

I love these markers. 2 colors were used for the signs. They blend beautifully!

"Create four line widths from one double-ended marker.
One end has an extra broad nib that lays down color fast with paintbrush-like strokes,
and the other end has a fine nib for sketching, detail work, or cleanup."

Delicate hand-stamped pottery

I came across another wonderful etsy site today and had to share. Caroline Vasquez, the creator of "Palomas Nest" says about her work:

"Each piece is designed and hand-crafted in my home studio in Austin, Texas, by me, with care, pride, and passion. I use only all natural materials including fine clays, wood, paper, and cloth.

My inspiration lies in the purity of the materials that I use, and the idea that something so simple can be so bold.
By adding text, I give written ideas, feelings, and daydreams a place to rest.

All of my ceramic items are crafted from either white earthenware clay or porcelain clay. Custom orders are always welcome. I hope you enjoy my designs as much as I enjoy creating them."

I love the way she incorporates text into the pottery! Truly unique and beautiful. Pictured here are some of my favorites of her creations, but you can check out her etsy shop for yourself here.