Getting the numbers right...

...1982 is what I had thought. But I thought wrong. The first drawing that I did was in 1985.

 *hmm, I guess that doesn't mean I can knock 3 years off my current age...   What about 23 years off and to be 22 again?* (if that were possible...I'd have 16 years of my mom still... to call and ask her a question about her amazing recipes, crafts, garden...and just to talk and hear her voice.)

...back to the drawings.  It was a drawing done in pencil for my brother, for his 10th birthday in February of 1985.

Well, I came across that drawing from parent's house at one of our visits.  Since I knew my brother had moved on to different interests, I asked my mom if I could have it. (My brother at the time was out of the house and stationed on the east coast with the Navy.)

Thank goodness for Mr. B. He really is the all-time best "finder" in the world! We still have quite a few boxes that are stacked up in our garage.

Well, it was "safely" stored away, in a box... which box??? Cue into the scene... my hero...Mr.B.

He was getting rid of some stuff that we (ok, ok, I... have been hanging on to.)

It's super hot! about 95 degrees! I offered my assistance, but he said it's better when I 'm not around, so he can actually get rid of stuff. (cuz I can't help but think...you never know when that watch-a-ma-call-it would come in handy... or else it's "awww, but that's baby so-and-so's favorite stuffed... or "that belonged to great-great aunt what's her name's cousin's sister's uncle's~an heirloom!")

Well, before long...in comes Mr. B with a box of old photos and a thick cardboard tube. In the tube was, my brother's drawing! (I had mentioned wanting to find that, some time ago!) I didn't even think to ask him to keep a look out for it.

When I went to get it matted and framed in San Antonio, TX, what a surprise and a blessing when those at the store thought it was interesting. They asked if I drew other things and with any name. I said, sure! I left the store with my frame, mat, drawing and my first custom orders!  :o)

(Personalized Sketches photo of original)

In the bottom right corner, along with the year '85, I signed it "Bing Botelho"   "Bing" is my family's nickname for me as a kid. I'm still "Bing" to my Dad's and Mom's side of the family.

(I am so glad I date every drawing! I also love photos with the dates stamped on it....those dates are so helpful in remembering when the events were taken or ages of those in the photos, etc.)

(Personalized Sketches photo of original)

This newspaper clipping's from Enterprise, AL. (Wednesday, January 20, 1988).  Our little girly-whirlies, "theluckiestmrs" was 4 and 1/2, "little miss" was 13 months.  Dave was still a WOC (warrant officer candidate) in flight school. The drawing is a copy of one done for Dave's Uncle P & Auntie Mema. (They are like our kids' third set of grandparents :o)... She had quite a wonderful clown collection.)

(photo of original newspaper clipping)

It was and is a blessing to be able to do these at home.  And my hubby and kids were the best when it came to helping me at the shows.

so... that's the facts and figures... first drawing. for my little bro. 1985.

I'll close this post with some drawings just completed and sent on their way:

1. eagle on left, custom order for L.H.'s brother-in-law, retiring from the Army. Thank you L. for your interest and ordering this for his gift!

2. eagle on right, for Staci, who won the giveaway for her Pipaw, who is retired Air Force and a world history, world geography teacher. Yay! And thank you again for participating.

(Personalized Sketches photo of originals)

Blessings & Aloha!

Thanks for stopping and please feel free to leave a comment...

Come back any time :o)

Blessed , blessed, blessed!

Blessed that I love to do these drawings and that people are interested in them too. (I love seeing how something will turn out as I write a name over and over and over... someone asked me if I ever felt like it was like that punishment in school... you know, write 500 times "I will not talk".

If I remember correctly, I actually had that punishment in

elementary. But I've always loved to doodle and see the many ways I could write my name or letters, so no, it didnt feel like punishment!)

Blessed with a family that forgives my mess whenever I bring out my artpaper, pens, and everything else! (I have started to move all my arts and crafts into one bedroom *sorry girls, but I will have to get that in order for when you come home for visits!*)

(I dont leave that mess like that) ...but even with the plan to have a separate room for my *studio*, I can't help but drag it out when I am actually drawing, cuz I do like being where everyone's at... (maybe in our next home, I can request an open loft that overlooks the living room, so that I can be where the action is, without my action being all over the place!)

Blessed when those that have ordered send back notes, cards, or emails about their piece. I appreciate what you have to say. So, I would love to share some of them with you. (not to toot my horn, honest!) but hopefully to give someone who is interested in Personalized Sketches, an idea of what I hope are the results: a very happy giver and receiver. So with my most sincere intentions:

Here are a few more:

Are you still making the pictures w/ people's names? You did a print for me back in 2004 for my sister's graduation from college. She'll graduate from Medical School in 2008. And she's requested another of your portraits. So I'm just asking in advance. I have to do a little research into what to use for an image this time.

Stephanie W.

My friend LOVED the drawing…she is a true aggie!

It looks GREAT! You do amazing work.

Thank you so much!

Shelley R. (Tennessee)

I will certainly keep this for future gift events. Many thanks again.

Gabriella C.

Thank you so much for creating this picture for me!! I love the idea you had regarding the standard poodle (with Bijou on the dog and Bergles on the collar and Rose on the Rose).

Thanks again!

M.J. (Colorado)

...in reference to the Eagle. I consider my husband very hard to buy

for. When I gave him your drawing of the Eagle, he said he loved it

and said that in all the time he'd been at Fort Campbell it was the

first Eagle he'd ever received. I got big kudos for picking out the

perfect gift! Also, the Strike Col's wife and SGM's wife were both

choked up when they received their gifts. Your talent is amazing and

your drawings make such unique gifts and I'm so happy to share your

info with others. We are currently in Stuttgart, Germany (as of last

Tuesday). If you don't mind I will share your info with my new

friends, too.

Darla K. (Germany)

I just wanted to let you

know that I absolutely love the picture. You are so very talented. I

really appreciate you doing it for my son. It will be something we treasure

for a long long time. Good luck with your website. I'll probably talk to

you again, because there are a few Christmas gifts I would love for you to

do. Thanks again!!!

Shanna G. (South Carolina 6/09/09)

  ‘Your drawings allow me to give a very personalized gift to people who are very special in my life.   It has become a tradition for me to give wedding couples a personalized picture of the Precious Moments Bride and Groom done in the bride and grooms names.   I have also done this for several couples wedding anniversary.   Those who received them have commented (even years later) how they treasure them and the personal touch that it represents.’
D. Miller (Austin, TX)
 

 

First a customer...Forever a friend!

...This title reflects a sentiment that I have found to be true over the years I have been doing Personalized drawings.

I have always loved doing the drawings that I do and meeting those who have either ordered or have been given one as a gift. I have been blessed to hear the stories behind the reason for a drawing or about the person that the drawing is for.

One story is about an order of an old steam engine from a daughter to her father.  She didnt have a picture of one & so I went to the library and found a great photo in a book (this was in "ancient times" before the wonderful world of google and now bing). Well, after Christmas, I heard from her and she said that her dad loved it and that he got teary-eyed, because it happened to be the same EXACT steam engine that he had started out on as a very young man! He had been retired from working with trains for many years. 

(Click on to the photo to see, it is drawn using his first name "Reine". sorry about the quality- I have always made a copy of the originals that I do, so that I have a record of the drawing (this copy has faded slightly) and I looked at the date in the far bottom left corner '89... I remember this story so well, that it doesn't seem that it should be 20 years!)

I have been getting emails from those of you after your order has arrived (thank you for your responses), those who have seen and asked to order drawings (thank you for the "word of mouth" connections), and also with all the military moves, those who have searched and found me (thank you for being persistent and resourceful!) 

In the section of posts that will be shown under Sentiments, I will be adding some of those stories and what past customers have to say...

Thank you so much for your interest and sharing your stories.

Blessings & Aloha!

Maria

A New Adventure...

...for me in the big, big world of blogging!

First of all, a big THANKYOU to my daughter, theluckiestmrs. It was after reading her fun blog postings, that inspired and motivated me to get going with my Etsy Shop. And her encouragement that I (computer-tech challenged) really could do a blog (& a great way to connect the two and help those of you know the person behind Personalized Sketches). And she nominated me for a chance at winning a blog make over by...

...a big THANKYOU to the Blogalicious girls, who have designed this blogalicious blog design and layout.  And for their unending patience with a very novice blogger!  

And when I say novice blogger, I mean, a very, very novice blogger.  It was just a couple of months ago that our oldest daughter started her blog and introduced me to a great new adventure. (I loved her postings and found myself laughing out loud...) 

Daughter M: "Mom, you'll have to check out my blog. Here's the address..."

Me: "Blog? What's that?" (Yep, I guess I really hadnt ever paid attention, cuz I know blogging has been around a long time and I surely have friends that have them.)

Thank goodness, she didnt tell me about this blog world until the end of my last semester of classes! I had to purposefully keep away from her blog, in order to stay focused with final exams.  Oh! That was really hard to do.  I would "treat" myself to just a little blog-reading break between studies.

But now school and the last exams are done (I will talk more about that "chapter" of my life, in a later post).  ...meanwhile, I've been waiting for my dental hygiene license. ... and having fun getting my blogging and my Etsy shop going. 

Blessings & Aloha!

Maria