Me...and My...

...blog called Personalized Sketches and Sentiments...
It's about the artwork that I do and a bit about my family and friends that are dear to me...
& random things in our lives...


...I started this blog at the same time as my on-line Etsy shop, so that hopefully you can get a glimpse of who is behind the artwork. 


In past posts, I have done slideshows of my hubby, children and other family, so I thought this would be a good place for a slideshow of the photos I found of me when I was little. (I love how easy Roxio slideshows are to put together).

& With each post, I try to include a sample of the Personalized Sketch (aka drawings done with a name).

The timing for My post "Me...and My..." works out Magnificently :o)  And I'll explain why...                   

On Thursday, I am joining in with Jenny for

ALPHABE-THURSDAY "M"

&

on Friday, with Alicia for 

FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK. 

I have been joining with another wonderful blogger Midday Escapades and meme Friday Follow, but I am having a hard time keeping up, so I thought I would just do these 3 this time. I really enjoy meeting new bloggers, as well as catch up on the amazing blogger friends that I have met since I started blogging.

This is Me... at about 7 months old...


& 
 a recent photo of me...today :o)

(I just took this "self-photo" this morning! Whew! if you only knew how many "self-photo" shots I had to delete! ...I look so tired!)

These original drawings, I draw entirely with a person's name. & have been doing them since 1985. 

You can read about that here. 

I've taken orders over the years at shows and through word of mouth, but was hesitant to jump into the world of computers and the internet.  Even though, over and over, customers have asked if I would, so that they could easily show others about the drawings, it has taken a very long time for me to be "brave" with doing things on the computer.

But here I am, and slowly I am feeling more computer savvy as time goes on! haha (but one thing you may notice is it is an accomplishment, if I can manage one post up a week!) 

So, that is why I said that this works out Magnificently...

...because I am able to do 3 wonderful memes at a time!

~~~~~~~~~~

I am joining in with 5 Minutes for Mom for the 2010 Ultimate BLOG PARTY! 
(I'm a wee bit slow in joining).

This party is for bloggers and non-bloggers alike. There are LOTS of prizes.
It's 100% FREE!!
Just write a party post of your own, provide the party URL on Mr. McLinky at 5MFM.
After you have provided your party link at 5MFM go PARTY!!
Start blog hopping, hanging out with new and old bloggers.
Especially try meeting new-to-you bloggers.
Last year there were over 2,000 bloggers participating.

A Little about Me:

(1) I am blessed with an awesome hubby for 28+ years (retired Army helicopter pilot), adorable~and grown~children (Girly~Twirly, graduates in May as a dentist; Girly~Whirly, second year of dental school; Heartbreaker, in his 2nd year of undergrad); amazing son-in-law (our older daughter's MR, graduates in May and begins his residency for Dermatology). ...They all love the Lord.  They encourage me, inspire me and support me...I love just being around them...laughing and sharing.

Our Family Christmas 2009 Photo

(2) I LOVE to blog, even though, it wasn't until our daughter - Girly~Twirly (aka theluckiestmrs.) - showed us hers last year, that I even really knew what a blog was! And this past summer, I decided to start a blog along with my Etsy shop, so that you can get to know a bit about me and my family behind the artwork shown here.

(3) I LOVE doing the artwork that I do!  It is always so much fun to hear what a person is interested in having drawn...for themselves or family or friends.  I have been showing and taking orders for these at local shows for over 25+years, ...but not being "computer-savvy", it was only last summer that I jumped into having an on-line shop.

(4) I LOVE that I grew up as a military child and then a military wife.  I would love to continue traveling, but also would like to live closer to where all our family are...  Especially when all the grandbabies start "a'comin".


(5) I tend to be word-y...but will stop here... So, I'd love for you to stop by any time and take a look around my blog... And if there is something that you would like drawn for any occasion...birthday, graduation, retirement...or a "just because" gift...please feel free to let me know.


And You can go here to read A Bit About Me...my very first post.


It is so fun meeting all of you bloggers!  I do go and visit all those who leave a comment. 


Prizes I would like: 
                                    U.S. Only Numbers
US95, US11,US107, US112,US8,US49, US52,US6


My greetings to you are Blessings & Aloha! 


(Blessings to you and your family! Aloha means many things...such as, hello, love, until we meet again...)

~~~~~~~~~
Ooops! I almost forgot to show some recent drawing orders.  
These were just completed and shipped out. 

(Thank you Brandy for this order 

and for the one of Tyler and his dog Sara.)

(Thank you Alicia for thinking of a monogram for a wedding gift.)

And this one was just received in the mail.

Thank you Amber for your email:

Maria,

I got the drawing today and it looks wonderful. Thank you so much! I know my father will love it!  I am passing your word around on my facebook and also to the FRG! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU~ Always going to keep you in mind for a wonderful unique gift! You do amazing work! Thank you, Amber

(*FRG stands for Family Readiness Group, a great support system for military spouses for the company that their spouses serve in.)

Please feel free to stay a while and look around...(oh and I really do love finding your comments, so if you would, please be sure to let me know what you think :o)


& I'd love for you to pick up my BUTTON and take it with you back to your place :o)
(The code is on my sidebar). ...and if you do, please let me know...











Whew! this is a really huge Blog Party! I'm so glad I was able to join in, but I heard about it too late to submit a giveaway.  However, when I eventually reach my 100th post, I will be doing a giveaway for a Personalized Sketch done in the winner's choice of name. (This is my 88th post...)

New orders, new award and new winnings...

Here are 3 orders that have been completed and shipped.  Thank you Ms. LaVoice for your interest & your orders :o) 

Layton is her adorable great grandson!

~~~~~~~~~~

Thank-you, Jamie at Beach Family Updates!  

I've seen this award around and have always enjoyed learning more about blog friends...

The rules here are to pass the award on to 7 bloggers who I think are honest in their blogging and to list 10 honest things about myself. Here goes:

1. Some of you already know or have heard me say that computers are not my specialty...but I am doing better  as I do things on it more...and know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (even computers haha)

2. If given the opportunity and there were no thought of how or how much, I would LOVE to travel...ANY where!

3. I wish that I could speak Tagalog (my mom's language). (actually, how awesome it would be to speak many languages!)

4. I wish that I could keep up with all the wonderful posts of all the wonderful blogs on my dashboard!

5. I need to be more disciplined at putting things up as soon as I am done using them and also be better at throwing stuff away! (I tend to hold on to some things thinking that it just may come in handy!)

6. I wish that I called my mom every day while she was still alive.

7. I want to live near ALL of our families! (with our kids in Kentucky, dad in Wisconsin, hubby's family in Hawaii, sis in Minnesota, bro and his family in California, and dear family in Alabama, etc... this is sadly, not possible!)

8. I love things antique and especially unique...like the stereoviewers, Japanese puzzle boxes, Russian nesting dolls, teeny miniatures, old gadgets...

9. I LOVE my hubby with his short hair and clean-shaven face... (can't help but love my man in a military uniform too :o) (although he is a retired Army aviator now... hm...he still has a couple of flight suits and fatigues around here :o)

10. I am so blessed and truly amazed with the talented, loving, beautiful children that the Lord gave us to treasure... for our son-in-law (also amazing!)... and I know that we will be blessed with our other children's future spouses... and for our future grandbabies :o)

Ok so here are the ladies that I am tagging! (I hope that you join in, but as always...no pressure :o) & you may have already been tagged with this Blog Hug (I first heard blog awards called "Blog Hugs" from Debbie at Heart Choices.

1. Nina at  Portugal Bound 

2. Sarah at  The Animator's Wife

3. Valerie at  Composition Life

4. Christine at Propeller Head Mom

5. Rose at  A Santamaker's Journey

6. Sherry at  EX Marks the Spot

7. Our daughter at The Luckiest Mrs.

~~~~~~~~~~

Also, I was selected for a wonderful giveaway!  Katie's giveaway was for 500 business cards courtesy of UPrinting.com  How exciting is this! Especially, since I can always use business cards! and with a show coming up, I can never have too many!  These are up to 4 colors, can be glossy and front and back!  Thank you Katie! Check out Katie's Nesting Spot, if you hadnt already...she has many giveaways and always has sweet photos of her little girl!

Blessings & Aloha!

(and I appreciate your comments :o)

Pick-a Piece-a Perfect Polish Pottery Please

1. This is not a tongue twister (actually, I think it ranks pretty close in difficulty with "Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers...").

2. I thought I'd share a pack of Polish pottery pics... (ok, I need to post the pics & promptly pause...)

3. ...positively promise... I'll stop!

Now that I got that out of my head... As I mentioned in my previous post (good grief! with the "p" words, right?...that was not printed on purpose!)...my swap buddy sent me the most wonderful box of goodies. I love everything in there. The cutest little Polish pottery salt and pepper shakers were part of the package.

Well, here is my first piece that started my interest and collection of Polish pottery.

(her painted expression seems to say "Oh, dear...Who me?")

I actually saw this pretty little cheese lady at a Cracker Barrel some time around 1998. I had friends that had Polish pottery from when they were stationed in Germany and would travel to Poland and go directly to the pottery factories.

Growing up, all of my dad's assignments were in the Pacific theater-Phillippines, Japan, Taiwan... so it was great to pick up things from each country. But I had never really heard of Polish Pottery, until "traveling to the land of Cracker Barrel". haha

Since then I have seen them everywhere (kinda like when you buy a certain model and color car, and then all of a sudden you see that model and color car...everywhere!)

When my hubby was the 101st Airborne Division Liaison to bring back the troops from Afghanistan, he had to go to Germany. While there staying with dear friends, they took him sightseeing and he had called home to see if there was anything from there to bring back...

Me ~ *Mmmm, the chocolates and gummi bears and...Hey! Polish Pottery!*

He wasn't in Poland or going to have time to get to the factories, but our friends had friends who took the factory tours all the time and sold the pottery.

So, he asked "what pieces?"

Me ~ *Ooh, any.thing!...and what about somethings to give for Christmas gifts?*

So, the sweetie that he is, he picked out some perfect pieces and shipped them back home. This was our conversation (as best as I remember :o), when he got home and the boxes arrived:

Me ~ Oh! this is so fun...they have different patterns, yet they all go together!

Hubby ~ Great. I picked out different types of it too. Just pick out which ones go to which person.

Me ~ Hmmm... actually, maybe since none of our family collects or even knows what Polish pottery is... maybe, we should find something else to send for gifts... (Yes, I admit that I thought of this... but I really was thinking of the family and how would one piece work into their existing dinnerware?)

Hubby ~ Oh? Then what are we going to do with all this?

Me ~ Well... we could use the bowls and bakeware...they are real servicable...

So... that's how we started to add to my polish pottery... (oh and we did get everybody real great Christmas gifts in place of the dishware :o)

Here are some of them in a curio. I use all the pieces all the time, but I love that they are so pretty to put out as a display, as well.

These are all used for everyday. The dishes and bowls, I have bought piece by piece throughout the years. I love that they do not all match in pattern, but they go together because of the colors used coordinate with each other.

Here are more bakeware, bowls, rolling pin, etc... (*sidenote*the 3 little coke bottles are all aluminum ones that are for the time being are being sold only in Savannah. We bought them this last weekend when Mr. B, LittleMiss, Heartbreaker and I went to Riverfront Street, before our "LittleMiss" left for Kentucky. I thought they were so cute!).

Mr. B is a big fan and quite the connoisseur of coffee. Here is where all the coffee action happens :o) (The old window is a find up by my parent's place in northern Wisconsin.) ...and more pottery! Actually, the bowl and the mug are my "knock-off, trying-to-be, cousins to the Polish pottery" collection.

PART II: Poor Hubby never had a choice or a chance...

With all the perfect pottery, up to this point, like Goldie Locks and the 3 bears:

for my hubby's cereal, we had the bowls that were "too small"...

and the serving bowls that were "too big"...

so, while we were at the kids in Kentucky, our daughters and I had a girl's day out at the pottery painting place. I found the bowl that was "just right"! This would be part of his Father's day gift from me. It was so much fun!

(it was truly for Mr. B, but I just had to pick out colors to go with our Polish Pottery :o)

Well... while our daughter was home, we went to the pottery painting place here (Midnight Star Pottery) and I did a travel coffee mug for Mr. B. Yep, you guessed it... I painted it with the manly colors, but still kinda-sorta tried to make it to coordinate with the... Polish pottery!

These are the words that I thought of to describe or identify Mr. B.

He is right-handed, so I did think it out... When he holds the mug handle in his right hand, all the words that the other person facing him would see are the tough, manly-man, hoor-ah! words.

But the words that face him are all the sweet nothings, mushy, lovable words ;o)

the inside peek...

So, there you have a bit about the Polish Pottery, how they made their way into our place and took over...even when it came to painting pottery...I was thinking...Polish, Polish, Polish!

Oh, forgot to mention...See? I am not the only one that is fond of the "uber-fun, mix and matchiness" of Polish Pottery :o) The following Personalized Sketches were drawn for a fellow-collector. Both were drawn entirely with her name REBA. (I think you can click on it to take a closer view... although my picture taking of these sample copies might be a bit fuzzy).

(Personalized Sketches copy of original)

(Personalized Sketches copy of original)

Blessings & Aloha!

Christmas in July...It's a Party!

Mele kalikimaka! (a Hawaiian greeting from Coastal Georgia!)

Feliz Natale! (Thanks for the Portuguese, Delima Dilemma :o)Feliz Navidad! Froeliche Weinachten! Joyeux Noel! Christmas Alegre! Buone Natale!

Веселое рождество! メリークリスマス! 圣诞快乐!

... in other words...Merry Christmas!

There's a wonderful bit of Christmas Cheer going around. So, I'm glad you stopped by...

I'd like to share a picture or two...well, actually quite a bit more than that...so come on in and take a peek.

"Maligayang Pasko!" (coming from you straight from the Philippines...it's mini me at age 1!)

...Here is my mom and I (age 3yrs old) all nice and toasty inside, while it was super chilly on this Massachusetts' Christmas!

Meanwhile, in the beautiful tropical weather of Hawaii...a couple of years before I was even born...came a wonderful (10 pound +) Christmas gift...that I claim would be all mine... Mr. B! He was a Christmas baby...born on December 25th! (also, he was the 3rd generation born o Christmas baby...his Auntie Florence..and his Great-Auntie Maggie).

Mr. B with his big brother looking at what Santa brought...

"Hey, does he come with a horse or a tricycle?"

...1 year old

He's not looking to sure about the guy with the beard & big belly...

He never was short-changed on the gifts and birthday cake! :o)

What a handsome Christmas boy!!

2 years old!

I love this one of him and his brother... (see his hand? he was always pretending it was a plane and he was flying it! hmmm...his dream to fly would become reality as a helicopter pilot for the Army :o)

"Howdy & Merry Christmas!"...from our oldest daughter (who at birth, weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz.) aka theluckiestmrs. at the age of 17 months.

Our little "Kewpie doll" is dressed warm for the unusual snowfall that came down in

San Antonio, Texas that year!

"Merry Christmas, y'all!" from the newest member of our family...here in Ft. Rucker, Alabama.

Our little (9lbs. 2oz.) baby doll was only 16 days old at Christmas...

(If she had followed the family tradition of one born on Christmas...she says she could have been 10lbs. 2oz! ...um, no thank you :o)

...and it's back to Hawaiian-style... "Mele Kalikimaka!" from our handsome keiki kane (baby boy) and his two sisters.

Our little man was 7 months here... (since I mentioned the other's birth weights...he was 8 pounds even...thank goodness! I was not looking forward to that "1 pound more" trend that happened with our girls.) I love this photo taken in Hawaii when they were little...now these 3 beautiful kiddos are grown, in college and left my hubby and I as "emptynesters".

...I'm so happy you stopped in! You're welcome here any time!

Please leave a comment whenever you do, so I know that you were here.

...I'm leaving you with this drawing of Old St. Nick.

It was drawn for a customer, entirely with her unique name "Alpha".

***For all those that leave a comment...I'd like to give a little gift for each of you...10% off any drawing ordered from now to the end of August.***

Be sure to go to"Just Add Glitter and Stir"

for more Christmas fun!

Blessings & Aloha!

(...remember the reason for the season:o)

We are spending this last weekend with our daughter before she has to fly back to college...

so I'll try to finishing making my rounds to all the wonderful Christmas in July parties and meet all you wonderful hostesses!

Thank you for stopping in!

*don't know how to get this to quit underlining?*...oh well :o)

3 Things you didn't know about me...

***This week, on TUESDAY, 7/14/09, the theme is:

THREE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT ME (or US).

One:
I have been married to Mr. B for 27+ years. He is my Handsome Hubby, Fabulous Father of our 3 kids, and we are proud of his military service...my Awesome Army Aviator. (This photo was of him after his last flight as an active duty soldier... I had asked him to please take this photo for me to have...love my man in uniform :o)

Two:


We have faced challenges such as Mr. B 's robotic open heart surgery, in Atlanta, 1 and 1/2 years ago to replace the mitral valve chordei, by the leading cardio surgeon of that procedure. (He is doing great!)
...and our youngest ("heartbreaker") was diagnosed & treated for cancer when he was 14. He is healed and healthy. He's had many opportunities to witness the healing power of our Lord and encouraged many to support & volunteer for various cancer awareness organizations. (Here is a collage of him with his sisters during their 2005 spring break, and as the 2006 Georgia Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network, at his 2008 Make A Wish trip to Hawaii & his High school graduation). (He is in his 2nd yr of college).




Three:

Besides being a wife, stay at home mom, and doing the art that I've done for 24+ yrs, I graduated from college this May 2009. (hmmm, the oldest of my class in the Dental Hygiene program :o) By the grace of God & loving support of my family! (Thanks Mr. B for always encouraging me & thanks to my kids for inspiring me & thanks to my dad for listening to me during our daily phone calls. sorry for my whine-y moments :o)***