The Best Kind of Oreo

The best part of life is having good friends and good friends that
become family, is even better.
My sister Coy and I always wanted a baby brother.
My Mom gave birth to a stillborn baby boy.
We named him Allan. Allan would have been
35. No one will ever take Allan's place, but
we have been blessed to have a wonderful
addition to our family. He came when we
where all in our 40's. He was raised by his own
wonderful family. Now adopted by us,
we get to have him as our very own brother.
This is the best kind of Oreo!
Love you guys

Just Passing Through

Hello Wonderful people! I know it's been a super long time.
I have been working and not doing much blogging at all.
Just came through to remove the cobwebs and put up
something new. Sending all of you a BIG 'OL SLOPPY hug
until I get back. Hugs all around!
Peace out,
me

Baby Faces

A baby book I did over the summer.
Will be available this summer.
Have a great week!

Fun with Handlettering

As some of you have noticed I have been posting a lot of late.
Only because I will be back on the work clock in a second or two.
I just wanted to spend a little time blogging with my friends.
I so appreciate ALL OF YOUR VISITS and COMMENTS. I really do.
Forgive me if I don't get back to you. I try. Mostly I always want
to leave you feeling good and inspired. The world takes so much
out of us. Leaving us empty and frustrated and sometimes depressed.
I encourage you to put back some joy by caring for you. Do something
you want to do. As said in the movie" The Help"," You is kind, You is
smart and you is important." You really are. Thanks for stopping by.
Have a great week.

Weekend Fun

I find that I am my most creative at 2:00 am.
For the last couple of nights I haven't been
able to sleep. It could very well be that I needed to
get these characters and plushies out of my
head. Have a wonderfully creative and restful weekend
Y'all!

Have A Great Weekend

Finding Ways to Make It Happen

What would happen if we stopped waiting to be discovered
and discovered ourselves and did what made us happy??
Find a way to do you PLEASE! And Hurry up cause we're
waiting! Find a way to make your dreams happen.
Have a wonderfully creative week my friends.

A Little Birdie Told Me

A little Birdie told me to tell you that,
your hard work is going to pay off in a big way.
I know it's 2012 and the things that you've been
waiting for seem so far off, but really you are
just were you need to be. All is well and all will be
well.

Oh You Fancy Now

Sometimes it's just nice to dress up for
YOURSELF PEOPLE! Time to do you.
Have a great day!
Illustration from the
Fashion Post card Collection

Happy New Year to YOU!

To Every single blogger friend new and old, Happy New Year
to YOU ALL!
Thank you so much for every wonderful visit and comment.
Your visits and comments mean so very much to me and
I am humbled that you would even bother to take time out
of you busy worlds and even drop by. I wish each of you much
joy , laughter, grace, prosperity, happiness and creative flow.
I hope that this year will blow last year completely out of
the box! Keep your head up and dream big! Anything can
happen! Anything at all. Sending you all the biggest hug
I can muster!
Best and Shalom

Happy Holiday's Friends

I know that I have been missing around blogland.
So sorry about that. It's been a super busy year and that's a
good thing honestly. I just wanted to say to all my blogger
buddies, "THANK YOU GUYS!" You have made this year such
a joy and pleasure. Sending each and everyone of you best
wishes and prayers for a creative holiday season
and New Year! Keep making it do what it do!
Best to all.
Shalom

Drum Roll Please.......

Morning Wonderful People!
Well today is the day I make my announcement of the winner
of Oohlaladesignstudio's first ever contest! So sorry everyone
couldn't win, but thanks to each and everyone of you who came
by to share your favorite comfort foods. I have gained 100 pounds
just reading each and every one of 'em! Okay drum roll please.......
the winner of a TDAC Cook Book and Chef print is.....
ROBERTA BAIRD!!!!! "Tell her what she's won Bob"
CONGRATULATION Roberta, You have won a beautifully illustrated cookbook,
provided by the folks over at They Draw and Cook! Salli and Nate!
There are also five additional winners who will receive a print of
the Little Chef Girl.
Congrats to
Ben Clanton
Trauma Newell
Christy
Gwendoulash
Nita Jo
Thanks to ALL of you for your comments and
visits. I so appreciate each and everyone of you.
Stay tune there will be one more contest coming up
before the year is out so keep your eyes peeled.
Best to you all of you for a wonderful holiday season.
Shalom

Happy Born Day Eli Allan Newton

We have a new addition to our already huge family.
Eli Allan Newton. We are super happy that Eli is here
safe and sound with us. Congratulations Al and Rene!
This is a little illustration I did for Eli's room.
Best to you all of you.
Shalom

Wishing all of us Seasons Greetings.
Thanks for entering the contest and
remember I will be announcing the
winner on Dec 5th 2011. Hope you win!
Have a great week everyone!

Ooh La La Design Studio's First Ever Contest With, TDAC

Hey Beautiful People!
Are you hungry?? Well then you've stopped at
the right blog. Welcome to Ooh La La Design Studio's
first EVER, contest! It's painfully simply folks. I would
really love to know what are your favorite comfort foods?
Is it chicken pot pie, or mac and cheese? Maybe beef
stew or quiche? How about Shrimp and grits?
Or maybe Ho Ho's or a Funny Bone?
Whatever it is just share it in a comment left here.
You have the chance to win a lovely cook book from,
"They Draw and Cook" which I am featured in, as well
as a limited addition print of The Little Chef Girl".
I love "They Draw and Cook" it's a fabulous website that
has helped me embrace the foodie inside me. Over 100
illustrators share their love of art and food in this wonderful
book. So please join me and I will randomly select the
winner from a bowl and post it on Dec 5th,2011.
"They Draw and Cook" is also available at Amazon.com
Wishing you all cheesy goodness all month
long.

Happy Birthday Zoe

Hey there Zoe,
Happy Birthday my baby girl!
Today you are 11 years old and I still can't believe it.
I wanted to let you know how special and beautiful
you. You are my Sunshine and joy. I am so to be your
Mommy. YOU my girl are the bestest part of life.
There is greatness in you so run to your destiny!
Love,
Mommy

Remember when going to the toy store was fun?
I loved going to the toy with my parents. We'd
start going right about this time of year so they could
get some since of what my sister and I wanted for
Christmas. There is something so charming about the
mom and pop toy stores back in the day
that you don't find with the big chain stores.
I often find the toys that I played with as a child and
the most beautiful pictures books in places like these.
When I grow up I am going to have a huge toy store
for grown folks who still like to play Battleship, Operation,
Trouble, Jacks and Paddle ball. Big babies who still
love Radio flyers, Dawn dolls, Flatsies,and model airplanes.
And less we forget the eye damaging Klick Klacks!
No bells and whistles or electronics just your fabulous imagination
to make it all work he he he he! Have a wonderful week everyone!

Be Kind To Someone Week

Hey there,
It's Be Kind to Someone Week.
Yes indeed it is. Oh, so you haven't heard
about it?? Well that would be because I just
made it up. So lets be kind! Yeah... go ahead
and speak to that nasty little old lady who
tells you" Hey get off my grass?" Be kind to
the postman by keeping your dog away from
him. Find another way to get your laughs. And
for Pete's sake keep your comments about
Aunt Ada's wig to yourself. Find something
nice to say about it. Man up people and be
kind to someone. Anyone! LOL!

Saturday Morning Doodles

Doodles in my head now on paper.
Hope that you're having a wonderifical weekend!
Shalom

Berthas, Bettys and Belluahs

Hello Friends,
I know it's been a long time. Between falling down,
working, death, and life, it's been really busy.
I live for my weekends and this is what I did
on Sunday morning. As many of you already know,
I am a Geechee Girl or Gullah Geechee.
I come from a long line of strong men and woman who
all could either cook, sing, dance, preach, or tell
a tale. In honor of my Great Grammy , Grammy and mom
I did this collage called Berthas, Bettys and Bellauhs named
after some of the woman in my family.
I adore the Russian nesting dolls, but I have never seen
any African american ones, SO, I made my own, but started
it out as this collage piece.
Can't wait to show you the nesting dolls. It's a weekend project
so it won't be for a while. Hope that all of you are
doing well and being creative. Sending you all
the positive energy I can muster up.
Have a great week!
Shalom