Are you finding it harder to find the joy these days? With the elections and the shootings and the killings and just the very air of the world right now? It can be so very overwhelming to the mind, body and soul of a person. So many questions. So many why's. It can drain the life out of you. Joy is not about happiness or prefection. Joy, is an emotion. It is a choice. A choice to turn off the news or deciding to extend kindness to others. It is smiling at someone even if they don't smile back at you. If you are looking for prefection you will never find it in this world. It's filled with imperfect people at every turn. I often find joy in music. Music is so very important to me. I couldn't do what I do or even make it through the day without a song. Music is very powerful and can bring the heart joy. I find songs that lift me and help me get through the day. Find a song to fill your heart. Wishing your heart joy and music! ROCK ON GOOD PEOPLE!!

It is so very important that every child gets to see themselves beautifully illustrated in picture books. I never saw myself in picture books until I saw the "Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. I didn't see myself on tv or in magazines as a child. I thought that I was invisible for a very long time. Is is now my desire to illustrate every child. Show them that they are special and unique. I want little brown girls and boys to see themselves as princes and princesses Kings and queens. This is a little project that am working on. A Very Brown Princess and the green the Pigeon pea! It's a little Spanish and a little African and a whole lotta Gullah with just a touch of Crucian! It's all to funny as well. Wishing you all a very Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving! Hugs V