*Funny Smile*

Supposed to be packing to leave with my sisters

Writing this instead...

That's right I'm going to be away from the computer for awhile but I'm sure you guys will be okay for that small amount of time...but go ahead and put in some suggestions for what stories you guys want to see next or maybe poem topics or if you just want to hear how my trip went...let me know in comments I'd really appreciate it.

Something I've Been Thinking About

(Pic by Ani of course)

So yeah this post is about something that's been on my mind for a couple months now and I feel like God wants me to talk about it on here...the topic is Believing in Yourself it's a pretty popular idea right now all over schools and stuff a sort of feel good thing, but it really isn't just school's I've noticed it's gone beyond that and has somehow sneaked it's way into Christianity...How can this be I mean we have no power and the bible plainly states this, we should not believe in ourselves we should believe in God that he has a plan for us that will ultimately be better for both us and for his glory. You see we're naturally sinful it's a fallen world after all  

*Romans 7:19 (KJV)

For the good that I would do I do not: 

but the evil which I would not, that I do.*

*Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:

who can know it?*

and if we believed that we could accomplish  anything at all by ourselves well then....we'd fall back on our faces because without God we have no power we fail, we loose, we make decisions that we will later regret, we are not a reliable and we shouldn't think that just believing we can do something somehow makes it happen...US, ME, YOU, seriously we don't have any supernatural powers people we can't make things happen just by believing we can! I have more to say on the topic but I'll just leave it there for the moment...I'd like to see if my dad'll do something for me to post or link to on this topic as well, I'll ask :) 

Anyways what do you think let me know in comments. 

P.S. I'm currently reading Romans my sister's and I along with my dad studied it a couple years back and I'm finding myself drawn there of late...if you have read Romans care to talk with me about it :) maybe do a linkup sometime?

IT'S RAINING!

It's pouring outside, I love it, it's lovely beautiful rain :D

Birds!

Hello,
It's Ani once again. I feels like I haven't posted in forever!
  Anyways, so over the months I have taken quite a lot of photos of birds so I thought I would show some.
 
 

                                      I took this picture at the zoo. I had to zoom in all the way to get it.
                                  Swans are so beautiful aren't they! (Though I hear they're quite viscous.)

                                           I reedited the photo to make it look more fanciful. This version is Poem                                           Girl's favorite, but mine is the one up above. :)

 

                                         One day I decided to just go outside and just take as many photos as possible,                               this is one of them. That dove was so silly. It just sat on the wire by itself and once in a  while it would turn it's head to the side....... it was kind of cute. :-)  
                                      

                                         A few months ago I looked out the window and saw a Canadian goose            standing on my neighbor's gazebo, it was watching all the others ducks swim. It kind of looked like he thought he was King over all of them or something. It was very funny. hehehe :-D
                                        

                                          Finches are soooooo pretty! Especially the yellow ones! For one week we saw them every where and now it's like we never see them. Well, I just have to wait till next year. :-)

I saw this bird at the zoo too, but I couldn't manage to get a photo where the bird was in focus because, we were kind of in a hurry at the time. Oh, and for some reason I can't remember it's name! hehehe

Here's another finch taken around the same time as the other one. 

  

And yet another finch. There was so many out that day.(The photos a bit blurry because I had to zoom in all the way and my hands were shaky.)

This is a crane. I took this picture out of our sliding door that faces the backyard. It was really tricky to get, but I was happy to catch the crane making a sort of eight with his head and beak. 

                               This is the same crane, but I took this one without flash that's why the water looks bluer.
                                  (If you look closely the crane looks like it's doing the evil eye.)

                                     Well, that's all. Hope I didn't bore you with all the pictures. :-)

Once Upon a Time...An Artists Memoirs

 

I started drawing...

*This is the collected memoirs of an artist her thoughts on it and then some. I guess you could say this was brought on by the fact that I just went through yet another drawing notebook.*

I've been drawing for as long as I can remember back when I thought teardrop eyes looked nice with three lines sticking out of them for lashes, back when fingers were sticks and rings were just lines through those sticks...to the point where I thought large oval heads looked good...you get the picture since I was veeerrry little.

 I wanted to be an artist long before I touched the keys of a keyboard in preparation for writing 

I didn't need to write I told my stories through pictures (even though they weren't very good back then but you'll see later) I had great plans to one day be at least as good as my oldest sister Rachel (You didn't know I had a sister older than Liz did you?) or even mom (she's a brilliant artist!)

But I didn't know how long it would take for me to ever go beyond just what I thought was okay but no one else in their right minds would like...I wanted to know that my art would actually mature and grow that as I got older it would improve but I was moving so slow I felt like I'd never get better now I look back and laugh at my old drawings I'm not yet at an age were I can appreciate them but I do now recognize them as something more than something I should have thrown away ages ago (Thanks Liz for keeping me from tossing them) I see them as proof of my achievements I still haven't reached my skill goal yet but I can now honestly say I'm much better than I've ever been before maybe even almost mom good, I'm no longer relying on copying others I can make a decent picture with my own unique style...I...have...my....own....style *squeal!* 

I'm no longer trying to be as good as someone else I'm content and yet...I'm not done yet there's still so much to learn I'll continue to study the art of others and to take from my lessons what I can. I thank God for blessing me with the patience to continue drawing even when I felt like I'd never get any better. Writing may now be my future career plan but art will always be very dear and precious to me and I hope that I can continue telling stories through them for as long as Live.

 My Gallery though time

 By far not my oldest drawing but...we're having our floor redone and so the basements off-limits until finished and that's where my portfolio's are, thankfully I had some notebooks stored in my room that go back a ways, this was the Oval head years and believe me it was a lot bigger before like her head was huge and her body tiny!

 This is a little later still not very good...sorry I don't know how old I was when I did these because I never date my drawings...*sigh* (colored by one of my sisters)

 This was back in the days when we got into sewing and stuff...I was never very good at it so we quit pretty early on and anyways this was just me pretending I was a fashion designer designing a new line for "Simply Sarah's Fashion Boutique" I think I was like 8 or 9 maybe.

The tall years...I was trying to improve things and ended up coming up with tall people :) it's not to bad really it shows my progression...*giggle* see how I used to draw buns.

This is Guinevere my forest princess she was from my...um forest, fire, and ice series :) 

You can see it's looks a lot like my current style.

And here's today!

This has been a moment with Gallery Through Time.

Let's send off this Sketchbook with style, Ado

It's been a good eight months :D 

One final thing before I say my last goodbyes :) 

Here's an unfinished watercolor drawing by my gifted mother...

My letter to the library...and other stuff

Dear Library,

       I miss you so much has it really been a full four weeks since I last walked through your doors to pick up some random book that may or may not be amazing...it has! My book loving side to me is caving with longing to grasp unfamiliar, exciting, and adventurous pages! But...I'll have to wait a little longer I'm afraid and in the meantime you'd better fill up with some more books because I'm pretty sure I'll soon have read all your good ones.....and that's another thing; why don't you have more good books? It seems like all the books I want to read are in the library hours away and YOU have the ones I don't care about...but well yes. Anyways I guess that's all see you soon as I can :D

                                                                                                                                               Yours Truly

                                                                                                                                                        Sarah

Yeah I guess that was kind of random and I didn't really need to write it but it's been on my mind and so I just took it...and posted it. Aaaaanyways, I've got some more goodies for you! 

Two art pieces and the next part of me and Brittney's story yay :D

If you guys liked my previous Marin sketches than you'll probably enjoy these.

Soooo which do you like better? Me, I can't decide but then I'm the artist and an artist has a special affection for all her pieces...except for the mess ups!

Now the story....

Janna
By: Brittney

“Hosea?” I called out the back of our cottage, “Are you done yet?”
I saw him stick his head through the door, “Almost,” He said and then after a pause he asked, “I still don’t understand why me and my friends are doing this for you!”
“ Well that’s a silly question,” I said with a cheesy smile and then I walked up to him and gave him a hug before he could back up, “You’re helping me because you’re my sweet little brother.”
I rubbed his head with my knuckles.
He winced and then awkwardly patted me on the back, “Ya, I guess that’s the reason.”
I just smiled at him sweetly.
“We’re done Janna,” I heard a rough voice from outside the door. I swung open the door to see all of Hosea’s friends dressed up in armor. I tried to stifle a giggle at how goofy they looked. Hosea’s friend Trevor was a short stocky fellow and his armor was too long and too tight on him. Gregory his other friend was tall but way too skinny and he had to tie his belt very tight to keep the armor from falling off. Firiel, Hosea’s other friend seemed to fit the suit pretty well but his sandy blond hair fell over his eyes in a very unprofessional way. Hosea’s suit of armor fit him perfectly and his neatly trimmed hair and green eyes looked very handsome. I smiled at the thought of him maybe one day being a knight, but I knew well enough that knights were only nobles.
“Well…” I said after looking them over, “You’re an awkward group that’s for sure…. But I think you’ll be able to manage.”
I gave them a smile for encouragement.
“Now are you ready?” I asked.
They all nodded their heads uneasily.
“Don’t worry you’ll be fine,” I reassured them.
“Now let’s go meet Jasper with the carriage and then we will go pick up the princess! Remember now we must convince the king you guys are real guards. So keep your chins up, walk straight, and mind your manners!”
“ Let’s go!” I hollered. We all started off marching towards the stables.

This shall be interesting…

Porsha

By: Me

It was a little unsettling when I saw the group of sorry looking boys before me and I thought, “How are we ever going to convince the king that these are royal guards.” But either the King was blind or very tired because he went with it and within the space of ten minutes the coach was filled and I was racing off towards a week of perfect freedom!

Janna laid back in her seat and smiled. “This is excellent, I knew with our brilliance we would figure something out.”

I sighed and glanced out the window as I often did when I was in a carriage. “Yes I know…it’s just…I can’t believe we…did it. No mistakes no hitches it seems way to good to be true.”  Janna rolled her eyes and leaned back.

“Don’t be so paranoid first you were worries that something would happen and now you’re worried because something didn’t; maybe sometimes things just go your way without trouble.”

I fiddled with my dress a bit before replying. “…maybe, but then maybe something will go wrong…later.”

“You worry too much, don’t worry things will be fine you’ll see. You can just be Scarlet Wilcox for now forget you’re a princess and just enjoy yourself.”

I sighed I knew only to well how hard that was going to be considering whenever my dreams came the closest I would drift farther away into my worry, such is the way of paranoid me.

I was quite relieved when we finally reached Janna’s house and her friend…Jasper handed me out. “Don’t let Janna get you into trouble.” He says as he gets back into the drivers seat

“What me?” She replied innocently putting on a smile.

“You do have a habit of getting yourself and others into sticky situations.”

“What…I do not!”

“Um…..this is a very nice conversation and all but you seem to be attracting attention.”

“Yes…and I suppose I do need to be going. Ado princ…uh I mean Scarlet.” And with that he tipped his hat and road off leaving me once more to my ponderings of what could possibly lay ahead…still little knowing the danger I was soon to encounter…

Thanks for reading!

 

Pernisia and Caleb

Are finally making an appearance...

Sooo if you've ever read me and Storyteller's story Pernisia & Rowan than you no doubt will recognize these characters from it.  I would like people to know that the reason for my not drawing boys so well is because I've pretty much drawn girls my whole life and boys well yeah...I never really cared to draw them but as I get older I decide to try new things more often.

We may be seeing Storyteller's Rowan soon too she's agreed to give it a try yay :D

What do you guys think? Let me know in comments.

 

Bonjour Amis

Because I've nothing to post currently and I feel guilty we're going to do...

The ABC's of Me from Jenna's blog

This post will also feature a drawing I did,  a verse I love :), A song

So without further ado let's get started...

Addictions: Reading, Writing, Drawing, Vintage, ect...
Bed size: Full
Chore you hate:...um...Dusting?
Dogs or cats: Cat's :)
Essential start of your day: Bible Studies
Favorite color: White, Pink,
Gold or silver: Black Hills gold
Height: 5'1
Instruments you play (or have played): Piano
Jobs titles you've had:...can't say I know how to describe it
Keep-sake: My ballerina figurine I got her when I was 6 or 7 and she's been precious ever since
Live: ....haha
Mom’s name: ...Mom
Nickname: My names Sarah so I don't really have one but my neighbor used to call be Sari...pronounced (Sair-ee-i)
Overnight hospital stays: Never had one
Pet peeve: Greasy Hair
Quote from a movie: "
Right or left handed: Right
Siblings: 5
Time you wake up: 6:00 or 8:00 a.m
Uncertainty: If I'm ever going to start those projects I've been planning
Vegetables you dislike: Raw uncooked asparagus
What makes you run late:....Whoever is the designated driver...occasionally...and I'm not really a stickler for being on time.
X-rays you’ve had done: None that I'm aware of unless it's a dentist one
Yummy food you make: Fruit Smoothies, Egg nog
Zoo animal: Zebra's

 Love this :)
Verse

Psalms 45:1

...My tongue is the pen of a ready writer

I know I wrote her name Ester but...hey I just realized she'd make a great Cathrine :)  Right?

Hey there's a video on this post so if you can't see it come over to my blog and it should be visible but if you can...let me know because video's aren't showing up when I go to read posts unless I go over to the blog.

If you've never heard the vespers before you should listen to them...they're one of our favorite groups and my dad loves it when me and my sisters sing this sone ---v

Thanks for reading.

 P.S. Stoyteller what do you say we do an Art swap I drew up Pernisia from our story Emotion doors I also did Caleb maybe you could draw Rowan? Just a thought get back to me when you see this :)

Header Challenge!

Hmmm...I see I've got so much to write about so much expected such as the contest results that I feel pretty upset at myself for disregarding all duty for pleasure...because yes I'm just not up to announcing all that business related business...sorry for that but...I'm sure I'll get it done tomorrow :) and anyways you can't blame me it's late enough as it is and yes...well I guess you get the picture.

But I will settle for a little business so I can clear up the whole header deal I have going in this post.

So I know what I said before about me choosing a header and putting it on my blog along with credit to the maker but I've decided to alter add some spice and whatnot to catch the interest of you lovely people.

Here it is...

I challenge you blog designers to pick a theme from the following and try to make a header for it!

Map out your design ahead of time think about what you like best, will it take too long to find the picture's for it? Am I going to have a boarder and if so what's the boarder going to be? Figure out how you're gonna work it and start!

 Give it that special touch that makes it just that much more professional looking achieve a new best! 

Last but most certainly not least Have fun, it's never as exciting or enjoyable

when it becomes a chore or a "big deal" rather than just seeking to enhance your skills and earn a little perks on the side (but more on that later)

Themes

*Nautical: a sea themed header boats, ocean, ect...

*Vintage: All things old and cute

*Summer: Go as summery as you can get! But be wary of making it too busy

*Simple:*Can you pull off no pictures and go for the simple elegance?
*Watercolor Art:Artistic watercolor themed header 

*Travel: Pick a beautiful place and design your header around it

 Don't forget when you're finished with your header to give a link to it in the comments if you think you have time or just like the challenge you can even pick multiple themes but don't mix them...each will have a very bright chance of appearing on my blog along with full credit to them and their blog buttons added to side of my blog as before and if you care to oblige I'd love it if you also included why you accepted the challenge and I'll post that right along :D

If you'd like to spread the word leave a link to this post on your blog along with your header entry and I might even have a button to this post put up soon and you can put that up too...though that's sort of hanging right now. 

Happy Designing :D

Happy 4'th

(video again, if you can't see it come over to my blog)

I watched this music video three years ago on the 4'th so it's fitting to watch it today :D 

Happy 4'th of July!

Hey All You Blog Designers

I would like someone to design a  Summer header and button for me. I get that this is short notice but my regular is going to be very busy so I thought maybe I could do this, if any of you are willing to help me out here then please post the header and button on a post on your blog and send me the link in comments. I'm going to give this a week...and if no one responds I'll have to go around and request something special...

oh, and if you can't do this for me because you're Summers packed or something else maybe you could recommend me to a really good designer.

Oh, yeah the perks are if I like your header and button I'll let people know you designed them and put your button on the side of my blog. 

Here are some idea's for the theme...

 

Thanks ahead of time!

 

 

Birthday Wishes for Ani

I just wanted to write this BIRTHDAY post to one of the most talented person I know

My sister ANI! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to an awesome piano playing, book writing, song composing, vintage drawing, watercolor painting, picture taking, style amazing, photo shooting, SUPER SISTER!

May your year be filled with wonderful experiences, fun times, and may you talents be enhanced, May your faith be strengthened and may God bless you. 

Love you Sis!