A Bookish Wedding Reception

 

He's a Professor, she's a Doctor, so why not have a very Smart Wedding Reception 

Pages from the books they've both love turned into flowers. Book flowers tossed everywhere like confetti. Sharpie and colorful cards to give tips to the young couple.

My friend Melanie Howell, Interior Decorator, and Mother of the Bride, designed all this. When she needed some cheap inspiration for a display cabinet, that's when she pulled out a dresser drawer, cleaned it and turned it upside down.

The lining is made of book pages as well.

All Quite Smart and Elegant.

First Book Crush: Robert Lopshire

 

We didn't get many nice thing when we were kids, but somewhere along the line (my sister Susie or Ruthie probably bought it for me), I got a copy of Robert Lopshire's Put Me in the Zoo. I read and re-read this book, studying every picture.

 

I really worried about this girl and how was she going to get those spots off her or if she would be stuck like that forever. And this huge yellow bearish creature was so likeable.

 

When I was a teenager, I'd rest my hand to my chin and dream that some day I would paint on my own wall (It was never possible because we always rented and moved frequently and my parents didn't encourage art).

 

When we bought our house, I painted my Yellow Friend on the wall to watch over

my Son while he slept.

 

But what is this bear's name?

And, who is Robert Lopshire?

Google says Lopshire was born in 1927 and they show his various books.

The books are associated with Dr. Seuss.

 

Is Robert Lopshire, Doctor Seuss (Theodore Geisel) or is he a real-live other person?

 

Doctor Seuss is on the wall as well.

This will probably be painted over soon, because my son is a teenager now

and he'll do whatever he likes to the room.

So far, we haven't the heart to get rid of them.

The day I painted the Cat on the wall, my son was in a little bouncer, asleep,

like Mimi (the cat who would never wear a hat) is here.

 

From baby to Playgroup. We met up with other children on Wednesdays.

To spice things up, I devised a Put Me in the Zoo Day!

It was a box full of Spots! Coloring Pages. 

We  threw around the spots like Confetti on New Year's Eve.

Played Spotscotch (Hopscotch).

The red one is a Giant Spot where the kids could all sit in the circle

for Spot, Spot, Seuss (Duck, Duck, Goose).

 

When in a cleaning spells, we've almost thrown this out a few times, but just couldn't do it.

Perhaps, I should actually enhance it, paint a better box, more interesting spots, etc.

 

More than anything, I want to create a book like

Put Me in the Zoo.

 

 

So, who is Robert Lopshire, and what is this

Yellow Spotted Guy's name?

 

If anyone looking at this Post knows

Please Comment and let me know.

I'll keep searching as well.

 

It does seem like Dr. Seuss' alter ego?

 

This stuffed Cat in the Hat is dated from 1979.

A real find at a yard sale for ten cents!

 

The Lopshire Dotted Guy is from Kohl's a few years back.

When I saw him, as Mike Wolfe says, "Had to have it!"

 

The tag from Kohl's says Put Me in the Zoo - Dog.

So, is he a dog?

 

Bear, dog? He's like a Unicorn, a breed all his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Work in Progress

 

 



"I can't look, is he sticking his tongue out at me again?"

 

 

 

"He's just jealous because, of course, we are drawing this book about me."
 

"I'm Not on the Cover?"

 

We do want this work to be great.















"Just a few changes here and there. I'll let you know how it goes."

 

 

Coloring Book or Bust!

BLOG Resolutions

Coloring Book or Bust!

The 2011 New Year's Resolution was to learn technology Against My Will. Well, I did that a bit and found it to be enjoyable. The plan was to prove the Universe of Technology wrong and that we  all could go back to the old ways, go outside and get some fresh air instead of staring at a computer screen. I still get a bit of fresh air, but now I also connect with a bunch of cool folks on Facebook, and all the thousands of my photographs have somewhere to go other than stuffed in a desk drawer.

Speaking of the Desk Drawer, in 2012, the resolution was to post 12 of my children's books (one a month) on this blog. Did that, even though some months got tough closing in on the deadline. Turns out, imposed deadlines are a good motivator.

So what's 2013's Resolution? How about, To Get Something Published! How I'll accomplish this goal, I have no idea. It would take someone to believe it me for sure.

There is the United Publishing House here in Nashville, and I'm hoping to propose my Coloring Book Idea to them. I'm already imaging going to my church and see Four-Year-Olds squealing about my Cat Drawings, coloring them in, and to possibly remember something about the loveliness of Church and Family in a humorous way.

I've been telling people about my little idea and so far there has been a nice response. My Crafting Friend Mary Kovach is In Love with the Idea. Both her and my Library Pal Carlton Miller have offered up possible contacts. Yes, I'll be glad to meet up with anyone who might see the vision.

It seems like Destiny. Growing up in a large family, there was always so much commotion, which could overwhelm me. I'd find a heavenly spot in the sunlight with my Crayolas and Coloring Books until somebody interrupted, Yelling, Where am I? Then, I'd be forced to put it away and play Pinochle or watch tv. There has never been a time that I didn't love to Color.

When my son was little, so he wouldn't make noise at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, I drew these cat images on the envelopes. The top picture would be something like the candles on the podium, and when you flip the flap it became a cat. At first it was Callie, our beautiful Calico who we adored. She's since passed away and we have two new cats who are equally as photogenic, I draw them. They have Flat Faces and Giant Eyes, pure breeds, a Scottish Fold and a British Short Hair.

Our Miss Nancy at our church has St. Bark's in her sermon for the children. I love it, but didn't want to copy with a St. Larks or something, so, I made my Methodist Cats from Algood United Methodist Church.

There is actually and Real Algood United Methodist Church in Tennessee, and I like the expression it makes, as in "It's All Good."

 

Come On Little Happy Book - Let's Find a Publisher!

Preferabley the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville!

Good Luck.

Book Twelve from the Desk Drawer: Life of a Tennis Ball

The sky went from heavy massive black clouds, downpour and wind which made the front of my head throb so bad if I sat up, I'd throw up. This happens when the weather does abrupt change. The good news - I devised an entire picture book while lying there with the back of my hand on my face.

 

The Book:

The Life of a Tennis Ball!

Now that the headache has subsided, out to the drawing board! It makes me giggle.

 

 

 

 

Note: This blog is temporary out of order to add more photographs. But, I'm setting up some time in January to learn more about blogs from the Technician at the Linebaugh Public Library.

 

Also, We'll be adding a Friends of the Linebaugh Blog for the Linebaugh Public Library.

 

Book Eleven from my Desk Drawer: BugOff Kid!

 

 

It was my New Year's Resolution to blog one of my books a month. I'm trying to keep it, especially since it's near the end of the year. But, we have a glitch - the blog isn't allowing me to upload any more photographs, and photographs are what this blog is all about.

 

BugOff Kid!

is the third picture book in the Trilogy: DogGone Kid! and SCat Kid!

 

You can imagine what the poor fellow collects from the neighborhood in

BugOff Kid!

 

 

Also imagine, because you can't actually see it, that these drawings and photographs are

Indeed my Best Work Ever! 

Book Ten From my Desk Drawer: Altered Angels

 

 

 

We all like Scrabble.

Except, when one of us takes over an hour to use a  trumped-up word like Quaz to get triple letter points scoring over 345 at midnight.

 

 

Cold days like these put me in my Studio (the messy garage with a bunch of cool stuff).

 

I found a Children's Book at a yard sale for a quarter.

It's in the shape of an Angel with wings. It spoke these words, 

"This looks just like your sisters and niece, why don't you decoupage their faces

and then paint the rest?"

 

Some faux feathers got attached to the wings.

Added some pictures that describes the person.

In this case, my Sister Joan likes tennis, Wizard of Oz, and scrapbooking her son and rellies.

She also dressed as Miss Liberty recently.

 

That Niece is all about Books, and an old picture of her dad was sitting there, so I added it.

Sister Ruth likes cooking, fashion and reading, a lot.

Her favorite book is The Great Gatsby, so the words come from F. Scott.

Sister Sue was the Best Teacher on the Earth,

likes to dance (she'll snap her fingers and start dancing ANYWHERE!),

and of course loves her daughter, books and Scrabble.

 

 

Then there's me - Love the kid, tennis, art and fun magazines and BOOKS.

 

There you have us.

 

Not perfect, quite crabby, especially if you put up some fake word. Or you add

Almond to Brothers thinking that's a nutty band.

Back in the day (DISCO), we were once Perry's Angels,

but that's another story.