Our First Visit with Annabelle
We took the train to Washington DC last weekend for our first visit with Annabelle. I used 3 Cachet Linen Watercolor Journals for our multiple visits to London to visit our other grandchildren when they lived there in 2006-2007. I had one more just waiting for a special theme - and I decided that it would be my travel sketchbook for Washington DC and my visits to see Annabelle. When we arrived Friday evening I had just enough energy before bed to sketch a few flowers from the bouquet from her greatgrandfather and the tiniest cutest little pink socks I ever saw..
On Saturday morning I held her on my lap after I finished feeding her, and held my sketchbook up in one hand while sketching her little hands and feet.
The edges of these 7 X 10 pages don't scan very well.
We took her out for fresh air Saturday and visited Eastern Market where I always find something fun to sketch and paint. The tin rooster I saw in the morning was already sold, but there was a ceramic one that worked just fine! And I loved the cute lion face on a batik wallhanging made by another vendor.
On Sunday I sketched her new "lovey," a Jellycat stuffed animal called "Miaow Bella Mocha." This was a gift from her cousin - before anyone knew her name. Now Annabelle has her cat Bella. It is customary in our family to take a picture every month with a specific stuffed animal to see changes in my grandchildren's size and development during the first year. My daughter and other daughter-in-law have been so creative that these are among my favorite pictures of our grandchildren. Bella will be used for those photos with Annabelle.
Comments
So much to see and sketch in the DC area... especially in the spring time. Your work is light and breezy. Looks like you had a lot of fun.
Mark
Posted by: Mark | April 4, 2008 4:26 PM
I just love visiting here and seeing your wonderful watercolor sketches!
Posted by: Ann | April 4, 2008 5:12 PM
Shirley -- these are wonderful! But those of the baby's hands and toys and feet are so darn tender and sweet ... makes me yearn for another grand!!! Wonderful wonderful job! (BTW, we are only another 6 hours south from DC!!!)
Posted by: Lin | April 4, 2008 7:25 PM
Shirley these have to be the cutest pages EVER. so sweet and loving. These will be treasured Forever (especially the page of hands and toes and ears, absolutely adorable and soooo creative.)Have a wonderful time and keep sketching!
Posted by: sandy | April 4, 2008 9:42 PM
lovely sketches...i know you are soo excited over the new granddaughter! have fun with her
Posted by: Margaret Hunt | April 4, 2008 9:56 PM
Love all of these...the collage of hands nd feet is going to become a precious keepsake...how lovely!
Posted by: Margaret Ann | April 4, 2008 11:32 PM
Wonderful sketches - I especially like all those adorable little hands and feet.
Posted by: Casey | April 5, 2008 8:19 AM
Wonderful sketches of the hands and feet! That's a brilliant idea about photographing with a special toy - I've never heard that idea before.
Posted by: Katherine Tyrrell | April 6, 2008 11:13 AM
These sketches are just totally charming and sweet! And congratulations on the new granddaughter, a very happy event!
Posted by: sharon | April 7, 2008 7:41 AM