Pages

Saturday, January 14, 2012

To New Beginnings...

   Am I too late, do you think, to raise a glass, to ring in the New Year? Please excuse me if I'm slightly disheveled and somewhat discombobulated. I know I'm late, but I'm finally here!

   And where exactly is that, you might ask - that is, if you still had any interest at all, after so long an absence; 4 months in fact! You might also ask (if you had noticed and were so inclined); "What's up with your blog?" and " Why did you change the colors?" and "Why did you change the name?"

   Well, it's a tale. You could also think of it as a tail; that seems to be a more accurate description of the accumulated experiences that have attached themselves to me, following me around wherever I go! (I digress. It's one of the perks of having no one to edit your remarks but yourself.)

   Since we last met, albeit (love that word) only internetically (a newly-coined word, soon to go global) I feel as if I've accumulated enough new experiences to put a few kinks and twists in my already-lengthy tale/tail. I won't bore you with the details (only with run-on sentences, self-indulgent use of extraneous vocabulary and frivolous comments) but you can suss it out by scrutinizing the following mysterious word clues!

Underwater (Hint: Not the wet kind. Think Real Estate)
Loss of Habitat (Hint: Some mammals require more square footage...)
Downsizing (I'm pretty sure that's a new-ish word. Might not be in the dictionary, yet. Maybe the Urban one...)
Migration (Hint: Some species move across an entire country, usually following a pattern dictated by the weather, loss of habitat and/or financial duress.)

   So, after a few twists and turns; I have a new home; 2 of my 3 dogs are with me ( a very sad paw-note is that my good old dog didn't make it, but she was going on 16, so...); some of my family is here, others are yet to follow; I've had a long-anticipated re-union with my parents and other loved ones; it's taken me awhile to get my art-butt in gear, but it's coming along with encouragement and support (ya' know, Etsy is a pretty nice community of folks); I'm looking for a job in Early Childhood Education because I love working with kids and need to help support my family; and I'm continuing to write and make art. And friends. :)

   But (you say) that doesn't explain the strange color changes on my blog, does it? Well, just chalk that up to "Artists License". I use that a lot. Mostly when I make mistakes. Let me know what you think of it. Is it too dark? For some reason I like the drama of both pale and bright colors against a dark background. Or does it look cheesy, like a velvet painting?




    Anyway, I hope you'll forgive me my tardiness and welcome me to the party. I brought some new art, just to say "Thanks for listening to my tale/tail" and for sticking with me all the way to the end!

   I hope you don't mind if the glass I raise is not the proverbial flute of bubbly, but a heavy, ceramic mug, full of piping hot cocoa. It's a bit nippier, here in my new habitat.

5 comments:

Palomasea said...

DEAR SHERYL...Welcome back!!!!
I am so glad to hear that you are doing well and settled in your new home! (I am sorry about your beloved fur baby..and did you have weather damage?)
It really is wonderful to have you back..and your beautiful art..hooray!
Toasting you with some toasty cocoa!!
Hugs,
- Irina :)

Sheryl McClure-Pitler said...

Hi Irina!

It's so good to hear from you!
No actual weather damage - only the financial bad weather that has hit us all. We had to give up our house in California, but the really good news is we found something smaller and "just right" for us in Michigan, not far from where we grew up. It's close to our parents and siblings,who have all been incredibly helpful and supportive in welcoming us home. We feel very fortunate to have weathered our little personal storm, and wish that others journeys will turn out as well.
M-m-m-m-m! Marshmallow topping for everyone!

Cindy D. said...

I brought the Buttershots and Baileys, in case needed, for the cocoa. (Pick one or other other is my suggestion, as I think a mixture of both would foul the concoction irrevocably.) So nice to have you back, and clearly after many adventures, both happy and sad. Perhaps I can even talk you into doing a submission for Illustration Friday. :)

A very interesting Art Nouveau piece, though I'm not sure the photos do it justice! Ah, the bane of trying to get photos right for the web. Arrgh! But there's my very favorite, the purple giraffe in Copics! Hooray! More animals is always good, in my opinion - the nice kind, of course. Welcome back!

Sheryl McClure-Pitler said...

Thanks Cindy!

You were instrumental in getting me back to my blog. I've an inkling your encouragements will soon lead me to Illustration Fridays as well!

I think I'll try the Buttershots...

Gay McKinnon said...

Oooh, what a cool site! Love that giraffe. I;m sorry you had to leave California, but Michigan sounds good. Do join Illustration Friday, it's great fun. (I might even post something for it myself this week if I can find time...) Thanks for visiting and see you again in blogland.