Fairy Tales - Pink Saturday

A few years ago I was wandering through one of our town's marvelous antique shops.  I have a small collection of old fairytale books, so when I saw this one, I picked it up to leaf through its pages. 

To my great astonishment I knew every story.  I could trace every single illustration by heart.  As I held the book, I began to remember the beloved fairytale book I'd had as a child.  I had literally worn it's pages into nothingness. 

The wonderful thing about this book is I can see from the illustrations how my own style as an artist was forged.  I loved each and every one of those pictures and their beauty imprinted itself upon my mind, even before I could read the stories themselves.  It was as though I journeyed back in time for a moment and saw my world through a child's eyes once more.

Happy Pink Saturday!

Forget Me Nots

This is a page from a wonderful little book given to me by my precious friend Marian, who flew away to heaven some time back. The book is called Friendship's Token.

She writes, Beth, I do hope you enjoy the little book. It was given to my mother long before I arrived on the scene, so it is very old, but it had the sentiment I wanted to share with you. Oh, yes. I agree with you on telling people you love them. When my grandfather died my grandmother said, "Oh, I hope he knew I loved him." So sad. But you do know my love. We are the kind of friends who, at any time or place can say, "and" and go on.

Marian's beautiful book on Friendship was printed by Cupples Lamp; Leon, located in New York. There is no publish date, but the inside is signed, To Maria from Aunty Ford. Marian included an old photograph of her Mother. On the back there is a quaint note, "We have one like it, so thee may keep it."

I often think of Marian and of the tremendous influence she had in my life when who I am now was still forming. What a wonderful woman she was. I will never forget her. I am looking forward to meeting up with my friend in heaven to say, "and" and go on.