A Valentine from the Heart of a Child

As I am still residing in the guest quarters at my daughter's house - I walked into the kitchen this morning after they left for work/school, and found a card and a box of candy by the coffee pot waiting for me. Had to share it!! I immediately spotted the hand of Jake, who is almost five years old, both in the selection and in the signing of the card. Laughing out loud first thing in the morning is good for the soul. He will learn so quickly, as did his two cousins, Madeline and Julia, to make the letters properly, and will be deeply offended by anything I do to immortalize his work. I have saved artwork and signatures that M and J did years ago when they, too, made letters backward - Madeline spelled her name "Mabeline," and Julia also turned the "J" around. I still intend to make a set of needlepoint pillow insets with these masterpieces, as their parents will love it. BTW, the name on the bottom is "Seth" - the baby brother in this family. He is still more prone to try to eat the colored markers than to draw with them. Anyway - I absolutely adore children's art, and have put a lot of it for people onto needlepoint canvas - makes wonderful pieces, as much of it is rather Picasso-esque or even like Matisse. I found when my little ones were about that age, that art would soothe the savage beast and keep them quiet and occupied and out of trouble for quite a while. Jake's Uncle Joe (father of Madeline and Julia) would sit under my work table and fight the Battle of the Alamo with full sound effects for an hour or so - in this case, the Mexicans were little stick figures in full uniform, and they were losing the battle. I wish those masterpieces had not been lost in moves. The other two pictures here, I am hoping at some point to have time to paint onto canvas and stitch - his mama would love it, especially as he gets older. Lots of places to study and do decorative effects with fibers and stitches. Fortunately, I have a copy machine that I can use here at home to enlarge these things for tracing onto canvas - but there are print shops who can also do the job. Other possibilities are to print them out, properly sized, onto silk for use in making quilts or pillows - or onto T-shirt transfer sheets. I have also used them to make thank-you notes for their mothers. Speaking of mothers, please notice that "Jennifer" is the first name on this - in this house, she is known as "Mama" and I am now called "Granny." How times do change. I love watching the childrens' interests change from week to week! Note the pirates in full regalia. Sometimes the best part of this is asking them to "tell me about it." A child's powers of observation are rather incredible at times - the details they notice and record on paper. (or on the walls if they can do it without getting caught). I remember it well. Do take a minute to enlarge the picture of the pirate ship and see the lookout on top of the mast! I must get this on canvas soon, as it will be delightful to stitch!!