thankful

2022 Recap

| terriaw

I went through my photo library from 2022 to find the good moments, and there were a lot considering it was a weird year.

I filled up a lot of sketchbooks and made a lot of art. Looking back through my sketchbook art, I always wish I made more art but I am excited to finally be drawing people! Here’s my top nine according to Instagram:

Here’s some of my own personal favorites, some duplicates with my Instagram friends:

I am so grateful I got to travel to Naples, Florida early in the year for some rest and relaxation and one of my favorite things – beach time. I also got to spend time at the lake house on Lake Michigan in Door County and go on a few adventures close to home. If I had to pick some of my favorite adventures from this past year, I would choose these top nine, and some fun nature photos below that:

My dad unexpectedly passed away this year which was tough so I’m happy to have found some good moments that made me happy. Cheers to 2023!

2021 Recap

| terriaw

I went through my photo library from 2021 to find the good moments, and there were a lot considering it was another tough year.

My first illustrated children’s picture book was published! It was a lot of fun work, drawing and painting the scenes, designing the layout, ordering the books, designing stickers and fun marketing materials and promoting it. I’m already halfway through illustrating our second book.

I filled up a lot of sketchbooks and made a lot of art. If I had to pick just a few of my favorite illustrations from this past year, I would choose these top nine:

3BE55641-674A-4436-8918-0BE23274342E

Looking back through my sketchbook art, I always wish I made more art!

I am so grateful I got to travel to Naples, Florida before the world shutdown. I also got to spend time at my parents’ lake house on Lake Michigan in Door County and go on a few adventures close to home. If I had to pick some of my favorite adventures from this past year, I would choose these top nine:

The year 2021 was another tough year so I’m happy to have found so many good moments that made me happy. Cheers to 2022!

TGIF – Cheers to the Weekend

| terriaw

Yay, it’s Friday! Time to reflect on the past week, and share a new weekend postcard featuring one of my recent photos.

Weekend Postcard1st day of spring

Five highlights from the week:

  • I got to see my niece perform with her show choir. I was blown away over how talented and professional they are. I was so proud when she sang her solo – she killed it! I can’t wait to see the adventures this path takes her.
  • I’m thankful to my husband for his encouragement and pep talks lately. It’s been an adjustment having a day job again 😉
  • After a brief hiatus, I went to two different coffee shops this week for a coffee break and quiet time to brainstorm. It’s one of those things I love to do because the atmosphere is neutral, free of distractions and quiets the mind. I get a little stir–crazy just going to work and home, work and home.
  • I love chopped veggies and hummus, salad bars, Chinese takeout, and pizza delivery during the weeks when I have a lot of freelance design work filling up my time.
  • I am so happy it’s finally Spring! It’s been a long cold winter and I feel like a bear ready to come out of hibernation.  I am ready to spend time outside soaking up blue skies and sunshine, listening to the birds and watching the clouds.

I’m excited to walk around our yard this weekend to look for signs of Spring and see how much clean-up there is waiting for us. I will also be finishing my first licensed art illustration project.

Happy Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Terri

TGIF and The Weekend

| terriaw

Yay, it’s Friday! Time to reflect on and appreciate things that happened over the past week, and share with you a new weekend postcard featuring one of my recent photos.

Weekend Postcard State Street

  • I adore the illustrated letter I received from Paris.
  • I received some other fabulous snail mail this week from friends and family.
  • I love a wonderful new coffee–table book of illustrated maps I got recently.
  • I’m thankful to my sister for listening to me ramble on about a new secret licensed art project I’m working on.
  • I’m thankful for satisfied freelance clients.
  • I am lucky to receive a hand-me-down macro lens and a telephoto lens from my aunt Madelon who doesn’t use her photography equipment anymore.
  • I am happy to have a new desk at work that is bigger, brighter and quieter. Being next to a window always makes a positive difference in my spirit.
  • Getting my order in the mail for my monthly coffee subscription makes me happy.

Weekend Postcard winter in backyard

Our weekend agenda includes as much illustration as possible for above–mentioned secret project, experimenting with my new camera lenses, a car repair, pot roast in the crock pot, and happy hour cocktails. Oh yeah, don’t forget to watch the Oscars on Sunday night.

Happy Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Terri

TGIF – Weekend Exploring

| terriaw

Yay, it’s Friday! Time to reflect on and appreciate things that happened over the past week, and share with you a new weekend postcard featuring one of my recent photos.

Weekend Postcard bunny

  • I’m thankful to my friends at the Genius Bar at the Apple store for taking good care of my computer. My hard drive crashed last weekend so they replaced it with a new one. It was fun rebuilding my computer from scratch. Really. I enjoy doing that.
  • Thank goodness I backup my hard drive regularly. I did lose a few things, which isn’t too bad.
  • It was SO nice to have two warm-ish sunny days earlier this week. I loved the spring teaser.
  • It was a treat to have an afternoon iced coffee on one of those warm-ish days.
  • It’s cool going to business meetings at coffee shops.
  • I’m excited to have three (3!) new illustrated map projects to do at work.
  • It’s always a relief to have a good annual check–up with my arthritis doctor.
  • I am excited for a new freelance project that involves licensed art!

Last weekend we managed to put together a bunch of kitty pictures in a collage frame, but we never made it to one of our favorite restaurants for cocktails and appetizers. And we never managed to get our giant world map framed. So I’m hoping we muster up the energy to do those things this weekend. I might also have to venture to the camera store to  look at some new lenses.

Happy Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Terri

TGIF – Weekend Exploring

| terriaw

I’m continuing my series on being thankful it’s Friday by appreciating things that happened over the past week and highlighting some random observations. I’m also kicking off the weekend by sharing a new weekend postcard, using one of my own photos.

Weekend Exploring Postcard

  • I’m thankful my kitty cat Angel is resting in peace now, even though I miss her dearly.
  • I’m thankful my kitty cat Callie is adjusting to having the house all to herself these days.
  • I’m thankful to everyone who shared their love, sympathy, comfort and pet stories.
  • I’m thankful to my boss for bringing a giant cup of Starbucks coffee to work one day this week to cheer me up.
  • I had a great time birdwatching this week with my friend’s telephoto lens for my camera.
  • I’m thankful to my mom for a box of chocolates for valentine’s day.
  • I’m thankful for great conversations with my sister.
  • I’m thankful to a coworker for sharing a giant cupcake with me for valentine’s day.
  • It was a thrill to see a bunch of my old friends and coworkers from the Apple store. My laptop is being flaky so I’ll get to see them again this weekend for my Genius Bar appointment.

We were house-bound last weekend, so this weekend, we are looking forward to going to one of our favorite restaurants for cocktails and appetizers, getting a whole pile of kitty pictures printed to hang up in a collage frame, and getting our giant world map framed.

Happy Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

Terri

Thankful Friday

| terriaw

TGIF! Did you have a good week? Whether I had a good week or not, I always pause to review the things I’m thankful for.

Weekend Postcard Jan 31

  • I’m thankful for my sister who celebrated her birthday this week.
  • I’m thankful the heat in my hubby’s car is officially fixed and running smoothly.
  • I’m thankful for OPI’s Peru-B-Ruby nail polish. It’s bright cherry color makes me happy.
  • I’m thankful for sunshine. It really boosts my mood, even on cold winter days.
  • I’m thankful for thank you cards in the snail mail.
  • I’m thankful for a great telephone conversation with my Dad this week.
  • I’m thankful for time to workout.
  • I’m thankful for free time to draw and illustrate some of my own ideas outside of work.
  • I’m thankful for dinner out with friends.
  • I’m thankful for monthly girls’ night out.

Hope you had a good week, with a list of things to be thankful for. Enjoy your weekend!

Terri

TGIF – Thankful Friday!

| terriaw

TGIF! My mood and motivation always perk up on Fridays, even if we don’t have specific plans for the weekend.

Weekend Postcard 1.25.14

Here’s my list of things to be thankful for from this past week:

  • This week, I got to do some cool things at work, for which I’m thankful. New brochures, a new newsletter, new maps, a new infographic.
  • I’m thankful for a box of stationery goodies in the mail.
  • I’m thankful the heat in my hubby’s car was working this week.
  • I’m thankful for Vitamin Water as an alternative to soda. Love the energy flavor.
  • I’m thankful for freelance client referrals.
  • I’m thankful for homemade chocolate chip cookies.
  • I’m thankful our cable TV was restored. It was a painful week with just the bare–bones network channels (which I almost never watch).
  • I’m thankful to PBS for airing a really interesting show about J.D. Salinger.
  • I’m thankful to our local grocery store for carrying such a fabulous Greek olive and feta cheese salad.

Hope you have some things to be thankful for this past week. Now go out and explore this weekend!

Terri

TGIF!

| terriaw

Thank Goodness It’s Friday, time to take a moment to appreciate the big things and random small things I’m thankful for from the past week.

complementary cinnamon dolce latte

Here are the things I’m thankful for this week:

  • A grande cinnamon dolce latte, complements of the Barista at Starbucks. Proof that there are still nice people out there!
  • Homemade granola
  • Conversations with my 72-year-old mom can be so rewarding and entertaining at times. Not only is she a wise lady, she cracks me up too.
  • A compliment from the owner of the company where I work
  • The polar vortex moved back where it belongs, over the north pole
  • Alka seltzer cold medicine, which helped get me through this week
  • Naps, which also helped me get through this week
  • A productive week, in spite of being sick
  • Lots of leftover turkey crepes
  • Chocolate snack cake

Hope you had a good week, and enjoy a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Terri