Racing (Slowly) Toward the Finish Line

When the weather is stormy, I am happy to stay indoors and paint or write, but give me a perfect day (like today), and I long to be walking along the cove in search of mermaid's tears. I am thankful to be working in the peace and beauty of our little island. Today when I read my morning poems, I found this bit of rhyme from an old Rachel Field book called Taxis and Toadstools.

If Once You Have Slept on an Island

If once you have slept on an island
You'll never be quite the same;
You may look as you looked the day before
And go by the same old name,

You may bustle about in street and shop;
You may sit at home and sew,
But you'll see blue water and wheeling gulls
Wherever your feet may go.

You may chat with the neighbors of this and that
And close to your fire keep,
But you'll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell
And tides beat through your sleep.

Oh you won't know why, and you can't say how
Such change upon you came,
But–once you have slept on an island
You'll never be quite the same!

I have only about 20 more small spot illustrations to be done and then the package of art work will be sent FedEx to Workman Publishing in New York. Awaiting the arrival of the art is Amy Trombat, the talented, young designer who is laying out the pages.



This book took nearly 2 1/2 years to complete with thousands of hours spent testing, growing, drawing, and photographing along the way, but what a wonderful thing it is to make a living doing something you love. I can sit in my tiny studio on this magical little island and draw faerie foods and houses and a host of other small things that make life so beautiful and magical.



Blessings from our little green island,

Sharon