Friends, family, and fishing.

I'm often asked to donate work for various causes, and one that I always agree to is the CAPS (Child Advocacy & Parenting Services) Annual Auction. This year the mixed media collage I'm contributing was originally done for a friend of mine who had a grand passion for his grandsons. He fondly related tales of fishing trips and spending time with them at the family farm.

A Dickensian Valentine.

Here’s a self-mailing card (no envelope necessary, it comes with a round white sticker for closing) featuring original design and illustration to send to someone special.

The front of the card shows Cupid aiming his arrow, and the fold-over closing panel says ‘Happy Valentine’s Day.’ Inside Cupid appears again, and the panel on the right lists some qualities of love: patience, kindness, trust, hope, perseverance. Click on the image to see it enlarged.

The message is a lovely poem by Charles Dickens:

Let nothing pass, for every hand

Must find some work to do,

Lose not a chance to waken love —

Be firm and just and true.

So shall a light that cannot fade

Beam on thee from on high,

And angel voices say to thee —

These things shall never die.

A limited number are available. Let me know in the comments below if you're interested.