finding my way

One step will always lead to another.
You don't realize it till you are there, and then you look back over your shoulder only to notice the path on which you've traveled.

Almost two years to the date, I scanned some of my family cabinet cards, this one being one of my favorites. Yes, the sisters.
I loved everything about this picture, from the freshly ironed cotton dresses they were wearing, to the ribbons in their hair, to the tiny necklaces around their necks. Not to mention their dark stockings and black shoes.
But it was the way they were holding hands that really captured my heart.
I don't remember when it happened, earlier last year, I decided to crop a portion of it.
It was their hands I focused on....holding softly together.
Now I could see the embroidery on the front of one's dress, and the delicate piping around their sleeves and waistband. I adore the crisp pleats and simple tucks. I began using the picture on my return address labels.

Then, I used it last Christmas on the Christmas cards I sent to my art friends.
Next I used it on the front of my class handouts.

It states the way I feel, and the way I strive to teach.
I am convinced that I learn as much from the students in my class, as they do from me.

Fast forward to almost a month ago, while following another blog,
I found my way.
No, not that way....I found it over 20 years ago, praise God!
But, I did find Susie.
I first fell in love with the baby on the header of her Etsy shop. Then, I found out she does custom blog makeovers.
But, she also does beautiful design work.
She helped develop my logo (which I have had made into a beautiful banner~the sign people in town were very impressed), hang tags, and several postcards.
She designed my blog button =)
And, she is a dream to work with.
I would love for you to meet Susie Hibdon, of vintagesusie & wings.
Her design blog is VCB.
One more note of interest about Susie is that she is having a Hundred Friends Give Away,
so you better go see her, as it ends on April 25th.
I will leave you with a quote from her blog, and

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
"For what it's worth, it's never too late, or in my case, ever too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
I could not have said it better.