365 days of drawing ~ day one hundred nineteen

Trying to get a little shading started.  Worked on D's brain more, well covering it up with his hair anyway (Devany and E would understand).  Fixed up E and D's lips and before I knew it, my little ones were waking from their naps.

I was thinking of all the mamas today that lost their precious babies as well, I was in the room with quite a few at the book signing for To Linger on Hot Coals in downtown Lancaster.  This was the place I was able to meet Violets mother, Devany for the first time in person.  Devany was one of the book contributors and I attended to listen to her poetry and support her.  It was held at Mulberry Art Studios and the women book contributors read their poetry.  It was very moving and a wonderful expression of feeling and grief.  There was a beautiful display of candles.  Each candle was lovingly marked with the name of a child very much missed and loved.  I was able to linger over them and say silent prayers for them and their families.  I stood near the table of strong women and watched as they signed books, gave hugs and quietly shared with other mothers.  It was there that I learned of the Sweet Pea Project.  The Sweet Pea Project was created by Stephanie Cole after the death of her daughter Madeline, as a way to honor her memory and reach out to other bereaved parents.  The Sweet Pea Project offers comfort, support and gentle guidance to families who have experienced the death of a baby.

I am so grateful there is a community of mamas out there to support other mamas during a time of grief, loss and sadness.  I imagine it could swallow you whole if you let it.  No one is immune to the loss of a child.

Ocean Beach Spirit Cleansing Ceremony for Houd

Update from Jen:


Today is a day for PEACE. I had an Ocean Beach Spirit Cleansing Ceremony for Houd (short for Houdini) The blue silk material contains the ashes of his dear soul. The saltwater symbolizes the purity of the being, feathers symbolize flying free and returning as the soul he wishes to be, the shells to symbolize the leaving of one body to find the next, and the driftwood a symbol of moving from one place to another. The sand is the medium that glass is made from and that the ash will become a living part of.

Glass is a material that is a unique one.  It's both a solid and a liquid at the same time.  Even in it's hard (bead) state, the molecules are always slowly in motion.  Which takes the inert ashes back into a moving state, which I feel keeps the souls happy and knowing they are cared for instead of left alone for eternity.

Circle

Houd

Excited for the next step!  I love seeing an artist at work and one that cares so deeply for our loved ones.  Jen truly is a unique person with beautiful handcrafted glass.


Read about the Houd's Send Off

See photos about cremation ash glass memorial bead creation here

Houds Send Off

Houd

I am so very excited to tell you alllllll about my friend Jen and her beautiful glass blowing skills!!  She will be making me a glass cremation memorial bead for my dreadlocks of none other than my dear friend Houd's ashes.  I obtained a small amount (less than a 1/4 teaspoonful) from his mother and shipped them off to Jen.  I will be posting her words and photos she provides me of her process.  I am so happy to be sharing all this with you and her shop, Pacific Northwest Glassblowing.

Months ago when I happened to see a post on Facebook about somebody elses memorial bead, I was immensely curious.  I was not quite sure I had ever heard of such a thing, nor did I know it was possible.  Well, why not?  So I inquired.

Ashes, double bagged and ready for send off

In Jen's words:

I'm blowing a cremation glass ash memorial dread bead in honor of this fallen life and in honor of his eternal soul finding peace. 


Read about the next step: Ocean Beach Spirit Cleansing Ceremony

365 days of drawing ~ day one hundred eighteen

I decided to draw Violet when I saw a FaceBook status on Still Playing Schools page.  I was immediately hit with sadness for a child who would never grow up and a mother that lost a child.  I myself have not experienced the loss of a child and the sadness must be overwhelming to say the least.  I knew Violet would be one of my portraits.  After contacting her mother Devany and explaining what I would like to do, she challenged me.  She asked if there was any way to draw a picture of all three children together.  She explained that she did not have a photo of all three since her little boy D is a rainbow baby.

The best definition I have found describing a rainbow baby:
Babies born to families after the loss of a child are referred to as "Rainbow Babies." The idea is that the baby is like a rainbow after a storm. "Rainbow Babies" is the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it doesn't mean the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and clouds. Storm clouds may still hover but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy and hope.

Correct me if I am wrong but that is a wonderful definition.  So I took on her challenge and she provided me with a beautiful picture of E (beautiful little lady on the right) and D (handsome little man on the left) and I used her existing photo of Violet, photoshopped V into the photo to suit everyone and shazaam!  I now have a "real" photo to draw from.  As some of you may know and some of you may not know, I am best at drawing when I have a photo to draw from, I do use a grid method in the beginning to ensure that all subjects are as accurate as possible.  Once I can no longer see the grid or I layout the drawing in entirety, then I draw with my eye.  There are times that I will turn the drawing and the photo upside down and draw in that manner.  I do that so I draw what my eye sees and not what my mind thinks it sees.  If that makes sense.

So this portrait is special in many ways.  The most important thing about this portrait is that it will give a family a special gift that no photographer can ever give them - a portrait of their three beautiful babies.  It feels so wonderful to use my talent to help others.  The original hand drawn portrait will be gifted to Devany and her family for just being so special, loving their babies, remembering Violet and reminding all of us that children are a blessing.

365 days of drawing ~ day one hundred seventeen

Getting everything laid out and a foundation started.  Such beautiful blessings.  Sometimes the most meaningful gift we can give others is a piece of ourselves.

365 days of drawing ~ day one hundred sixteen

It's official, the LeDrew crew is next.  I get to draw all these beautiful children!  Everything fell into place for me to be able to draw this portrait.  Both older children cooperated with their mama to get me a photo that I could draw in their sister Violet for a sibling portrait.   Violet passed away due to a heart defect related to being diagnosed with a chromosome abnormality called Trisomy 13 after two and a half days of life.  Her mama blogs at Still Playing School, a blog about playing and learning activities for children.  That is where I met her.  I am so glad to be able to gift this mama a drawing of all her little hearts.

365 days of drawing ~ day one hundred fifteen

Didn't get much time in, only about 40 minutes.  I am feeling that I should be drawing Violet with her brother and sister, not my Nan and Pap right now.  It is a pretty strong feeling.  I feel like this one can wait.  We will see what happens.  Every day Violet is in my thoughts.  I may need to disconnect from this portrait and put another before my own needs.  I know my Nan and Pap would understand and probably tell me to work on Violet first.