Category: Featured Card

Estes Park is a very cool little mountain town kept alive by its proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park.

Estes was a regular fishing destination for my dad and Mom would take us into Estes while Dad was on the river. We’d shop in the souvenir stores and buy taffy at a stop specializing in it. I liked chocolate and butter pecan.

As a young woman, I spent countless weekends up there with my husband because he grew up there. I learned where he cut hayfields nearby. I learned about the shop where he made “artisan” gold-plated aspen leaves for jewelry. I  learned the route of the laundry truck he drove . I learned the bars the locals like and the restaurants the locals avoid. Once, we went dancing at the Stanley. I liked that.

All the images for this collection were chosen carefully. These places have survived floods, economic downturns, and crushing winters when the tourists don’t come to visit. I knew these places as a child and they still are going strong.

My mom bought the first ring I ever had at the corner store.

My first ride up a mountain was in Estes on the Tramway.

The Park Theater was the landmark for our family to meet if we were ever separated.  We never were, but we had a plan.

I still love going to Estes Park.

 

 

I started drawing in 2013 when Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and one of our granddaughters was facing an operation to remove half of her brain after years of debilitating seizures. I coached teachers for a university and a new director sapped the joy I’d always found in the job. I was staying alive in the water.

In the very early mornings, I started doing drawings on leftover pamphlet paper from my teaching days. I wanted the paper to last so I used two inch squares. I drew with a ballpoint pen. I didn’t know what I was doing.

The drawings began as nothing more than lines and shapes. They evolved into images from the places I love.

In the spring of 2016 my mom died, our granddaughter had a much smaller surgery and she and her life improved instantly, and I retired from education after 44 years. I kept drawing though.  My work began to have an intentional style.

A chance conversation led to notecards which led to buying equipment and learning many new skills and creating a company.  It was a wonderful journey.

My first attempt at a real notecard was a very simple image from Puerto Vallarta. We met local friends for drinks at Casa Karma one evening the previous spring. We all moved to the deck when the sun set and I drew the scene the next morning.  Margaritas and good friends and a perfect sunset seemed important to remember.

I used the drawing for my first card. It was a wonderful night.