Sunday, January 30, 2011

SUNDAY SHARING - A DIFFERENT WAY

Today is Sunday and it's Sunday Sharing time; a time when I list some of my newest followers (according to Blogger) and send you over to their blogs to check out their work.  But this Sunday is a bit different.




This past week, I received this Stylish Blogger Award from blogger-friend, Margaret (Peggy) Stermer-Cox.  Peggy says this one comes without strings...you don't have to do anything with it but accept it.  Or...you can share it with others.  Well, since it's Sharing Sunday, I'm sharing it.  

So I'd like to thank Peggy for giving this to me.

And I'd like to share it with:

1.  Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson is the creator of Paper Paintings collage works.  This isn't your usual collage on paper stuff.  Elizabeth starts with prepared or bare birchwood and completes a loose and flowing acrylic painting on that for her start.  On top of that underpainting, she layers hundreds of pieces of paper that is torn (never cut), slowly building dimension, flow and beauty.  I've seen some knock-offs of her paper paintings in the years since discovering Elizabeth - they can copy her but they can't capture her individual style.  

Not only is she stylish in her artwork, she has a beautiful, generous style in her life, sharing her work with others in the form of books and DVDs and her blog.  But what makes me want to give her - and only her - this award is this:

Elizabeth has a childhood friend, Cherie.  Cherie was recently in a life-altering accident which left her in the hospital and then rehab for months.  Elizabeth put out the word through her blog, asking that we sent Cherie cards and artwork to cheer her and brighten her room during her long stay in the hospital.  She then gathered together several artists, and created a Blurb book for her friend, Cherie.  She set up a link to a site that allows us to send donations to Cherie and her sister, who is taking care of Cherie and had to revamp her home to accomodate a wheelchair with ramps and lifts and larger doors.  Through Elizabeth, Cherie has been receiving cards and original artwork from people who have come to know her through Elizabeth's blog. 

Cherie's 43rd birthday is February 2.  My card and a small painting is in the mail.  You might want to send her something, too, if you have been following her story and want to say Happy Birthday to her.  It can also be a welcome home as she is now home with her sister, who will be her main caregiver in the coming months.  No more hospitals and rehab centers far from home.  But Cherie has a long way to go.  I know I will meet her in person someday.  But for now, I feel like I know her - and that's because of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson.

Oh, did I mention that Elizabeth trained and ran her first marathon after the age of 40?

Does this woman deserve a stylish award?  You better believe it!

(When I began this post, I was going to award this to several bloggers.  Having chosen Elizabeth first, I see that, truly, she deserves this so much I don't want to dilute it by giving it to others.  I know you'll understand.)

Go visit Elizabeth's blog and read about Cherie and see where you can send her a card or a little bit of bright something to cheer her.  Give that love away and it will return to you ten-fold!!

9 comments:

Carol Blackburn said...

Congratulations Rhonda....:)

Unknown said...

Whoo hoo, Rhonda. You deserve it! Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Hi Rhonda, What a lovely way to share the blog award! I went to Elizabeth's site; her collage work is wonderful!

Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson said...

Rhonda, thank you so much for spreading the word about Cherie and my quest for cards on your blog. It means so much to her to be receiving these notes and hand made cards and art! She has been telling me since two weeks after her accident that the cards are streaming in from all over the WORLD every day. She's really happy about her card collection. When I went to visit her in Atlanta at Shepherd Center for Spinal Cord Rehab, I saw the cards in piles in her room and tacked to her walls! it's amazing the generosity of strangers.

her birthday is Feb. 2, Groundhog day. She embarks on a new life this year. She will be staying with her sister indefinitely as she is still paralyzed from the neck/shoulders down.

I totally appreciate your help in spreading the word and in giving me such an amazing award when I'm sure you have plenty of people to choose from.

Thank you so much also for your compliments of my artwork. I appreciate it.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Carol, Linda, and Peggy :)

Elizabeth, you are very welcome. I'd love to see a stream of cards and things come in for Cherie's birthday.

Gary L. Everest said...

Hi Rhonda,
Congratulations! It's well-deserved.
Sincerely,
Gary.

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Gary :)

Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson said...

Well if your readers are willing, here is the address:
Cherie Stannard
c/o Merrick
515 11th Court
Vero Beach, FL 32962

Thanks so much!

RH Carpenter said...

Thanks, Elizabeth - I hope some send Cherie something :) Spread the compassion and caring around. This world definitely could use it.