Friday, 14 May 2010

Party Animals

 

The following photograph carries a warning: 

STAND BACK!

Distinct possibility that the g'mama

may explode with pride. 

EN GARDE!

 

henry.2010.SAHenry, nearly 6. 

The Gemini part of May and June is a crazy, cork-popping, balloon-bursting, gift-giving, merry-making  humdinger of a time for us.  As a family we have a veritable cacophony of  birthdays.  Two grandboys; both daughters; one husband; one son-in-law; one sister and one niece.  As the only Aquarian, I stand alone but undaunted!

Back to Henry.  It's become a tradition that each year Loulou (his name for me and no, I have no idea why) paints a picture to be used as his party invitation.  His passion for wildlife must be genetic because invariably the request is for an animal of some description. 

Since birthdays are for sharing, I thought that those of you who have littlies and/or smallish grands may like one - or all - of these paintings to use for party invitations or just simply as greeting cards.  All you need to do is pick the ones you like, email me and I'll send you a high resolution jpg for a good photo-quality print which you can then use as you wish.  Here you go:

henry.2nd Over the Moon (2nd b.day)

Henry.3rdThe Elephant Boy (3rd b.day)

henry.4thInto The Wild (4th b.day) 

hippoHenry's Hippo (5th b.day) 

henry.5(add name/occasion to fat tum) 

cheetah.fini 001The Cheetah Chase (6th b.day)

 

From Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verse

As from the house your mother sees
You playing round the garden trees,
So you may see, if you will look
Through the windows of this book,
Another child, far, far ways,
And in another garden, plays.
But do not think you can at all,
By knocking on the window, call
That child to hear you. He intent
Is all on his play-business bent.
He does not hear; he will not look,
Nor yet be lured out of this book.
For, long ago, truth to say,
He has grown up and gone away,
And it is but a child of air
That lingers in the garden there.

Oh, and do remember, a grownup is just a child with layers on!

 

 

25 comments:

San said...

Oh, these "party animals" are simply beautiful. So fanciful and what a remembrance for the little ones--they will treasure these for years to come.

I believe that Henry should carry a warning on his person: HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE. What a sweetheart.

WrightStuff said...

What delightful invitations for him to treasure forever! I still own a RL Stevenson book of poetry that I had as a child and remember that one so well. I'm introducing it to my son now.

pink dogwood said...

omg Tessa - I want all of them to print and hang in my favorite reading corner to admire and get inspired from.

you are the coolest grandma ever!!!

Linda Sue said...

Such a loaded wonderful beautiful post! and Henry, nearly six, is gorgeous and all! So love the elephant- I may try to felt that someday as a wall hanging. Beautiful!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Those are all beautiful Tessa and my grandson (just four) would love all or any of them. May just have to take you up on this!
And Henry is gorgeous.

Rosaria Williams said...

Stunning! What great remembrances these are. I'm now jealous! (Though, as an aquarian myself I hardly ever get jealous.)

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Henry. What a doll.

I adore your birthday paintings, especially the elephant. All elephants should have their trunks up you know!

Ces Adorio said...

Some Gemini he is! Of course you know by now that Gemini's are the most wonderful people in the whole wide world! YEAH! Happy birthday to the handsome young Gemini!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Delightful post.
Beautiful boy.
Fanciful paintings.
Proud LouLou!

I would love to receive the elephant piece.

bonnie.zieman@gmail.com

Thank you.

Lori ann said...

Oh Tessa, i don't know how you haven't exploded already. Henry is the most gorgeous nearly 6 year old in the world.
What a beautiful tradition you've made for him. Incredible.
I can't choose, oh, well, i love the hippo, but then the giraffe and henry taking off towards kili is fantastic, but the newest with him atop duma! oh but i say "over the moon" to my own babies and gbabies too!

i love this post. you've even included my favorite R.L.S. ♥

Happy Birthday Henry!
♥ gma lori

p.s. Ces is right, i am gemini too ;)

Natalie said...

Henry is an artwork himself. What a beautiful child.
Two of my babies are born on 25th May, so I love Geminis too!
May I please have a pic of the beautiful giraffe?
natsyj@gmail.com
Thankyou, Tessa. ♥

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful little tradition and as expected the paintings are a delight. Enjoy all the celebrations.

Elizabeth said...

Well, I have to admit that your Henry is almost as handsome and amazing as our Henry!
And such birthday cards --ones to treasure for ever.
Isn't grandparenthood such pure and unadulterated love --maybe a bit selfish in that one is thrilled to have replicated oneself miraculously.....?
I really look forward to reading to our H. though he is a little on the small side right now.....

JuneMoonToon said...

Too cute, the title! Tessa, Henry is beautiful. And your paintings are wonderful, I wish the whole world could see them -I would love to see them in a children's book or something so more people could love them. I didn't know those were birthday paintings, I have prints of several of them and would love to have high resolution jpgs. Thank you so much for your generosity. (and for being you.)
juniper44@gmail.com

Polly said...

The pictures are gorgeous! I know the first one very well.

I'm Gemini too, birthday in two weeks. Gemini rule!

Winston Riley said...

Tess--do you mind that nickname?

Your art is very moving and your offer is so kind and sweet. Tell us how we can be of service to you my dear. You have won us over (us being me and everyone else with eyes, I'm sure).

Hugs, Dub

Val said...

these are gorgeous! and Henry looks like he could steal some hearts xxx

adrienne trafford said...

o he's so beautiful - what a face!!

and the art is wonderful - he's so lucky (am feeling a little guilty i haven't done this for my own girls- will make sure they don't see this haha!)

Madame DeFarge said...

What wonderful invitations those are and what a great idea.

Val said...

Tessa - may i show these to the children at Matsopane School as examples of art styles? i think they are so cool x

Carol said...

They are beautiful!! I would love a copy of the giraffe...there is just something absolutely wonderful about it!!

Oh, and I wanted to ask you if you sell the originals of your pictures as well as your prints? Could you e-mail me with prices?

Ta :-)

C x

Angela said...

I`m a gemini, too! They fit well with Aquarius, as with libra. Yes, your cards would be a lovely inspiration for the Matsopane kids! And I would love a hippo! My grandson Johann will be five soon, such a lovely age.

Linda Sue said...

I printed out the elephant and the cheetah to try to felt a wall hanging- hope you don't mind- they will most likely look nothing like what you have done, knowing my skill level and the way wool has a mind of its own- thank you so much for the inspiration! Just fabulous and playful and again, that boy is very nearly too perfect for this planet! He will , most certainly, make it a better place to be- at least better visually! YEAH!

Tessa said...

San: You got this particular g'ma strutting proudly...thank you so much for popping by. xx

Hello there WrightStuff, so nice to see you! I think the fact the the RLS book of poetry has been yours since childhood makes it all the more special when introducing it to your son. I'm sure you'll have many, many happy hours sharing those wonderful verses.

Pink Dogwood - I'd love to think that the paintings would inspire you...that is the absolute essence of a picture I think. (They should be with you now..sent via email last week)

Linda Sue - big hugs to you, crazy lady (crazy in the best possible way of course!)

Elizabethm - do hope you had a wonderful time with your grandson and that he enjoyed the paintings. x

Aaah, another Aquarian...I should have guessed since we seem to have so much in common, Lakeviewer! Love of books and art and the great wide world is what we share. (Did you get the book I sent yet?)

Pamela - yes, indeed, an elephant with his/her trunk up is definitely leading the cheers!

Ces, you gorgeous gemini you! Of COURSE geminis are the bestest of the best - as well as being the handsomest, cleverest, funniest,
most talented and most astute of all earthly creatures. Hehehe -most of the time, that is.

Bonnie - you always say the most wonderful things and never fail to bring a smile to my face no matter how grey the day may be. Thank you, thank you. You are one special lady.

Hello fellow Gogo Lori! Grandbabies are rather nice, aren't they. I was never much of an ooogiegooie type person, but now I ooogie and gooie all over them! xx

Natsy me darlin', your giraffe should be in Oz by now - enjoy!

Thank you Rob - you are such an absolute honey bear of a chap. Hugs flapping their way down (or is it up) to the Big Smoke.

Elizabeth, yes! You are absolutely spot on - it must have something to do with the fact that we actually had something to do with them long before they were a twinkle in Mama and Papa's eye! How clever we are.

I've started reading Jane and the Essex Serpent to both Henry and James...a chapter every night before bed when they come up to visit. Huge hit!!! You are genius. xx

Juney Moony Toony - my pleasure. Hope they got through okay?

Polly - you've got it! Geminis definitely rule...especially in this household!

Winston (Dub) - don't mind a bit since it comes from you. Thank you for your superduper offer...I have sent many of my FB your way. Not quite sure how it all works yet, but only because I've not had time to peruse your site properly yet. It is on the agenda, for sure!

Val, careful...nearly bursting here! Yes, dat boy...he got some go' jeans!!

Thanks Adri...pity he's a bit young for your two beauties!

Thank you Madame D. It's such a fun kind of tradition...although I do sometimes silently shriek when H. names the animal he wants because although I love them, I struggle to draw them... :-)

Val: Brilliant idea - they are on their way down South.

Bee said...

You are so clever. How wonderful to make such works of art and to be part of your grandson's birthdays in this way. These pictures have all the colourful exuberance of childhood.

I remember reading from A Child's Garden of Verse when I was a little girl. It was one of my favorite books. You know, I am one of those children that started out old and seems to be growing sillier and more "childish" as the years wear on.

We have all of our birthdays in January -- except for my oldest daughter, who is a Gemini.