A Girl and her Doll

The late afternoon sun is casting long warm shadows through the window.

"A Girl and her Doll", watercolor on paper, 8x10, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

The child sits in a moment of rare quiet and stillness.  Tenderly holding her favorite doll.

Whispering quiet secrets to the doll… her baby, her best friend, sister, confidant ... Changeable at a moments notice.  But, always steadfast and sweet.

The secrets will forever be safe with her.

4 Years Gluten Free!

This week I am celebrating my 4 year anniversary!  
FOUR years dedicated to no gluten.  

The improvements keep coming, it continues to get easier, and what I am capable in my life of keeps growing.  
The food we enjoy is fresh, delicious, and abundant.
It is a beautiful thing!


I continue to be very sensitive to cross contamination and even small accidental gluten - but the reactions now are much less severe than in the beginning.  And I am grateful for that.


I am deeply thankful to my daughter for providing my ah ha! moment.  She is a gem and a joy - and eating well gives me the energy and spirit to be the Mom I strive to be, and that she deserves.  Present and pain free.


One of the most profound changes for me is when I removed the gluten - I removed the migraines that had viciously plagued me since I was 12.  Since I was twelve years old I had lived a life of frequent debilitating migraines.  Over 30 years of trying everything under the sun!


Now they are a rare occurrence.


The migraines went from 1 - 4 per week, down to 3 or 4 per year!!  And if I get accidental gluten, it will trigger a migraine.  Without it, I am clear.


So, I am off to enjoy my 4-year mark and joyfully will be able to include red wine and chocolate in my celebration!!

Passion in the History

A lot has been said on following your passion, and creating what you love.  When I think back to school and was studying Fashion Design my absolute favorite course was Fashion History!

 "Retro SwimSuits 1920s", copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

I could not wait to go each week.

I was consumed by it. 

I was so interested that most of what I learned 30 yrs ago is still fresh in my memory. And for each Period we studied we got to create a garment of our own design from that period.  

Illustrated and rendered in watercolor, which is when I learned to adore, and respect, watercolor.  I could have taken this course over and over! 

I am smiling ear to ear while writing this as I remember that time.

 "Flapper's Closet" copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

This kind of project brought me nothing but joy!

So, I am revisiting it now... And am loving every minute of it! 

The research, sketches, inking, painting - and immersing myself in the time period.

"Edwardian Corsets" copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Thinking of the history, the social norms - and restrictions, of the time… and how fashion played a part in all of it.

Total joy creating this art, and truly thankful to be in my present where I am free to live the life I live, and create the art that I love.