This is so cool! I asked Ellia to do an illustration for me. We swapped earrings for artwork. And my artwork arrived today! I’ve been seeing pictures of it on Ellia’s blog and have been incredibly excited! It is AMAZING! She is the best! I ran out to Michael’s to pick out a frame. Washed the glass, grabbed the hammer and it is on the wall!!!

To be honest, I don’t know what I’m most excited about. First, I have a custom illustration. It is based on one of my favorite pictures of me and Bill. (I hung that picture above the illustration.) And I’m excited that the illustration is us! It captures us, how we look (thankfully, she made me thinner than in real life!), how happy we were at that moment, how much fun we were having. And then it captures something we both love (the Cubs). And I love that I have something handmade by someone I really like and admire.

The detail in the illustration is unbelievable. The Cubs logo on my shirt is about dime sized. Same with the baseball. And Bill’s teeth! The teeth are cut! Bill really likes the background. I know Ellia was struggling with it, but she nailed it!

Have I mentioned that this is unbelievable? Ellia’s pictures are much better than mine. You can see them here, here and here.

She also included some other goodies in the package, which I need to photograph. Ellia is such a cool person! She is incredibly talented. Good things are going to happen to her. I can’t wait to say “I knew her when…” I’m lucky to have her as a friend!!! Thanks, Ellia.