I had posted this once before, but am doing so again. I had almost forgotten I had even done the picture. It was done several years ago.
Do you remember this song? Once you hear this song, you never quite forget it. The words stay with you. They did for me.
I had to illustrate what the song was saying to me.
A little girl dancing down the road to her future, not knowing all that lies before her, but dancing anyway.
I hope you like this. :)
I Hope You Dance
The inspiration for this picture (which I did awhile ago) came from a model in a magazine. I loved her pose and it made me feel like she hadn’t a care in the world. I just gave her a bright dress, surrounded her in nature and used a quote that says it all. Just enjoy each day the best that you can. Oh yes, and stop and smell the flowers too! Hope you like this one. :)
Delight In The Day
Here is a quote that I illustrated awhile back. I really liked the quote, but wasn’t sure how I was going to illustrate it. I finally decided drawing several children tumbling about and climbing trees and such. After all, that’s what being a kid is all about.
I think in the end it served the quote rather well. And the quote rings true, for whenever I see children at play and being so free, it always makes me smile…and also remember. Enjoy! 
For The Laughter of Children
Okay, this may seem a little unusual. In the ’70′s, I came up with a series of characters called Ped-Heds. I came up with the character while doodling in my high school class one day (go figure). I came up with this goofy looking character that had just a head and a foot and made them into greeting cards, to hopefully sell to a greeting card company (as always). I had the series sent in for copyright protection (officially) and then started sending them out to various card companies. As I drew them more and more, they became what you see today. They became cuter and had funny sayings, and it seemed perfect for it’s time. Then one day, I received a contract in the mail from a large New York Company that dealt with alot of work overseas, as well as here in the U.S. They were very interested, but the contract was not drawn up very well. It looked a little shabby. So I took this contract to a lawyer I knew, and had him review it just to be safe.
Needless to say I was very excited. Dreams of me finally reaching my goal in life and doing what I loved and getting paid for it, was unbelievable. I couldn’t wait to sign on the dotted line, but wait…..
The lawyer made recommendations to the contract and things had to be reworded on the contract, or I would not be protected. They could take everything and I would not get a penny if I signed it as is. I was crushed.
The Lawyer sent the recommendations to the company and we waited. They came back by saying the contract was fine the way it was and that there were too many recommendations. I called them hoping beyond hope this could still work. This was all a mistake. But no…
On the phone they told me they thought it over and that they couldn’t do, or wasn’t interested in, the idea any longer, and that was that. Dreams dashed…again. 
I was miserable for a long while, but I had to think that if I had signed that contract, it could have been worse. I tried after that to send them to other companies, but got rejected or was told they looked deformed.
Many years later, I was talking to someone about this whole episode in my life, and this person told me they thought they remembered seeing or hearing of Ped-Heds, but it was not “me” they saw on an interview, or where ever they heard about this. It was someone else. I was furious!
This was before computers were so popular and I never checked it out, but looked everywhere in shops to see if I saw them anywhere. I never did.
I google the word “Ped-Hed” now and don’t see anything. But will anyone out there let me know if you do… and also tell me what you think of this character. I tried putting arms and legs to the character, but I don’t know if it does it any justice. Then I’ll have to change the name!!!
Anyway, world…this is a “Ped-Hed”©, and even though I am no longer Cheryl Riley, I am now Cheryl McNulty and I am the creator!!!!
The End
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" Ped-Hed
"I was just lying here thinking of you." Ped-Hed
"Friends are for sharing the best of times!"
Hello! This is an illustration I did awhile ago. I really like the quote and I love the look of needle point throughout the picture. I also believe the quote to be true. Alas, you don’t really see a lot of children sewing nowadays, let alone sewing a sampler. But it’s really nice to think about. Ahhh, the good ol’ days!
A Day Hemmed In Prayer
Do you remember this song? Once you hear this song, you never quite forget it. The words stay with you. They did for me.
I had to illustrate what the song was saying to me.
A little girl dancing down the road to her future, not knowing all that lies before her, but dancing anyway.
I hope you like this. :)
Sorry about the blurriness in the pic. I somehow can’t find the original. I came across a refrigerator magnet I had made with the picture, which was not only small, but also laminated. Hope you can still see it ok.
I Hope You Dance
Here is an illustration that is still in sketch form at the moment. I have been holding on to this for awhile because I am not sure if this is how I want to illustrate this quote from the bible. This is how I picture it in my mind. I figured it would just be kind of neat to show you how a picture starts out in sketch form, and then maybe you can compare it with the finished piece when I am done.
This is from the bible Hebrews 13:2
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: For thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Picture sketch for "Angels Unawares"
This is a quote I live by as I am usually in the kitchen and I like it that way. I feel most comfortable, and less stressed out, when baking or cooking up a meal. When company comes over, I try my best to make them feel at home. Hopefully, I succeed.
In my kitchen, I have country aprons (from Amish country, of course) hanging off hooks, wooden plaques with clever kitchen quotes, various country linens and other assorted country decor scattered throughout the room. To me, it feels very “homey “. It’s me.
I like nothing more than when someone(usually my kid’s friends) walks through my door, and I have something baking. The compliments come quickly and before you know it, shoes come off by the fridge, and there’s conversation and laughter. Now that’s comfort! I think that’s pretty neat.
I want my kids to remember kitchen smells. You know, like a roast or banana bread, or even meatloaf. I remember them, and fondly, too!
When my kids were small, we had a day put aside for just baking together. I wanted them to get the satisfaction of starting with basic ingredients, and know that with a little hard work, you’d end up with this wonderful pie or cake or muffin-whatever. As long as they knew it didn’t just come from a box at Stop and Shop. We had great fun doing it, too!
It’s too easy today to just go and “buy” a box of cookies, a loaf of bread or even a birthday cake. I know it’s necessary sometimes, but I think we miss out on so much when we do this. All the senses are at work when you bake something yourself and when it’s done, “you” get the compliments. It’s much more satisfying. Especially when you see their faces stuffed and something muffled comes out like, “Wow, this is really good, Mrs.
The Kitchen Is The Heart Of The Home
McNulty!”
So, this is the reason for me illustrating this quote- oh, and look-it’s a little girl “baking”! How surprising!!!! :) Enjoy! Cheryl
There are times when you just have to relax, get away and just have some quiet time. Get away from the phones, the pagers and everything else that is constantly in our daily lives every hour of the day. I believe, no matter how much we love the conversations and constant interaction with others, sometimes we just have to break away and just find a quiet place,close our eyes, and enjoy the peacefulness.
Go outside and sit on your deck, or go for a ride and park near a pond, park, or quiet woods. Turn off your car and just sit (no phones allowed). Close your eyes and just listen to nature. The sounds that you were meant to hear, but are blocked out daily by all the technology in our lives today. Wow…birds!!!! Look at that sunset! Are those tree frogs I hear??? It’s amazing. When your mind has time to be free and is able to wander, it’s amazing all the things that come up in your mind that usually you wouldn’t even think of. Dreams you have always had, memories of times when you were young and free, maybe you could foresee a vacation in your future.
There are many times I feel the need to get away and sit by myself away from everyone. In the summer, I do this alot. After I clean up the supper dishes and the dog is all set, everyone seems to go into the living room and watch tv, or go in their rooms and turn the radio on, sit at the computer,etc. I retreat and go onto my back deck, sit on my bench with the soft pillows, lay my head back and listen. I could sit there all night long… listening… watching…and I usually do, until I hear through the screen door someone say, ” Hey,where’s Mom???” That’s usually when they find me, and before I know it, I have company enjoying the quiet with me.
It’s refreshing, especially for the soul. I really believe it helps me to be more creative. It must have something to do with all the “senses” coming into play. I don’t really know, but I know that is good and I know that 
it is necessary.
Anyway, that is what this quote is all about, and I believe it with all my soul. Enjoy. Cheryl
Now here is a quote I illustrated that is definitely about me. You could give me a diamond ring or necklace as a gift and I’d thank you for it, but to me, cubic zirconia would have been just fine. There is no difference in the two for me, except the price. The same thing goes for rubies, emeralds, etc. Just give me colored glass…I don’t care. Don’t get me wrong, I love my engagement ring, but it’s more for what it represents. Maybe that’s how I should look at gifts like this, more for what they represent.
That’s funny…I was just thinking. My house had been broken into and robbed many years back. The thieves made their way into my bedroom and into my jewelry box. Nothing was taken. You know why???? I had nothing but costume jewelry in there:). So funny, they didn’t take a thing! What’s the matter???? Walmart jewelry isn’t good enough for ya!
So, yes, if you came to me on my birthday and I had to choose between the little velvet box in your one hand and the flowers or even better, potted plant (they live longer and I could plant them) in the other, I would take the plant. I don’t know why, it’s just me.
I think my husband is glad about this:). Cheryl
I'd Rather Have Roses
