Compendium

2005-09-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

Living on the Texas coast I have witnessed many tropical storms and hurricanes brewing in the Gulf over the years. Some headed our way and my parents would pile us up in the car and head for higher ground. Being a child it was always an adventure.. You could feel the excitement in the air. We didn't worry at all, it was an impromptu trip to grandma's house. We always came home safe and sound.

As an adult in charge of myself and my own 'family' (my husband and two dogs) it was a very different experience.
I had just returned from a trip to Austin and was greeted by the thought that I may have to evacuate in a few days. We spent those days glued to the television trying to decide if we should leave or not. When Rita turned into a devastating category 5 hurricane our minds were made up. Of course we soon learned that we had no choice when a mandatory evacuation was ordered.

I sat frozen by the thought that everything we had worked for would soon be gone. The storm surge prediction was 15 miles north of us. Our house would be under water. I made a list of essentials we would need during our stay out of town and things we may need when we returned if we had no home or electricity. Then came the excruciating decision of what non-essentials to take. Irreplaceable items. Collectible's, photos, sentimental's. There were so many things that just wouldn't fit.

Our family had a plan. My parents, sister and nephew and my husband and I.. Along with all of our pets would evacuate Northwest. We decided not to go too far so we could return quickly. We booked hotel rooms in advance about 100 miles away. We had a caravan of 5 cars. In order to fit all of our belongings and pets we each had to take one. Our evacuation time wasn't until 6pm so we decided to leave early to try and beat some of the traffic. Our route was planned out. We would soon receive a big wake-up call when our route was blocked off and we had to go with the flow.

It was a mass exodus.. People everywhere. Most were calm and courteous, others were driving carelessly. My mother, sister and myself were lucky to escape car accidents. My incident involved someone pulling from the shoulder in front of me and slamming on their brakes.. Which in turn caused me to do the same. The brakes locked up, tires were smoking. It was in this moment that I broke down. I didn't think I could go on. I had held it together through packing and planning and saying goodbye to my home. The stress had finally got to me.

It was only an hour and a half to our hotel however so I held it together as best I could. I should say it usually would be an hour and a half drive. This was no ordinary road trip.

I was driving our standard transmission vehicle. Not expecting it to be such an ordeal I never even thought about my rheumatoid arthritis and knee pain causing any problems. During the 5th hour I soon regretted that decision.

We left home at 3:30 and arrived at our destination at midnight. Eight and a half hours to drive 100 miles. And we were the lucky ones. We had a place to stay. We knew where we were going. Most importantly, we had the fuel to get there.

We brought snacks with us of course, but no real meals. We didn't expect for stores and restaurants 100 miles away to be closed. So we lived off of doritos and reeces pieces for 4 days.

We left for home on Sunday morning. Thankfully we were spared the brunt of the storm. Our home was here and we were safe. Everyone I know has a horror story of their evacuation. Most worse than ours. Some drove for 36 hours with no where to stay when they reached their destination. My aunt and uncle were on the road for 17 hours and made it 30 miles. Running low on fuel they were forced to turn around and go home.

I am so thankful we were spared the worst of Rita's fury and have thought of nothing more than the people to our East who's homes or lives were lost. They bear the true horror stories of this ordeal.

I've been married for 8 years. I own my home. As a child we played road games while running from storms, never truly realizing why we were leaving. I think I grew up just a little bit more.

2005-09-01T13:25:00.000-05:00

I have lived on the Texas Gulf Coast my entire life. Every year we are faced with the threat of a major hurricane. I was just recently in the areas affected by hurricane Katrina and to know that all of those wonderful, beautiful places I visited just a short time ago are now gone is just absolutely heartbreaking. So many lives lost and people displaced... Perhaps knowing that it could just as easily been our area so devestated by this storm makes it that more real. There is only so much I can do, but every tiny bit helps. The people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama will be in my thoughts... Tomorrow is another day, may yours be just a little bit brighter.

Please visit the American Red Cross to make a donation.

Self Portrait Tuesday

2005-08-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

Afternoon walk

2005-08-17T12:29:00.000-05:00

This little guy posed for me for atleast five minutes.. just stared at me and looked around every once in a while. It was an amazing experience to see him so closely.

Summer Storm

2005-07-30T12:45:00.000-05:00

*We heard sirens a few minutes after this strike and read in the paper that a building was struck by lightning and destroyed by the fire. So, very possible that this is the one that did it.

Hope you had a Happy 4th!

2005-07-05T13:31:00.000-05:00

Reflection

2005-06-30T21:29:00.000-05:00

Stationary 2

2005-06-27T23:41:00.000-05:00

Stationary

2005-06-27T22:21:00.000-05:00

Sequel

2005-06-20T18:09:00.000-05:00

I was very excited, yet somewhat reserved, to read this article about the making of a "Dark Crystal" sequel. The original film is absolutely wonderful.. Of course I'm a big fan of Jim Henson and Brian Froud. I usually don't get too excited about sequels, especially of a film I am particularly fond of... They just never seem to measure up. That being said, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it retains it's beauty and magic.

2005-06-20T14:57:00.000-05:00

Just a little illo I did for fun... Gotta keep from getting too stressed out!

Summer 2

2005-06-12T04:07:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday

I'm having problems between programs at the moment, so this isn't finished.. but I figured I'd post it anyway!

Summer is here

2005-06-11T00:41:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday

This is an illo I did for fun a few weeks ago... so a bit of a cheat this week :)

Digital

2005-06-06T21:17:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday Submission

I've been really busy lately, but wanted to post something for IF.. so here is a quicky.

More fun

2005-06-03T03:01:00.000-05:00

Still Coming Soon!

2005-06-02T00:19:00.000-05:00

Two of many T-shirt designs I'm working on.
Copyright 2005 Charlotte Sterling

Lazy days

2005-05-30T01:55:00.000-05:00

simple

2005-05-27T02:12:00.000-05:00

Friends

2005-05-25T14:43:00.000-05:00

Logo

2005-05-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

Final Logo for the website... It will be up and running soon!

Mini Vacation!

2005-05-20T21:55:00.000-05:00

I was invited to take a spur of the moment road trip to Florida this past week and it was marvelous! I have much work to do now having been gone for a week! Hope you enjoy the photos! You can see more Here

Notecards

2005-05-16T02:59:00.000-05:00

Love

2005-05-15T17:58:00.000-05:00

Imagination

2005-05-15T02:32:00.000-05:00

Green

2005-05-14T21:03:00.000-05:00

2005-05-13T21:58:00.000-05:00

Available soon on postcards, greeting cards, t-shirts and other fun items!

Illustration Friday

2005-05-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

Nourishment

*Click image for better view

Coming Soon

2005-05-13T03:01:00.000-05:00

Set of four Funky Bird notecards and postcards available for sale soon at Sketch Compendium

Each card has one design in each color

Logo

2005-05-10T16:20:00.000-05:00

I'm in the process of starting a website at www.sketchcompendium.com .. let me know what you think of this logo. I may just use this for promotional items such as stickers, notecards, etc..

*Click image for larger view

They Have Arrived!

2005-05-09T19:55:00.000-05:00

I have received all of these wonderful postcards from 10 very creative people! They are all so lovely! Very inspiring! Check them out!

Thanks to Myra for organizing the
Postcard Swap

Kitty's Journal

Timanna

Janet Wallace

Maria

Jessica Burridge

Holly Hatam

Helena Tay's Blog
Helena Tay Website

Hannah

Aya Duafe

Ana Maria

Happy Mother's Day!

2005-05-08T02:02:00.000-05:00

I made this for a mother's day card.. I think we all feel like this at some point, kids or no kids!

I've been tagged!

2005-05-04T12:46:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Defect for this meme.. here goes!

You must select at least three of them. You may add more if you like. Of the three you selected, you are to finish each phrase with what you would do as a member of that profession. Then pass it on to three other bloggers.

Here's the list: If I could be a scientist... If I could be a farmer...If I could be a musician... If I could be a doctor...If I could be a painter... If I could be a gardener...If I could be a missionary... If I could be a chef...If I could be an architect... If I could be a linguist...If I could be a psychologist... If I could be a librarian...If I could be an athlete... If I could be a lawyer...If I could be an innkeeper... If I could be a professor...If I could be a writer... If I could be a backup dancer...If I could be a llama-rider... If I could be a bonnie pirate...If I could be a midget stripper... If I could be a proctologist...If I could be a TV-Chat Show host... If I could be an actor...If I could be a judge... If I could be a Jedi...If I could be a mob boss... If I could be a backup singer …If I could be a CEO... If I could be a movie reviewer …If I could be a filmmaker... If I could be a sherpa...If I could be a ninja... If I could be a cab driver..

And my answers are:

If I could be a Scientist... I would invent a machine to control the weather and I would never again have to water my plants. Oh, and I would cure diseases and stuff.
I mean, that's a given right?

If I could be a Backup Singer... I would scare little children with my horrible singing voice.

If I could be a Jedi... I would totally kick ass.

If I could be a Mob Boss... (See: Jedi)

If I could be a Ninja... (See: Jedi and Mob Boss)

Okay, I'm done. Now I just have to tag 3 people. Hmm.. Do I know that many people? Ha! I'll have to think about it...

Ambition

2005-05-03T02:11:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday Submission
Ambition: An eager or strong desire to achieve something

A little later than usual.. so just a quicky :)

Postcard swap

2005-05-03T01:12:00.000-05:00

My design for the postcard swap.
It was so much fun and I've just started to receive my cards, very exciting!

Postcard

2005-04-29T01:57:00.000-05:00

A simple design I did for a postcard.

Soft

2005-04-28T18:56:00.000-05:00

Photo Friday Submission

Daring

2005-04-25T12:37:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday

I had to cheat this week and use an illo done previously. If time allows I will post a new one.

Rest

2005-04-20T18:08:00.000-05:00

Photo Friday

My lazy, lazy dogs...

Chameleon

2005-04-14T16:16:00.000-05:00

What a simple line can make...

Mine!

2005-04-11T22:32:00.000-05:00

This wasn't done for anything in particular.. other than for practice perhaps ;)

(not sure why they look so blurry..)

Alone

2005-04-09T18:08:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday Submission
(click picture for larger view)
We're never truly alone...

Please, feel free to comment!

Partial Solar Eclipse

2005-04-08T14:20:00.000-05:00

Follow this link for information on the eclipse, as well as safe ways to view it.

My stroll around the yard...

2005-04-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

To see more photos please click here

2005-04-07T21:38:00.000-05:00

2005-04-07T21:37:00.000-05:00

Travel

2005-04-06T21:43:00.000-05:00

Illustration Friday

Animals

2005-04-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

These were for a possible client. Click each one for a more detailed look.

Final Baby Shower Invite

2005-03-30T18:18:00.000-06:00

She decided to go with a variation of an illo I had done previously. To view it click Here

Crowded

2005-03-28T02:22:00.000-06:00

Illustration Friday Submission

Yet Another

2005-03-24T16:25:00.000-06:00

I figured I would come up with a few to choose from.. They still need a little work. I do not like the font on this one at all. Let me know which one you prefer, if any!

Shower Invite

2005-03-24T03:58:00.000-06:00

These are both rough drafts of a possible invitation...

Invitation

2005-03-24T02:39:00.000-06:00

Potential Baby Shower Invite

Tree Frogs

2005-03-23T21:33:00.000-06:00

Bloom

2005-03-21T05:32:00.000-06:00

I was very happy with this weeks theme.. I've been looking forward to the bright colors of Spring all winter! Please, leave comments!

*Revised Version*
I wasn't too happy with some of the colors, so played around a bit. Probably not very noticeable, but it was driving me insane:)

Harley

2005-03-20T08:19:00.000-06:00

Very quick sketch using Illustrator.

Turtle

2005-03-18T13:26:00.000-06:00

Monkey

2005-03-18T12:58:00.000-06:00

This was a practice piece. The second I ever did using Illustrator.

Fragile

2005-03-18T12:50:00.000-06:00

Illustration Friday

Too much time..

2005-03-18T02:29:00.000-06:00

Youth

2005-03-18T02:18:00.000-06:00

My wonderful nephew. Created using Illustrator.