Deb Trotter, Cowboy's Sweetheart

~all artwork, including patterns & imagery are © Deb Trotter, Cowboy’s Sweetheart~

My mom’s birthday was last week. I made this special little birthday card to celebrate the kind of woman – and mother – she is.

Shirley (Mom) has been one of the creative forces in my life – as well as someone who taught me to work hard and believe in myself. In short, Mom made me a better artist.

In many ways, Shirley and I are very different.

Shirley has never slipped into a pair of Cowgirl Boots. Never been west of Tennessee until my family moved to Wyoming. Never been crazy ’bout a lot of the things I am: Cowboys & Cowgirls. Buttes & Mesas. Animals – except for dogs (Grandpappy & Daddy used to call ‘em Dawgs).

Unlike me, Shirley detests science fiction and movies that don’t have happy endings. ‘Adventure’ is a foreign (and scary) word. She has no use for anything that she can make – or do – herself. I guess when Mom grew up as the youngest of ten children – on a farm, way back in the hills of North Carolina – she had to learn to be resourceful.

But being creative and determined? That’s where Mom and I join souls. Improvising – being canny and inventive – are the skills Shirley taught me by example.

When I was in grammar school a few of my little friends and I would ‘play’ fairy princess. I wanted a Crown to take to school for recess … I always was a dreamer. And Shirley came up with the perfect solution – a magical Crown constructed from a detergent box, sewn and covered with fabric – and embellished with old buttons, rocks, and a few stray beads. I was the envy of the playground.

When Barbie was new and all the rage, some of my friends had every Barbie/Mattel accessory imaginable. There was no money in our household for frivolous things, but it didn’t matter. I had Shirley. I also had a Barbie dresser made from a Crisco can with lace around the edges, tied up with ribbon. The tin lid made the perfect mirror.

Shirley’s creative solutions continued throughout my life. My sophomore year in high school, we majorettes were dying for new uniforms to ’supplement’ the traditional (as in army, brass-button-inspired) jackets and skirts. Our head majorette came back from baton school with some great ideas, and mom was the natural choice to construct our new look. In the end, not only did we have beautiful Carolina blue and white suede, one-piece uniforms – we had white, maribou covered hats with huge, blue ostrich plumes. We were the envy of every band in the district. Shirley rocked!

Shirley would insist (and when she insists, you listen) that she isn’t artistic. She’s merely practical. She simply did (and does) what she taught herself to do … because she had to. But don’t let her fool you. Mom has a natural knack for color, design, and creativity. She never thought of herself as an Artist. But she is.

Having ‘learned’ from Shirley and my teaching and coaching mentors … having been nourished and inspired by their support and encouragement … that’s how I became who I am. A passionate artist.

Sometimes I am creative out of necessity. Sometimes I am creative because it’s in my blood. And usually, I stubbornly insist that I will never give up until I have achieved my goal.

I admit it – I am becoming my mother. And I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be.

I celebrate all the Shirleys of the world. You may have your own Shirley.

Happy Birthday, Shirley! I love you.

Deb Trotter ~ Cowboy’s Sweetheart Artist