A "Name Plate" For a Very Special Young Man

Hi Folks!

I wanted to show you the name plate I created for a very special young man named Brian.  Brian is almost three years old now, but when he first made his appearance in this world, no one was entirely certain he would survive.  Brian was almost three months early!!  He stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for the first couple of months of his life, and has been steadily growing ever since!!  As I said, Brian is about to turn three and his Mom, Crissy (whom I work with), wanted something special for him.  What's really cool, not to mention extremely flattering, is that she chose me to create that "special something"!!  We collaborated together on the colors and style because Crissy wanted something that wasn't too "babyish", something that would grow with him as he grew up.  And here it is!

As luck would have it, I already had the frame (which my daughter Laura gave me when she moved into her first house from an apartment! See Laura, I told you I'd use it for something!).  Next came the alphabet - in primary colors that young men usually like!  For the background, I chose a brown ticking stripe, a scrap I already had on hand that coordinated beautifully with the frame and matting!  But something wasn't quite right.  Then I thought of some buttons I'd had forever.  They were a green-brown khaki color, which I loved, but they never seemed right for anything.  But I just held onto them and voila'.....here they are, with cream linen thread, coordinating with just the right amount of contrast!!  Here's a close-up view:

And now - for the very special young man himself.................................

May I present to you Mr. Brian Patterson!

Isn't he handsome!!?? And in a very few weeks, Crissi is expected to deliver again - this time a little girl !  I think I'd better start thinking of something in pink!! 
Many, many thanks to Crissi for believing in me and for Brian - who makes everyone around him feel happy and blessed!

Bye for now! Jan