Lullaby Book-Finished

Hi Guys,
I've been working on this Lullaby Book for quite some time. The better part of a year honestly. It started as a little project for my son so I could sing him the correct lyrics to lullaby's. Then it became much bigger, to me at least. I had thought of getting it professionally printed and bound through several online book printers, but alas, most of them only had templates you could use and didn't allow the size or dimension of my illustrations. After months of trying to get my artwork to fit into their templates I just gave up and printed them out myself, and pasted them in to a scrapbook.  Maybe when I get a bit more patience for all the enormous changes it would require to get it printed, I will. But in the meantime, it serves its original purpose. I now know all the words to the lullaby's I like to sing.

Here are some pictures.

The Lullaby Book cover

I had ten lullaby's in all but only pictured my favorites. I'm very pleased.

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Toora Loora update

So, I've been embarking on this adventure of re-working some lullaby illustrations that I just wasn't happy with. The last one I had left was "Toora Loora."

Here's my most recent one. I changed themes completely. I originally had a landscape of Killarney, where the song mentions, but it seems landscapes aren't always my forte so I chose to do the Snowdrop the unofficial flower of Ireland.

Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here's my first one.

All in all I'm very pleased. Now, to see who could print these out for VERY cheap.

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Rock-a-bye Update

I didn't like my first version of Rock-a-bye baby. And yesterday, all those pictures of cats in cravats got me thinking. Hmn, why not a cat?

So here is my updated version of Rock-a-bye baby. It's modeled on my cat Mr. Moostache.

Here's the first one I did.

I like my most recent one better. Now, next up is the revamp of Toora Loora Loora and I can finally get his printed in book form.

Ruth

ps. Here's the pic of Mr. Moo that I used.

Mr. Moo

Lullaby Book-Brahams Lullaby Update

I have been sitting on the Lullaby book project for awhile. I just wasn't happy with some of the illustrations. I finally got back into it again and re-did Braham's Lullaby.

Here's the new illustration.

Brahams Lullaby Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here was the first one I finished.

I didn't like that one either so I did it again.

Even after adding owls I still wasn't happy. They look kind've cross eyed and strange. I like the third one better definitely.

Well, hope you like it. By the way, I made up these words. The only ones I could find were in German so I made these up on my own and decided to stick with them. There the ones  I sing to my son.

Ruth

Help me critique this...

I have finished all the illustrations for my Lullaby Book but some of them really need work.

Let me show you the ones that are great, in my opinion.

These next ones are the ones that I think need help.

So...HELP me. Give me some constructive criticism about the layout, the copy, the whatever. I'd appreciate it. Somehow these next ones feel meh...lackluster, like they are missing something.

Let me know what YOU think it is..

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Ruth

Toora-Loora-Lullaby Book

Here's the last illustration for the lullaby book. Toora Loora.

I'm not sure what I'll do now that I've finished the illustrations. Maybe I'll have them printed out and bound. Maybe I'll just let it live on my blog. Maybe I'll sell them on Etsy. Who knows.

Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Original Sketch for Toora Loora

Now that I'm finished that free's me up for more self imposed projects!! It looks a little heavy on the left side, maybe I should change the placement of the text. But many of these illustrations need some tweaking until I'm happy with them. Maybe then I'll print them out and finish this Lullaby Book. 

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Brahams Lullaby

Update: So about 30 minutes ago I posted this and decided I hated it. So now, Here's the redo of the first Braham's Lullaby.

Redo of Braham's Lullaby. 

Is it just me or is the Mother Owl looking at me crosseyed?

Here's the newest illustration for my Lullaby book--Brahams Lullaby.

Now, I made up all these lyrics because the ones I found online were either in German, or were too strange. I made up lyrics to the song years ago when I realized I knew none of them. But, instead of replacing the ones in my book with the proper lyrics, I decided to use the ones I sing to my Son. It's my book, and I get to be editor so there you are.

Braham's Lullaby with lyrics and Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here's my original sketch.

Phoning it in

Honestly, I think I hate it. I must have phoned in the original sketch because this one was easy to do and not at all satisfying. I'm going to re-do it. I'm thinking a mama Owl and a baby owlet in a tree with stars and the moon in the back. Man, I am really into birds. I behind the trends. If I was really on trend I would be doing mustaches. Although that trend has peaked too. 

Oh well. I'm stuck in old trend land. 

Ruthie

Lullaby Book-Sweet Chariot

Here's another illustration for my lullaby book.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot


I didn't always think of this song as a lullaby, but more of spiritual hymn. But, I had looked for lullaby's on the internet and one person mentioned it. It seemed soothing and appropriate and I always like it. So now it's in my little list of lullaby's.

I know the song mentions angels and not Pegasus', but hey, I got a chariot in there, and who's gonna pull in a sky chariot other than a Pegasus? Think about it? Eight flying reindeer? I'd prefer a Pegasus.

Here's Swing Low Sweet Chariot:

Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

By saving this illustration to be viewed quickly on the web I had to save it as a lower quality, which is why the comet is dithered. I will post a jpeg, but it will load slow. Scroll down to see my original sketch.

Original Sketch

Slower to load but better quality (I hope)

So, that's the most recent illustration for my Lullaby book, a book I'm making for my son, and my nieces and nephews, (and for myself) so we can sing together and hopefully, remember these lullaby's.

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Rock-a-bye Baby

Here's the newest illustration for my Lullaby Book.

"Rock-a-bye Baby"

"Rock-a-bye baby" Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Here's the finished version of Rock-a-bye Baby. I'm not sure I love it yet. I feel like more needs to be done. But that's how I feel about most of my projects. Also, that little cradle just looks wrong. I need to tweak it some.

Original Sketch.

So now, I finally, after a week off, did the illustration. I hope you like it. I changed the words some, because one, I don't like the idea of an infant falling from a tree, and two because it's my illustration. I can't find who wrote the dang thing, mostly because I haven't looked enough yet. Maybe they'd be irritated, or not. But the words I showed are the words I sing to my son.

Ruthie

Lullaby Book-Danny Boy

This particular song isn't a lullaby per se, but it is for me especially for my little boy,

Hope you like this illustration. I edited out the last two verses which focus very heavily on death. That and who really needs four verses in a lullaby? I don't so I cut them. I like being my own editor.

Danny boy, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

Original Sketch for Danny Boy

I had a couple hours today where I could do this project. I'm going to be uber busy with a wedding this coming week so I may postpone the next lullaby post until the week after.

Ruth

lullaby Book-Over the Rainbow

The latest installment of the Lullaby Book-Somewhere over the Rainbow.

I hope you like it.

Over the Rainbow, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

 Here's the original sketch. I had tried to color in the flowers individually, but the file became so large it was unwieldy. So, it became just outlines of flowers in the rainbow and it's just as good. I hope.

Original Sketch

I am hoping to get one of these done a week until I finish them all. Not all the lullaby's ever, but all I have on my list. I think I have 5 or 7 more. I feel a bit insane for taking on this project while I have many many other important (to me) projects. So you will have to forgive me if for a couple weeks I go without posting another lullaby illustration. It might take a back seat to the other more deadline oriented things I have going on, like taking classes, or finishing sewing projects. I do really want to finish this project, for Danny. My little guy. So if you see me lagging behind, make sure to comment on it. I like incentive!!

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Hush Little Baby

Update: 6/6/11
Here is the revised version of Hush Little Baby. I think I like this version, where the goat is white and the Mockingbird is grey.

Here is the next installment of the Lullaby Book.
Featuring, "Hush Little Baby".

I never remembered the words to this lullaby, or rather even knew them past the first two verses. I started on this illustration yesterday and hated it immediately. So today in-between dropping of the quilt at the long arm quilters and lunch I finally worked out a sketch I liked, and finished it after putting the little guy to bed.

Here it is. It's much more subdued color wise as opposed to the last one but all the bright colors just weren't working for me.

Hush Little Baby, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

I'm starting to wonder if I should have made the billy-goat white.

Original Sketch

After a very unhappy first draft, I added the rest of the contents of the song: a looking glass, and a cart and bull. I'm happier with the final than with the first. I also perched the billy-goat differently. 

What do ya'll think?

Ruth

Lullaby Book-Lavender's Blue

I posted earlier this week about my lullaby book. It's an endeavor for me to illustrate some lullaby lyrics and put them in a book. I haven't decided how I will bind it yet since I'm still working on the illustrations.

I decided I really didn't like my illustration for "Lavender's Blue" so I've completely changed it.

Hope you like it.

Lavender's Blue, Illustration by Ruth Krueger

I edited some of the lyrics that I really never sing, and also, they were just strange to me. Here's the pic of the original illustration with all the lyrics. I don't feel the need to sing about threshing corn so I'll just stick to dilly dilly, and kings and queens.

Original Illustration for Lavender's Blue

I am so much happier with my most recent illustration. Yes, it looks like something out of a Greeting card, or a Hallmark Plaque, but I really like it. I guess I'm becoming corny. 

Thanks Ruth

Lullaby Book

Here's the next post on my lullaby book.

It's Lavender's Blue. Now, you and I know that lavender is more of a purple than a blue. But the song is old, and most of these lyrics make very little sense to me. I just love this song. There was a music video that Disney Merry Melodies  had made with Burl Ives singing. I never knew the words, just the first verse. So here it is.

Lavender's Blue Illustrated by Ruth Krueger

Original Sketch

To be perfectly honest I'm not sure that I like it. I liked the Blackbird lullaby illustration better. Maybe this will grow on my, or maybe I'll need to rework it. 

Who knows.....

Here's the video that I loved as a child.

Ruth