By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Cramahe Township resident Sharon Ramsay Curtis describes herself as painter, potter, teacher and raconteur.
She is also an author who has just written and illustrated her second children’s book.
Ramsay Curtis taught for almost 40 years, tending more toward nursery school when her children were young because it was easier for family commitments. She also taught kindergarten at times and, when the Hastings County Board of Education brought in junior kindergarten, she began teaching that grade in Trenton for most of the second half of her career.
This was where her second book was inspired, while her first grew out of the art lessons she enjoyed during those years. Knowing of this pastime, her friend Dan Cullen approached her years ago on behalf of his mother – she had written a story, and he was hoping Ramsay Curtis would illustrate it.
A devotee of landscapes and still lifes, she was not inclined to do it. But she was intrigued, and couldn’t help plotting out how she might attack this new challenge.
As she worked her magic, Ramsay Curtis couldn’t help looking at the story with a teacher’s eye. It had a really good plot that would be lovely to tell a little boy as a bedtime story, but suffered badly in the written product with problems like extraneous characters and a story line that did not flow well.
The inevitable happened – she took what she called the nut of a good story and rewrote it in a way that she imagined would appeal to her pupils.
She did deliver the illustrated original to Cullen, however. And though his mother died a few months later, Ramsay Curtis was pleased to hear that she had lived to see her story beautifully illustrated.
Then she went to work on what she considered an improved 2.0 version she calls Edward Covered: The Adventures of a Small Boy and his Teddy Bear, with an acknowledgement of the contribution Cullen’s mother made on the title page (“This story is based on notes and ideas for stories originating in the imagination of Margaret M. Sinclair, 1924-2013”).
The little boy in the title is never given a name or face – unnamed and seen only from behind, she figured he would be more relatable to any little boy to whom the story was lovingly read.
“The nut of the story is, he sees this bear and the bear is magic. It talks to him when no one is around, and they discover the magic of ordinary things, just having ordinary fun playing in the snow, that sort of thing.”
The title comes from the little boy wanting to find clothes for his friend Edward the Bear. His mom comes to the rescue with an old trunk full of his baby clothes, and the little bear becomes Edward Covered (perhaps a subtle point for children, but something that might bring a smile to an adult).
The watercolour illustrations show a fluffy little stuffed bear based on a real teddy bear Ramsay Curtis cherishes. And like her second book, it is dedicated to her grandchildren Max and Bella.
In between the two books, she attempted to educate herself on the craft with a Loyalist College summer course taught by author/illustrator Peggy Collins, offering to help would-be authors tell and illustrate their stories. This happened just in time to help her with Gladiola Groundhog Sleeps In.
This tale came to mind when she connected on Facebook with a former student who remembered her sharing this story with the class – a tale she wrote herself, because she could find so few books on Groundhog Day for her students.
She tapped it out on the school typewriter on Ditto paper, illustrated it with stick figures, coloured them in with Magic Marker and made Gladiola an annual event for her students for 20 years.
The story follows Gladiola on her long winter’s nap that failed to end when her alarm clock – which she had set for half-past January and quarter to February – malfunctioned. Because she never saw her shadow, spring never came. March, April, May and June followed, and even in July it was still snowing.
A few children who lived across the meadow, aching for spring and summer fun, made a map to help track Gladiola down. Fortunately, when they found her, it was a cloudy day – Gladiola failed to see her shadow, and immediately the flowers grew, the leaves popped out, and the birds threw off their scarves and toques.
Thereafter, the children always double-checked Gladiola’s alarm clock when she went into hibernation – there to enjoy pleasant dreams of hot cocoa, pancakes and a reunion with her friends on February 2.
The Loyalist course taught Ramsay Curtis about things like lay-out and appearance, and provided a professional perspective for her work-in-progress. A dear friend took over formatting duties when the In Design program proved a formidable challenge for her.
And because of her teaching background, she inserted an educational-activities section in the back of the book. She enjoyed that part so much that, when she next reissues Edward Covered, she wants to add a similar section that she hopes will inspire children to make their own maps.
And she has been inspired to apply the idea to some degree to the Artful Garden Gallery she runs on County Road 2 just west of Colborne. She has already made up a scavenger-hunt treasure map of the grounds that guides children to a bucket full of “magic wands” that are part of a journey around the grounds that ends with a fairy mail box containing a treasure bag.
While she’d love to welcome more children, however, the gallery has long been a charming spot for all ages.
Ramsay Curtis and her husband Bruce moved to the property some 35 years ago. They opened this business about 10 years ago to welcome people to their beautiful acreage, located at 12006 County Rd. 2 (where people who drive that way regularly will recognize the tree at the end of the driveway with many colourful little birdhouses).
Odd pieces make interesting accents, numerous bird houses and feeders attract feathered friends, and the pond located between driveway and house echoes with the croaks and twangs of the frogs who co-exist in the reedy waters with the goldfish.
And in the gallery itself, located inside the home, Ramsay Curtis’s artwork is on display, along with an adorable stuffed bear in a chair. This is Edward, and he sits there proudly displaying his very own story.
In the hall outside the gallery, prints of the artwork for Edward are for sale, with another stuffed bear sitting nearby. This is Edward’s sister Charlotte, Ramsay Curtis said, and she thinks maybe Charlotte might have her own story to tell.
She is looking forward to getting a stuffed groundhog so she can have a Gladiola to welcome visitors as well.
Her Gladiola book arrived March 4, which its author took as a wonderful omen – after all, isn’t March 4 the only day of the year that is also a command to move forward? She was also looking forward to a fresh round of school appearances to share Gladiola’s story as she had loved sharing Edward’s.
Then the pandemic was declared, and the books have been on the shelf ever since.
When things are better, Ramsay Curtis looks forward to welcoming visitors back to the Artful Garden Gallery, with visits arranged by appointment (905-355-3257). And she’s looking forward to launching her free Treasure Map and Magic Wand project.
Meanwhile, you can get a sneak peek at what’s in store by visiting the website she has just launched at theartfulgardengallery.com.
And to purchase either book (or both), call 905-355-3257.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
