So happy Wednesday all my crafty friends!! I didn't get to make it last week, it has been a complete madhouse in the town I live with Covid cases. Our location is in a terrible hotspot and cases have skyrocketed and are off the charts. As I work for the local government, you can imagine that we have been on high alert, and trying to mandate orders has been a nightmare! I don't understand how solid numbers, hospitals full and loved ones sick and or passing doesn't make people stop and think that they need to take extra care, wear their masks and above all stay home!! Unlike our across the pond neighbors, we are not in lockdown here, although maybe we should be, but they still are not supposed to "gather," and folks seem to have the "it won't happen to me" syndrome! Honestly, I will be soooo glad when we can all get back to some semblance of order! I hope it's soon!
So as a part of what's going on over on Julia's Stamping Ground blog, I want to share what I have been working on and what's on my desk! Literally, my mind has been a flurry of creative projects!! I have had a bazillion ideas swarming around and I, of course, want to do them ALLL!! LOL The problem, of course, is that I work full time and there aren't enough hours in the day! Go figure, huh? LOL I tell you though, I have feverishly written all these "amazing" ideas down and I want to try to get to all of them this year! I think that arty ideas are what keep us creative people going. I'm so thankful for my crazy mind! LOL
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| Hopeful dot art palettes! |
I am at the beginning stages of this project that will reveal over a little time due to the fact that it will probably take me ions to do! LOL But I love crosses and have always done some sort of crafting with crosses, so this is just a new project. I have been wanting to drag my dot art painting back out again and wanted to give it a whirl with some crosses. I have seen other folks do crosses before, so it's not "new" as such to the dot painting world, but new to me. So I have just started with base coating these guys. There is a method to the madness. along with just having fun, I am also trying to plan for next Christmas.
I also have some watercolor painting on my craft table. As time has gone on with all my mixed media fun over the years, I really have decided that watercolor is my favorite medium. I still love acrylics and such in mixed media projects, but watercolor truly has my heart. What's so funny about that is that I still consider myself a beginner! But never the less, it really makes me happy to watercolor. This idea was inspired by an artist I have followed for some time over on YouTube, Susanne Rose Art. She had been doing some watercolor on book page and I never thought to do that, so I wanted to give it a whirl! I loved it! Now it's brought up some other ideas to do! LOL It's an evil cycle! LOL
This past weekend and this week has been like Christmas all over again for me!! Yay! I have had happy mail galore. The first picture truly is happy mail from Amy who is the host over on Amy's Art Alchemy, which is the ATC Swap Group that I am involved in. She truly is a treasure and a special person. We connected right away and several levels, but specifically in our spirituality. I've learned that God places people in our lives for His purpose and I believe she is one of them. So this journal was truly a blessing from her and one I will treasure.
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| Happy Mail From Amy's Art Alchemy |
I love rag paper or handmade paper of any kind. I love how it feels and I love doing art on it! I have used Khadi papers before and totally loved it, so when I saw that they make journals I had to have one.....or maybe two....LOL, Of course, I have big plans for them, don't we all when we "just have to have them!" LOL But in all seriousness, I had in my mind to use these for my birds and flowers. We shall see how that goes!! The Pentel Arts Portable Pocket Brush Pen I have seen several arty folks use and I really wanted to try it out with my watercolors and mixed media! It is always hard to find a pen with multiple uses that won't clog when used or bleed when used! Hope this one works out! :)
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| Can't wait to use these guys! |
Lastly, I will share this holy grail package from one of my favorite places, Nippon Kodo! I am an incense fanatic. And not just any incense, Japanese incense. I will only buy Japanese incense because it is the best. When I buy, I usually stock up for six months to a year because where I live, I cannot get the incense I love anywhere under a 200-mile radius!! So it's online all the way! I love the art of incense, the ceremony of incense, the history, and of course the aromatherapy of incense. I so admire the Japanese culture for savoring and continuing their blessed culture! If you haven't tried Japanese incense, you should!
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| My LOVE for incense abounds! |
I hope that you’re managing to stay safe and away from the COVID madness, it’s crazy here too, we’re trying to go out as little as possible. Your watercolours are beautiful, the rose is so lovely. I’m still investigating which tutorials I like best but it’s fun getting the paints out again! Great happy Mail too, hope those pens work out!
ReplyDeleteHugs LLJ 15 xx
There is no such thing as sharing too much! I love a desk visit that is jam-packed with goodies to look at. Love the watercolours and the journal is really special. Stay in, craft away, and stay safe.
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW, with a late start
Mary Anne (1)
I agree with Mary Anne! fab happy mail! I've not got into watercolours, (not really an artist type crafter!) but envy those who can Have a good week and stay safe. Helen #4
ReplyDeleteHi Felicia. Hope you stay safe, as you head out to work each day and meet so many people. Like Jan, I'm limiting my time out away from home. Not allowed to go far anyway, as exercise must be taken straight from the house, and cars only when you shop for food, medicines, safety, or medical reasons. So, despite the fact I live within half an hour of the most glorious mountains which are currently covered in snow... I am not allowed to go visit them:-( Oh well - they'll still be there when this is over. I like your watercolouring. Well done. The roses look great. Have fun with all your new goodies. Enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteTake care. God bless.
Margaret #2
Ooh you have so much going on - your watercolours are beautiful, the single rose is stunning - you are very talented and certainly not a beginner! Khadi papers are wonderful to work with aren't they - I hope you enjoy your new journals.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are managing to stay safe and at home as much as you can - it's such a scary situation but despite being in lock down we are getting our fair share of people who flout the rules unfortunately.
Hope you have a good week,
Diana xx #25
Sadly some people still are not doing the right things either they don't believe what is happening or don't care about themselves or their fellow man. As I have lost my father to Covid and my mother was in hospital for eight weeks I am fully aware of the dangers. They had not been out of the house since february 2020 but had carers coming in who were having problems at the time getting PPI. Neither of them had the symptoms you might expect and my father died three days after going into hospital following a fall which was not related to the virus. We are coping okay but it continues to be difficult for my mum and I just wish that people who don't believe what is happening could see the sadness it brings. But getting back to more happy thoughts you enjoy your your crafting at least we have that to keep our minds off things for a while. Take care and have a lovely creative week, Angela x23x
ReplyDeleteHi Felicia, I share your problem - work full time and not enough crafting hours in the day! But, the pay packet funds the crafting, so I can't complain! Love everything on your blog this week. Where do I start? Has to be the watercolour rose. Just beautiful- I can understand why watercolours are your favourite medium. Enjoy all your happy mail! Thanks for visiting me. I will treasure that compact forever. You sum it up nicely - I feel so wonderfully blessed to have seen my two daughters grow up to become such beautiful, thoughtful, loving mothers themselves. Have a lovely week Felicia and stay safe and well, hugs Heather xx #18
ReplyDeleteOh my your watercolour is super. Looks like you ought to get into Bible Journalling, unless you have already - oops might have added to your list if you haven't. I dabbled in our first lockdown but I'm not really a watercolourist.
ReplyDeleteMy old photos were ones I'd salvaged from my Mother's box of photos on a visit some time ago. I have other photos of my graduation in old sticky backed albums from the time but nothing scrapbooked, so it was nice to revisit. My Dad died back in 1998 so any photo with him is extra precious.
Glad someone giggled about my last page, I'll show it properly next week as I ought to have stuck it by then. My scrapping seems to come in fits and starts these days.
Thanks for the visit BJ#6
It is truly awful that some people are putting others at risk by not following the rules. Love your watercolours. Like you my head is spinning with the projects I have in mind. I added more to my cover today and may have messed it up :( I may bin it and start again. Have a great week Angela #10
ReplyDeleteOh Felicia, don't get me going on about Covid and people who do not believe it is happening. I worry so for those who still have to go to work and mix with people who do not believe this is happening. Where are they coming from? Why can they not see it is not a figment of our imagination. I only go out for medical appointments but when I do I feel like wearing a big cardboard sign saying "I wear My mask to protect YOU, where the heck is Yours to protect ME?"
ReplyDeleteAs for the scenes they see on TV of the doctors and nurses at the end of their tethers, worn out from long and harrowing days. It beggars belief that there are people who do not listen to the warnings.
Told you I should not start ranting. On a much brighter note you have a lovely array of gifts you are truly blessed, and the rose is so pretty.
Stay safe and well - Neet 17 x
I don't understand why some people still don't take Covid seriously either Felicia. Love your watercolouring on the book page and the ATC you have received is beautiful. I work on handmade paper in my journal too, I just give it a coat of transparent gesso before I start and it is great for paint and all sorts of media. That incense looks divine! Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #3
ReplyDeleteA great post Felicia - so much to share with us and thank you for that. Your water colour work is lovely - I have tried to do it over the years but just can't seem to master it. I hope life gets easier for you soon - Covid is becoming a nightmare and doesn't seem to be easing at all. Take care and stay safe. xx Jo
ReplyDeleteIt is strange how people still think this Covid is a joke I wonder how they would feel if they or a loved one got it, Love you watercolours and one day I will do but at the moment my time seems to be taken up knitting but its fun
ReplyDeleteTake care and stay safe,
Lilian B #7
I love your watercolour painting on a printed page, Felicia - it's most effective. You are very gifted. I look forward to seeing your dot art on the crosses, which is something different! Thank you for your visit and your lovely comments on my various doings this week, and most especially for your prayers re my health issues. This means so much to me and I really appreciate it. So far my new Vitamix is behaving perfectly and I'm having a lot of fun with it and experimenting with different things. It's getting used several times a day to great effect - lovely results every time. It really is a Rolls-Royce of a blender! You are right about the kitties - they are so funny! They really do know how to wrap us round their little paws, don't they. The kitty throw is continuing to go well and once I've finished doing all the squares I can concentrate on the kitty themed appliqué pieces. It's going to get a bit harder to hide from my hubby what I am doing at that stage!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated WOYWW and God bless,
Shoshi x #28
I love your watercolour painting on a printed page - I also love the idea of dot art crosses so I look forward to seeing how they turn out. Happy Belated WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless. Caro x (#13)
ReplyDeleteWow ~ I haven't thought about buying incense, but you've intrigued me! I wish I could smell it ahead of time, maybe you can describe the scents someday? Your watercolour looks beautiful, I have a list of "want to take a class on" and watercolouring is on it as well as coloring with pencils. It's good to start large projects way ahead of time, so blessings on creating your crosses for next Christmas. Enjoy the weekend! Love, Karen#30
ReplyDeleteGreat projects! I don't use candles or incense (though so many do) but diffused oils. Hope the covid cases diminish soon!
ReplyDeleteCarol N #29
So much creativiness going on, it takes our mind off the worries doesn't it? We, 'across the pond', are indeed in lockdown (or didn't you refer to the Netherlands?) but a lot of people don't stick to it and don't wear masks or go out and be together... it makes me so angry as my mum is home-bound for almost a year now... but oh, don't let me start. I do hope the vaccins will go fast and help! Sorry for being late with my visit this week (the deskers-list is long and I visit a few per day) Have a great weekend, stay healthy and safe! Love from the Netherlands, Marit #31
ReplyDeleteHI Caro, ah I know that feeling of bursting with ideas and wanting to do them all and the frustration of not enough time in the day. It's a great idea to write them al down so you don't lose them and all I can tell you is that once you do get to retire it's wonderful to finally have the time to play, it's worth waiting for. Your watercolour pieces are beautiful and definitely NOT beginner! I use incense all the time, but I've never tried Japanese - though I have had some which were so awful I couldn't use them they do vary a lot don't they? I will have to see if we can get Japanese incense in the uk. Have a great weekend, hope you're enjoying some time off! Annie C #34
ReplyDeleteHi Caro! Thanks for your visit! Bathtub books - essential! Especially in the winter to get into a lovely hot tub just before bed to warm up to your bones, and to read a good book. You need to make the time, Caro - it's worth it! I can't wait to see your dot painting project finished, I bet it will be beautiful! Have you written all your ideas down? In Bullet Journaling we can have a page called "Brain Dump" where we just write down all out ideas. I still need to make that page! I come up with ideas, then promptly forget them! With all those ideas, your 2021 WOYWW posts should be awesome! As far as lockdowns go, we in Ontario are under another supposedly more rigid lockdown until sometime in February. My DD has to move to her new house on Feb 1st so I'm a bit concerned as she also lives in a hot spot. I also don't understand why people have to fight and complain, it would be much easier for them to just comply and we can get out if this sooner. Have a great week, Lindart #35
ReplyDeleteSo late, sorry! You are blessed Felicia, I believe it’s being returned to you, is all! I’m not sure I understand why your local governments can’t make the decision to lockdown when numbers are spiking like crazy, it’s about political kahunas I think. Just stay safe and don’t lick anyone! I’m loving your enthusiasm for watercolour, I think you and Jan are talking entirely similarly and are both oh so good at it! Well your incense collection is impressive, I must say! Who knew?! I don’t even burn scented candles, my husband can’t tolerate them, they make his chest tight and give him the sneezes! I know I’m missing out, but also, when you buy these things, how do you know you’re going to like them? a oh the stress!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm late too! I haven't got my watercolour paints out for ages. Note to self...get them out! Hope they haven't dryed out! Looking forward to seeing how those crosses turn out! We're in lockdown and not going anywhere...just a quick walk around the village.
ReplyDeleteHappy WOYWW!? Stay Safe!! Keep Crafting! ((Lyn))#21
Sorry I missed this last week, Felicia - I've been off the grid - well, not literally, just not blogging. I hope you manage to keep safe over there - it sounds like you need a lockdown to bring down the infection rates - it's not ideal, but it's necessary because people otherwise just don't keep the rules! Look forward to seeing the results of all your creative plans - your watercolours are absolutely stunning! I like to call myself a beginner too LOL - there's a lot of freedom in that instead of the crippling expectations that you have to create something amazing every time because of your experience. Yep, I'm a beginner 7 years running now LOL! I've never tried incense but it sounds great! I bet your place smells lovely all the time! Stay safe my friend and keep creating! xx
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