This Too Shall Pass...

Yesterday started out hot, sunny, relaxed, sitting outside

with morning coffee

...Ellie sunbathing in her favorite spot inside...

And then...

(please note that none of these are edited

nor changed to black and white!)...

 The sky went crazy

and the clouds made paintings,

not in color, but only in B&W

This is when I heard,

"Kath, you'd better go inside"...

And this too shall pass

~and it did

and we had a picnic with sunshine

and lemonade

and all was good.

~k

Back...and Forward

 Journal today.

 Added texture first with Golden's Molding Paste...

...and Dylusions spray ink

in Vibrant Turquoise and Squeezed Orange.

...a little bit of washi tape...

and a new cityscape stamp...

with Staz On black ink pad.

And it seems I always go back to my fave

fine point Sharpie marker in black.

It writes on anything and never soaks through.

Can't beat that.

I am SO loving my summer vacation.

I have to pinch myself

because it just feels too right to be true.

♥

I haven't forgotten that there were many days,

weeks, months

when I thought I'd never make it.

For having been born in the winter,

I really am a summer baby...!!

Remember, my dear bloggy friends:

to take some time to do

what you love

even when you are busy working.

It's so easy to forget...

Much love,

~k

Celebrating...

Celebrating...

much.

Best to you,

~k

Learning Watercolors...

I think better in pencil's darks and lights,

so I started with a sketch.

Then I set everything outside on the back deck

as the sun went down and it got cooler out.

This is my new Koi Watercolor set. I hadn't used it yet!

♥

I began with one pink color, varying its strength...

I learned that I really disliked my paintbrush.

Honestly, I'm not even sure what to get...

If you have favorites and tips for me, please tell me!

I added green...

Here's my Tropical inspiration, on the deck:

I know I am not finished with it.

I need more depth, more contrast...

Not sure if I will paint anymore on it,

but maybe I'll use colored pencils or ink...

Hmmm.

The best part was just doing it!

I have been waiting for my summer vacation

so I could focus on learning watercolors a bit.

Not easy,

much to practice and learn

but I needed to just start.

Thank you for looking,

and for any paintbrush pointers..

much appreciated.

~k

Summer of Color: Strawberry Lemonade!

I really extra love Kristin's Ice Cream Inspirations

color palette this week!

♥

I discover something new every week,

and this week I found out how much

I like pink & yellow together!

Very sweet...!

And sideways, below, just in case somebody reads these...!

And here it is in the whole journal page spread

with last week's Baseball Nut ice cream palette:

My hydrangea plants looked like

they might not make it this year,

but nature is amazing

and these are strong and perseverant,

so they came back.

I think the Strawberry Lemonade theme

was their motivation!!

Gee, I don't know about you, but I either need some ice cream

or a glass of pink lemonade!

Cheers!

♥

~k

Planting

 Okay, so clearly Michael did the planting and potting

and I held a camera...

 Sweet Ellie always helps.

Wishing you sunshine and flowers...and if you are on

the opposite side of this big world, having winter,

this is for you!

xo

~k

Sunny Summertime Memories

When you close your eyes and go back...

way back...

to a summertime memory,

where does it take you?

Do it.

Does it make you smile?

I hope so...!

Aah, today is a hot, lazy day

and I also remember

that all winter long,

I waited for this.

Sun on skin.

It's the best.

~k