Monday, September 6, 2021

This and That

 

 

 First of all I want to thank you all for the thoughtful and kind comments regarding my last post about a blog and Instagram friend who passed away. You warmed my heart.

 Let's begin now first with the reason for my absence the other week or so:

 After two years we finally were able to gather with our friends (as we have done for many years now) at one of the couple's beach house!! It was a beautiful week weather-wise thankfully due to the ocean breezes and beach umbrellas because there was a heat wave up and down the East coast with 3 digit heat indexes! 

There were beautiful skies over the bay side at sunset each evening:



 


 and it was a special joy for hubby and I to get our doggy fix with another couple's sweet dog Lucy💓. It was to our benefit that they were unable to secure their usual dog sitter and they were invited to bring her along. She was SO good! I'll share more pics from our vacation in the next weeks.

 And for T Stands For Tuesday I will share the main part of our first dinner all together:


 Of course we had to begin our stay with fresh lobsters! We also had corn on the cob, and what else could we drink but champagne😉Cheers! 
And BTW, the lobsters only went up in price by $1.50 per pound after two years 😁

 And now for the art part. First up I will share this journal page with Try It On Tuesday (theme is "use book pages"):


 I applied a thin coat of gesso to the book paper before drawing the botanical using the stem from Night Gloss Spray. Dina Wakley products  used: stencil, Collage Collective papers, Scribble Sticks. Sentiment is a Tim Holtz Clippings Sticker.
 
 I have another page in the kraft journal and this one is meant for Art Journal Journey with the theme of "vintage" with guest host Wendy this month:


  The left page:


 and the journal spread:

 
 
So excited to share this wonderful giveaway offer I recently won from an artist who links up at Paint Party Friday:




 Such a generous giveaway!! I received a handmade watercolour journal (and let me say that I have never seen such a meticulous and perfectly well made journal such as this one that Soma herself makes🌟). I also received a tin with 6 Van Gogh watercolour pans and a water brush perfect for taking anywhere you go! I made a swatch of the colors for the tin and then just played a bit mixing on a scrap watercolour paper. Please do have a look at Soma's Blog where besides sharing her amazing watercolour art, she also shares her gorgeous photography skills, and has links to her other social media sites and shop. Thank you SO much Soma!!! 

 This couldn't have been a more perfect win since I am playing with my watercolours again for an online course I have finally begun called Ocean Alchemy with Alisa Burke. There are 30 lessons with sub lessons as well and all with an ocean theme! How perfect is that for me- and it only cost me $15 on sale!! She uses both watercolours and acrylics but I'm starting with watercolurs. The lesson begins with swatching colors you want to use inspired by ocean themed photos and here is my page:


 I chose paints and mixes from both my Daniel Smith colors and the new Van Gogh ones from Soma. I'm using a spiral bound 5" x 8" Strathmore watercolour journal for my lessons. Can't wait to get more lessons completed; it is such a fun course! 

 Joining Paint Party Friday as well with my post. A great group of artists sharing a vast variety of styles of art! All are welcome!

 Happy September, and happy new week everyone. 🤗

        " Respond to every call that excites your spirit."         Rumi

31 comments:

  1. I'm glad to hear you got away for a bit Linda. It sounds like you had a great time. The lobster looks yummy. I wonder how much a pound they are in Delaware. I am loving your book page for Try It On Tuesday. The pop of colors and that stitching really look great against the cardboard colored background. And leaves were you thing I see, as you also used on on the AJJ page. Nice. Thanks for joining us also for Wendy's challenge. I hope you are having a wonderful start to September, and have a great T day too. Hugs-Erika

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your escape to the beach is delightful to learn about. Every bit of normal life is inspiring these days. And it's nice to include the dog.

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad you had a trip out to the beech with some high living and a friendly dog! Your art is beautiful as always, thanks for the pages you linked to TIOT and AJJ, much appreciated! And enjoy your lovely prize from Soma, have fun! Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a delightful thing to get to go to the beach with friends! So great for your hubby to get his dog fix too - I can relate as we have no dog (hubby is allergic) so I pay a lot of attention to other people's dogs.

    Super art too, Linda. Love your vintage piece especially. Your prize is special - how fun! I know you are going to make some fabulous pages in your new class - can't wait to see them.

    Happy T-day!

    ReplyDelete
  5. A beach house! Now that sounds delightful :) Happy T Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh your time at the seashore sounds heavenly ~ and Lobsta! We love lobsta in MA on Cape Ann ~ and champagne ~ you live right, LInda ~ so happy for you ~ Xo

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh I love the watercolor experimenting and the course sounds delightful ~ Have fun ~ Xo

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fantastic page Linda, love it. Pleased you had a great holiday, it's too hot to go outside here, so I am in my studio trying to play catchup. Thank you for sharing with us on Art Journal Journey.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How nice you could once again join your friends at the beach. It's about that time of year, isn't it? I always enjoy these trips you take with your friends. And of course, the lobster looks good.

    You have some beautiful art this week, Linda. The darling pieces you created for Wendy's theme at Art Journal Journey are fabulous.

    What a wonderful win. That is a great looking handmade journal and wonderful watercolors, too. And to get a class that is beach themed for that cost must have been joyous. Even I could afford that! But I'm not into the beach, so I'll look forward to your sharing your paintings.

    Thanks for sharing your incredible art, your husband getting his dog fix, your lobster, and your Champaign with us for T this Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. How wonderful to get away with your friends and the beach house looks so amazing! Lovely to get your doggie fix too and it was a blessing that she got to join you on your vacation 😁. Loving the look of that lobster and your journal pages look so beautiful, loving the richness of the colours with the book pages! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Try it on Tuesday and Happy T Day wishes! Hugs, Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your beach week sounds like a lot of fun. The lobster looks so good and paired with champagne, just perfect. Very cool journal and watercolors. I love all the ocean colors you mixed. So pretty. Happy T Day!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your vacation at the beach sounds lovely, and I do understand "dog fixes". I think champagne is the proper drink paired with lobster! And your pages! they are so beautiful, I really like them.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You had all kinds of great news this week to share. That is a fabulous win, and so happy you are in your happy place with these watercolor lessons.
    I used to have a friend who had a black dog named Lucy. She looks sweet; great that you could be in such a fun place with fun friends and a fun dog!
    Happy T Day.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh, great you could have a vacation! Love your artwork, too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm sorry I'm late again in commenting. Tuesday is a day we usually are away from home and as Blogger doesn't like iPhones or iPads, I cannot do anything until I get back home to my desktop. Sometimes this is quite late, so here I am on Wednesday...
    How wonderful that you have able to get away to your favorite place: the beach. I remember you would go and enjoy time with your friends every year. So this is a step back to normality really. Sounds like you had a great time.
    The lobster looks terrifying. Was it served like that? Where do you start? Do they not cut it or peel it for you? (As you can tell, I have never had lobster).
    What a wonderful gift! Very timely too as you are into watercoloring. The course is a bargain for that price. I'm sure you will enjoy it and I look forward to seeing some of your creations in due course.
    Happy belated T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisca- yes the lobster was served like that . Our friends ordered and picked up the fresh live lobsters and we cooked them at the house to eat. The first time trying to figure it out was pretty daunting to hubby and I so we let our expert friends teach us how to take apart the lobster, what tools to use for what, and what not to eat:) We can now handle it all by ourselves:):)

      Delete
  16. Hi Linda. It looks like you had a very nice time at the beach. Can't go wrong with lobster. Really beautiful art too. Have a great day

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful art and wonderful photos Linda!
    And congratulations on winning Soma's fabulous giveaway.
    Alison

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Linda, have a great weekend. Take care! Happy PPF, hugs, Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  19. Try it on Tuesday and journal pages are so creative and colorful ~ Xo

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  20. So wonderful you and your husband were able to get away with friends.
    Beautiful art work.
    Congratulations on your recent giveaway win from Soma from Ink Torrents. Lovely!
    Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Beautiful art this week congrats on that fabulous win! What a wonderful get together with good friends!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Glad you managed to get away at last Linda, sounds like a beautiful break. Well done on winning all those beautiful art goodies from Soma, looks like they have been just the tonic you needed to get started with that workshop. Beautiful work as always, I love the generous variety that you share each post it's so much more than this and that, so creative.
    Happy PPF Tracey xx
    P.S From last week, our dog Freya is a *Sprocker* Springer/Cocker Spaniel cross :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beach house, lobster, champagne, sun, sea...Oh you lucky one!
    I love seafood but here ALL seafood is expensive.
    Your pages look great. Happy PPF!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Glad to hear.of your group get together
    Your journal pages are always so creative and interesting. Nice watercolour swatches.

    Happy you dropped by my blog

    Much💖love

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow, that was a beautiful trip you were on. I bet you have a lot of good memories from it. Love your Journals :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your get away sounds like heaven, although I'm not sure I could have coped with such high temperatures. Love the journal pages and the on you shared at TioT is perfect for the challenge.
    Thanks for sharing, Avril x

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful journal pages, Linda! Thank you so much for entering our challenge at Try it on Tuesday. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
    Regards,
    Mia
    Designer for Try it on Tuesday
    craftartista.blogspot.com {My Blog}

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wonderful blue and brown colour combination and design on the journal pages! The paint swatches are beautiful. I am so glad you liked the journal, Linda!

    -Soma

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your comments; it's a pleasure to connect with you!