April 7th Is A Special Day!

Today is one of my favorite days.  Six years ago my little Tiger was born and I became a Grandma! 

I was over the moon with joy and I still am.  He brings so much fun and love to my life.  We will be celebrating later with pizza, cake and of course gifts!

Scout will have a birthday on Easter Sunday!

Eating Ice Cream is always fun! 

I missed Watercolor Wednesday this week but will be back next week I hope.  April is a busy month but I'm finding bits of time here and there to paint.

Speaking of Easter...

My little bunnies and a lamb came out to visit the cubbies! 

I have seriously downsized my rabbit collection once again, saving only my favorites!  I love both of these found at a thrift shop years ago.

The Avon bunny collection grows with the addition of the large egg cup bunny found last year.

Two of my favorite bunnies came out to play.  I did not realize until editing the photo that I had arranged them in a rather 'risque' way.  Whoops...you know what they say about bunnies!

That's better!  Still one of my better thrifty finds at .88 each! 

We had some horrible storms Wednesday that hit a lot of the country.  Now it's sunny but colder.  Still better then that rain.  I think I better go wrap some birthday boy's gifts! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda 

Watercolor Wednesday #2

Where did this week go? 

I have been busy but still this week really flew by!  Monday I met 5 of my wonderful Atlanta blogging friends (although I think I'm the only one still blogging at this point).  We had a great lunch at Joyce's and caught up as it had been about a year since we had seen each other.  Lots of talk, good food, fun gifts and more talk. It was wonderful to see Joyce, Sue, Denise, Sandie and Cheri! What I didn't get was a photo...

nope not a one! 

So back to the Watercolor

I wanted to use some orange/yellow colors and had a good time painting.  I love the daffodils and the carrots aren't bad for a first time.  The other 'item' started out as an Easter egg, then looked like a bunny so I added ears and now it looks like an Easter egg with ears. 

Oh well...they aren't all winners! 

This page was more successful I think!

I'm working right now in my sketchbook and trying to paint a little each day.

I love the butterfly and will try to make a larger one soon.  I think I like little paintings as I seem to have more brush control.  

To expand my learning curve I am doing a class called 'Easy Watercolor Sweets & Treats'  I'm not done with all the lessons but this is what I've painted so far.

I like the bigger slice but tried to make two others to practice the technique.  Not so good.  I'm learning about layers and blending.

Next up was a donut and cookie

(I labeled them in case I couldn't tell what they were...keeping it real here)

Next up will be ice cream cones, maybe by next week I'll have that page done. I am enjoying this and pushing myself outside my flower comfort zone.

Back before Christmas I won a $100 Visa card giveaway.  It took forever for it to finally get to me but I've been saving it for something special.  I started using it to buy some good brushes and paints for my hobby.  I am mostly using student grade watercolors and they are great but I wanted a tube set of professional grade watercolors.  I looked at many of them, read reviews, priced them (yikes $$$) but decided on this set I found on Amazon.

These paints got very good reviews and were pretty highly recommended especially since you can get them right now on Amazon at such a great price.

This set of 36-7ml tubes if bought individually would cost over $300 and I was able to buy it for $60 with free Prime shipping.

All these lovely tubes of paint will last me a very long time.  I thought about a primary color set but since I'm not very good at mixing colors yet decided on this set instead.

AND it came with a palette!  

I made a color chart (which I need to redo since I made a mess of it).  I have played with them a little but this week will try to work exclusively from this set and see how I like them.  The colors are vibrant and rich and should be fun!

These last few days of March are full of pollen and my allergies have flared up.  Still I'm hanging in there!

April starts the 'month of birthdays' so hopefully lots of photos of the Grands as they celebrate. 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Watercolor Wednesday

Since I have fallen in love with watercolors I've decided to do a post once a week on my progress.  This way if you aren't interested you can just move on.  

There will be more junk, Grands and Annie pics soon!

I'm obsessed!

Really! 

Watercolor is amazing!

Since I started the online lessons I've not stopped.  I think I'm improving but I do know I have a long way to go.  I'm learning about paint, paper and brushes!

BRUSHES!

This has been the hardest for me to find one's I really like.  I started with an inexpensive set since who knew if I would pursue this hobby for very long.

They worked, but as I practiced I could tell I wasn't getting the same brush strokes as the teacher.  So last week with a coupon I splurged on a good watercolor brush.

A Winsor Newton brush and 2 tubes of watercolor paint.  Using coupons from Hobby Lobby and Michael's! 

WOW!  I could not believe what a difference a good brush made.

A practice page and using the splatter so many teachers show to add color to the white areas of your paper. 

Honestly the one brush made all my other brushes seem even worse.  So I decided to buy a set one of my online teachers recommended.  

Aqualon Royal and Langnickle short handled brushes.  I found a set on Amazon at a good price and ordered.

After some practice I used one of the smaller brushes to make this little flower on a card.  I'm so happy with the control these brushes give me. 

I really enjoyed this little wreath and will try painting more of these

Supplies can really add up so I've been using more Michael's and Hobby Lobby coupons.  40% off really helps the price of paints especially.  Hobby Lobby had all their art pads on sale for 40% off (no coupon required) so I loaded up on their store brand paper in several sizes.  So economical and the paper is great for practice and my beginner skills. Michael's had Strathmore brand at 50% off so I bought one spiral bound book.

Learning about layers on this practice page .  Oh and yes I love flowers but I'm going to try to do a butterfly soon.  So stayed tuned for more Watercolor Wednesdays! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Thrifting & Other Things

I once again have been missing from my blog.   Last week Scout was sick and I spent two days taking care of her.  Thank goodness I did not get sick again but it wore me out!  Friday was a day of rest and reading.  This week I've had 3 days in a row of Dr/Dentist visits for my Mom.  She is doing well but we needed to catch up on some appointments and they came all in one week! 

I did manage to slip into a thrift shop or two (or three) and while I didn't buy much I do love my thrifty finds.

This tiny little nativity was .25 and I love it!  Already stored with the Christmas decorations.

I think this little shelf is going to see a makeover and the hold more of my orphan S&P collection and only .50

The next three items were only. 25 each!

I haven't bought an egg cup in a long time but this was so sweet and made in France!

This crazy cat mug will go on my art desk to hold pens or brushes!

A very cool cork screw with a bakelite handle will be a gift for a friend who makes wine (good wine)!

A quick stop at Goodwill

I have been looking at these magnet boards but the price of $10 has stopped me, I'm cheap er thrifty I tell ya, so for .77 this one jumped in my cart! 

Two strong pieces of foam board .77 will hold my watercolor paper down while I paint

This little ceramic dish was also .77 and is wonderful for mixing a batch of watercolor for a wash.  My new watercolor hobby has dictated some of my recent finds! 

A last stop at Habitat for Humanity

This lovely serving dish

Bordallo Pinherio and only $2.99

I have made a few purchases using coupons at Michael's and Hobby Lobby

It is really important to find my supplies as cheaply as I can.

A small watercolor pad for making cards and a paint pallette all bought using 40% off.  I also bought a white ink gel pen. 

All these goodies are for my newest passion!  Watercolors! 

I am still in the practice and learning phase and try everyday to at least paint a little bit. 

(now is a good time to leave if you are tired of my new hobby...I totally understand)

Different techniques and using an ink pen for details on some of the paintings.

 Learning to mix colors

Practice with different brush sizes

Textures (my least favorite exercise so far) and finally a little painting

Lupines from a tutorial

I have some new tutorial's I plan to watch this week and paint more flowers.  I really do love them.  I'm having quite the good time with all of this. 

Alas, I did not return to Junk in the Trunk to see if the pink and black vase from last post was still there.  It is out of my normal path so maybe soon.  If it's there good, if not I seem to be ok with that also.  

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Treating Myself!

I had a little bit of time the other day so I stopped into one of my favorite Antique Malls, Junk in the Trunk!  I gave myself $10 to spend.  So can you pick the item I bought?

Pink McCoy pottery but $15 will I splurge? 

Vintage pottery and only $4

More McCoy pottery but also $15

I love these glasses, a set of 8 for $10 but I already have some in green so should I buy these?

A fur collar and only $10??

Pretty hobnail glass (it's pink but didn't show up well in photo) $10

Even more McCoy 

and this one is only $5!!

Art Deco looking pottery vase, black and PINK and .... only $10

So what did I buy?

Well I didn't buy this adorable thing

It is a baby tub, the lid comes off!

Only $85 but I wanted to share the photo because I thought it was so sweet!

So after much looking and thinking I brought home...

The yellow McCoy planter for $5

I love how it fits in with my other McCoy yellow pottery and is so Springy! 

I've also been doing more with my watercolors (I'm obsessed I tell ya)

First flower.  It was an exercise using only one color and I was to try and get different levels of transparency.  It's only OK but I'm learning so much.

I really like this one.  I used a wet on wet method to get the more blurred images and it was fun.  

An exercise using only 4 colors.

I must tell you I am loving watercolor painting so much!  I had to order some more watercolor paper and I got some great deals from Amazon.  I also got a fun set of brushes I'll play with and share soon.  

My beautiful daughter Sara turned 35 yesterday.  I love this photo from when she was 5 years old.  She still has that smile and yes, Tiger looks just like her! 

So now my only question for you...

Should I got back and see if this vase is still there?

I really do love it!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda