Artful Journey

 A snowy Saturday with record 24 hour snowfall of 22 inches was the perfect day to catch up on some card making. It all started with a snowflake! A variety of cards and a variety of techniques  I was trying to catch up on some mail exchanges and made great progress. I love these stamps from Spellbinders. I experimented with alcohol inks a while back. I couldn’t figure out how to use the results but I kept the sheets in my stash. It made the perfect wintry background. I also played around with color layering of paper which is great color wheel practice. Some navy and white paper for die cuts, watercolor practice and some brush and pointed pen calligraphy and I was almost finished. While I was enjoying myself with art, Eugene and Eoghan tackled the snow removal. The snowblower helped  The kids bought Eugene a snowblower almost 5 years ago. At the time he didn’t think he needed it, but he has grown to love it! Our neighbors refer to it as the gift that keeps on giving. I thought they dese

 Happy New Year with Baileys Toasting the New Year with hopes for 2022 And a Best Year from one of my favorite podcasts, In the Doctor’s Chair with  Mark Rowe  a mnemonic device (episode 47) B Breathe   E Eat S Simplify T Time               Y You                E Exercise                 A Appreciate                R Reduce your carbon footprint         I love his weekly podcasts, and I have listened to a few more than once which I liken to a booster shot of optimism and mindfulness. I am very conscious of my carbon footprint and I will continue to include that in my best year, but my R will be reflection and resilience. ( R and R from a favorite 2021 read   10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn. The rest fit perfectly with my goals for 2022. Dr. Rowe suggests that we start our day thinking of 3 things we are grateful for and end our evening with 3 WWW - what went well today. I have been doing this and I love to start and end my day on a positive note. Today’s episode featured Dr. Sue Stua

 With some poetry I recently purchased this book because it includes some poems I love. This is the perfect book of poetry for these Covid times and fits well with my word of the year Hope.  Poets contributing include Amanda Gorman, Naomi Shihab Nye, Joy Harjo and Jane Hirshfield (just some of my favorites) made this book an easy selection. There are prompts for reflection, short biographies of the poets and much creative inspiration. I have found much to love in this accessible, hopeful collection. Already I know this is one to treasure and share. I used a lovely soft watercolor background from Mia and added some trees and sparkle. Using the abstract art to build upon was something CJ and I experimented with in a calligraphy class with Gerry years ago. We used sumi ink then, but I love the watercolor effect. I will be trying more of that in the future. Is the grey color the Winter Warlock from Santa Claus is coming to town putting one foot in front of the other? Or is it a loyal, wise

 Although there was effort and learning in our watercolor class, it was more creative, fun and zen like. I love the results especially this watercolor by Fiona. The colors and serene atmosphere of this decomposing dory boat in the marshes of Ipswich is lovely.  A gift for Eugene  Proudly displayed in our living room. I haven’t painted anything for the walls yet although I did some greeting cards for some friends and classmates. Watercolor with Bokeh effect Out just in time Fiona made our New Year’s Day dinner. There was much prep work, but it was delicious and most appreciated  Setting the table, there will be no greens in a nod to the late, great Betty White, but we will toast her talent and joy  Mary Berry’s recipe for roast chicken Always a winner Especially when made with love. My word of 2022 was selected after reading a gift book from Onz.  Hope. This book is one of my 21 of 21. Onz said she thought it seemed like one I would enjoy and she was right. Love!  Lists of happy making