Hi Everybody!
Yesterday was really the hottest day of the year till now, but I'm pleased to say it's starting to cool off, and we even had a bit of rain this morning. There will probably be storms passing over, but I hope that after that we will be back to our normal, summer weather.
During the past weeks I had to spend a lot of time at home, as it was too hot to go out in the afternoons, and I played in my journal. Here are 2 of the mixed media journal spreads. I worked with water colours, coloured pencils, gelatos, stamps and mermaid markers from Jane Davenport (brush pens filled with dye-ink).
I am linking to Paint Party Friday
I used more or less the same things here, except for the stamps. I just added the stenciled birds and some JD washi tape. I am linking the purple face to Simon Monday challenge, tape it up.
Last Sunday G had another of his wonderful ideas, and early in the morning we drove to a lake - the Venekoten See - which is near the border to Holland. We were able to stroll around the lake, enjoying the cooler, morning air, and found a nice place to sit and eat the food we had taken with us. This really is a perfect place for a hot day, with lots of trees giving shelter and a nice breeze from the lake. The walk from the car-park to the lake led through the woods and along by a crystal clear stream:
There was also a horse ranch and stables on our way:
All in all, a wonderful place to spend a refreshing few hours. Thanks G!
We also visited the nearby village and sampled good food and coffee there, but I will show you those photos on Monday.
Have a great day, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!
What a serene setting. So glad you were able to get out and enjoy nature.
ReplyDeleteLove the ladies in your pieces. Their faces are so expressive, both kind and knowing. And, of course, I loved seeing the horses.
Hugs
Hi Val, so glad you were able to have such a great outing on Sunday, and we are also hoping for cooler weather here. Love, love, love your beautiful creations, wow. Both are so different but each so lovely and expressive in its own way. Great photos as always. Have a great afternoon, hugs, Sarah
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mermaid spreads in your journal Valerie, both so serene.
ReplyDeleteThat looks a lovey place to visit and the photos are wonderful, especially the one of the dragonfly.
Avril xx
You draw the most beautiful, adorable, and expressive faces. Your mermaid is gorgeous and your lavender lady superb.
ReplyDeleteWhat a serene and majestic area G drove you two to. It looked peaceful and lush. Great photos, including the horses and the dragonfly.
Your painted ladies are very pretty! I like the colors and quotes. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm loving your paintings! The beautiful shading and tones of colour you have used to create your pretty ladies are amazing 😁. Such lovely views and flowers too, and your dragonfly photo is fabulous! Happy Wednesday! J 😊 x
ReplyDeleteLovely ladies and the woods look cooling. Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteDeine Meerjungfrauen-Seiten gefallen mir sehr gut. So in Grün und Blau gehalten wirkt Alles so ruhig und harmonisch, hübsch auch die Fisch und Seepferd-Stempel. Deine lila Dame mit dem schönen Spruch ist auch gut gemacht. Von eurem schönen Ausflug geällt mir besonders das Libellenfoto, so gestochen scharf, super. Aber auch die Hibiskusblüte sieht super aus.
ReplyDeleteLiebe Grüße und noch schöne Sommertage.
Sabine
Oh how I love these two paintings, they are lovely! Your photos are also beautiful, the dragonfly is wonderful...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous artwork Valerie and especially love your mermaid. The lake looks beautiful and the perfect place to keep a bit cooler.
ReplyDeleteHope the rain does the trick as we had heavy rain last night and it's much cooler here today.
Fliss xx
Gorgeous paintings Valerie. I love the mermaid. The girls have beautiful faces and expressions.
ReplyDeleteThe photos from your walk by the lake look lovely, it seems so peaceful and looks quite quiet.
Yvonne xx
Loving your ladies. You did a wonderful job with them. That mermaid looks like she is content staying cool in the water. And what a beautiful place to walk. It looks cool and very very relaxing place. That dragonfly photo is amazing. Glad yo hear you are cooling down. Probably not soon enough for you for sure. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThe cool air feels sooooooooooooooooooooo good!
DeleteA beautiful set of journal layouts. That mermaid is so lovely!! You have created some wonderful art while keeping out of the heat. We have had some hot days as well. Must be happening everywhere.
ReplyDeleteKate
The climate all over the world is changing rapidly.
DeleteBeautiful journal pages Valerie, and the lake pictures are lovely!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
Your mermaid and purple lady are gorgeous! I am partial to the purple gal,being it is my favorite color!
ReplyDeleteSuch glorious pictures you shared, I was imaging the cool crisp smell of the morning, walking with you through the photos!
hugs,Jackie xx
Hot and humid here, too!!!
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful painted ladies are gorgeous!!!
You fit everything together wonderfully and create such beauty!!!
Your stunning photos were so refreshing! All of the greens and the water...lovely!
Love the horses! We had horses at one time...beautiful animals!!!
Big Hugs Valerie 💮
BTW...Happy PPF!!!
DeleteYour mermaid would make a wonderful muse. Love the colors and the seahorse. The lake looks cool and peaceful. Looks like you have the place all to yourselves. Even better. Glad things are cooling off for you and you’ll be back to more seasonable temps.
ReplyDeleteI love your mermaid picture. Just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe lake looks so cool and relaxing. I always enjoy being near the water. Your photos came out really great!
So glad it is cooling off there and that you even got some rain. Yeah!
~Jess
I would love to go through a horse ranch or stable. I've always wanted to visit one of the thoroughbred farms in Kentucky.
ReplyDeleteStay cool.
Hugs,
I used to help out at a stables when my daughter was at school in return for her riding lessons.
ReplyDeleteHi Valerie wow your journal pages are amazing i love the mermaid,well done my friend,and thankyou also for sharing your beautiful pics xx
ReplyDeleteAdorable, love this interesting journal pages and gorgeous photos too, fabulous design and colours. hugs.xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful art and I just love these photos. It is very much like where I live. Yes I live on the beach but inland is woods and lakes. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF , luv the art and photos
ReplyDeletemuch love...
Valerie I love your mermaid with those words following her tail. Beautiful portrait, you know how I love anything with a face!!
ReplyDeleteThe spot under the tree's looks perfect for a picnic, hope you are having some more cooler days now?
Thank you for sharing, wishing you a super weekend Tracey xx
P.S Sorry i'm late visiting this week xx
Thanks Tracey, it is cooling off and that makes life a lot pleasanter for me.
DeleteWow! Beautiful photos! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful spot, looks so tranquil and a perfect escape from the heat.
ReplyDeleteHappy PPF
Vicki-Ann :)
I LOVE your mermaid and the words that accompany her. Nice that she actually has HIPS, too. (She must be a mom...)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you temperatures are cooling down some. We had a few days that were only in the mid-eighties, but we're back in the nineties again. With intermittent storms and high humidity that makes it feel like a sauna after the rain stops. But fear not! Autumn is on its way!
Have a wonderful weekend.
A beautiful cooling scene withmermaidand a very interesting face to remind us to be true to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAnother terrific place for G to share it looks very calming for sure. Hope it is cooler now for us as it is for us today
hugs Chrissie xx
What beautiful pages Valerie, their faces are so expressive, and the sentiments are perfect. This looks like a wonderful place to visit, so restful. It's a lot cooler here now so everyone seems to be catching up on sleep lol. Have a great weekend, Sue xx
ReplyDeleteLove the use of blues and greens for your lovely mermaid pages! Gorgeous photos too, as always! Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteWonderfull creative and playful journal creations ~ and love the dragonfly photo and other photos too ~ what a delightful place to cool down!
ReplyDeleteHappy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Hasn't it been hot! I love your pieces this week, and I have some Mermaid Markers although I haven't used them yet. I'll have to break them out this week! Happy PPF!
ReplyDeleteLove the purple face. Great photos too.
ReplyDeleteI love both your girls! They are so pretty! Love the colours you used! Love the words too!
ReplyDeleteSo happy it's starting to cool down!
Gorgeous area you went too! Loved the photos!
Big Hugs!
What a lovely selection of photographs here, thanks.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Such beautiful journal pages! Lovely colors! Great photos too!
ReplyDeleteCute mermaids, such a ladies! Lovely colors, too, very aquatic. Love the dragonfly - what a nature piece of art! Thank you for joining Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful arwork Valerie - love it all. I love JD style but not yet got any of her products just two of her books which are fab.
ReplyDeleteGill x
Iknow what you mean about being too hot to go out. It's not here right now, but has been. I love your mixed media pieces and the beautiful water photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful and serene place to visit! I love the gorgeous photos. And your mixed media journal spreads are wonderful! So creative and perfect for summer!!!! I love them both!
ReplyDeleteI love the mermaid especially - I have been drawing faces lately but not sure whether to show them!! I love the lake photos - it looks a great place to take a relaxing stroll! Hugs, Chrisx
ReplyDelete