Friday this and that.

Hi Everybody!

For Art Journal Journey, winter wonderland, I have another hybrid page,
mixing painting, marbling - the head - and some digital items to make a magical winter piece. I am also linking to Paint Party Friday, hosted as always by Eva and Kristin.

On Tuesday we had a wonderful orange moon again, which inspired me to show this moon painting (18x18") which I made at the last 'orange moon' a year or 2 back:

And I have been busy marbling these past 2 days, using up the last remnants of marbling ink I had. I made several of 'my' heads, which I cut out beforehand - one I showed yesterday, one today, and the others will be shown bit by bit when they have been built into other journal pages or painting. I also marbled some scraps of paper. These will be used to make covers for tiny notebooks.

I am linking to Moo Mania and More, use your scraps

I have made one already, using some handmade paper for the pages and sewing i together with white twine:

Mrs Blackbird is still the best eater on my balcony:

We had some nice dawns again this week:

The weather has been sunny and mild, and the first daffodils are blooming along the Rhine by the castle ruins.

One of the banks was covered in snowdrops:

And of course, the gulls were out in force:

The little flower shop has a tempting array of spring flowers:

And last but not least, Mrs B just LOVES peanuts:

Have a good day, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Thursday this and that

Hi Everybody!

Our challenge at Art Journal Journey, winter wonderland, will be finished in a few days. Chrissie has done  wonderful job at hosting! And you still have time to join in!
I made another hybrid piece, combining the view from my window with a little fantasy, and memories of C.S Lewis' 'Narnia', one of the books that accompanied my childhood.

And I have been playing with my head and dipping it into a bath of marble colour - I am linking to 99 faces.

Some views from the Rhine:

Have a great day you all, take care,
and thanks a lot for coming by!

Midweek Mix

Hi Everybody!

At Moo Mania and more we are starting a new challenge -

use your scraps. 

As always, project of all formats, not just moos, are allowed, and you have 2 weeks to link to us.

 I used lots of mini scraps and stamps to cover a small composition book. I gave it a coat of varnish to make it more durable,

and added the vintage car as embellishment.

I used the rest of the scraps to cover a little wooden heart, which had first been painted from both sides with gesso. This one got a coat of crackle varnish and a heart as embellishment.

For Art Journal Journey, winter wonderland,  I made a hybrid page using a photo taken in the fields behind the house, combined with a water coloured background and some silhouettes.

On Monday night the moon rose, glowing like an orange in space:

Later it looked more white, but it was a fantastic sight.

Have a great day you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Silhouettes and more.

Hi Everybody!

Today is half time over at TIOT for out silhouettes challenge, so hope to see lots of you joining in. I made a hybrid piece, using a painted and textured background, which I overlayed with and old document. The silhouettes are from Gecko Galz.

For Art Journal Journey, winter wonderland, I made another hybrid composition, and once again Mr UM is making an appearance:

It is also time for Elizabeth's T stands for Tuesday, so a big welcome to all of the T Gang, and of course to ALL of my lovely visitors. Today I found a beautiful mug at the thrift shop, new and still in its box, and going for 1€, so now it is in my kitchen.

Of course, it looks better filled with cappuccino:

And as you can see, Dalí seems to like it, too. (stencil from Stencilry)

Today the cormorant was sitting by the Rhine again, surrounded by ducks and the cheeky gulls while he was doing his morning yoga exercises.

Here you can see the gull at the right trying to drive away the duck that was swimming nearer:

And now the cormorant is looking over his shoulder to watch the cheeky gulls screeching at the ducks to make them retreat - I think they don't like competition!

We had blue skies and mild temperatures, so it was good to be out:

Have a great day you all, take care, 

and thanks a lot for coming by!

Happy Mail and more

Hi Everybody!

The weekend is almost over as I write this, so I wish you all a good start in the new week.

For Art Journal Journey, winter wonderland, I have another hybrid page, combining photos and fantasy.  The quote is by Wordsworth; my Auntie used to read this poem to me when I was a child, and I found it very sad and scary that  poor Lucy Gray had to go out in bad weather, and never, ever came back! The girl here is from the Graphics Fairy.

I received some nice Happy Mail this week.

Chrissie sent this beautiful card, with a lovely, colourful cat to wish me all the best for my OP last Thursday:

And from Donna in Canada I received a parcel of goodies to keep me occupied when I go into hospital next month. This is a card made from one of her gorgeous sheep paintings:

And some occupational therapy, lots of pictures to colour when I am stuck in bed:

And Sudoku puzzles to keep my brain ticking, all packed into this fun, decorated envelope! Yes, my old knee will be going out, and a shiny, new one being put in:

And a cookery book with wonderful recipes to cook in my slow cooker when I get back home again .

Thanks so much ladies, it's good to know others are thinking of me.

Thanks too to those who mailed and sent me encouragement, which was much appreciated.

The Heron was really getting into a flap yesterday, he was busy fishing, and the gulls kept circling round him, probably trying to steal his dinner.

Here he swooped onto  a fish and swallowed it straightaway:

The gulls kept on mobbing him, and in the end he took off - followed by a cloud of gulls....

Have a great day you all, take care,

and thanks a lot for coming by!