Year: 2016

Shake Your Tail Feathers

/ Jodi / 42 Comments

draw a bird day march 8 2016 wren shake your tail feather

Shake your tail feathers!

It’s #DrawABirdDay again with my WordPress friends.

This little wren is shaking it’s tail feathers in honor of Spring approaching, as am I!

This is a very simple 5-minute “study” of sorts in brush strokes using my BRANDY NEW Rekab 320S #2  squirrel hair brush!  Oh what a glorious, lovely brush it is!  This brush came on the recommendation of Debi Riley as her “go-to” brush, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.  Unfortunately, the only place I could find it was in an art store halfway across the world in Australia (where Debi happens to live), called Art Scene.

So order it I did, and then I waited, and waited, and waited.  Patience is not one of my virtues.  It really only took about ten (loooooooooong) days.  I practically hugged Cliff, our mailman, when he brought it last week.  Between my excitement and Charlie’s leaping out to see him, Cliff got the greeting of the prodigal son.  He laughed about my paint brush coming from the other side of the world and my excitement over it, and he spent a minute or two giving Charlie some pets and scratches and a morsel or two of his lunch pretzels (yep – Charlie has weasled his way into Cliff’s heart too!).

I can’t wait to have more time to play with this lovely, wonderful brush, but I am traveling this week for work, so it must wait.  What I was trying to do, however, with this, was to be very deliberate with my brush strokes and create an impressionistic version of a wren.  I love the freedom with this brush to create swooshes and thick washes as well as the tiniest of lines like the feet and beak and even a small dot of an eye.  One brush for every stroke, line, dot, and splash!  Swoon!

Wishing you the simple joys today – like the chirping of a bird…

Springtime weather…

or small gifts like a paintbrush brought by the mailman from the other side of the world…

or nibbles of pretzels and ear scratches from a thoughtful mailman to a loving  dog.

Cherish the moments!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Mondays

/ Jodi / 35 Comments

five

Mondays….
’nuff said.     🙂

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

What’s NEW at McKinneyX2Designs?

/ Jodi / 40 Comments

I’m excited to share some of the new things Colleen and I have been creating for our new Etsy shop!  We are having so much fun with this, and we are pleased to have had over 25 sales already in our first month!Mx2 logTo show our appreciation to our friends here at LifeinBetween, we want to offer a little gift to you.  If you refer someone to our shop who makes a purchase, we would like to thank them AND YOU with a free card of their and your choice. Each of you can choose one of any of the cards offered in our ETSY shop for FREE!  (Simply have your friend let us know when they order that they came here from LifeinBetween and mention your name.)

Have fun perusing the photo gallery of our newest Spring things.

You can visit our shop here:  McKinneyx2Designs on ETSY and follow us on Facebook and Instagram too if you like.

Happy Spring Thinking!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Political Views

/ Jodi / 51 Comments

cocktail party card

Here’s my ballot.
Anyone want to join this party?!?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

It’s a Dog’s Life – It’s a Blog Life

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

charlie blog

Although I am a wonderful typist/blogger/communicator of the written word (as you know from my regular guest posts here),

there really is truly no better way to get a point across than using….

Puppy Dog Eyes!

Can you tell what I am telling Mom here?

I’m certain it is perfectly clear.

Happy Friday friends!

The wonderful weekend is almost here!  Woofy wahoos for weally wong morning walks, warm fires and snuggles, and welcoming whatever the wind wishes.

Woofs & Wags,
Charlie

Impressionist Landscape

/ Jodi / 62 Comments

abstract barron landscape 5x7

Spring one day –
Winter the next.
Impressionistic landscape

62 degrees at dinner –
26 degrees at breakfast.
Impressionistic feelings

March in like a Lamb –
Out like a Lion?
Impressionistic life

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

5×7 watercolor on 140 lb. cold press shizen professional grade rough texture rag watercolor paper.

Cookie Butter Cinnamon Chip Cookies

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

cookie butter cinnamon chip cookies

Have you discovered the amazingness of Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter yet?  (It’s quite similar to Biscoff spread, which I also absolutely adore!)

cookie butter cinnamon chip stack

I knew there had to be an EXTRAordinary cookie to make with this magical spread, so I went a googling and discovered a great recipe to start with at the wonderful Averie Cooks blog.

cookie butter cinnamon chip cookie

These cinnamony, gingergread biscuity, ooey-gooey brown sugary in the center, crispy crunchy on the outside little gems of deliciousness may just be my new favorite cookie ever!

Bake them if you dare!

Cookie Butter Cinnamon Chip Cookies

  • Servings: 2 1/2 dozen
  • Print

Ingredients:cookie butter cinnamon chip cookies

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter or Biscoff Spread
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter (softened)
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 bag Hershey’s Cinnamon Chips

Directions:

Cream the egg, Cookie Butter, butter, brown sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed of an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 4-5 mins.

Add flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.  Mix on low speed until just incorporated, about 1 min.  Fold in cinnamon chips.

Make 1 ½ inch balls from the cookie dough, place on a cookie sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter. Chilling the dough is a must.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place cookie balls on baking stone or sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart, and bake for 8-9 mins, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set. Do not over-bake.

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5-10 minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Castles

/ Jodi / 33 Comments
squires castle

Squire’s Castle, North Chagrin Reservation, Willoughby Hills, OH

Some build castles
of stone and mortar
and brick and clay
on top of hills
overlooking fields and valleys and streams.

They want to tell the world
they are rich and powerful
and should be looked up to
and should be seen
and should be honored and admired and revered.

But the very best castles
are the ones that are built
with love and compassion
with respect and dignity
with humbleness and grace.

They are built in the fields and the valleys and streams.
The everyday experiences of life.

They are life.

They are the good life.

The life well lived.
The life well loved.
The best castle of all.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The above pictured castle was one I visited this past weekend with a few “princesses” that I love.  Thanks for showing me the true meaning of castles… of life… of friendship… of love…. Pam, Anna,  and Joan… ❤

Learn more about Squire’s Castle here.

Leapin’ Leap Day

/ Jodi / 59 Comments

leap frog 1

Happy Leap Day!

What are you going to do with your extra 24 hours this year?

Leap in!

Do something you love…
be with people you love…
spread some love!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Peaceful State of Mind

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
abstract cobalt teal and inka gold lifeinbetween

Abstract Cobalt Teal & Inka Gold (inspired by Debi Riley)

A State of Mind

Wishing you waves of peace
richness of gold
and a world of happiness

this Sunday and always.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This abstract piece I created was done on a 5×7″ sheet of 140 lb. cold press shizen professional grade rough texture rag watercolor paper that is 100% recyled from post consumer waste.  I love the texture of it and bought a package of 100 sheets through Blick.  I’m curious to know if others have tried it.  I typically use Arches, but am loving this paper.  

I began by slathering on some Inka Gold acrylic paint with a palette knife leaving it thicker and lumpier in some places.  After it dried, I added some cobalt teal blue watercolor to one side and then mixed a bit of lemon yellow into it for the green on the other side.  Before it dried, I placed a crinkled up piece of saran wrap on it, which I did not remove until the paint dried.  It is really beautiful in person, and I am even making card prints from it for our ETSY Shop.