flowers

Watercolor Painting: Bicycle with Flower Basket

/ Jodi / 49 Comments

Bicycle with Basket of Flowers in Galway Watercolor – 11×14

Watercolor Painting:  Bicycle with Flower Basket.

I have been wanting to paint a bicycle with a basket full of flowers for a while, but I hadn’t found the right inspiration.

Then I came upon “it”  (the inspiration) at a quaint little shop in Galway on our recent trip to Ireland.

I took artistic license in changing the black bike to turquoise that was on the sidewalk outside of Judy Greene’s Gift Shop on Kirwan Lane.

It brings back sweet memories of a great trip and gave me a painting I love!

Happy #WorldWatercolorMonth!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Spring has Sprung!

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

Spring has Sprung!

Today is the first full day of Spring, and oh how ready I am to welcome it!

It may still be a little brown and chilly outside, but I put the snowies away and brought out the flowers and bunnies and birds.

I got this sweet tray and floral and bunny from my friend Anne’s Farmhouse Primitives shop at Berry Vine Gifts.

The amazing candle is from Antique Candle Co. in the most luscious fragrance of Country Pear by Cotton Stem.  It is one of the most wonderful smelling candles I have ever had!

These little bunnies are from a recent trip to Hobby Lobby.

And I love this Springy green wreath I also found in Anne’s shop at Berry Vine Gifts.  It replaced the cotton stem wreath I had here for Winter.

And what do you think of this fun little stack of books I made?  I’ve been seeing them on Instagram on a few feeds I follow, and it turns out I had everything needed to make them myself.  In fact, I might be making more to sell at Berry Vine Gifts and through our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop.  So many possibilities of quotes and personalized messages can be made.  For my first try, I did my favorite life message, “Cherish the Moments.”

Welcome Spring!

Breathe in the fresh air.

Soak in the warmth of sunshine.

Bloom and blossom like the flowers.

Whistle a happy tune with a spring in your step.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Crimson and Coral

/ Jodi / 59 Comments

Crimson Flowers Watercolor 11×14

Crimson and Coral.

Coral Flowers Watercolor 11×14

Painting Fluid Florals.

Watercolor on the Weekend
makes me happy…
makes me feel fine.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS  I’ve been known to have random songs pop in my head for almost anything – and then break into tune (or out of tune as it most often turns out) when they do.  Can you guess the two songs running through my head when writing this post?

Links here if you can’t guess:
Song One
Song Two

These original paintings, prints and cards are available at McKinneyX2Designs.

The Other Side of the Door

/ Jodi / 36 Comments

Garden Gate Door Watercolor 11×14

The Other Side of the Door.

What lies behind
the other side of the door?

Do we dare open?
Or do we just imagine?

Do we take a chance?
Or are we too afraid?

Are we content to simply embrace the beauty on this side?
Or do we take the chance to experience even more?

Do we…

Open our mind?
Open our heart?
Open our eyes?
Open our souls?

To what lies behind
the other side of the door.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Navy and Peach

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

Navy and Peach.

They complement each other so well.
One soft and subtle…
One strong and bold.

It was fun to use just three primary colors – indigo, red, and yellow ochre to create this loose abstract flower painting.

I swirled and splashed and dabbed and splattered.
And then I scribbled with a micron pen to create some fun shapes.

So good to find time “in between” to let loose with my watercolors!
So fun to “create” make-believe flowers.
So glad to cherish the moments
at TheCreativeLifeInBetween!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

What Would You Be?

/ Jodi / 47 Comments

Bumble Bee in Red Petunia Flower Basket – Mars, PA – July 2018

What Would You Be?

What would you be
if you could be
anything you wanted to be?

Would you be
Kind?

Would you be
Loving?

Would you be
Compassionate?

Would you be
Understanding?

Would you be
Generous?

So many wonderful things we can be…
What would you be?
What are you being?

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Bloom, Blossom, Grow

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

Hanging Basket – Mars, PA

Bloom… Blossom… Grow.

Bloom boldy…
Blossom confidently…
Grow unceasingly.

Be the You
You were meant
to be.

Beautiful, blooming,
blossoming
You.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

PS  If you are local to the Pittsburgh area, be sure to check out JJ McKinney Family Farm, where I purchased this gorgeous hanging basket.

Expect Surprises

/ Jodi / 38 Comments

Expect Surprises.

Around the bend…
on the other side of the bridge.

Along the edge of the road…
after the rain.

Before the “main event”…
in simple places.

In between the drops of rain…
when the sunshine peeks.

Look closely…
and pay attention.

Expect surprises.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This photo was taken on the property of a country wedding we attended this past weekend.  It was a several-hour, stay-overnight kind of trip to a remote place that was full of happy, special, loving surprises.