flowers

Expressing in Abstract Watercolor

/ Jodi / 15 Comments

blue flower abstract watercolor card

Sometimes I just want to splash water and paint on paper.  Can anyone relate?

I have no subject in mind, don’t feel like sketching, just want to express….

color….   feelings….  heart…. love…. maybe a little bit of peace or beauty.

abstract purple watercolor flower card

These two cards were the result of that – done a week or so apart when I just needed to splash in paint puddles.

Not much talent at all involved here, but a great experience.  And… if my very un-educated expressions in watercolor inspire anyone to step outside their comfort zone and try – and then find the joy – my heart is filled.

These turned into note cards I needed to use recently to express sympathy to a few friends who lost loved ones.

I hope they feel the love, and it brings them a bit of peace.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Nothing is Ordinary

/ Jodi / 14 Comments

black eyed susans on white nothing is ordinary

Nothing is ordinary…
so don’t try to be.

Be your own kind of EXTRAordinary…
it’s the best recipe.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Inspiration

Queen Anne’s Lace

/ Jodi / 24 Comments

queen anns lace
Queen Anne’s Lace
in a vase
on the patio by the door.

Sweet memories of summers past
and a Grandma I did so adore.

She could make bouquets from weeds,
bring life to seeds,
make soup from bones,
and homemade ice cream cones.

We played Old Maid
while we drank lemonade
or sipped on root beer
or cream soda floats.

We would sing and laugh on the side porch swing
making up words to our favorite songs.
She would tell me sweet stories of her life and her past
while we dreamed of the future and who would be part of the cast.

We’d watch the morning glories close
while the moon flowers arose.
They were perfectly entwined
in an ornate grate
which bordered the slope
and the colorful splendor
of the portulaca flower bed
I will always remember.

Oh how I hope
that I can someday be
the kind of grandma
she was to me.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Fun with Watercolor Coneflowers

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

coneflower watercolor 1

One late evening this week,

coneflower watercolor 2

feeling loose and creative,

coneflower watercolor 3

I decided to paint some coneflowers.

coneflower watercolor 4

Some were pink,

coneflower watercolor 5

and others were just creative colors.

That is the joy of watercolor.  It is not a photograph.  It is an expression of feelings.

Hope these bring some expression of joy to you as you view.

Wishing all a joyful holiday weekend.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

After the storm…

/ Jodi / 16 Comments

hanging basket flowers after the rain

The showers beat down,
the wind blows strong.
We drip and wilt –
all tousled about.

But afterwards…

we are refreshed
and renewed.
We are given new life.
We are nourished and vibrant and ready to grow.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

May Flowers

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

CYCI 68 Flower Punch Mothers Day Card

There is ONE single joke I can remember to retell, and it is my favorite….

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

(ready?!)….

Pilgrims of course!

We have lots to celebrate in May, so I’ll be busy making special cards for a lot of very special people this month, including this  May”flowery” card for a special Mom in my life I fondly refer to as “Mom II.”

Sunday is Mother’s Day – a very special day for those of us who have been blessed with the privilege and honor to be called a “Mom” or “Mum” or “Mother” or “Momma” or “Mommy” or “Mummy” or “Mom II”…

Carole (aka Mom II) is my Dad’s wife.  When I reunited with my (birthfather) Dad five years ago in July, the first thing she said to me after I said “Hello” was, “Your Dad always promised me a daughter.  Now I have one.”  That was followed by a big tight hug from a beautiful, petite woman.  A pretty warm welcome – eh?!

I will never forget that moment.

So this fussy, frilly Mother’s Day card is for Mom II.

The design was inspired by the CanYouCaseIt #68 Sketch Challenge.

CYCI68

And I’m also sharing this card on the Paper Plunge #32 Mother’s Day Theme challenge.

For the card, I used a variety of Stampin Up flower paper punches, Best Day Ever Designer Series Paper, and lots of buttons, pearls, and linen thread.  It was fun to create and flower up!

So Happy Mother’s Day this coming Sunday Mom II!  I hope your day is as special as you!

Cheers & Hugs and Motherly Love,
Jodi

 

 

Watercoloring – Week 3

/ Jodi / 61 Comments

watercolor 5 magenta wildflowers in field 0415

Oh how I wish I had more time to play with this medium I am growing to adore!  I am thoroughly enjoying it.

watercolor 3 clover daisy buttercups 0415

Here are a few wildly varied samples of what I played around with this week with drawing and watercoloring.

watercolor 4 flower whimsy 0415

Do you have a favorite?

Thanks for visiting!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Beauty in the Blur

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

blur rose of sharon 2

As I walked around to the “other side of the house” this past weekend basking in the sunshine and warmth and hope of what’s to come, I noticed how the sun was hitting these dried up pods on the Rose of Sharon bush.

I focused in on the pods and “bokehed” out the background giving it a blur.

Soon these brown pods will turn green and then purple with a bounty of beautiful flowers.

Little bursts of Spring are surely beginning to pop up around here in Mars.

Open your “blurry” eyes this Monday and take it all in!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is Blur:  Find beauty in the blur.

 

 

Fresh

/ Jodi / 32 Comments

Fresh tulips and hyacinths

Since yesterday was the first day of Spring, and the SNOW came back to Mars (thankfully only briefly), I bought some fresh flowers to bring Spring indoors!

Nothing says Spring to me like the smell of tulips and hyacinths.

This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge is “Fresh,” so the fresh flowers that are the centerpiece on my kitchen table are my submission this week.  I thought this was a fun angle with a different perspective.

Happy Spring!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of Thirds with Bokeh

/ Jodi / 12 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge Rule of Thirds with Bokeh

This week’s WordPress Daily Post Photo Challenge is to use the Rule of Thirds with a Bokeh Effect.

It’s been snowing non-stop here in Mars this weekend, but I took this photo a week ago when in Florida.  I always love the way flowers look after a rain shower.  I thought this photo was a good example of the challenge effect, and it also reminds me of warmer sunny days and wonderful memories with a dear friend.

Happy Sunday!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi