heart

Love Yourself

/ Jodi / 22 Comments

Love Yourself

What You Do… and What You Stand for!

I was recently asked to do a commissioned watercolor piece that is a gift for a new doctor.  This doctor is a brand new cardiologist who has a favorite quote about love.

This is the painting that evolved from that commissioned request, and I have to admit I love it!  I am actually giddy about how it took on a complete life of its own and came so easily with a message that resonated with me so deeply.  It feels so relevant to me at this time in the world and in my life, and it actually made me tear up.  (Though those that know me well, know that is a common occurrence…  I am a crier.   Happy tears…  Sad tears…  Sappy movie tears…  Overwhelmed with life, work, the world tears…   Embarrassment tears…  Just an emotional crier!)

The words speak to me.  Do they to you?

Love.
Not just a feeling…
but something you do!
Love others – –
but most importantly…
Love Yourself – –
What you do…
and what you stand for!

I hope you will love yourself – what you do – and what you stand for!

Don’t forget – July is World Watercolor Month, and I will be joining Charlie and so many others with the goal of painting every day in July!

Need ideas?  Here is a list of prompts that I am going to follow.

What to contribute?  Want to learn more?
Here is a link to my Artist Ambassador #WorldWatercolorMonth Pouch.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

And PS – Though this original went to its new home, prints and greeting cards are available in our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

/ Jodi / 20 Comments

Somewhere over the Rainbow (in pink) Original Watercolor by Jodi McKinney 11×14

Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Where rainbows are iridescent pink…
and hearts have wings…
and drip like rain…
That’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow.


Another piece I painted on my “pink binge” this weekend in the art room.
Maybe not as elegant as yesterday’s, but something about this makes my heart soooo happy!
Playful and fun and full of love.  That’s where you’ll find me!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Let Your Dreams Blossom

/ Jodi / 37 Comments

Pink Floral Heart Original Watercolor by Jodi McKinney 11×14

Let Your Dreams Blossom!

Sprinkling a little pink love after a weekend of splashing in the art room.
Just what this heart and soul needed for some January nesting time.

Embracing the muse.
Going with the vibe.

Happy Monday friends!  Let’s make some magic this week!  Let’s create some beauty!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Original watercolor, as well as prints in all sizes and cards, available at McKinneyX2Designs and Berry Vine Gifts.

Homemade Cherry Pie

/ Jodi / 56 Comments

Homemade Cherry Pie.

On a recent visit to an awesome new grocery store that opened up near us called Fresh Thyme, I discovered they carried big 2.5 lb bags of red sour pie cherries.  I was so excited!  This is something hard to find where we live.  You can find dark sweet cherries everywhere, and they are delicious for eating, but to make a good old-fashioned homemade cherry pie, you have to have the sour cherries.

I snagged a couple bags and was excited to get to make a cherry pie for hubby for Valentine’s Day last week.

If you are lucky enough to find sour cherries, here is the simple, old-fashioned recipe I use to make a classic cherry pie.

Bake a little love!

Cherry Pie

Ingredients:

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine cherries, sugar, tapioca, and almond extract.  Mix well, and let sit while preparing pie crust.

Prepare crust and place bottom layer in pie plate.  Fill with cherry mixture.  Top filling with dabs of butter followed by top crust, being sure to cut slits or a shape to allow bubbling and steam to escape.  Spread a small amount of milk or water on top crust, and sprinkle with an additional tablespoon of sugar if desired.

Place pie in oven.  Cover loosely with foil to prevent over browning.  Bake approximately one hour.  Remove foil and continue baking until filling bubbles out of top and crust is beautifully browned.

Allow to cool completely to set.  Serve with scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Look Inside

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

February Morning – Mars, PA 2018

Look Inside.

The tiniest drop of water
hanging on the edge of the limb

that might not last
longer than a few moments

holds a glimpse of life.

It tells a story.

Look inside.
Ignore the blurred surroundings.

Squint hard.
Look closely.

Search deep

into this beautiful thing.

Search deep…
inside of You.

Like the tiny drop of water
that reflects the trees trunk and limbs.

Look inside your heart

to see what branches inside of you.

What is growing and stretching
and feeding your soul.

What is reaching
to grasp your happiness.

Look inside

at the beauty of you.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Bouquet of Love

/ Jodi / 42 Comments
Heart Bouquet of Love Watercolor

Heart Bouquet of Love Watercolor

A Bouquet of Love.

If I could pick the perfect bouquet,
I’d pick a bouquet of love.

It would be filled with memories of special kisses…
a first from a shy young man who I still get to kiss goodnight each evening before falling asleep,
a first on the forehead and nose and cheeks and mouth of each of my baby boys the day they were born,
a first on the forehead and nose and cheeks and mouth of my granddaughter the day she was born,
the last one I gave my grandma when we said our final goodbyes,
the ones I watched each of my sons give to their wives on the days they said “I do.”

It would be filled with memories of special hugs…
that one my dad gave me when we first saw each other after almost 40 years apart,
the one his wife  gave me the day she met me and told me my dad always promised her a daughter, and now she had one,
the ones I receive and give upon greeting and saying farewell to friends and family I love so dearly.

It would be filled with memories of cherished moments…
those every day moments –
a text, a Snapchat, a phone call, a visit,
walks with Charlie,
sunrises, sunsets, snowfalls, birds tweeting,
a card or letter or package received.

So as I spent just a teensy bit of spare time last evening
doodling and splashing paint to create a simple, inspired* Valentine,
I created a bouquet of love.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*Pinterest inspired watercolor – source unknown

LOVE is all you need

/ Jodi / 44 Comments
Love Heart Abstract Watercolor 11x14 140lb cold press

Love Heart Abstract Watercolor 11×14 140lb cold press

LOVE is all you need.

In these days of…
terrorism,
war,
shootings,
suicide,
drug abuse,
social pressures,
revelations of sexual abuse allegations,
fights over politics,
disagreement over religion…

Can’t we simply
seek
Love?

Why is it so hard…
to just Love?

 

Today is Sunday.
Our family will be gathering
to watch football
and eat together.

To me – that is love…
being together,
being there for each other,
spending time together,
supporting each other.

Let’s seek love
for ourselves,
for others,
and for the world.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Bleeding Heart

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

Bleeding Heart.

Each year when you* bloom –
my favorite flower of all –
you gift me with the pause to remember
the life to celebrate,
the grandma to honor,
the sweet memories to cherish.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*This bleeding heart plant is over 25 years old and has lived and thrived at two different homes for me.  It was a gift from my grandma that will move with me wherever I live.  It is just one of several sweet special “things” I cherish because they were a part of her that lives on with me.  Love you Grandma!  It’s Springtime – one of your faves!