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
Rainbow over Mars – May, 2018
A New Beginning.
After the rain
comes a rainbow.
After the storm
comes the calm.
After the dark clouds
comes the bright sunshine.
After the ending
comes a new beginning.
**********
It is never, ever, ever too late
for a new beginning.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Rainbow of Umbrellas Shading the Sunshine at Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival – June 2017
May the shelter you seek
from sunshine or rain
be as bright and cheerful
as this canopy of colorful umbrellas.
And may you always remember
even the most beautiful flowers
need both sunshine and rain
to bloom and grow!
Cheers & Hugs in Rain or Shine,
Jodi
#Pittsburgh #ThreeRiversArtsFestival
P.S. Got lucky and spent a beautiful sunny day at our local arts festival Saturday with a couple of my favorite girls. The festival is sadly known for bringing the rain every year, and it has been living up to its reputation ever since. Poor vendors. Bring on the sunshine!
A DIY Rainbow Clock.
My BFF Jill is an “all the colors of the rainbow” kinda gal.
She loves color – bright, bold colors.
So when I came across this idea on Pinterest for a colorful clock made out of a wooden plant stand, I knew this was the gift for her birthday this year.
I found this approximately 12″ diameter circular plant stand on line at Ikea for under $10! It came with wheels that could be attached so that you can use outdoors and move your plants around I suppose, but I just tucked the wheels away to save for some other use some day.
I simply divided the circle into 10 pie shapes from the center with a pencil and ruler and painted them with bright beautiful colors of indoor/outdoor grade acrylic paint I found at Walmart (Waverly Super-Premium Plaid).
I hit the whole thing with a spray of Krylon UV Resistant Clear Spray after the several layers of paint dried.
Then hubby came to the rescue to cut out a piece in the back and drill a hole in the center to add the battery-operated clock works.
And Voila! A fun rainbow bright colorful indoor-outdoor clock! It’s TIME to celebrate YOU Jill! Where has the TIME gone? I love our TIME together!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
My Favorite Color…
My favorite color is yellow
for sunshiney summer days
and chirpy gold finches
and the tartness of lemons.
My favorite color is blue
for the beauty of the sky and the ocean
and robin eggs
and star-shaped bachelor buttons.
My favorite color is red
for hearts
and raspberries and strawberries
and dark, dry wine.
My favorite color is pink
for lipstick
and nail polish
and my granddaughter’s cheeks.
My favorite color is green
for springtime grass
and soft, feathery hemlock trees
and arugula.
My favorite color is black
for yoga pants
and nighttime skies
and patent leather peep toe pumps.
My favorite color is brown
for the smell of the earth
and rich, creamy gravy
and the color of my morning coffee with cream.
My favorite color is purple
for sweet smelling lilacs
and intricate irises
and Barney the dinosaur.
My favorite color is white
for the first blanket of snow
and the stars that twinkle in a midnight sky
and marshmallow fluff.
How does anyone choose one favorite color
when there are so many reasons
to love every color?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS It was so challenging for me to choose only 20 colors to fill my new watercolor palette from the 55 colors I have in my stock. But oh how fun it is to start fresh with a new clean palette and all the possibilities it can create.
Do you have a favorite color? However do you choose?
Pittsburgh Rainbow Semi-Abstract Cityscape 9 x11 Arches Hot Press CBT WV QG
Today is the last day of #WorldWatercolorMonth, and I am proud to say I was able to post an original watercolor every day this month. To celebrate the last day, I’ve been itching to do a semi-abstract cityscape, so here is my version of the Pittsburgh Skyline in a rainbow of Cobalt Teal Blue, Winsor Violet and Quinacridone Gold.
I have lived in the Pittsburgh, PA area my entire life. Though I have moved from suburb to suburb growing up and then after getting married, I have always loved this beautiful, “most-livable” city.
We live in the “country,” but it is only a 30-minute drive to all the wonderful things our city has to offer for arts, entertainment, business, restaurants, sports, rivers, and shopping.
In fact, that is just where we went yesterday to look for bridal gowns, and oh what fun we had! Well, we actually passed through town and went to the “South Hills,” but it was a successful venture, and Liz said “Yes!” to the most beautiful dress! I gasped, then I cried.
I feel so fortunate that both of my boys have found such wonderful young ladies to share their lives with.
Want a sneak peak of the dress????!!
You didn’t think I’d actually show you, did you? But it is under there and in the hands of the beautiful, glowing bride-to-be! A big thanks to Chelsea and Greg and the wonderful folks at Anne Gregory for the Bride for such an amazing experience, we didn’t have to go anywhere else! More time for toasting champagne and celebrating with Liz and her sisters and mom!
Happy Sunday, and happy last day of #WorldWatercolorMonth! I hope you’ve had as much fun as me. (Or maybe you are as relieved as my son Nick that it is over!) Whichever the case, thanks for spending it with me here at lifeinbetween!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
An unseasonably warm day in February this week
started with bright sunshine,
drenched us in refreshing rain showers,
and ended with the brightest, most colorful rainbow.
Right in our very own back yard.
If you cannot find me,
look deep in the woods
amidst the moss and twigs and fallen leaves.
I’m searching for the pot of gold,
dancing and celebrating with the leprechauns.
It is the Season of Magic.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Ok – I know – I know – some of you are out there shouting at me reminding me they are called “cria.” Baby alpacas are called cria.
But they are so doggone cute, and I was so excited to see them, and they are the sweetest little “babies.”
You may recall our friends, Don and Christina Wright, owners of Four Points Alpaca Farm, who I featured in a blog post a few weeks ago when I was just smitten with my first visit to their amazing farm, Inn/Bed & Breakfast, and Alpaca Apparel Shop.
At that time, ten of the Mama Alpacas were due to have babies (cria), and now they are here!
Just in time for showing off at the Four Points Annual Pig Roast!
I think Marty was more interested in the pig…..
and it was way more delish thank it looks – even all “dressed up.”
Look how excited these little cuties were to get their picture taken with Miss Piggy.
Even an unseasonably cool early September Saturday couldn’t suppress the fun, and a couple of our favorite girls won the Corn Hole Championship!
They had a blue grass band, farm tours, games and giveaways, and even a demo of spinning alpaca wool.
And, of course, some amazing food!
But once again, the views STOLE the show where to the East, a beautiful rainbow appeared at the end of the day…
and a bit later, and turning to the West, we enjoyed an amazing sunset.
Another great day, with some great friends at Four Points Alpaca!
the creative life in between 