A COLOURFUL TIME

 

During this holiday season I have retreated into my craft room for an hour or 2 each day to do some colouring. The colouring planner my daughter gave to me for Christmas has been very useful and has helped me prioritise different projects I am keen to do. Ofcourse, the planner has a colouring page for each week so I have tried to include that on my list too. Each colouring page is from one of the illustrator's various books which is rather nice as she has quite a few that I haven't yet got. So, this is the first page completed.

The next thing on my list was to finish the greyscale one I started. 

Then I wanted to work on my witch a bit more...

It was a bit hot and sticky that day so I didn't do as much as I would have liked to. My glasses kept sliding down my nose and my hands were clammy. Anyhoo, I digress. Yesterday I decided to try out some inexpensive waterbrush markers and glitter gel pens from Kmart . So, I selected a page from the colouring publication that I did the greyscale one from. I finished it today and was very pleased with the results . The markers and pens were quite good which surprised me because other art supplies from that brand have not been so good. I also used a white pigment ink pen. 

Unfortunately, the gel pens had not dried as quickly as I thought and I managed to create some smudges on the background. Not happy Jan! Ah well, I might just try covering it with some white pen . 

I have finished reading my first book for the year which is the middle book of a series I already read last year. Sue found it for me . 

Late yesterday afternoon I decided to do the mini puzzle which was another Christmas gift from my daughter. It was actually a bit tricky but that may have been because I was under the influence of pain medication at the time lol. Gotta love it, it is called The Scream. I love how it is a cat interpretation of the famous painting. Made me laugh. 

I think I achieved a lot despite a fibro flare up and chronic pain. Some days were good which is an improvement. Better some than none. 

I hope you have enjoyed a productive crafty time too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

A new day has dawned and a new year has begun. Fireworks, mostly illegal, began in my neighbourhood around 9pm and kept going until the official ones started around midnight. The Drive-In had a family night with a fireworks display resulting in a grass fire. Now we will have random loud explosions in the early hours for the next couple of weeks. Once again, people have injuries from their illegal fireworks and fires started , one on a roof top garden. I just don't get it! Bah humbug! 

Having said that, and much left unsaid, I do wish you all a happy new year with an abundance of all good things. I want to put 2025 behind me stay positive that this year will be far less stressful, bring better health, less pain and much joy and happiness. 

We had Christmas Day here with my mum, daughters, grandsons and son in law. It was a good day but bittersweet without my dad . I was rather spoiled by my daughters who took note of my passion for colouring and the illustrators I like.

I have been wanting Hanah Karlzon's  " Tales From the Witch's Cottage" and was thrilled when I received it AND another one of her books as well. Yey! They are both hard cover colouring books.

Then I opened  another fav of mine. I love Johanna Basford's books and I now have her 2026 colouring planner. Yep, looks like I am taking this hobby seriously now. Each page has a picture to colour along with a week's planning page.

I started a page from one of the books a few days ago and it is going to take a while to complete it. Yesterday I decided to try a quicker  greyscale illustration from the Spring issue of Colouring Heaven. Illustrations of people seem a bit daunting to me so I thought this greyscale one would be a better option. Although not yet completed, it was easier, quicker, and very satisfying. It still needs more work but I may finish it today. 

I finished reading the last book of the year yesterday. Whew! I loved this author's latest book, The Jam Maker , so bought an older one, The Chocolate Factory. It is based on the establishment of the Cadbury's factory in Tasmania . I loved it! 

Apparently she has a new book coming out " The Hobart  Hotel", so that is definately on my list. I only managed to read 14 books in 2025 . My inability to focus on much for any length of time  was disappointing and frustrating . However, I am still looking forward to so many books this year. Sue  found a book I was missing in a series and kindly sent it to me along with another one that has sparked my interest. My book angel! That was so thoughtful and very much appreciated. Thankyou Sue! I started that book I was missing this morning . 

I would love to know if you have any particular books on your list to read this year. 

HAPPY CRAFTY AND BOOKY NEW YEAR.

TRYING TO CATCH UP

 Once again time has slipped away while I have simply been doing household chores, and trying to plan for a simple Christmas. It is 6 weeks since my last back procedure and there is some improvement although I still require pain medication at night. Nightly medication may be something I need to accept according to my pain specialist but I have another review in February.

I am pleased that I have made 2 washcloths and have another in progress thanks to Lou. I am making them for my mum and daughters to go with their Christmas gifts. I find hand knitted washcloths lovely to use when washing cleanser off my face so thought mum and the girls might like some with some face cleanser. Thanks for the pattern Lou! 

The last couple of days I was inspired to try doing some Christmas themed watercolour painting. 

I smudged the birdie one with my hand and the green Christmas tree is a bit wonky but I had fun. 

Question....where is summer? We had a glimpse of it a few days ago, for one day. I still have our heating on most days!!! 

Well, I have a lot of blog posts to catch up with now. Hopefully you shall see comments from me soon. Take care.

HE'S HOME!

 

After a 5 week stay in hospital hubby is finally home! I just plead with the universe that it does not throw me more challenges for a long time. I need some breathing space, a chance to regain some positive outlook on life and get rid of the constant anxiety I have developed over the year. 

Well, back to colouring now. Here is a page I completed about a week ago from Rita Berman's 'Hidden Seasons'. 

I have been working on this next page for a few days . It is from Johanna Basford's 'Enchanted Forest' and started out as a raven but somehow morphed into a mythical bird along the way. I do enjoy seeing where the illustration takes me as I start adding colour to a page.

I have no idea if I am going to add a background or leave a vast white space yet. Sometimes I just spend half an hour colouring and then come back with ideas the next day. I added speckles to the eggs and used that colour because that is what ravens eggs look like. The colour is a bit more vibrant but I am not trying to replicate real images. Just exploring and having fun.

Well, it is officially summer tomorrow. Apparently! I can not recall in my lifetime ever having had such cool weather in November. I do hope summer puts in more than a cameo appearance soon, although I would also hope the fire risk is not very high this summer. 

Thanks for visiting.

A LONG 3 WEEKS

 

You know the saying " when life gives you lemons ....." well I wish it would send champers or chocolate instead! The past 3 weeks threw more drama at me which looks like continuing for at least another week or 2. The good news is that I still went ahead ,(with hired help) , and had my 5th back procedure . That was 2 weeks ago and it may take up to 6 weeks to feel the benefits but I already think there is some improvement. Yey!!! 

I have tried to de stress as much as possible and spend at least an hour or 2 each day doing some colouring . I am rather enjoying Rita Bermen's book at the moment. 

I particularly love my chosen colours for this page and changed the black dots to white using a Posca paint pen. I used a gold gel pen for the centre line work in each petal.

This was the 1st page I selected and I used a pastel pencil for the background. Hmmmm, not the best choice.

Finally, this is the page I am currently working on. I selected the colours  from a card in my colour cube . A few more sessions before completion.

I enjoyed reading another Anna Jacobs' book. This was the 3rd in a series and I read the 1st but don't have the 2nd. It didn't really matter.

As usual, I pass my books onto mum to read but I am currently struggling to keep up with her demand lol. It is very wet here at the moment and I am wondering when some warm weather is going to appear. It is a very strange November here . I hope the predicted severe weather in many states has not affected you. 

2 COMPLETED PAGES AND A BOOK

 

These 2 pages are from Johanna Basford's ' Enchanted Forest' colouring book. 

I am discovering my favourite colouring book artists just like I had my favourite stitching designers. There are so many to choose from but I refuse to buy AI produced ones if I can detect them as they are stealing illustrators' work. Something to be mindful of in all areas these days. 

This book is a fictionalised account of the Batavia shipwreck and the horrific events that followed . I wish I hadn't read it as it is quite distressing. However, I did persevere and the storyline was good. 

Now onto reading your blog posts........

QUICK POST

 

My apologies for the change in font size in my last post. It has happened before, changing from one paragraph to another and I have no idea why.

I have been working on this page in Johanna Basford's ' Enchanted Forest" colouring book the past 3 days. 

It looks like I am favouring Anna Jacobs' books these days. I finished this one which is the first of another series, a trilogy. I have the 3rd one on my shelf to read but haven't got the 2nd one. It is a pity but I am sure it won't really matter.

That is all I have to show but I am losing bloggers anyway . I guess it is since I have taken a different crafty path. Here's to enjoying our individual crafty pursuits.