It's not the same without you...

Hello there... I hope you are all well?

These days get stranger and some days are harder than others adapting to this new way of life

I have a card to share for all of you who are missing your friends and family

 

The little dog is a stamp from Altenew and hasn't been used in awhile, like many of my stamps and dies...

I painted a little scene around him...

I spoke to one of my brothers the other day - we've always been close and see (or saw) each other regularly... I think that's what prompted this card.

Stay well my friends

~ Ros ~

Watercolour Bouquets

Good morning...

I hope you are all well? I have a cold, not sure where that came from, after all I've not been anywhere.

 

Our postal service has been quite restricted, though I'm grateful that we still have one of sorts and this week I had a lovely card from my blog friend Greta. However, my friend Stella in the Netherlands sent a package weeks ago and it still hasn't arrived...

Taking a chance, I posted a few cards off this week, some of which I totally forgot to photograph first - I know, my head is somewhere else these days, but here are a few I did remember to photograph

 I'm totally losing track of days and dates and only remembered 2 out of 3 birthdays this week and we are led to believe this lock down could go on until next year - I've always been a home bird but lately I am really missing being able to go see my friends or just browse the shops like we used to.

I shouldn't complain, it could be much worse.

 

Stay safe and well my friends

 

~ Ros ~

Lala Land Residents

Hello... How are you all doing?

Fancy a walk in Lala Land with me? I found some old friends had moved there too

Remember this sweetie?

(Yes.. I pulled out a couple of neglected stamps) He now lives in Lala Land on Mrs Trimble's farm and is happy as can be, plenty of sunshine and plenty of grass

And I also came across the twins (aka The chicks)

Personality wise, the chicks couldn't be more different, Lulu here likes to stay close to home

Whilst Lily is adventurous and often wanders around the fairy woods

She's fascinated by the little people who live here

Do you feel better now? 

Before I leave you I wanted to tell you about something weird and wonderful that's appeared in my garden. There's no doubt that the air is cleaner since lock down and the garden is blooming. Mr. C has taken to weeding the garden to keep him occupied but unfortunately he doesn't know a weed from a flower so I keep a keen eye on him when I can and sad to say I've lost a lot of things he thought were weeds... Anyway, I noticed something trailing down from a dogwood bush yesterday... Now I'm not marvellous when it comes to naming plants but I'm pretty sure this is a variety of clematis that suddenly appeared

There are definitely no roots on my side of the fence so I can only assume it's come from the wooded area behind us...

...And it's in abundance! Really difficult to photograph though

Can you see all those buds? It seems to have just happened over 2 days... Weird but pretty wonderful

Okay, I'm guessing you need a cup of coffee now, I do

Take care and be safe

~ Ros ~

Who's Got the Sun?

So we were just enjoying the lovely weather and 'poof' - It's gone!

Not only that but now blogger is sick... I've left comments where I can but some blogs are not showing photos or allowing me into comments... I fear mine is probably the same. 

In any event I'm sharing a couple of creations, maybe you can see them maybe not?

I was asked by a friend's sister if I would sell her one of my watercolour paintings... Heck no, but I would gift her one so I did this for her

She was so happy and sent me a photo of it all framed.

When it comes to flowers, if you asked me what my favourite is I would struggle. Daffodils would be right up there in my top 3... Especially the simple yellow ones - They're like smiley faces after a cold and miserable winter, not that I don't love layered daffodils that look like they are wearing  froo froo skirts.. You can tell I'm not good on specific varieties Lol!
But one of my very favourite flowers has to be Lysanthia, I just love the delicate rose like flowers they have and the tall buds. This is my attempt at sketching and painting a stem

I do hope you are all staying well.. Hopefully Spring will return soon, isolating is so much easier when we can enjoy the sunshine. Take care my friends

Till soon

~ Ros ~

 

     

CAS Mix Up Reminder and a Farewell

Hello and welcome

I'm here with my reminder card for this months' challenge at

CAS Mix Up

You still have time to submit your entry and it's lovely to see how many of you have already done so.

To make this card, I partially stamped and clear embossed the Echinacea using distress oxide ink onto a square piece of card... It stays wet long enough to add embossing powder. I then used various shades of D/O's to blend over the entire piece.

Using the same method as my first card,  I took a little bleach and a paintbrush to remove the colour from the petals and leaves and added a little splattering too.

A couple of die cuts and an embossed sentiment finished the card.

Once again the team have created an array of beauties to inspire you... Go on over to the blog and take a peak.

Sadly this will be my last card as a team member, I have decided it's time for me to step down. 

I've been so privileged to have been part of an amazing team and want to say

A huge THANK YOU to Loll and Bonnie for the opportunity.

I will certainly continue to follow the challenges and play along when I can.

Enjoy your day my friends and stay safe

~ Ros ~

 

More Spring Flowers

Hello... How was your Easter?

It certainly was different... I never thought we'd see the Archbishop of Canterbury giving his address from his own kitchen that's for sure!

It was a bizarre day really... We got a call just after lunch, Ian's golf buddy George was out walking and had a nasty fall - His wife was alerted and called an ambulance but because of the times we are living in, there was no guarantee of it arriving anytime soon, so Ian was asked to take him - It was all so sudden and DH didn't feel that he could refuse although a hospital is the last place anyone wants to be right now. Anyway he took his buddy and obviously DH couldn't go in the hospital so waited outside when he saw a guy drive up to drop off another unfortunate person... He couldn't help but laugh when out of the car limped a woman all dressed up in a huge bunny outfit, tail bouncing as she hobbled into the hospital...Like I said, a bizarre day.

 I've a couple more painted cards to share...

We've had some lovely warm days and like so many of you, have taken the opportunity to do some tidying in the garden

However, we are expecting the temperatures to drop to freezing over the next few days... Weird!

We have to be grateful that at least we have a garden and If I can't enjoy the flowers, I'll paint some

I'll leave you with a couple of photos... The lilac beginning to open

And some Lily of the Valley 

Take care, enjoy your day and whatever you are doing, be safe

~ Ros ~

Nothing Last Forever

Hi there...

The past few days have been warm and sunny... I did some painting and then spent a few hours in the garden just relaxing.

The hum of the traffic, not as constant but still more than busy considering the situation, was joined by birdsong and in the distance the sound of children's voices. The cats are enjoying the weather, Missy on mouse patrol and Ginger boy rolling on the warm ground.

 

 

To all intent and purposes, everything is normal...Butterflies and bees are vying for the first flowers of Spring. Buds are opening, shoots are beginning to cover the borders and the birds are going about their daily life. Nature is oblivious to the pandemic and for the most part so am I.

 

 

Like all that is happening on our planet is, well, somehow elsewhere.

 I watch a little of the news, I cry at the stories and the images. I see the struggles of the health workers and all the brave people who are keeping everything going and I'm full of admiration and a sense of guilt that I'm not contributing anything...

Reality hits only when I have to venture out for necessities wearing a mask, gloves and avoiding everyone that comes near, when I lay my head down at night and Covid-19 invades my dreams and then when I wake, grateful once more that we have another day.

 

 

Easter is upon us and it's always signified new beginnings, we still have much to be grateful for and much to enjoy... Nature heals and so will we

Be blessed

~ Ros ~

 

 

 

Spring Flowers

Hello everyone... I hope you and your families are doing okay

We have lovely sunshine today and the trees are bursting into life here... Even my Lilac is in bud.

I've been painting lots of flowers over the past weeks and this is one of my earlier attempts which I think fits the challenge at

CAS Waterolour

Hosted by Susan

Entering this challenge over the years is what gave me the confidence to try  and progress with watercolour - Now in self isolation I play with my paints daily.

When it comes to designing, inspiration is sorely lacking and I shut my mind off to how much I've spent on dies and stamps which are being neglected.

I guess it's just the time we are living in right now... Nothing is the same

Be safe and well my friends and enjoy your day

~ Ros ~

Living in Lala Land

Hello there... How are you all?

I've taken to living in my own Lala Land where it's virus free and and we can venture wherever we want...

Well in my painting that is...

See here I've hung out the washing and taken a trip out with my nextdoor neighbour

It's summer time all year round here so I don't have to worry about the rain

This is where my friend lives... They have a big house in a leafy part of the woods

We've been invited to tea there later this afternoon but first we are off to check on some empty properties in Bluebell Wood for my neighbour's daughter who is also an artist

They need a little revamping but it's quite a nice area and the outhouse could be very useful as a studio

Okay, I have to dash... 

Be safe 

~ Ros ~

 

CAS Mix Up Challenge

Hello there...Welcome to April

I hope you are keeping well during these worrying times. 

As always the CAS MixUp has a new challenge for you chosen by Loll

If you are unsure about this technique, please check out the videos up on the blog as well as the terrific examples by the team and this month's wonderful guest Designer

Mac (The Sweetest of Peas)

Okay on to my card...

This is not a technique I've done before but I'm always up for a challenge ... I started by randomly stamping and embossing the leaves onto black card, then poured some household bleach into a little jar, took a small paintbrush and just 'painted' the leaves

The effect is  really amazing... Rememer you need to do this in a ventilated area if you have strong bleach like me.

 

The little butterfly was fussy cut from a shop bought card - I was sending this as a sympathy card and it seemed appropriate.

Now that most of us are restricted to being at home, it's the perfect opportunity for you to play along, create something beautiful in a not so beautiful world and have fun

Be safe out there my friends

~ Ros ~