Monday 31 January 2011

Just 'do' ...

I have tried to be more active this month - not a New Year resolution as such, but when you reach a certain age you realize how important your physical well-being is and I have never been a lover of exercise.  I have some physio exercises for my back and I am getting custom made orthotics for my fallen arches, so I wonder where February will see me!  Marvin, the cat, is doing well after my panic on his diagnosis of diabetes.  He drinks a couple of pints of water a day, but he has a good appetite and doesn't appear to have lost any more weight. 
Thank you to all who ask after him.

My February pages are rather simple at the moment.  Wax resist plus washes of red and yellow for the background and green squares with a bit of white gesso stencilled on.  I was influenced by a bit of 50's fabric for the colour scheme.  I am sure the pages will  liven up by the end of the month. I do hope that those of you who have joined in are enjoying the challenge.  Kate has organized a link on her blog - I have yet to suss that one out.

For all of you who kindly comment on my journal pages, here is another one.  I have been having a paisley moment or two, I find this sort of thing quite mindless and when I am not feeling inspired to be creative I can just start with a glorified doodle.  I may add to it over several days. The internet is a wonderful font of fact, and as I have a mind like a sieve, writing down what I find out is a must.  I just sarted by writing in some paisley shapes and the patterns grew.  You may also notice from the top of the  page that I have joined the Artist Network Bedfordshire. My friend has invited me to join her in the open studio event in June so we have had to do some planning - but more about that much nearer the time.

Here is a page from my little watercolour moleskine.  I did think I would try and draw something from my garden in it every month, but I started it about 18 months ago and it has some big gaps. Perhaps I will do better this year.  Here I drew winter flowering heather, which is a bit tardy this year as it often starts to open before the new year and Christmas box which has the most heavenly sweet scent, if somewhat insignificant flowers.  I have managed to cut this back hard every summer and keep it small enough to stay by my back door. If you long some winter perfume I hightly recommend it.
Well that is January wrapped up, spring is really waiting in the wings. The sun has shone today, the birds singing and it is five o'clock and the sky is still pink! That's progress

21 comments:

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

Hasn't it been glorious today .... loving the paisley Jill and just have to thank you for reminding me about the Foundling Museum ... I saw an article on it a while back and promptly forgot with my menobrain ... hoping to visit before it closes next month. Happy February x

thekathrynwheel said...

Hi Jill. Your Feb pages look great - love the colours you chose. The linky thing took me forever to suss out (and I had to pay an annual fee!!) but I'm hoping it will make life easier especially as there are so many doing the challenge this year. I struggled to keep on top of it all last year ....
Glad Marvin is doing OK - nature knows best!

She Who Doodles said...

love your paisley page. i've always liked doodling with a paisley design also. glad to hear someone is having some sun. spring seems so far off yet.

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Funny thing Jill is that I too noticed tonight how light it was at 5.00pm. All of a sudden there are a few signs that we're over half way through the darker half of the year. The diary/journal pages look as good as ever. I really did try this month. I did mine on cards but petered out around the 18th. I could not keep up with the daily ritual and some days my life seemed so mundane it bored me to write about it! Lesley x

patcrafts said...

Your paisley page is wonderful, such a brilliant idea for journaling. Great Calendar pages too love the colours for Feb.
Ann was thrilled with the box and I must say it is gorgeous, thank you so much.
Pat xx

Marigold Jam said...

Lovely journal pages Jill though some of your entries really intrigue me! Glad Marvin is continuing OK. It was light here till 5.30 yesterday when it had been a bright day and nearly that today too - makes everything look so much more hopeful doesn't it?

Jane

Unknown said...

Best of luck with keeping fit! I tripped over in the street last week and my knees hit the concrete with some force. When I can walk comfortably I am determined to get more exercise - it is too easy to take good health for granted. When I am fit I feel better too.

I love all your pages. The colours for February look really good and springlike, and the paisley is lovely. But my favourite is your very beautiful watercolour. It's just lovely.

PS: Glad to hear Marvin is doing well.

webb said...

I love the February page. Can't wait to retire so that I will have more time and can take up the challenge.

Sandra Hall said...

Great pages as always Jill. Love the bright colours of February :) I'm behind with mine - suffering from a prolapsed disc and can't put my mind to anything :( x

Patrice said...

love the paisley

Beverley Baird said...

Love your February page! I have yet to get at mine! had fun creating the Jan. one. Great journal pages! Thanks for sharing.

flutterbycrafter said...

I just adore you drawings of Marvin on the Jan page and all the little sketches on the individual days. Love the colours of Feb. Yes, I was thrilled to receive the scribble pot from Pat, it's absolutely gorgeous, beautiful work and of course very extravagant of Pat to buy it for me.

harmony and rosie said...

Yet another piece of artistry, looking forward to see how February evolves. I'm so pleased to see February and the lighter evenings we are now having. It means we no longer have to do the school run in the dark!

Juls said...

wow!!! such fabulous creativity! HUgs Juls

Unknown said...

Lovely pages Jill, I love the drawings on your journal blocks

Astrid Stulemeijer (AssiCrafts) said...

Love your January page all filled in, and these sketches are amazing.

Erika said...

Great pages Jill, love your journalling too.

Poppit said...

Your Jan pages look superb all filled in - love your little drawings. I also adore your little garden flowers journal. Such a sweet idea.

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Love the cats on your Jan pages, lovely citrus colours for Feb, nice and bright. The other Jan page with the paisley motif is fab :-)
Anne xx

the mixie pixie said...

I love your little watercolor flower studies! Came to see the calendar pages and thinking about joining the challenge. Delighted to meet you! Cheers! ~MixiePixie

Anonymous said...

What fantastic pages. S x