Greetings Unravelers! I have returned from my glorious vacation… one in which I barely knit a stitch and since returning home on Sunday I have still barely knit a stitch!
But!! I have a great excuse… I have been madly working on getting my last painting done for my watercolor class. It is done, turned in, and I am really quite happy with my results! Perfection? Nope. But it has so many things that turned out *how I wanted them to* which means some of the techniques are becoming familiar to me and that is a very good thing! I did feel like my masking was a bit out of control, but it worked for the most part! Tangle of branches.. yes! With snow… YES! My ice needs some more practice, but overall I am very happy with it!
Besides that I have been consumed with all the “You’ve been away for 10-days” catch up things! Yuck! The only thing left on that list are to wash rugs which will happen today! Then I can breathe a bit and might even do some knitting this afternoon!
My new watercolor class started yesterday, but I have not started yet because some new watercolor paper coming later today and I want to wait for that before I start….although I absolutely should do a value study or two for this painting.
I did have a banner reading week on vacation… I finished seven books! Now, granted, two of those books were books of poetry and I have been reading one or two each morning to start the day for most of October. But still… SEVEN books! And they were all so very good!
My current reads include the above stack of poetry books as well as the new David Sedaris book – Happy Go Lucky. I am listening to David read it to me and I am loving it! I also will be reading some of Joy Harjo’s Sunrise for National Native American Heritage Month.
And with that, you have my quick update for what I am (not, lol) making and reading. I hope you all have been more productive that I have! I will be back on Friday with a fun bit of a current post!
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave you link below and thank you!
Coming back from a vacation is always a busy time! Going through the mail (endless), doing laundry, re-stocking the pantry – all of those things take time and I’m amazed you found time to do anything else. BUT…your painting is marvelous Kat. Just looking at it makes me shiver! LOL Well done!
I always think it’s a sign of a really good vacation if you come back and haven’t knit a lot! I think your watercolor is stunning — I’m really impressed! It would make a lovely holiday card, too. I hope today is productive and allows you some time to get back to your making!
It is so challenging to “re-enter real life” when you get back from a vacation . . . so hang in there! 🙂 We went to see David Sedaris over the weekend here in Kalamazoo. He’s one of my favorite “performers” (and essayists), so I will usually do whatever I can to score tickets when he’s in town. (This was my third time seeing him read live.) (Highly recommend.) XO
I absolutely love that watercolor and admire your progress! A scene like that would make a lovely holiday card (and I can hardly wait to see what you do next). I hope you get caught up soon and have some more time for reading, knitting, sewing, and more painting!
I think that’s a lovely watercolor. I hope that the re-entry isn’t taking away all the relaxation and joy you experienced while on vacation!
The painting is gorgeous, and I hope you frame and hang it.
Your painting is beautiful. If it makes your heart sing to paint, then paint. You can knit later. IMO – Tracy K. Smith is a superb poet. Our internet was down most of the day. so I couldn’t post today. Bah humbug. Post vacation time takes some energy and adjustment.
Just out of curiosity I looked at our library catalogue for Wendell Berry…no poetry but a book of short stories Stand by Me. I always find short stories interesting so It’s on my list for next year.
No time to knit means there have been other things to do (like enjoying life with family) which isn’t always a bad thing. Your painting is great – cool looking, in fact more than cool – cold. Would be good for a series of seasonal nature cards.
I love love love your snowy scene. You have come on such a lot , you must be so pleased with your progress. That is a lot of books, I’m still on the same cardigan, I keep thinking there will be progress or a finish- next week I will post whatever..
Wowowowow – Kat! Your painting is gorgeous. You said you needed more work on the ice but I think it’s spectacular. It looks like it is GLOWING with sunshine… and those shadows? Wow – you are very talented. Your devotion is really paying off. It’s stunning.
So glad you were able to read so much on vacation! What a lovely way to spend your time away! And I’m still in the middle of The Peace of Wild Things – Wendell Berry holds my heart. I have The Hurting Kind in my stack to be read and can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
Paint on!
I had read through Ada’s book shortly after it came out, but she has left The Slowdown podcast to begin her duties as U.S. Poet Laureate! I am grateful to have this book of poetry to keep Ada with me. It is so very good – and very re-read worthy!
And thank you so much for your kind words on my painting!
I am so glad you had a great vacation and you read all the books! I rarely knit as much as I think I will when I am away from home but that doesn’t stop me for taking the knitting. Welcome back!!