Greetings!
This month’s exhibit is a study in contrasts… the then and now of my Happy Place! And… has my Happy Place changed over the years.
When I was much younger my Happy Place was tied to a physical place… my grandparent’s home was at the top of that list… and if going to a physical place was not possible, then letting a book “take me away” was the next best thing! And those things worked for my happy place for a very long time.
My Happy Place now has expanded a bit… grown up, perhaps. I still love to read a book that will “take me away”… thank goodness! But I don’t need to physically go someplace. Although, I’d love to be able to head over to my grandparent’s house and while away the hours with them! I think my grandpa would love for me to recite some of my favorite poems to him! And an afternoon cooking with my nana sounds heavenly! Thankfully, I have their memories tucked away safely inside me and those memories are there for me to visit any time I want!
Today however, I also am so incredibly happy when I am making things… knitting was the best thing I ever did for myself… picking up some yarn, needles, a how to knit book and teaching myself to knit (pre-YouTube days!) was so wise as was finding a LYS that was a true delight and who helped expand my love for knitting. Knitting remains the gateway to happy these days… and I am so grateful to past me for embarking on this journey!
However my happy place has been expanding recently! Watercolor painting has moved up significantly on my Happy Place List in the past year. I am so thankful that a friend forwarded me an email that put my feet on this path…
And I even have a couple of “exhibits” to share with you… the first and last lessons from the latest painting class!
It took me several years to figure out who I am and a few more to accept what I discovered. Now, I’m in the enjoyment stage of that process and it’s a happy place. — Jolene Blalock
It took me a while to get to this point, but gosh I am so happy to be here now!
Happy Friday everyone, I will see you all back here on Monday!
Lovely! You really are so very talented Kat. I love your paintings and you know I love your knitting too. I especially love that you are in a happy place.
This is the loveliest exhibit, Kat! I love that your happy place exists in your memories, in “take me away” books, and in making. Your watercolors are superb; I especially admire the shadows in the flower picture. (And that is a great quote!)
This post chokes me up, Kat…for so many beautiful reasons. Your grandparents. Learning something, on your own, pre-YouTube-from-a-book! Your paintings. Your journey to now. And that final quote. Here’s to a happy weekend in your happy place. ♥
It’s been so fun to watch you . . . unfold . . . with your painting this year, Kat. It makes my heart happy — so I can only imagine what it does for your own. XO
You have had outstanding Happy Places throughout your life! Congrats on discovering that your current such places are ones that stimulate your creative juices.
How lovely that you have had multiple happy places over the years (and I’m with you on getting lost in a book — that’s the best)! I’m so glad to hear that even though the watercolor practice has been frustrating to you at times, it’s become another happy place. You’re reminding me of my many hours in the art studio when I was a senior in high school and made up the entirety of the AP studio art class. I could have spent all day drawing or painting if they’d let me!
Your watercolor journey has been inspirational to me and I always feel your enthusiasm. Creating is a wonderful place to be!
Wonderful and wise, Kat. Books are such a life-saver for so many reasons in so many stages of life. Your watercolor work is amazing.
Your happy place sounds wonderful.
Happy memories are a great example of a happy place! Your watercolors are really lovely, Kat, and I’m so glad this has resonated for you as a skill and as something that brings you happiness.
I love this post so much because you give so many alternatives to the concept of happy place. I adored my grandmother too, the scent of geraniums and apples in storage reminds me of her. Your paintings are really coming on, loved the plant shadows too. More importantly it makes you happy. Oh yes to books, libraries, book and yarn shops. It’s being amongst like minded people.