Tioga Pass June 2024 photo by Soma Acharya Ink Torrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

Little Stories – Summer Play

Tioga Pass June 2024 photo by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

I went away for a few days to the Sierra Mountains at the high elevation that I love so much.   Now that I am back at home, it is strictly playing and planning indoors for me now.   As I was doing just that, I thought I share with you another set of b&w photos, along with a few other things I have been playing with – paint making, quilting, bookmaking and photography.

 

 

Simple 365 – Set 11

 


Here is another set of Simple365 photos.   For those of you who are new here – A few years ago,  I took one b&w photo per day of simple little things around me for a year.   I have been sharing those photos here every now and then.  These were taken during July and August of that year. 

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

I created a page with all the previously shared photos from Simple365.  I continue to add photos to that page as I share them here.  That way I can relive the journey through the year via black and white photos, like in an old photo album.

 

 

InkTorrents Graphics shop @ InkTorrents.com

 

Since I share mostly artwork and photos on this website, one thing you probably don’t know about me is that there was a time when I wrote software for most of my waking hours.  I loved it and I still do.

This is the month when I worked on the computer almost non-stop while drinking countless mugs of coffee and poring over code and art photos.  Tech and art side by side.  My shop went live that month.  Since then, I have added my handmade journals to the shop and sold quite a few, which has been a dream come true.

 

 

Paint Making

 


 

Making Lake Pigment by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

This is only a very small subset of pigments I made last year from things found in the garden.  I am planning on turning them into paint this year.  I need to get a respirator first since I don’t want any of this powder to get into my lungs.  I can’t wait to share more with you.

 

 

Quilt Making

 


 

Iris tulip English Garden Flower quilt pattern by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

I design paper piecing quilt patterns from the ground up, not using quilting software, but a vector drawing program.  I don’t have a design wall, so I create the layout using a software/app as well. 

 

 

Iris tulip English Garden Flower quilt pattern by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

I have finished making all the blocks for this quilt.  Now with the finished layout, I can start cutting the rest of the  fabric for sewing.

 

 

Notebooks and Journals

 


 

Old style handmade NAT leather notebook by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

My husband is studying for his pilot license, and he loves using paper for his notes.  So, I made this notebook for him in the style of old leather books, but with new NAT / vegan leather.  I saved the trim for him to use as a bookmark.

More books are in the making as I write this.

 

 

Photography

 


 

My Cat Tavish photo by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

When I am out and about, my DSLR camera is my perpetual companion.   A few years ago, I switched over to using non-zoom lenses, which are incidentally manual focus only.  It’s a bit old fashioned compared to the modern age of auto-focus zoom lenses, but it suits my style of photography. 

 

 

My Cat Tavish photo by Soma Acharya InkTorrents Graphics @ InkTorrents.com

 

I find black and white photography to be highly expressive.  As the color is stripped off the scene, it becomes all about light and shadow. 

I wanted to try out my recently acquired new lenses.   Tavish is the only cat who sits quietly enough for me to take his photos.   I took two portrait-style photos of him.  I couldn’t decide which one to share since they show two completely different sides of his personality – curious and quiet.  So I am sharing both.

 

Although I miss being outside, looking through the Simple365 photos made me want to play with new ideas, plan for the next road trip, and spend extra time with the kitties.   So that is exactly what I will be doing until autumn calls me out to play again.

I hope your summer is going well!

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

 

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Everyday Bullet Journals with Fluttering Spring Cherry Blossoms Cover in Teal Green @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

Twirling and Fluttering

Everyday Bullet Journals with Fluttering Spring Cherry Blossoms Cover @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

Hello everyone!  I have a lot to share with you today.   The trees around here are full of white blossoms.  The little flowers look so lovely when they twirl and flutter in the breeze.  I have been working on a couple of paintings of these flowers.  I also want to make a new quilt, so I wrote a quilt pattern as well.

 

 

Spring Blossoms in the rain in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

One day, when it rained and pollen was not so bad, I went outside to take a photo of this delicate flower holding onto a gentle raindrop.  It’s one of my favorite photos. 

 

 

Fluttering Spring Blossoms quilt pattern @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

Fluttering Blossoms quilt pattern

 

Blossoms come in so many different colors.  Instead of the usual pink, I picked white for mine because of the white blossoms blooming around here.

 

 

Fluttering Spring Blossoms quilt pattern @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

After I finished the flower, I wrote the pattern for a single petal.

 

 

Fluttering Spring Blossoms quilt pattern @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

This is the design of little flowers and petals twirling and fluttering in the wind that I will be making into a quilt.

You can get this Fluttering Blossoms quilt pattern from my shop.  It includes both the flower and petal patterns.

 

 

 

Spring Blossoms in the rain in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

That rainy day, I took a photo of this flowering branch as well.  I love the contrasting green background created by the large tree that was behind it.

 

 

Fluttering Spring Cherry Blossoms drawings for everyday journals @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

It all started with a simple drawing of these dainty flowers in my sketchbook.   As usual, as time passed, I started to expand on the original drawing.  I couldn’t really decide on one, so I made two.

 

 

Dragonfly sketch @InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

 

 

Before I copied the drawings onto the papers that I would be using for the paintings,  I must have practiced at least 50-60 dragonfly wings.  In order for me to draw a continuous curve with the pen,  I had to find the correct angles of both the paper and my hand.  Those arrows on the paper are to remind myself of the start and end points.

 

 

Everyday Bullet Journals with Fluttering Spring Cherry Blossoms Cover @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

Fluttering Blossoms everyday journals

 

Instead of going with traditional colors, I chose a couple of stylized color combinations.  I couldn’t say no to that vibrant red,  and teal is my favorite color.   Once I had the colors for the flowers, the colors for the dragonflies came naturally.

I named this one Fluttering Blossoms.

 

 

Everyday Bullet Journals with Fluttering Spring Cherry Blossoms Cover @ InkTorrents.com by Soma Acharya

Twirling Blossoms everyday journals

 

My husband recently requested a bullet journal.  He chose this drawing with the petals for his book cover.

This one is called Twirling Blossoms.

I drew and painted all four of them individually.  There were a couple of accidents which required me to restart.  I will refrain from mentioning the words that were uttered at those moments.

 

Here are the four everyday journals with the paintings on the cover.  Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos –

 

 

The journals are also available in my shop, as well as the quilt pattern.

 

Now I am off to make the journal for my husband.  I may end up making a bullet journal for myself as well.  I will share them when I finish.

 

A dear friend loves watching the spring blossoms and autumn leaves fluttering and twirling in the air.   It’s very peaceful to see him enjoying the simple and ephemeral moments of nature.  These little flowers always make me think of him.  I hope you like them!

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please consider paying a visit to some of them.

 

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