Nature Journaling

Northern California Wildflowers in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Ever since I moved to California, my yearning to be close to nature has grown immensely.  Even when we lived in metropolitan Los Angeles, I always found a way to be close to nature.  My day usually starts with spending some time with the plants.  I love to photograph the local parks just as much as I love to photograph the grand scenes of the California landscapes.

 

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

 

 

While I tend to the garden, I come across beautifully mottled leaves, an occasional green acorn, a knobbly branch, or even a piece of old rosewood.  Since I always have a camera on me, it’s easy to pause from garden work for a few photos.  I suppose I have always used photography to record the little things around me.

 

 

Nature Journal handbound watercolor book @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I have a dedicated Canson book that I use for painting flowers and leaves and such,  but it’s too large to carry around all the time. 

That changed when I started making my own books.   Of the two books I made for nature journalling, I am keeping one for myself.  I am giving the other one away along with the little artist colour paint kit ( valued at $45- ) as a thank you.

 

 

Nature Journal handbound watercolor book @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

A little bit about my books – I am more than a little picky about paper.  I use only very high quality artist-grade paper for my watercolour books.  I hand stitch them the traditional way with special thread, then additionally use glue and other methods to secure the spine.  The end papers are made with card stock and the book is finished by encasing it in a cover made with high quality book cloth.

 

The Giveaway has now ended.

 

 

 

Northern California wildflowers at local park in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I am thinking about taking my book to the parks around here.  They are full of trees and during the months of March and April, the whole place is dotted with beautiful wild flowers.  Soon afterwards, everything turns into straw from the harsh California summer, but for those few weeks, it is just wonderful to get close to the ground and find these little gems even if it means getting mud and dirt all over my clothes.

 

 

I have gotten requests for adding photo prints to my shop.   I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by adding a set of sweet little wild flower photos that I have taken around here.

 

Northern California Wildflower Shooting Stars @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Dancing Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars happily dancing with each other

 

 

Northern California Wildflower Sweet Pea @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Wild Sweet Pea

Little wild sweet pea flowers saying hello

 

 

Northern California Wildflower Spring Vetch @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Butterfly Flower Vetch

The Common Vetch posing as a butterfly

 

I hope you like this set.   I print them on high quality photo paper with archival ink.  They can also be used as cards,  framed as-is in a 5″ x 7″ frame, or displayed on a small table easel.   You can find these northern California wildflower photos here in my shop.  Let me know which one is your favourite.

 

Good luck to each one of you for the giveaway.  My heartfelt thanks for visiting me and leaving such wonderful, encouraging words, and also for continuing to purchase from my shop. Each sale is very special to me because it enables me to make donations to my favourite shelters and humane societies. 

 

 

 

Don’t forget,  Wandering Camera is at the end of the month, 26th of August.  An Art & Photography linky party!

Until then,
-Soma

 

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

 

 

 

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April Showers

April Showers Spring Garden Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase April Showers Pattern

 

Winter showers bring wild flowers where I live in California, but the old saying about April came to mind while I was drawing this picture, which turned into a quilt pattern soon afterwards.  I love spending time working in my little garden, tending to my flowering plants.  It’s often a struggle to keep them healthy during the harsh summers here, but when rain arrives in late autumn, it brings hope of a good spring.

 

 

April Showers On Grass | Whims And Fancies

 

 

If the rain continues into April, then I know my plants are going to have a wonderful summer.  After such an April shower few days ago, I had to go for a walk in our local park at the break of dawn.  Rain drops were still clinging to the blades of grass and to the petals of the wild flowers.

 

 

Walking in Rain with Red Umbrella Painting | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I love the solitude I find in rain.  I am not confident enough to be seen sporting a red umbrella or wearing a red coat, or even a red pair of boots.   I am a jeans-and-black-T-shirt kind of girl.  My boots are always mud-stained, and I carry a grey umbrella.  However, I can never pass up the idea of a red umbrella in my artwork.

 

 

April Showers Spring Garden Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Purchase April Showers Pattern

 

This 12″ April Shower quilt pattern is quite versatile.  I used three shades of red to make mine.  The umbrella can also be made into a multicolour one, or made with a person’s favourite colour.  I used green grass, but I can easily imagine a flowering patch in that area instead.

The April Showers quilt pattern can be found in my shop.

 

My rain-loving gardener self is very happy with this block.  It also makes me think of all the walks I went on with my husband while travelling, since those almost always require us to carry umbrellas.   Instead of turning this into a wall hanging, I am thinking of making a bag with it.  That would be me carrying a red umbrella for the first time my life.

 

-Soma

 

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

I am also joining monthly linky party Favourite Finish  hosted by  Meadow Mist Designs.

 

 

 

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