Friday, January 23, 2026

Art For Fun Friday and Friday Face Off

Hello Friday and hello wonderful friends. This past week I've had a bit of a scratchy throat and hot flashes are a nightmare. My head feels a bit heavy. Might be the weather. It's been grey skies for a long time. Well yesterday there was a bit of sun and I loved it. Today is very cold here and it is -14 but feels like -21.

We are supposed to have a weekend storm. I am doing my groceries Saturday morning so I can avoid the storm. I feel I need to get out and walk a bit because being stuck indoors is not my thing. Especially with hot flashes. lol Cold weather is lovely. 

This past week I worked with pastels. It was amazing and very fun. I love how the pastels glide and are creamy and smooth. I want to make some animals but I am not sure what. Any ideas?

 Linking to Nicole's lovely blog for FFO and Gillena's Blog for Art for Fun Friday.

Thank you Nicole and Gillena for hosting lovely blogger parties. 


I made up this character. I realize she has different shape glasses. 



The view from my window. I always make one of these every season. I love rooftops and nature and houses. So much fun to draw. I hope one day we can own our own home. 


I didn't manage to get a vlog together. I will try my best to do so. I've been filming little bits here and there but didn't manage to put it together. I hope you have a wonderful Friday and a lovely weekend my friends.I look forward to visiting your blog and thank you for your kind comments. It means so much to me. Thank you kindly and have a wonderful and creative day. 

Maria


Tuesday, January 20, 2026

London Fog Tea & Art

 Good Morning! It's a cold one here in Ontario. Like super cold I hate it. -14 but feels like -23! what? Noooooo I don't like it. I stay cozy and warm with my favourite tea at the moment and it is London Fog Tea. I am linking up with T Stands for Tuesday hosted by the lovely Elizabeth. 


Yesterday I took out my pastels and oh what fun I had! 

Lately I'm having a challenging time figuring it out what to draw and paint

I need more prompts,

Where do you go for finding prompts? 

using pastels is fun!

oil pastels on Canson Pastel Paper

 


Chalk Pastels on Canson Pastel Paper 


Both chalk pastels and oil pastels are messy to play with but so much fun. I will be playing with these today as well.  I hope you all have a lovely Tuesday and enjoy the rest of the week. I appreciate you all for your visit and thank you for your comments. It means a lot to me. 

Thank you! 

Maria













Sunday, January 18, 2026

In The Art Room

 Happy Sunday! 

Linking Up to Sunday in the Art Room  Hosted by the lovely and talented Nicole.

This is my art space. I am grateful for this space even if it is small. I don't mind at all. I just always need to have a window to look outside. I need to feel close to nature. 




Recently working with watercolours.
I love working with watercolours so much. 



Acrylic Markers
Fun to work with makers and doodle. 


Mixed Media


Sketching faces


watercolours


markers


Journaling



small sketches


watercolours


coloured pencils



Finished my little clay plate to hold my washi tape


I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday my friends.
It is very cold here in Ontario
we have -18 and it is super cold.
Have a wonderful day and thank you if you stopped by to read my post. 
I am truly grateful!
Have a creative and beautiful day!
Thank you from my heart.

Maria 




Friday, January 16, 2026

Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'

Happy Friday!

Linking up today with the wonderful and talented Nicole for Friday Face Off  

Thank you Nicole for the Feature! You are inspirational and a wonderful artist that inspires me. I appreciate you so much.

The lovely and wonderful Gillena for Art For Fun Friday 

I can't get this song out of my head...

I have started this Leuchtturm1917 Journal in 2022 and I am almost finished it but am I? 

The left side of the pages are not all full. Do you fill up both sides of your Art pages? 

I feel like I am wasting a page so I am going to fill both sides up. 

I guess we make up our own rules right? Our sketchbook our rules. ;)


Also today is 99 days until I turn 50.
I am grateful for each moment on this earth. 
The good, the bad and the ugly. lol 
A true blessing.
Made this little spread in my journal.


this week in the ART Space

Background acrylic paint and the strawberry in pencil crayons. 


A quick little sketch
always thinking about the ocean


This is a reflection on my thoughts and feelings at the moment.
Would love to know your thoughts about this piece. 


Portrait with no reference


New Watercolours! They are bold and bright! Really like these. 






Landscape with the watercolours





A doodle with Sharpie acrylic parker pens


I miss doing junk journaling this week but will continue on the weekend. 

Also I've been working on air dry clay and I am making a little dish for my desk to put some washi tape on and a brush rest for when I am painting. I will show you the results next week. 
I enjoy clay and making little dishes. I think I would like to make some fruit shaped ones! :) FUN!


Thank you for being here and thank you for your time and comments. It means so much to me. I truly hope you are all well my friends and I can't wait to visit your blogs too. 
Stay creative and have a beautiful weekend! 

Maria 


*feel free to use my code: MARIA for 20% off your purchase with Leuchtturm1917. 

Also this month is my mammogram scan. Please pray for me. 🙏
Thank you again! Much love and good health.




Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Weekly Arts & Crafts

 

Hello and happy Tuesday! 

Linking up to T Stands for Tuesday Hosted by lovely Elisabeth

&

Art Journal Journey hosted this month by the lovely Erika  with the Theme "What's Up"

What's Up with me...

I created my winter mood Board in the Art room,

It is always fun to put together a bunch of things that I like,

I enjoy using various fabrics, yarn, ribbons, pictures, postcards and handmade items like the felt heart.



I made a hanging heart with yarn

I do feel I need more practice with this because I tend to put too much yarn in one area than another but I do think the heart looks pretty. 






I created a pink felt heart and added glitter glue on the ends of it
I would like to make some with lavender and a lace trim in the future. 


A closer look at the winter Moodboard in my Art Room


Having a cuppa coffee. This is my daughter's cute mug.


Currently Reading and enjoying


A few stationary favourites on my desk
I use all of these daily in my journal
I love little stamps and would like to have more. They are fun to play with. 


One of my cats 
this is
Auggie
He is never amused only if it involves food. 


I hope you all have a lovely week,
thank you for your visit and your wonderful comments. 
Thank you,
Maria 

Friday, January 9, 2026

Friday Face Off & Art For Fun Friday

Happy Friday! Hope you are all well. 

Linking up today with the wonderful and talented Nicole for Friday Face Off  

The lovely and wonderful Gillena for Art For Fun Friday 


Hubby bought me a lovely Christmas gift!

 Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils that are super nice. They feel soft and blend nicely. I haven't tried pressing hard yet so It will be interesting to see how they work with more pressure. 

I look forward to working with them. 



I used a reference photo from pinterest. 

Not sure how I feel about this one. 


I also used a reference art piece for this one and not sure how I feel about this one too. lol
not happy with my practice pieces lately 
Also I overworked the paper on each cheek. 



I enjoy learning and drawing faces 

I look forward to making more.

Used a reference photo from Pinterest.







Also this week I painted my new cup with watercolours.





I also created a few Junk Journal pages in my Travelers Journal






I hope you all have a wonderful weekend,
thank you for your comments and I look forward to visiting your blog. 
Thank you kindly, 
Maria