Weekend Wrap-up: A Doodle and Dessert

Wow, it's been some time since my last post.  I never know where the time goes and always have the greatest intentions but somehow they get lost in the grand scheme of things . . .  I am however only to blame due to the large amount of procrastinating I've done lately.  I don't believe there's a reason for it but it has happened nonetheless.  Aside from spending a large portion of my weekend thinking about what I need to get done I actually did accomplish a small part of my extensive 'to-do' list.

 My friend K and I have a project idea on the go and this painting has a part in it.  I started it some time ago and finally finished this weekend  (I took the photos late at night and the only place I could get the lighting to work was on the stairs).  I'll hopefully get some better photos and repost them at a later date.  The original photograph (not shown) was taken by my 'sister-in-law' J.  I kept it pretty similar to the photo aside from the bottom half of the background, which I overemphasized the blue to create more depth and visual appeal rather than having a random tomato floating in the dark.   Overall I'm quite pleased how this one turned out and hope the others in the series work just as well.

I did a lot of baking to prepare for this week - I made four recipes (well I consider that a lot. . .). The Jam and Coconut Thumbprint Cookies and 'Larabars' aren't pictured 'cause there really wasn't anything fantastic about their appearance so instead I'll just share the Blueberry-Bran Muffins and Chocolate Cookies.  All the recipes I used are very basic and extremely tasty.  Aside from the muffins I've made all the others before and will again and again and again. . .  You can make them all in one evening with little clean-up (that is if you don't use a zillion spoons like I tend to. . .).

Fresh Out of the Oven!

Close-up of the HUGE Blueberries

Chocolate-iest Cookies EVAR!

Ta-Da!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

Doodle of the Day: Black and White

 It's been awhile since I've posted any drawings so I thought I'd share multiple sketches I've done in the last few days.  Most of the inspiration behind the doodles have been photos I've seen online.  The banana and vitamin B1 image was a still life I set up - the mosquitoes are coming!  I don't know if the vitamins actually repel mosquitoes or that bananas attract them but it's worth a try and was a fun doodle.

Doodle of the Day: Watercolour Woman

8.5 x 11"
Watercolour on Watercolour Paper

I was doing a bit more watercolour practice over the weekend and mimicked a painting I found online to see if I could accomplish similar brush strokes.   Happy Summer!

Doodle of the Day: Eye of the Storm

Ink on Loose Leaf

Just a quick doodle while chatting on the phone. 
Hope you had a great Wednesday!

Weekend Wrap-up: Flower Power and Greek Dinner

Curls

This weekend was okay. Not super fantastic, but not too shabby.  I didn't feel quite myself but tried to keep my mind off of certain things by doing a few random things such as trying out my new-to-me dehydrator (I can't WAIT for my first batch of banana chips to be finished).  On Saturday evening my family and I met at this restaurant to celebrate my sister graduating from college (again, ha-ha).  I made her card myself using watercolours on watercolour paper and then adhering it to a blank greeting card.  Super simple but fun nonetheless.  The weather was supposed to be on the crappy side so I hadn't planned on going to any farmers markets and boy did I miss it!  I think next weekend I'll try out a different town just to mix it up a bit.

Bananas are a dryin'!

On my way to the library

Busy bees were all around these flowers.

New Peonies for me!

Close-up

Mom and Zoos

Dad and Zoos

My Greek Dinner of Salmon Souvlaki

Zoos' Card from Me (and Phil)

J Bein' Silly

Doodle of the Day: Smooch

Last weekend I did a bit of rough sketching with my new pens and this one didn't turn out too badly.  I haven't done a lot of random doodles lately and enjoyed practicing a bit with comic book character features.

Doodle of the Day: Lilies

It's finished!
Lilies
Graphite on Drawing Paper

Doodle of the Day: Looking Back

 I'm trying desperately to make more time for important things like sketching and creating things I'm happy with but I always seem to get stuck - either with work that didn't turn out or running out of time which always results in half finished pieces I never go back to.  I'm sure I'm not the only aspiring artist to feel this way and I'm most certainly not the last.  How do others get through these little ruts and push past them?  It's never easy when your other obligations get in the way like paying your bills on time. . . anyway, enough griping.  These are a couple quick sketches I did in 2010 just before starting school. 

Today's another day!

Weekend Wrap-up: Time Together in the Sun

Phil and I were busy this weekend getting some things done (as most are on the weekend) but we mostly spent a lot of time with one another which was lovely.  The weather was AMAZING the entire weekend and even made waking up at 7am to go grocery shopping bearable.  On Saturday we went to Langley to do some Birthday shopping for Phil, then visited Fort Langley for the first time since the Albion Ferry shut down.  On Sunday we did the way-too-early grocery shop, then came home to have our weekly brunch together.  In the afternoon we went on our first bike ride of the year and did some exploring in our own town.  New areas get developed so quickly it's nice to ride around to check them out.  After an extensive house cleaning (I'm really messy on the weekend), Phil made homemade pizza for dinner and we had our cupcakes from Saturday for dessert.  Yum!

Egg Cups - I actually made these on Thursday but had to share

Muffins - also made on Thursday

Breakfast on the Go!

Spring has sprung!

So pretty, peeking through

Phil enjoying the sunshine during lunch

Beautiful blue spring sky!

The bistro

Yummy Lunch - Smoked Salmon Sandwich for me and the Sirloin Beef Dip for Phil

I just can't pass-by a candy store.  I just can't

Phil with his 'babycake' cupcake

Me with my cupcake - no little boxes left so I look like I already ate five . . .

ICE CREAM!

Two-Bit Bar

Our new boat

Phil sporting his new gear

Bombay Chai Babycake

Peppermint Patty Cupcake

Mega one for me!

Our extensive shopping list . . .

Phil picking up some Easter necessities

I left him for less than a minute . . .

Home in time to make brunch!

Egg cups, hash browns, pancakes, baked grapefruit and mixed berries

Doodled while chatting with my sister

Bought a small handful of skittles, really only good for photos . . .

Pizza with assorted toppings

Delicious!

Perfect treat to end a great weekend!