Local Park in Northern California by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

Little Stories – Seedlings

Local Park at sunset in Northern California by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

Hello Everyone!  I want to welcome all visitors, both old and new, here at InkTorrents.  This is where I have been sharing a bit of my atelier and my life.   This winter break was a tough one for me, which made a longer break necessary.  I do love the company of trees and mountains, so I visited a few natural places in Northern California for recovery.   At other times, I had my head buried in a sketchbook.  I look forward to sharing the photos and artwork with you over the next few posts.

 

 

As you know, photography is a very integral part of me.  For those of you who are new here,  I took one photo of my everyday surroundings per day for a year.  These photos played a big part in my life, and I have been sharing them here every now and then.

Here is the next set of my Simple365 photos.

 

Simple 365 – Set 9

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 album.

 

 

Botanical ink making by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

Every now and then I make botanical paint from things I forage from my garden. 

 

Wild Child

I shared the basics of botanical ink making here.

 

 

Indigo and coreopsis seedlings by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

 

A few years ago, I got Indigo and Coreopsis seeds for the purpose of paint making.  I collect the seeds from both plants each year and save them in little seed packets.  Last week I had a great time sitting on the patio, sowing them in tiny little pots.  These green trays are great for a plant nursery.

 

Much to my surprise, I saw little seedlings emerge within just a few days.  I love watching them grow and look forward to the beautiful flowers and colours they will make.

 

 

Coreopsis seeds by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

I will write up a little tutorial on how to make these cute seed packets soon, in case you want to save or share seeds from your garden.

 

 

Yosemite Valley ink sketch by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

With a very frail 19+ year-old kitty at home, we have been limiting our travels to just a couple of days at a time, mostly within California.  I often spend the last afternoon of a trip drawing in a sketchbook while my husband reads. 

Visiting Yosemite in winter is a must for me.   I did this sketch in pencil while I was at Yosemite, didn’t have a pen with me then.  I wanted to leave it as-is, but my dear husband loves inked drawings. So, later on, I used a $10 fude pen for all the lines and a white gel pen for the snow.

I look forward to showing you more drawings and telling you a bit more about this sketchbook soon.

 

 

Lino carved vines by Soma @ InkTorrents.com

 

With the advent of March, my outside time became very limited due to severe allergies.  Since I couldn’t be outside enjoying the fresh air and flowers,  I started sketching and then carving this block.  This will join the everyday journal wildflowers collection covers.  I am very excited about printing this one and making a book with it.

 

These are just a few things from my winter break.  I have so much to share with you – ideas, tools and supplies, the makes, and of course photos from my travels.

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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LOTS Of Paintings And Sidewalk Cafes

ICAD 2015 - Element Picker | Whims And Fancies

 

Day 7 – Periodic Table

Derivative of Colour Picker – An Element Picker

 

Last year I got to know about icad – Index Card A Day – at Daisy Yellow, but it was toward the very end of the event.  So I decided to not bother joining it at the last moment.  This year, however, I was ready to jump start my drawing, which I had been missing very dearly.  Since the 1st of June I made a commitment to draw one index card per day.  This set is from my first week.

 

 

ICAD 2015 - Taxi | Whims And Fancies

 

Day 6 – Taxi

They need to go home too!

 

 

ICAD 2015 - Owl | Whims And Fancies

 

Day 5 – Owl

Want to play in the rain with me?

 

 

ICAD 2015 - Mailbox | Whims And Fancies

 

Day – 4 Mailbox

From the Edwardian Era, for one of my favourite authors, P. G. Wodehouse

 

 

ICAD 2015 - Map | Whims And Fancies

 

Day 3 – Map

Milky Way, in case you were going that way

 

 

ICAD 2015 - Carnival | Whims And Fancies

 

Day 2 – Carnival

The book Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury has haunted my dreams for a very long time, but no more.

 

 

ICAD 2015 - Chevron | Whims And Fancies

 

Day 1 – Chevron

I love to swim in the summer; sunlight reflecting off water is one my favourite sights.

 

 

The event runs until July 31st, that makes a total of 61 cards.  You can find out more about it at the Daisy Yellow website in case you are inclined to join in.  It should be a lot of fun for kids too.  I am really loving it so far and I am very happy with my progress.  I hope you enjoyed the little show and tell.  I will share more cards as I draw along.

 

 

Sidewalk Cafe Quilt Pattern for travel or coffee and tea lover | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I have one little sewing note to mention.  Since I love coffee and tea so much, cafe stops are a must for me while travelling.  Those are also the best places to try out local food and watch life happening around me.  That thought initiated the Sidewalk Cafe quilt pattern.  I made mine with British Motor Racing colours and used the address of my all-time favourite fictional detective as the name of the cafe.

 

 

Sidewalk Cafe Quilt Pattern for traveller or cafe and tea lover | Whims And Fancies

 

 

I had fun making these alternate versions.  Wouldn’t it be nice to make a cafe quilt block each for different places and make a table runner or a wall hanging?  I wish I had more time to create, don’t you?!!

 

Happy Crafting,
-Soma

 

 

 

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