Tuesday, 13 February 2024

WOYWW 767 Crochet with Bella, watercolours

Hi all, thank you so much for your kind wishes last week. Sorry I couldn’t visit much; I was in a bad place all week. We’ll pick Gracie’s ashes up on Saturday. 
My desk today features odd things: table and dishwasher salt, sponges, stencils, clingfilm and bubble wrap. I’m experimenting with textures for our tree landscape, which we’ll paint next week after half term. 

Wet in wet watercolour seems best for the sky, salt and sponging for the foliage but I’m not sure about the grass. Not the salts, perhaps, but maybe a combination of the square stencil, which is a bark one on its side, and more sponging, with a bit of dry brush for tufts of grass. 
It’s not so easy to get a good texture. Here I was trying to get the darker part of the field right. It’s a mess. 
 
More experiments needed!
This is better, I think, just texture with a flat brush over a wash, then a bit of texture with the stencil and a splayed dry brush and more layers. 

My latest crochet slipover is advancing, I’ve done the back and am halfway up the front. 

Bella is a great comfort and sends purrs to you all. 
I hope you’ve enjoyed pancake day and are enjoying Valentines Day. I’ve ordered a particularly Welsh surprise for my better half. I’ll tell you next week! 
On Monday we had a nice day for once so we dodged the puddles and went for a walk along Folkestone Warren. 


And finally…




Take care and happy WOYWW 
Hugs
Lynnecrafts xx



14 comments:

Susan Renshaw said...

The And Finally's made me smile! Loved the colours in the crochet and enjoyed your practice pics. Happy Valentine's and WOYWW! Susan #9

Chana Malkah said...

Hi, Lynn,
So glad your are feeling better! It takes time! I love your funnies!

Very nice progress on your slipover. I just love the colors!

You seem to be progressing very well in your art class. Kudos to you!

So glad you and your hubby had some together time.
Be well,
Hugz,
Chana Malkah, WOYWW #9

Helen said...

your watercolours look good to me and you seem to be having fun with them which is the main thing. Happy WOYWW and I hope your Welsh surprise goes well!! Helen #4

Mary Anne said...

How helpful is that overview of watercolour techniques! I know I need to spend some time getting better at them but it just gets pushed down my list... Hope the pain will get less sharp and you will soon be able to remember Gracie with joy and comfort. The pancake funny killed me. We just had pancakes and it could not be more on target LOL!
Happy WOYWW so Ready, set, hop!
Mary Anne (12)

Lynnecrafts said...

From LLJ:
They leave such a blooming big hole don’t they? We were bereft for months after Ron went so we all send you hugs. I like your watercolours experimenting, you’ve got a fine array of weird and wonderful stuff to play with there! I possess a small bottle of masking fluid but haven’t plucked up courage to use it yet. It was a beautiful day here on Monday too, made us feel brighter xx
Hugs LLJ 7 xx

Neet said...

It is understandable that you had a bad week and I am sorry if my messages didn't help. Remember it does you good to cry and I am sure Bella helped a lot too.
Looks as if you found some help in your crochet too. That is growing and I love the colour combo. Not too sure about mine. I keep finding I split the wool and end up with it too tight around the hook or an extra stitch. One thing I have found is that it is easier to pull back and continue with crochet than it is with knitting.
You certainly are taking this drawing course very seriously and doing lots of homework to help with the next class. Some lovely results too, and they will look good when they are all put together. I think you are doing extremely well.
Take care, baby steps, big holes and all that.
Hugs, Neet xx 3

Christine said...

Love the crochet, it is making a very attractive piece of work, love the stitch you are using.
Interesting testing of the paint techniques . . . what a great way of checking it all out before you go back to class.
Have a good week
Christine #15

Sarah Brennan said...

Love the 50 ways to wake your owner Lynne. Love the way your crochet is growing. Love your watercolour experiments. Gentle hugs and meow to Bella. Stay safe and Happy WOYWW. Sarah #16

Anonymous said...

Being creative is always a good way to get through difficult times. Sending you big hugs.
Annie x #1

Crafting With Jack said...

Gracie will always stay in your memory and your heart. I am glad Bella is there for you.
Watercolour can be tricky for texture, but you seem to be doing well with it. Have you tried a fan brush?
Happy WOYWW. Angela #6

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

It always hurts when you lose a much loved pet but we have to be grateful for the time we had with them. Good luck with the experiments and gthanks for the funnies too. Sending woyww hugs Angela x2x

BJ said...

Love the watercolour play and the stencils, sound like a great idea, not tried that one ....yet. Must get me a real sponge! (slight Amazon wishlist hiatus) Have to say my first pancake was the best but it went downhill from there, so glad I'm no compelled to get the frying pan out to give this a go more than once a year, if that even, don't remember the last time but it is usually when our son is here. First time I have gone it alone - still HATE cooking! Oh my word Hugs BJ#5

Julia Dunnit said...

Wow, fascinating watercolour studies! I like salt and cling film very much, but the fan brush splay is clever isn't it. I wonder what you'll settle on? Look forward to seeing your surprise for Brian, afraid that pancake and Valentines day passed us by this week...just didn't have the heart. Hope you're having a better week x

Kyla said...

Hope the week has been ok for you. Loving the idea of experimenting with texture in watercolours, never thought to use bubble wrap etc in painting, no idea why as I have used it with crafting inks etc to create texture. hope the welsh pressie was good too.
thanks for visiting my desk already
kyla