Hi Everyone! It has been a long time since I visited here, but I needed some time off. During my hiatus, I did my best to keep busy. Among other things, I finished a quilt, made a print for a charitable donation, worked on bookbinding, and finished one painting daily. The Girl And Her Cat in the picture very much led the way the last few months and I am happy that they did.
I also worked with different art supplies. I look forward to sharing my findings with you.
I finished my Simple365 black and white photography project as well. I will continue to post those pictures here.
My husband often gets me art supplies for my birthdays. This year I didn’t feel like celebrating, so I pulled out my birthday gifts from last year and made good use of them.
Twitter Art Exhibit is an event where artists send their works to be auctioned off for different charities each year. Instead of sending a painting this year, I decided to send a lino print called After The Storm.
I finally finished this long overdue quilt. Hand sewing the binding over a cup of coffee is a nice way to wake up. Now I need to take a few photos for the show-and-tell next time.
Ever since I was a child, I loved making books. I have been playing with different materials. I decided to switch to making the cover for these little ones with fabric instead of paper. They look so much nicer!
So far I have finished 151 little paintings in five of these books, and I just started on the sixth one.
I had an intense sense of being lost and helpless when I started painting in the first book. The Girl And Her Cat was the very first painting, and they started to appear a bit more often. They took me to different places, both near and far.
Here are the first 16 of those little paintings. The parchment backgrounds and the firewoods are painted with my homemade walnut ink.
Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos.
I will finish with a little story about the Winter Fairy and Charlie the cat with a snowflake wand.
The year was really dry and there was scarcely any snow. Not nearly enough to tuck the trees and plants under snow-blankets for their winter slumber. Without their winter slumber, the plants and trees wouldn’t be able to rest properly, and without rest they wouldn’t be able flower in the spring. They were distraught at the thought of not being able to provide for so many birds and insects that depend on them. The Winter Fairy was also very worried, until an idea came to her.
She sent calls for help to all creatures near and far. She gave each one a little wand. All they would need to do is think of a pretty snowflake. The snowflake would then appear from the end of the wand and travel to wherever it was needed.
These creatures would need to have the disposition of a youngster. How else would anyone think of pretty little diamond-glinting snowflakes? During an overcast day here, I found our little 17-year-old Charlie, who is the perpetual kitten of our home, sitting by the door staring outside. When I asked him what he was looking at, he told me of his important mission of helping the winter fairy. I gave him lots of love and wished him much luck. The mountains did get a good amount of rain and snow afterwards.
I hope you enjoyed the visit. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and familiar “faces” here again.
Until next time,
-Soma
I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them. I have joined a few new ones recently and they are a wonderful bunch!
42 thoughts on “Little Stories”
Margaret McCall May 22, 2021 at 20:09
I think that I will be a new friend of your blog. I am just getting back to my blog because I want to document my makes, starting with my cross stitch. Your paintings have drawn me in. I took some drawing lessons two years ago and I really need to get back to practicing. I will be back ;)
RachelSwirl May 22, 2021 at 12:05
Wow your artwork is incredible – thanks so much for sharing it with #MySundaySnapshot.
Sarah MumofThree World May 21, 2021 at 23:36
The paintings are so beautiful and the covers of your little books are fantastic.
#mysundayphoto
My Corner of the World May 21, 2021 at 22:22
My goodness, you ‘ve been busy! I have missed you but sometimes blogging has to take a back seat.
I appreciate your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!
Lady Fi May 20, 2021 at 23:11
Your sketches and paintings are lovely. That first one is extra special!
Sylvia D. May 20, 2021 at 06:33
Soma, Lovely little paintings! Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Sylvia D.
Veronica Lee May 18, 2021 at 22:45
Your paintings are lovely!
Happy Wednesday!
Tanza Erlambang May 18, 2021 at 15:52
color combines of first painting are perfect… love it
Alison Hall May 18, 2021 at 12:18
Your paintings are beautiful Soma, and I love your lino prints. I’ve caught the stamp carving bug this year, I really need some decent tools though.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Alison
Lavender Dreams May 18, 2021 at 05:34
You are doing so many things that I long to do! I’ve written some fairy tales in the past and now I wonder if I could put them into little books. What an amazing task! Your art is so sweet. I’ll keep this post open for inspiration! Hugs!
Sam May 17, 2021 at 11:08
What an interesting read to hear how you got to where you are now x #mysundayphoto
BLOGitse May 16, 2021 at 23:20
Welcome back! It’s good to be offline every now and then.
Your minibooks look lovely.
Have a good week!
Angie May 16, 2021 at 21:46
Soma – welcome back to Mosaic Monday! You are not the only blogger that has taken an extended break, and it is such a relief to see “old friends” post again. (One never knows what might have happened to someone …) It comes as no surprise that you have been putting your artistic talents to work, and in so many different mediums! Love the girl and her cat …
NatureFootstep May 16, 2021 at 13:53
wow, such a beautiful post and every piece of art. Winderful.
And I am impressed by the “After The Storm”. Looks so simple, yet difficult to achieve, I assume. Simple is many tiems the hardest to do.
Also loved the Winter Fairy and what she stands for. Importent things.
Kim Carberry May 16, 2021 at 11:44
It looks like you have been busy. What fantastic work. x
A ShutterBug Explores May 16, 2021 at 07:01
Love the little girl with her kitty painting ~ wonderful small artwork and your books are divine works too ~ Happy Weekend ~ Xo
Living moment by moment,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Dawn Hart May 16, 2021 at 03:06
Your artwork is incredible, the quilt looks beautiful too, so much talent. Popping over from My Sunday Photo x
Anne May 16, 2021 at 02:49
I’m completely in awe of all of your work. When clicking through your photos I had already decided that the cat with the wand and snowflakes was my favourite, then you delighted me with your little story. It’s good to see you back.
Darren Coleshill May 16, 2021 at 02:19
Wow that is gorgeous. Your artwork is incredible.
Thank you for linking up to #MySundayPhoto
Carol May 16, 2021 at 01:57
Charming post and I enjoyed your words and art – love the cat with the wand
Luisella May 16, 2021 at 00:48
Nice to see your works again. Hope you get energy from the upcoming summer…
Thanks for visiting my blog.
All the best!
Sue Palmer May 15, 2021 at 16:53
Wonderful to see you back. The books you have made are beautiful. Love your art work and your story. Looking forward to seeing your quilt photos.
Michelle Keltner May 15, 2021 at 16:34
I love seeing all of your art work. You are very talented. Thank you for linking up and I hope to see you back again!
Dixie May 15, 2021 at 08:06
So nice to have you back, Soma.
My, you have created such a lovely and uplifting array of artwork!
Did I mention, I really admire your carving tools? Wonderful carving and
I love the story too.
Kim May 14, 2021 at 15:31
It is lovely to visit your lovely studio and your magical world of art again, Soma. I have missed the beauty of you, and your art. I am smiling at the characters and paintings that are playing within the covers of your cloth-bound books. Magical characters and beautiful stories. The very first painting of the girl and her cat walking through the snow truly makes my heart smile. The sweetest painting filled with whimsy. The quilt is gorgeous, love those fabrics, and your lino cut is so very striking….and poignant.
Linda Calverley May 14, 2021 at 11:09
Lots of lovely art. My faves are the lino prints and the blue books.
LA Paylor May 14, 2021 at 08:17
I want to come visit your studio it’s so inviting! I’m a quilter too… and Halloween is my fave holiday
Valerie-Jael May 14, 2021 at 07:03
Hi Soma! You have done so much, all of it beautiful, and I am in love with all of your little books, what treasures they are! Stay safe and well, hugs, Valerie
Nicole/DVArtist May 14, 2021 at 05:31
Wow you have been busy. Glad your time off was so creative. Your work area is awesome! With all that you have shown today my favorite is the spider quilt. I love it. Have a very nice weekend.
Christine May 14, 2021 at 05:19
Nice to catch up with you, lovely art and story.
Wendy K May 14, 2021 at 05:03
Just love your little books, beautifully made, Your paintings are really nice. The story about the cat and the Winter fairy is delightful, we have two ginger cats. I love books and it’s always difficult to make a start on a new one (fear of the blank page) so you did well there. Your quilt looks lovely.
Anesha May 14, 2021 at 04:54
Wow, these are all so beautiful. Love the ginger kitty. Anesha
riitta k May 14, 2021 at 04:42
Such a cute story of Winter Fairy & Charlie! You have an artist’s desk to envy. You have been so productive, I loved your little pictures.
Elke May 14, 2021 at 01:32
Beautiful creative works of art. I love your drawings.
Cozy weekend with everything you do, hug Elke
Shasta May 13, 2021 at 19:58
I did enjoy my visit, thank you. So much beautiful artwork. I have tried some painting and drawing too. Nothing as sophisticated as yours, but for a beginner, it isn’t about the end product as it is the process.
Susan May 13, 2021 at 18:25
So glad to hear from you again. I love the little books and would be interested to know how you made them. I also curious how you made your own walnut ink. I so enjoyed the story and the pictures.
The Joyful Quilter May 13, 2021 at 17:54
What a delightful use of your supplies, Soma! Looking forward to seeing your completed quilt.
Pat May 13, 2021 at 15:28
Your artwork is delightful! I was immediately drawn to it as it reminds me of children’s book illustrations I loved as a child.
BillieBee May 13, 2021 at 13:43
Love all of your work. It makes me happy!
Mary May 13, 2021 at 13:18
So great to see a post from you, Soma! You have been so creative in your break. I love the little books and your wonderful sketches/paintings. Homemade walnut ink? That sounds quite interesting. I think we need a snowflake visit here after our exceptionally dry winter here!!! The larkspur are all blooming here which always reminds me of you.
Janine Green May 13, 2021 at 11:47
You have made a beautiful collection of paintings and wonderful books. I am especially fond of the girl and her cat. I also enjoyed your story. I’m glad that Charlie got to join in the snow making :)
Kathleen Kingsbury May 13, 2021 at 10:14
Soma!! So good to hear from you again! I just love your little books and pictures in them. My 6 yo granddaughter came by yesterday because she wanted the tiny keychain backpack I had here because ‘everyone had one in school.’ So I asked her what everyone is putting in them. She said little pencils and little notebooks to color. I didn’t have little pencils but I quickly made a couple little notebooks by cutting and folding paper and then stapling them. At first she said the don’t look like they have many pages, until she checked them out and said ‘hmmm, I guess they do have a lot of pages!’
Also looking forward to seeing pictures of your quilt. :o)