Happy Halloween from Holland - 2008

:o)


"Sacha enjoying the Halloween Decorations!"
digital collage copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong


We hope you're having a great time with lots of treats and no tricks!
( we're off now to go gobble up some *treats* ! dinner pics some other time... )

Happy Halloween from

The Netherlands!

doei,

Judy & Sacha (de kat)

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She returns from France ...

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Returned! I just opened mine eyes, and lo, I’m back in the Netherlands! You would not believe that I'd been abducted by aliens, so I won't bother with that story, but they did provide me with French chocolate and pastries while I was their “guest”. :o)

Upon my return to the "Pays-Bas" (the low lands), I am now distracted with: discovering time stands still for no one, personal projects that need attending to, generally being Snow White to society in general (which means the family and the wash), the impending Halloween events, a demanding little Sacha cat who needs an insane amount of attention right now - my days are fun and exciting from the light through yonder window breaks to sun down and beyond. I am happy with that - life is good.

I won't promise anything to you but I will blog about *something* when I find a minute or two in the next few days/weeks. Well, I'll try... maybe even tomorrow... we'll see ... I don't know, it depends on the "spirits". ;o)

This is for my ever faithful, devoted public ...
A picture of a French party shop decked out for Halloween. I took this pic a couple of weeks ago in Rouen, France.

photo copyright 2008, Judith Nijholt-Strong
"Espirit de Fête - Rouen, France - October, 2008"

Have to scoot ... see you next update.
(Sacha is loudly meowing next to me, as if no one petted her in 2 weeks - she lies, of course. She’s spoiled rotten! )

Tot ziens,

Judy

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On & Off and Off & On - colored pencil work and another trip to France!

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Yep, my human "mom" is very busy... but France is calling!
This is some of the work that piles up on her desk and these need to be finished - some other humans are waiting for these - tsk, tsk "mom"!


photo copyright © Judith Nijholt-Strong
colored pencil works in progress

My humans are off again to France. They seem to have itchy "paws" ... always on the go somewhere. Well harrumph, then I have to say, bon voyage "mom" & "dad" and bring me back a souvenir because I know you're taking those Kermits with you and not me!!

Here's the proof!
Kermit at the Donkey fair in Ourville, France -Normandy, summer 2008

photo copyright © Auke Nijholt

(Note to those waiting for the cp's to be finished: They'll get done! By now, through the years, you know "mom" very well ... *wink*)

:o)
Au revoir,

Sacha

and "Mom"( Judy)

byeeeeeeeee!

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The Folded Moleskine continues ...

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Just an update on how the Japanese Folded Moleskine sketchbook is coming along.


copyright 2008, Judith Nijholt-Strong
"It Began with a Drop in the Universe; My Random Visual Thoughts"
sketchbook (work in progress) Japanese Folded Moleskine
watercolors, colored pencil, pen & ink

I've been all over the pages, going back & forth, adding things in, changing things ... my mind loves to wander over the pages of this Moleskine.


copyright 2008, Judith Nijholt-Strong
"It Began with a Drop in the Universe; My Random Visual Thoughts"
sketchbook (work in progress) Japanese Folded Moleskine
watercolors, colored pencil, pen & ink

This particular Moleskine is far from being(or looking like) a skethcbook and, to my way of thinkng, is becoming more of a little story book of sorts. I'm enjoying this so much that, when this one is done, I will definitely start another. My challenge of creating "what comes next"and keeping the images finished and not just "sketches", is just great for me - suits me just fine!


copyright 2008, Judith Nijholt-Strong
"It Began with a Drop in the Universe; My Random Visual Thoughts"
sketchbook (work in progress) Japanese Folded Moleskine
watercolors, colored pencil, pen & ink

The colored pencils I'm using are mostly the oil-based:
Lyra Rembrandts, Faber-Castell Polychromos and Caran d'Ache Pablos.
I find the oil-based colored pencils go down well on the Moleskine surface, blend well and the Sigma Micron ink pens are easily applied on top of the colors - no clogging or mucking-up my pen nibs!

I have also used some Talens Van Gogh regular colored pencils in this book as well. Though wax-based, the Van Goghs are not as "waxy"as other brands. All four brands of colored pencils are working very well on the Moleskine surface , in my opinion.

So that's where I am right now. Below is a link to my first post about this particular folded Moleskine:
Sacha Stretches While Judy Sketches in New Moleskine

Not that far along, but headed in the right direction and I'm loving it.

See you next update.
Judy

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Waiting for Halloween ...

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"Sacha waiting for Halloween 2008"
photo copyright © Judith Nijholt-Strong

Yes, I am patiently waiting for Halloween to arrive. Unfortunately, I've been told by my humans that our favorite Dutch Pumpkin Man in Vleuten, (where we get our pumpkins & decorations each year), may not be there anymore. Arrrgh!!! I blogged about his wonderful pumpkin patch last year:
"Happy Halloween from Holland-2007"

What am I to do if he's not there anymore?!?!?

This makes me sad :o( so, my humans will have to investigate!
I'll be back at the end of the month to let you know what they find out, or what they do to appease me ... grrrrr.

Sacha

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