Chinese New Year, 2010 - Five Chopsticks for Day Five.

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
5 Red Chopsticks for Chinese New Year, 2010
5.5"h x 3.5"w in Folded Moleskine
colored pencil with pen and ink

This being the fifth day of Chinese New Year, I drew five of my red chopsticks in my new Folded Moleskine.

Chinese New Year, 2010 started on this February 14th, but the celebrations continue for 15 days. According to the old traditions, today you should stay home, wear red (a happy color) and in northern China, people eat jiǎo zi or meat filled steamed dumplings on this day - with chopsticks, of course! ;o) Lucky for me that my chopsticks are red - now I wonder if I can find some of those dumplings in the Chinese restaurant near where I live ... hmmm.

And since this year is the Year of the Tiger, I drew this little carved wooden cat of mine. I bought it in a store in Paris, not far from the Rue du Chat-qui-Pêche; maybe just around the corner, if I remember correctly.

drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Little Carved Wooden Cat Figure on My Desk
5.5"h x 3.5"w in Folded Moleskine
colored pencil with pen and ink

The store in Paris was chock full of beautiful things from different Asian countries. I'm not quite sure if this little guy was carved in China, but he sits on my desk with his little brother who is a black cat - I had to "adopt" them. Though not tigers, perhaps they'll bring me some luck?! Doesn't matter anyway, they make me smile everyday. :o)

I'm loving working in this Folded Moleskine. Almost eveveryday, since I began with the drawing of the dried rose, I've managed to draw something in it - using colored pencils with the pen & ink. Just small things I have saved or collected - so that's kind of what I'm calling this moleskine. I have to figure out a way to show it on the blog, not sure right now how I'm going to do that - maybe in parts.

Oh! Sacha, my tiger striped tabby cat, is extremely happy about this being the Year of the Tiger!!! She may be insisting on more of her "Princess Lunches" this year ... oh noooo! lol

:o)
tot ziens,
Judy

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Happy Valentine's Day 2010 - Colored pencil and Ink drawing of Sacha's cat toys.

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Cats Love Catnip - Sacha's Toys for Valentines
8.5"x 11" (approx.)
colored pencils with pen and ink , on watercolor paper

A Valentine for all our human friends and our cat friends too!

For the drawing, I used:
♥ Sakura Pigma Micron pens
♥ Colored Pencils:
Bruynzeel Fullcolor, Caran d'Ache Pablos and Van Gogh (regular)
♥ Copic Marker Colorless Blender
♥ Arches hot pressed watercolor paper

We hope you have a lovely day. :o)

p.s. It's snowing again today in Holland...amazing!
And sorry the image of the drawing is rather dark, but my scanner is busted and the weather is well...snowing!

Tot ziens,

Judy and

Sacha the cat

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Perhaps a Rose for Your Valentine? - pen & ink drawing with colored pencil in folded moleskine.

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Multi-colored Rose in February
5"h x 7"w (page spread) in Japanese Folded Moleskine
Pen & Ink with Colored Pencil

A single rose, of any color, is a lovely token of affection for a Valentine. Or, a whole bunch of red roses is definitely a pleasure to receive. I know it's a traditional gift, but roses are something I would never turn down and I can't think of many people, (women or men), who would.

Not even a cat can resist a rose!

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Sacha Stops to Smell the Roses
February, 2010

Sacha loves it when roses are on the table. My little Dutch cat has the right attitude about life - take some time to stop and smell those lovely roses! :o)

For the drawing of the rose (a dried rose from an old bouquet),

I used:
♥ Sakura Pigma Micron pens
♥ Van Gogh colored pencils and Bruynzeel Fullcolors colored pencils
♥ Japanese Folded Moleskine sketchbook (this is another folded moleskine that I just started.)

doei,

Judy & Sacha

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A Chocolate for Your Valentine? - colored pencil drawing

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drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
One Dutch Chocolate - 2.5"h x 3.5"w
colored pencil on stonehenge paper (tan color)

Maybe your Valentine would like some chocolates?!

One of my favorite Dutch brands of chocolate is Droste.

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Vintage Droste Cocoa Products
Bakery Museum - Hattem, Netherlands

This is my Droste Cocoa mug, with the Droste nun pictured on it; I keep colored pencils in it. Yes, I collect mugs too, which I rarely drink out of. I keep my pens, pencils, and brushes in them - in that way, I get to see them all the time. :o)

photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong
Droste Cocoa Mug on My Desk

A little chocolate cures what ails you; it's true.
Good for a Valentine's heart!
;o)

tot ziens,

Judy

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Valentines: Rue du Chat qui Pêche - Hearts in Paris, France

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Something more fitting for February ...

photo copyright 2007, Judith Nijholt-Strong
Hearts by the Rue-du-Chat-Qui-Pêche (street of the cat who fishes)
Paris, France - 5th arrondissement

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Back in 2007 when we took a trip to Paris, we were wandering in the 5th arrondissement trying to find the Rue-du-Chat-qui-Pêche. I had to tell my cats that I had been there ... of course! The Rue-du-Chat-qui-Pêche is said to be the narrowest street in Paris as it is only 5.91 feet wide (1.80m) for its entire length of 95.14 feet (29m). When the tiny street was first layed in 1540 (16th century), it led to the banks of the river Seine; its name is from a sign over a shop that once was on this narrow corridor to the Seine.

In mid-January, a lot of Paris seemed to me to be torn between having sparkly Christmas decorations still on display and getting ready for red hearts on Valentine's Day. To be honest, I found that delightful since mid-January weather can be dreadfully dull. The statue, with the heart shaped menu around its neck, was in front of a Greek restaurant with fish dishes announced on those hearts. Appropriately placed, I thought, on the corner of the Rue-du-Chat-Qui-Pêche (street of the cat who fishes)! :o)

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I've been sorting my photography folders (doing some *digital housecleaning*) and came across quite a few hearts, old & new, that obviously captured my attention on my travels over the years. You may see some of them posted on Kats-in-Klompen this month, in keeping with a Valentines theme. heh heh ;o)

tot de volgende keer

(until next time),
Judy
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