January is my birthday month! I had a lovely, quiet birthday filled with good wishes from people I love. I’m grateful to be another year older. I’m also grateful that this January (unlike last January) didn’t involve any scary medical treatments.
Speaking of water bearers, my new water bottle turned out to be a big disappointment. It was such a pretty blue color, but unfortunately, it started leaving a blue stain wherever I set it. Not only that – but the stains were strong enough to require vigorous scrubbing with my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Some of the scrubbing resulted in damage to the table beside my recliner. So, of course, the water bottle went into the trash. I didn’t think it would be very kind to donate the stupid thing. Well, with so much of my attention focused on drinking more water – I ended up drinking more water!
Here’s what the water bottle looked like:
I had fun drawing in my sketchbook every day. (As part of the 365 Somethings Project hosted by iHanna) I used various techniques and art supplies – pens, watercolors, acrylic markers, colored pencils, and pastel pencils. It has become a lovely habit, and I look forward to my daily drawing session each day. It feels like a form of meditation to me.
I made Valentine’s postcards and mailed them to the people who signed up for them! I hope the recipients, and everyone who handles them along the way, will feel the love I’ve sent!
Elisabeth at Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist is hosting a lovely project in February called The F.I.G. Collective – Finding Joy In Gratitude. She made a cute printable with spaces to write something to be grateful for each day in February. I’ve got my copy ready to go!
I realize that January has been awful for many people, and my heart breaks for them. With all the terrible things going on, I’m trying to focus on what’s good, and what I’m grateful for, and trying to bring love and joy into the world.
Sending you love, friends!
I love, love, love your daily drawings, Michelle. I’m curious how you decide what to draw each day?
And I’ll be anxiously checking my mailbox <3
Happy FIG collecting!
Thank you so much, Elisabeth! January’s drawings were very random. A few of them were from drawing challenges on Instagram. For February, I have a list of prompts from Februarty. (I love the cute name!) They’re also quite random, but at least I won’t have to come up with ideas.
Happy Birthday!!! I love your daily artwork.
Stupid water bottle…good riddance.
Thank you, Birchie! Ha! Ha! Yes, good riddance!
This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius!
What a bummer about your water bottle! But your drawings are so amazing. They make me happy just to look at them.
February is love and friendship month to me, and so I will celebrate your friendship! xo
Now I’ll be singing that song! 🤣 I used to play it on the piano way back in the day – it was one of my favorites, and I could really bang away on the bass notes! Hooray for blogging friends! ❤️
I love your drawing so much! It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I think the drawing of the typewriter is probably my favorite! I’m glad you had a great medical issue free month. That’s at least a girl should expect out of her birthday month, right?
January was not a great month for me but compared to what others are dealing with across the US at the hands of this insane president, my problems are looking like small potatoes. I’m trying to keep that in mind but also acknowledging that it’s been a tough month, mostly because of my surgery.
Thank you for the nice compliment, Lisa! I’m sure your surgery made January extra tough – I’d say surgery is a big potato! I hope you’ll be feeling better in February!
Your water bottle left a stain on the furniture? What on earth? Sorry that didn’t work out.
Your drawings are all so cute and peppy and colorful. I imagine working on those art projects would be very satisfying. Good for you. The postcards look really cute. Happy belated birthday. I’m glad you enjoyed your day!
Thank you so much, Ernie! You’re so kind!
Hi Michelle! Happy belated birthday, and many more to come. It seems we have the same month for our birthdays, me too :).
Good to learn you didn’t had health issues in January, keep it that way. Despite my apple a day (keeps the doctor away), I’m now sick, got the flue, who is raging around here in The Netherlands, it’s already epidemical right now…hope it won’t last long.
But what is happening with your water bottle..?? Stains? How is that possible?
Glad to hear you’ve so much fun in drawing every day at your cute end colorful drawings, love seeing them and your postcards too.
Hug, Ilona
Hi Ilona! Thank you for the birthday wishes, and I wish you a happy belated birthday as well! We’re January babies! I’m so sorry to hear that you got the flu. That’s miserable. I hope you feel better soon! ❤️
Happy birthday and your art work is wonderful. Sorry about the water bottle. It seemed like a good idea but when it includes stains, not so much. 🙂 Have a good February.
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes and compliments, Judy! ❤️
Happy birthday. Indeed wonderful that there was no scary health issue.
I love your art and thank you for sharing it with us. Lovely postcards. I am sure they will bring joy along the way as well.
I need to hop over to Elisabeth and check out the list.
Thank you so much, Tobia! ❤️
I love your art – it puts a big smile on my face. Happy belated birthday!
Thank you so much, Dulcie! I appreciate your kind words and wishes!
Hi Michelle!
Happy belated Birthday! I am glad you had a lovely birthday celebration and stayed healthy! :):)
As for the water bottle…. that sounds a bit scary… leaving stains??? I’m so glad you noticed in time!
As for drinking more water… your post made me pay more attention!! :):) I am drinking waaay more water… (I leave a mug in the bathroom… when I “go” I reload! Lol!) We have been so cold here the air is dryer than usual and has been all fall and winter.
Your drawing a day practice is a wonderful thing and it seems to really work for you. I get too detailed too quickly … cannot imaging doing one a day! Lol (Maybe one a month?) And to answer your question on my blog… yes, I use a magnifier for the tiny embroidery… but never for drawing. The larger size embroidery… 22 count and larger I can manage without magnification. The current “littles” are 48 stitches to the inch and are challenging even with the magnifier. Slow but steady… no rush is my mantra. :):):)
Hi Betsy! Thank you for the birthday wishes! We have low humidity here too, so a little extra water helps. Thanks for answering the question I left on your blog! I like your slow but steady approach.
My mother’s birthday made her a water bearer. Your daily drawings are delightful. Thanks for sharing them when you do. I’m smiling here.
Thank you so much, Ally! Now I’m smiling too!
Some days finding that gratitude is a real stretch, but I’m doing my best! *sigh* (whispers quietly, sorry Canada)
Hi Engie, yes, it can definitely be a challenge. ❤️
That stinks about the blue bottle, but the good news is that you drank more water! 🤣
Yes! I guess the thing we put our focus on gets the most attention – or something like that!
Happy belated birthday, friend! I’m sorry the water bottle turned out to be a little more blue than you expected. Argh! I hate when stuff like that happens. But Magic Eraser to the rescue!
Your drawings are so good, Michelle! You should make a coloring book. (I hope that’s the compliment I think it is. I loooove coloring books!)
Thank you so much,Stephany! That is a wonderful compliment and you made me smile!
Hi Michelle; Well I was late in looking at your blog. The responses from your friendly bloggers were impressive. They are gracious people. I would guess each one has a great story about themselves. I Hope you have found a good water bottle.
Hello Dad! Thanks for stopping by! ❤️ Yes, these bloggers are lovely and all have great stories to tell. See you soon!
Happy belated birthday! I hope that your quiet day was a wonderful one. I hate it when a product is defective like that! I am sure you will find lots of Joy and I cannot wait to see your list! Happy February!
Thank you so much, Kyria! ❤️ I appreciate you!
Happy birthday! And thank you so much for the beautiful Valentine! I actually forgot I had signed up for it, thinking I could use a little extra cheer this my first Valentines post (unwanted) divorce, and so at first I could not think who it was from – my cousin Michelle, my friend Michelle? But then I remembered and was so thankful for the love and thought that went into it – as well as the gorgeous art. If you would like some snail mail in return email me your address. I so enjoy your upbeat and creative blog! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Hi Kim! I’m glad the valentine was a nice surprise for you! That makes me very happy! ❤️
A very late happy birthday to you Michelle 🥳 Glad to hear you had a quiet one, they are usually the best. I love your selection of drawings & I definitely get how creating feels meditative. I took to making my own greetings cards in lockdown & despite thinking I didn’t have a creative bone in my body they turned out very well. I’m sure whoever receives (or handles) your valentines will feel the love; you do an excellent job of spreading light & joy 🥰
Thank you so much, Rae! I’ll bet your homemade cards were very appreciated by those who received them. There’s something to be said for a human touch when it comes to art.