A blog change and some sketches

You have probably noticed the HUGE change 

in my blog's current appearance. 

It was a spur of the moment thing. 

I came across a website that used the
brown toned background
with a pale font and
I found it a pleasant change to 

the dark font on glaring white backgrounds. 

So, I instantly started playing with my blog. 

I chose a font colour that I feel 

is easier on the eyes.

I do think the images stand out better 

and I'm happy with how it is for now. 

It could just be a passing phase 

and I may change it again 

when the novelty wears off. 

Please tell me whether you find it 

easy or difficult to read. 

Your feedback is appreciated. 

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I just thought I'd share a few quick sketches 

that I fitted in here and there 

over the past few months.

I registered with Sktchy after installing their app on my ipad.

It's a place where artists can put up photographic images, mostly portraits, 

and other artists are free to use them to sketch/paint.

The Sktchy app is only available for Apple IOS products.

If you're on Sktchy,
my profile name is - Serena Lewis

This is a sketch of Ashley Goeltz,
a Sktchy member/artist.

I used a Platinum Carbon pen, a Lamy Joy,
and a Pentel pocket brush pen
in an A5 Moleskine sketchbook.

And a couple of quick sketches.
I'm trying to grab moments where I can
even if it's just for simple sketches.

This year has been so hectic
and it doesn't seem to have slowed down much at all.

I have three Christmas ornaments to paint this year
as it will be little Mackenzie's first Christmas.
She is growing so fast already and very alert!

Have a lovely weekend!

To the Strawberry Farm we go and a sketch

At the end of October, 

Michelle thought it would be nice 

to visit the local strawberry farm 

being that it was a week before 

they would be closing for the summer. 

Strawberries would not like 

our hot, humid summers at all. 

So, off we went....

It was an overcast day 

with possible rain forecast 

however it stayed clear just for us. 

Maddy and Mikayla (on right) love picking strawberries!

Michelle with Mackenzie snuggled nice and cosy

I helped Maddy mostly 

but also collected my own punnet of strawberries

The girls enjoyed some fresh strawberry ice-cream afterwards

I've never been a huge fan of strawberries 

but, I discovered that strawberries 

direct from the farm 

are sweet, juicy, and delicious! 

I just had to do a strawberry sketch to mark our special day out.

Sketched directly with Platinum Carbon and Lamy fountain pens, 

followed by Prismacolour pencils, in my Moleskine A5 sketchbook. 

© Serena Lewis

Our freshly picked strawberries did not last long and, 

as I decided to sketch the subject a month after the fact, 

so a quick trip to Flickr Creative Commons was in order.

Thanks to HJL at Flickr 

for his lovely reference image found HERE.

This was the final sketch in this particular sketchbook.
AT LAST!!!

It only took me FIVE years to complete it. 

I got sidetracked with other sketchbooks. 

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Last week, Bradley and I had our first choir practise 

for our upcoming Christmas performance. 

It was so lovely to see everyone again. 

We have some new members too. 

Stay tuned for more sketch updates....

100 days of 'I Love That' - Part 2

Photography is a great way to express one's creativity. 

When I can't sketch for one reason or another, 

I'm often using my phone camera or iPad to take photos.

I love pottering with digital images 

and the new WordSwag app is so much fun to play with!

Over the past three years, 

I had gained weight much to my disappointment. 

I blamed the fact that I had introduced dairy back into my diet. 

Big mistake!

Not to mention the very real fact that

there is a massive amount of cruelty 

in the dairy and meat industries and, 

after seeing some horrific footage on Facebook, 

I realised that I needed to be vegan again. 

It's always been about the animals for me. 

It's an ethical choice but the added benefit is 

that I have been losing all that excess fat 

so it's a win for the animals and a win for me.

I haven't eaten meat for nine years. 

Occasionally, I would eat a bit of seafood 

but had cut that out too over the past year. 

It was just the dairy that needed to be ditched. 

I now feel fantastic! 

I had tried the vegan lifestyle once before and 

felt healthier than I had ever been, 

however, my family stressed  and complained
about what to feed me when I visited, 

so I eventually caved and allowed
seafood and dairy back into my diet. 

I regretted that move as
I felt guilty any time I consumed it,
on top of my upset at the noticeable weight gain.

I KNOW that we can live happy and healthy lives 

without harming others and I will NEVER go back.

We bought a treadmill a few months ago as Bradley (my son) 

and I wanted to get fit from an aerobics aspect. 

Walking is great for Bradley because his weight just drops off. 

Unfortunately, it's never worked that way for me  

but it has helped my stamina and endurance.

I LOVE the treadmill!

At this point in time, 

I'm lucky if I use the treadmill twice a week

but when I do manage a session

I feel great afterwards.

I love nature! 

I loved that we had a lot of bushland areas very close to where we live 

but recently, a lot of it has been cleared away to make way for housing developments. 

It truly breaks my heart because kangaroos, possums, and other wildlife 

lived in those bushland tracts and I worry over what will eventually become of them. 

We used to have bushland right behind us until that was cleared too. 

We had two majestic trees just behind our back fence and they were cut down. 

I cried the day that happened and I also did a sketchbook entry 

and a blog post expressing my sadness. 

You can read that post HERE.

I think I need to go for some long, country drives
or visit a rainforest. 

I love sketching in nature too,
so relaxing.

You would have seen this image a couple of posts back 

but it was part of the daily challenge so 

here it is again....

Previous post HERE.

I am a very proud Grandma indeed! 

I can't get enough of these little munchkins!

And last but not least...

If you have been following my blog for some time, 

you will know how much I love the colour combo of -

Blues, greens, and purples!

My home is very much a reflection of that. 

Not a great photo but you get the gist....

And that is as far as I got with the challenge, 

 however, I do plan to make another attempt in 2016. 

Love, Light and Peace

100 days of 'I love that' - Part 1

During September, I participated in a Facebook challenge 

where we posted something daily 

that we loved.

Sadly, it didn't last long.

I just picked the wrong time to take it on 

with my life being very, very hectic 

for one reason or another
and I had particularly wanted to do it in photo format
to make it more visually pleasing.

I do hope to give it another try in 2016. 

I thought I'd share some of the images

from the challenge here. 

I'll spread them over a couple of days.

I discovered hommus when I went vegan a few years back 

but only discovered the Obela Spicy Harissa type in recent months. 

I LOVE IT!!!

Luckily, some bakeries make their Vienna bread without milk solids. 

I absolutely adore spending time with my Granddaughters. 

We have so much fun together and

I'm thrilled to see how much they love to sketch and paint.

I love this particular variety of Agave plant!

I think it has a stunning, architectural appearance. 

Yes, I love my sketchbooks! 

I use them very much like a journal.

And last one for today....

One of my favourite breakfasts. 

Vegan and yummy!

Stay tuned for another lot soon....