While we were in Maui, we stayed at the Whaler on Kaanapuli Beach. From the canopied chairs by the pool, you can watch the ocean. And play Words with Friends.
My husband and I are now hooked on that game, I don't know why it took us so long to try it. We both like Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and iPads. Now, we have about 6 games going at once, so there is no wait while the other person plays. If there is any lag, we just start another game, so there are always words waiting to be made.
The pool was also a good place to do watercolor finger painting on my iPad.
I did a sketch for each day while there. One thing I didn't like about the ap was that I couldn't get good detail, or write very well. This was the first and last one I tried to put words on, I decided it would be easier to print them and add writing. I'll be able to doctor this one up with inks and markers and fix the writing on it later when I make my journal.
Besides the finger painting, I brought some other things to work on too. I want to come up with nice little fairy dolls made of wool roving for one of my Birdsong classes. Here are a few that I worked on with what I happened to have with me, but while I like quite a bit about them, there are a few things that I don't care for. I'm a fan of "low color" but I need some tones more springtime-ish for these sprites.
I need to figure out the faces too. I'm considering just seed bead eyes and blushed cheeks. But it is also possible to do a printed paper face glued on.
Terry came to hang out with me while the guys played golf and we experimented with the dolls, to see how easy they are to show someone how to make. (those are my dried out leis hanging from the light fixture, when I turned on the lamp, they perfumed the air)
Terry and I decided we needed to make Hawaiian girls, not just fairies. One has embroidered eyes, the other is still blank faced. The sarongs are made from a silk skirt I had with me. It had a bad spot on it, so I thought it would be better to cut up for supplies than to wear.
Won't it make beautiful silk ribbons when I slice it up?
I think the tiny doll will go into my travel journal. Both girls are holding heart shaped coral fragments that I found on the beach.
It's surprising just how many hearts there are waiting to be picked up on the beach. Some I left behind with this little shell and coral fairy in the sand. Doesn't her broken coral dress look like polka dots and ruffles? I saw that laying on the beach and just knew it had to be a fairy gown.
So, as I strolled along the shore, I kept my eyes peeled for shapes to finish her. I didn't expect to find so many hearts while on my Dr. Frankenstein quest.
What luck! There must be something about the way coral snaps off and gets buffed by the ocean that creates so many hearts. Or I was just there at a particuarly loving time.
I hope that someone walked by my fairy when I left her and had their day brightened.
Truly though, days don't need to be brightened on Maui. The island has a good handle on keeping everyone peaceful and happy.
It's hard to think about your problems in a place like this.
Karla…..can you use a stylus with the iPad for your watercolor app??? Would that help with the ” detail”?? Xoxo Regina
I wish I had a tiny stylus, that might, Regina.
how wonderful that your in maui
I can’t even imagine getting to go there
I quite like everything about your ipad watercoloring, even the writing looks good. I’m working on my blank journal prior to departure. I’m using wallpaper from Bradbury & Bradbury; I bought 3 sample packs that were $10 each. The papers are beautiful. I know you don’t need wallpaper, but if you ever have the need, you would like this stuff. Charlotte
I looked up that wallpaper, it is gorgeous, Charlotte. Beautiful reproductions. How does it feel? Sometimes it is the texture of the old stuff more than the pattern that gets my eye. Always the old tones. And this Bradbury collection looks like it gets the tones right.
Have a great trip. Hawaii again for you?
Maui is a beautiful place to stay, I was very lucky to go there two years in a row. I have a feeling it will be a long time before we go back, though. There are very beautiful places to go that cost much less and are just as fun. One of the best parts of our trip was the traveling companions, so I hope we can talk to them about trying another venue sometime.
I am so inspired by you, Karla. To have the vision to make the fairy in the sand is amazing. Love your projects and am so glad you had such a great time there.
I always enjoy seeing all of your creations. But the fairy you made with sand and shells on the beach is so charming! You should make prints and canvases of that to sell!
Lisa
Your paintings have such carefree joy — they make me smile. And I do like your beach fairy!
Thanks, Lisa, I love making shell fairies and leaving them on the beach. I wonder if anyone Dover finds them? They probably dont stand out much and just get walked over, but it makes me happy to think that some little girl might come across it and be excited to see it.