"You are the rainbow to my cloud."
- Anon
Each year as The Summer of Color ends, a tiny piece of my heart goes with it. I put so much love and care into The SOC, and am continually humbled by your enthusiastic responses to whatever I throw your way. I feel like I've found a family in you, and as the years pass, I'm struck by just how lucky I am to host such a kind, supportive and talented group of artists. I know I've said it before, but honestly, you really do make a Mama proud!
The Idea
To create an event based upon limited color palettes was one that came to me about six years ago after having read the book True Colors by Somerset Studio. At the time I was participating in a blog challenge that had about 25 weekly participants. It occurred to me that if I could just get that many people to join my event, we could really have something special. I never imagined that we would have nearly 100 participants in the first week of the first year alone. And since then, we've continued to grow by leaps and bounds. Over the last five years, we've amassed over 1,100 photos in our flickr pool and have played with, learned from and made friends with literally hundreds of artists along the way. YOU have made The Summer of Color the success that is and for that, I will be eternally grateful.
So, if it Seems By Now
That I'm ending our Summer adventure after five incredible years together, unfortunately, you're right. I know that there will never be an easy time to end it - and honestly my biggest fear is in disappointing you - but I've decided to dedicate the rest of my Summers to spending time with our daughter, who was 4 when I began The SOC and (I can hardly believe it!) will be 10 in a of couple months. I know that I only have a few years left while she still likes me more than her friends, and I want to take advantage of every little minute I can with her. I do hope you understand.
To Thank You:
I want to give you something special to remember our time together. I created this with you in mind, so I thought it only fair that you should have it! Please accept this piece from me with love:
"You are the rainbow to my cloud"
9 x 12 Mixed Media
(Download and print your FREE copy Here)
And of course, your 2015 participatory Artist's Badge is here for you as well!
As for Me:
I will continue to post my art & art process here on this blog, on my Facebook Art Page and on YouTube. This Summer introduced me to the world of YouTube and I must say that I love it. With that in mind, new videos will be on the menu from now on. Additionally, I have something else up my sleeve. . . .
A Newsletter!
I'm happy to report that I've just set up an account that will allow me to share my little corner of the Mixed Media world with you via email. There I will offer art prompts, art challenges now & again and - this is the exciting bit - FREE downloadable items from my personal collection of vintage papers, photos, artwork and / or other ephemera that will be exclusive to my newsletter subscribers. I also plan to continue teaching in person and look forward to sharing where I can be found as the time comes.
Sign Up Here:
You can sign up directly through our Facebook Group Here (The link is found at the top of our SOC Facebook page). . . .
Now, Who Won The Last Giveaway of The SOC?
I've got our winner right here! A big congratulations to . . .
Sue from Arty Creation Inspiration!
(please note: all winners will be selected at random via a Random Number Generator.
The photos / proof of each week's winners will be on file and happily sent to anyone who would like to see them.)
Way to go Sue! Please email your address to Kdvanvalkenburgh@msn.com and I'll mail your Oranges n' Blue winnings right off.
Let's Keep In Touch!
Our Facebook group will remain open until the end of the month so that we can share our Facebook pages, blog or websites with each other and remain in contact. After all, some of us have been on this journey together for years, and I don't want you to loose the chance to connect. I will close the Facebook page on August first.
Lastly:
I want to reiterate how important you are to me. You've made the last five years incredibly special and I want to thank you once again for sharing your art and heart with us all. You will be forever in my thoughts because of it.
With Love & Colorful Kisses,
Kristin xo
42 comments:
Thank you Kristin for everything, we had fun here... creating sharing and inspiring! Wish you lovely time with our daughter ahead !
Sad to hear there will be no more SOC. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past two years that I have taken part in and looking at everyone's fantastic makes. As it's my daughters 11th birthday today I fully understand wanting to spend time with her, enjoy your time and your future endeavours. I am so pleased to have won the give away, it's the first ever time I have won anything, thank you random generator. x
Thanks so much for hosting this, Kristin. I only found you this year and am sad it will have been the only year I took part. But I completely understand that you want to enjoy your time with your daughter. Have fun with her and no doubt we will all sse each other and keep in touch in blogland. Blessings to you.
Sad to hear, but it's for the best of reasons. The time goes by so fast and you need to treasure it. I'm signed up for the newsletter, though, so it's not all sad :)
Thank you so much for 6 wonderful weeks! It was my first year and I had so much fun! Thank you for hosting "Summer of Colours"!!
Thank you Kristin, for all those Summers full of Color!
Along the way I've met a lot of fantastic artists of all around the world and thanks to their blogs I can continue to follow them ;-)
Every monday I put a quote I like on my blog, and the one I had chosen for today is from Ernie Harwell: "It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure!" In your case, you can say hello to a lot of new adventures: Youtube, your newsletter and above all the one with your daughter! Wish you all the best! X
Dear Kristin, thank you so much for the gift of 5 happy years of Summer of Color! I can only imagine how much work and effort goes into organising it. I totally understand that you want to spend some summer time with your gorgeous daughter while she is still young, their childhood passes so quickly.
Of course I'll be signing up for your newsletter! I'll enjoy watching you continue on your creative journey and will be cheering you on.
xxx
First, congrats to Sue for her win! YAY!
Second, Kristin, I am so sad to hear that the Summer of Color is coming to an end this year, but definitely understand the amount of work that must go into it! I will miss seeing this next summer, but will sign up for yoru newsletter and keep in touch with you on your blog and You Tube! Yes, our children grow up way to quickly and I respect you for wanting to spend more time with your daughter! My oldest is 21 and youngest is 12 - where does the time go?
And thirdly, I want to thank you SO MUCH for hosting this amazing challenge for the past 5 years. It has been an amazing journey for me and I have met you and so many wonderful new artists through YOU! I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Hugs and love to you and your wonderful family, Sharon
Thank you, Kristin1 This SOC fun was such a blessing. I look forward to your newsletter and more inspiration. The badge is delightful, and the downloadable print is gorgeous --- parting gifts that say so much. Have a blessed day! Sending love and hugs.
Good morning, Kristin! Thank you, thank you, thank you! A little sad this morning as I read a sweet farewell from you, but totally understand. Your daughter is so sweet and funny and fun in your photos and words, so I would definitely do the same thing. I even am shocked at how quickly time goes, looking at my little 18 month granddaughter, Andi. Love you, Kristin, and thank you again for all these summers of Color. Hugs, Kathy
We had a good time, and I enjoyed all of the summers. Thanks! Have fun with your family! Hugs Valerie
It was a wonderful soc-challenge for me in creating and meeting so many fabolous artist here.
Have a nice summer with you little daughter, Kristin! Hugs, Ulrike
Kristin...Thank you so much for hosting this fabulous challenge for the last 5 years...I've had so much fun taking part, lots of beautiful colourful inspiration in Blogland...I appreciate all your time and effort in making this such a successful venture...and your art is amazing!!! Sad to hear there will be no more SOC, but totally understand .... family is more important.. and childhood whizzes past in a blink of a eye...so enjoy those precious times with your beautiful daughter making lots of wonderful memories! Big Hugs! Jan x
Although I played along for just the last two years, I am incredibly grateful to you for hosting, sparking my creativity, and keeping my brain going in the hot summer heat and humidity!
I know how time consuming it must have been for you despite never having hosted something like this; but having just one daughter myself, I know well how precious every moment is. Trust me, there may come a time when she seems to prefer the company of her friends, but she will always need you. Mine is now 22 and we are close as ever!
Thank you ♥! xo
Thank you so much Kristen, I only feel like I've arrived, and it's finishing but totally understand. I've loved every minute and I've learnt so much about my own ability and from all the multi-talented artists linking up! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Oh, bummer, I just found the SOC . . . but it's totally understandable! Time with you daughter is more important! Enjoy the rest of your summer and thank you for the challenge and the rainbow of color painting! xoxo
We are saddened by this news, but we understand. You have been such an incredibly kind and generous host for the past five years, of which I participated in four. I'm so glad I've gotten to know you and appreciate all you have done to make SOC so colorful and fun during the summer. Thank you again, and have fun with your daughter during these pre-teen years.
I've only participated 2 times but it's still sad to see it end. but I am grateful that you've started this - thank you Kristin!
I hope you enjoy your time with your daughter and family and have a very lovely summer.
Thank you so much for SOC, Kristin, and the gorgeous artwork, I copied one to my study and one to have at work, it's awesome. It sounds very interesting with the newsletter, I'm looking forward to it.
Enjoy your time with your daughter, they grow so fast, real life comes always first, sweetie.
Love and hugs
Maarit
Congrats to you and thanks for hosting all these years Kristin! I am sad but it has been fun.
Always look forward to SOC event. Thank you for the fun and the art!
Congrats, Sue!
And thanks Kristin for the fun, enjoy the rest of the summer with your daughter. I enjoyed playing in the SOC and meeting others.
Congrats to Sue!! Thank YOU Kristin for all these years of hosting and putting in so much of your time!! It has been an awesome experience I won't forget. You are now going to do what you need to do for your family-and who could begrudge that? You're right about Kendra getting older and before long she won't want to spend so much time with momma so enjoy every minute you can now! And thank you for that gorgeous art download. XO
I enjoyed each week and loved your creations. Congrats to Sue. Thank you Kristin for sharing your SOC creation with all of us. Spending time with family is the best thing to do. Enjoy your time and the rest of the summer. ::hugs:: Thank you for the d/l, it's awesome.
Oh yes I too am sorry there will be no more SOC, it was my second Summer here and I loved it even more than the first round! But yes I can completely understand how time with your daughter is so precious! Have a beautiful Summer, relax and take it easy and thanks for your beautiful rainbow girl wishing us farewell, so lovely!
Best of wishes and thanks for all the colourful fun!
Love
Kat
Noooo! Sorry, I just had to get that out :) Having let that out, I totally understand your reasons for ending SOC. You are so right about having a limited number of years for your child to want to be with you. I think I have participated since the beginning and I will truly miss this yearly event, but I am definitely signing up for your email updates and will plan to join you in creating art! You have been such an inspiration for all of us Kristin. You've help us step out of our color comfort zones and I myself need all the prompting I can get to create art. I am planning to keep the momentum and get out my paints again. Thank you for sharing yourself, your time and your art with us. Much love to you my friend :) And congrats to Sue!!
Thank you Kristin for this Summer of Color and all the Summer of Colors before.
I totally understand your reasons for making it the last one.... enjoy those precious moments. Time by goes so fast.
Good luck with all your arty ventures..... looking forward to your newsletter already.
Thank you and big hugs .... colourful rainbows will always make me think of you now!!!
Karen xxxx
This is sad news but time with your daughter is so very important. I've enjoyed my first SOC. Thanks for the inspiration.
Sending hugs and blessings. j.
I read a couple of confusing blog posts by other followers of yours before yours - NOW they make sense! Good for you - your priorities are absolutely in the right place, and you deserve new ventures anyway - we are all so grateful for all your work during the last 5 years! I can't wait to see what you do next!
I am sorry to see that the SOC is finished as I was looking forward to participating again next year. I hope you have lots of fun with your daughter in the next few years. I have signed up for your newsletter and have LIKED your FB page so I hope to be alerted to any new challenges you come up with. All the best and thanks a whole bunch!
Newsletter update: Please feel free to now sign up directly through our SOC Facebook page. The link is posted at the top of the page. Thank you!! xoxo
Hi Kristin, This was my first year and I'm sad that there won't be a next. I totally understand though. Spending time with your daughter is much more important. Thank you so much for 6 wonderful, inspiring and creative weeks!
Too bad I only had 1 exciting Summer with SOC but it was an experience I will always remember. Thank you Kristen, you are very talented. I look forward to keeping in touch with you and the group. Please enjoy every minute with your daughter while you still can. Good Luck and thanks again ! Diane
I do understand you wanting to spend summers with your daughter, I wish you oh so much fun doing so.
Thank you for being our lovely host!
Your rainbow are is so lovely!
Thank you for hosting every year, it's thanks to soc that I've come up with art I may never have thought of otherwise. I'm sorry I didn't get to participate fully this year especially now it turns out to be the last but thank you for putting so much of your time and energy into it for all of us. Enjoy your summer with your daughter!
Thank you for hosting every year, it's thanks to soc that I've come up with art I may never have thought of otherwise. I'm sorry I didn't get to participate fully this year especially now it turns out to be the last but thank you for putting so much of your time and energy into it for all of us. Enjoy your summer with your daughter!
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Ignore these polite people up there! Goddammit! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! What a flaming cheek putting your family first! *Hurrumph!*
Honestly Kistin, I have so loved SoC and even before dropping by today was determined to catch up this year because each time it forces me out of my comfort zone and I find myself doing something new. Thank you for that. And thank you to SoC for leading me to your blog originally in the first place.
Big hugs to you and your gorgeous girl. Better go sign up to a certain newsletter then ;) x x x
Thanks again for hosting another fun-filled Summer of Color! I had a blast!
July was busy for me, so it took until August for me to finish all my SOC art this year. But I definitely wanted to do the color combos from all the weeks, even if I was late--they're just too fun to pass up. Kristin, thank you so much for putting on this amazing event for five years. It's been wonderful. A big XO to you!
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