3 Sep
Before the Creative Process
Runaway to Italy (or When In Rome:))
Carpe Diem!
We have seized the moment, hopped a plane, slept for 8 hours sitting straight up (please tell me if I have drool on my face) and are ready to take on the world.
Or at least Europe.
Actually, maybe just Roma.
A Little Glimmer Does the Heart Good
Okay, okay….how ’bout we just start with getting our bags? I think we can manage that 🙂
(This is the part where those of you that are arm chair traveling with me notice how clean your teeth, skin and hair feel and smile smuggly to yourself while sipping some wonderful coffee in your favorite cup with your cat/dog laying by your side. Yeah, it’s okay… go ahead and gloat. You have not been forced to undress for airport security (not once, but twice), clawed through your over weight bag trying to decide what 3.4 pound item you can live without for the next two weeks OR sat beside the couple who discussed their personal life for the 8 full hours. Nobody said this was going to be easy 😉 )
So… I have been withholding information.
It’s how I get my kicks 😛
Some of you noticed the luscious pots of color in my journal photo giveaway pic. And I did throw out a few names in my newsletter (click here if you missed it).
I’m a sucker for a dreamy name for sure.
Also a sucker for shiny things:)
And color.
And paint.
And so help me hannah, it has all come together in one place! Dreamingcolor.com has these little pots of JOY called Twinkling H2O’s.
I will be using them along with my regular watercolors and I know if I don’t go ahead and
A) Tell you what they are
B) Give you specific names
C) Give some away
That you will
1) Torment me mercilessly until I do
2) Say that if you had watercolors like mine THEN you would do a journal
3) Seek therapy for not having watercolors that glitter
My last journal entry before flying out had some sunflowers in it. I used both my regular watercolors and the awesome Twinkling H2O’s. They look amazing in the light. They are fun, playful and perfect for journaling and postcards.
I also think they are the perfect giveaway for our first day in Rome.
When in Rome do as the Romans (who have a set of Twinkling H2O’s) do 🙂
If you’d like a set of your own little twinklers, you can enter for a chance to win…just read on!
Watercolor Journal Detail
I hope you are ready to get your watercolor game on for journaling and postcards!
Here are some tips to help get you started along with the info/names for the colors I am using for this trip (and the site link to purchase them from)–just click here.
So after a long flight and a loooong nap it’s time to hit the town after dark. Piazza Navonna holds a thousand delights including some awesome tiramisu….oh, did I not share that with you?? I think that was delivered to the table while you were busy photographing the good looking guy playing “Hotel California” on the piazza;)
Here’s your inspiration for your first Roman holiday watercolor 
!! Evening lights in Roma.
Enjoy!!!
P.S.. More watercolor supplies and suggestions are in My Favorite Things shop (just click here to visit).
(Please note: The photos I share here of our time in Italy are to be used as reference for doing watercolors for personal journals or postcards only. I please ask that they are used soley for that purpose:-)
Enter below to get your name in the hat for a chance to add to some sparkle to your life:))
If you have a friend who needs some JOY in their life, share this post and encourage them to have some fun playing in the water (colors) and traveling along to Italy—everybody needs a Roman holiday once in awhile 😛
Runaway to Italy continues on the next blog post!!! Ciao Baby!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for taking me to Italy with you, Dreama. From afar 🙂
Oh Dream, I thank you SO much for taking me along on your trip it Italy! You did a fantastic job of making us welcome and showing us so much beauty, especially your final Venice video. Thank you, thank you! Welcome home!
That was beautiful. Thank u for sharing.
I’m loving all your great paintings and of course getting hooked on those little paint pots…..!
I certainly would like some sparkle!
Dana Burton
OOOh, those shimmering paints would be so much fun to play with!
Dreama, thanks for sharing these little pots of joy and your watercolour journal. I’ve entered your draw, my fingers are crossed. Have a great trip!
Love the new paint!
All this travel I’m doing and my passport is still in my safe deposit Box. Love tagging along.
Another Dreama adventure! Yah! Love those twinkling little pots of colour!
Looking forward to seeing your beautiful paintings & photos of Italy. Hopefully some videos too. xo
Great blue pot! And the sunflowers – simple but stunning.
Enjoy your time in Italy. Be inspired. Lorraine and
I am looking forward to hearing about all of your adventures. Wishing you a wonderful trip.
I love the glitter pots of paint – how fun! Your time in Italy looks like it will be amazing. We are vicariously enjoying the trip through your on-line journaling. Thanks for sharing!
Please put my name in for the lovely paints?
Thanks
Sharon
Ps have a look at my blog if you would like to my posts about my Tuscany workshop currently happening – gotta live all this sunshine
Love the photos. Can’t wait to paint one. I visited Rome two weeks after 9-11. I know the atmosphere is wonderful now as compared to then.
Loving your sharing such beautiful photos
and art!! Can’t wait to see Tuscany,
Thanks so much.
Those look yummy. I wish I was it Roma too. Thank you for the delightful blog and the breath taking paintings. I love your colors.
Safe journey.
SHY
Always a delight! Wish I were there. gayle
Always, always inspiring! Thanks so much.
Sounds like you had an interesting flight. 🙂 Have a great trip! Looking forward to experimenting with watercolors and wish I was there in person.
I love the sparkly, cheerful journal pages! Looking forward to armchair journeying!
While in Rome…do whatever you want to do, there are no limits to the beauty and romantic nature of Italy.
This is my 2nd trip to Rome(the first time I was actually there:)) Beautiful art and photos too! Will love following this journey… CIAO
Loving your enthusiasm and generosity of sharing your thoughts with everyone.
beautiful work- I am a new follower and I love the idea of following along with your fabulous travels. I love Italy.
I love twinks…can never get enough. Now to take some to Italy 🙂
I love those little pots of color. They are gems and so are you, Dreama. Always look forward to your emails with my morning coffee.
Wish I was there with you! Your cafe photos reminded me instantly of Van Gogh! They even glow a little orange!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us once again. 🙂 Aren’t those twinkling H2Os a delight? Have fun exploring and painting!
You always come up with the most FUN things!
The sights, the sounds and of course the enticing aromas. Such are the seductive streets of Italia. Ciao!
Love your attitude about the tribulations that can be part of travel! Sent from the banks of the Rhine!
I love your paintings. I also love the fact that you are sharing with us that can’t be to your workshops! Thank You and have fun on your travels!
You are always inspiring Dreama, that is your gift to me, however those little shiny pots or watercolor wouldn’t hurt the effort.
I love to arm chair travel with you and can hardly wait for your next post, stay safe as you motor on to the beautiful region of Tuscany.
Big California Hugs !!
Thank you for the beautiful photos! Yes, I am enjoying my coffee and clean teeth but sure wish I was in Rome!
I’m breathing in the Essence of Being in Italy through your journey 🙂
Thank you for generously sharing your beautiful spirit and so much of your incredible “sparkle” with us all!
Safe travels and many blessing XOXO
Those little Twinkling H2O pots of watercolor give a great look, and I look forward to trying them. The views of Italy are a feast for the eyes. Keep them coming.
Wonder how the pots o color would look when combined with a little chianti?? Yummy?
Another wonderful journey for all of us to enjoy! Thanks!
It is always a joy to travel with you, Dreama! Thank you so much for bringing me along.
Every painting deserves some sparkle to match the one in the artist’s eye!
Oooooo… those colors looks so luscious. I just might have to try watercolors if I get those. 🙂
I have such joy reading your most delightful entrees! Love, love, love.
I just love your artwork’ you are so inspiring and make me want to go paint!
I love the colors you use. They ARE dreamlike and uplifting and I can feel awake and brighter after seeing them. Am a senior citizen and love to paint. Would love the H2O’s.
Bringing back memories of my visit to Roma w/ my Dad 43 yrs ago!!
Twinkle twinkle I can’t wait to see u using these Dreama I so enjoy travelling with you via your posts.
Oh, I wish I was there with you !!
I would love some twinkling in my life.
Beautiful! Enjoy your Italy vacation. Thanks for taking us along.
Thank you for a start so funny and beautiful. Drawing Roma along you and with the little pots of shiny WC will be wonderful
Have a wonderful time on your trip! Those sparkle watercolors look so cool! Never heard of them. Thanks for sharing and God Bless!
Love that personality that seems to shine though everything you do….
Thanks for sharing all your adventures with us, enjoy! Look forward to painting with you next year
Buongiorno, Will be in Italy on Sunday. Where shall we meet? Thanks for your generous heart!
A beautiful beginning to your painting workshop adventure. Those pots of color look almost yummy. What a treat they would be to play with. I will cross my fingers and hope. But whoever has the name that is drawn will be very lucky and I will be happy for them.
So looking forward to your posts during this trip. You always make me smile. Those Sparkling H2O’s rock!
Such beautiful shimmering colors…. Seems perfect to capture the great light of Italy. Happy travels to you and thank you for including us again! Must. Renew. Passport!
I am enjoying your travel so far. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us! Ciao…….
I simply am as envious of those pots of color as I am of your European trips – why did I not think it important to save for older age!!!!! I’m retired living on SS monthly so I have to budget carefully; but am thinking of asking for a gift from sons for one of the classes in US – of course, I’d have to figure out how to paint with oils – my paintings have always been first watercolor then acrylics because I started long ago and couldn’t breathe the turpentine – I know this is long and rambling but I want you to know how much I appreciate & enjoy receiving your email letters & pictures so much that it hurts some times…….the envy is so great!
Bon journo, Dreama! You made it…yaay!
Ohhhh….those gorgeous pots of glimmering and dreamy colours!
I am so in need of some happy, dreamy, sparkly and shiny colour and joy in my life right now…those little pots would definitely go a long way to help take me to a happier place. And yes, I consider myself duly ‘warned’ about their irresistibility. I’ll take my chances, how and ever 🙂 I’ve been missing painting with watercolours for too long now…this is the perfect way to kick-start the joy all over again.
Have a molto bellisimo time in Tuscany, and thank you so much for taking us all along with you. Make sure you get some gelatos in, though – nothing like a gelato to soothe a frazzled flight experience. Oh…and of course, some espresso to go with that, and then too, some vino per favore. 🙂
Yummy!
Lovely pictures- wish I was there
Wish we were there!
Glad you kids are off the horrible plane ride and can now enjoy the beautiful sights. Please remember a gelato for me too.
Ahhh Roma. I can’t wait to see your versions of life in Italia, my favorite place to visit.
Your descriptions of your travels are delicious. Arm chair travel has never been better!
Thank you!
I hope you have a great trip! I love following you to Rome as I sit on my couch this morning with my coffee and my little dog Lily by my side! 🙂 Can’t wait to try your pretty new paints!:)
I hope you have a great trip! I love following you as I sit on my couch this morning with my coffee and my little dog Lily by my side! 🙂 Can’t wait to try your pretty new paints!:)
VERY envious ! Hope to tag along some day. Love your watercolor sketches.
Enjoy your time in Italy ! Send lots of pictures !!!
What a wonderful thing to be with you as you travel in Italy!! Can’t wait to start journaling and painting, too!!!
Safe arrival and two weeks of fun ahead!! YAY….
Oh, I would love me some sparkling H20. Lovin being on the journey thru you.
Dreama= sharing positive love in the world. Live it girl!
I am excited! Such a nice post to wake up to. I hope you all have fun and I am hoping (like everyone else) :o) to get my hands on some of those beautiful, shiny paint pots. I would wish you all a great day but then what other kind can you have in such a wonderful place.
I have them in my wish list since you first showed us..I like what they do to certain things..
Poor you and the travel..To me you looked like it would be you all fresh faced:)
another arm chair trip for me!
I’m with you in spirit! Hope you have a great time in Rome. Just sold one of my paintings: Roseman Bridge, to a young couple from a little seaside town near Rome. And this after I said I wouldn’t paint any bridge pictures when I moved to the Bridges of Madison County area. Ciao
Holy socks!! How in the world would you be able to read all these comments?!?! I guess it’s just ’cause we desperately wish we were ACTUALLY IN Italy with you!!! Maybe next time!!! Ciao Bella!
Enjoying following along and hoping to win! 😉
Looks so beautiful….can’t wait to see allyour travels!
Even the French Poodle knows life is better at the Trattoria! What a shot!
Would love to know the names of some of the places you visit.
Have a gelato every day for me!
I love arm chair traveling with Dreama!
I think I’ll be finding a watercolour journal soon even though I am an oil painter! ~ S
What a fun idea! Can’t wait to see what you do with the new paint. Thank you for taking us along on your journey. I am twice blest to travel through you and my son. I have been to Ireland, France and now Italy twice and Spain once in the last two years. Enjoy and travel safe.
Hi! Dreama How lucky you are! Italy, a new set of glimmering watercolor new places to visit…Enjoy everything! Andrée
So jealous!!!
“Ciao -Wow”- you made it !!! Exquisite watercolor painting in your journal! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous painting!
Enjoy reading your posts! I hope that you have wonderful time there!
Have a wonderful trip!
You are having WAY too much fun on this trip, Dreama! Italy is good for you! Hope you get to see lots of potted plants and growing vines and window boxes and umbrellas and lovely gates and doors and cute little tables and chairs and, wait a minute… that’s what Italy is all about! Soak it all in!
Good Morning from Rome! Excited that I have so many traveling companions;) And appreciate the wishes for another awesome day. I carry you with me in my heart through all the moments here and will do my very best to share it all 🙂 Rome is where we landed and tomorrow we will motor into the Tuscany region for 5 days:))
Big Hugs!!!!!
What fun you are having and the perfect way to capture Italia!
I may just have to try my hand at watercolors just to add that little sparkle! ciao bella!
Love your journal! Enjoy Italy!
Oh oh oh sooo pretty!!! I’m going to the South of France in a couple of weeks and am planning to take my watercolours and do some journalling (can’t THINK where I got the idea…) – some sparkles would just be FAB!!!
Thanks Dreama 🙂
Beautiful – little pots of dreamy colours. Paint like you’re 5 again! Enjoy every delight x
Looking forward to sharing this trip with you and will try to get going on the journal thing …
Love the new colors!
OMGoodness, I want those sparkling H2Os! So cheery!
Oh I wish I was there with you, but I am inspired to journal along with you and pretend! Will be ordering sparkle watercolors in a minute! :>)
Ah, it will be so fun to follow along! Maybe some day I can participate in person.
Looks like great fun!
Awesomeness and grinning over your fanciful writings. I love love that warm light in the photo just above. Can’t wait to see where else you go…Carry on:) Ha!
I love your shimmering colors and zest for life!
These little sparkly pots of w/c look like great fun!
Looks like such fun.
Looks like fun.
I will join you in your travels… only in my dreams but oh how I love these Sparkling H2O’s!
I tried my first watercolor! Fun!
And here I thought it was Dreama’s sparkling personality shining through!
Hope your visit is full of beauty, laughter, and enjoyment ~
Love dreaming the life with Dreama on the armchair journaling trips!!
Can’t wait to see some of the amazing art you will paint!
I so wish I was there… visiting Italy is on my bucket list!
Twinkle twinkle little star, I love you Dreama wherever you are! And your twinkle H2O pots too! Ugh, I hate the travel part of, well… travel. Snuggling up to hubs, Riley, Squidly and Lily Boots while I enjoy your first Italian post! Thanks for this fun adventure! I’m so excited! But still in last stages of wedding planning MOB freakout. Breathe in, breathe out, eat chocolate (tirimisu…what??? oh yes please!) and paint something fun. I will use sparkle nail polish for now. Be well, be safe! xoxo P.S. I soooo love not having to do any math this trip! 😉
Oh the places you’ll go!
It’s only fair to warn you. The little pots of watercolor are like Hershey’s Kisses. Irresistible and impossible to stop with only one 🙂 Obviously, I am already addicted so of course I am going to tell you how wonderful they are in hopes of having a buddy for my habit…..
Big Italiano Hugs!!
D
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