Written by These fabulous doodlewashed handmade greeting cards come to us direct from Mars! Okay, the doodlewash movement hasn’t moved from global to galactic…yet… but these do come from the lovely Jodi McKinney (follow her on Instagram!) who lives in Mars, Pennsylvania, a small town close to Pittsburgh. The doodlewashes Jodi has provided here today are originals created just for this guest doodlewash post! (editors note: Yay! Our first exclusive!)
Jodi says, “I was shocked that Charlie considered me ‘artistic’ enough to be a Guest Doodlewasher! Shocked and SUPER humbled and flattered! I do not consider myself an artist (okay I am starting to..editor’s note: Good! you better!) . I have no formal training in art. I have no formal education in art… my last art class was in 5th grade elementary school.”
As we know, training can help, but it’s mostly just a constant drive, passion, and practice that allows us make beautiful things. And Jodi makes really beautiful things! “I love to be creative,” she says, “and I love to express my creativity in different ways – and that changes with the wind sometimes! My blog, lifeinbetween.me, expresses that. It was born out of the desire to express cherishing the moments “in between” doing the things we have to do (work, laundry, etc…).”
Jodi’s love of creativity extends well beyond a piece of paper. Sometimes her creativity is expressed through baking (“I am practically ‘famous’ in my own little world for my chocolate chip cookies and homemade pies” editor’s note: MUST VISIT MARS!) or cooking (“I love making recipes that remind me of my grandma like Halupkis, Halushki and Pierogies”).
And sometimes her creative muse turns her to photography (“I am a total amateur at that too with no formal training or education”), sometimes it is writing (“maybe a poem or story or a post written by and from my Dog, Charlie ((editor’s note: Great Name!)), or maybe about an event I went to or place I visited”), and often times it is stamping or doodlewashing!
Jodi posts daily at 6am EST, and has done so for the past year and a half. You never really know what it is going to be from day to day – a card – a photo – a recipe – a painting…. But it is always something that she has enjoyed doing when she got to choose what she wanted to do “in between.”
“I love to make handmade cards for my family and friends,” she says. “I love each one to be original and as individual as the recipient receiving it. Also, with my blog, I hope I can brighten my readers’ day in some small way and influence them to ‘cherish the moments.'”
We all have things we could complain about, family issues, problems, etc., but that is not typically the purpose of Jodi’s blogging. It is to be a positive, encouraging platform.
For her REAL job, Jodi is a Director of Corporate Communications for a Home Health and Hospice company, and she says she truly loves her job. “I am blessed to have the opportunity to work for a great company, amazing boss, and in an important industry that is truly helping people and educating them about end of life journey options and choices.”
In addition to her blog and Instagram, you can also follow Jodi on Twitter and Pinterest or you can buy lovely things from her Etsy shop! Jodi also says, “I LOVE the word doodlewash, and I love the inspiration and encouragement Charlie O has provided through his wonderful blog!” (editor is too busy blushing to leave a note… hold please…)
If I had to choose, I would say I love Jodi’s recipes and photography the most, and the two together even more most…LOL! But, I love everything Jodi does because she brings such joy and heart to it all. And kudos to her on posting daily! I have a 365-blog, too, but I have periods of time when I go MIA. 🙂
Jodi is amazing! Love how she’s creative in everything she does!
She is, indeed, amazing!
These cards are so adorable! It’s incredible that she blogs everyday! I create everyday but don’t blog everyday.. 😊 Look forward to seeing more of Jodi’s work!
Definitely follow her Kari! Her posts by Charlie, her dog,are so funny and wonderful! (And I’m not saying that just because we share the same name! Lol)
Reblogged this on life in between.
Oh Charlie! Thank you so much for the feature! 😘
Jodi my artist friend!! Thank you for these exclusive doodlewashes and filling the world with joy each and every day! ❤️😃
you sure know how to make my day Charlie! 🙂
I love everything this amazing lady does! So talented!!
I know, right?!! She soooo cool!! Love her!!
ha ha! I can’t wait to tell my boys that I’m “cool!” 🙂
Please do!! But say you’re a “cool artist” 😉hehe
i’ll try that and see how far that gets me – haha!
DO! And report back! 😎
oh Lyn – how sweet are YOU!!!! <3
The joy and love just jump off the screen – in Jodi’s art, her words, and this out of this world blog post about the artist (and she IS!) and her work. Artists are from Mars! : ) Writers are from Venus. LOL! I follow Jodi’s blog and know she posts daily very early. Now I know the exact time!
Cool!! You’ll never miss a one now, Cynthia! Jodi is amazing and the first Martian I’ve met! ❤️Hehe…couldn’t resist. And thank you for calling her an artist. She doesn’t always believe me when I tell her!! I’m not usually into building a gang and “name calling” others but this time I think we should!! 😉 Jodi is an artist!!
you are making we cry with such amazing sweetness!!!
Awh! Thanks sweet Cynthia! 🙂
Thank you for inviting Jodi as your guest doodlewasher today. I follow Jodi as well and enjoy her lively conversation and beautiful creativity in all forms. Yay Jodi!
You’re quite welcome, Sharon!! She always makes me smile and figured if anyone wasn’t already following her, they deserved to smile as well! 😉😃
thank you Sharon! What a sweet thing to say!
Great piece! I love Jodi’s work. Even the simplest subjects take on such personality! Her family and friendsare really lucky to receive such one of a kind cards.
I know…I’m determined to become her new best friend for both cards and the amazing cookies she describes!! 😊😊hehe…thanks so much Nancy! Glad you liked it!
I need to send you cookies! Or have you and Phillipe over my new BFF 🙂
See I knew if I kept trying I’d achieve that status and get cookies!! Yay!! Too bad we live so far away!
only a few hours flight to Mars! come visit! 🙂
True! Hehe…but I have to get Philippe and I back to Paris first. 😊😉
Shheesh! Did you have to go and make me jealous!?!😩
Don’t be… It’s still a family visit, just miles and miles away and more expensive. 😉 My family is in Texas, so we try to go each place once a year. Though it’s a bit faster and cheaper to go there! Hehe
thank you Nancy! I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your kindness
Oh, YAY! Love Jodi’s ART! 💜💚💛 and recipes and photography and birds and cards…. So happy, Charlie that you featured Jodieeeee – On your guest post! Jodi is sooo talented in so many ways!!! And an ARTIST! 😊🎨🌟
Oh, this is so beautifully written and a wonderful portrait about Jodi and her work!!! She´s talented in so many ways!!! I´d love to go to Mars too to get some of this wonderful food she´s posting! Thanks for sharing, Charlie! 😊
You’re quite welcome Ann! 💜Yes…we should all visit Mars one day! That’s just fun to say…hehe… And when we get there we say, “Take me to your cookies!” 🍪Jodi is awesomeness!
Beautiful work from Jodi here! Love her blog, she is always up to something and bringing us along with her. She’s been a food and photography and card artist for years! I’m glad she’s now calling herself a watercolor artist as well. Kudos, Jodi! :)))
Aren’t these lovely Laura?! She’s such a great artist! But it is kind of a loaded word. I didn’t call myself that for quite awhile…still prefer doodlewasher! Lol Three cheers for Jodi, the artist!! ❤️😃
Amen, I only recently started using the term myself. I do feel the word is way too big for me, still, but since I “practice” every day, I feel I can claim the title. I’m amazed at people with real talent who don’t want to use the name (like you, Charlie!) You’re a good man, and you did a nice job with this post. Jodi is such a great person and friend, as well as artist!
Awww thank you so much Laura! You’re so sweet. One of the reasons I started Doodlewash was because I noticed many “artists” sort of snubbing the rest of us. Hehe… if you “practice” every day, you’re a frickin’ artist. And “rules” be damned! Just paint what your muse tells you in the way you love to paint it and love the journey! 😉 Beautiful things always find an audience.
Such a cool outlook! Love it, Charlie! Rock on, my friend!
Jodi’s art is so charming and thoughtful. What a lovely artist she is! Thank you for featuring her Charlie! I love hearing her back story and passion. Jodi, you are truly an artist with many talents!
She’s an awesome one that Jodi! Such diverse talents! Glad you liked the feature Cathe! 😃👍🏻
I like Jodi’s work very much. Jodi, you are definitely an artist. And Jodi is the very definition of “enthusiasm.” Great pumpkin!
Agreed! Jodi makes me smile all the time! She’s one of those rare people who just exude positive energy!
Thank you for featuring such a powerhouse of positive energy and creative passions. I love following her blog, there is always inspiration, encouragement and beauty to be found there.
Awww Jodi is a powerhouse! That’s a perfect description. It was an honor to feature her! 😊