We’re two months into 2026 and I (of course) have a new sketchbook to share with you. I have highlighted a few pages in past Postcards from the Art House newsletters, but today we are doing a deep dive.

For the first few weeks I was calling this a “craft journal” but my friend Lisa referred to it as a “craft field guide” and that stuck! I love the idea of a craft field guide. This is the paper place where I am documenting all my craft and garden adventures for the year and so far it’s been a fun creative exercise. You many notice that I changed two things from the journals I was using in 2025.

First, I went bigger. Last year I was using these 3.5×5.5 Talen’s sketchbooks and this year I switched to a 5.5×8” Artist’s Loft sketchbook. The pages are bigger and there are more of them. But, I will note, the Artist’s Loft sketchbooks have thinner paper (75lb vs 90lb). As you’ll see though, I watercolor on the thinner pages without issue.

But second, and more important, I am drawing in pencil before I watercolor. It’s changing the game for me! I love the ability to erase. I love the control. I think it’s improving my drawing ability. These sketchbooks are just for fun, but it’s fun to see progress.

So, let’s take a closer look at what I have been making these past few months.