What do I do with an enormous sketchbook?

My daughter gave me this very large sketchbook which she got from an art shop in Dunedin, (sadly they've gone out of supplying these now, and I find it difficult to source sketchbooks which have high gsm papers suitable for watercolour). It is quite large, a bit too big to take out sketching, so I decided to use it for watercolour paintings instead. This was then a little intimidating, especially the first page as you want it to look good!

Here is the result: 

 Shell Study. Watercolour. The first page in my large watercolour sketchbook.

Rainy Day

It was a rainy day today and I didn't feel like the inevitable crowds of Centre City.
I am hopeless at traveling light, and I usually take everything including the kitchen sink. So I set myself a project to revamp my sketching kit!

It turns out I have enough gear to have two kits. One for watercolouring which is bigger and not so easy to carry about and a small version for sketching. Who knew I had pretty much two of every paintbrush!

So:
I've gone back to my small watercolour pans. I've bought some new colours, (internet shopping), that match up with what we were taught in Wednesday Art Group by Jane Mitchell and I've rearranged them in a more logical order.

I've followed a suggestion from Paul and made a paintbrush holder out of a sushi mat. This is a great idea.

To make this I've sewn elastic over the paintbrushes to hold them in place. They can be easily taken in and out. I've then attached a ribbon tie to one edge, but you could use anything as a tie that takes your fancy. You then roll the mat up and voila! A nice easy way to keep your brushes neat and stop them being damaged in your sketch bag.

The weather improved a bit later so I went outside and tried it all out.

Here's my rock garden and steps: