Egg Roll

This very vintage illustration
is from a 1920's children's
arithmatic book.

Isn't it cool?

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

Here's an Easter tag
I made to tuck
into a basket.

It's a two piecer,
with the floral bit
sliding into
the window tag.

I threw every technique
in the book at it
- layers upon layers.

I started out with
watercolors,
began doodling,
then stamping,
then pulled out
the Prismacolors
and finished it off
in Photoshop.

Love doing that!

Egg Salad Sand

Every year, we get carried away coloring Easter Eggs and end up with a big basketful to "dispose of". My husband is always very obliging, and makes a good dent in the pile -
armed with nothing but salt and pepper shakers. The kids however, won't touch 'em. Uh-uh.

By day two, it's time to pull out the big guns and make egg salad.
But where's that egg slicer? Usually in my Easter basket.

We're tough on egg slicers around here because we use them for mushrooms as well.
This thing sees a lot of wear and tear with 3 seasons of mycological forays in to the local woods for mushrooms. It's pretty much toast by the following Spring, with bent and missing wires, maybe a plastic melty spot from the dishwasher -
you get the picture.

Time for a new one!

It goes on the list right next to the peeps and chocolate bunnies and
SURPRISE! I get new egg slicer in my basket every year.

I've spread this tradition to include a few of my friends, who,
come Easter Monday, will be needing one.

Tie Dye Easter Eggs

These scrumptious eggs are made
with old bits of brightly colored silk.
















These were made from ties extracted
from the man cave, but you can use
any silk that has been dyed.















Just in time for Easter,
I present to you -
The Golfing Santa Egg!

















The full how-to is here on Martha:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=955500e62abd0110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&backto=true

Cute Chicks

Easter's on it's way!

These happy little chenille chicks are nestled
in plain white eggshells with a bit of excelsior
to keep them cozy.

Yellows and greens, ahhh...Spring!

I love these colors together; the soft butter yellow
and meadow green with the the more intense
daffodil and grass green, all blend into a sunny day,
right on the tabletop.

Spring is Springing!

"For behold the Winter is past,
the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the Earth.
The time of the singing of birds has come
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land." - Song of Solomon


...and not a moment too soon!


The vinca is already up and running,
in all of it's purple majesty.

Our fuzzy friends here are out and about,
looking for a snack and a place to paddle.

We've got big garden plans this year -
of both the colorful and the edible varieties
and these duckies are key.

You're lookin' at the Slug Patrol Task Force -
and even when they are little, they're very effective.

Because they prefer the baby slugs,
we get a headstart in keeping the
whole population in check.
Yum!

Soooooo ready for Spring here!

Looking Over Lucky Clover

"If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover,
is he entitled to happiness?"
- Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

My answer to that would be, "Yeah-Duh!"

I love discovering a four-leaf clover
but then so does every little kid,
counters and pre-counters alike.
A rare find is always fun.

For me, searching through the clover patch
can be it's own reward, out in the fresh air
with all that green to take in!
The hunt itself can be mesmerizing -
a kind of walking meditation.

I'm pretty sure I got the four-leaf clover bug
from my mom - the undisputed champ at
spotting one at a distance.

Of course, I've upped my odds considerably
by broadcasting White Dutch clover seed on
every inch of bare ground we have.
Lots of green real estate to choose from here.

At this point, I've got quite a collection going
and will be sharing them with friends tomorrow.

Lotsa Luck to ya and Happy St. Pat's!

Painting with Scissors

"A pair of scissors is a ... wonderful instrument ... an occupation I can lose myself in ... my pleasure in cutting things out grows ever greater. Why didn't I think of it before." - Henri Matisse

In his later years, Matisse created beautiful gouaches découpés- cut paper collages. He called this technique
"Painting with Scissors".

Flipping through my art books, the flowing shapes and bright colors in these works always catch my eye. Right then and there, I'm inspired to jump up and start snipping!

Cut & Paste is a life long love of mine that started way before grammer school. Anyone remember mucilage?

This piece was made from a recycled linen's catalogue which I sliced up to create a Spring bouquet.

How GREEN is that?

Happy Spring!