In love with the "house" theme...

After completing the Donna Downey Pan Pastel 203 online class, I continue my love affair with the "house" theme.  It goes back to my love of the comforts of hearth and home, I'm sure.  This class was especially fun because of the expansive use of various textures.  I took Donna's great ideas and put my own spin on them.  Here are four little houses all in a row...

Layers and layers applied to the background of this spread was an interesting experiment for me...

These pages featured a canvas house with some stormy skies...  I love the message... "Give your imagination wings"...

A masking tape house with a chenille strip roof was the focus of this page...  Home for me is truly "sweet".

I have used a whole jar of molding paste in the last few days...  I just can't get enough of it's fabulous texture... yummmmmmm....

My yard has been beautiful and green this year, but I have been battling an over-abundance of dandelions... They are fun on my journal page (because I got to slather on the molding paste), but not so fun on the lawn.

As I begin another week, I am reflecting on this Mary Oliver quote...  "Hello, sun in my face... Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch now how I start the day in happiness, in kindness."  This thought gives a wonderful focus to this new week... 

"Poppy Love"

After being immersed in Donna Downey's Pan Pastel 202 online class, I am in "poppy love"!

I love this "Impressionistic" version of a poppy field. This Mary Oliver quote has always been a favorite of mine.

These large poppies were my favorite version to create.  Another Mary Oliver quote spoke to me on this page.

I'm such a "pink girl", so these pastel beauties were close to my heart, too.

As you start this mid-April week... "Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable." Mary Oliver

                                            

A gorgeous Easter Monday

I hope you had a very special Easter holiday with those you love.  The weather here was absolutely perfect, and the time spent with my precious family was such a treasure.  After such a meaningful church service, we were so blessed to have a yummy meal together.

The bunnies are still adorning my home and probably will for several weeks to come.  I just love them so much...

Thanks to Susan for this cutie that arrived this week... simply adorable, and in my favorite pink!

What a special spot I have-- looking out the bay window at the ever-blooming landscape of my neighborhood.   It's hard to think of anything but the beauty of the earth during this favorite season... delightful SPRING.

I have been working in my art journal on some ideas from Donna Downey's Pan Pastel 201 class...  

 Having fun with Donna's funky zebra tree image transfers adorned with hearts.

My favorite aspect of this class has been playing with so many TEXTURES... love love love!

Here I experimented with pattern tissue paper, torn watercolor paper, canvas and glass bead gel... all favorite products in my studio.  I made heart "pockets" hiding tags with notes to myself of all the steps involved.

I "embrace" the imperfections, cracks and crevices of these hearts...

A large heart covered in "book text" smaller hearts was applied atop the richly-textured floral backdrop.

The background of molding paste "iced" over a stencil was one of my favorite ways to lay down a page.

Completed today was this 10 x 10 canvas with more molding paste magic...

I love the quote that I found for this piece.  

May you find some treasures this week... and revel in each one.