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good neighbors

March 26, 2021

llama

March can be a crazy weather time in New England.  One day may be snow and the next day could be a shorts and sandals kind of day!

This past week, with temperatures in the 60’s, it has certainly been more of the shorts-wearing type of weather!

neighbor

The mild weather has made spending time outdoors very enjoyable this past week.  One of my favorite things this week was saying hello to some of my neighbors during my daily walks.  These three, in particular, are normally extremely shy.

three neighbors

Apparently, the warm weather has given them some extra courage to say hello!

I hope I have inspired you to take a walk and say hello to some of your neighbors!

llama friend

llama teeth

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Spring!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like saying hello to your neighbors!  xo Jackie

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topiary painted easter eggs

March 19, 2021

handpainted topiary egg series

Yes, I was struggling for an Easter egg theme this year.  They usually come so easily for me.  But that wasn’t the case this year, until… I was up all night recently, working on a research project, and it just came to me!  Probably because I have been thinking so much lately about how I will continue enhancing my ‘virgin’ garden this spring.

drawing topiary on egg

two topiary painted eggs

So, in the wee hours of the morning, I grabbed a marker and an egg and drew a topiary.  After I had one done, I just kept going!

series of topiary painted eggs

The next day, I added some green, gold, and brown paint accents as a final touch.

Viola!  My topiary Easter egg series for 2021!

group handpainted topiary eggs

Because I always make my designs on hollowed out eggs, I keep them indefinitely.  This series is sure to be on display again in the future!

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you are inspired to decorate some eggs in a new way!

a series of topiary easter eggs

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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painting easter eggs

March 12, 2021

three carrotts on an easter egg

Usually, every year, I come up with an Easter egg decorating theme before Lent begins.  I’ve done constellations, picnic items, succulents, etc.  This year is the first year that I had no light bulb moment  ‘telling’ me what my year’s theme should be!  I guess with COVID isolation I’m just not ‘out and about’ enough to get the creative juices flowing!

bunnies on easter eggs

I decided to start painting and see what happened.  I started with a couple different bunny designs.  That felt a little too ordinary.

bunny on an easter egg

Next, I did a carrot design.  Once I added the eyes and expressions it felt a little more creative than the rabbits!  So now I am thinking maybe I will do a vegetable theme?

empty eggs

I’ll see what happens!

painting easter egg

easter egg and paints

Right now I am taking a little painting break to enjoy the fabulous weather we are having here in Connecticut!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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easy diy marbled easter eggs

March 5, 2021

pink marble egg with tulips

You have seen me marbleize little white baby boo pumpkins.  The same technique can be used for marbleizing Easter eggs.  It is super simple!  All you need is a container of water and some nail polish!

gray marble eggs

I always blow out my eggs before I decorate them so I can keep the ones I like indefinitely.  That is up to you.  Either use a hard-boiled egg or a hollowed-out egg for the basis of your creation.  You can start with a plain, white egg or with an egg you have previously dyed.

marble egg with pom pillow

Find a shallow disposable container that will fit an egg.  I cut down a plastic container to size so I can just throw it in the trash when I am done.

Choose the nail polish you will use.  You won’t need very much.  Don’t buy some just for this project unless you get it at a bargain store.   Nail polish is expensive!   I know Marshalls sells mini bottles in a variety pack for under $5.  But, if you can, best to just choose a nail polish you already own.

marble egg with handpainted egg cup

Add water to your chosen container – enough that you can dunk the egg under the surface.  I use my fingers to do the egg dipping since the nail polish comes off easily with nail polish remover, but you can use a traditional metal egg dying tool (or make one from floral wire).  I prefer using my fingers so I have total control over the movement of the egg.

diy marble eggs nail polish

After the water is in the container, you are going to suspend the nail polish onto the surface of the water by gently pouring a thin random stream over the water.  Next, you will dip the egg under the surface of the water.  This will be fast – you don’t want to leave it for any time period – just pass it through and twist it as you go.  You really need to try it once to get the hang of it.

marble egg in straw

That’s it!  So easy!  The nail polish will dry hard pretty quickly.  For those who asked when I did the nail polish marbleized pumpkin – no, it doesn’t smell!  Just like your nails don’t smell when they have dried polish on them!  I’ll put some video on my Instagram stories.

After the nail polish is dry, you can repeat the process with a different/2nd color nail polish.

pink marble egg in wood cup

Finished egg displayed in a wooden egg cup purchased at Target.

Display your creations any way you’d like.  Target has some great inexpensive wooden egg cups.  Or, white ones are only 97 cents at Christmas Tree Shops!  I bought a few of the white ones and painted them with a gold rim.  An easy embellishment!

diy handpainted egg cup

A finished egg displayed in an egg cup purchased at Christmas Tree Shops for 97 cents. I added a hand-painted gold rim.

I hope you will try creating a marbleized Easter egg with nail polish.

pink marble egg with jasmine

I still have some egg decorating ideas to share.  (You can also find some good ideas in the archives by using the search bar.)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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