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american waters: a marine exhibition

July 3, 2015

pleasure in simple things Lyme Art Association

For today’s Friday field trip, I am very excited to take you to American Waters: A Marine Art Exhibition in Old Lyme, Connecticut.  This summer exhibition of work by the country’s premier maritime artists is on view in the Lyme Art Association’s beautiful sky-lit galleries.  American Waters represents a showing of the very best of fine contemporary American marine paintings. A jury exhibition of marine art by the Association’s member artists are on view alongside art by invited artists from the American Society of Marine Artists.

One of my very favorite pieces from the collection is View from the Top by James Magner.

View from the Top James Magner pleasure in simple things

Here is a detail photo from the piece.  I wish I had the budget to purchase the entire collection of over 120 works (which I don’t), but if I had the budget to purchase just one for myself, this may very well be my choice!

pleasure in simple things marine art 43

Remember that these paintings are far more magnificent in person than a photo could ever convey.  Also, in the gallery the pieces are all displayed in frames.  Here, I chose to show them to you without the frames since I thought the frames were distracting in a photograph.  With that being said, here are some of my other favorite works.

pleasure in simple things marine art 86Discovery by Shauna Shane

pleasure in simple things marine art 32Beached by Joan Poarch

pleasure in simple things marine art 114Meandering by Kim Muller-Thym

pleasure in simple things marine art 24Dog Days by Catherine Puccio

pleasure in simple things marine art 17Solitude by Faripour Forouhar

pleasure in simple things marine art  98Morning Light by Kent Winchell

pleasure in simple things marine art 49Slack Time by Deborah Kotchen

I hope you enjoyed sharing some of the wonderful works on display at The Lyme Art Association.  If you live in Connecticut or are passing through, be sure to stop by the exhibit – it is easily accessible off I95 and well worth a visit.

Lyme Art Association in Lyme CT pleasure in simple things

I am very much looking forward to the Art Association’s upcoming exhibition Summer Days, Starry Nights & Connecticut Pastel Society opening on August 14th. If you want more details about upcoming exhibits, check the website by clicking here for more information.

American Waters Exhibit pleasure in simple things blog
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Thoughts From Alice, Finding Silver Pennies, and House of Hipsters.

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patriotic driftwood bubble wands

June 26, 2015

patriotic bubble wand pleasure in simple things blog

The Fourth of July at the beach is great! And, just like in the rest of the nation, some serious red, white, and blue action is going down! It starts early in the day with the kick-off red, white, and blue parade. The kiddies dress themselves, their bikes, their dogs – and just about anything else you can think of – in the colors of the day!  Once the evening arrives, a magnificent display of fireworks is the crowning glory of these patriotic hues.

diy patriotic driftwood bubble wands pleasure in simple things blog

The relaxed vibe at the beach makes it easy to create – most times using items found on the beach. A classic example is the crab catcher. This handy item is crafted from an old wooden clothespin and some string. When baited with whatever scrap of meat or meat related product can be salvaged, it works its magic!

making bubbles with homemade wands pleasure in simple things blog

Another handy item for the beach is a bubble maker aka bubble wand.  For the holiday, this can be a fun patriotic craft!  Using some dish detergent (1 patriotic driftwood bubble wands pleasure in simple things blogtablespoon dish liquid per 1 cup water) and some homemade bubble wands, it is super simple to create some fun in the sand. Running along the beach after bubbles can keep the young (or young at heart) occupied for hours!

Bubble wands are easy to make using pipe cleaners and driftwood.  They can be decorated with shells, scraps of ribbon, or any other number of items washed up on shore.  Some crafters take time for elaborate decorations. while others work fast; anxious to get to the bubble part!  (Yes, the star shapes do work to make bubbles, but are much more complicated for young fingers to create.)

For today’s Friday field trip, I wanted to show you some of the wands I made at the beach. You can use wire or stiff ribbon – anything that will hold its shape. I used items I already had. The smaller ones here are made with a sparkly wired ribbon and the others are made with metallic pipe cleaners.

patriotic beach day pleasure in simple things

I like to make the bubbles by dipping the wands into a shallow container of the bubble liquid; especially for the larger bubble wands. This makes it easy to dip the wand and the shallow container helps avoid knocking over the solution.  Remember, the larger the wand, the larger the bubble!

loading bubbles onto a homemade bubble wand pleasure in simple things blog

And, for some extra night time fun, break open a glow stick to add to your bubble solution for some glow-in-the-dark bubbles!

I hope I have inspired you to create some bubble wands of your own!

4th of July pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with House of Hipsters, Thoughts From AliceCraftberry Bush, Nancherrow, and The Shabby Nest.

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a wordless year

May 22, 2015

shell at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

I didn’t choose a ‘word of the year’ for 2015.  I was thinking about that on my walk by the water today.  I wondered why I wasn’t inspired to come up with one this year.

Lunch at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

I thought if I had, it would have been something that expressed a need to keep things fresh…to constantly learn new things…to go on new adventures.

a piece of driftwood at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

I don’t have the ability to travel to foreign lands or visit exotic cultures.  But, I am still able to find new adventures every day.

crab at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

Not a day goes by when I don’t learn something new that creates a special interest or the need to explore.

sea wall at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

But, I certainly wouldn’t want to confine that need to discover to a single year…maybe that is why no word for the year?

walking the beach pleasure in simple things blog
I hope you enjoy joining me on my walk today for Friday field trip…

a shell at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

bird at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

driftwood  at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

Have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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3 ingredient lemon mousse shooters

May 19, 2015

easy to make lemon mousse shooters pleasure in simple things blog

Dessert shooters are always fun– a nice little bit of sweetness without the heaviness of a traditional sized dessert.

This three ingredient shooter is super easy to create. Great for a party, these lemon mousse shooters can be made ahead, and if you use little disposable decorative cups, are clean-up free!

lemon mousse shooter pleasure in simple things blog
The lemon flavor for these shooters comes from lemon curd. I love lemon curd and very often use it in tarts – it packs so much flavor. For today’s dessert, I used store bought lemon curd (a 10 oz. jar is approximately 2/3 cup) and lightened it up by folding it into some whipped cream. With this mousse mixture and some gingersnap cookie crumbs, the shooter is complete!

recipe for lemon mousse shooters pleasure in simple things blog

Raspberries, mint, or lemon slice candies make great garnishes, but if you want to stay strict to three ingredients, top the shooter off with a piece of gingersnap cookie instead.

3 ingredient lemon mousse shooters pleasure in simple things blog

The hard store bought gingersnaps work best to make crumbs. If you are not a gingersnap fan, you can easily change the gingersnap crumbs for some shortbread cookie crumbs.

making a lemon mousse shooter pleasure in simple things blog

I hope you enjoy these little lemon mousse shooters!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Boat Sailing vintage book pleasure in simple things blog
P.S. The napkins and the mini baking cups I used here are from Home Goods.

Sharing at Craftberry Bush, Thoughts From Alice, House of Hipsters, Nancherrow, and Sand & Sisal.

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flip flop messages in the sand

May 8, 2015

making flip flop messages pleasure in simple things blog

For today’s Friday field trip, I am taking you to the beach.

Why? Not that I really need a reason to go to the beach – but, today we are going to test out my message flip flops.

It is a very simple concept. I attach letters to the bottom of some flip flops, so a message will be imprinted in the sand as I walk across the beach.

at the beach with message flip flops pleasure in simple things blog

At least I thought it was a simple concept! I quickly found a major flaw in my execution! I forgot I would need to flip the letters when I attached them to the flip flop! That is the reason ‘love’ is backwards!

Other than that, it worked like a charm! If you want to replicate this, just glue some letters to the bottom of an old or inexpensive pair of flip flops. You will want to create a depth of ¼’ with the letters to make a nice imprint. I used a foam letter, but really any material will work. You may be able to find wooden letters at the craft store. If the letters are thin, just keep adding layers until they reach a ¼” thickness. They can even be crafted out of cardboard if you prefer not to purchase pre-cut letters or symbols.

close up of flip flop message pleasure in simple things blog

There are many applications for this ….I think it would work really great for a prom proposal…a walk at sunset on the beach when ‘prom?’ magically appears written in the sand…cool, right?

message in the sand pleasure in simple things blog

I know. We are not all going to prom – no matter how much we wish we were! Maybe instead, come up with some ‘mom’ messages to use on your beach walk this weekend? Just remember to flip the letters before you glue them!

Have fun with it! Thanks for stopping by!

a shell on beach pleasure in simple things blog
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Sand & Sisal, Coastal Charm, and The Shabby Nest.

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march book giveaway!

February 27, 2015

giveaway book march 2015 pleasure in simple things blog

February has certainly gone by quickly – though I am not complaining. After the winter we have been having here in Connecticut, most people seem to have the same sentiment – spring cannot come soon enough! Now we only need to wait until the 20th day of March to officially welcome the new season!

For the giveaway book this month, I am really being a tease and selecting Lazy Days and Beach Blankets: Simple Alfresco Dining with Friends and Family by Ryland Peters & Small. Right now alfresco is really a stretch – I know – especially when you consider the temperatures are below freezing and the ground is covered with mounds of ice and snow. A girl can dream though, can’t she?

giveaway book pleasure in simple things blog

I thought this selection would prove a great way to dream of warmer days ahead! “Lazy Days and Beach Blankets” celebrates the joy of eating alfresco with loved ones and provides plenty of inspiration with beautiful images of lazy days and outdoor dining. The book contains more than 120 simple recipes and ideas for dining alfresco – sections devoted to snacks & sides, salads, barbecues, entrees, desserts, and drinks.

Leave a comment during the month of March to let me know you would like to be entered to win this book. “Lazy Days and Beach Blankets” is sure to have you dreaming of setting up cool drinks on the terrace or dinner under the stars in no time flat!

Congratulates to Barbara, the winner of the February selection, The House Gardener by Isabelle Palmer. Barb, send me an email through the blog with your mailing information, and I will send it right out to you! I know you will enjoy it!

march 2015 instagram challenge pleasure in simple things blog

For Instagram users, this month’s challenge will be to photograph the first signs of spring! We are all eager for it to arrive – what signals the start of the season to you? Please share using hashtag #pleasuregram. We could all use some images promising warmer days ahead!

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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driftwood trinket dish diy

February 24, 2015

diy trinket dish for $3.99 pleasure in simple things blog

I will let you in on a little secret. Well, I don’t know if it is actually a secret since I am sure many others have discovered this wonderful little tidbit. Are you ready?

IKEA sells a 6” x 6” candle tray for $3.99. It is a beautifully simple, white ceramic square tray and has four protective rubber feet on the bottom. Why is this a wonderful tidbit?

easy to make trinket dish pleasure in simple things blogThis candle tray makes the best trinket dish ever! At only $3.99, it is perfect to create a beautiful – yet quick, easy and inexpensive – trinket dish!

ikea candle tray to trinket dish pleasure in simple things blog

As a decorative addition to my dish, I chose an interesting piece of driftwood, approximately 4” long, from my collection of driftwood pieces. Because of the porous nature of the driftwood, I chose to use caulk as an adhesive to mount the driftwood to the tray. If you use a decorative addition made of a different material, be sure to consider the item you are adding when choosing a glue. For the most part, E6000 glue or Gorilla glue is probably the best choice of adhesive. (Be sure to follow directions carefully.)

driftwood trinket tray diy from pleasure in simple things blog

Why driftwood? I have something of a collection of trinket dishes with a nautical theme and a piece of driftwood coordinates great with my bedroom décor. I love the simple white dish with an interesting (aren’t they all?) piece of driftwood from my favorite beach!

driftwood diy trinket dish pleasure in simple things blog
The driftwood can easily be substituted for something that coordinates with your décor or the décor of the recipient – if the dish is a gift. You can pretty much add any embellishment that hits your fancy…just glue it down with good, strong glue and you are good to go!

diy trinket dish from ikea candle tray pleasure in simple things blog

I have made so many different variations of this trinket dish! Ideas include spray painted animals or figures, cars (think Father’s Day), or natural elements. If you are stumped, shoot me an email and I will help with ideas! Have fun with it!

diy trinket dish from IKEA tray pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Sand & Sisal, Shabby Nest, House of Hipsters, Nancherrow, and Thoughts from Alice.

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ice, ice baby!

February 17, 2015

too cold for seagulls pleasure in simple things blog

With temperatures below freezing and blizzard conditions, here in Connecticut we are experiencing a crazy winter.

the dock at blizzard in ct pleasure in simple things blog

And, like all of New England, we have had plenty of snow this year.

sunny and below freezing pleasure in simple things blog

But, this winter, it is not the snow that has taken center stage…

one dock at blizzard pleasure in simple things blog

connecticut coast pleasure in simple things blog

This year, the star of the show is the ice!

sunny and negative temps pleasure in simple things blog

And with temperatures below zero (without the wind chill), there is plenty of it – even in places it is not usually seen!

docks during blizzard pleasure in simple things blog

blizzard conditions pleasure in simple things blog

So today, I am sharing some of the beauty I am seeing in all this ice…

blizzard on ct coast 2015 pleasure in simple things

A beauty only Mother Nature can provide.

snowy beach pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks so much for stopping by.

quote bench in winter pleasure in simple things blog

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Finding Silver Pennies, Coastal CharmSand & Sisal, Homework, and Elizabeth & Co.

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balmy beach day in november

November 14, 2014

life guard chairs pleasure in simple things blog

A balmy day in November certainly warrants a trip to the beach – no matter how brief.  There are signs of the season here – the fall colors in the marsh…

fall colors at the marsh pleasure in simple things blog

an occasionally leaf under the docks…

stray leaf under the docks pleasure in simple things blog

but even with an odd sixty degree afternoon in November, winter is on its way.

canadian geese at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

signs of birds at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a few photos from my trip to the beach this balmy day…

beach grasses on the sand pleasure in simple things blog

I’m here to collect some items for holiday crafts…

scavenging at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

It is so much fun to repurpose collected materials from nature!

under the dock pleasure in simple things blog

Today was the perfect day to do some scavenging!

beach grass pleasure in simple things blog

Snow is predicted this week in Connecticut, so soon this fall scene will make way for the white stuff!

geese at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks so much for stopping by!

And, remember to take pleasure in simple things…some of the very best things are the simple things!

Have a great weekend, Jackie

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beach house dresser redo

October 14, 2014

 beach house dresser Annie Sloan antoinette chalk paint pleasure in simple things

Today I am sharing a summer beach house dresser redo. I am really proud of the finished piece because I think it captures the spirit of the owner’s personality while still keeping the nostalgic vibe of the house.

beach dresser before photos pleasure in simple things

The dresser is really, really old and had tons of paint on it! I probably spent more time stripping the top of this piece than the total time I spent stripping all the pieces I have worked on in my lifetime! Yes, I did think about abandoning the stripping – painting the entire piece would have been so much easier! But, I just couldn’t do it! This dresser has been in a family beach house at least three generations and I really thought the best way to pay homage to it was to have a little bit of the original wood intact.

collage of after photos beach house dresser pleasure in simple things

After all that stripping and sanding – I can’t even fathom how many coats of paint were applied to the dresser – the piece of wood that made up the top wasn’t even very nice! The piece seems to have been homemade and possibly constructed of scrap wood. It definitely has tons of character!

beach house dresser Annie Sloan antoinette chalk paint pleasure in simple things

I chose a dark stain for the top, hoping the finish would be a little more forgiving to the not so great quality of the wood. I chose Minwax Dark Walnut stain and added three coats of Minwax Satin Finish polyurethane.

top of beach dresser pleasure in simple things

Although the owner of the beach house loves color and would have enjoyed a bright colored dresser, the man of the house really didn’t want any color at all! I think I came up with a good compromise by staining the top of the piece and adding a little color and metallic to the drawer fronts. I know the owner well enough to know her style is definitely one that includes tons of color and plenty of glam!

For the drawer fronts, I mixed Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White with Antoinette and a touch of Graphite to create a shade of pink that coordinated well with the dark walnut stained top.

ASCP dresser after pleasure in simple things

After adding a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax, I did a second coat using dark wax and finished it off with some touches of gilding wax. I added the gilding wax to the drawer pulls and top edge of the dresser.

after photo beach house dresser pleasure in simple things

I am thrilled with the way the dresser came out – hopefully to be enjoyed by many more generations!  I was asked to give new life to all the bedroom dressers in the house, so I am looking forward to additional inspiring pieces! Thanks for joining me for today’s makeover.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Finding Silver Pennies, Sand & Sisal, and Coastal Charm.

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