Last year at this time, the ground was still covered with snow and the thermometer reading was well below freezing. This year, due to a mild winter, we’ve already experienced several summer-like days, making it easier to plan for the long stretch of warm weather ahead. The flowering trees, forsythias, and daffodils are in full bloom, parading spring’s palette before us.

Transition into the new season by looking outdoors for inspiration. Bring fresh, colorful accents to your surroundings with one of the nature-influenced projects in this issue. Since the economic crunch has forced many of us to stay close to home, we may as well make it more comfortable. Instead of buying new furniture, stretch your budget by looking for pieces at secondhand shops, Goodwill stores, and garage sales. It’s amazing what you can do with “used” furniture. By investing a little bit of time, creativity, and some elbow grease, you can create a signature piece for any room in your home.

We don’t want to forget that this season brings with it new life. We have included a cute pair of ducklings and an adorable set of baby clothes hangers. Both are so beautifully done that they would even make wonderful wall hangings in a baby’s room.

We hope you enjoy reading Marty Caldwell’s article about her painting trip to the Tuscany Region and Amalfi Coast. By the time we finished preparing this story for publication, several of us had our bags packed and were ready to head off to Italy (in our dreams…that is!).

Well, enough dreaming—it’s time to take action and get our spring painting projects under way!

Happy Painting!
Linda R. Heller, Editor in Chief

Take a Peek Inside this Issue

Projects

Butterfly Gardening Set

Butterfly Pillow

Red Wheelbarrow Plaque

Vintage Flower Seed Packets

“Rise & Shine” Chair

Two Little Ducklings

Pufferbelly Railway

Patina of Time

Luscious Lemon

A Trio of Buildings, Part 2

Tuscan Landscape

Whimsical Tassels

Cupcake Pedestals

Menu Chalkboard

Cape Cod Buoy

Features

Brushstroke Technique Guide

Art & Coffee

Out & About

Follow Your Art

Create on Canvas

Seasonal Inspirations

Prime Your Palette

Faux Simple

Created Just for Kids

Funky Folk Art

Savvy Studio

Projects

Butterfly Gardening Set Lynne Deptula

Butterfly Pillow Diane Trierweiler

Red Wheelbarrow Plaque Barbara Franzreb Bunsey

Vintage Flower Seed Packets Debra Mills

“Rise & Shine” Chair Tracy Moreau and Deb Antonick

Two Little Ducklings Lydia Steeves

Pufferbelly Railway Sharon McNamara Black

Patina of Time Diana Putnam

Luscious Lemon Sharon Chinn

A Trio of Buildings, Part 2 Mary Jo Gross

Tuscan Landscape Rebecca Trimble

Whimsical Tassels Vicki Rhodes

Cupcake Pedestals Trudy Beard

Menu Chalkboard Chris Thornton-Deason

Cape Cod Buoy Charlene Barlow

Features

Brushstroke Technique Guide: Gorgeous Geraniums!
Debby Forshey-Choma

Art & Coffee—Rosemary Topiary
Debra Henkener

Out & About with Nony and Gisele: Shop Hop Road Trip!
Nony Housh and Gisele Pope

Prime Your Palette: Mixed Media— a Vehicle to “Express Yourself”
Kathi Hanson

Create on Canvas: Sunlit Forest
Patricia Reichenbach

Follow Your Art: A Trip to Tuscany
Marty Caldwell

Faux Simple: Adding to the Basics
Jill DiMaria

Seasonal Inspirations: Sewing Essentials
Kim Christmas

Created Just for Kids: Springtime Baby Hangers
Lynne Andrews

Funky Folk Art: Garden Can
Shara Reiner

Savvy Studio: Mediums and Their Many Uses!
Kathi Hanson

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