T Stands For Texture!

 How is everyone doing? Hopefully you are having good weather because that is a big help right now.  In my area we are still allowed to go for walks, runs, or a bike ride so long as we practice distance. And we are allowed to go to our jobs, or the store for necessities. If you get stopped for just joy riding in the car without  having a specific purpose you will get ticketed, and that's a good thing!
I have noticed many more people wearing masks and thinking it could become mandatory I spent time over the weekend making one for myself:

There are MANY You Tube how to's and other places with instructions for making any kind of mask- sewn or not, with elastic or not. I challenged myself to sew one with a few pleats in the front. I already had the materials. First time I used my old Kenmore machine for something other than sewing papers for my mixed media art and thankfully this came out OK:):)
Edited In: Elizabeth asked what tutorial i used. I had looked at about 7 different ones on You Tube but this one helped me the most : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FB--BOyTiU&t=8s

 It has been gorgeous out the last few days so hubby and I spent lots of time in our yard. I even had breakfast out on the picnic table for the first time this season:

 I made this Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa for the first time and hubby and I both loved it!! I also love oatmeal but hubby hates the texture of it so this quinoa with the sweet, nutty flavor and crunch was perfect. Recipe at bottom of this post! Cheers to the T Stands For Tuesday gang!

 In my last post I mentioned winning a gift card from Altenew- and my products arrived just a few hours ago:

 I added a small gift card from my birthday as well because I really wanted the dies along with this beautiful Antique Roses stamp set;) Can't wait to play with these stamps and stencils!

 Oh, and I also recently won a stamp set and stencil of my choice from an IG challenge by Darkroom Door!! I won for the tags I made for their last challenge. You can see them in this post.

Remember in my last post I shared a grungy page I had begun on my art table? Well , this is the finished page which was inspired by Shawn Petite:

 The bicycle with flower basket and words stencils are from Art Minds. Acrylic paints and gesso. I will join Try It On Tuesday with the theme of "The Beauty of Nature".

 The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme is to "Add Some Texture" so I have this journal page:

 I began by gluing down two strips of gauze using gel medium. Then I watered down some Dina Wakley paints and painted and spattered over it. The circle art is another piece from a Circle Challenge I participated in  on IG  last year.

 I will also join in at Art Journal Journey for this month's theme of Geometric Shapes, and Paint Party Friday.

 For those of you celebrating Easter this Sunday I wish you a happy Easter. It sure will be different , and it's the first year in many that I won't be hosting a small family dinner for anyone other than myself and hubby. Grateful though to be able to stay in touch with other, safer ways right now.

 Stay well, stay safe, keep healthy dear ones!

" I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightness. I do not judge the universe."
                                  Dalai Lama



                    Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Quinoa (recipe from SuccessRice.com) serves 2

1 bag Success Tri-Color Quinoa         1 c. apple juice
2 Tbsp. butter                                      1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 lg. apple, cored, peeled and sliced   1 Tbsp. maple syrup
1/4 c. dried cranberries                       1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. chopped walnuts                     

   Prepare quinoa according to package directions, adding the apple juice to the water. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add brown sugar, apple, maple syrup, dried cranberries, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are just tender 5 - 8 min. Stir in nuts. Serve quinoa topped with the apple mixture.
Note- I made the apple mixture ahead but omitted the walnuts and refrigerated it for the next morning. I just reheated the apple mixture then added the nuts before topping the quinoa.