Sunday, June 28, 2026

Poppies and Paintings

I love the joyful exuberance of poppy flowers, so I was thrilled to see this field of poppies in Italy on May 19, 2025. I pulled over in the car and stopped to admire the view.  


Field of Poppies in Tuscany Italy by Jeanne Selep
Image 1: Field of Poppies somewhere in Tuscany, Italy

There weren't many breaks in the roadside foliage for me to photograph through. I am standing on my tip-toes to hold the camera over the weeds at the edge of the road. The road I was on had a shoulder and then a steep drop off at the edge; and the grasses were thick and tall.  I wanted to descend down into the field, and get a better angle with my camera, but I couldn't even see where the ground was and how steep the drop off was.


Field of Poppies in Tuscany Italy by Jeanne Selep
Image 2: Poppies Landscape somewhere in Tuscany, Italy

As a visitor in a foreign country, I didn't want to trespass; and I also didn't want to twist an ankle, or fall and break bones or my camera. I pictured tumbling down and/or falling into some watery ditch I could not see, so I opted to stay safely by the side of the road for my photos.  You should believe me when I tell you I wanted to get close enough to touch the poppies.
But these photos were the best I was willing to attempt that day.


Mosaic Flowering tree no 2 by Jeanne Selep
Image 3: Field of Poppies somewhere in Tuscany, Italy

I also love the image of the field alone, the pattern of grasses and flowers.


Mosaic Flowering tree no 2 by Jeanne Selep
Image 4: Over exposed Field of Poppies , Italy

I accidentally over-exposed the photo above, but I like the ethereal enchanted look it has, so I decided to include it here.  

I'm not the only person who has loved poppies in a field.  Some of my favorite artists have painted poppy fields. 

Claude Monet painted poppy fields more than 12 times.


Claude Monet Poppy Field Paintings
Image 5: Claude Monet Poppy Field Paintings

Sometimes Monet's paintings were nearly identical with minor coloration and cloud changes. 


Claude Monet Poppy Field Paintings
Image 6: Claude Monet Poppy Field Paintings

Considering poppy fields are only in bloom for a week or two a year, Monet obviously enjoyed poppy fields as well.


Claude Monet Poppy Field Paintings
Image 7: Claude Monet Poppy Field Paintings

Mary Cassatt painted the lovely poppy field painting below.


Mary Cassatt Field Painting
Image 8: Mary Cassatt Poppy field painting

John Singer Sargent concentrated more on the poppy flowers.


John Singer Sargent Poppy Painting
Image 9: John Singer Sargent Poppies

And I'll end this artist tangent with two poppy fields and a beautiful bouquet of poppies painted by Van Gogh.


Van Gogh Poppy Paintings
Image 10: Van Gogh Poppy Paintings

Spring and Summer are busy months for me.  The weather is great - I go outside more instead of posting.  This year I've gardened more than in most years!  



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"I must have flowers.  
Always and always."


                                                -  Claude Monet

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I hope you are enjoying your summer.

 

Have a Wonderful Summer
and a Great 4th of July!

 


Click on the images to see them enlarged!


I blog for fun and my blog is ad free.  Comments encourage me, and sometimes I  need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time.  

 

I have three large categories of posts: 
Travel, China and China hutches, and Mosaics.  

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See other travel posts here...
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Recent Posts ...

Mosaic Tree #2
Mosaic Easter Egg
Cafe Central Vienna
Journaling
Lemon Trees
Christmas Hutch


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Vienna Cafe
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I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon xxx (Entry )
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam Thur (Entry )
Sticky mud+Belly Laughs: Mon Morn (Entry 2)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me 571 (Entry 1 of 13)
My Random: Anything Goes 481 (Entry 2 of 15)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 19x)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 11 of 15)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 637 (l Entry 8 of 23)
Keeping it Real: Party 517 (Entry 9)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 1)
Altered book lover: T Tuesday (Entry *)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry )
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday (Entry)
My slices of life: Talk About It Tue 127 (Entry 1 of )
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 535 (m Entry 6)
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Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 5p Tues (l Entry x)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 16 (Entry )
Artsy Mama: Team Creative Crafts (Entry )
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry r)
Also Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed (m Entry r)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house Wed (m Entry )
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry )
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry )
Our Hopeful Home: Vintage Charm Wed (m Entry )
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop Wed (Entry )
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 16 (m Entry x of )
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry )
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Thur (Entry )
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry b)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty Th (Entry)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry )
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry )
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry)
Roentare: Water Thursday (l Entry )
Modern on Monticello: Home matters Fri 582 (s Entry 66r)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry -)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry -)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Fr 8a (L Entry )
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry )
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Bosworth Life: PoCoLo (Entry 14)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry ?)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 257 (L Entry 25)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather (L Entry -)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri 142 (Entry 18)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry )
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri (Entry )
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry )
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry)
Huisvlijt: Huisvlijt Party Sun (Entry 21)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best (l Entry )
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 7a (Entry )
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry )
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 2p (l Entry )
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 6p (l Entry )
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry 4)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry )
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 497 Sun a (Entry )
Also Love my Mess: Happiness is homemade Sun (Entry )
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 417 (Entry 49)
Pienilintu Finland: Wed around the World (monthly)
Life tales books: Will blog for Comments Mon (bi-week)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)

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Friday, May 29, 2026

Mosaic Flowering Tree No. 2

Spring is winding down, and most of spring's flowering trees have lost their petals - but not my flowering tree below. The flowers in my mosaic stepping stone should last for years.  


Mosaic Flowering tree no 2 by Jeanne Selep
Image 1: Mosaic Tree #2 Stepping Stone

In this mosaic, (tree # 2 in a series of stepping stones), I made branches weaving among the flowers, and I tucked in some exotic little birds.  (How many can you find?  (To find them all you need to look at the full stepping stone pictures, not just the one below.)  


Mosaic Flowering tree no 2 by Jeanne Selep
Image 2: Flowering Tree #2 Mosaic

I think the branches makes the tree look large, and the result feels more artistic than my first tree.  


Mosaic Flowering tree no 2 by Jeanne Selep
Image 3: Flowering Tree #2 Mosaic

Tree # 1 in the series (shown below) now reminds me of the K-Pop Demon hunter boy 'Mystery'.  (If you don't get that reference, don't worry, it's not important).   


Mosaic Flowering tree no 1 by Jeanne Selep
Image 4: Flowering Tree #1 Mosaic

I created my flowering tree # 2 mosaic after I realized how I could improve on the stepping stone above, which I shared last year in this post  


Mosaic Flowering tree no 2 by Jeanne Selep
Image 5: Flowering Tree Mosaic No. 2

I think the changes I made from mosaic tree #1 enhanced the design.  I love the way the stepping stone looks, nestled among the glory of the snow flowers, which were in full bloom this year on April 10, 2026.  I hope you like it!

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Mosaic Notes: 

Mosiac work using broken china is sometimes called Pique Assiette, or picassiette.  It's my favorite style, and the one I work in the most.

I found a great getting started tutorial on creating mosaics
using china at here at Apple Street Cottage! 

By the way, there are a lucky seven birds in the tree.

 
Click on the images to see them enlarged.

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Enjoy the beginning of Summer!

It's a great time to collect shells for future projects-
with kids, students, grand-kids, or for yourself!  



mosaic collection
Click here for my Seashell Mirror!


Comments encourage me, and I like encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time!  


I have three large categories of posts: 
Travel, China and China hutches, and Mosaics.  

_____________________________________

Recent Posts ...

Mosaic Easter Egg
Cafe Central Vienna
Journaling
Lemon Trees
Christmas Hutch

Autumn Roads

_____________________________________

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy ...

shell mirror
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Bonsai in Bloom
Bluebirds
Canadian Hike
Autumn Wreath




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I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon xxx (Entry 41x of 69x
)
Serenity you: Sharing Serenity June (Entry 10
)        New to me link party!
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam Thur (Entry 48 of 72.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 567 (Entry 17 of 26)
My Random: Anything Goes (Entry 19 of 36)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 23yr (m Entry gone?)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 10x)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 12 of 23)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 633 (l Entry 15 of 30)
Keeping it Real: Party 513 (Entry 12 of 39)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry ) has vivid pics
For the love: Weekly party 415 (Entry 2)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 344 (m Entry )
Do-all Creatives: Anything goes challenge (monthly Entry 2 of 5)
My slices of life: Talk About It Tue 123 (Entry 39)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 531 (m Entry 11 of 54)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry -r)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 674 (l Entry 4x)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 70 (Entry 10)
Artsy Mama: Team Creative Crafts (Entry 5)
Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed 120 (m Entry 6 of 86)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 507 (m Entry 9)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry )
Our Hopeful Home: Vintage Charm 542 (m Entry 11)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 602 (Entry 6)
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Thur (Entry 28r of 113r)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 500! (Entry 7b of 32)    500!!!
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 449 (Entry 6 of 40)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 48  of 104)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry 
48  of 104)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry -)
Shelbee on the Edge: Spread Kindness 810 (l Entry 22)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters Fri 582 (s Entry 66r)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 10)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 595 (i Entry 4)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 720 (L Entry 28)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry -)
Fiesta Friday: Fiesta Fri 643 (Entry 58)
Bosworth Life: PoCoLo (Entry 14)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry ?)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 257 (L Entry 25)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 729 (L Entry 15x)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri 142 (Entry 18)
Pandora and Max: All Seasons (Entry 4)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged 832 (Entry 2)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 1 of 9)
Grace filled: Sweet Tea Friends June (Entry 1)
Huisvlijt: Huisvlijt Party Sun (Entry 21)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 482 (l Entry 10)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 303 (Entry 4 of 7)
Sticky mud and Belly Laughs: Mon Morn Blog Club (Entry 1)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 359 (l Entry 16 of 22)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 725 (l Entry 4)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry 4)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry )
A Labour of Life: Happiness is Homemade 639 (Entry 6 of 51)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop Mon 413 (Entry 52)
Life tales books: Will blog for Comments Mon (bi-week)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)

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