The Artful Life of Maria

The Artful Life of Maria Blog Continues with "en plein air painters"

2012-02-14T15:25:00.000-05:00

The Long Absence
What can I say accept there is just not enough time to do all tasks I would like to start and finish each day. And then there is the next day, and then another day, and the day after that and so on. Working by priorities and deadlines even as a "stay at home" artist seems odd or unbelievable. It is all true, true, true.

Just 2 photos of the Plein Air Artists

The Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic and Producing New Art.
Art activities as a painter have increased. Basically 5 of us, my sisterhood painters and I, have traveled throughout Kent and Sussex Counties Delaware enduring heat as well as mosquitoes to paint historic sites and structures. Getting to our distinction by 9 am, setting up and painting in the morning light is always majestic. Packing up around noon and deciding on a new lunch location is always part of the story. We are truly blessed to be able to share this creativity together en plein air of Delmarva. (see a few posted photos).

Maria Painting a view of Legislative Hall, Dover DE in March of 2011

Finished Painting - "Delaware's Legislative Hall from Mirror Lake"

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Maria Painting in Dianne's Garden
In forground: 2 artists searching for the perfect spot

"Dianne's Garden"
Textured Oil w/Palette Knife

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Maria Painting the Milk House at Edward Cole House, cir 1780
Now home of Delaware Bay Trading Co. , Camden DE

"Milk House, Edward Cole House, Camden DE"

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Maria Painting at Belmont Hall Historic Home, Smyrna, DE

Oil on Canvas Painting
"Belmont Hall, Smyrna, DE"

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Photo - Japanese Maple Tree - Belmont Hall

Acrylic on Canvas Painting
"Japanese Maple Tree, Belmont Hall"

Photo: Milk House, Belmont Hall

Oil on Canvas
Painting: "Milk House, Belmont Hall"

Visit: libertosart.com for details and prices on the above paintings

The above is just a glimpse of one segment of this artists' life this past spring and summer. There are many more plein air outings, exhibits and art related activities I will be sharing in the days ahead.

This blog posting completed on Valentines Day, Feb 12, 2012. Happy Valentine's Day and hoping your heart and soul possess sweet creativity to share with others.

"Valentine Swirl Artsy Glycerine Soap"
by yours truly at
coastalcottagesoaps.com

Lots of love,

Maria L B

Starry Night - The Painting & Starry Night Artsy Soap, Feb 27, 2011

2011-02-27T20:28:00.003-05:00

Starry Night - The Painting by Van Gogh

"Starry Night" is one of the most well known images in modern culture as well as being one of the most replicated sought after prints. Images of this painting have helped market a mass of products. So how has that imaged influenced us. It is interesting to ask almost any adult or child to identify the image. Usually they know the title, but not always the artist who made it famous. Many of Van Gogh's paintings can be instantly identified through the strong color and brush strokes.

Take for instance an exhibit some time ago that I coordinated called "Replica." Artist choose a painting created in past history to replicate in some way, but not totally duplicate. It needed to be their painting but still recognizable. I myself choose to replicate was "Starry Night." I painted half the painting as day time and half as night time. I am looking for that image in my stash of floppy discs to upload. (Hope I find it before I finish this entry.) Another aspect of the exhibit was that the public voted on their favorites in all categories of medium. The exhibition was truly amazing and successful.

Maria's "Starry Night" Artsy Soap
Coastal Cottage Artsy Soaps

One of my creative endeavors is my handcrafted soap company, Coastal Cottage Soaps. This is a cottage industry whereby I sell soaps and toiletries from my website, at farmers markets and various locations in and around Delaware. I started this venture over 5 years ago and have literally made a ton of olive oil based natural soaps. By following my tried and true recipes I can be creative by mixing various essential oils, botanicals and color oxides.

I felt I needed to be more creative to keep it fun and to add challenge to the effort. So I started a line of soaps that would have a designer look and have great fragrance. I embedded my own soap pieces of various shapes and colors into soap logs and bars of glycerin based soap. This method lends itself to creating themed soap for children, holidays and events.

I decided to take another step in the process that would benefit the arts. If I could build ships, flowers, and seaglass inside a bar of soap I could create a famous painting. So I sat forth to create a few different soaps that would focus on famous artists and their paintings. I always love telling the story and or history behind my products. That is the story behind my Starry Night Artsy Soap. I have swirls of yellow and gold, moon and stars floating in an iridescent soap base that varies from dark to light blue sky. I embellish the soap bar package with an image of the famous painting by the same name. The underside of the tag gives the history of the famous painting. My first famous art soap is the image above, Starry Night Artsy Soap.

"Starry Night" by
Vincent Van Gogh

Below are the 2 stanza's from the lyrics to Don McLean's hit song Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land.

For they could not love you,
But still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night,
You took your life, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.

Van Gogh's artistic legacy is contained within his paintings, drawings and writings. They are everlasting and will never "forget" the style that created them. They are Van Gogh's eyes that watch the world.

I hope you enjoyed the story behind my "Starry Night Artsy Soap."

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Love to all,

Maria L B

2 Pears Daily Painting & "Study of Two Pears" Poetry Musing, Feb 23, 2011

2011-02-24T23:04:00.002-05:00

My "Two Pairs" Daily Painting:

I had painted the background of this painting some time ago, knowing 1 or 2 pears would be painted in the foreground. So off I go to find real pears for my still life reference. Well there are yellow pears, red pears, Asian pears (apple shaped) and brownish pears and more. So I bought 3 varieties thinking that I could whip up a french desert from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking with some of the pears.

It was a great sunny afternoon and I move my canvas, oil paints and palette to the enclosed porch which was warm with the wonderful sun shining in. The sun gave the pears great light reflection and shadows. Just what I wanted to create while being warmed (body and soul) by the sunshine. I could see many colors in my pears from browns, taupe, a tinge of red and also blue, not to mention yellow, green and orange. I never see only one color in most objects and natural vegetation and animals and hardly ever use only the one color of paint from the tube. I love mixing colors to give depth and dimension. I love the feel of the oil brush strokes when applied to canvas or board.

"Two Pears"
Daily Painting
Liberto's Art

I basically finished the little daily painting of "Two Pairs" and started another, "One Red Pear."

Later I ran across an interesting poem "Study of Two Pears." It is hard to know if the poet was really studying a painting of two pairs, or studying two real pears. He describes the dimension of colors he saw in the pears, contemplates the shape that belongs to no other fruit or natural object me know.

In the case of "Study of Two Pears" the poet is actually drawing and painting the two pears for us. There are many comments and reflections concerning this poem and it's meaning. A study of the "Study of Two Pears" will go on and on.

Study of Two Pears

by Wallace Stevens

pusculum paedagogum.
The pears are not viols,
Nudes or bottles.
They resemble nothing else.

II

They are yellow forms
Composed of curves
Bulging toward the base.
They are touched red.

III

They are not flat surfaces
Having curved outlines.
They are round
Tapering toward the top.

IV

In the way they are modelled
There are bits of blue.
A hard dry leaf hangs
From the stem.

V

The yellow glistens.
It glistens with various yellows,
Citrons, oranges and greens
Flowering over the skin.

VI
The shadows of the pears
Are blobs on the green cloth.
The pears are not seen
As the observer wills.

Stevens fuses the creative imagination with objective reality. Since he was a "philosopher of aesthetics," he challenges the reader to think about how we view the world and encourage us to sharpen our senses to explore every crack in this world--no matter how small (Poetry Foundation, 2008).

I am glad I painted the "Two Pairs" before I found the corresponding poem by Stevens.

Other Art Projects:

Mailed off the 2nd Delaware Floorcloth a customer purchased from website: http://libertosart.com/Delaware.aspx. I am working on a 2nd Delaware floorcloth design for customers to choose from. I also started another floorcloth. I have sized the fabric and gessoed one side. This canvas rug will have a floral handpainted design. I have finished 2 sets of folk art painted wood canisters which I need to photography.

Colonial Clothing Sewing Project:

I have been researching colonial clothing and costumes for 2 events this spring. My French Husband and I will be colonial merchants and therefore will wear very middle class clothing of the period. Since I am alsos a seamstress it is more affordable for me to create the clothing myself. I will be creating a long Chemise and ladies bodice (either English or French)
and pockets for myself. For my gentleman I will creating the men's 18th century white cotton workshirt with the big sleeves and 1770 linen waistcoat. I also may try my hand a three corner hat for I have the felt in my fabric stash. The local fabric store did have the patterns I needed which I purchased today. I checked on the fabric I needed so my next trip may be shortened.

A very wonderful blog: http://livingwithjane.blogspot.com/ has great websites and blogs relating to reinactments, period clothing, events and other great topics.

Oh ------------ so much to do!

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Love to all,

Maria L B

Creative Inspiration - Design Elements, Feb 21, 2011

2011-02-21T20:24:00.003-05:00

Design Patterns & Nature Influences Creativity:

What does stimulate artists? Wow, the list is endless. Nature is an endless source of stimulation as well as patterns for design elements. The earth tone hues, dark browns soil colors to dark red clays. Monochromatic greens ranging from chartreuse to forest green. Add in the colors of flowering trees, bulbs, perennials, annual flowers, sunsets, sunrises, body's of water, mountains and clouds. Great colors of wildlife including birds, insects, mammals and all the others. The design elements of this vast base of nature gives us patterns, colors and other elements to play with. Look around you and contemplate how many everyday objects in your home were created through the eyes of an artist. And endless variety of design pattern in linens, clothing, dinnerware, rugs, furniture, etc.

Let us not forget the engineer and architect that designed the monuments, museums, buildings, homes, bridges, machines and machine parts that have produced these elements since the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.

Many artists are also driven by unique landscapes, historical structures, the sky, the country side, people, personalities, humor, and everyday objects. Artists sometimes find that one idea leads them to another idea and on and on.

Artists are sometimes stimulated by what may be considered the most popular in producing monetary sales at the time. Other artists seem to focus only on what they love to create and only create in their favorite

medium.

Some artists seem to feed off other artists. By that I mean the creativity and enthusiasm of one artist may have a great impact on another creative individual. Like being soul mates, most artists relate to other artists.
Ideas and creative endeavors do lend inspiration to other artists.

Artist usually create in solitude, many in real isolation. The support of other artists helps fuel the individual artist and the community itself.

Art Groups/Associations Help Support Our Creativity:

We know there are many art groups we can join for various reasons. That is one way to connect with other artists. It really depends on the mission of the art organization and your own community. Art and art education should be available and a focus to create a better environment and creative venue for its members.

Following your creative inspiration:

The most important point I am trying to make is to follow your inspiration. If only working on the idea a few minutes each day. You know you are working on a project. Although progress is slow eventually the idea will come to fruition and success is the end result.

One of the most productive times in my artful life was while working on my paintings 1 hour a night, every night, after which I spent 8 + hours a day as an Art Director. I could have spent that time doing many other tasks. That escape into creativity was a stress free daily adventure.

Once we have discovered our creative inner self and have accepted that profound quality so much is possible. You do not have to consider yourself a "professional artist" to create.

Most artists are always in training, practicing and learning.

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Love to all,

Maria L B

The Artist's Apple Study & "One Apple is Not Enough" - Feb 16, 2011

2011-02-16T20:30:00.003-05:00

The Apple of My Eye:

So many wonderful thoughts, sights, and delights brighten my day. There is just not enough time to enjoy even more. At the break of day or the uprising of the day our ever happy dog, greets us. How can we be sad or even a little on edge when you start the day with Winston. We wonder what he would say if he say upon arising if he could talk. I believe he would say with a very loud voice and great smile, "Top of the Morning to You." Winston is t;he apple of my eye and a great delight that we celebrate every day with.

Sir Winston Pumpernickle of Woodbrook
Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier

One Simple Study, One Simple Daily Painting, One Simple Apple

What could be more simple or more perfect than an apple. An apple of any color or shape in any season is a gift. This special object has been studied by artists, athletes, doctors, poets, writers, chefs, and so many others. Every artist has been exposed to the apple study. Let us draw the apple. See the light and shadow of the apple. What else do you see. What other colors do you see? What story can the apple paint? The apple can be a simple composition in any medium. SO CLASSIC. It cannot be overdone. How could we not show the love between humans and the apple. Whether the study is completed in monochromatic tones or various color hues. The apple can be seen through the artists eyes and transmitted to the paper or canvas by the artists fingers.

The Apple Study
M Liberto Bessette
Liberto's Art Web Site

Art for Heart Sake:

There is a new poem floating around called, "One Apple a Day is Not Enough" by Taylor Mali.
"An Apple a Day Is Not Enough" is a powerful poem written and performed by Taylor Mali (a well-known spoken word artist and teacher) about the importance of health education. It's done in the style of kinetic typography. We must get the word out about the importance of health education and its ability to get this country's health back on trackâ€”but we can't do it alone.

This is an interesting video that adds simple profound words kids will understand to the visual movement of words called kinetic typography to form a poem. Please play and send to anyone and everyone.

Watch and enjoy this You Tube video

Maria's Healthy Apple Oat Muffins

Yum!

So as we celebrate life let us think about the apple, how it may relate to art, creativity, the heart and the health of all of us.

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Love to All,

Maria L B

Art Studio Housekeeping - Famiglia & Note Dal Passato, February 5, 2011

2011-02-07T20:57:00.000-05:00

Art Studio Housekeeping:
Somedays artists work at their craft no matter the random projects in various stages scattered around their work area or studio. Materials pulled out to remind you of the creative idea you had yesterday. It is great to be able to start and stop without having to totally have to clear and put away. I have the great benefit of having a very large space to produce many art forms which enables me to maintain my artistic culture. I am basically an organized person and domestic goddess. All rooms in our home lend themselves to basic order. My French Husband is a really neat and organized guy. He can find any tool or screw in his "little wood shop".

Every now and then when I try to locate a certain art supply or reference and have to move other items I decide - enough. I will stop all projects, reorganize and clean. So then I start and realize there is no turning back. Art books, paints (oil, acrylic, watercolor), sketch pads, watercolor paper, canvases. Oh we have so many canvases ranging from new, incomplete paintings and canvases waiting to be framed. And that is not counting the canvas fabric I use for floorcloths. Frames - wow all sizes and shapes, even broken frames. Mat board, foam core, glass. I have artist brushes, pencils, erasers, pastels, and related items in vases and artists reference books arranged on one of two drafting tables. I also have my mother's art books and many art magazines. Floor easels, folding easels and other reference books.

I guess you get the picture. But not all the picture. There is also the soap making supplies, materials, labels and molds. In addition there is all the house paint, gesso and stencils used to produce my lovely floorcloths. I am blessed with the availability of having a supply of many other art materials to produce stained glass, metalwork, jewelry, stamps for note cards and collage as well as children's art supplies. I have files of references on many subjects to sketch and paint and..........................!

I did complete the task at hand by vacuming, scrubbing and organizing a portion of the art materials. I does give you additional energy to step into an organized art arena.

Famiglia (Family):

I wish I had learned Italian as child or even later on before my father died. My grandparents imigrated from Sicily around 1901. My grandfather came first and pathed the way for my grandmother Dominica and their first born Leonarado. They lived in the Italian section of NY City on or near Houston Street. Several more children were born there. In 1913 they had saved enough money to purchase a parcel of farmland from my Great Uncle, Salvatore Gelfo in Central Delaware. Many other Italians lived in the vicinity, many from the area in Sicily. More children were born including my father. My grandfather became a United States Citizen and speaking Italian was discouraged. Although my grandmother never really learned English or became a citizen.

The birthplace of my grandparents.
Baucina Sicily as it looks today.
Baucina is in the Province of Palermo.

My father was brilliant even though he had little education and I learned much from him. A passionate gardener who could graft fruit trees and grape vines, produce wine, grow fruits and vegetables, create great Sicilian dishes, a skilled carpenter who could build anything from furniture to homes. He could make most strangers laugh and had a heart of gold. I did learn so much just by following him, watching and asking questions. As he learned this traditions the same way, by following, watching and asking questions.

Note dal Passato (Notes from the past):

So when I found some notes of translated English to Italian terms on the bulletin board in my studio I had to stop and give thanks to my heritage. Both my mother and father were very creative people each with their own special talents. I am blessed to know they blood flows through my veins and I have some of their talents as well.

Tulta la vita Maria continues (the artful life of Maria continues)!!

L'amore e goodnight (love and goodnight).

Maria Liberto Bessette

Daily Paintings, Daily Painters, Daily Inspirations - February 3, 2011

2011-02-03T20:59:00.004-05:00

Daily Paintings, One Painting Each Day

It is a great challenge. Can it be done? Daily painting is all about discipline and a love of the work. We create original art for every taste: still life, landscape, cityscape, figurative, floral, and more. You will find a variety of styles including realism, impressionism, fauvism and abstract. Most paintings are no larger than 12" x 12".

You can see some of my other Daily Paintings on this blog and also on my website: libertosart.com/DailyPaintings.aspx

Daily Painting
"Blue Sky Cloud"
Maria Liberto Bessette

It is good to decide on several themes you want to paint. When you have completed at least 4 or 5 paintings in one theme you have a little series which will help market your art. Another point is to paint on a small canvas, paper or board to reduce painting time and also reduce the cost of matting, and framing. Smaller paintings are also more marketable because of (1) affordability - the price charged by the artist and also (2) the size - as small paintings may be hung in more locations in a customers home or office or given as a gift.

Daily Paintings are solidly marketed through the internet and most produce at least 3 paintings per week. Painting is not all there is to it. There are other chores like scanning the images and preparing the images for the web. Most Daily Painters can be accepted into one of several Daily Painters on line galleries after they consistently upload paintings to their own art blog. (Most blog sites are free to those who want to join and post.) It is an easy process with great visibility.

Daily Painting
"Little Field of Kent County" (Delaware)
Maria Liberto Bessette

Daily Painters

One Painting Each Day, yes artists can produce one painting a day. What is the secret? Love of art and wanting to produce in a timely manner. It is also good training and keeps the artist in the creative mode. Almost like the need for routine physical exercise each day like walking, jogging or aerobic. You feel the same momentum and when you skip a day for some reason you feel you have let yourself down.

Daily painting is all about discipline and a love of the work. The websites focusing on daily painter originals are dedicated to connecting those who love art with those who love to make art.to connecting those who love art with those who love to make art, and want to make art affordable and accessible.There are also many benefits for the artist doing daily paintings. First, you develop the discipline of being in your studio everyday. Too many artists wait around for inspiration to strike, and as a result they end up producing a small body of work with an inconsistent quality. Daily paintings also allow the artist to break free of their normal routine and try techniques or subject matter they would not normally be able to do. It also allows the artist to make a living with their art, while they are building their reputation in the market place.

Daily Painting
"Autumn Sky Beach"
Maria Liberto Bessette

Daily Inspiration

The painting a day movement is not limited to painters, nor was it created by painters. For many centuries masters in their respective crafts have advised their students to work daily on their craft. Writers are encouraged to write a short story, even a single page, based off of a conversation they overheard on their commute to work. Even some quilters have committed to doing their creative work with their fabric to produce a quilt every week or two. Check out the new "quilt a day" style.

Inspiration is all around us and also a good excuse to think "outside the box." We all have ideas we want to try, many photographs, and the knowledge of what has sold or been popular within our art box. Think about this in a smaller scale and try out the idea of one painting a day.

I am now on my third series of daily paintings. I have not submitted my work to a Daily Painting Website. I need to produce on a more regular basis and perhaps limit my creativity only to painting. That is really, really hard for me as I also have a natural soap business whereby I produce handcrafted soaps and bath products.

I do have fun and enjoy all my creative endeavors and realize that is what keeps my inner-self happy.

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I hope you have enjoyed my discussion on "Daily Paintings" and "Daily Painters." I need to purchase additional supplies of canvases and artist boards to keep my going.

Love to all,

Maria L B

A Glass Half Full - Ordre du Jour - January 28, 2011

2011-01-28T21:17:00.006-05:00

A Glass Half Full - Ordre du Jour:

Artists want to be successful. To be successful you have to market and connect. In this world of social media and marketing there is work to be done by the artist who is a do-it-yourself kind of person.

Checking my several email accounts, 3 websites, this blog, my ebay store and other accounts needs to be a daily ritual. It would be embarrassing to know someone checked out your websites and they were not up to date. It does astound me that it may be necessary to spend so much time at my computer. I think - I should be painting, I want to be painting or creating. It is my internal spirit and soul. If you love something so much you should attach yourself to it. But you also want to be successful. But then we should not discuss success.

So for several reasons aside from writing this blog, I am concentrating on my websites and their content. I am inviting you to visit them, www.libertosart.com and coastalcottagesoaps.com which should be visitor perfect. . And then there is Facebook and Twitter. I am trying to get a hold on Twitter, as my friend N Taylor Collins thinks it is the greatest. So I am learning to follow, get followed and tweet. How sweet tweeting is!

I have also been graciously included in a Facebook group:" The Poetry Den". An advocate of all the arts I must say I know no rules or formats regarding poetry. I only can speak from the heart and apply pen to paper. I do love to read the poetry or creative writings I compose.

I have come to realize in the last few days that the "Art Glass" is always at least half full. The glass is our creative spirit. And filling the glass is the challenge.

This poem below, Morning Light, I created for My French Husband. We now talk about "the glass half full" almost every day.

Morning Light

     It is morning.

     Sun not shining,

     snow not snowing,

     rain not raining.

     Just clouds, dampness and grey,

     spreading over the earth

     and into the glass.

     The glass is half full.

     We both study the glass.

     I look at its emptiness.

     He looks at its fullness.

     We both need a larger glass.

            Maria Liberto Bessette
            01/10/2011

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Night night! Sleep tight!

Bon Soir!

Maria L B

Coastal Cottage "Soap Cakes" Pastry Challenge - January 26, 2011

2011-01-26T11:40:00.112-05:00

My "Soap Cakes" Creation Story

6 inch "Soap Cakes" Bakery Cake

Slice it into party favors for the girls.

Assorted "Soap Cakes" Cupcakes

The Coastal Cottage Soap Journey continues with another successful challenge in my soap making galley/studio some time ago. I am always searching and thinking about new ways to put more creativity into my natural soap making business. I have made tons of real honest to goodness natural soap bars for ladies, men, children, and dogs with essential fragrance oils, botanical, coconut oil, shea butter and olive oil. I have created laundry soap, simulated sea glass, boats, blue crabs, Delaware, stained glass, shells, peaches, flowers, famous artists paintings and more using my handcrafted soap.

Obviously I believe you can develop soap into just about any kind of food or item. Almost like the new "cake baker/artists" who get challenged on the TV food channels. So why not! I could make bakery soap cakes, fancy cupcakes, brownies, cookies, cheese cake bites and more. The bakery cakes could even be cut into slices for party favors at the party. A few other soap makers were doing it. I knew I could make soap cakes too.

So away I went to my soap making galley/studio with recipes and photos of whipped soap.

Whipped Soap for "Soap Cakes"

It is a entirely different process than the regular natural soap recipes, but using the same ingredients in slightly different proportions. (You do know I make my soap entirely from scratch.) By my side was one of two grandsons, who seemed to be interested in this different method of creating soap. To date he is the only family member who has been hands-on involved with the soap making process. (Although My French Husband is the chemical engineer of the business.) We did have to have everything planned out in advance including all colored soap decorations which would adorn the soap pastries.

Toppings to Decorate "Soap Cakes"

Cupcake pan & liners ready to be filled

So we had all pans lined with paper ready to be filled. We were producing a 6 inch bakery cake, 12 cupcakes and 24 cheese cake bites. We also had prepared a mold for sandlewood soap bars if we had soap to spare. We had great fun as well as a very, very successful case of soap cakes and pastries.

The challenge was so successful that I am now selling these pastry treasures at various locations as well as my website. Is there no end to creativity?

Below are photos of more soap cupcakes, brownies and cheese cake bites. You can find Soap Cakes on my website coastalcottagesoaps.com/soapcakes.aspx. Enjoy but don't eat!

Assorted "Soap Cakes" Pastries

Real Cured Natural Soap!

A Great Valentines Day Gift!

"Soap Cakes" Cupcakes

No Calories!

"Soap Cakes" Cheesecake Bites

Great Party Favors!

"Soap Cakes" Brownies

Do Not Eat!

Thank goodness these Soap Cakes have no calories! They are all entirely real soap and can be used as soap.

"Soap Cakes" Cupcake Close Up

They are so special!

Love to all and please create something.

Maria L B

Morning Light & Beauty at the Beach - January 19, 2011

2011-01-21T14:34:00.003-05:00

Images of Life:

We take for granted the most common everyday occurrence. Like the morning sunrise. But then again, we might still be in a slumber state at that time of the day. Occasionally I awaken before sunrise. This is a rare occasion. Usually by sunrise I am finally in a sound sleep after hours of awakeness organizing my current or next project.

My French Husband and I awoke this particular day to a third day of clouds, dampness and cold. I am a warm weather person, growing up on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. He grew up in New England, therefore Delaware seems like the tropics to him. With filled coffee cups in hand we both stood looking out to our backyard, birds and the morning at hand. I wrote the following poem after our conversation concerning the bleakness of the day.

Morning Light

It is morning.

Sun not shining,

snow not snowing,

rain not raining.

Just clouds, dampness and grey,

spreading over the earth

and into the glass.

The glass is half full.

We both study the glass.

I look at its emptiness.

He looks at its fullness.

We both need a larger glass.

Maria Liberto Bessette

01/19/2011

Our Sea Glass Collected From the Beach

And Then Beauty of the Beach:

What might have started out as a gloomy day took a turn for the better. A cloudy morning turned into sunshine and a little warmth. The weather for the rest of the week was to be frigid. I thought how great it would be to check out our favorite bay beach. It would be the warmest day for a while. We checked the tides and decided to bundle up and head east with Winston, our Wheaton Terrier.

We arrived and realized there was not another soul nearby. Winston could run free. There he was running across the sand and then stopping to investigate every so often. Of course it was cooler and windier on the beach than inland, but still inviting, with a special beauty. I searched for sea glass while looking across the bay to another place. Just the three of us there on the beach. Brave souls enjoying the freedom of space, sand and sea. Pieces of salt water ice washing ashore. A strange sight to behold.

What could the day possibly have yet offer?

An Artists Palette
Artist Brushes, Sea Glass & Shells

We arrived home, I contemplated the day and realized I had not planned dinner. Thoughts of a seafood chowder came to mind. The rest of the afternoon entailed food shoppiing and preparing an interesting, delicious and hearty Chowder Bake from Real Simple Magazine. It involved bacon, leeks, yukon gold potatoes, corn, wine and heavy cream partially cooked and then placed in a casserole. Then fresh cod was nestled down into the thick chowder. Crackers were spread overtop and then the casserole was placed in the over to finish cooking. Wa La!

Chowder Bake

from Real Simple

The glass at the end of the day was very full indeed.

May all our lights shine to aspire creativity!

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May all our lights shine to aspire creativity!

Maria L B

Winter Images, Little Bird & Haiku - January 17, 2010

2011-01-17T20:43:00.000-05:00

Winter Images Outside My Window

Jumping out of bed to get a glimpse of the snowfall during the night caused excitement in my soul. What a wondrous image.

I had to capture it.

But where is the camera?

A few minutes time will change the artists view of God's white blanket awakening to the sunrise.

Finally, I quickly take a few shots.

I must share my images caught through the windows of my comfortable nest of my home.

Winter snow blanket / solitude, nesting, cleansing / regrowth, promise, spring! (haiku)

And a few minutes later it was almost lost to the coming day.

My little glass bird base peeking and watching out the window. This Little Bird will stay warm inside, feeling honored to sit on Maria's windowsill.

Thanks for tuning in. Little Bird and I say Goodnight!

Maria

Boeuf Bourguignon, Maria & Julia & Julie - Mastering the "Art" of French Cooking, January 16, 2010

2011-01-16T14:00:00.004-05:00

Boeuf Bourguignon or Boeuf A La Bourguignonne or
Beef Stew in Red Wine, with Bacon, Onions and Mushrooms

This great Sunday Feast did not happen so casually. If you can't guess then let me tell you. It started in September of last year when I received the "Julie and Julia" movie for my birthday.

First of all the movie also inspired the idea of this very blog whereby I write about the everyday life of my creative side. If Julie could write a blog while creating a year full of recipes from MtAoFC, I could also write a blog. (Think about the many creative thoughts, connections, everyday occurrences and artistic projects we encounter in one day and also take for granted.)
As an Amazon junkie who buys and sells books I requested a few Christmas gifts from my French Husband. Used dog eared books, one being Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1 was requested. I wanted an older printing of the original book first published in 1961.

Julia Child
"The French Chef"

Well my love came through with a beloved copy of my request, along with another book, "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell. (from which the movie was made)
So there I am leafing through the pages of French terms, like le beurre doux (unsalted butter), lard de poitrinefume (bacon), couper en des (dice), farine (flour), few of which I can pronounce. All so intriguing, so inviting and yet uninviting to me - I am up for the challenge. I will learn from Julia, follow her French recipes step by step, with no short cuts or tweaking.
By the way our kitchen posseses almost every cooking utensil, vessel, and appliance useful to most full fledged cooks. I believe I can whip up any recipe whereby I have almost all the ingredients. I love the challenge of testing new recipes. I tweak the recipes that I can to my produce a dish with less sodium and fat.

Potage Parmentier
(Leek and Potato Soup)

Back to leafing through the book - My French Husband is into a tv show and I keep grabbing his attention to ask how to pronounce several french terms and words. He is doing his best to be supportive. Stretching his memory to the nuns who taught him Parisian French as the 1st language in school, he tries to accommodate me. How can I prepare a french recipe without knowing how to pronounce the name of it? That is my frustration.
The first recipe I created is also the first recipe in MtAoFC: Potage Parmentier (Leek or Onion and Potato Soup) as Julia states in her book; "the soup smells good, tastes good, and is simplicity itself to make." Stir in cream and chill it for a vichyssoise.

Boeuf Bourguignon
(Beef Stew in Red Wine, Onions, Bacon & Mushrooms)

It is all good - so let's proceed to the beef: Boeuf Bourguignon. First to gather all the ingredients including full bodied red wine. After cutting bacon into lardons, simmering in water, draining, drying and sauteing, then sauteing vegetables, beef cubes coated in flour (a few at a time until brown) and eventually placing in oven covered by wine, beef stock, tomato paste, garlic, herbs and bacon it was ready to simmer for 3 to 4 hours. Later you add small white onions and mushrooms, skim off fat and summer until the sauce can coat a spoon lightly. I served Boeuf Bourguignon over boiled potatoes, parsnips and carrots along with my crusty 5 Minute Artisan Bread. It was a great, great entree that Julia would be proud of.

Clafouti aux Pommes
(Apple Flan)

Oh I almost forgot to mention dessert: Clafouti aux Pommes (apple flan). This is a French traditional simple desert for family meals. A pancake batter of sorts, poured over fruit in a fireproof dish then baked in the oven. It looks like a tart and even Julia suggests using an electric blender.
Another art form: Culinary arts, 5 star gourmet restaurants, award winning chefs, culinary schools, and cooking shows have created a food industry which I my mind is an entertainment industry as well. My french chef hat is off to these special artists.
I believe the reason I love cooking so much is two fold: the creativity part (assemblage, experimenting, visualization, anticipation, presentation) and also the reward of smelling, tasting, consumption of this creation that also nourishes ones body.
I wonder where the Julie Julia path will lead me next. After posting this blog I think I will try another great french classic: Soupe A L'Oignon Gratinee (onion soup gratineed with cheese).
WOW! My French Husband just hand me something I really need, 6 pages of French Culinary Words, to improve your French, straight from http://www.ffcook.com/. Now isn't he a big help!

Incidentally I am also reading the other book, Julie & Julia. Julie Powell provides much detail and many more situations regarding her life, her friends and the Julie Julia Project than the movie by the same name. My best to Julie who survived one year of insanity.

Bon Appetit!

Maria Liberto Bessette

Poetry Night Live, Another Artful Challenge - Jan 14, 2010

2011-01-14T20:10:00.005-05:00

My Creative Writing Challenge: The story is really a simple one. A challenge to participate in a Poetry Night Live event. This program co-sponsored by the organization of which I am the President, Holly Branch, American Pen Women. It was looking a little dismal because of our latest snowfall and icy conditions. I had sent news releases, emailed and facebooked. It was becoming doubtful that there would be a great turn out.

Recently, I had run across some lines I had written regarding a certain subject. This was an unfinished something or other. Reading over the words did not turn on the light bulb, but did offer an intriguing challenge. Maybe I could pull off a free form bit of so called poetry. So I knew if I did proceed with reading this pile of words I would confess to the crowd that of course I was not a poet, and they would also come to that conclusion at the end of my verbiage.

The evening turned out to be delightful. Several prominent Delaware as well as regional poets participated such as Linda Blaskey and Lize Rose Dolan. We were honored.

Before my reading, our great guest poet, Gerry LaFemina, talked about poetry having rules and form, like most things in life. I almost laughed out loud thinking of my "free form, unruly" poem.

I have to say although I would probably begin again discarding most of what I wrote, I did enjoy and indulge in some kind of self approval. If the only compliment were "your read so well", well I would be pleased. Not to say I will use another of my scribblings to create another free form poem - someday. Or maybe I will actually take a poetry workshop at least have more understanding and appreciation of poetry writers.

Dishing Up Delaware

Delaware in a dish, a dish of Delaware.
What do you think?
What do we speak of here?
Foods rooted in Delaware’s culture and traditions.
Surely not 5 star restaurants,
Not national chains,
Not cuisine by Julia, Erma, Graham, Emerald, Ina, Rachel, or Mario
But foods that are Delaware - down-home and culturally distinctive.
Foods that alone create -- an event.

In one‘s mind and on one’s tongue -- I can picutre the scenes of piles of steaming Delaware Blue Crab, turned pink,
On trays set on tables of brown paper or newsprint before these “crabsters”, who hammer, hammer, crack, crack, pick and pick and finally consume.
Smell the old bay, the sea, the salt and sea weed.
Look across the landscape of cracked shells, claws and yellow looking paste.
Washed down with pitchers of golden sudsy liquid.
Your feast of crabs has ended for now.

Not to mention other feasts of local fire house fare.
You know the fire house.
You know the ladies who are mixing and rolling out flat pieces of dough by the thousands.
Thrown into broth with some kind of vegetable or meat.
Chicken and dumplings, dumplins and peas, beef and dumplins, and other combinations.
In other fire houses across the state, during months that contain an “R”,
bushels of oysters are coated with batter and fried up to serve and sell,
while men line up on another special night to indulge in the slurpee raw ones.

We can’t forget the delmarvalish chicken in all I speak.
Mrs. Steele must be in awe of the sprawling chicken houses producing millions of chickens that may come to our table as the perfect buttermilk dipped fried chicken.
The chicken is not just a food but a Delaware industry we can tip our hats to.

And the peaches.
The peaches which once were gathered and taken by train from many station in Delaware to ravel up and down the coast by train.
Prized peaches.
Now the peach is a good excuse to organize a hometown festivals in August where peach ice cream, cobbler and pies are sold.

Oh there is also the Delaware made scrapple brought to you by Ralph and Paul Adams. Have you heard of the Apple Scrabble Festival where blocks of this product are tossed through the air competing in a race for farthest thrown?
It must be a sight to behold.
But still in many kitchens the scrabble tradition lives on.
Crispy slices of scrabble are served up next to home fries, eggs and pancakes.

Wild and maybe wooly, and oh -- so, well with so much aroma is a unique and almost forgotten Delaware delicacy --------- the muskrat.
Served in many ways that I am really not sure of.
Trapped, skinned and fixed up.
I myself only know where you may find this wonder to eat - The Wagon Wheel in Smyrna.

At last we have come to a festival, an event, a happening -- whereby the pumpkin is the star.
But the only purpose here is to catapult this wonderful fruit through the air by equipment and their operators.
This food stuff has put Delaware on the map.
It is to me a sad way to promote our farmers crop of pumpkins.
Maybe we should be eating, not playing with food.

So what morsels of food delight the Delaware palettes?
What Delaware dishes can delight our souls?
Remember Delaware’s roots, traditions and culture.
Not too different from the rest of Delmarva, but still unique

Creative Art Pathways: We all travel down little trails and wide paths not even thinking about where we are going. So many little twists and turns. We commonly take the path we have followed many times before. The comfortable and familiar fork in the road. But the most interesting path and sometimes more challenging path is the road less used.

The Artful Life can be described in the words above. Creative souls usually gravitate toward each other and travel down the interstate together. The visual artists exit off to their road traveling to somewhere. The same with the creative writers, musicians, dancers and all segments of the arts. These paths, roads, trails and interstates cross over each other, intertwine, spin off and merge on. All going somewhere, or maybe nowhere it seems.

We pass by many, come in contact with others, get to know many, are impressed by some, learn from many, connect with several, work with some, become a mentor for others, look up to a few, teach several and support all positive and optimistic beings.

What amazes me are the connections and interactions of artists. Most artists I have come in contact with state that creativity feeds their soul, gives them a purpose and a reason to connect. I am so grateful for all the artists, creative ones and also for those who also support the arts in all it's forms who create a better world her on this earth.

Artists all need to spread our wings, try different paths, challenging paths, the path not marked, and also the path of hope and thankfulness. Thankful for our gifts, out talents, our success and our failures. Thankful for our mentors, our friends, our students, our contacts, our family and all those who support us.

Thanks for reading, and please leave me comments.

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Love to all,

Maria L B

Saints & Angels: Saint Andre Bessette (Great Uncle), Celebrate His Feast Day - January 6

2011-01-06T21:13:00.001-05:00

I, the artful girl, am glad to celebrate the life of "the miracle man of Montreal." Yes, this unassuming man was my husbands great uncle. I have married into the Bessette family and have made the trip to Montreal to visit St. Joseph's Oratory. The bronze statue of Blesssed Brother Andre is almost a perfect image of my dear husband, the same size and profile - unbelievable.

Alfred Bessette was born in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec (then Canada East), a small town situated 40 kilometers south-east of Montreal. Loosing both parents by the age of 13 he tried many different trades, wondering Canada while constantly in poor health. When he was 20 years old, Alfred joined many Canadians who were emigrating to the United States to work in a textile mill of New England (in Moosup CT to be exact - my husbands birthplace.)

When the Canadian federation was formed in 1867, he returned to his native country. André was given the task of porter (doorman) at Notre Dame College in Côte-des-Neiges, Quebec. He fulfilled this function for some forty years while at the same time doing innumerable odd jobs for the community. People claimed that they had been cured through the prayers of the good Brother and Saint Joseph, and they were grateful their prayers had been heard. Brother André steadfastly refused to take any credit for these cures.. Because he wanted St. Joseph to be honored, in 1904 Bessette began the campaign to erect a chapel to honor the saint.

Brother André's reputation grew, and soon he was known as the miracle worker of Mount-Royal.^] He had the strong support, however, of the diocesan Church, and thousands of cures without apparent medical explanation made him the object of popular acclaim. In 1924 construction of Saint Joseph's Oratory began on the side of the mountain, near Bessette's chapel. His humble life and his dedication to the church through prayer and service to those with poor health reflected the mission of the Holy Cross.

Bessette died in 1937, at the age of 91. A million people filed past his coffin.

Brother André was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982. The miracle cited in support of his beatification was the healing in 1958 of Giuseppe Carlo Audino, who suffered from cancer. He is commemorated by an optional memorial on January 6. On December 19, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI promulgated a decree recognizing a second miracle at Blessed André's intercession.

And on October 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI formally declared sainthood for Blessed Andre.

My husband is blessed to have his family history dating back to the 1600's due to the Catholic Church's research on Brother Andre. A thick book of 1100 pages, published in 1964, printed in French which we are honored to have in our household.

Although the story I have told is not one of the usual I tell in this blog, it is about a wonderful time in Montreal, learning first hand about a humble man who prayed for good health of all people. It was a wonder experience visiting the lovely city of Montreal. As my husband's first language as a child was French, he still does recall enough French to enjoy the French speaking people of a very cosmopolitan city.

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Sweet dreams and my prayers to all to never give up and to take one step at a time to accomplish our dreams.

Love and my prayers to all,

Maria Liberto Bessette

A Joyfull Artful 2010 Summary & Wishing for a New Year Full of Creativity -- January 2, 2011

2011-01-02T17:57:00.021-05:00

Wow What a Creative 2010 Year! And a glimpse of a few images of projects and events to prove it:

Maria adding coconut oil into a recipe of natural soap,
by Coastal Cottage Soaps.

Maria stirring a recipe of natural soap.

"Starry Night" Handcrafted "Artsy" Soap
by Maria

Holly Branch, APW April 2010 Meeting

Dover DE

Carrot Cake with Lemon Glaze
Weight Watchers Recipe

Coastal Cottage Soap Display at Duncan Center Fashion Show, Dover DE

Delaware Bay Sea Glass We Have Collected in 2010

Delaware Sea Glass Soap (with colored soap pieces) by Coastal Cottage Soaps

Maria by Her Paintings at Small Wonders Juried & Judged Exhibit
May 2010
Delaware Agricultural Museum, Dover DE

"Genoa" Handcrafted Canvas Art Rug (Floorcloth) by Maria
Liberto's Art

Coastal Cottage Body Butter
Ingredients: bees wax, shea butter, oil of almond
Coastal Cottage Soaps

Mediterranean Orzo Salad
with ingredients from Maria's Garden

Hand Painted Linen Hand Sewn Delaware Coaster

Maria's Summer Potted Foliage & Flowers

Maria's "Four Peaches" oil painting in progress

Handcrafted Wool Felted Soaps

An Array of Fresh Vegetables to Create a Wonder Summer Dinner

Maria's "Vegetables on the Windowsill" Painting in Progress.

Maria with her framed "Vegetables on the Windowsill" oil painting ready to hang

Ingredients for Natural Laundry Soap by Coastal Cottage Soaps

Coastal Cottage Natural Laundry Soap

Food, Farm & Foliage Juried and Judged Exhibit
Sponsored by Holly Branch, APW
October 2010, Dover DE

Maria's "Tuscany" Painting Entry
Diamond State Pen Women Biennial Exhibit
October 2010, Wilmington DE

My Coastal Cottage Pumpkin Pie Soap

Maria Demonstrating Floorcloth Art
First State Heritage Parks, Merchant Fair
November 2010, Dover DE

Handcrafted "Naples" Floorcloth for
Liberto's Art

No Bake Cannoli Cheesecake
Recipe by Weight Watchers

Maria's Floorcloth Demonstration
Dover Art League
November 2010
Dover, DE

"Palermo" Floorcloth
Handcrafted by Maria for Liberto's Art

Delaware's Poet Laureate, Jo Ann Balingit
(bottom right)
Poetry Night Live
November 2010, Kent County Library
Co-sponsored by Holly Branch, APW
Also bottom left -Linda Blaskey
Top L to R - Maria Bessette, N Taylor Collins & K M Hammond

Handmade Embellished Christmas Tags

Maria's Newest Creation:

Delaware Floorcloth

December 2010

Featured Artist: Delaware Made

Downtown Dover, DE

Holly Branch December Planning Meeting
Left to right: K M Hammond, Donna Hansen, Ann Rosati, N T Collins, Dianne Bauer, Delores Sapienza, Linda Blaskey, and President Maria Bessette

My greatest wish for all that view this blog is for you to be positive, have self confidence and always look for the next path that may lead you to the creative life.

Don't be afraid to take little steps and remember we are all in training for what may lie ahead.

Can you imagine life without out. Art is life and life is art.

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Best to all:

Maria L B

Poetry Night Live!, Delaware's Poet Laureate & Delaware Made - Nov 30, 2010

2010-11-30T21:20:00.005-05:00

Poetry Night Live!: An artful event that signifies that Delaware Has Poets.
The Organization, Holly Branch of National Pen Women and Delaware's - Kent County Public Library sponsored a poetry event. I, as the president, worked with our county Library since June to produce this literary event. I was happy to introduce Jo Ann Balingit, Delaware's Poet Laureate, and Linda Blaskey, Delaware's great award winning poet, with achievements from the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Jo Ann was appointed by our previous Governor. It was interesting to learn about her job and why poetry is important to all of us. It was a delightful evening with all poets bringing forth a story behind each poem, which makes the reading so personal. Many participants signed up in advance to read their poetry. It was a wonderful evening that we shall repeat.

Maria Bessette, N Taylor Collins, K M Hammond, Linda Blaskey & Jo Ann Balingit

Poetry Night Live, Nov 16

I really appreciate the creativity of the writers who sometimes bare their soul to read their special compositions. It is a wonderful way of expressing one's self. Thank you to all writers and our community library in allowing us to focus on a very special creativity experience.

Jo Ann Balingit, Delaware's Poet Laureate

Poetry Night Live!

Dover, DE

The Pen Women are sponsoring more programs with Kent County Public Library in 2011. Stay tuned for great literary events for writers and the public.

The Floorcloth Production Continues: You might be aware of 2 demonstrations I have given regarding " Creating Floorcloths." In keeping with a path that has been opened to me, I will be showing and demonstrating this traditional craft several more times in the local area of Dover, DE. Downtown Dover promotes artists and its mainstreet the first Friday of each month. This Friday, December 3rd, I will fbe the featured artist and demonstrate this craft at Dover's "Delaware Made" Gift Shop". A great place to purchase gifts and items made by Delaware Artisans and gifts with a Delaware theme. Tom Smith is the shop owner and has a great business which has withstood the test of time. The quality of the items are great and Tom is a very personable business owner. Hats off to this great Small Business. See you there on Friday, December 3. I will be working on a Delaware theme floorcloth complete with Blue Hens, Peach Blossoms, Lady Bugs and Holly Trees. There will be festive fair there and all over town.

Maria Holding Her Original Stencil

Floorcloth Demonstration, Dover Art League

I have also committed to demonstrate this craft at the Annual Farmers Christmas held at the Delaware Agricultural Museum on Saturday, December 4th, 2 - 6 pm. It will be a great day with lots of activities for the family. At night the Village will be lit and the buildings open to tour and see what the Christmas Village Life was all about. Many crafts for kids, demonstrations for adults and light refreshments. It was an annual event my sons, now in their late thirties loved to partake in "back in the day."

If you are curious, yes we have a floorcloth production center at our home. I love challenges and designing floorcloths gives me the chance to do just that. I focus on traditional historical colors and adapt patterns that I like. The sky is the limit and my basement studio is a testament to all that is possible in the creative life of an artist.

Love to all & welcome December!

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Maria L B

18th Century Market Fair, Life in the Colonies, Tea and Women - Nov 23, 2010

2010-11-22T21:00:00.002-05:00

Sorry for my delay in writing but I went back in time to the
18th Century Life in the Colonies: Conclusion - The working middle class and merchants of the 18th century lead very challenging lives. Maria, a 21st century lady, born in the 20th century also loves a challenge. Why not portray a 18th century merchant, selling my wares of handmade laundry soaps, perfumed soaps and my sturdy and decorative oiled floorcloths? Since I could only volunteer to play the part with the help of my husband, he agreed to play the part of my 18th century merchant partner. He will sell the soap wares with historical facts while I demonstrated how floorcloths were made along with educating the public with the history --- All in 18th century costumes. This event, 18th Century Market Fair, took place at the historical Green across from the Old State House, coordinated by the First State Historical Park and Director, Elaine Brenchly. A cool crisp day with lots of sun, a merry and heavy crowd ascended upon The Green. All persons attending had great interest and asked many questions. A non-stop day with not a single commercial display or entity, a relief to my 18th century soul. The French Lacemaker, Monsieur LeFarceur de Villeverte, put on quite a show. Of course he was dressed and acted as a wealthy merchant, paying his lacemakers a mere pittance. Many more merchants such as vintage hand tools made on a spring-pole lathe by Rick Schuman, Deborah Peterson's Pantry offered sweetmeats, spices, sugars & chocolates. There were silhouette artists, weavers, spinners, quilters, blacksmiths and more. What a grand day.

Maria With Her Mariners Floorcloth at the Market Fair

My Market Fair Merchant/Husband Selling Our Soap Products

Another great event, "Leaves, Beans & Lemons", presented at the John Dickinson Plantation, Dover, DE on November 13 by Nancy Gardner. Nancy is a member of the Historic Foodways Society of the Delaware Valley. It was a "tea"lightful discussion of 18th century teas, coffee, and punches; and a demonstration of proper 18th century serving etiquette. Such interesting information regarding the tea service, serving tea, the history of tea, coffee and chocolate. A great presentation that included how important women were to the food, beverage and industry of merchants. A highly disregarded role of women at the time. She provided a wealth of bibliography data and many references to good reading.
The Dickinson Mansion tours will feature a display of an eighteenth century tea setting with decorative foods prepared according to colonial recipes.

Also at the plantation were the preparation of tarts, cookies, roasted duck and other items cooked and baked in the open hearth of the 17th century log home. Dressed as 17th century kitchen help the guides were discussing meals of the time and preparing them at the same time. All foods on display in the mansion are prepared in the log home. What an interesting and hearth warming day. My bonnet is off to the staff at "The Dickinson".

Tea at the John Dickinson Plantation

There is more great heartwarming stories concerning my artful and historic research.

Stay Tuned!

Maria L B

18th Century Floorcloths & Lye Soap - November 4, 2010

2010-11-04T20:20:00.002-04:00

The Artful Life of Maria can be a little overwhelming even for Maria. After a great trip to North Carolina to see my son and his family I was back on the artful track. The next two days were spent at the Pen Women exhibit dismantling and awaiting artists who were to pick up their entries. It was great talking with them and updating them on our future events. I know I will see many of these great artists again. Late yesterday I did squeeze in some time to create a batch of Heritage Market Lye Soap Bars. Today I grated soap for my natural laundry soap and of course there is packaging and labeling yet to be done.

Delaware's 18th Century Market Fair, 1st State Heritage Park: We are going back to the 18th century this Saturday, Nov 6, to demonstrate creating floorcloths and peddling handmade soaps. My husband and I will be dressed in period costumes of the working class mercantile folk. Our town, Dover Delaware, has a central green area that forms a square with 17th & 18th century buildings, including the Old State House. On one corner of the green is the Golden Fleece Tavern where it is said the Constitution was first ratified. This scene is also one of the Fall Market Fair that occurred in the 18th century. Goods were sold and exchanged and entertainments of all sorts were offered on "The Green".

http://www.destateparks.com/marketfair/trades.asp

Painted Floorcloths: I was called on to participate in this event to demonstrate the 18th century art of making floorcloths. That I will do using my own handmade stencil patterns and other various implements to show how these rugs were created using paints and methods of that time. Basically the canvas cloths were stretched on a verticle frame, stiffened with starch and then ground smoother with pumice stone. They were painted to the edge of the fabric with many layers of oil based paints sometimes applied with a trowel. The wealthy could import ground colors. Maple wood printing blocks were sometimes used with multiple colors. The final product was then varnished and would last at least 100 years.

Of course I will have a selection of my hand created floorcloths on display and one showing the steps I use to produce this work of art using current methods and paints.

Heritage Market Soaps: Another 18th century product I will offer at the Market Fair is the natural lye soap, Heritage Market Lye Bar Soap (Anderson's Lye Bar Soap) and Market Fair Laundry Soap. The same natural lye soap is grated finely, washing soda and borax are added to make a low sudsing laundry soap. Lye soap is still used and requested by many people today. Said to be good for skin problems and poison ivy, it is all natural and unscented.

Soap making: The basic differences in making today is the accurate scale to measure the fat (either vegetable shortening or lard) and lye also called sodium hydroxide. Until recent times a batch of ingredientes could result in soupy to hard soap because of pour calculations and the strength of the lye. Lye was produced by steeping wood ashes and water, later straining out the ash. Of course pigs and cows were slaughtered and their fat rendered and kept until there was enough to use to make a large supply of soap. The French and Italians conceived the idea of using olive oil to replace the rendered animal fat.

4 Pence For Soap Bar: That is what I will be selling my the 3 oz bars of Heritage Market Soap. I thought it would be great to have all products in 18th century English prices.

I have also found that in the 18th century England a pound of perfumed soap cost 1 shilling. Today 1 shilling would be equal to 6.7 pounds or $10.18 US dollars. Consider the price of an average 3 oz bar of natural soap today cost at least $5.00 without shipping.

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Well I have lots more to do in my artful life before I go nighty, night.

Love to all!

Maria L B

My Little Lamb Painting and Poem - Shea Butter Cream Day - October 26, 2010

2010-10-26T20:01:00.005-04:00

My Little Lamb Painting: I am not sure what inspires artists. Most of us are of a very romantic type. Many visual artists are also writers and poets. I take inspiration from many things. Mostly the natural surroundings. My mother always conveyed to us to notice the overlooked nut, leave, tree, flower or bird. So my brother Peter, sister Kathy and I always have looked above us, next to us and also far off in the distance to seek the overlooked beauty of our natural habitat. Our mom knew a bird by its call and and insect by it special sound. She not only educated us to those creatures and botanical wonders but also to her grandchildren. She always answered all our questions with great patience. My favorite is the question my son Jon Eric posed: " Why is the sky so high?" Mother could have written a children's book and should have.

This brings me to my Little Lamb Painting and the poem I found to accompany it: This was a great little painting to display at the Delaware Agricultural Museum Gift Shop. It also was an inspiration for a Fiber Arts Festival at the Purnell Museum, Snow Hill, Md. I have sold the original, but have giclee prints available.

"Meadow Lamb"

The Lamb

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, & bid thee feed

By the stream & o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing, wooly, bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice?

Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb, I'll tell thee,

He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek, & he is mild;

He became a little child.

I a child, & thou a lamb,

We are called by his name.

Little Lamb, God bless thee!

Little Lamb, God bless thee!
Author Unknown

Shea Butter Cream: Fall is here and winter is not far behind. another artistic pleasure I spend time on is creating natural bath and beauty products. I have developed a great body and face cream with a shea butter base. A very popular compliment to the natural soaps I create, as both have natural shea butter included in the base. This product has been a great seller at shows where I have a sample for the public to try. i

Coastal Cottage Shea Butter Cream

http://coastalcottagesoaps.com/giftbaskets.aspx

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Night night to all especially "Little Lamb", Milicent & Jon Eric.

X O X

Maria L B

Save all Pumpkins and Lets Save Soap Too - October 24, 2010

2010-10-24T21:28:00.006-04:00

The Creative Pumpkin Can Also be Green:

I personally love fall, as did my Mom, because of the wonderful array of mums, the great red, orange and yellows colors produced by the trees and vegetation and also the aspect of creating a wonderful welcoming accent at our doorways. I personally create a array of butternut, acorn and spaghetti squash, small pumpkins, and a large goose neck squash. I plan to use all these items this fall in preparing great home style and healthy dishes. The goose neck squash will be dried and painted to be used as a bird feeder later on.

Maria's Welcoming Front Door Accent

Pumpkins are a true American vegetable, a favorite of the Aztec, Inca and Mayan people before becoming a staple of early European explorers and settlers in the New World. Pumpkins belong to the same family as gourds, melons and cucumbers. And, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, pumpkins are packed with beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that fights cancer.

While some particularly meaty varieties of pumpkins are specifically grown to be eaten (including Sweet Jack-be-Littles, Cheese Pumpkins, Sugar Pumpkins ), any commonly available pumpkin is perfectly edible. Best of all, at Halloween (and immediately after Halloween) you can usually buy pumpkins at more affordable prices. Why not pick up a couple extra just to eat?

If you're buying a pumpkin specifically for eating, the smaller ones are usually the best. If you're going to use it as a jack-o'-lantern as well, you can eat or freeze some of the pumpkin when you carve it, and then pickle the remaining rind when Halloween is over, provided that it's still in good shape.

And for those who use the pumpkin to carve, then place it on your step........don't throw it in the garbage, cut it it for your compost pile or at least place it in your garden or another spot for it to decay into natural matter. That also goes for the seeds you scoop out and don't roast. Those seeds can produce a surprise pumpkin vine in your garden next year.

So, Here's How to Eat Your Jack-o-lantern:

Seeds First
Toasted pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack filled with zinc, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper and protein. They're also great in salads, muffins, bread, and in other recipes as a nut substitute. Remove the seeds, rinse them in water to get rid of the stringy inner membrane, and dry them out a little on a towel. Flavor with coarse salt for a traditional taste, or let your imagination and spice rack run wild. Some options for flavoring designer seeds include: pumpkin pie spice; Cajun seasonings; ginger powder; garlic salt; curry powder; Tabasco; cinnamon; vinegar and salt. Once seasoned, bake the seeds on a lightly oiled cookie sheet (single layer thick) in a 250-degree oven for about an hour, stirring every 20 minutes. Or, my preferred method is to cook them in a spray-oiled skillet over medium heat on the stove top, stirring and shaking constantly. On the stove top, they'll be toasted nicely brown in only about five minutes. Store in air-tight containers.

Roasted and Seasoned Pumpkin Seeds

The Bessette's Stuffed Pumpkin will appear in my next blog.

Save the Soap: What do you do with all those little bits of left over soap? That is not a problem in my household. Even the high end hotels are saving the soap left behind by customers to send to 3rd world countries.

But as you may know by know I am in the "Soap Business", and often referred to as the "Soap Lady." Soap in this household is not taken for granted. As I produce all our soap using natural ingredients and labor over making, pouring into molds, curing and cutting our soap, it becomes a personal "thing". I have several methods of using those discarded pieces. One is to save the pieces and then place in my own natural fiber "soap saver bag." Some I purchase and other bags I crochet by hand. So all the soap pieces sort of mess together when moistened and the bag is used to scrub up lots of lather for your bathing purposes. These little bags are a sell out at most shows. I am a great believer in using everything to its fullest potential, even though I was not brought up in the depression era. There is alot to be said for our society wasting lot of items that still has a life.

Images of my Soap Saver Bags:

Bits of Soap and Sissal Soap Saver Bag

Maria's Hand Crochet Spa Cloth and Soap Saver Set

http://coastalcottagesoaps.com/laundryaccessories.aspx

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Thanks for visiting and happy autumn.

Happy Birthday and Love to My Mom.

Maria L B

My Fabric Stash and Hugs From the Past - October 21, 2010

2010-10-21T21:01:00.000-04:00

My Fabric Stash: Does anyone else have lots of fabric? Maybe you purchased a great piece or remnant to create a dress, jacket, grandkids jp's, pillows, quilts, craft projects, upholstery, slipcovers, draperies, or ideas haunting you from the past. Well that is me. Along with many other creative mediums, fabric has been the standby since I was 10 years old and learned to sew on a treadle sewing machine. A great Saturday was going to the fabric store with my Mom and going through all those pattern books. Wow, we found the pattern, now it is on to the search every bolt in the store to finally choose the perfect fabric. It took hours and hours. Later in life I would do the same looking an choosing. Off I would go to my little nest of a home and decide I could stay up all night and sew in order to wear my new outfit to work or to that special occasion.

More Fabric: I have sorted through the fabric I now have on hand a few times in the past year. Alot of the fabric brings back memories of projects created for the grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Too bad they grow so quickly. I have fabric I purchased because I loved the patterns and colors. I could write a chapter about my fiber arts era and the great wearable items I created and wear from time to time. But I have no idea why I purchased some of the fabric. Obviously at the time I had an creative idea. I do love fabric and I do love to sew. It is like riding a bike, you never forget how to sew once you learn.

Machine Stitched Handmade Vest (back)

Original Design by Maria

Original Design Machine Stitched on
Handmade Vest

Front Side

More Creative Ideas Than Hours in the Day: A few projects to finish before Kaitlyn's birthday (A felted shoulder bag with her initials) and a few other surprises for the grand kids that I can't disclose. But going though the fabric gave me inspiration to sell a few remnants on eBay and create a few projects for gift giving and home decorating. Oh does anyone have a need for new neat little pillows with fringe and love? I have a few to put on libertosart.com.

My Social Network and Friends from Venice High School, Venice FL: I recently tried to connect to some of my high school friends in Venice FL through Facebook. It has been a great and heartwarming experience. I have to talk about Shyla Thayler from Ft. Myers, FL. Shyla and I walked home from Venice High School together, as she lived close by. In her words: "i loved your mom...after walking home from school she always gave you a hug and me... i think of that so very often...as my folks never ever hugged.... i have always told people i wanted to be Italian because of you and your mom...LOL I love hugs.... " As she relayed to me via facebook, she never forgot my Moms hugs. I cried like a baby when I read her words. It was a great place to grow up and I still dearly love Venice FL. When I visit, it is like going home. Shyla can we get together this winter? I hope my husband and I can spend a month there during the upcoming winter of 2011.

Oh my gosh: Can you see a Coastal Cottage Soap Shop in Venice FL?

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Nighty night and a special hug for Shyla,

Maria L B

Little Fields Painting & Art for Breast Cancer Awareness - October 18, 2010

2010-10-18T21:01:00.000-04:00

"Little Fields Painting": One of my favorite Daily Paintings has sold, "Little Fields of Kent County": I talked earlier about creating my Daily Paintings; it is great but also sad when a favorite is sold and you part with it. One of my award winning paintings, "Fields of Kent County", would also be hard to part with. It is of a glowing soy bean field on Rt 113 near Frederica DE. Therefore I have had giclee prints produced from a few of my original paintings. Brendan Buschi, of bushiart.com, has done a great job and has many artist clients throughout the east and north east coast. I now offer the public archival prints of my original art at affordable prices.

Back to "Little Fields": As I was thinking about subject matter for Daily Painting landscapes I thought of "Fields of Kent County" and though what a great similar little painting it would make and of course I could produce it. A similar story occurred with my "Frutta" paintings. There was "Frutta", it sold. Then there was "Frutta 2", it sold. "Frutta 3" sold, and also "Frutta 4". But not "Frutta V" - my signature painting. Giclee prints of "Frutta V" in two sizes are available.

Here are the two paintings, "Felds of Kent County" and "Little Fields": and tell me what you think:

"Little Fields of Kent County"

Daily Painting

"Fields of Kent County"

Giclee Print

libertosart.com/GicleePrints

Art for Breast Cancer Awareness: Needless to say that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I was contacted by the Delaware Coalition for Breast Cancer Awareness to be a vendor, selling my Coastal Cottage Soaps, at their Monster Mile Walk/Run on October 10. All booth fees were donated to the cause as was an item to be sold by raffle that day. And what a great day it turned out to be. So many friendly faces, men, women, children, families who were there to support and/or walk or run the Monster Mile. There was a second separate outstanding cause to walk for and support that day, Juvenile Diabetes. I met several great artist that day and hope to keep connected with them through facebook and such.

Love to all and to all a good night,

Maria L B

Artist Reception - Food, Farm & Foliage Exhibit & My Catch Up Week - Oct 9-16, 2010

2010-10-15T21:35:00.000-04:00

Great News Articles Help Tell the Story: I was so pleased to have a feature article concerning the Holly Branch exhibit appear in our daily paper, The Delaware State News. Photos and 2 full pages telling the story behind the exhibit really brought the National League of American Pen Women to Central and Southern Delaware. Our mission is to promote the creative arts (visual arts, literature and music) and assist in continued professional development of like-minded artists. All net proceeds from this exhibit will help provide for a scholarship for a deserving art student entering college in 2011. Here is the Dover Post article for 10/5/2010: http://www.doverpost.com/entertainment/arts/x1423335796/Post-Picks

Artist Reception for Food, Farm & Foliage Exhibit: Occured on Oct 9 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum, Dover, DE and WAS GREAT. A very well attended event, a success by all measures. I was ultra happy, but very tired. The exhibit of 58 works of art by 22 artists is amazing. These artists represent all of Delmarva and a tribute to the beauty of rural landscape, our agricultural heritage and the food and other resources produced to sustain us.

Best of Show Award went to Betsy Greer of Wilmington for her oil painting, "Things Remembered". Betsy is also the Diamond State Branch, American Pen Women President! Her painting as described by our judge, Professor Roberta Tucci, is "a warm and inviting still-life painting in oil." Her other comments include: Highly focused, realist views of familiar Delmarva landscapes are soundly represented with works such as “Bay Views”, a meticulously rendered watercolor painting by Tammy Kearney (of Seaford).
Also included in this highly diverse group exhibition are semi-abstract observations of homegrown agriculture, like the end-of-season farmed fields revealed in the energetic pastel painting, “The Last Crop”, by Trina Gardner (of Wilmington).

"Things Remembered", Oil

Betsy Greer & Best of Show

I will bring you additional images of the award winners after I retake them with a tripod.

The Peoples Choice Awards will be placed on October 26. The public has been voting for their favorites and will continue to have the opportunity to vote until October 23. If you are within the Delaware area please visit the exhibition and cast your ballot. We choose different categories for the public to vote by, not to conflict with the professional judges rulings.

Liberto's Art - Dover Bay Health Exhibit was changed by me this week adding my 8 "Daily Paintings" and removing a few to give the exhibit a fresh look. So many visitors and employees stopped to talk and comment on my work. That is a real boost to an artist and keeps us creating more works of art.

Daily Recipes: Believe me I have been cooking and baking, trying out a few new recipes as usual. I will be adding them in my next blogs. My husband really likes the good old favorites that he enjoys. But I grow tired of of the tried and true and love to experiment. A great past time is looking through my many recipe books and researching recipes through the internetup ingredients in the frig, left overs or frozen meats and vegetables. I (like Martha Stewart) probably have more condiments on hand than other ingredients.

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Night to All and to All a Good Night

Maria L B

My Daily Paintings & Cannoli Cheesecake - Oct 5, 2010

2010-10-06T05:35:00.000-04:00

A Painting a Day, Is It Possible? Why not! Can Do!: What a challenge, but what fun. It is possible and I have started and completed a daily painting in my studio. The challenge is staying focused and working quickly. I use small canvases and choose subject matter to create a series within that theme. One advantage of painting small works is to be price the art affordably. The customer can't say, "I really don't have a place to hang this wonderful art."

Living is coastal Delaware with access to the sand and sea is a blessing, especially when choosing beach scenes to paint. I am also fascinated with the many colors of sky and formations of clouds, dawn and dusk variations of color. There are days I just drive and stop along the way to take photos of cloud formations, sky colorings and many other scenes we normally are to busy to focus on.

Here are two of my daily paintings:

"Blue Sky Cloud" "Autumn Sky Beach"

Two of Maria's Daily Paintings

Plein Air Painting: Another similar quick style painting is Plein Air Painting: Plein Air is a French phrase that translates "in the open air". Plein air is pronounced plan air or sometimes plane air. This term is used to describe artworks that have been created chiefly outdoors, rather than in the studio. Photo reference is not used.

The roots of plein air painting

Are found In 19th-century Europe John Constable and the Barbizon group near France. With the invention of portable pigments artists took their sketch books in hand and travelled outside to paint and draw nature on site. They're efforts combined laid the ground work for the Impressionist Giants, Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Winslow Homer, Camille Pissarro, and John Singer Sargent. Who challenged and revolutionized the truth of the eye, form, light and color.

Plein air's popularity has been aided by the development of easily portable painting equipment and materials

Plein Air Tuesday: My friend Donna called to ask if I would like to travel off to the Easton, MD area to join one of the Plein Air-Easton Groups. A location is previously arranged where artists will meet to paint on location as guests of the owner of the property. Everyone paints from 9 am to noon then gathers together to compare and critique the art. It is very interesting to see the the comparisons, compositions and painting technigues.
But on Tuesday morning we decided it was too wet, after 2 days of raiin. After all we would probably end up with our ankles covered in mud. Maybe next Tuesday???????????

Another Recipe from Weight Watchers & Maria: If you love cannoli and cheesecake you will love this recipe. Easy to create, but allow enough time for it to firm up.

No-Bake Cannoli Cheesecake

16 amaretti cookies, coarsely crushed

1/4 cup unblanched almonds, toasted and chopped

1 envelope unflavored geletin

1/3 cup cold water

1 (8 oz) pakage fat-free cream cheese

1 (15 oz) container part skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup fat-free Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup thawed fat-free whipped topping

1/3 cup mini simisweet chocolate (I used 1 square of baking chocolate grated)

Spray a 9 inch springform pan with nonstick spray.

Mix together the cookies and almonds. Reserve 2 tablespoons. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the bottom of the pan. (I added 2 tablespoons melted butter, pressed into the bottom of the pan and baked for 5 min at 375)

Sprinkle the gelatin over the water in a small microwavable bowl, let set 5 min. Microwave on high 45 seconds, stirring until gelatin is dissolved.

With an electric m ixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth. Add the ricotta, sugar, yogurt, orange zest and vanilla beating until blended. Beat in the gelatin. Refrigerate the mixture 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Fold in the whipped topping and chocolate chips. Spoon over the cookie mixture and smooth the top. Refrigerate until set, at least 5 hours or up to overnight. Sprinkle the reserved 2 tablespoons cookie mixture of top. Decorate with thin orange slices and mint.

Per serving: 1/12 of cake: 191 Cal, 4 Points

From: Hit the Spot recipe book by WeightWatchers

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Another artful day comes to an end!

Best to all,

Maria L B

Friday Art Opening, A Coastal Sunday, & Sea Glass Soap - Oct 1 to 3, 2010

2010-10-03T20:57:00.000-04:00

Friday's Art Opening: Our Delaware Biennial of American Pen Women Art Exhibit opened on Friday Night, Oct 1. Just had to attend with a fellow member N.Taylor Collins. Sort of like a girl's night out, we traveled 45 miles into the big city of Wilmington and arrived in good fashion. Well received and in time for awards we chit-chatted with our partner members and discussed our partnership and events to be. We did not receive any awards but felt good about supporting our sister organization and the creativity of American Pen Women members. Leaving with hunger bangs for a real meal we decided to venture to the Wilmington Riverfront and visit the Iron Hill Brewery. After a small wait for a table we consumed a delicious meal refreshed for the ride back home.

"Maria's Tuscany"

Acrylic on Canvas

The Soap Shop and Sea Glass Soap: An artist friend stopped by on Saturday and we caught up on the art scene and our desires to create. One thing was realized; you need space to create. And if you don't have adequate space you need to be really, really organized. The ideal situation is to be able to spread out, work on your project, leave it untouched when you have to and go back to it later. To pack it up or move your project, painting or the like is unproductive. I am fortunate to have a large space to do just that. I can set up a still life, have references spread out, my paints, brushes and palette plus room to mat, frame, package and so much else. I have room for my soap making supplies, props for art and craft shows and more. Why would I ever want to move? I am blessed!!!!!!!!

While catching up on the arts my friend purchased a few bars of my special Olive Oil Soaps. She puts them in lingerie draws (and her husbands underwear drawer) instead of potpourri. When she needs soap, she knows where to find it. Which leads me to my Sea Glass Soap.

After many trips to the Delaware Bay to collect real sea glass that has washed ashore I had a brainstorm. Why not make simulated sea glass pieces of soap and add to a bar of glycerin soap. Dress the bar off with marine rope/string and add a few real pieces of sea glass to the package. We produce a lightly scented and also an unscented bar. This soap has been a real success and I have to share it with you:

http://coastalcottagesoaps.com/artisansoaps.aspx

Artsy Sea Glass Soap

by Maria's Soap Shop

Fall is Here: It has been cloudy and raining most of the week. Rain is predicted for the next 3 days. The leaves are falling which makes it seem so much like winter in not too far away. So today I had a chance to work up a piece of my garden soil and plant butter crunch & salad bowl lettuces, and spinach. Should have done it earlier but.............. I am awaiting the little sprouts of my seeds prior to cold weather.

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It has been an art filled weekend.

God Bless,

Maria LB

Creating Natural Laundry Soap - Sept 29, 2010

2010-09-29T20:34:00.000-04:00

Maria's Natural Laundry Soap: I love all things green, eco friendly, natural and organic. But who can create their own natural laundry soap and not pay those high prices? Who also has just purchased a new low sudsing washer? Since I produce the old time lye & lard soap many older customers request I can also create a laundry soap very similar to "Ivory Snow", but is 100 % pure. Using grated soap, washing soda and borax powder, Coastal Cottage Soaps produces a great laundry soap without detergents and other additives. I have been wanting to share this product with you:

Natural Laundry Soap Ingredients

Maria's Coastal Cottage Laundry Soap

Artful Images: The Fine Art Exhibit is hung and on display. The exhibit catalog listing is completed along with art identification cards which are display next to each painting. The Show Looks Great!! I can't wait for it to be judged by our art professional. I am creating official ballots whereby all visitors can vote for their favorite pics for the People's Choice Awards. Votes will be tallied and those awards will be presented on on Oct 26.

I wish you all visit the exhibit. Here is a glimpse of the Food, Farm & Foliage Fine Art Exhibit, sponsored by the Holly Branch of American Pen Women, currently on display at the Delaware Agricultural Museum, Dover, DE. Our fine artists are from across the Delmarva Peninsula. The exhibit opens Friday, October 1.

Maria & her painting: "Vegetables on a Windowsill"

N. Taylor Collins, past NLAPW Pres & Holly Branch Secretary

and her painting: "Fading"

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More to do tomorrow so we must part. Until then,

Maria L B

Greatful Sunday - Sept 26, 2010

2010-09-26T22:31:00.000-04:00

A Greatful Sunday: A day of rest and reflection. A cooler day means opening the windows, fresh air and fall is coming. In fact a few leaves are falling. I do love the outdoors, my backyard, my vegetable and herb garden. I have tall zinnias planted around the outside of the garden. I have watched the hummingbirds and butterrflies dance from flower to flower and know I am assisting them with their duty to pollinate. I have continued to feed the birds all summer. I usually don't summer feed as they have plenty of insects to eat. It has been a dry summer with little natural matter for them to stay nourished. I also have noticed the birds have left the ripening tomatoes alone (which seems to be a problem each summer. Each morning I also fill bird baths and large clay saucers for my friends and watch them drink and bathe themselves.

Memories of Mother: Sweet memories of my mother, especially as Fall begins. It was my mother's favorite season. She truly was inspired by nature and the natural surroundings. It was very apparent when spending time outdoors with her. She observed and always pointed out small things that most people never noticed. Mildred was also a great artist and reflected on nature through artist eyes as well.

My Teacup Bird Feeders: I have created wonderful teacup feeders with copper posts using my collection of tea cups. Very charming and can also be used as tea lights in the garden or along the path.

Tea Cup Bird Feeder on eBay

Maria's Tuscany Painting: There is another art exhibit coming up quickly. In fact the paintings are due tomorrow. My eyes hit upon a framed Tuscan scene I painted a few years ago. So I thought I would touch it up, and make a few changes since it was painted with acrylic paints. I am now pleased with the outcome and hope others will enjoy it also.

"Maria's Tuscany" Painting (unframed)

Included in the Diamond State Branch Bienial Show at

Grace Gallery, Oct 1 - 31, 2010

Opening Reception, Wilmington Art Loop, 5:30 - 7 pm

Grace Methodist Church Gallery Website

Creative Thoughts: I saved the prose below a while ago. The author is unknown. Please read and reflect.

Creating the inner self
Discovering our creative side
Achieving creative talents, training and instruction’
Transforming our nest
Becoming one with our nest
Creative appearance, clothing and attitude
Becoming one with nature
Giving of one self, gifts and sharing talents
Preparing creative meals with artistic approach
Creative entertaining
Developing creative patterns and relationships
Art for art sake

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Maria L B

From

The Artful Life Continues - Sept 24, 2010

2010-09-24T21:02:00.000-04:00

Another Great Day in the Artful World: The Food, Farm & Foliage Exhibit is taking shape. All entries are in and they were juried today by a great artist with a great eye for composition and technique. It was interesting to hear her comments and perspective on the exhibit in general. The personal comments relating to traveling the Delmarva Peninsula through the works of our artists is what is great about an exhibit with a theme relating to our place on earth. I am most grateful to her commitment to assist us.

Back to the Studio: Creating order out of, photographs, magazine references, backing materials, art books, hook eyes, wire and the like can be satisfying and necessary. I still need to finish 4 paintings started this summer. Sometimes it is good to go back to a painting after some time has passed to "see" your true work. There are more art shows to enter and of course more challenges ahead.

Maria's Soap Shop: Bathing or showering in a great natural olive oil soap is extraordinary. Just think of the great lather, great scents from the essential oils and just knowing you are nourishing your skin and creating a healthy environment. Take for instance my Peppermint Orange Olive Oil Soap. The aromatic mint and orange scent combines well together creating a fresh and refresh bar. Finely ground mint and orange peel is added to enhance your very own soap. Great for males and females alike. Step inside the Coastal Cottage Soap Shop:

Maria's Handcrafted

Peppermint Orange Soap

visit her shop at coastalcottagesoaps.com

Back to the Oven: A recipe for Buttermilk Sugar Cookies appeared in our local weekly paper. I then thought of the Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies with the chocolate mint filling. Maybe I could put the two together creating Maria's Milan Cookies (Milan is a Italy largest industrial town). So I searched and found a great buttermilk sugar cookies on epIicurisious.com. I replaced mint chocolate chips for the chips in their icing. Some cookies I did sandwich, but mostly just put icing on individual cookies. Comments later from my husband after consuming the first of many was, these taste like the PF Milano Chocolate Mint Cookies!!

Buttermilk Sugar Cookies

Cookie Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup well-shaken buttermilk\

Make cookies:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter 2 large baking sheets.

Whisk together flour, zest, baking soda, and salt.

Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Mix in flour mixture and buttermilk alternately in batches at low speed, beginning and ending with flour mixture, until smooth.

Drop level tablespoons of dough about 1 1/2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake, 1 sheet at a time, until cookies are puffed and edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes per batch. Cool cookies on sheets 1 minute, then transfer cookies to racks.

Glaze: 1 cup chocolate mint chips

1/3 cup cream or half and half

Melt mint chips n a heat proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from heat; whisk in cream in a low stream. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Spread glaze on the underside of half the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies. Or you can spread on the top of single cookies and not sandwich.

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My best to you all,

Maria L B

Consider Them Finished - Sept 21, 2010

2010-09-21T23:05:00.000-04:00

3 Finished Paintings - Seriously! Up early the last few days and a good time to apply another layer of paints to speed up the process. Working with oil paints can create a lengthy completion of a painting. Although Plein Air Painters create paintings in one session, sometimes in 2 hours. But of course the drying time of thick paints will be considerable. I framed the art with 2 frames I had on hand and 1 that my husband had created for me out of the barn board. Hook & eyes, wire, and a backing completes the painting, but does take more time.

I did forget to take images of the completed and framed paintings. Today was the deadline to deliver entries for the Food, Farm & Foliage Art Exhibit. So delivered they are and on time. I will take photos to post to this blog during my next trip to the Delaware Agricultural Museum. Stay Tuned

More Artist Talk: It was another great day for me. It looks like the Holly Branch will have a successful exhibit. The number of professional entries, by individual artists will fill the South Gallery. To accept art for the exhibit, meet the artists and discuss their many different art experiences keeps the juices flowing. We all have information to exchange with other artists. That is one thing that is great about coming together as artists. It makes organizing an exhibit so worthwhile.

My Olive Oil Handcrafted Soap: Did you know I use all natural ingredients, such as olive oil, Castor oil, soy oil, coconut oil, sea salt, spring water and natural essential oils for fragrance?
My long lasting, moisturizing and extra foamy soap is great for your skin. We make bath soap for men & women, kid's fun soap, men's shaving soap & pumice hand soap, doggy soap, laundry soap and more. We real soap cakes, tarts, muffins, etc. Great for party favors, and gifts. We have many repeat customers and a great inventory of soap creating a heavenly scent wherever you go in my home. Please check out our site: coastalcottagesoaps.com. Shipping is currently free for any orders Below is an image of a group of our products.

Maria's Recipe Produced Today:

Apple-Oat Muffins

The shredded apple adds moisture to the muffins. You'll find that the batter fills the muffin cups more than most recipes, but it shouldn't overflow in the oven.

Yield: 1 dozen (serving size: 1 muffin)

2 cups shredded peeled McIntosh apple (about 3/4 pound) (I used chopped peeled Granny Smith)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) carton plain low-fat yogurt (I used light sour cream instead)
1 large egg
Cooking spray
CALORIES 190 (19% from fat); FAT 3.9g (sat 0.9g,mono 1.1g,poly 1.5g); IRON 1.5mg; CHOLESTEROL 20mg; CALCIUM 96mg; CARBOHYDRATE 34.6g; SODIUM 238mg; PROTEIN 4.5g; FIBER 1.9g

Maria's Apple Oat Muffins

Adapted from myrecipes.com

Can't wait to have the muffins and fresh cantelope in the morning!

Sweet Dreams,

Maria L B

Preheat oven to 400°.
Place apple on paper towels; squeeze until barely moist. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine the flour and next 6 ingredients (flour through cinnamon) in a medium bowl; stir with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine milk, oil, vanilla, yogurt, and egg; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Stir in apple.
Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from pans immediately; place on a wire rack.

An Artful Weekend, Sept 17 & 18, 2010

2010-09-19T16:07:00.000-04:00

Lovely Lavender Olive Oil Soap

Maria's Most Popular Handcrafted Soap

This aromatic soap will take you to your own lavender field. The stress relieving qualities of this lavender soap in addition to the great sudsy lather will make you a repeat customer

http://coastalcottagesoaps.com/AromatherapySoaps.aspx

Artists Submit Entries: Saturday, a day artists are submitting entries for the Food, Farm & Foliage Exhibit sponsored by the Holly Branch of the American Pen Women (of which I am Pres). Waiting for the entries at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and talking with fellow artist members is always special. Subject matter like our latest framing nightmare, and will our paintings dry in time is the buzz. The essence of being with other artists and discussing where we create and how we create is good for the creative soul. Meeting the artists submitting their entries does make all the work of coordinating an exhibit worthwhile. Answering questions about pricing their and framing their pieces along with boosting the self-confidence of the new artist is a very worthwhile part of supporting creativity. And when an artist thanks you for organizing such an exhibit that the public can enter. I am amazingly humble. Thanks to them for wanting to be a part of this creative world.

Time to Finish: It is another great day of sunshine and as I was inside the museum's South Gallery most of the day. To soak up the sunshine I carted all my paints, tabletop easel and supplies upstair to the porch. Wow, natural sunlight to paint by. How good is that? So I worked and worked to almost finish the painting, "Vegetables on a Windowsill". It is looking pretty good. Stay tuned!

The Framing, Part 1: I usually frame my paintings and matted prints with gold finished gallery frames which is sort of a trade mark. 2 weeks ago while walking Winston, I noticed a wonderful large barnboard frame appeared by a neighbor's home for trash pick up. I went back and carried it home to add to my frame collection. I new my husband, the magnificent wordworker, could use it to make a frame or two. Last week I asked nicely if he could infact cut it down and make a frame for one of the paintings I have been working on with a deadline he could handle. Stay tuned!

Tomorrow's Dessert: My husband has asked his daughter over for Sunday dinner and a movie. (Maybe they will watch Julia & Julie.) My chef is preparing: BrocaelI with all natural ingredients. I volunteered to handle dessert. Searching through my many recipes as well as on-line I though a light carrot cake would work. Light because I have been indulging in too much yummy food lately. The recipe calls for carrot juice in addition to grated carrots. A great purpose for the my juicer appliance used only twice in 5 years Here is the Weight Watchers recipe and image of my creation of Weight Watchers Carrot Cake with a Lemon Glaze:

http://signup.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/index.aspx?recipeid=218901

Maria's Creation of

Weight Watchers Carrot Cake with a Lemon Glaze

16 servings, 3 points each

"Vegetables on the Window Sill" Painting

2010-09-16T22:01:00.000-04:00

Organizing an Art Exhibit: I do have a list of things to do for the upcoming art exhibit, Food, Farm & Foliage Fine Art Exhibit to open October 1 at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover DE. This exhibit is sponsored by the Holly Branch of the American Pen Women of which I am president. (hollybranchapw.org) Press releases, receiving art, handling their website, answering phone calls & emails, developing brochures, applications, fliers, posters, invitations. There is much to do. But how special it is to talk to artists, whether hobbyist or professional. That is "The Artful Life." Supporting the arts and fellow artists is so important and such a basic component of creativity.

Nearly Finished: I have dedicated today to completing 2 of 4 paintings. After many excuses I am getting down to business to put the finishing touches on them. Good for my libertosart.com business. "Vegetables on the Windowsill" is just about finished. The painting giving me a reason to really study my references is "Hazlettville Barn". I hope they will become some of my better paintings.

"Hazlettville Barn" in Progress

"Seeing, Searching, Being": PBS Ken Burns Film on artist William Segal aired on pubic tv tonight. What a great inspirational film for artists and all others interested in art. The film explores the creative process and the spiritual relationship between the artist and his work. He really relates observing all things around us, seeing and watching and applying those visions to the paper or canvas. Please watch if you have a chance. There are 2 other films on Segal that Ken Burns has produced. Stayed tuned and be inspired.

The Recipe: I adapted this recipe from Lindaraxa's Garden Blog: http://lindaraxa.blogspot.com/.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin With Fig Stuffing.

Stuffing

8 figs dried or fresh, finely minced
4 slices of prosciutto finely minced
2 TB dried bread crumbs
2TB. orange juice
finely chopped parsley

Mix everything in a bowl and set aside. The bread crumbs and orange juice are what binds this together so use a little discretion adding more bread crumbs or less orange juice as needed.

Maria's Roast Pork Tenderloin w/Fig Stuffing

Accompanied by Oven Roasted Butternut Squash

For the Roast.

1 pork tenderloin in two pieces (I used cut my tenderloin down the middle and layed out flat)
1 cup or juice of 1orange
4 garlic cloves mashed
canola oil
Salt & Pepper

Marinade the pork loin in the bitter orange juice, onions and mashed garlic for at least 1 - 4 hours.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Remove and dry. Take one of the pork pieces lay it flat on a cutting board and spread the stuffing along the length of the loin. Place the other piece on top. Tie the roast at 1 1/4 inch intervals with kitchen twine.  Do not tie so tight that the stuffing comes out. Spread pepper and kosher salt all over the loin.

Place 2 TB of canola oil in a dutch oven or frying pan and brown the roast about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a rack on top of a roasting pan and place in the oven. I place marinade plus 2 cups water or broth in bottom of pan  Roast for 30 minutes. If you notice the pork is not browning enough, bring temperature up to 400 degrees, remember not all ovens are created equal. Remove from the oven. Remove from the oven and let rest 30 MINUTES. This is important, don't skim.

Cut in 1/4 inch slices* and arrange the slices on a platter., drizzle some of the juices on top of roast. The pork will be a light pink and juicy. When you cut it, you might have to hold the slices together with your left hand to hold the stuffing inside.

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Happy Creating. My best to all.

Maria L B

A Day of Sunshine, Sept 15, 2010

2010-09-16T08:13:00.000-04:00

The Bliss of Sunshine: How to not stay indoors when the sun is shining and shining on the blessed outdoors with rays of sunlight filtering through the windows to my inside world. It is a day when I find any excuse to be outdoors or at least see the outdoors while I attend to my tasks.

Scones in the Morning: Up and at em, rise and shine. Create a somewhat healthy recipe of Mixed Berry & Pecan Scones. I used a recipe from my huge collection and I substituted whole wheat flour for part of required flour, 2 percent milk and margarine for butter. Here's the recipe:

Berry Pecan Scones

Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup regular all purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder,
3 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup cranberries or any dried diced fruit,
1/3 cup 2 % buttermilk, 1/4 cup solid margarine, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Preheat over to 375. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender. Add dried fruit and nuts. In separate bowl, beat eggs with buttermilk & vanilla. Reserve 1 tablespoon of liquid. Add remaining to flour mixture until dough sticks together. Remove to floured board & knead 3-4 times. Form into 1" thick round. Place on baking sheet & cut into 6 - 8 pie slices. Brush with reserved egg and sprinkle with sugar (OPT.) Separate and bake approx 20 minutes.

Maria's Berry Pecan Scones

flooded with sunlight, a delightful morning on the porch

Winston, The Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier: Going on my daily walk, this time with Winston, starts the day off by soaking up the sun. Shedding my jacket after a few blocks, I get geared up. Winston off course has to stop at every post and pole we pass by. I finally realized that if we walk on the side of the street with Winston on my left as usual but also between the sidewalk and the curb he will not trip me with the leash by proceeding across the front of me to that pole/post.

Sir Winston Pumpernickel

Isn't he adorable?

Ignoring my Art Studio: I have really tried to think of my paintings in progress today. One painting is a still life of fresh juicy peaches with cut open to expose the seed and yumminess. The first group of peaches finally turned soft and so while still eatable I cut up and added to my vanilla yogurt. So off to the market to find peaches with similar markings with cell phone in hand which held an image of my painting. If only I had taken a photo of the still life set up. Thankfully the were few shoppers at the time and hopefully no one wondered what the crazy lady with the cell phone by the peach display was up to.

"4 Peaches"

Peach Still Life in Progress

Needless to say I just couldn't leave the beautiful daylight to enter my spacious art studio that is housed in the basement level of our home. The libertosart.com studio with it's artificial light cannot compete with the perfect end of summer day. Tomorrow will be a new day of creativity.

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See you then. My best to all.

Maria L B

Trying to Catch Up - Sept 14, 2010

2010-09-14T20:39:00.000-04:00

The Blog Idea: I have had the blog idea for some time. But what really inspired me was watching the movie Julia and Julie this past weekend. How great is that movie! What creativity both ladies portrayed. Real women challenging themselves. It made me realize that many people create everyday without realizing it. We scrapbook, bead, paint, stencil, decorate, wonder through the crafting stores to try the latest projects. We look through tons of magazines and web sites to find out how to do what the next project or at least to be inspired. We all create or want to create. For most it is just finding the time to do it.

My Mom Mildred, The Chef: Think back to our mom's who produced a wholesome home cooked meal everyday for the family. We had out only for special occasions, fast food was not heard of and ingredients had to be on hand because Dad usually used the car for work, and the little housewife was really the wife of the house.. They whipped up recipes to hear yums and "wow - my favorite again." They created these dishes not only because they had to prepare dinner but they also wanted to add their own flair. My mother was the first in her family to present the "new lemon chiffon cake" that was being raved about.

My Mom Mildred, The Seamstress: The same mother mentioned above was probably a moderate seamstress. Another area of creativity made by necessity. Nothing was impossible to produce. Anything from winter coats to draperies and slipcover could be made. A trip to the fabric store was like our trip to the malls. It could take hours choosing the right pattern and then fabric and notions.

Back to Julia and Julie: The movie inspired me to move along with the blog and document my many areas of creativity and art. Julie's project portrays the challenge of creativity and creativity as a challenge. Maybe my projects can be challenged by my blog project. Recipe ingredients, paint, canvas, fabric, seaglass, shells, color create a wonderful artful home and life.

A Few Days Behind But Catching Up: Since I wanted to start my story earlier I am trying to catch you up to speed with my most recent artful life.

The Paintings: Currently I am working on four oil paintings. Why four at one time. Well I have my palette set up and while one painting layer is drying I work on another. My current inventory is depleted and I am also submitting entries to a juried and judged exhibit sponsored by the Holly Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. As president of the local branch I need to put my best paintings forward. I can't wait to actually the entries submitted for the Food, Farm & Foliage Fine Art Exhibit.

They shall be completed and framed before the deadline.

The Recipe: Well now to the kitchen. I think we need some treats for my sweetie. I decided on the Chocolate Cookies Recipe from Joy of Baking. I used a silicone mat instead of parchment paper on the baking sheets. Something set off our smoke detector, something we could not detect ourselves. The thing would not stop. Winston escaped followed by my husband. I took the batteries out of the detector until the baking was completed. Winston finally was coaxed inside and all is well. Both sweeties are eating the sweets.

Here is the recipe, and images of the Chocolate Cookies

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup (105 grams) light brown sugar

1/4 cup (50 grams) white granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (130 grams) all purpose flour

1/4 cup (30 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (260 grams) white chocolate chips or chunks

Chocolate Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees in rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. (I used silicon sheets.)

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter and sugars until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until incorporated. First sift together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt and then add to the butter and egg mixture. Mix just until incorporated. Fold in the the chocolate chips.

Using a small ice cream scoop or two spoons, place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of batter on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches (5 cm) apart.

Bake for approximately 8 - 10 minutes or until the the cookies are still soft in the center but are firm around the edges. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 24 - 3 inch round cookies.

Maria's Chocolate Cookies
(texture is between a brownie and cookie)

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Well more to come tomorrow. I hope to show the progress on my paintings and maybe even a photo of Winston.

My best to you and "The Artful Life."

Maria L B

The Artful Life Blog Begins - Sept 13, 2010

2010-09-13T20:51:00.000-04:00

This is the first day of a new thing, my own blog. What to name my blog, Maria Creates, Liberto Art Studio, Maria Liberto Creates, or The Artful Life. Many of those title are taken. Do I include the names Liberto and Bessette? I wanted to connect my websites, Liberto's Art and Coastal Cottage Soaps with my blog. Maria's ideas and thoughts are many and wake me up in the middle of the night to contemplate. Some of them being my day to day steps in creating my paintings, my thoughts as an artist, including how to decide on how to frame, price and the biggie - where to market my masterpieces. How to involve the public in the spirit of creativity and promote the arts in all its' artforms. I also need to share to the great recipes I depend on, my own tried and true recipes, and other culinary adaptions I have used. Decorating ideas, sewing projects, fiber arts, folk art, floorcloths, soapmaking and many other creative sessions are ahead for me to share.

In thinking about sharing my artful life I realize that I create some type of art almost everyday. It may be a little flower arrangement from my garden I place by the kitchen window or on the porch overlooking our secret yard; a plate of red and yellow garden tomatoes with vinaigrette, cheese with sprigs of basil; a car ride snapping images of rural countryside or cumulus clouds to use as references in my paintings.

So fortunate and blessed I am. I have time to do many these things that make me happy and productive. And to also feel I can share my feelings, ideas, and creativity with many others. Being supportive of other artists, whether a newbie, hobbiest or professional. ( Thankful also for time to walk my local neighborhoods everyday adding at least 2 miles to my pedometer.)

So what do I name my blog: The Artful Life of Maria Liberto Bessette. Seems a little lengthy, but it is me. I will share something I create each day. Documenting with the actual photos of work in progress and recipes with images. I hope I have time for all I desire to share with you. I will try and hope someone will want to follow my path.

In the middle of designing and deciding on a name for my blog I am thinking of dinner. Thoughts of the little pasta called orzo come to mind. I recently purchased orzo from a local bulk food store set in our Amish Community.

Here are most of the ingredients to create

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Here is the finale!

I choose this recipe since I had all ingredients on hand. I adapted my recipe from one found at grouprecipes.com. Serves 6 to 8. Add chopped chicken, turkey or ham and serve as an entree.

Ingredients

1 cup orzo uncooked

3 tablespoons red onion finely chopped

1 cup fresh tomatoes seeded and chopped

1/4 cup chopped celery

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons olives pitted and finely chopped

2 tablespoons capers

1 teaspoon grainy spicy mustard

1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 tablespoon balsalmic vinegar

2 tablespoons garlic oil (I used olive oil and 1/2 teas. minced garlic)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup feta or chevre cheese crumbled (you can use up to 1 cup)

How to make it:

Bring a large quantity of water to a boil and cook orzo just until tender. Drain well and allow to cool then mix with onion, tomatoes, celery, basil, olives and capers. Whisk together mustard, sugar and vinegar then gradually beat in oil until emulsion forms. Pour vinaigrette over pasta mixture and season with salt and pepper then chill salad. When it is cold mix in the crumbled cheese and serve.

The Artful Life of Maria

The Artful Life of Maria Blog Continues with "en plein air painters"

Starry Night - The Painting & Starry Night Artsy Soap, Feb 27, 2011

2 Pears Daily Painting & "Study of Two Pears" Poetry Musing, Feb 23, 2011

Creative Inspiration - Design Elements, Feb 21, 2011

The Artist's Apple Study & "One Apple is Not Enough" - Feb 16, 2011

Art Studio Housekeeping - Famiglia & Note Dal Passato, February 5, 2011

Daily Paintings, Daily Painters, Daily Inspirations - February 3, 2011

A Glass Half Full - Ordre du Jour - January 28, 2011

Coastal Cottage "Soap Cakes" Pastry Challenge - January 26, 2011

Morning Light & Beauty at the Beach - January 19, 2011

Winter Images, Little Bird & Haiku - January 17, 2010

Boeuf Bourguignon, Maria & Julia & Julie - Mastering the "Art" of French Cooking, January 16, 2010

Poetry Night Live, Another Artful Challenge - Jan 14, 2010

Saints & Angels: Saint Andre Bessette (Great Uncle), Celebrate His Feast Day - January 6

A Joyfull Artful 2010 Summary & Wishing for a New Year Full of Creativity -- January 2, 2011

Poetry Night Live!, Delaware's Poet Laureate & Delaware Made - Nov 30, 2010

18th Century Market Fair, Life in the Colonies, Tea and Women - Nov 23, 2010

18th Century Floorcloths & Lye Soap - November 4, 2010

My Little Lamb Painting and Poem - Shea Butter Cream Day - October 26, 2010

Save all Pumpkins and Lets Save Soap Too - October 24, 2010

My Fabric Stash and Hugs From the Past - October 21, 2010

Little Fields Painting & Art for Breast Cancer Awareness - October 18, 2010

Artist Reception - Food, Farm & Foliage Exhibit & My Catch Up Week - Oct 9-16, 2010

My Daily Paintings & Cannoli Cheesecake - Oct 5, 2010

Friday Art Opening, A Coastal Sunday, & Sea Glass Soap - Oct 1 to 3, 2010

Creating Natural Laundry Soap - Sept 29, 2010

Greatful Sunday - Sept 26, 2010

The Artful Life Continues - Sept 24, 2010

Consider Them Finished - Sept 21, 2010

An Artful Weekend, Sept 17 & 18, 2010

"Vegetables on the Window Sill" Painting

A Day of Sunshine, Sept 15, 2010

Trying to Catch Up - Sept 14, 2010

The Artful Life Blog Begins - Sept 13, 2010

How to make it:

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Goodbye for now. Sleep tight!Maria L B

Goodbye for now. Sleep tight!

Maria L B