An Artful Weekend, Sept 17 & 18, 2010

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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

Trying to Catch Up - Sept 14, 2010

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