Venitian Muslin Art Journal

I made this art journal this past week. I wanted something to take with me on my trip to Europe.

I have been following Lynne Hoppe blog and thought that is was a great way to do art on the road.

But I wanted to make it mine and my vision is very romantic...

You can see how to make your own on Lynne's blog...click here. I will keep you posted on how I plan to work in it..I really think it came out lovely...I don't want to mess it up...hmmm what to do?

A Necklace to Wear on the Grand Tour.....

I won a beautiful necklace at the 9th hour of the One World One Heart giveaway in February.

It was made by the lovely Denise Tucker. She is an author and jewelry maker.
www.thehousemysteries.typepad.com


Denise use the book "French Inspired Jewelry" by Kaari Meng It was so generous of her...thank you Denise!!!



I feel like the most elegant French Princess is this necklace. I am going to take it to Europe with me...it is my little secret...to wear it ....and feel so romantic....from another time of my dreams....I bought our airline tickets yesterday.....Bath England to Tuscany Italy...with about 10 days in Austria/Germany...10 days in England and 10 days in Italy...with a tiny trip into France from Germany....a 6 weeks.....Grand Tour....!!!!
This is my bedroom....it reminds me of Paris, Bath and Venice...I love the new little mantel I bought...and the etchings from the late 1700's & early 18 ths...one little drawing is from a shop in Oxford.....I have women on one side and men on the other....I decorate with things from my trips.....so the romance is always with me....

The Wee People

Well I made the Bonoffee yesterday and guess who showed up! The Wee people!
I went to Ireland 5 times and never brought home a little one. But the last time I went I bought 5 of them! One for a gift, one is broken...and now I just have these 3.

Sure as you know they popped up the minute the making of the Bonoffee started.

I know desert is really made of things like sugar and milk and stuff that isn't really on my mostly raw food diet but...

So I found organic ingredients with good and organic whole sugars and grains. And it came out tasting wonderful. A couple changes though. I would double the graham cracker crust. I used coconut oil instead of butter and much less oil..I even added a little olive oil.

I cooked the milk in the boiling water too long...the toffee was too hard to pour. I used the 3 hours and the overnight method. I boiled it more like 3 1/2 hours.

So I will work on that for next time. It was hard to just have to dig it out of the can. It did not spread...so I left it in little daps...I used the bananas to flatten the toffee down.

The wee people crowded together to have their photo's taken with the Eiffel towers...they were sure it showed off there green cloths so very well.

I hope you had a nice St. Patricks Day? And we are off now to think about Passover..and then Easter....

St. Patrick

Saint Patrick, stained-glass window in the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, California

I hope you enjoy the story of St. Patrick in the Video I filmed of John and His song "Patrick in the Spirit".... He was an amazing Man...reflect as you enjoy your good Irish meal and green beer..smile....

The studio on the day Eire was recording the song "Patrick in the Spirit". Billy Oskay from the group "Night Noise" on Windham Hill records was the producer and engineer and fiddle player. If you love Celtic music I would also recommend "Night Noise" The members were from the most famous Irish band since the "Chieftains".

This is Eric Riggler...he was the bagpipe player for "Brave Heart".

Celtic Pilgrimage with John Doan DVD Released!!!

Part 1

After years of sweat and tears I am happy to announce the official release of my first and only full feature...1 hour movie.

This is a real saga.....In the early part of 2000 John and I went to Ireland and the Celtic Lands of the UK 2 times. Two years apart each. The first trip we followed St. Patrick's trail. John wrote the music on the ancient Celtic Pilgrimage sites and I took photo's. The second trip was more ambitious. We followed St. Patrick's famous monk followers. If you look at a map of the Pilgrimage site you would see that you had to go to the edges of the earth...

People went by boat in those days..... So we were out on little Islands in Ireland and Scotland, Wales and England...driving all over the country side in a matter of 3 weeks. Taking ferries and boats...it was a truly amazing and beautiful trip.

After John's Eire Isle of the Saints CD came out we started getting fans. One woman and her husband wanted to go with John to the places in Ireland were he wrote the music and hear him tell the stories on the sites. With her help we started leading 11 day tours to Ireland.

We thought the best way to promote John's beautiful Celtic music was to make a movie. Easy enough...get a digital movie camera and go for it...right????

So with John's father's help we bought the best low end camera and a good mic and ran off to Ireland!!

I had never filmed in video in my life..only taken still photo's. I came home with 30 hours of film....
too be continued ...it is a long story...smile and I want to find photo's to go with it next post.....






New DVD - "A Celtic Pilgrimage with John Doan"

"See inside ancient ruins, perch on rocks along roughed coastlines, and look in on a quiet moment late in the evening when all the tourists are gone and candles flicker. This is an enchanting adventure that is part travelogue, music video, and history lesson all in one. Be prepared to be transported outside of time!"

This visually stunning DVD features John's award winning music from Hearts O'Space Records:

"Eire - Isle of the Saints" - Voted #1 Celtic Album of the Year

"Wayfarer - Ancient Paths to Sacred Pl'ces" nominated for the same title.

A Celtic Pilgrimage DVD and Eire and Wayfarer CD's are available at:

click here to buy

"Critics Choice - John Doan's music is a nearly perfect evocation of the Celtic spirit... intricate arrangements ... poignant melodies."

Billboard Magazine

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

BANOFFEE PIE IS A LITTLE PIECE OF IRISH HEAVEN!!!

When we were in Ireland this was the most
beloved desert ever...

I thought I would give you the recipe in time to make
it for St. Patricks Day!

Irish Banoffee Pie
banoffee (banana + toffee)

Graham Cracker Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup turbinado sugar
• 3 Tsp. ground ginger

Filling:

• 1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 bananas, sliced
• 2 cups whipping cream

For crust: Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter, and ginger until well blended. Press mixture into a nine-inch pie plate and cool in refrigerator.

For filling: In a saucepan, boil an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk!) in water for three hours. Monitor closely to make sure there is always water in the pan. Remove can from heat and let cool 10 to 15 minutes. Open can and pour toffee into pie crust. Allow to cool.

Slice bananas over toffee.

Whip the two cups of cream and spoon on top of bananas. Refrigerate before serving.

Make the Carmel the night before tip!

One key to not exploding the can is to do the boiling the evening before you use the caramelized condensed milk. Put it on after dinner, using a soup pot so you don't have to check the water level, and turned off the heat before going to bed. This way the can cools down with the water, and since you don't remove it while hot, there's no chance of an accident. In the morning, you have dulce de leche!

Other idea's for making the carmel click here
or buy it at a import store or section.
Nestle sells cans of the Dulce de leche that they have already 'cooked' - usually from Chile. Also there are cans of Dulce from Argentina, and even squirt bottles of Mexican 'cajeta' (their goat milk version).

Please let me know if you make it and how you like it!!

Ginkgo design harp guitar

On a post a in 2008 I talked about a Guitar sound hole I designed...(You can see the post Click Here)



I just ran across photo's of the Guitar. The builder is Stephen Segwick from London. If you are interested there is a cute video interview with him on his web..click here. By the way he is a dashing artistic still single guy in his 30's...smile...

I just thought it would be fun to show you. I am amazed to see my art in so many ways...movie..painting, cloths. It is such a interesting life and I am thankful for it.

OWOH Giveaway Sea doll's New home..

My little Sea Doll is now in her new home...Cheryl's house...She looks like she so belongs there..and what great dollie friends and green art chair!!!
I am so happy that Cheryl loves her...now Cheryl..please give her a real name... I can't wait...to see what you call her...smile.

Dame Darcy Doll "Jacobina"

Last night I got in the mail a small heart tin...in it was the most darling little thing!

and a pretty little hand drawn note to me...click on photo to see it larger...

Out popped the little sweetie...dancing away....showing off her cute little pink socks...
and look at her hair...so long and shiny...with glittery strings along side her red locks....

her body is really short but her dress is long....
and on the back of the card I got from Dame Darcy was this dream prince and his castel....Dame Darcy is making custom wedding invites...go to her site to order.....
Last fall she played on first Thursday in Portland Oregon. .....she even plays the saw......with a bow...
I went to hear her sing and see her dolls.....but she didn't have any....
Only the one in the show....

Her and the band..............
I was so happy to find the little doll on her Esty site...there are a couple more!
Thank you Darcy!!!!
Dame Darcy's blog...click..