Tuesday Musings

  July has arrived. Really? Already? That means I must get my calendar spread up and ready -which is a WIP yet. Hopefully it will be finished in the next few days. It's an awful lot of drawing though ( going with the monthly prompts from one of Joanne Sharpe's classes).

                                                             6" x 6" book page-front

                                                          6" x 6" book page -back

   Products: background patterned papers (Stampington & Co.); image on front pg (Paper Whimsy); image on back pg ( Retro Cafe Art); lace and fabric flower trims (JoAnne Stores); Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze ink (Tsukineko); Diamond Stickles glitter glue (Ranger); aqua tissue paper; feathers (beach findings).

  A group of us were asked by a fellow artist on FB if we wanted to contribute to a book she was putting together for another artist who recently lost her beloved mother. I 've known many of these ladies for a number of years through art groups and swaps so of course I wanted to contribute. We were given some ideas-such as adding quotes, keeping it with mostly whites and using lighthouse images if we wanted and leaving space on the left for punching the holes. The book will be completed and sent to her in the next two weeks. The theme for the Simon Monday challenge blog is "w is for white". I was planning on linking this but not so sure it meets the criteria so well. So, I made this card which is going in the mail to my dear aunt BiBi in France who will be celebrating her 80th birthday.

   Products: lg white card and envelope (Canvas Corp); floral stamp (Close to My Heart-formerly DOTS-this may be a retired stamp by now); sentiment stamp (Magenta); indigo dye ink; dry chalks; Stickles glitter glue (Ranger).

 Of course, I 'm still very much into the summer salads and healthy food kick so here's another dish:



                                                       (RECIPE AT END OF POST)

 This is a red quinoa watercress salad. Yum! Since having requests for recipes of the foods I've been sharing here I am currently working on getting the recipes typed in along with links to the photos which I will list at the top of my blog in the "Recipes" category. Please bear with me :)

 Oh, it also happens to be "T Stands for Tuesday " with Elizabeth and Bleubeard and I have the perfect thing to share for it:

  When grocery shopping this past week I went down the kitchen/cooking supplies aisle and I found this mug. It had my name painted all over it!! And I probably shouldn't be using this word so much -but-isn't this just A-W-E-S-O-M-E??? This brings such a smile to my face first thing each morning! It was only $6 and is a generous size. That's why you can't see the coffee inside. I'm only allowed 1 1/2 to 2 cups of caffeine per day.

  Off to paint something...and visit along with my mug in between drying times:)

         "To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow."
                                                                                                                         Kurt Vonnegut



                                               Red Quinoa Watercress Salad

  Whisk together in lg. bowl: 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar   1/2 tsp. salt     1/4 tsp. pepper
                                               1 clove garlic, minced    3 Tbsp. EVOO

  Add: 1/2 minced shallot    3 tomatoes, cut into cubes   1/4 cucumber, seeded and cut into chunks
           1/3 c. yellow pepper, cut into small chunks

  Add: 2 c. cooked red quinoa    3 c. watercress cut into 3 " pieces    1 c. basil leaves
           8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2 " cubes

  Toss all to combine. Note- I added a bit  more of the vinegar before serving.