Bobby Flamingo
Indy as Elvis the Hound Dog Phoenix knows the best part of Halloween are the treats
Bobby Flamingo
Indy as Elvis the Hound Dog Phoenix knows the best part of Halloween are the treats
That is precisely the kind of day Karly, the food presenter at Williams-Sonoma, faced on a Sunday afternoon in October. With apologies and aplomb, Karly plunged forward and presented an interesting and entertaining Technique Class.
In a food processor, combine flour, salt, pepper and rosemary. Pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and pulse to combine. Pour in cream and process until dough forms a single mass.
Not confident about your baking ability? Not to worry. Here are some things that can be done by simply cutting and assembling.
Using a food mandoline, slice some zucchini, jicama and peppers. Add some blanched sugar snap peas. Serve with some dipping sauce.
Even easier were these, sliced cucumbers topped with Williams-Sonoma's wichcraft spread, a tomato relish.
Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma's website
Karly was passionate about food and about sharing ideas for
making simple, tasty appetizers.
Interesting products found at Williams-Sonoma:
A kevlar glove to wear while using a knife to prevent cutting yourself.
Beautiful cookware, bakeware and serving ware.
Visit williams-sonoma.com for more recipes and entertaining ideas.Photo credit: art.com
Great Pear by Carmen Dolce
"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated
masterpieces--just good food from fresh ingredients."
Julia Child
Sarah showed us works in progress on two of her four looms. When asked how long something has taken to weave, Sarah will tell you it took, for example, two Books on Tape. Yes, Sarah measures the work she puts into her creations by the number of Books on Tape she listens to while she weaves!
http://www.browncountystudiotour.com/nogglefall.htm
Our second stop was at Anne Ryan Miller’s Glass Studio. While her studio is just minutes from downtown Nashville, it feels worlds away from town as it's tucked back in the hills reachable only by black-top roads. Once again, we were awed by the fall scenery all around us.
Anne's studio is divided into two parts. The first part has an enormous island where she works and the second part is set up as a gallery where she displays stunningly beautiful stained glass pieces.
Anne begins her work with a line drawing. She then uses metal overlay on some pieces which creates a depth to her work. This technique was developed by Anne. It’s not surprising, given her surroundings, that Anne Ryan Miller’s art is nature-themed. Here are some photos from her website:
Songbird Sing
Hummingbird & Morning Glories
Flower Petal Lamp
Anne says this about the medium she's chosen to work with: “There is a mystical quality to glass. It is a frozen liquid that acts like a solid. It transmits light. The mood of each piece changes as the sun and seasons change the natural light. Sometimes it is very active, at other times seemingly reflective and passive. You might never tire of a piece of glass hung in natural light. It will appear different each time you see it. It will change as the seasons change, constantly offering you a new view.”
Visit Anne Ryan Miller's website:
http://www.anneryanmillerglassstudio.com/index.html
Since we were so close to downtown Nashville, we stopped off at the Muddy Boots Café for lunch. The café is located on the main drag and is charming and homey inside. Sitting at a table that was reminiscent of grandma’s, we ordered the house specialties: “made from scratch foods, hand crafted from only the finest ingredients.”
Both of the artists we visited told us their work was displayed at the Ferrer Gallery. It was only natural that the gallery would be our next stop. We were so glad we did! We were fortunate enough to meet gallery owner, Dixie Ferrer. She’s a bundle of sparkling energy and must have been born to her vocation. I don’t think you’ll find a bigger promoter of the arts, and Brown County artists in particular, than Dixie.
The work of more than 40 artists is on display at the gallery. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the soul. The space was ideal and flowed naturally from one space to the next. There, straight back from the front door was Anne Ryan Miller’s stained glass creations hanging in sun-filled windows. Nearby was a hat-rack displaying the intricately-woven purses made by Sarah Noggle. We also enjoyed viewing Dixie’s multi-media collages and hearing about the classes, Dixie has termed “art therapy”, for the public.
(The photos below are from Dixie's website and are used with her generous permission.)
Dinner by Candlelight
Sisterhood
Visit Ferrer Gallery online at:
http://www.ferrergallery.com/
Women in Hats
Laura L. Trevey
http://www.lauratrevey.blogspot.com/
All true artists, whether they know it or not,
create from a place of no-mind, from inner stillness.
Eckhart Tolle