Thursday, February 27, 2020

PPF Feb. 28

 Hi Everyone!

Not much excitement around here. Did take a drive up coast you can see 
photos of the Sea Lions here. 
For Paint Party Friday I am showing some of my cabochons. 
For my non beading friends these glass ovals and rounds are used in flat bead work. 
These are so much fun to make. You can see more at beadwright







Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

TAD with Rain


 Hi Everyone!
Today is Thursday art date with Rain and the prompt is leaps and bounds. Since I live on the ocean well not on the water but a few blocks from I thought I would show this. No I did not take the photos but I have seen many different types of whales in all parts of the world. There is nothing like seeing these amazing mammals.
Enjoy





Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Tuesday Treasures

 Hi Everyone,

At least once a year we head up cost before the tourist bombard our area. I got some great photos and here are just a few. Our destination was Newport, OR. The day was warm and not much wind. (Warm 58° LOL) Anyway, we went to our favorite shops and it was a stellar day with the sea lions on the docks. They are so fun to watch and have such character. 
These wonderful mammals are truly treasures to all of us. 



 This smaller sea lion was pushed off the dock and was looking for another spot.
Each time she was pushed off again.


More to come have a great day today.

Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Monday, February 24, 2020

Monday Memories

Hi Everyone!
Monday Memories has taken me to 2009 when I was 1 of 4 guests of the Toho Bead Family. We were flown to Narita airport boarded the The Keisei Skyliner to Hiroshima. That in itself  was a wonderful experience. You don't realize you are traveling 200mph. Our hosts spared no expense in showing us that part of Japan and the food was beyond anything I thought it was. Ohhh and one particular beer was pretty good too. LOL We were taken to shops, the best restaurants, art galleries and of course the Hiroshima museum. No one leaves there dry eyed. After our 7 days with the Toho family the 4 of us opted to spend another week on our own. I loved being in Japan, I love the people, their customs and the way of life. We were able to see everything from traditional living to the wonderful street kids dressed in everything from baby doll to hood. In addition I was impressed that EVERYONE dresses. We only say one Japanese man in jeans. With all that we saw and experienced the Japanese people were what made the trip so wonderful.  When I returned home, I told my husband if we weren't together I would be moving to Japan. The memories of that visit is one of the highlights of my life. 
Enjoy just a few of the photos I have.

This guy was so funny. He took us too places off the tourist trail



 This is the Toho offices.

 Watching glass seed beads being made. This is just one of the steps.
 This is one of the factory workers. Her laughter was so infectious.

We had a cooking glass too.
 Then ate what we prepared. Oh yeah the beer.
 Geishas are beautiful, graceful and treated with the highest respect.




 Now you can't go to Japan without using a tradition toilet. 
Easy to get down not so getting up LOL.
However, the hotels and public bathrooms all have very modern toilets with all kinds of extras on them. Like bidets, and heated seats. Wayyyy better than American toilets. LOL

These are some of the functions you can choose.


I will also say that EVERYTHING is spotlessly clean no matter where we went.


Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Almond Spice Cookies

Hi Everyone!

A few weeks ago on my post for Rain's Thursday Art Date I posted some Almond Cardamom Spice cookies.  Felicity over at http://felicity-art.blogspot.com/ wanted the recipe so I thought I would share it with all of you. It is really quite ease and I do make them two different ways. 
You will need
1 cup butter. Unsalted is good but I never have that on hand.
2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, ( 3 if you use the Almond flour) 
You always need more egg when using Almond flour 
1 teaspoon Almond extract. ( I actually use more I love the flavor. 2 teaspoons.)
3 cups of flour. (for a more cake like cookie use 2 cups of white flour 1 cup of Almond flour)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1to 2 teaspoon of cardamom I like the taste so I use 2 teaspoons. 
If you want to add other spices use 1 teaspoon each.
Combine butter and sugar and beat until creamy. 
Add eggs and extract mix again until creamy
In a smaller bowl gently mix all dry ingredients.
Then add small amounts to the butter mixture until all are mixed together. 
This part you can do any way you like. The mixture needs to be refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. You can leave it in the bowl but it is difficult to spoon out. I place parchment paper on cookie sheet and spoon out the dough adding Almonds or Almond slivers to the top, then place the sheets in the fridg. I bake at 350° 
for about 15 minute or until the edges of the cookies are golden. 
I have other Almond cookie recipes but this one is crispy on the edges and cake like in the middle. Soooo good. I hope you try these.



Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

TAD & PPF

Hi Everyone!
I have been a bit MIA. I am staying off the PC as much as I can due to my eye. I am sure you are all sick of hearing about it. So I apologize  a head of time.  LOL It is a scary thing to lose one's sight it takes everything else off balance. I have not been able to create even a drawing but yesterday decided to create something no matter what. I pulled some  watercolors out and just dabbed into paint and made strokes. No thinking, no plan, just put brush to paper this is what came of it. Don't have a clue what it represents. LOL



This second piece I did have something in mind, thus the earlier apology. This is my vision from my right eye. All of the scratches are constantly moving within the black. I am taking a photo of this to my new eye doctor tomorrow. This is a dr to get some sort of glasses, the other two I have been seeing are specialist and don't do glasses. 


Over at Rain's Thursday Art Date the prompt is Wisdom of the Ages.
Since I have drawn faces over the last few years I thought I would find some that, for me look like they have some wisdom.
This guy was a fisherman who spent years on the open sea. 
He just looks like he knows secrete or two.

When I found this man his hair and beard were snow white, I didn't know how to draw white hair, I still don't. LOL  His eyes also say, "My years have taught me much."
 

This girl tells me she is contemplating and with that will find answers to share.

 And these two youngsters have the wisdom of love

Linking with Eva and Kristen at Paint Party Friday 
and the beautiful Rain at Thursday Art Date. 
Come by to see what everyone is creating and maybe you will join in.

Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Friday, February 14, 2020

PPF Feb 14

Hi Everyone!

It has been a tough week and so there was not much time for art. So it is old art time.
Linking with Paint Party Friday. Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend.
These are all watercolors I did a while back. 






Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Hi Everyone.

Another trip to Salem yesterday. It was icy and very foggy all the way to and all the way home until we hit the coast and then for some unreal reason it was sunny. Well I did ask for some sun didn't I? LOL
While waiting in the dr. office for hubby to get the injection in his back I drew this creature. I am kind of into these strange characters. Today I am going to see if I can transfer these images into a small clay face for my dolls. We will see how it works out. For now just one of my creatures. 
Have a great Tuesday.

 
Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Saturday

Hi Everyone!

It's just another stormy Saturday here on the Oregon coast. It sure makes my mood slow and not wanting to do much. It's the day after day after day of the gloom and wind and rain. I need a bit of warm sun.  Sooo, this morning I sketched this. Creature of eyes.  I want my eye to heal so I can be my normal again. LOL  I hope all of you are having a very nice Saturday. Think I am going to go make some mac n cheese to with our dinner tonight. Nothing like comfort food on a day like this. 




Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Thursday Art Date and PPF

Hi Everyone!
The week has flown by. I didn't realize that it was Thursday until a few minutes ago. So I grabbed some photos off my FB to share with Thursday Art Date and Paint Party Friday.
The prompt for TAD is Dine. 
Well these are some of the foods I like to "dine" on and I make them.




I crunchy baked eggplant.

Flatbread Pizza



I make my own hummus.


Very old piece featured in a beading book.

Another old piece sold before I finished it.

Beaded Gourd that was auctioned off to help a local hospital. Auctioned for $800.00. It is also published.

another beaded gourd with leather 1997.

In the 1990's treasure necklaces were very popular. This was published Lapidary Journal. The first magazine to publish beading instructions.

I have always done my own graphics.




Hope you enjoyed the post. Have a wonderful weekend.

Nicole/DVArtist 
Honor and integrity in art, in life.