Snickerdoodles!

I'm taking a detour from my "art" related posts today. I was talking recently to some gals in my pokeno group about cooking, and for me, it's a creative outlet. So, when I got in a creative mood today, (shhhh, I was really just craving something sweet), I decided to document it just for fun.



My daughter took a summer prep course recently, and her teacher made Snicker Doodle Cookies, which she loved. Her teacher shared the recipe, and I made them for the kids art crawl a few weeks ago. They were devoured.



They are easy to make, and the only thing you might not have in your cabinet is cream of tartar. It's a staple in mine now, although for years I never used it.




They are much like a chewy sugar cookie, but with cinnamon sugar on the outside.



We made a little over three dozen with our batch. I don't follow the "one dozen" rule on our cookie sheets. We basically put as many as we can get on a pan.



The only take about 8-10 minutes to cook. Just long enough to catch up reading someone's blog or two.



And the house will smell yummy.



And your helper will make sure to lick the bowl clean




If you decide to try these, come back here and let me know how you liked them.

Here's the recipe
Snicker Doodle Cookies

Preheat the oven to 400.

You will need:
1 c. butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cup suger
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 teas. cream of tarar
1 teas. baking soda
1/4 teas. salt
(Coating: 2 tablespoons suger and 2 teasp. cinnamon)

Cream butter. Add sugar and eggs, mixing well. Sift flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Mix into butter mixture. Make balls of dough, roll in coating. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve with a tall glass of milk!

Not in Kansas Anymore

My Alice in Wonderland obsession has taken a twist and turn, and I've been inspired creatively by the Wizard of Oz. I call the "Journey to Oz". You can see some of my previous pieces in this post .

My latest creation is called "Not In Kansas". My husband is convinced it's a self-portrait. It might be. I feel like I've been through a whirlwind of changes in the past couple of months, and I'm on a new path, hence the not in kansas title. Since I started getting back into the art world in the past 9 months, things have been very past-paced. But the one thing that has been constant is this - my collectors have been absolutely encouraging and enthusiastic and I couldn't ask for anything more. thank you!

So, back to "Not in Kansas". As with my "Alice" series paintings, this is a mixed media piece. When I was deciding on what I wanted Toto to look like, I went straight to the creator, Frank Baum, and was surprised to find that he didn't specify any particular breed. Well, I took that artistic license all the way to my love of dachshunds and decided that, at least in my new painting, that Toto would be a dachshund.







I used papers, rubs and alphabets from my scrapbook stash along with paint and paint sticks. I just love coming across cute phrases and sayings to use in my papercraft box to incorporate into my mixed media work.

I listed this in my etsy store yesterday, and decided, just for fun, to create this dachshund treasury. There are some really fun long dog goodies out there (just to warn you!)

Thanks for spending time here today. I've blogged more in the past week than I have in a long time. Have a great day!

I now have art in Ouachita River Art Gallery

With all the other activities going on this week, I haven't had time to mention that I've just joined a local co-op gallery in my city - The Ouachita River Art Gallery. The Ouachita River Art Gallery recently won the award for Best Gallery in the Delta. I'm so proud to be joining the other artists there. I'm not a stranger to this gallery. I was a member in 1996-1998. I mostly worked in watercolor then. It's nice to see many of the same familiar faces that are still a part of this group.

Here are a couple of the recent pieces I created recently and have hanging there. I've been working on a series called "Journey to Oz".


In my "Oz" painting, I have included Emerald City, poppies and more Oz flowers, a hint of the yellow brick road, a bird (well, you know - where bluebirds fly),the really big puddle amidst the poppies.. that's the melted witch, the twister, and amidst the twister you can see some trees that represent the forest. All in all, it was a fun journey to create.

"Oz", 30" x 24" , acrylic on canvas with gallery style moulding



I had so much fun with this painting. I used burlap to add unexpected texture to the poppies. My daughter walked in my studio after they were painted and said "Oh, mom, you added pizazz to your painting". Pizazz - I like that word.

"Poppies, Poppies.". 36" x 24", acrylic and mixed media on canvas with gallery style frame moulding

Thanks for stopping by!! I know I've had a lot of blog posts this week. Have a great day!

Children's Art Workshop and Show`

It's been a busy week, and July was a busy month. Not only was I working on getting six BIG pieces ready for the Bistro show, I was getting new pieces ready for the bi-monthly art crawl. Last week I taught a children's art workshop and they also displayed their art during the art crawl. The local newspaper came and took lots of pics. You can see the gallery here: Art Workshop Online Gallery

I wanted to share a few pics from class here as well as the art show "Outside the Lines". They were so thrilled to see their creations hanging and the people coming in to see their art. Enjoy the pics and thanks for stopping by!

Bistro Show

The Bistro Show had a great turnout. It was nice meeting so many people from Ruston as well as the other exhibiting artists. The show will hang through October 1. If you would like to purchase any of the artwork at the show, please contact Executive Director Leigh Anne Chambers with NCLAC at 318-255-1450. They offer payment plans and will ship.

Here are a few pics from the show and some of my paintings.





Group photo of artists with the staff and/or board members of the North Central Louisiana Arts Council.


"832 St. Peter" (New Orleans Shotgun Houses), 30" x 24".


"September at the Cafe Dumonde" 30" x 24" with gallery style frame.


"Rainy Sunday at Jackson Square" 30" x 24"

Art Exhibit Opening at Bistro in Ruston Aug 3

I'm so excited to finally be able to share all the details about this art show. This is what was posted on the NCLAC's facebook event page. I'll be posting photos the first week in August.
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On Wednesday, August 3, from 5-7 p.m., the North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) and 102 a Bistro will present “Sifting the Exotic and Familiar,” an exhibition of recent work by regional artists Julie Crews, Melanie Douthit, and Jan Thibault.

Their works, while distinctly different, still complement one another, and while each of these women has a unique style, they share a passion for the creative process.

About painting, Douthit said, “I love the limitless possibilities that can be achieved through letting go and stepping ‘outside the lines.’”

Similarly, Thibault said, “Painting is a joy filled journey involving color, energy, and spirit that transcends everyday life. All can be abandoned to allow creativity to flow.”

Crews said that the advice and sometimes “rules” she gains from teachers and other artists influence her, but at the same time, she added, “Sometimes I paint and ask myself, ‘What rule can I break? Will I be successful?’ and I measure my success through my experience of the process and product. Did I smile, or did I stamp my feet and cry during the process? Was the product disappointing or in the end, was it beautiful?”

The artists will attend the reception honoring them Wednesday, so as you enjoy wine and appetizers, ask them about their work and what inspires them.

Afterward, stay and have dinner. Since it opened in April 2009, 102 has built a reputation as a place to experience great art and great food. More than just a restaurant, 102 is a unique cultural experience.

102 A Bistro is located at 102 N. Monroe Street, Ruston, Louisiana.

If you are interested in purchasing a work in “Sifting the Exotic and Familiar,” look for NCLAC’s Executive Director Leigh Anne Chambers at the reception, contact NCLAC at 318-255-1450, or stop by the Dixie Center for the Arts Tuesday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. We look forward to seeing you at the Bistro.

Best Artist in the Delta - FINALIST!!

I've so badly neglected my blog in the past month or so. I have some exciting things going on.

First of all, I'm a finalist for Best Artist in our regional "Best of the Delta" voting. There are just a few days to vote. If you would like to vote, the link is:
Best of the Delta

My category is on page 6 or 7 (when the completion bar is at 89%). You do NOT have to vote in each category. There is a slide bar on the right of the voting page that you can move down until you see the "next" button.
(thank you)

My daughter and I entered some art in the Louisiana Peach Festival last month. We both received an honorable mention on one of our paintings. Hers was an elephant. Mine was the "Intellectuals" fish painting. It's one of my favorites. For now its on my mantle.

My most exciting news is that I was invited to participate in a three person art show in Ruston, Louisiana at an upscale restaurant, 102A Bistro. I'm working on pieces for that show this week and next. I can't wait to share all my new work.

Thanks for stopping by and please don't forget to vote for me for Best Artist. I'm thrilled to be a finalist1