GODDESS OF COSMIC LIGHT

GODDESS OF COSMIC LIGHT

Goddess of Cosmic Light Planter

Spring will be here before we know it and I am still working frantically on getting my Goddess planters ready for their grand showing in April.

This year, I’ve decided to add several mosaic planters as well as some inlaid mosaic creations. Shown here is my Goddess of Cosmic Light. She is quite large-about 6” deep x 16” high and 7” wide.

Close-Up of Mosaics

This is the story I have written for her:

Cosmic Light

Ribbons of light were drifting on the wings of the wind.
Cosmic rhythms beating unmercifully began to reveal to her the secrets of her heart.

She began to feel infinite love, wisdom and energy in the universe; she had finally connected with her higher self and she knew she was a radiant being, filled with light and love.

~Cheryl Dolby~

Another View

We will be creating planters smaller but similar to this in my Faces Sculpture Class to be given this summer. There are still a few places left. Please check it out and e-mail me if you are interested. We had a great time last summer!

OLIVETO

OLIVETO!

A TRIP TO ITALY IN A BOTTLE

Specialty Oils From All Over The World

As you step into Oliveto, the exciting new shop at West Village, you are in Italy once again or maybe even there for the first time. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the rows of shining silver, Italian designed, olive oil and balsamic vinegar vessels.

Owner, Elizabeth Merian

When I inquired as to whether the shop was a franchise, owner Elizabeth Merian, told me the story of Oliveto. Elizabeth was vacationing in new England and walked into an olive oil shop in Maine. She was instantly in love with the old world charm and wanted to fashion her own style of magic here in Roanoke. She succeeded in her creation of Oliveto because magical it is.

Oils for Tasting

I can’t think of anywhere else that you can have a choice of dozens of specialty olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world, none the less, having them freshly bottled especially for you the moment you purchase them.

Jars, lined up and waiting to be filled with award winning olive oils

Elizabeth provides small containers for you to taste the pungent oils. Let your imagination soar as you read the names of these oils. White Truffle Oil, Porcini Mushroom, Japanese Toasted Sesame, Organic Persian Lime. For the vinegars: Coconut, Honey- Ginger, Alfoos Mango, Blenheim Apricot. Just to name a few.

Close-up of Specialty Vinegar

The Shop Also Has a Large Assortment of Spices and Rubs

I could not stop thinking of all the ways in which the large array of Italian staples could be used. With oils in hand, I rushed from Oliveto and came home to create a salad that was greatly enhanced with the oils I purchased.

Here is the recipe for my Bean and Roasted Garlic Salad.

Bean and Roasted Garlic Salad

BEAN AND ROASTED GARLIC SALAD

Several slices of smoked bell peppers
1 lb green beans
6 cups salad greens
2 T. pine nuts-lightly toasted
6 whole garlic bulbs-roasted

Dressing:

16 T. Oliveto garlic oil
5T. Oliveto aged balsamic vinegar (aged in oak barrel for 18 years!)
4T. lime juice
4T. basil, chopped

You can shake this dressing up by trying any of Oliveto’s unusual oils. What about a Wild Mushroom and Sage oil or Tangerine vinegar?

Cook green beans until tender. Refresh under cold water and drain. Preheat oven to 350. Heat about a tablespoon of the garlic olive oil in heavy skillet. Add garlic cloves and sauté for 8 minutes. Cover skillet with lid and transfer to oven and bake till cloves are tender, about 10 minutes. Alternately, if you own a garlic roaster, just pop them into it and roast. Garlic and dressing can be prepared one day ahead and refrigerated. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar and lime. Pour over salad with other ingredients. This salad not only looks delicious but the taste is divine. I plan to experiment with other oils and vinegars from Oliveto.

Serves 4-6

If you live near Roanoke, Virginia or are in the area, I hope you will stop by to visit Oliveto. Located at The Shoppes at West Village, 3565 Electric Road, 24018. You can also visit the website here

CELTIC WATER GODDESS

CELTIC WATER GODDESS

COVENTINA, SHE OF THE COVENS

"Coventina-She of the Covens, Celtic Water Goddess"

If you have never experimented with encaustic or cold wax, you are missing out on a very sensual experience. Once you start working with it, you’ll want to try it on many of your art projects. I have used the wax on angel wings to instill age, on journal covers and boxes as well. Sometimes, I add the wax with oil to the faces of my paintings.

Closer view

Lately, I have preferred a smooth, life-like finish as seen on my “Coventina,-She of the Covens, Celtic Water Goddess." I ran a digital image of an original painting of her and then added wax and oil paints, fishnet and some small shells.

Close-up

I’ve given her the name of Coventina-She of the Covens-Celtic Water Goddess, but the story is the same one I use with all my ocean pieces. I wrote it years ago but it still applies to my feelings of the sea. You can e-mail me if you are interested in her. She has a ghost-like appearance, as though she just emerged from the sea. Perhaps she is a mermaid but for sure she is a water Goddess. She is for sale at $150.00 and is approx 10”x 14” I painted her on cradled birch board. Thanks so much.

Oceana

As she was standing at the edge of the ocean she
could hear the waves chanting
their familiar song.

“Come to me, I am greater than you, I am wiser than
you..I am the one.”

She resisted once again. How long could she
continue to resist…How much longer before she
embraced her larger self,
her destiny,
her soul…
..the sea….

~ Cheryl Dolby~

INSPIRED BY MEXICO

INSPIRED BY MEXICO

Mayan Journal Page

My Mexican trip this year was uneventful except for the fact that it is the third year in a row that I was unable to get out of the Roanoke airport. First year it was the snow, second the wind and this year it was the fog that forced me to drive to an International Airport two hours away. It's a lot of work these days to have fun, especially with airline travel being what it is. I might add, it's worth it in the end.

I stayed at a hotel in the Maya Riviera area. This year, the year 2012 end of days year, according to the Mayan calendar, found Mexican vendors selling all sorts of end times souvenirs including 2012 chocolate candy and calendars galore. I personally don’t believe our world will end on December 21, 2012, even though I agree that things are quite a mess right now on our planet. I am hoping that mankind wakes up and sees what a glorious place in which we live. At this time we have plenty of water, clear skies, golden soil and bounteous countryside. It may not always be this way. Overpopulation, over warming and over indulgence threatens us all.

Frida Journal Page

It seemed appropriate that since I’ve started journaling this year, I should present my Mayan journal page and another one of Frida. For the first one, I printed one of my original faces on organza cloth, which can be purchased as 8x11" printing sheets, and placed it over the top of a Mayan picture I had taken years ago.

On the Frida journal page, I used a close-up copy of my original painting of Frida,which can be seen here. I did nothing else to it except destroy it with my atrocious handwriting..LOL…Anyway, I’m off to a good start with journaling this year and find it to be very addictive.