DRUNKIN GYPSY WOMEN!

DRUNKIN GYPSY WOMEN!

Gypsy Trish

What can I say? Yesterday, after a fun day at the market where I sell my work, some of my gypsy women friends returned to Woodloft (my home) with me to have dinner and a last swim of the year. One thing led to another, and before long, we were all drinking wine and creating gypsy hats and scarves. The more wine we drank, the wilder the hats and scarves became.

Kyle and Gene

Kyle slumps glass wine bottles and transforms them into amazing crudite dishes. They are great for olives, cheese and whatever else you might think of. I love the way this Italian wine bottle turned out.

Gene is our market photographer. He loves to dress up each Saturday. Usually he wears wild shirts and ties. I had purchased this Italian silk tie from a friend years ago. It is hard to believe that he painted each one of the faces onto pistachio nuts! Gene is a good sport. He wore the tie all day long, even though customers were making more remarks about the tie than his work!

Leigh Ann and Wayne

My chef friend Wayne decided to purchase a new top hat. I think it suits him well. He and Leigh Ann stopped by to say hello on thier way to explore a new restaurant in town.

Trish and Purple Gypsy Hat

Anna Weaves Intricate Beadwork Onto Her Hat

Val Examines Small Embellishment

Gypsy Claire

Yours Truly-I Used A Beautiful Butterfly and Lots of Jangles On my Cloche Scarf

Gypsy Rebecca

Indonesian Noodles

This noodle dish was one of the most flavorful dishes I have ever eaten. There are lots of ingredients but Anna says it goes together fast. Anna has generously given her recipe.

Indonesian Noodle Recipe

1 lb angel hair or oriental rice stick noodles, cooked until al dente, drained and cooled under cold running water

1 small bunch scallions, white bulb and green stalks, sliced

1/2 lb. snow peas, strings removed, blanched in boiling water for 30 seconds, rinsed under cold running water, and then cut lengthwise in half

1/2 (or more) red pepper, seeded

and cut into thin julienne strips

1/2 (or more) yellow pepper, seeded and cut into thin julienne strips

1 small can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1 small can sliced bamboo shoots, drained

1 jar pickled baby corn (I don't use them because I don't like them)

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 lb. small shrimp, peeled, deveined and cooked just until opaque (I substituted a package of fake crabmeat, chopped, sauteed and cooled)

1/2 cup salted peanuts (or more to taste)

1/4 cup (or slightly less) TOASTED sesame oil (the Food Coop had it last time I looked)

1/2 cup soy sauce or more to taste

1 3/4 cups Hellman's mayonaise (more or less to taste)

Hot chile oil to taste

(all of these amounts can be altered to suit personal taste)

1. Place the drained pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add the julienned vegetables, the water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, baby corn, parsley, shrimp and peanuts. Toss to combine.

2. Whisk the sesame oil, soy sauce, and mayonnaise together in a small mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the noodles and mix thoroughly with your hands to ensure that the salad is evenly coated. Season with drops of hot chile oil to taste.

Wayne's Last Meal Lasagna

My chef friend Wayne created this recipe called "Wayne's Last Meal Lasagna." He named it this because one guest mentioned that if she were on death row and had a choice of her last meal, it would be this fabulous lasagna. Unfortunately, it is difficult to make..here is the link for the recipe for those who are interested.

Finished Purple Gypsy hat-We Realize These Hats Were Just For Fun-No Great Craft Work Here!

Anna's Hat in Progress

Noone ever said that we artists are a normal bunch but you can be sure, we do have fun! Hope you enjoyed my silly post of life here at Gyspy Grove.

SOARING SPIRIT GODDESS

Close-up

Often times, I’m inspired to sculpt because of some object that I’ve come across in my treasure hunts. For example, I found an old necklace at an antique dealers shop. It was from India. It has jangles and a very old patina. I fell in love with it instantly and knew I wanted to create a tall standing Goddess befitting of it. Soaring Spirit was born. Her face spoke to me as I sculpted her. She seemed to be telling me of her struggle with becoming her own person. She had given her life to others and now it was time for her to begin anew.

Full length view

Soaring Spirit

A voice sounded..at first it seemed to be a Murmur. Quietly it expressed the thought.. "Take your power now." As the days passed, it became increasingly Louder until it became as a roar, vibrating her Entire being.. "Take your power now.!" She Began to reexamine her life. So much time Had passed, and in all that time she had Remained spiritually deaf and blind. She had Not heard..She had not seen...and the voice Continued speaking to her..resonating Throughout every cell in her body..electrifying To the inner core of her soul until she had no choice but to listen.."Take your power now." It continued. "For you have given your life To others and in that giving, you have emptied Yourself. It is only when you are empty that you Can truly be full and free to live".....

Cheryl Dolby

close-up of necklace

Back

Soaring Spirit is 23”high x 10”deep by 8” wide. I have sculpted her with stoneware clay which I then fired in my kiln. Her embellishments include the old necklace from India, and beautiful upholstery cloth. She is priced at $325.00. I have signed up for Paypal’s relatively new feature of buying now and making several payments that are interest free! This will help tremendously with purchasing one of my larger pieces since shipping can be costly for these items. Just go to my right hand side bar and click on the Paypal “Bill me later” logo and they will walk you through this wonderful new feature. If you decide to use it, just click my Etsy shop and choose “Bill me later.” You also can e-mail me for more questions or to purchase by check.

Frida Burning Bowl

FRIDA BURNING BOWL

Frida Burning Bowl

Sold. Thank you Gloria!

I had been planning on making a Frida burning bowl for some time but wanted to add just the right embellishments. Since Frida loved color and flowers, I knew I had to find just the right ones. After searching through my stash, I found several beautiful old jewelry pieces of flowers. The one on top is a cluster of three and is a real antique made of clay. The one on the right side is of metal. I added a sparkly gem from an antique earring to her naval. She is the standard size of my burning bowls and is 5”w x 6”deep and about 10” high. She is priced at only $68.

Close-up

I have created many posts of my favorite Mexican icon- Frida. You can view one of them here.

Close-Up of Antique Flowers

The concept of the burning bowl came from Unity church. They use a large bowl on New Year's Eve and ask each person to write down some vice or problem they would like to leave their lives. Then, the bowl is set ablaze and the problems are gone. I decided to make smaller, more personal burning bowls that can be used as such or a candle or incense can be placed in the stained glass bowl. You can view more images of Frida at my Etsy shop or inquire at my e-mail. Hope you like her.

Side View

Everywoman

EVERYWOMAN

Top View

Side View

When I finished this piece yesterday, I tried naming her but every time I did, I had to start over. She looks as though she is Native American, yet, I see Italian, Slovak, Greek, Egyptian, African and practically every nationalty in the world. I wrote a story called “Morning Song” that seems to fit. She represents every woman..she is universal and timeless.

Close-up

“ Morning Song”

She woke up this morning feeling different. She heard the sounds of this morning and yet the sounds of many other lifetime mornings were returning. She heard the infinite sound of distant runic bells, a call to alms, merchants voices echoing over the river Nile, sheep bleating on a pastoral hillside, roosters, guns, flutes, chimes, laughter, weeping..for she had heard all these mornings and she had heard all these sounds before. It was as if they were all becoming one great sound...one great morning..this morning....and she knew that all the returns of mornings purpose was to teach her the uniqueness and significance of this morning...of now.

~Cheryl Dolby~

Close-up

Morning Song is 6"w x 7"d x 13!/2"H. I used stoneware clay, which I then kiln fired and added stains and embellishments. Antique beadwork adorns her body. I have priced her at $185.00 and just listed her on Etsy.

Also, the story of Everywoman can be found at my Etsy shop in my book “Layers.

You can also contact me about either of these items by e-mail.

Beadwork

Back

Hopi Native American Sculpture

HOPI INDIAN WOMAN

NAMPEYO

Front View

Years ago I studied with the Hopi’s at the Isomata School of the Arts in Idlewild California. The Nampeyo family, my teachers, came from the first mesa in Pollaca Arizona. I was actually studying the art of polychrome pottery, their trademark, but also learned much about the philosophies of “the people.”

Side View

We gathered our pigments and made our brushes out of the tips of a yucca plant. We created our sculptures and then built our kilns out of sheep dung, which we chopped into bricketts. While the kiln was firing our pieces, we listened to stories told by the elders. When I asked why we were using sheep dung when it had to be brought in, instead of horse dung that was readily available on their mesa, I was answered with one word; one important word. ”Tradition.” The pottery is made in the same method, using the same materials that has been passed down from generation to generation. It is important to the Hopi’s to pass on their methods and beliefs.

Angled View

In a tribute to my teacher, Bonnie Nampeyo, I wrote a story which is included in my book “She Who Whispers.” I also name most of the pieces that I create that include a Native American woman with pottery, Nampeyo, although I usually use a black finish which is more indicative of the Acoma tribe.

Another Angle

Nampeyo is 10" H by 7"w and 7"xD. She is sculpted from stoneware clay which has been kiln fired, ( in my electric kiln, not the sheep dung.) I have priced her at $200. You can see more views of her at my Etsy shop or purchase from me directly by e-mail.

Back View

FRENCH TOMATO PIE

FRENCH TOMATO PIE

Slice of French Tomato and Cheese Pie

I made my French Tomato Pie last night and it was the perfect dish for a humid August evening. The tomatoes were the real thing. Unfortunately not my own because the rains this summer just haven’t worked for my garden. I purchased them from our Farmer’s Market here in Roanoke. They were all acidy and yummy tasting in the pie.

Pie Just Out Of The Oven

One thing I like about this pie is the fact that it is super easy to make and is lighter than most tomato pies I have tried in the past. The other thing I really like about it is that it takes only minutes to prepare. The recipe comes from a cookbook I‘ve had since the early 70’s called “”The Joy of Eating French Food” by Renny Darling.

FRENCH TOMATO AND CHEESE PIE

1 9-inch deep dish pie shell-defrosted. (Carefully place shell into a 10” quiche or pie pan and pat it down to fit

About 3 large tomatoes, chopped fine for summer or in the winter I use 1 lb stewed tomatoes, drained and finely chopped

¼ pound mushrooms, thinly sliced 2 C. grated Swiss cheese or about 8 oz. 1 T. Parsley ¼ t. basil and thyme ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese Black olives, onion rings or capers to taste for top 2 t. Olive oil

Bake pie shell in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Combine the remaining ingredients except the black olives etc. which go on top. Mix well. Spread these evenly over the preared shell. Place black olives on top. Drizzle top with 2 t. olive oil.

Bake in 350 degree oven until cheeses are melted and top is lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Serves 6 (sometimes only two!)

Bon Appetit!

EGYPTIAN BURNING BOWL-KARTEK

EGYPTIAN BURNING BOWL

GODDESS KARTEK

Full View

While checking on Egyptian Goddess names onine, I found that Kartek means “Spark Holder.” I couldn’t think of any name more appropriate for one of my Burning Bowls. As many of my regular readers know, I create Burning bowls fashioned after the large burning bowl that Unity Church uses every New Year’s Eve for their Burning Bowl Ceremony. The idea is that if you write your troubles, bad habits, worries etc. down on a piece of paper and burn them, they will leave your mind and therefore disappear.

Close-Up

In designing my own burning bowls, I knew I wanted to personalize them and make small enough to burn incense, sage leaves or a small votive candle when not in use for an actual burning ceremony. I decided that a female Goddess was in order. Kartek is approx 10” high x 5” wide x 6” deep and I have priced her at $68.00 I used stained glass, which I fired in my kiln, for her base. I’m sure anyone receiving her as a gift will be delighted, if you can bear to part with her.

Back View

You can see more views of Kartek on Etsy and purchase from there or e-mail me for more questions and to purchase. Thanks so much for viewing.

Side View

Gentle Spirit Mixed Media Wall Painting

GENTLE SPIRIT

MIXED MEDIA WALL HANGING

Gentle Spirit

When I finished the first in a new series of moss type women painted with the Renaissance Oil method and embellished with moss and ferns, I knew I was on to something. My good customer and friend, Mystic Crone, purchased her right off the bat.

I decided to create smaller ones that would fit into a niche or altar and I am pleased with the results. Here I present Gentle Spirit. Notice that her ears are pointed. Could she be a fairy or possibly a garden nymph? It is for you to decide.

Close-up

GENTLE SPIRIT

The seed pod opened-a woman child emerged. She was not yet complete…still in the process of becoming finished. She was innocent, having the quality of one who has not yet been injured by life. No soul searching, no vision quest, she was just content to be here and to be a living part of the great mother earth.

~Cheryl Dolby~

View of Frame

Gentle Spirit is 6” wide x 13” high and I have priced her at $68.00. You can contact me by e-mail or shop at Etsy. Thanks so much.

Pasta Banjo

Pasta Banjo

Pasta Chitarra

Pasta Chitarra

I was doing a simple research for a restaurant rip off recipe. I wanted to try to recreate one of my favorite recipes from Olive Garden called Ravioli Di Portebello. I got sidetracked, as you can sometimes do when you google search, and came across a chef using an instrument that looked like a guitar or banjo! I had to know more. Exploration time began.

Pasta Dough Placed On Pasta Chitarra

The “banjo” is an instrument called a Chitarra. Pronounced “Key tar-a,” which means guitar in Italian. I found out that most of the Chitarra’s are made in Abruzzo, Italy and that it has been a tradition of the region for centuries. Wonder where I was that I had never heard of them? A rectangular frame is fitted with musical wire which is placed at intervals and stretched across the frame. Freshly made pasta is placed on top and then a rolling pin is rolled over the pasta. It falls to bottom of the box in a perfect fettuccine or angel hair shape.

Notice How the "Strings" of Pasta Separate

I just had to have one! Of course, I wanted an authentic one so that I could savor the character of the chitarra that may have been used by ancient chefs of Italy. I was on a mission to find one, so I googled it, of course. Alas. I still could not find an old one. There were many new ones available that are hand crafted from Abruzzo so I opted for one of those.

Ingredients for Pasta

I waited anxiously by the mailbox. Have you ever noticed that sometimes the anticipation is so much more exciting than actually having an item of your dreams? In this case, it was not. I was, and am, just as excited as when I dreamed about it. When the Chittara arrived, I started making all sorts of pasta in different shapes. I could have just used the chittara pasta with the sauce I was conjuring up for my ravioli di Pomodoro but decided to create the recipe as exact to the Olive Garden’s standards as possible so I opted for using ravioli. After much experimentation, this is the recipe I came up with and I think it’s pretty good.

In Bowl

Knead for 15 Minutes

Double Batch of Kneaded Dough

Mushrooms and Onions Being Sauteed

Filling the Ravioli

Smoked Gouda and Sundried Tomatoes

My friends probably aren’t going to appreciate the shots I took of them eating the pasta but it sure proves the point that it definitely did turn out!

Ravioli Di Portabello a la Nina

For pasta:

4 large eggs (set on counter for 20 minutes before using) 2 ¼-2 ½ cups flour

Method:

Take a large bowl. Put flour into it and place cracked eggs in the middle. Knead for 15 minutes in bowl and on counter. Sprinkle with a little bit of flour and cover with cellophane for another 20 minutes.

Now make the filling:

16 oz portabella mushrooms 1 medium onion About 1/4th c. either mascarpone or ricotta-preferably homemade

Method:

Place mushrooms into food processor along with onions and grind til it almost reaches a puree but not quite.

Pour a small amount of butter in a pan and sauté the onion and mushrooms till all the liquid evaporates and mushrooms are cooked. Set aside.

Sauce:

8 oz smoked gouda cheese ½ jar sun dried tomatoes. Recipe for White Sauce-add 2 cups

White or Bechemel Sauce

5T butter 2T grated onion 1 c. chicken broth 1 c half and half ½ t. salt ¼ t. pepper 1 pinch thyme 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Method:

In a small saucepan, melt butter and stir in the flour, salt and pepper. Add cold half and half and cold chicken broth all at once. Stir well. Cook, stirring frequently at medium heat. Remove and stir in seasoning. Now add the smoked gouda and sundried tomatoes which have been chopped in a food processor. Cook until cheese melts.

Now assemble.

Lay out ravioli. Place filling in center of each. Cover with top. If you are not going to use immediately, freeze quickly on a baking pan and then place in freezer zip lock bags to freeze.

When ready to cook, boil water and add about ½ C salt to the boiling water.

Now add ravioli from freezer bag or fresh pasta. Boil for approx 2 minutes or til they float to the top. When they float to top, cook about 1 more minute. Drain. Place into another pan of melted butter and cook very slightly. Drain again and place on a plate and spoon on the sauce. You might add chopped chives or green onions at this point.