So FRESH.....Fresco

Ok, yah.....so I'm living and dreaming in the past lately, but this is MY blog and documentation of MY projects and dreams, so I think it's okay to re-live and remember happy times.  I have had a passion for painting murals on walls since I was 15.  I painted my first murals at a pediatric clinic way back then.  In Florence, I learned to first paint frescoes, then restore them.  WOW!  What an opportunity!  What a DREAM come true!  I had no idea how much I would fall in love with the fresco process.  Frescoes are paintings in wet plaster that you will commonly find in the old churches in Europe.  There aren't really frescoes here in the USA for me to restore, so occasionally I will flip through pics and daydream.  I'll keep this one short--the pics tell the story.

So this first picture on the upper right I am probably up about 30 feet in an old church on Via Faenza called Chiesa di San Jacopo.  The first step in fresco restoration was cleaning.  This was pre-ipod time.....I would break out my portable CD player, sit with my legs hanging over the ledge and work away.  I generally get really weak in the knees with heights, but not painting/fresco restoring--takes me to another world.  Alicia Keys was just making it big about this time--she was my favorite to slip off into a trance to and work away.  She still is one of my favorites--beautiful and real lyrics.  I listened to Laura Pausini and other international artists, as well.....ah....miss that!  This fresco I was working on was 16th-17th century, I believe.

 This is a picture from my restoration scrapbook...hard to see, it just tells the layers of the wall and shows a pic of the pigments we used.



Another scrapbook picture--this was when I learned how to actually paint a fresco--the whole process.  Class pic on the top.  Lorenzo, my professor, was AWESOME.  The man is married to art restoration.  He teaches at the school and restores art through the Pitti Palace in Florence and all over Italy--as well, as the world.  Such a surreal opportunity!  Again, I have the best parents for supporting me in this adventure.

This is one of my first completed fresco paintings.  I believe it is a recreation of a section of Botticelli's "La Primavera"...part of the Three Graces.  As you can see, I hit the detail ok, the problem is that the fresco dried and I didn't have a grasp on pigment matching once the fresco was dry.  Fresco painting is much more complicated in color matching than any other medium that I have worked with, in my opinion.



Clearly, I did much better after a little practice on this guy.  Color looks much, much better.  This is what I refer to as my fresco baby.  I think my mom has him framed and hanging at her house somewhere.

 This is another scrapbook shot.  Just part of the angels and columns that we worked on.

                                 Closer view of filling in the cracks and preparing to fill in the color.

Lorenzo, my professor, showing us how it was done.

Clearly Principessa here had probably spent to much time at the discoteca the night before...Either Salsa dancing or techno shaking...and I'm sure there was absolutely no alcohol or smelly Italiano boys involved...nah.  No way....Nothing a big cappuccino and bomboloni couldn't fix!  So there you have it.  Nursing was not my first experience with syringes and cloves.  We had to palpate and auscultate for hollow spots in the wall where the old fresco was detaching.  We then cleaned and re-sealed the fresco to the wall.  That's some sort of adhesive in that syringe.

Just another practice fresco painting...I definitely did a good job making her look old and aged!  Another of the three graces, I believe.....

I still dream of fresco painting, scaffolding, cappuccino, and vino rosso.....

-Sweet dreams....

Passport on the verge of EXPIRATION!

Agrigento

The title of this says it all.....I HAVE GOT to renew my passport.  It is so about to expire and strip away my dreams of running off to a foreign country when this one does actually fall.  My long time ex-boyfriend, and one of the most intelligent persons I have ever met, used to say the USA will one day fall--just like the Roman Empire.  (I know, shocker--I do ACTUALLY have an ex-boyfriend...it's only been a decade, but there you have it.  I can actually be serious in dating, it just takes a lot!)  I am just about convinced the great fall of the USA is happening right now as I type this blog!

I woke up one day in my third year of working on my biology degree and decided I wanted to study art in Italy--it was much like that Sunday about six years ago when I just woke up and decided to move to Dallas.  Sometimes there is a compelling force in the universe that causes one to do things they don't quite get, but they are so confident it is the right decision.  Italy was THE RIGHT decision...applying for the passport, also THE RIGHT decision.  So there you have it...I called my mom and ran my idea by her.  As long as I finished my biology degree, the parentals were totally in support....have I mentioned I have the best parents on Earth?!  So I looked for a program online and applied for my passport.  I skipped walking for graduation and hopped on a plane to Europe as soon as I finished my bachelor's.  I was in Florence at a school from May 2001-May 2002 studying different types of Art Restoration, Interior Design, and a little Fashion design... And Italian classes, of course.

Since traveling is definitely one of my passions, I am sure I will blog more on my passport usage.  I have really been thinking about my studies abroad lately.  I really miss that time in my life.  I learned SO MUCH about myself.  Backpacking France BY YOURSELF in your early twenties is really liberating and I did so much soul-searching.  I really got to know myself in so many ways--one of my happiest times in life.  I loved learning other points of view.  I was over there during 9-11, such a surreal day, and it was so interesting to see what other countries thought of Americans and the differences in what their medias told and what our media was telling.  I think I learned so much about myself and my beliefs by being exposed to other ways of living and thought processes.  I felt more at home in Italy than I do here--I actually had more culture shock moving back to the United States than going over there. 

My mom said something very profound when she visited me.  She said, "The one thing I have noticed is that when you ask a person in Italy what they do...they tell you about there hobbies, interests, and life.  Pose that question to an American and they tell you about work or occupation."  I really learned to stop and smell the roses there.  You never know when there may not be a tomorrow--so I'm soaking all I can up from this life and loving every (well almost every) moment of it.  I've been getting a little bit of flack for my extremely busy social life lately, but I wouldn't change it for anything--I start school in just over a month and I'm going to enjoy the freedom of no test anxiety while I can.  I'll sleep when I'm dead...although I do love to sleep and dream great dreams!

So right before Easter when I was in Italy, I traveled with a girlfriend and a male friend to Sicily.  What a cool trip.  We took the train from Florence south, and the train actually got onto a ferry from the mainland and ferried us to Messina.  We saw the catacombs in Palermo.  Gotta be honest, Palermo gave me dark vibes.  I have a great ghost story from the hotel we stayed at...an entire other blog.  I learned to drive a stick-shift in Sicily--that was entertaining to say the least!  We saw the Greek ruins in Agrigento.  I saw the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life at the ruins.  I swear he was a Greek-Italian god sparkling like a gem in the sunlight!  We drove through Cortona.

BUT, the one thing I am remembering most right now, with Easter approaching and my passport on the verge of expiration, is meeting a family with my mom's maiden name--some sort of very distant relative in Castelvetrano, Italy.  My Aunt that does genealogy hooked us up with this family that she had corresponded with.  There was a street name the same as my mom's maiden name (her grandparents families were from Sicily and Naples,) as well.  This family treated me and my friend like family.  They owned a pasticceria and sent us home with cookies and a Pasqua (Easter) cake.  They gave us a tour of the pasticceria--smelled so good.  Maybe baking does run in the genes?!  They drove us around the town.  It was fantastic.  Not many Easters go by that I don't remember that family and their generosity while we were there.

At the Pasticerria in Castelvetrano with distant relatives about to receive fantastic Pasqua treats....yah, I know I'm looking pretty stellar in my glasses and travelled hair-do.  I'm not shy about being a nerd at heart.

I'm pretty sure there is the most gorgeous Greek-Italian god about to pop out from one of those columns and whisk me away.  His name is David--pronounced Dah-veeed....you know, like Michealangelo's David?!  Oh yes...and keep on your fig-leaf please, it's not pretty under there (for those of you that followed a previous blog.)

Agrigento--I do have better pics, but I think they are in storage from my last downsize and move.  Bummer. 

So there you have it......with my passport on the verge of EXPIRATION, and my insane addiction for traveling I MUST get on it and get it renewed!!!

-Sweet dreams......

Meat me for dinner or not...

For Lent this year I gave up meat.  My mom thought I should give up alcohol, but it really is my only vice and way too big a part of my social life.  There is nothing like a fantastic glass of wine at the end of a long day--and actually pretty heart-healthy in moderation.  And the occasional dirty martini...bourbon and 7...well, ya got me there.  So anyway, I chose meat for my Lenten sacrifice.  Meat being pork, turkey (gobble-gobble,) chicken and beef.  I do still eat fish, mostly salmon, but I really do love all seafood.  Look, I gotta be honest, I think in my heart I will always be a carnivore.  My favorite meal has got to be a quality RARE steak, loaded baker, Caesar salad, greens of any sort, and a really great Cabernet Sauvignon.  HOWEVER, I rarely eat this meal.  Most of the time, I do attempt to eat quite a bit healthier. 

Those that have known me a long time, know I have a passion for not only eating, but cooking!  I love to cook!  Turn up some Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, or bootie-shakin'-funk and pour me a glass of wine.  I'll be all up in your kitchen!  It's kind of sad when I'm cooking just for myself, but hey--lots of things freeze and last.  My two beasty dogs are always entertained by the kitchen smells and my grooving moves.  Ha!  I guess that will have to do for now.  Principessa here can really make some meat-a-balls!  And, it's been a while, but I can fry up some chicken, too!  HOWEVER, this blog is about my NON-meat experience.  I want to share a few quick staples that I made in this one skillet for non-meat-eating-sista-on-the-go this Lenten season!  These are all so fast and so easy....really idiot-proof, I promise.

Black bean burgers.  Chopped red and green bell peppers, salsa, an egg, 2 cans black beans, and oatmeal.  Mix and knead with love in a large bowl.  Add oatmeal until ground-meat-like consistency.  Form patties and cook on skillet with olive oil.  I eat without a bun--just guacamole and tomatoes.  Easy to freeze.  Excellent re-heated.  I am addicted to black bean burgers!  I have also tried to cut back on dairy, but cheese would be a nice addition to these.  I think rice would work well in these, too.



Portobello ginormous mushrooms in red wine, Worcester, onions, and garlic.....pretty self explanatory.  I just use the last of previous night's red wine and go!  Garlic is fantastic fresh on most of these meals.



Shrimp-fajita salad.  I saute in olive oil and water, onion and bell peppers.  Add shrimp, cumin, chili powder, and of course garlic...heat til shrimpies done and serve over a bed of lettuce with tomatoes and guacamole.  If I had had black olives, probably would've been a good addition.



Shrimp fajita salad--see above.



Chop onion and saute in olive oil and water.  Add garlic.  Chop tomatoes and add.  Salt sliced eggplant and add to skillet.  Italian seasoning.  Simmer/steam until desired consistency.  OOOHHH...this is a great eggplant dish and can be modified over pasta with cheese.  I eat sans pasta and cheese--but nice addition.

I think coming up with new recipe ideas can be creative and so much fun!  Cheers!  I probably won't give up meat entirely, but these dishes helped get me through this Lenten season.

Sweet dreams.....

Bloomtastic!

Well, I have actually been pretty creative and busy this past week.  Between cake baking, cupcake baking, sewing, and working on my endless apartment decorating, there is just not enough time in the day!  Not to mention my packed social calendar, an awesome visit with my hilarious Dad (must blog about later) AND fitting work in, as well--WOWZERS!  I am not complaining, though!  It's been fantastic!  Blessed Princess here!

So!  I went to Bloom last Friday and wore the dress I had made that week just for the event.  Bloom is a fundraiser for Kansas City Free Health Clinic.  Quixotic Fusion and Dolewite performed.  There were endless fantastic beverages and apps.....and of course, my favorite--DANCE FLOOR!  The theme was "South Beach."  As I have never really been to South Beach (I know, shocker, right?!), I had to use my imagination for event-wear.  Where was my first stop?  The mall--No.  Macy's--No.  Hall's--No.  Nord's--No.  My first stop was Hancock Fabrics.  In I walked and I could hear the "Hallelujah" music of angels as I spotted the fabric--bold, bright, quite possibly "South Beach."  I had picked out a pattern from my collection of dresses made previously, so I knew just how much fabric I needed and I marched to the cutting table.....the rest is history.  I have been wearing a lot of strapless dresses lately, so I decided this one was NOT to be strapless.  Here is the final product:

I beaded and added some wrinkled ribbon around the neck and center of the sash.

In addition to the dress making, I made these earrings and bracelets to match.  As I do like to dance, I must've been shaking it a smidge much, because one of my earrings went flying on the dance floor.  BUMMED!  In that instant, my insecurities got the best of me...."Way to go, homemade queen--earring broken." I thought to myself.  However, I was pleased to discover the next morning as I was emptying my purse, the result of my broken earring had nothing to do with my crafty-work.  See that little green glass bead at the bottom of the earring?  It broke because it was glass.  It wouldn't have mattered if I had paid big bucks for these or had just made them myself--glass is not dance-floor proof no matter what.  And Princess here is not going to slow down on the dance floor--with or without earrings.

So there you have my latest sewing project.  It fit well, was original, and a heck of a lot of fun to make.  I made some cupcakes earlier in the week.....but, I shall not post pics of those.  I think my mother might be a smidge embarrassed for posting penis cupcakes on my blog.  (They were for an engagement celebration.)  And to be honest, penises are just ugly....no way around it.  Even if they are made of cake and buttercream--kind of an eye-sore.  I am convinced that the almighty penis has purpose and function--neither of which are to be viewed as a thing of beauty.  Sorry guys, as a nurse I've seen a few, and never pulled back a sheet to say "that's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"  I do however, respect the male species...and his Y chromosome parts.  I hope to post pics next week of a new cake project, which I can smell baking in my kitchen as I type.  MMMMMMmmmm.....fantastic!  I also have a few painting projects in the pipeline.  It's going to be a busy couple of weeks before school starts!  Can't wait!!!

Sweet dreams....

Wedding Cake-Eater

One of my favorite things at weddings are the CAKES!  I love to see how they are decorated, what thought and creativity went into the groom's cake, and most of all THE TASTE!  Yes, ladies and gents--I am a total wedding cake-eater!!!!!  Not only do I like to eat wedding cake, but I have made a few.....hence, this blog.  When asked if I would ever make my own wedding cake, I would have to say, if that is what my groom would want, absolutely!  Would it stress me out?  Yes, but a healthy stress.  I like doing it if I have the time. 

I used to be Bitter-Betty in my mid-twenties at weddings when all of my peers were getting married, and I was always a bridesmaid, never a bride.  Gotta say, I have really grown to LOVE a good wedding.  AND, it's just not my time.  I have come to realize if I'm gonna take the plunge, it's not on my timing--it's in the Big Guy's hands AND I DON'T WANT TO GET MARRIED IF I CAN'T HAVE WHAT MY MIMI AND PAPA HAD--it's just not worth it.  Plus, I have been living, I mean REALLY LIVING a great single life and doing things I would've put on hold had I been married or with kids.  Don't get me wrong, I want all of that, but I am really comfortable with life now and all of the blessings I have been given.  AND I LOVE WEDDING CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! MMMMMmmmmmm.......Hope you enjoy my wedding cake creations as much as I enjoyed making and eating them....

Groom's cake.  Wedding colors were Tiffany blue and brown--hence the marbled candy pieces on the side of the cake.  This groom was a big card/poker player.

This is the first wedding cake I made (wedding in Arkansas.)  The flowers are mostly royal icing.  The topper I made with royal icing and wire.  If you can't tell, it is a "L" for the groom's name, a heart shape, and a "B" for the bride's name.  The balls are fondant.  The cake was white with buttercream.....Princess makes some good buttercream.....

These cakes were for a groom-groom reception.  Unfortunately, I made such a heavy cake, this toppled in the ride over.  OMG!  Talk about stress!  We took off the bottom layer and salvaged the rest......man, did I feel bad!  Fortunately, alcohol seems to make everything better...I think the entire reception was partying so hard they barely noticed the boo-boo-ed cake.  The flowers on the small chocolate cakes were made with a lily-nail--I love that tool!!!  You can make some really funky flowers with it!

Groom's cake for one of my best guy friends--basically my St. Lou brother from a different mother!  He loves his Cards, so naturally it was a Cardinal cake!  I am not too crazy about the yellow, but after I finished, I wasn't about to scrape it off and start over!!!  That would really mess it up!

I made the ball-cap by baking a bowl-shaped pan of cake and then molding the fondant around it....then I had to make a shape for the bill to lay like boys do on their heads.....I love this 3D type of stuff--it's kind of like sculpture or playing with play-doh!

Wedding cake with gerber daisies.  My fantastic mother helped my position these flowers. I love the color and life in this cake!  And.....yummmmmmmmm!!!!

What an idea!  I think I made 12 or 13 package cakes (felt like 50 when it was all said and done.)  One for each table and all different flavors.  White cake with raspberry, chocolate with raspberry, white with strawberry, white with buttercream, chocolate with buttercream, etc..etc.. you get the idea!  I love this bride's idea!  This was a very very time consuming project.  There is a lot of prep-work for this when you don't have a commercial kitchen!  I love my kitchen-aid!  One of the best Christmas gifts I have ever received, however, I was wishing I had like five of them when I was working on this!!!!

Bows were all fondant....the rest is buttercream iced.

Package on each table!!!  I did include labels for each table so they could bounce to a different table if they wanted a different flavor of cake.  I love this bride--so much fun!

Another package cake!

I don't know about you, but now I'm just itching to go to another wedding and EAT CAKE!!!!!!!!

One dress leads to another!

I am so excited for this Friday!  I am making a dress to wear to an event called "Bloom."  Bloom is an event to benefit the Kansas City Free Health Clinic.  I have never been to this event before and from what I have heard, it should be a lot of fun.  Lemme be honest, I love ANY excuse to "doll-up," have some cocktails, and dance the night away; not to mention this is for a great cause......AND...I love an excuse to make a new dress when I have time to do it!  The theme for Bloom is "South Beach."  So, dream it up!  I'll be sure to post a picture next week!  I still have all of the "hand" work to finish....and knowing me, it will be at the very last minute when it's done! 

So, inspiring my sewing mood this week....I will post some pics of the dresses I have made since last fall.

So this dress I got a ton of help from my mom.  She is WAY MORE the seamstress than I.  My mom is a wonder-woman when it comes to sewing.  She can make ANYTHING!  I picked out this fabric at Hancock's and was extremely disappointed when I to to the "cutter" to discover the fabric was in two different pieces---and the two pieces were slightly different in butterfly color.  I studied the pieces a little closer and found that I could make it work with both!  So, cutting out this dress was more thought through than normal.  I cut it out and wonder-woman helped me get it together.  I did all of the "hand" work, but let me be honest--props go to the mom for her hard work on this one.  I wore this dress to one of the most beautiful black-tie weddings I have ever been to....and boy did I dance the night away in this one!  Yes, same pic as my profile...in addition to the dress, cocktail in hand and smile on my face--I think that is very "me!"

I'm in the tangerine here....this dress was made from the same pattern as the dress above....only short, and with one strap.  I wanted a bold color--HELLO!...and I wanted a funky ribboned strap.....VOILA!!!  I wore this dress to NYE and again, danced the night away!  TOO MUCH FUN!  Again, props to "MAMA D" for some help on this one.  This dress (inspired by the first) led to another inspiration....much less creative, but still fun.....

And here you go.....I bought this purple dress online for $24.  I know it's a bit risky buying without trying, but I have almost mastered the art of this.  I have even been able to buy jeans just by looking at the cut without trying.  So, I purchased this dress for $24 online and inspired by my NYE tangerine project, I floooooffffed and pooooofffed myself up another one-strap funky sleeve.  Less than $5 in ribbon, not too shabby for a night out.  I wore this to "Party Arty" that is held at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum once a year in Kansas City.

Look, a single girl's gotta be fairly creative to have a one-of-a-kind dress AND afford to attend some of the functions I have been privileged enough to attend the past 6 months.  I am starting to fret that "functions" and "events" will cease to be my reality in 55..just 55 days!  How will I ever have the time or the $$$ to do this with school on my plate?!

So, concluding this blog, I just want to apologize to those that follow my Facebook pics--I know this is redundant.  HOWEVER, in just 3 short days, I will be donning a new homemade dress--South Beach theme...and I am STOKED!

-Sweet Dreams...

Purple Tulip Dreams

I am so excited to start this blog!  I have tried blogging in the past, but have always been too embarrassed to post to the public.  Well....sista needs an outlet!  I have signed up for three years of left-brained activity starting May 31, 2011.  I will begin a nurse anesthesia program and while I am super-stoked-excited about this program, I NEED right-brained activity to keep my left-brain functioning.  My friends that know me well, know that I have always been a little artsy.  Shortly after my biology degree, I packed up for Florence, Italy for a solid year to study art restoration and design.  My art classes are what happened to GET me through my biology degree! 

So.  Here I am.  I hope to blog about my creative projects, both past and present--and they really are all over the place.  I will probably blog about the other day-dream things that I am passionate about......minus crazy Kansas City boys and my social life (although highly entertaining will at least keep that to a minimum to avoid total embarrassment.)

My title, "Purple Tulip Dreams" comes from a few things.  Purple is my favorite color.  Purple tulips happen to be my favorite flowers.  My first (and only) business was called Tulipano Viola (dba Purple Tulip).  It was a faux finish and mural painting business.  While I can paint up a storm for hours on end, I totally suck at business.  I can do a lot of things, but managing money, marketing, and sales--not my thing.  Not knowing how much money I had coming in during the month stressed me out!  As for the dreams.....I am a huge day-dreamer.  When I go to bed at night, I feel like I dream all night long.  I have very vivid dreams.  If I'm not totally occupied with every being of my left-brain, I am staring off in space--day-dreaming about traveling, art, food, boys, events, wine, martinis, singing, dancing, my dogs, family, friends, why the squirrels outside insist on throwing nuts at my car, grocery lists, etc....etc...etc....you get the idea.  I love to dream, both awake and sleeping.

So welcome to my blog!  My little creative therapy to get me through three very exciting, yet challenging years of my life!