Uptown Cafe Update

  "Autumn Glow" 8x8 Wrapped Canvas

Fall is coming and the art at Uptown Cafe has been replaced with some gorgeous fall scenes including two of my pieces.  I love blending the reds and golds like this and the texture makes this one even more interesting.  Stop by the cafe for a visit and check out the new artwork from the members of the Roswell Fine Art Alliance. 

Uptown Cafe Art Exhibit

I am so excited to let everyone know that five of my pieces are currently being exhibited (for sale) at Uptown Cafe located at the intersection of Nesbit Ferry Road and Old Alabama Road, in Johns Creek/Roswell,  just down the street from my home ! 

My artwork will be there until late September, so,,,,if you are looking for a wonderful breakfast, brunch or lunch, be sure to stop by the cafe and enjoy the beautiful artwork along with a delicious meal.  You may see something you love.

I recently discovered that the kind folks at Uptown are supporting our local Roswell Fine Arts Alliance members by allowing them to display (and sell) their artwork inside their fabulous location.  The RFAA is a great group and will be opening a new gallery near the new library location on Holcomb Bridge Road, not far from the cafe. As a new member, I will definitely be sending out an update when they finalize their new gallery plans.

If you decide to visit the cafe, my favorite is the Ricotta Cheese Pancakes, TDF !

Ed loves their huge cheese and spinach omelets. 

You will not be disappointed in the food and you will definitely enjoy the beautiful art !

E N J O Y !

Marshes #1 and #2 currently at Uptown Cafe

Easter Eggstravaganza !

You can win one of my designs !  Sharon is giving away one of my favorite Easter/Spring ideas at Crafts 'n Coffee.  Take a quick visit to see how to create some very unique and beautiful eggs for Easter fun.  The week long EGGSTRAVAGANZA will end on April 1st. with the announcement of the winner - so be sure to check it - especially if you are a fan of Starbucks.
Good luck !

Happy Valentines' Day !

Happy Valentines Day !  This design is being featured today along with several of my other 'HEARTS' on the Crafts 'n Coffee blog.  So take a minute today to relax, sit down and enjoy browsing through all of the wonderful crafting and DIY ideas that Sharon shares with her followers everyday.  I wish I could focus like she does and sit down everyday long enough to blog more often, but, it will not be happening for me right now.  Just too many other things pulling at me these days.  I do hope to share a lot more in the next few months, so I'm not giving up  !

Never Give Up !

I am honored to have one of my Christmas designs included in this year's Better Homes and Gardens Holiday Crafts publication.  Many years ago one of my goals was to have one of my designs published by Better Homes and Gardens.  So today I can say that I have learned a lesson in never giving up on those goals no matter how long it might take.  Once again, many thanks to the continued support of Sharon Currier, for making this happen.  And I sincerely appreciate the editors at BH&G for selecting my design out of all of those that they had to choose from.  So here it is -

Page 44 - Holiday Crafts 2011 

Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications, Meredith Corp.

  

    I am also very honored to say THANKS to Sharon and Cindy Gorder, the editor of Decorating Digest Craft & Home Projects publication, for including several of my designs in their Fall issue.  This is a wonderful magazine that always showcases easy DIY home decorating projects as well as great reviews of newly published how to books.

        Pages 34 and 35 - Photos Courtesy of Decorating Digest Craft & Home Projects

Women's Publishing Co. Inc. a corporation of Grass Roots Publishing Co. Inc.

Our Trip to Italy

We returned last week from our dream 'adventure' trip to Italy. Spent 3 days in Rome, 3 days in Florence, 2 days in Venice and 5 days driving around the beautiful Tuscany countryside.  We learned how 'not' to buy train tickets and how 'not' to get on the right train,,,ahem,,,a long story.  But had fun riding 3 very fast trains and were happily surprised to learn that Ed could drive and I could navigate the highways without knowing much of the language. Each night ended with wonderful local and fresh pasta, cheese, wine and gelato.  Our short but very busy week in Tuscany was the highlight for me. We stayed in a wonderful villa at Fattoria Armena, located at the end of a dirt road, 3 km from the small town of Buonconvento.  So hard to select a few of our over 1000 pictures to post here, but I want to share a very small sample of what we experienced - - CIAO  y'all !

When in Rome -  We 'did as the Romans did' - visited the Vatican, Forum, Colosseum, St. Peter's, Sistine Chapel, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and I closed my eyes while we rode in some very fast moving taxis. Our feet were sore after 3 days of some very serious walking, and, did I mention the pasta, cheese, wine and gelato?  

The Forum and City Hall 

The Colosseum

Piazza Navona

Then on to Venice, it was so nice to escape from the fast moving cars and taxi's for 2 days.  So much water and beautiful glass art everywhere.  Our room overlooked a canal that was filled with gondola's and wonderful music.  Although we didn't spend a lot of time there, it was a beautiful view - - -  

View from our room window

Words cannot describe Venice at night - it is truly magical

Then it was our week to explore the Tuscan countryside.  Our rustic but wonderfully modern villa was perfectly perched on a hillside and we could see Montalcino in the distance.  We visited Montalcino, Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Volterra, San Angelo, St. Antimo cathedral, Bagno Vignoni hot springs,  Asciano and the abby at Monte Oliveto Maggiore.  One day we got lost on purpose and ended up at the unbelievably huge Banfi winery. 

It was very warm with record setting heat everyday of our trip.  The days were sun filled and hot but the nights were very comfortable.  We needed our air conditioning at night while in the cities but did not need it in Tuscany.

The entrance to our Tuscan villa.  Each room had a beautiful view of the rolling hills

 

Absolutely some of the most beautiful landscapes we have ever seen !

Every morning we visited with our friendly neighbors who were very happy to see us and our carrots.

And everyday we discovered new places more beautiful than the last. 

One night Ed had dinner with a 'boar' - - - and I enjoyed gelato in Siena - - -

Our last three days were in Florence.  We enjoyed seeing the gigantic Uffizi Gallery and also visited Accademia where Michelangelo's famous impression of David is proudly displayed.  We visited the huge street market and fresh food market, the beautiful Duomo and Santa Croce church and strolled across the romantic Ponte Vecchio bridge.  

Florence Duomo

'Mirror view' from the Ponte Vecchio bridge

Spectacular art inside the Duomo Dome

The overwhelming amount of history, wonderful art, religious symbolism and sheer beauty in this part of Italy was inspirational and breath taking at times.  This was truly a wonderful life changing vacation.

Last Marietta Artwalk Tonight

October is here and this means my last Artwalk Show in Marietta tonight.  If you are nearby I hope you can plan to stop by to see us at Dupre's Antiques, from 5 until 9pm.   We just arrived home this week from our Italy vacation, so looking forward to sharing our stories and photos with everyone.  I am overwhelmed with new ideas inspired by the beautiful countryside of Italy, and tonight the weather will be perfect for a relaxing visit to the square. Will see you there !