I Could Eat Chocolate All Day! : Daily Art Practice
Couch Talk
It is really starting to feel like winter. When I got in my car after my first errand this morning, the thermometer read 19 degrees. BRRRRR! If I were an animal, I would be one that hibernates.
This week in the States, we celebrate Thanksgiving! I have SO many things to be thankful to God for. Just to name a few, my family, his provision, protection and my husband’s job in this struggling economy. Here is an encouraging Psalm of Thanksgiving that I like.
Psalm 34:1-9 – Thanksgiving and Praise
1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt His Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to Him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
He saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who [reverently] fear Him,
and He delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
9 Fear the Lord, you His Holy people,
for those who fear Him lack nothing.
Daily Art Practice
As you know, I love cookbooks. I have found so many beautiful resources online for inspiration but many times I forget what I already have on hand. Recently, I practiced a few food sketches from one of my cookbooks, Tea with Bea. Bea of Bloomsbury is a tea room in the UK from which the recipes in this book are based. I have tried a few of the recipes, although they are all quite labor intensive. The photography in the book is beautiful and a perfect resource for some quick food sketches.
Over the summer, we visited our local candy store, Asher’s. I took my children there several times. They have a section of candy called “Hurts,” candy that is flawed and can’t be sold at full price. We found some interesting and yummy flavors there.
During our last visit we spied a mannequin of this little guy, the Asher baker, standing on a dusty cabinet in the back corner of the store. The girl working the store that day was not the usual sales rep, so she was filling in. When we asked if the mannequin did anything (he had a power cord), she plugged him in for us and we found that he moved his head AND his hand mixed the bowl of chocolate. It was a fun experience hearing about the history and tasting different chocolates.
Here is the cabinet he was standing on, full of old-fashioned musical toys.
When we came home, I was SO inspired that I painted this page from our experience.
Tea Day
I am joining the tea day ladies, hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard. My tea today is Bengal Spice Tea. I went to my local discount store on a whim this morning and I was so pleased that they had this tea back in stock. I bought every single one they had! Hopefully it will last a few months.
Happy Tea Day,
Kate
Kt’s gotten cold here too. I think it feels even colder as it was so mild for so long. I’m with you; I love cookbooks. And that candy shop looks like fun. I love that they sell their hurts. Just because they don’t look perfect doesn’t mean they don’t taste just as good? Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and T day Kate. Hugs-Erika
Hi Kate, the candy store looks like a very fun place to visit. loved the manequin and the vintage toys.
Enjoyed seeing your art too Happy T and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
The old-style candy store sounds like a great place for children to visit!
Have a great Thanksgiving.
best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Great photos. I could eat chocolate all day, too! Kate, love your Bible verses you shared. I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving.
Great art again (and yes, I am thankful for so much, sad we don´t celebtrate Thanksgiving in Germany).
Love the Asher baker and the other toys, of course!
Have a happy T-Day!
The shop you visited sounds tempting and very interesting. I love the beautiful art you made this week. I am not a big friend of the cold, either. Happy T Day, Valerie
Yes, it has got cold here too. It is 15 degree C (59 F). That is cold for us.
Thank you so much for the uplifting Psalm! I will read it out to my husband later. Verse 7 talks about the Angel of the Lord. I must remind hubby of that (and myself).
I loved seeing Asher’s mannequin and the musical toys. How special is that. You can certainly let me loose in that sweet shop! It all looks delicious. I am a dark chocolate loving girl.
Your chocolate paintings are good enough to eat!
Oh that candy store looks like a fun place. Then to create art around it. You are so cool. LOL Have a lovely day and a happy TG.
Happy Thanksgiving! I always make time to look for things to be thankful for 😊. Loving the bakery and all your paintings – fabulous! Happy T Day! Hugs Jo x
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt His Name together.
Amen!
I’m up for the chocolate lol Yummm 🙂 Happy T Tuesday
I could eat chocolate every day, too, and black bear is my spirit totem so I hibernate through the Winter, too. I would love a trip to the Asher store. How nice the clerk plugged the Asher chocolatier in. I always loved those mechanical dolls at Christmas when I was a kid. Your Asher’s chocolates look good enough to eat. Happy T Day
Oh Kate, your post is full of deliciousness today! That first picture is pure temptation. Your paintings turned out so well, my mouth started to water. Like you, I like cookbooks as well. Yes, there are many recipes online, but somehow a cookbook has a very special feeling, in particular when it has beautiful food photography. Sometimes I just love leafing through a cookbook looking at the photos and finding a recipe I want to try. Have a lovely Thanksgiving.
That Bengal Spice IS good tea Kate! It has a chai flavor doesn’t it? I always love your little paintings. You are so talented! And i love the experiences you give your children. Happy T day! Hugs! deb
My sincere apology for taking so long to visit. I finally realized I HAD to drag myself out of bed and see what you had offered for T this week. I’m definitely not a very good host, but I want you to know I greatly appreciate your visit and for linking this week. Your trip to Asher’s inspired some great art. Happy T Tuesday and Happy Thanksgiving, dear Kate.
Soory to be so late, there’s been a lot going on!
I love your sketches – lot of restricted food for me but I have a good memory of such things! I think I would enjoy a trip to Asher’s. I love the verses, my ‘go to’ is always the hymn ‘Great is thy faithfulness ‘ . Happy Thanksgiving, hugs, Chrisx
Your sketches are SO good, I really love how realistic that knife with the icing on it is, and the page inspired by the visit to the candy shop. Still looking after sick kitties, so I’m very late to the party. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx