Studio Art Quilt Associates

SAQA today and I'm energized! It's a world-wide group of art quilters. In panel discussion, formal talk, and informal exchange Florida members discussed the future (video in quilts?), identity (we are artists -- no explanation needed), and examined each others' amazing work. I'm bonded.

Double chocolate chip cookies to the rescue

Double chocolate chip cookies

I did ruin the birthday cake yesterday. It was a bubbling mass of chocolate muck because I measured the flour and sugar wrong. So I dumped it down the drain and remembered that Janice loves these cookies. Who needs cake?

Double chocolate chip cookies

Sift together:
1 3/4 C. flour
1/4 t. soda

Beat:
1 C. butter, softened

Add:
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. dark brown sugar
Beat until fluffy.

Add and mix in:
1 egg

Add:
1/3 C. cocoa
2 T. milk

Mix in dry ingredients.

Stir in
12 ounces milk chocolate chips
1 C. toasted nuts (optional)

Shape rounded teaspoons onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.
Bake at 350° for 15-17 minutes.
I like them crisp. If you want them soft, bake for 12-13 minutes.

How not to bake

That's Janice's birthday cake in the oven--I think. 
I made it and it might flop. Last night I got a head start and measured out the dry ingredients. Then I thought, "Here's the flour and sugar and measuring cups -- Let's just measure some more." Brilliant time-saver. Besides, I was wishing for some biscotti. So I measured the dry ingredients for that too. You know what happened. This afternoon I blithely made the cake, and as soon as it was in the oven I saw the other pre-measured ingredients. Uh-Oh. I think I put the biscotti flour/sugar into the cake. In five minutes I'll find out. For now, it smells perfect.

Big art at High Museum

I stood right about here, loving this big art by Thornton Dial at the High Museum in Atlanta, when a guard came over and said, "We've got a whole show of his work coming. They're setting it up over there." (She gestured beyond the hall where we stood.) I love the texture and power. It gave me chills. This (I don't remember its name.) is one of several Dial pieces in the Fast Forward: Modern Moments show. We can see lots more in The Art of Thornton Dial at the High through March 3.

On my way to Ohio last week I stopped at the High, just off I-75. I'm glad I did.  Here are other striking pieces I saw:

Mark Rothko

layers of thinned oil paint

on unprimed canvas

detail

Radcliffe Bailey

acrylic, velvet and glitter 

on canvas

American Modern Pitcher

Russel Wright

Steubenville (Ohio) Pottery

(OK, OK -- I was a kid in Steubenville, which is famous for mud and pottery.)

Early voting or ...

I voted today at the Leon County Courthouse, and it was NOT early voting.  As you may be able to see from this sign that I photographed on the glass wall near the door to the Board of Elections, early voting ended here on Saturday. What we did today was vote by absentee ballot. They gave me an absentee ballot when I walked in and I went to a voting station, filled in the little circles, put it in an envelope, signed that I was the person indicated and I was only voting once. Following a lawsuit, Leon County was one of seven Florida counties open today for in-person absentee voting. Late this afternoon there was a line all along the front of the Courthouse and out to Monroe Street -- about a 45 minute wait.  There were lots of students. I am glad.

Candied nuts

Dear Gretchen,
I lost the recipe you wanted. Mom's candied walnuts were great, and I know I've got the recipe around here somewhere. But I haven't found it yet.
So I looked for a similar recipe online and I think here's a better one. The coating's not as thick as I remember Mom's was, but these are delicious and easy. I made them last night, with pecans and dark brown sugar. It was so easy and quick and so delicious. There--I've said it again! I put  1 1/2 C. pecans and 1/2 C. brown sugar into my heavy copper saucepan and cooked over medium flame for five minutes, stirring all the time.

Next time I could try plain brown sugar and toast the nuts ahead of time, but why mess with perfection?
(Dec. 2 -- I just did this -- toast pecans and use plain brown sugar -- and it's definitely down on the flavor scale. I'm sticking to dark brown sugar for this, and, to my surprise, I won't even toast the pecans. This time I think that extra layer of flavor fights with the simple sweet perfection.)

This is another recipe, probably more like Mom's. But I think Mom would choose the new recipe.

I'm in good company!

My Beach Walk is in this show.  Next Saturday I'll get to meet other quilt artists at a meeting in Daytona. I'm looking forward to exploring New Smyrna Beach too.  That's where part of the events will be. I've been told it's "old Florida" with a creative vibe.

SAQA in Florida show