With Love from Europe

Time is passing quickly and August is fast approaching. In August I will be teaching German faux finishers in Hannover and five other locations.

During l my recent 4 month visit to Germany, beside being involved in an bomb alarm and getting into a riot,

I was invited to teach and demonstrate American faux finishes. I must eat humble pie!! American faux finish artists are the avant garde to faux painting.. Even simple techniques, like tissue paper, packing paper and joint compound textures received the obligatory, "Amazing!" and "How did you do this?" remarks.

Due to the unexpected invitation to teach, I was not prepared. Consequently I had to search 'painfully' all over town for mediums I could teach with. Even tissue paper was not available due to the "Green" craze taking over Europe. I finally begged a store for some sheets and as a thank you I gave them the sample board of this fun technique.

After that I proceeded to "OBI" the German Home Depot to look for mediums I could use. My presence rummaging through the paint and other departments arose so much interest that I again was invited to demonstrate these selected mediums. It was so much fun. From Vinegar to lime paint and Moltofill I used everything I could get my hands on.

Here are some of the finishes I came up with:

Chinatown, done with Lime paint

Louis Vuitton Leather, everyone loved this one!

Old World Plaster à la Germany

Faux Venetian Plaster

Zen - Rust à la Heidi

Germany was very good to me and I am looking forward to teach there again in the near future.

Blessings,

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At large Europe - Grüne Soße - Green Sauce

Wow - I promised and I deliver!!! There are little wonders in this world.

Grüne Soße - Green Sauce - sounds like these slimy things kids  play with. Not really, it is a really healthy summer herb concoction which is refreshing and engerizing; and...... it's all good and healthy.

So lets roll up our sleves, get the apron on and let's brew some green sauce, a typical summer dish from the Frankfurt, Germany area.

Let's do something for our stress ridden bodies and give it some "Health"

Here is what you need:
Sour Cream
yogurt
Lots of hard boiled eggs
Optional: Mayonaise   and the following herbs.

Mix sour cream and yogurt and stir in the chopped herbs. Fold the cut up eggs into the sauce and let rest overnight. Season to taste with salt and pepper. You might also add a shot of Vinegar.

This delicious dish is served with boilded yukon Potatoes or with a beef brisket. Absolutely positively heavenly. Enjoy and

Guten Appetit!

BTW I have been growing these herbs since years in my heavenly herb garden.

Borage

Red Veined Sorrel

Salad Burnett

Chevril 

Dill

Chives

Parsley

Lemon Balm

With our current unpredictable economy, you may chose to use also Lovage, Daisy leaves , spinach  leaves and or Plantain( white man's foot) and dandelion leaves.

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At Large In Europe - "Her Majesty requests ....

Her Majesty Requests.....
London, England-Imagine, you are in your PJ's, suited up with your favorite colored curlers, coffee in hand and.... making your way to the mail box. In it you find  this
The Queen is calling ......

Embossed with Welsh gold and adorned with the EIIR insignia, this invitation maintains the tradition that began in 1860 with Queen Victoria. Every year Elisabeth II, Queen of England, opens the private gardens at Buckingham Palace hosting her famous tea parties.
For me, this Tea Party is both exciting and a bit intimidating. I want to prepare myself to meet Her Majesty .

 
Naturally, my first thought is which hat I should wear. I love to wear hats and have many of them starting with vintage pill boxes

Next, I will concentrate on a suitable garment. Alas, you can't go wrong with black and white

Now I am set and I and 7999 other invites can relax and have some tea, cucumber sandwiches, scones, slices of cake and last but not least meet Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.

We will be having.....

•   Butter drop scones

• Butter cake fingers

• Bridge Rolls
• Fruit tartlets
• Slices of various cakes

and of course the obligatory "Maison Lyons" tea,

a special blend exclusively produced for the Royal household and its famous tea parties.


At three o'clock the gates open and 8,000 people will be  making their way into the garden. "Garden" is a understatement. The royal garden is a green, manicured Oasis. Replete with century old fauna and wild life. I would suggest that you do not land your helicopter on the grass, as President George Bush did. The deep "H" impression the incident left, was probably not very much appreciated by he royal household. The old English proverb " Manners maketh the man" comes to mind.


At four o'clock  Her Majesty enters. The Queen is known for her kindness and can carry on quite a funny and humorous conversation. She is very easy to talk to.


I know I  that I am going  lots of fun and it will be a memory dear to my heart. Hope to see you there. 


Take care and be safe.

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At Large In Europe - Farmers Market

Recently I spent 4 months in Europe. Many moons ago, I immigrated to the USA. Since then, America has become my home away from home. I love the American way. However, I did not realize how much I really missed some of the European ways. Things, I was not aware of. Something I did not realize on my previous six week visits.

One thing I really miss and missed are the European " Wochenmarkt"

( Open air Farmers Markets). One possibly can't imagine the abundance of fresh and pesticide free flowers, veggies, breads, cheese etc.

I miss my obligatory early Saturday morning drive in my little Porsche Cabrio 356, to the local farmers market. Truth be told, I did not miss many Saturdays. Even at that tender young age, Saturdays never came early enough. Nowadays, me and my lil' red truck have to be satisfied with the local nurseries or flower row for fresh flowers. I miss the happy, colorful abundance of the open air market.

The market is alive.

• You meet friends and acquaintances.
• You sample the goodies being offered at almost every stand.
• It's fun it energizes me.
• The wares are pesticide free.
• Most of all the the food is fresh.

Come spring, the number one offering, the Grüne Soße, a delicious summer dish said to be the favorite of German favorite of German playwright "Goethe",(Green Sauce), is also my favorite spring and summer meal, even so it's not Austrian.

Well, I must go and fix some Grüne Soße. C'om on over and have some.

Stay tune, I will give you the recipe in my next post. PROMISE!

Guten Appetit!

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At Large In Europe

I have been shopping since days, trying to get some faux painting supplies together...my shopping basket remains empty. Somehow, I knew, that there was a reason, that I mostly create or teach faux painting with anything I can find. Often I use flour, vinegar, coffee, sugar, and gelatin, etc. etc.

Here in Europe, I am in a "pickle", without aforementioned simple mediums. Although, I love and use some American faux finish products, such as the Modern Master line, Crescent Bronze, Golden and Perfetto, here I must start from scratch; just because, these products are not being sold in Germany. The German faux finish shelves are bare.Where are the beautiful finishes from yesteryear and which I remember so well?

Yesterday, I was at "OBI", the German Home Depot, trying to "fill my bucket". I did find some wonderful brushes. BTW, I do have a brush fetish! Don't we all?????

I will continue my search for mediums that I can use creating new and exciting faux finishes. Please stay tune! Until next time..... Servus!! Heidi

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At Large In Europe

It's good to be back home again!!!!

I have been "at large" in Europe for quite some time. It's good to be back; but I am beginning to miss my children, my home, my friends and lots more. BTW the "missing part" is not in a specific order.

Before I left, friends kept asking me "are you coming back"?  Never did I give it much thought, but I kind of wondered? Somehow, my friends knew more then I did. I have such great friends!!!

So, I am battling my demons: To stay here or to come home? I did not realize how many European things I missed; neither was I particularly grateful about the American cool ways and things. Can I get the "BEST" of my two worlds? Possibly!!! I am working on it!!!!!

So, here is what I missed from my European heritage:

Christmas Markets...... and  the scent of the obligatory Christmas roasted almonds (can't eat any, because according to European standards 139lbs borders on obesity) I am on a diet!!!

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