Linda Blondheim Newsletter July 30, 2009

Ormond By the Sea
12x16 inches
oil on Masonite panel
700.00 unframed
Available HERE

Landscapes of the South
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http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
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July 30,2009
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Feed the Birds


I have been struggling through my jungle of a yard for the past two weeks, trying
to trim back and clean it up a bit to discourage the snakes from moving into the
Blondheim Hotel. During this process, I've had some time to listen and observe
the birds around the yard and enjoy their sweetness. My friend, Mary Jane Volkmann,
fabulous painter www.maryjanevolkmann.com gave me a good tip on keeping the squirrels
away from your feeder area. She uses a suet laced with hot peppers. Evidently, you
can buy such a thing, so I am going to investigate this at Wild Birds Unlimited,
my new favorite store. She told me that people in Africa plant hot pepper bushes
around the perimeter of their yards to discourage wild animals from coming in. I
wonder if it would work with snakes ? I have also read that snakes don't like mint.
I have an old post outside of my studio and I'm on a mission now to find the right
bird feeder to hang on it. There are all kinds of bird seed and all kinds of feeders
available. I think the best thing to do is to go to a store like Wild Birds Unlimited
at least once, to get good advice on what is the best feeder for your garden. I
say this because my mother and sissy have tried numerous feeders in the front garden
and some have been unsuccessful.

You also have to consider the location, whether city or country. We get a lot of
gold finches, blue birds, black birds and such out in the country.
I remember that the city birds were different when I was a child living there. We
had a huge Mimosa tree in the yard, growing up beside the carport. I used to climb
up that tree, run across the roof and jump onto the roof of my play house. I wore
a cape and I had a sword that my Daddy had made for me. I was Zorro, a legend in
my own mind. I remember the Blue Jays and Mocking Birds would become very irate
when I climbed the tree with them. They would dive bomb me across the roof as I
ran. All of this great fun ended with a thud when my Daddy pulled into the carport
and caught me in mid air, jumping off the roof. My career as Zorro ended abruptly
with my sore bottom!!

I think it's a good idea to put your feeders where you can see the birds feeding
from your window and where the birds will have some protection from predators.
If your feeders are close to bushes or trees, they have a place to run and hide.
It's also good to have a little bird bath for them, especially in the summer when
it is so hot.
Here are some links to bird feeder, bird bath, and other bird watching products:
http://www.birdfeeders.com/


http://www.allbirdfeeders.net/articles.html


http://www.sideroad.com/Outdoor_Spaces/backyard_bird_feeder.html


http://www.surfbirds.com/bird-feeders/bird-feeder.html


http://www.articlesbase.com/bird-watching-articles/how-to-choose-bird-feeders-for-your-backyard


http://www.birdsforever.com/pg000004.html
-1073348.html


http://www.howtoattractbirds.com/

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/page.aspx?pid=1138
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Southern Bread


Bread is so much a part of our culture here in the South, just as it is around the
world. Globalization has brought many forms of bread to the South, but I'll address
our indigenous breads today.
When I was fresh out of art school, I went to work in a bakery. Naturally I was
broke, but I knew I could bake so I took the night shift. I was assigned pastry
making and it was fun. The men who owned the bakery were Swiss with heavy accents.
They barely spoke English. They were heavy drinkers and would go outside at midnight
and howl at the moon.

Later, I went to work for a commercial bakery. I learned a lot there too. All of
these baking jobs taught me a lot about the art of bread.

Cornbread is my personal favorite southern bread. There are literally thousands
of cornbread recipes here. My favorite is made with white corn meal. I love that
slightly bitter taste in white meal bread. My mother and sisters like yellow corn
meal bread the best because it is sweeter. This is an ongoing discussion in the
family. There is a small chain of grocery stores called Hitchcocks in the satellite
towns around Gainesville. The make the best cornbread in their deli. There is nothing
better. They sell it in squares with their boxed lunches. I love to go in and buy
a sack full, carefully hoarding it to use for my morning breakfast toast. Throw
a couple of slices of Wrights bacon on the griddle, add two fried eggs, a couple
of grilled tomato slices and cornbread toast and you have a meal to remember.
(Thank goodness my doctor isn't reading this)

Next comes the beautiful biscuits, golden brown, flaky, and crusty on the bottom.
Every serious southern cook brags about their own best recipe. There is a restaurant
in Gainesville who makes pretty good biscuits called the Mill Bakery and Deli. What's
a biscuit without sausage gravy? Theirs is good.

Here in the South, we make a lot of quick breads. I love to make cherry, pumpkin,
apple cinnamon, peanut butter, cranberry nut, and carrot. For many years, I supported
myself making bread, cakes, and cheesecakes.
What I love about southern, down home café's and restaurants is that when you order
your meal, the server brings a basket full of corn bread and biscuits. You know
you're in the right place!!
I'll cover the yeast breads in another newsletter.

http://books.google.com/books?id=m2MDbbzwXaQC&pg=PA216&lpg=PA216&dq=history+of+Southern+bread&source=bl&ots=wjIDPcVJYv&sig=c47J0lZdd8SA6pYQ4-19zsLl1pw&hl=en&ei=BvZuSvnsI9uBtge5k63QCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3
http://southerncuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/hot_water_cornbread
http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=southern
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How About a Recipe?

This is the corn bread recipe I like to use. it's really easy and good.

No-Stick Cooking Spray
2 cups Martha White® Self-Rising White Corn Meal Mix
1 3/4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil

2 eggs
1. HEAT oven to 450°F. Spray a 9-inch cast iron skillet or 9-inch square pan with
no-stick cooking spray; place in oven to heat.
2. COMBINE all ingredients in large bowl; mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. BAKE 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.


Cooks Tip:

I bag my leftover corn bread up and keep it in the refrigerator. It slices better
without crumbling to make toast.

You can dress this recipe up with all kinds of ingredients:

Green chilies
cheddar cheese
bacon
ham
thyme
rosemary with olive oil
sausage
onions
eggplant

Get creative with your corn bread.

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Art is Green


There is a lot of thought and emphasis on going green in our world. I think this
is a great movement in our society and long overdue. This got me to thinking about
how "green" art is, compared to other decorative elements in our homes. We never
have to replace a fine original painting. We can pass them down to others, or sell
them on the secondary market. As long as they are cared for, they will last for
hundreds of years. They don't fill up landfills the way worn out old couches, wall
paper and other objects do.

I have been going green over the last year by changing my supports to wood panels
for paintings. Wood is natural and beautiful. It will not deteriorate if cared for
properly. As long as it remains in climate controlled conditions, there is little
problem with warpage. Wood shows the grain, flaws, marks and interesting knots
in the surface and is just wonderful as a painting surface. It combines all of the
features of fine furniture and painting into one surface. The other advantage to
wood is that it can be wired with mirror hangers and hung without the cost of framing
if you wish. I recently showed an entire body of work on the wood panels unframed
and shown together. So many people loved the clean look of the paintings hung without
frames. It was a big hit.

I paint with gouache, casein, oils or acrylics on wood, so it is a natural ideal
surface for paint.

I've also gone green in my studio by using fluorescent bulbs, recycling old furniture,
and turning used copy paper into note paper for myself in the office. I use a substitute
solvent instead of turpentine and dispose of mediums and solvents responsibly. I
use my old dabs of paint to start my next painting, so there is no waste or paint
to throw away. I take older paintings and make small abstract paintings from them
to give to friends and supporters. Artists are recyclers.

Landscape painters value the land so much because we have a deep relationship with
trees, farming, and the rivers and ponds we paint. We are rooted to the land as
are the trees we love and we are ever aware and supportive of its conservation.
Make owning original art part of your "green" strategy. It will outlast you and
future generations.
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Out Painting

I've started painting out in front of my gallery in Gainesville; Paddiwhack Gallery
next to Fresh Market on 16th Avenue. I'll be there on Fridays, unless I'm traveling,
from 11 AM-1 PM for the summer. In the fall, I may extend the time. It's a great
way for me to make new friends and show my paintings to others. Come by on a Friday
and chat with me.


Paddiwhack Gallery next to Fresh Market
On Fridays
11 AM- 1PM
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Please Indulge me in a quick shout out for my daughters :>)


Sara Blondheim (left) is a super hair stylist at 716 Salon , 716 West University
Avenue Gainesville,Florida
352.226.8636
Sara's Services include:
Hair Cut and Styling for men women and children
Hair Color
Facial Waxing

Jackie Blondheim Tucker (right) has a new company:

Murray and Company


Custom Scrapbooks for:
Weddings
Anniversaries
Middle/ High School /College Band
College Sororities and Fraternities
New Babies
Sports
Clubs
Hobbies
Nature
Grandparent Brag Books


Blog:
http://murrayandcompany.blogspot.com/

E-Mail:
murrayandcompany@gmail.com [mailto:murrayandcompany@gmail.com]

ETSY:
MurrayandCompany.etsy.com

My daughters and I have been through so much together. They both finished high school
and college without ever getting into trouble and they are now young women to be
proud of. Thanks for letting me brag.
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This Week's Ebay Paintings


Opening Bid:$3.99
Retail Price:55.00
S & H: Free
No Reserve
Type Blondheim Art into the Ebay search window HERE.

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Thanks for the encouragement I received from so many of you last week.
As artists, we sometimes put ourselves out into the community and open ourselves
to harsh criticism. It is safer not to voice our opinions about the world of art
because we open ourselves to controversy,however I have never been one to hide behind
banality or to play it safe. I can only express my opinions based on the experiences
I have over the last 30+ years. I don't expect that anyone will always agree with
me. I try not to take it personally when I receive irate emails. We have to take
the sugar and the lemon to make lemonade.
This is life!!


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12x16
acrylic on Masonite panel

August Special:
Is a "make an offer" auction for this painting. You must offer at least 10.00, and
be willing to pay sales tax and shipping, or pick up at my studio. I will post the
highest offer on the newsletter each week, and the offers will close on August 31
at 9 PM. To make an offer, email me at lindablondheim@gmail.com [mailto:lindablondheim@gmail.com]Write
"Make an Offer" in the subject line.


The winner will be notified on September first.

Fair Oaks Farm Summer
24x36 inches
acrylic on birch panel
wired and ready to hang unframed
HERE


Landscapes of the South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
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July 23,2009
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North Florida Critters


I had a busy week learning all about the food chain for snakes and critters here
in North Florida.
We have had two unwelcome visitors to the yard, a Cotton Mouthed Water Moccasin,
and a Cane Break Rattle Snake. After two different sighting of these deadly serpents,
we called our wonderful neighbor who solves many problems for us. He came down and
beat the tar out of them and those two snakes are no more. I have no problem with
snakes around a farm, it is their neighborhood too, but I can't have poisonous snakes
hanging around ready to bite Studio Dog.

In the midst of all this yard drama, I decided I needed to do some research. I
learned that snakes hang around hoping to catch mice. Then I learned that owls love
to eat mice. This led me to the conclusion that I need to invite owls to live in
my yard and the woods behind the house. The also like insects so that works too.
I found some owl nesting boxes at Wild Birds Unlimited in Gainesville. http://www.wbu.com/

This was my first trip to the store, recommended by my bird loving pal Linda Martin,
who is just too much fun for words!! Anyhoo, the store has all kinds of very cool
birdie stuff and they had Screech Owl boxes for 46.00. I bought one. I am going
to look for the plans for barn owl boxes and beg my wonderful friend and fine cabinet
maker Neil Johnson to build me a couple. The bird store expert told me the barn
owl boxes are too big to ship and are special order only. Lots of money!!
You know the most odious situations can be interesting. Because of the snake, I
am now the excited anticipator of having wonderful owls in my yard. I can't wait
to get all the boxes put up. I am going to do some photos of the owls when they
move in and perhaps some paintings will come of the adventure.

I just find life to be so interesting. The minute I am going along doing the same
routine, something comes up to challenge me and turn my interest to new ideas. Isn't
life just the most fun?!!! (No, poisonous snakes are not fun, I'm not that crazy.)
Here are some links of interest about snakes, owls and such.

http://www.pelletlab.com/barn_owl_nesting_box?gclid=CKLlmMXU5JsCFQE0xgod5RtWag
http://www.owlpages.com/links.php?cat=Owls-Nest+Boxes
http://hungryowl.org/boxes.html
http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/owl_box.php

Charles Lee, a wildlife expert with the Kansas State University Extension Office,
said the best way to keep snakes out of the house and yard was to make the habitats
inaccessible to them. These measures may include eliminating prey such as rodents
and insects from the premises, removing protective living spaces like rocks and
boggy areas from the yard and sealing cracks and openings in the house.
"You have to make it unattractive to snakes," Lee said. "You try to exclude the
things that snakes find necessary to live."
Lee said the most important tool for preventing snake bites was to teach people
not to necessarily fear snakes, but to learn how to identify them and what to do
when surprised. Parents, he said, should set a good example for children.
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Living Art Vicariously


Living Vicariously with Pleasure

Last week I got a lovely and kind email from a newsletter subscriber. She wanted
me to know how much she loves my stories about my childhood and living in the South,
and the paintings I post every week. She also enjoys the cooking and other information
I include.

This really made my day because I sometimes receive criticism from artists who think
I am wrong to put these topics on an artist's newsletter. I think to myself, "It's
my newsletter, so I can put whatever I like on it", but I don't say that to them.

Artists are not stamped out in factories. There is more to my life than my paintings.
Yes, they identify me to the public, but friends know that I have many interests.
I share the interests of many of my readers. There is something I have learned,
like a light bulb going off in my head. I don't have to be a gardener to enjoy reading
about beautiful gardens, landscape design, gardening tips and tools.

I don't have
to actually make the thousands of recipes I research every year to enjoy cooking
shows and traveling around the world to kitchens on the Internet and TV. I get
just as much pleasure out of reading about them, and watching TV.

This vicarious pleasure opens a whole new world for us, one of unlimited interests.
I can learn about woodworking, flower arranging, water conservation, botany and
many other subjects without having to be directly involved with them.

When I was a young artist, I thought that I had to study every medium in painting
and every style. Whenever I saw an artist's work that inspired me, I ran out and
bought the supplies to try that technique and medium. I see copy cats all over the
Internet for popular painting styles originated by Charles Sovek, Richard Schmid,
and Carol Marine. Because their work is "cool" and popular, many artists try to
jump on that bandwagon. When I matured as a painter, I realized that I could enjoy
the work of other painters, with no desire to be them or copy their style or palette.
Maturity gave me the confidence to be me. I knew at last I had something to say
with my work, uniquely mine.

We don't actually have to do any of these interesting things to enjoy them. I had
a conversation with a friend at breakfast the other day, who doesn't cook very
much. She loves the recipes and cook's tips I do on the newsletter. She doesn't
actually have to cook to enjoy them.

I discovered that being an artist is not one dimensional. Why shouldn't I share
stories about my dog, the restaurants I go to, old stories and how to do interesting
and useful things?
Live vicariously and enjoy it !!


Living Vicariously as Patrons

Over the last 30+ years I have heard countless people say "I wish I had talent and
I want to learn to paint like you." The fact is that most artists who are long
time professionals got that way through endless hours of hard disciplined labor
in front of an easel. I work seven days a week and paint 7 days a week, fifty weeks
a year.
Few people have the commitment to be a successful artist. Many, who express this
desire, will never be an artist nor do they have the real desire and commitment
to do this. It sounds very romantic to be a professional artist, but it is really
hard work. Far too many people spend a fortune on supplies, workshops and lessons
only to find that they simply don't have the patience or commitment to learn to
paint well. Their dream is short lived and they have wasted their resources in a
frustrating experience.

My advice instead, is to live vicariously through your favorite artist, achieving
the pleasure associated with an artist's life the easy way, through patronage and
support of artists and the arts. This will be so much more satisfying than a dream
not based in reality. The fact is that there are too many artists for society to
support. Many artists live marginal lives, doing odd jobs with little financial
support. They could use the support and patronage of those who are interested in
art, love it, and who love being around artists.

At one time in history, this was common. Most artists had patrons who supported
them, offering lodging, yearly stipends, and public support of their favorite painters.
They provided referrals for artists to other affluent and influential people in
society.

If you have a great desire for art and living the lifestyle of an artist, consider
being a patron rather than an artist. Rather than being just another hobbyist you
will be revered and adored in the arts community.

There are many ways to support your favorite artist:

Purchasing paintings
Offering good business and marketing advice
Offering barters or trades of services for art
Donations of studio equipment and artist materials
Offering lodging
Offering studio space
Studio facility enhancement ( flooring, furniture, painting, lighting, landscaping,
signage)
Offering your vacation home for artist retreats
Providing printed promotional materials
Offering to pay for Ads in publications
Travel expenses
Groceries
Hosting Art Salons, Dinner Parties to promote artists
Referrals
Testimonials
Web site enhancement
Take an artist out to lunch or dinner
Letters and emails of encouragement to artists who are struggling.

There are lots of ways to be a patron and to know the satisfaction of helping artists
to thrive. Consider this when you think "I wish I was an artist."
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Meet my Publicist

I am delighted to announce my association with Sarah Carey, M.A.,APR, who will be
serving as my publicist. Some of you may already know Sarah, as she has lived and
worked in Gainesville for some time. She is a graduate of the FSU creative writing
program and has more than 25 years of experience in news, communications and media
relations. Sarah is an accomplished and published writer, specializing in poetry.
Members of the media who need assistance with PR relating to my events or activities
may contact Sarah via e-mail at: skcarey1@gmail.com [mailto:skcarey1@gmail.com]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Notes from the Kitchen

BBQ Stories
I have loved BBQ my entire life. BBQ is as important in the Southern food culture
as fried chicken and that is saying a lot. Of course, every region down here claims
to have the best BBQ. I tend to love the St Louis style pork ribs and the Texas
beef brisket the best. To me you cannot top beef ribs smoked and slathered with
BBQ sauce. When I worked as line cook for Victoria Station in Texas, we would cut
prime rib bones off the rib, leaving huge chunks of the meat attached, grilling
them with wood chips and BBQ sauce. These massive ribs went on a platter and the
cooks devoured them with steaming hot loaded baked potatoes and tossed green salad.
If you are not salivating by now, you are truly a vegetarian!! There is nothing
like BBQ'd prime rib bones. All dark and caramelized by the grill. Of course, I
love the pulled pork, crisp skinned BBQ Chicken too. In fact I never found a BBQ
I didn't like. Down here in the South, BBQ means smoked meat. I hate it when food
shows talk about grilling as BBQ. They are not the same thing at all. If it ain't
smoked, it ain't BBQ!!

When I was a kid, smoked BBQ was a common food around the neighborhood. Most of
the Daddies had a smoker of some kind or homemade grill for smoking. I have seen
car engine cavities, barrels, and all kinds of smokers built by innovative grill
masters. Just like the fish fries, BBQ was a neighborhood entertainment. There
were contests with money put down for BBQ grillers. Bragging rights were escalated
to the level of Football Team worshipers. You simply did not get between a Daddy
and his smoker!! They spent hours going through rub recipes, BBQ sauce recipes
and baked bean recipes. I sure do miss those kinds of neighborhood parties.


After the feast the race for the perfect rub or sauce would be on again until the
next time. In those days, that was the only acceptable cooking for men unless they
were professional cooks. Thank God times have changed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?

I don't make real BBQ, but I do have a fabulous crock pot recipe which is a yummy
substitute.


Crock Pot BBQ

1 pork or beef roast, trimmed of fat.
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Sea salt/cracked black pepper to taste
1-2 bottles good BBQ Sauce, whichever variety you like. I like to use one spicy
and one honey BBQ
1 onion chopped
Place roast in crock pot, add spices, onion. Do not add liquid. Cook all day until
tender and flakes apart. Add BBQ sauce and stir it up. Leave in pot cooking on low
for 30 minutes. Serve on toasted buns with salad or slaw and sweet potato fries,
for a meal fit to eat.


Cook's Tip

Get double duty from your poultry. Whenever you roast chicken or turkey, save the
bones, roast them on a shallow pan on low heat until they are nicely browned. Put
them in a stock pot of water with onions, celery, leaf thyme, rosemary and carrots.
Simmer for about 2 hours on low heat and strain the stock into zip lock freezer
bags to use for stews, and soups. Roasting the bone first will give great color
and flavor to your stock.
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This Week's Ebay Paintings

Opening Bid:$3.99
Retail Price:55.00
S & H: Free
No Reserve

Type Blondheim Art into the Ebay search window HERE.



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I alwas love reading your feedback and topic ideas for the newsletter dear friends,


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July Special Celebrates Plein Air


My plein air studies are featured for July. You can find them on the small paintings
page at the bottom, on my web site.
8x10's- 110.00 ( Normally 125.00)
6x8's- 65.00 (Normally 80.00)
To purchase the special, email me lindablondheim@gmail.com and write special in
the subject line.
Offer Expires: July 31, 2009

Meet My Publicist

I am delighted to announce my association with Sarah Carey, M.A.,APR, who will be serving as my publicist. Some of you may already know Sarah, as she has lived and worked in Gainesville for some time. She is a graduate of the FSU creative writing program and has more than 25 years of experience in news, communications and media relations. Sarah is an accomplished and published writer, specializing in poetry. Members of the media who need assistance with PR relating to my events or activities may contact Sarah via e-mail at: skcarey1@gmail.com.

Linda Blondheim Newsletter, July 16, 2009, Energy Tips,Why collectors buy art,Let them eat Cake

The Orange Shop
Citra Florida
1x18 inches
oil on panel
unframed
1000.00
shipping 25.00
HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Saving Energy and Money


These days every penny counts. I thought you might like to have some handy tips
on saving energy both for your pocketbook and for your environment. Save all of
that extra money and buy a painting you love with it ;>)

Your Home


Keep air conditioning thermostats at 76 degrees during summer months.
Use ceiling fans, which allows for setting the thermostat at a higher temperature.
Use nonessential appliances such as clothes washers, dryers and dishwashers during
off-peak hours (before noon or after 6:00 p.m.) Wash only full loads of dishes and
clothes.
Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.


Avoid using evaporative coolers or humidifiers at the same time an air conditioner
is running.
Run swimming pool equipment for the minimum amount of time, and during off-peak
hours
Limit the opening of refrigerators.
Reduce hot, outdoor air from entering the house and eliminate the loss of cooled
air with weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors.


Clean or replace the air conditioner filter regularly to help it run more effectively.
( My AC guy says this is really important. We change ours on the same day each month
to help us remember.)
Check and clean refrigerator coils regularly, especially during the summer. Dirty
coils on the back or bottom of the refrigerator can make it work harder than necessary.
See appliance owner's manual for maintenance instructions.


Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents, which can last up to 10 times
longer than old-fashioned bulbs, and produce less heat while using only a quarter
of the electricity.
Turn off lights when leaving a room.
Use task lighting to directly illuminate work areas.
Install time clocks or photoelectric cells to control exterior lighting, advertising
sign lighting and some interior lighting. ( We bought little solar lights for the
yard and they work great!)


Install dimmer or occupancy switches where appropriate to lower energy use such
as in stairwells, copy rooms, restrooms.
Insulate the hot water piping from the water heater to the wall or ceiling pipe
penetration. Wrap the tank in an insulating blanket if the water heater's energy
factor is less than 0.59.


Reduce use of all non-essential electric appliances, such as dishwashers and clothes
dryers, especially during the late afternoon and early evening. Air-dry dishes instead
of using the dishwasher's drying cycle.
Cook outdoors or use a microwave oven and small appliances like a toaster oven and
electric skillet to avoid heating up the kitchen and adding moisture to the air.
Microwaves use less than half the power of a conventional oven and cook food in
about one-fourth the time. ( I use my slow cooker crock pot a lot)


Plug home electronics, such as computers, TVs and VCRs, into power strips and turn
power strips off when equipment is not in use.
Lower the thermostat on the hot water heater; 115° is comfortable for most uses.


Leaking electricity from electronics costs Americans millions annually. (About $750
million a year for TVs and about $600 million a year for VCRs.) To avoid the leaking
of electricity, either unplug electronics when not in use, or plug into a power
strip that can be switched on and off.


At Your Office

Turn off PCs, monitors, printers, and copiers nightly and on weekends. If unable
to switch off the entire computer, turn off the monitor and printer.
Turn computers, copiers and other office equipment to low-power standby mode when
not in use.
Use laptop computers and ink jet printers, if available, since they use 90% less
energy than desktop and laser printers.


Implement paper-reducing strategies, such as double-sided printing, re-using paper,
and using e-mail instead of sending memos or faxing documents not only save energy,
but to conserve other resources. ( I tear copy paper I no longer want into four
pieces and use the back as note paper. I have saved a lot of trees over the years
this way.)


Connect PCs, monitors, fax machines and computer "peripherals" to one power strip,
and then turn off that power strip when not in use and every night.
In Your Car
Avoid rapid acceleration to reduce fuel consumption.
Avoid hard braking and sudden stops. Stay alert and anticipate traffic lights, stop
signs and merges. Use turn signals. Traffic will move more smoothly, which saves
fuel for everyone.


When starting out, shift up to the next gear (manual transmission) as soon as possible
without straining the engine.
Drive more slowly. One study reported that for all vehicles tested there was at
least a 20% loss in fuel economy as cruising speed was increased from 55 to 75 mph.
So, 20 miles per gallon (mpg) at 55 mph becomes 16 mpg or less at 75 mph.


Remove extra weight from the car; 100 extra pounds may cost 1 mpg.
Avoid using roof racks and remove when not in use.
Use cruise control on highway trips.
For any stop lasting more than a minute, shut off the engine rather than letting
it idle.


Avoid warming the engine up before driving; it is not necessary, even in cold weather.
Do not rev engine before shutting it off; this wastes fuel and can dilute motor
oil, leading to excessive wear on engine parts.
Reduce the use of the air conditioner at low driving speeds. When driving over 40
mph using the air conditioner costs less fuel than having windows open.


Park in the shade and/or leave windows slightly open to reduce the need for air
conditioning.
Check tires; an under-inflated tire can decrease fuel economy by 2%.

(I try to multitask on my trips with the car. I will wait until I have several
errands to run if possible and then do them all in one trip. Because I live in rural
Florida, it makes sense to do this.)
Fuel and Maintenance
Refrain from topping off the tank at the gas pumps.
Replace air and fuel filters regularly as instructed by the vehicle maintenance
manual; change air filter more often if driving in dusty conditions.


Keep engine properly tuned.
Use API certified "Energy Conserving" motor oil, either conventional or synthetic.
Use the service classification and viscosity specified for the vehicle.


Avoid buying "aggressive" tread tires.
Determine gasoline mileage periodically. Declining mileage can be an early indicator
of mechanical problems or a need for servicing.
This is a long list and we can't do it all, but we can help ourselves just by doing
a few of these suggestions.

The list came from the My Florida web site http://www.myflorida.com [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=uh4ah6cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0414&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myflorida.com%2F&id=preview]




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Why Buy Art?

There are lots of reasons to buy art. Here are some common collector types.

Some people are avid collectors. The want to immerse themselves in the world of
artists, culture, interior design and architecture. It is important to their sense
of well being. The want to be surrounded by art and culture and the newest trends
in decorating.

Some people consider art to be a commodity or investment, hoping it will go up in
value to resell on the secondary market. It is simply a product, like gold coins,
silver or bonds.

Some people buy art because they have a specific interest in a subject, a place
they visited, a portrait of their home, dog, cat, child. It's not really the art
that they have a specific interest in. Instead, it is the subject captured for
a lifetime in paint. Their real interest is in the subject, not the art.

Some people buy art because they simply love it!! They live with their art. They
don't care whether it matches the furniture. They will always make room for another
painting. They don't buy reproductions, only the real thing. They collect with immense joy and enthusiasm. They never care about art trends, or the latest style. They are unconcerned with anyone else's opinion about the art they collect. They know
what they like and are unapologetic about it. Art is a part of their soul and the
never outgrow it. The have no desire to trade in the art for a newer painting. Each
painting they own is a mark of progress in the artist's journey and they recognize
this with respect. They enjoy following their favorite artists' careers and feel
a sense of friendship and kinship with the artists they collect. They have a vested
interest in the success of their artist friends and do much to help them succeed.
Why do you buy art?
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Notes from the Kitchen

Let Them Eat Cake
Last year a good friend hosted an Art in the Garden party for me at her beautiful
home. I set my easel up in her luscious garden and painted while guests wandered
around enjoying her yard, watching me paint and browsing the art. We set up bins
of paintings and some framed works on her back porch.
An important part of the party was the food, naturally. Isn't that the real reason
people come to a party? We decided to "Let Them Eat Cake". We sent out a nice postcard invitation. We set up a coffee service, Iced tea, lemonade and a table packed with rich, fabulous varieties of homemade cake. It was a huge success with satisfied cake eaters and art browsers.

I confess that I love cake more than any other dessert. I can live without pie,
ice cream or fancy do dad desserts, but cake is my downfall. I like big old fashioned
country cakes, like Spice Cake, Red Velvet, Sour Cream Pound Cake, Yellow Cake with
rich chocolate icing, Carrot Cake, moist with cream cheese icing, Sour Orange and
Lemon, and don't leave out the many delicious cheesecakes. Now that's a party!!
As most of you know, I was a chef for years and I also plan parties around food
themes for my studio each year. I love to combine a cake theme with a coffee bar.
It's fun to do a food theme for the art as well for these kinds of parties.

Paintings of coffee cups, cake slices and table still life paintings are great fun to browse through while a guest eats cake.

I always purchase a number of coffee liqueurs to set up on the coffee bar, like
Bailey's Irish Cream and Kalaua, the wonderful coffee liqueur. Brandy is nice too.
One or two kinds are plenty. No need to go overboard. If you don't wish to serve
liqueur, it is easy to find all of the flavored creamers these days in portion sizes.
I like to serve real half and half, whole milk and skim milk as options along with
sugar and substitutes.

It's important to have rich, excellent hot coffee and plenty of it. You can also
offer bottled water or iced tea.

It is always lovely have a bowl of berries, orange segments, pineapple or other
fresh fruit on the table and of course, fresh flowers.Even with the extras, it is a fairly cost efficient way to entertain.Make it clear that it is a desert themed party, so your guests will know to eat before they arrive, and as a courtesy it is nice to have some sugar free candy, cake or cookies for guests who cannot indulge. Be sure to label those. Mixed salted nuts are good too.

The great thing about this theme is that it is all done in advance. Once it is all
set up, you can enjoy your guests without worry. If you are too busy to bake cakes,
you can order them or pick up what is available in a bakery with no sweat.

Invite your favorite artist to come and paint in your yard, or do an art demonstration in your living room for guests. It is a great way for him/her to meet potential patrons, sell some small paintings, and entertain your friends. It is best to invite an artist who is not shy about doing demos and mixing comfortably with your guests. Ask an artist who is reliable about being on time and who has a personality which will be pleasing to guests. Some artists are simply too inexperienced to work in front of a crowd. Choose someone who has experience and social charm and your evening or afternoon will be a delight.

Enjoy the party!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?

Michael's Grandma's Peach Cobbler


When I was a young bride, my husband and I traveled to Arkansas to visit his family.
His Grandma was a remarkable woman. She lived alone in her family home. It was
a classic old home with creaking floors and a front porch. Just the kind of home
I love. You can have the McMansions. I love old architecture with archways into
rooms, wood floors and pedestal sinks. She did her own laundry, ironing and shopping,
though she was quite elderly at the time. She was the family matriarch. She was
a fabulous country cook and took me under her wing. I have many happy memories
of that trip to her home.

His Grandma taught me how to make this cobbler. Yummy!

4 cups fresh sliced peaches
1 stick butter
dash of vanilla
1 yellow cake mix, make it by the directions on the package, adding a bit more water
for a bit thinner batter and the vanilla, set aside.
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
a bit of nutmeg
a dash of salt

Sugar and spice the peaches first.
Put the melted butter in a good sized baking pan.
Place the sugared and spiced fruit in the pan evenly without stirring it.
Pour the cake batter over the whole pan evenly. Run a fork through it to gently
incorporate the mixture but not too much. Bake until cobbler is bubbly and golden
brown. It is fabulous.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having Some Fun with Ebay


After a few years off Ebay, I've decided that I miss the auctions there for my little
paintings. I have five listed each week. Check them out for a good deal. I just
started listing so they are going for one or two bids. Aren't auctions fun?
Opening Bid:$3.99
Retail Price:55.00
S & H: Free
No Reserve

Type Blondheim Art into the Ebay search window HERE


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Dear Friends,
I can't thank you enough for all the support and friendship you give me.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July Special Celebrates Plein Air


My plein air studies are featured for July. You can find them on the small paintings
page at the bottom, on my web site.
8x10's- 110.00 ( Normally 125.00)
6x8's- 65.00 (Normally 80.00)
To purchase the special, email me lindablondheim@gmail.com and write special in
the subject line.
Offer Expires: July 31, 2009

July 9, 2009 Linda's Newsletter

Linda Blondheim- Landscapes of the South
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726

Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.

Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A last reminder for my North Florida Muse show at Melrose Bay Gallery Saturday,
July 11,2009 10AM-6PM, State Road 26- Melrose, Florida


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Aucilla River
12x16 inches
acrylic on birch panel
wired and ready to hang unframed
700.00
shipping 20.00
Purchase HERE

Painting the Region- Along the Bartram Trail


I'm so happy to share that I will be participating in the Painting the Region Paint
Out along the William Bartram Trail on State Road 13 near Jacksonville, Florida
October 6-10, 2009. I love that part of Florida and I'm excited. I painted there
a few years ago at a boat marina and loved it. This time I will be able to explore
several private farms and places along the trail. I'll be staying with a host family.

As the time gets closer, I'll share the activities the committee has planned for
visitors and artists. There will be lots of exploring, hiking and opportunities
for you to see this beautiful part of the state. Come enjoy the historic Bartram
Trail with me in beautiful October. Way Cool!!!

Painting the Region: The Bartram Trail 2009

The William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway follows the approximate route
of eighteenth-century naturalist William Bartram's southern journey from March,
1773 to January, 1777.
Bartram explored much of the territory which is now the states of North and South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee.
The William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway provides a unique experience for
those who choose to explore its winding path. It encompasses exceptional archaeological,
historical, scenic, cultural, and recreational resources and the opportunity to
enjoy the St. Johns River estuary by canoeing and boating along the creeks and river.
Most apparent are the views provided by the immense live oak canopies along the
route and splendid vistas of the St. Johns, an American Heritage River. One can
drive or bicycle a trail under vaulting oaks and through adjacent hardwood wetlands
passing through small communities that have maintained their agricultural heritage.
Vestiges of the past have been restored with small citrus groves reminiscent of
the area's Fatio-plantation days. This window into "Old Florida" preserves and
enhances the resources of the region by telling the story of the first Indian settlers,
the early European pioneers, and plantation owners, and of the travels and discoveries
of renowned naturalist William Bartram who attempted to establish a plantation on
the banks of the nearby river.
This Scenic Highway is available to all who venture here, where reminders of "Old
Florida" are brought to life, where one may see eagles' nests and diving ospreys,
where a multitude of different flora and fauna live in harmony, where visitors can
satisfy their desire for active pursuits such as boating, fishing or hiking, or
where one may just sit by the river and enjoy the sunset. Wide trails parallel
the highway from one end to the other. Nature watchers leave the trail at various
points to sit on benches to listen and watch. The numerous parks and cultural destinations
along the corridor and river are accessible with adequate amenities to accommodate
a variety of interests.




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Antique Browsing

Shopping for Antiques in Alternative Places

I grew up around antique lovers. The women in my family have always had a keen interest
in antique furniture and décor. I especially like old kitchen equipment. When I
was a caterer, I used antique cookie cutters, old jars for my flavored sugars,
old lemon squeezers, and a variety of old trays, platters and bowls to decorate
tables. There is nothing better than making yeast bread in an old crockery bread
bowl from a century ago. It just tastes better.
Now that I am just about an antique myself, I thought it might be fun to use that
interest for a topic this week. When my oldest daughter Jackie went off to first
grade, my youngest daughter, Sara, and I used to go to the antique store about
once a week to enjoy the experience. I would tell her to hold her own hands at
all times and we would wander up and down the rows of tables and niches in the store.
The store was in High Springs and is still at the same location. It is really my
favorite antique store, a large sprawling white building next to the railroad tracks.
They have artfully arranged the booths to look like 3 sided rooms, very charming
and easy to see the antiques. My girls especially love the vintage clothing, hats
and shoes in one room. We can spend a couple of hours there and then walk across
the street to the Station, bakery and restaurant for incredible food. Not a bad
way to spend an afternoon together. In the winter time, Henry (AKA Studio Dog)
comes too and watches the people go by from his condo in the back of the car.
There are some other good ways to find old things of interest, even if not quite
antiques.

Thrift stores often have very interesting old things. It is sometime overwhelming
and hard to sift through the not so cool stuff, but now and then you will find treasures
at greatly reduced prices. The key is to frequent them ever week. You get to know
the store after awhile and you will quickly spot new and interesting items, making
the experience easier after a time.

Do Your Homework

Do some research online and at our library about furniture and vintage items so
you will know when you see a treasure worth buying.
Use your Blackberry phone to look up things online while you are shopping so you
can compare values, right on the spot.

Go to Garage Sales

There are all kinds of possibilities at estate sales for picking up bargain antiques.
The secret to garage sales is to show up early for the best quality items and to
show up late for the best bargains. The later in the day, the more willing the
owner is to let it go just to get rid of it. This works especially well for furniture,
but remember, the good stuff will go first, early in the morning.
If you see smaller items you want to seriously consider, pick them up and carry
them around with you. You can always put them back on the table if you decide you
don't want to buy them.

Have a Plan

Get a newspaper the day before and circle all of the ads that look like they may
have what you are looking for. Go to those sales first.

Have a budget in mind before you start. If you have a spending limit for the day,
you will be more likely to spend wisely.

Estate sales will be more likely to have antiques and quality items, particularly
if the sale is being handled by a professional dealer for the family.
Choosing higher priced neighborhoods for sales will probably help you in your quest
for antiques. It is not likely thaqt families in starter homes or college area
apartments are going to have what you are looking for.

If you are purchasing furniture, it would be wise to invite a friend to come who
knows something about building or woodworking. They will be able to tell if the
piece is in good shape or easily reparable.

Check classified ads in our area for individuals who are selling antiques from their
homes.

Get to know antique dealers in the area and ask them to keep an eye out for particular
pieces when they travel to trade shows and auctions.
You can go to antique auctions all around the south, but be sure ou know how to
spot quality and know what the value of the piece will be. Don't get caught up in
a frenzy of bidding against others.

Antique shopping can be highly entertaining whether you find anything or not and
it is a wonderful way for you to teach children about history and culture in a
fun way. Share your stories of the past and your childhood with them as you browse
together. My grown daughters still love going with me.




Signs of Newness in so called antique furniture

An article from http://www.E-how.com

Look closely at the various pieces of wood used in the furniture - particularly
the edges and feet. Differences between the pieces would indicate that parts have
been replaced.
Beware of smooth edges from a power saw in contrast to the ragged edges made by
a handsaw.
Distinguish between the older plank-style construction and the more modern tongue-and-groove
construction.
Inspect for old or filled nail and screw holes that would have been made when the
piece was originally built.
Open drawers and doors and look for screw holes that indicate that the original
handles and hinges are gone.
Look at dovetail joints. New dovetails are either machine-made or much narrower
than the wide, up-to-3/8-inch dovetails of the 1800s.
Compare all the dovetail joints in the piece. Perfect matching could mean the furniture
is newer than advertised. Gross differences would demonstrate that pieces have been
replaced.
Check out the surfaces. Uniformity in coloring, texture and smoothness points to
newness or refinishing.
Signs of Age
Measure a piece of wood furniture. Wood shrinks as it ages by up to 1/8 inch per
foot. If the furniture is old, its dimensions will not be uniform - it won't be
the same width throughout, and a tabletop will not be completely round.
Run your hand over and shine a flashlight across the surface of the wood to detect
hairline cracks and ripples that come with aging.
Look underneath for the inevitable warping and buckling of wood.
Look for wood that is discolored from uneven exposure to light and sun. An old piece
of furniture that has stood against a wall for years will show its age with distinct
differences in coloring.
Check the wood beneath the hardware. Here, the wood should show even greater contrasts
in color.
Look at the screws. Screws made before 1840 had flat, un-tapered heads.
Search for the signs of normal wear and tear and the buildup of dust and grime in
the furniture's corners and crevices.
Look at the frame under the upholstery for sets of nail holes from previous upholstery.
An aged piece may have seen several changes in fabric.
Use a pocket level on a piece of glass or a mirror. Glass, too, warps with age.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Entertaining with Appetizers



Notes From the Kitchen- The party begins

I've always loved appetizers and hors' oeuvres' the most. When I was in the catering
business, I specialized in party foods. I was never interested in full service catering.
I focused on party food, brunches and receptions.
There is something wonderful about those tasty savory tidbits of food. The variety
and size makes them just more fun than regular food. Often, my daughters and I
will go to a restaurant and order a variety of appetizers instead of a real meal,
trading them across the table, savoring the tiny bites.
I have noticed in several restaurants the new trend of tiny 3 bite deserts. Appleby's
serves them in bar shot glasses and calls them "dessert shots". A case of the restaurant
industry borrowing from the catering industry. My key lime tarts were very popular
as were my chocolate ganache mini cakes. Caterers have done this sort of thing for
years and years, but now it is considered to be innovative by restaurants ;>) This
is a clever way to market desserts. Often I just want a rich and delicious bite
or two of a chocolate treat.

The secret to good appetizers are texture, visual appeal and a wonderful savory
flavor. A variety should be served, both hot and cold with both substantial hearty
treats and light and refreshing. Seasons help make the menu selection as well.
Keep hearty foods on the menu for fall and winter, but make light and refreshing
selections for the heat of summer. The display should enhance the tasty tidbit,
not compete with it. For example, the more elaborate the visual canape' decoration,
the simpler the container should be. The simpler the food is, the more enhancement
it needs in presentation. A simple cheese ball will need a more elaborate garnishment,
than stuffed potatoes with cheese and bacon.

Color plays an important role in display as well. Using compliments will really
show off a presentation. A fresh raspberry will pop on a key lime tart, and a fresh
mint leaf will show off red velvet cake or strawberry tarts. There is nothing more
striking that a red cabbage flower with bright orange or yellow pepper stamens.
Simple but with large impact.

I always figured on 6 -8 appetizers per guest. Some will eat many, others almost
none. Use fillers like crudities', dips/chips and soft cheese spreads along with
your more savory delicate appetizers. If you are relying on an appetizer menu as
the main course, increase the number. Make more hearty, hot savories which are
filling and satisfying. A roasted turkey, beef or ham, sliced with small buns and
condiments will go a long way to satisfy hungry men. Lavish the table with fresh
fruit too.

Above all, make your table inviting and fun with colorful napkins, unusual table
decor and a consistent approach or theme. Appetizers are the zest and fun of any
party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How About a Recipe?

Meatloaf Dressed Up for a Party
This makes a great party appetizer

1 pound ground round
1 egg
1/2 cup bead crumbs
1 small onion finely chopped
1 can well drained diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp leaf thyme
1/4 tsp garlic power
salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Mix it all up and pat down into a square pan.
Bake at 350, pouring of an fat and remove from oven when browned.
Loosen sides and turn out on a flat pan or tray. Refrigerate until almost time to
serve it.

Mix 1 &1/2 cup sour cream with Lipton Onion Soup mix and 1 tsp ground horseradish,
and 1 T chopped fresh parsley.
Cut grape tomatoes in half, one for each square.

Remove meat loaf from fridge. Spread sour cream mixture over meatloaf like frosting
a cake and cut meatloaf carefully into small, bite sized squares. Top each square
with a grape tomato half and a parsley leaf for color. This is wonderful and a
big hit at my parties.

Cook's Tip:

Go out in the yard in summer when maple, oak and other large leaf trees are in good
foliage. Pick perfect leaves and press them flat in books, between paper towels.
Save them for fall, and use them as decorations for cheese boards at parties.
They can be placed under the edge of the cheese board.You can also guild them with
silver or gold markers. Add nuts and acorns to the table for a natural fall beauty.
If you wish to display them with the cheeses, you will need to laminate them or
place them under clear glass trays. I would not want them directly touching the
cheese.



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The Next E-Class

Basics of Oil Painting for Beginners E-Class
August 18, 2009-September 22, 2009
This E-Class will be a four week lesson plan with two extra weeks for assignment
completion, discussion and critiques.
We will study basic color mixing, composition, brushwork, materials and supplies,
in this E-class for beginning oil painters.
The class is conducted virtually in a private blog for class members only. You will
need a digital camera or a scanner to take this class.
A class outline and materials list will be given to participants. I will be happy
to answer any question you have. Just email me at:
lindablondheim@gmail.com

The fee for the class is 100.00 for the 6 week class, which includes 4 lessons,
critiques, and all Q&A you desire.

This class will be limited to 10 students. We will begin on August 18, 2009 . Use
convenient PayPal on my Artist Resources Page Here:E-Class
If you prefer to send me a check or money order, that will be swell too.
Linda Blondheim
3032 NW 161 Court
Gainesville, FLorida 32609


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Ya'll Thanks
so much for supporting
me and for reading my newsletter
You are the best!




July Special Celebrates Plein Air
My plein air studies are featured for July. You can find them on the small paintings
page at the bottom, on my web site.
8x10's- 110.00 ( Normally 125.00)
6x8's- 65.00 (Normally 80.00)
To purchase the special, email me lindablondheim@gmail.com and write special in
the subject line.
Offer expires July 31,2009

A Color Field Painting

Color Fields number 24
5x7 inches
acrylic on Mat Board
unframed
55.00
Purchase HERE

Color Fields are my Daily Paintings. They are my studies for larger paintings. Studio Dog and I go out into the fields to paint these little 5x7 studies, which I later use for my more serious work in the studio. They are a great way to warm up for painting and I learn a lot about values,color mixing and composition by doing them. The also make great little paintings for your desk, book shelf, or as a gift of original art for friends.

Linda Blondheim Art Studio Newsletter July 2, 2009

Back Field Trees
20x24 inches
acrylic on birch panel
1500.00
shipping 95.00
Purchase HERE

Linda Blondheim Art Studio
Landscapes of The South
http://www.lindablondheim.com
lindablondheim@gmail.com
Studio: 386.462.5726
Please forward my newsletters to your friends. I need to grow my business. I'll
reward you with a tiny abstract painting.
Don't forget that I offer 10% of the sale cash referral rewards when you send a
new patron to me who purchases a painting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July/2009
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Foodscapes


Back Field Trees

20x24 inches
acrylic on birch panel


As many of you know, I was a chef and caterer for about 13 years. Aside from the
actual cooking and recipes, I had a keen interest in food presentation. I won a
national contest in my day for a dessert tray with chocolate truffles in a chocolate
bag. I also used to hire out to local restaurants for the food show once a year,
called "Puttin on the Ritz" At that time there was no Food Network and foodies
were not as well known.
I still do occasional food presentation, though my focus is on my art. Once a chef
always a chef, my interest in food is just as passionate as it ever was.
Food Presentation is all about design, color and texture, just as good painting
is. Here are some little tips:
When planning a buffet table presentation, use a color theme or texture theme for
containers. Be consistent with the themes for continuity and harmony.
Examples include:
vintage old fashioned platters and bowls, table cloth, napkins, old quilts, etc.
Silver, gold, bronze and other metallics Lots of bling in cloth and napkins, silver
or gold beading, silver or gold flatware and fine linen.
Baskets, flower pots, rattan trays, wooden bowls and platters with tropical themed
cloth and napkins.
The important thing is to use consistency throughout the theme.
One of the things I enjoy doing is using vegetables and fruits for containers for
sauces and dips and using fresh fruit and vegetables as center pieces rather than
flowers. A clear glass vase full of fennel, tall green beans or asparagus makes
a beautiful and exotic center piece.


When you go to a specialty market like Fresh Market, you will see incredibly beautiful
fruits and vegetables which will make exotic table accessories.


My crudite trays were legendary because they were filled with lush and beautiful
vegetables and fruits, not just cut up into convenient servings, but also left
whole and halved so that the natural elements were on display. Just as in my love
of natural Florida, my fruits and vegetables were close to the land where they were
grown. I wanted my food clients to see them in their entirety with all the color
and texture intact. Sprinkled in and through the fruits and vegetables were delicately
cut roses from beets and turnips, graceful swans from melons, and tiny quail families
cut from a variety of pears.


The crudite should be a marriage of easy to eat bite sized pieces, fruits and vegetables
in their natural state, and the bling of beautiful transformations from fruit to
the exotic flowers and animals. A good tablescape will fit the mood of the party
from casual to elegant, making food easy to see and eat. It should be alive with
texture, color and flavor and most of all, it should be fun!! Be sure to create
different heights for the presentation. Like the landscape, there will be little
hills and valleys along the way. A Foodscape will mimic the beauty of nature's landscape
with rivers and fields of food.
I should teach Foodscapes classes!! (Garde Manger) A garde manger is a cold food/pantry
chef.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garde_Manger
http://www.ccsf.edu/Library/alice/subjguides/garnishing.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5063671_become-garde-manger-chef.htmlhttp://www.jbprince.com/pantry/garde-manger.asphttp://www.gardemanger.com/history.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What Features do Patrons Want?

Dark Palms

14x18 inches
oil on canvas

What are the features patrons ask for from artists' online galleries?
Convenience
An easy return policy
Choosing paintings in their own space
Regional pick up or delivery
Security in quality of materials
Testimonials from other patrons
Reasonable shipping fees
Careful packaging
Holiday Wrapping and Gift Cards- Direct Shipping as gifts.
Studio Gift Certificates for your friends.
Convenient sizes for ready made framing.
Convenient, no interest or extra fees layaway.
Risk Free Purchasing
I am selling more of my paintings through my web site than ever before. This is
becoming a trend for many artists and patrons. It is very easy and convenient for
art lovers to pick a painting and have it arrive at their door. I have been asking
my patrons about the features they most want in their Internet shopping experience
and I am providing these features for all of my patrons. The features they requested
above, are all available from my studio and web site.


Most of all they want the security of knowing that they can purchase a painting
and then return it if the color or size is not right for their home. I have extended
my return policy to 10 days from the date a client receives a painting. You have
ten days to decide on a painting and return it to me, no questions asked. I will
happily send your money back, or hopefully make an exchange for another painting
which will work better for your interior space. Most of my friends are more than
happy with their choice, but I'm fully prepared to assist them if it is not a good
fit.



I make it very easy to purchase right from my web site with convenient http://www.paypal.com
[http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=66zp97cab.0.0.ejtjo9cab.0&ts=S0404&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.com%2F&id=preview]
buttons on my site under each painting.

I now sell all of my paintings through my web site unframed, saving you money on
shipping costs. All of the paintings are in standard ready made frame sizes, making
it easy to purchase frames yourself at stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

I will be happy to deliver and show large paintings in the North Central Florida
region to Lake City, Gainesville and Ocala with my Gallery To Go service.

Don't forget my Layaway service with free storage and no extra fees or interest
on layaway purchases.

Schedule an Art Lover Salon at my studio or at Paddiwhack Gallery in Gainesville,
FL

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Southern Memories

Tall Palms

12x16 inches
oil on Masonite panel

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina


When I was a child my great and wonderful Uncle George lived in a suburb community
of Charleston on an ancient civil war era plantation. I remember that it had a long
driveway with big trees on either side. Uncle George was my childhood hero. In my
young eyes, he could do no wrong. I really think the reason I love the land so
much is due to that early experience on his land. He had horses, a donkey named
Jenny, and a goat. There was a pony too. He also had a big worm bed. He used to
sell worms and people would come to fish at his pond. He had a large family and
they were older than me but two of my cousins were college aged when I was a teenager.
The place was always filled with kids of all ages and it was a very exciting place
to be for me. My cousin Carol had a huge collection of Johnie Mathis records and
we would while away the hours listening and talking about boys. To this day I love
his songs. Her brother Neal would take us into the woods and scare all of us with
ghost stories. I spent happy hours with my cousins Hank and Ann, roaming around.
We enjoyed fresh seafood from the bay and low country food on our visits. I remember
that he had a wonderful cook who turned out huge pots of food for us. My favorite
was a red rice with shrimp and ham. I remember that dish so well I can almost taste
it.

I remember the Isle of Palms, campfires on the beach and long hours playing Spades
and Hearts on the screened porch into the night. Grownups talking about babies,
recipes, fishing and politics. Just as now, the world was going to hell in a handbasket
in those days too ;>)


We have started a game night at our house once a week in honor of those happy days.
I recommend it to all of you. Get together and play Monopoly, Poker, Canasta or
other games you remember and love from your childhood. Remember those slower happy
times and cherish them, but don't think they were better. They weren't. Every day
should be the best day of your life. Celebrate it each morning as I do.

http://www.sciway.net/city/mtpleasant.html
http://www.resortquestisleofpalms.com/about.htm
http://www.sciway.net/city/history/charleston.html
http://www.charleston.com/
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How About a Recipe?

Red Rice with Ham and Shrimp


This is my version of that wonderful recipe from my childhood.

2 cups rice
1 can diced tomatoes
2 T tomato paste
2 T butter
1 T chopped parsley
1 small onion diced
1 green pepper diced
2 stalks celery diced
2 carrots diced
1/2 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
1 ham steak diced
1 pound shrimp sauteed in butter about 1/2 done
2 cups chicken stock
1 3/4 cup water
1 Tsp brown sugar
salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
Toasted Pine Nuts for garnish

Melt butter an saute vegetables with dry rice until all the rice is coated and vegetables
start to become limp. Add the rest of ingredients and stir until combined. Cover
with lid on low heat for about 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cook's Tip

The secret to excellent rice is a rice cooker. They are fantastic and worth the
nominal cost. For good Southern rice use Uncle Ben's converted rice in the box.
Never open the rice to stir after the initial stir. It should be gently fluffed
with a fork after it is completely cooked. If you want to use brown rice, use about
3/4 brown with 1/4 white long grained to make it lighter and fluffier. Brown rice
takes much longer to cook. For crunchier texture, cook rice first and then stir
in diced vegetables just before it is served.

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The Melrose Show is Almost Ready

Yesterday I took a drive over to Melrose Florida to deliver my work for the show.
The gallery space is bright and cheery with lovely cream colored walls and a wood
floor. The paintings will be hung by their expert hanging committee. The menu is
planned, and now all I have to do is go and enjoy seeing the many friends who will
drop in. This is a diverse show for me with work from coastal marshes to the beloved
farms and ranches where I paint most of the time. I hope you will enjoy it as much
as I have in producing it over the last year.
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I'm so glad you read my newsletter. Thank you for the support.
Love,


Join Our Mailing List [http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102546521380&id=preview]
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July Special Celebrates Plein Air
My plein air studies are featured for July. You can find them on the small paintings
page at the bottom, on my web site.
8x10's- 110.00 ( Normally 125.00)
6x8's- 65.00 (Normally 80.00)
To purchase the special, email me lindablondheim@gmail.com and write special in
the subject line.
Offer expires July 31,2009

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