that you get to know the country. . ."
- - E.M. Forster
I didn't go to Italy exactly to get to know the country. I went to take a week-long workshop with Michael deMeng, but what a pleasant surprise the setting was!
And how I grew!
My quads grew somewhat I think just by being in the hill town of Cortona, where everything is either a steep uphill climb or a careful downhill stroll. . . but, I also grew through the teaching of Michael deMeng.
Our opening night reception was held at Il Pozzo. Ivan displays a delightful gallery of artwork, and the centuries-old history of Cortona is in evidence in his shop as well. If you go to Cortona, you simply must stop by Il Pozzo (translated means "the well"), and within the gallery, you will find the remains of an Etruscan well, that Ivan unearthed while looking for more height to his shop.
Monday was dedicated to a field trip. Our first stop was a pottery shop, where we watched the clay go from the wheel . . .
to the painter.
Our trip through this process was explained by Carlos.
Ah, yes. Carlos . . .
Reluctantly, we moved on to an olive farm where we had a delicious lunch with primarily olive oil as an ingredient -- the fruit of their efforts.
And then wine-tasting in Umbria. A terrific day!
- - E.M. Forster










Our next day was spent at a huge flea market to gather materials for our project with Michael deMeng. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures during that gathering, but it was amazing.

The next four days were spent in a delightful room at the Oasi Hotel making our Alchemist's Books. Some people completed multiple projects, but I was wrapped up in my one and only book.


My book:







Leslie,
ReplyDeleteYour book reflects the golden air of Tuscany!! AND, I see that Jeri made it, you girls must have had an incredible!! time.
Were you in Venice also?? Oh, this all looks so ancient, and wonderful, I would love to visit someday.
oh golden light
ReplyDeleteand rusty crusty richness
like biting into the most
delicious cinnamon buttery bun
oh Leslie
I will have to savor each and every
gloriously aged and golden image
again and again
I am SO there in spirit
so much rich and sensual joy
mmmmmmmm
isn't the world
just so very very scrumptious!?!
AND such a beautiful book dear girl
are you swooning still?
xo x- eb.
Leslie...
ReplyDeleteI am wondering
IF perhaps
you may have
brought Carlos home
as a special souvenir
for eb...
I am just saying
you know...
that perhaps
well he is
apparently
well versed in the wheel
and clay
and - well...
I am just entertaining
the possibility of
well...
a tutorial
of sorts
I am just saying...
that perhaps...
well
did you?
xox - eb.
Lovely! Lovely scenery, people, and art! I'm sure you had the best time. Your book is amazing!
ReplyDeleteDenise
oh hello... to all of it. the book is tops... goodness you must be so pleased... good choice miss leslie... good choice to go! cannot wait to see you in a few days!
ReplyDeletethe fan
keli
Leslie
ReplyDeleteThese photos are amazing!!! as is the setting of Cortona, and the images you captured there. Thanks for sharing this with us. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the piece you made.
YOU are a lucky girl!!!
I was waiting patiently for your beautiful photos, Leslie.
ReplyDeleteNice to know I was there. Sometimes we get back from these incredible journeys, life goes on at home and it becomes a distant memory.
We need to get together and share.
BTW, eb. Carlo is MINE!!
....once again I'll say your book is fabulous. I took no completed photos of mine. When it arrives home I will post it.
Have an awesome time in Portland.
Dear Leslie: Your book is amazing hope you will post more pic's : ) All your pic's are wonderful and looks like you reeealllly enjoyed your time in Cortona.
ReplyDeleteNow, AFTER EB and then Karen Cole, I think Carlos would reaaalllly loove some sun and relaxation (did I say loooove or NEEED :) so, if you reallly don't mind, I'd LOOOOVE to entertain him in sunny, warm Arizona - ha : )
Just letting you know how much I enjoy your blog and art and pictures and Carlos and ??? oh did I say Carols : )
Love & Blessings, Sandra in AZ : )
What a wonderful post....you are a marvelous photographer....I am SO envious of you!! Cortona, Carlos, fresh olive oil, Carlos, Italian wine, Carlos, creative spirits, Carlos....hmmmm...you are one lucky lady! Your project is amazing! I know you said that you didn't take any photos while you were shopping at the market but I'd love to hear more about that part of your trip and anything else about your trip. Can't wait to see what you post next!!
ReplyDelete~Allie
Dear Rain Drops On My Glasses:
ReplyDeleteYou're home... Finally. For a few days. You walked in the door and the dogs acted like they'd been confined in a Turkish prison for 11 days.
The orchids snitched on me, telling you in detail how I watered them with stale, warm beer that I found in an open bottle on my desk.
While you were gone, the markets collapsed. Gas went up 30 cents a gallon. The temperature of north America increased by 1/100th of a degree. (See what happens when you leave?) But you're back now... And soon everything will be okay.
The scent of you in these rooms is fresh. Your voice lingers in the air as you say wonderful things to the dogs, And your book, your opus, is a three dimensional expression of your thoughts: color, family, wood and metal, the ties that bond, a hand reaching out, and a mind that takes in everything.
In mere hours, you'll be leaving again for Portland. This time I will do more than write in your absence... I will drink too.
Somebody named Carlos left a message for you on the phone. I may take a trip next week myself.
I love you like candles love a dim room.
I remain,
That guy in at the desk in the front room, which you pass through to get to the printer.
oh Leslie - such wonderful photos! Looking forward to seeing them all!
ReplyDeleteummmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteyummy!
that carlos,
er,
i
mean,
that country side,
your photos,
all of it............
:-)
{{ i love seeing that man~jack
is still in rare form
with the PerFect ReTorts.
"carlos called, indeed" }}
show more shots of EVERYTHING
---->that karen
will Kitchen Dance
even
when there is no kitchen.............
i don't know *how* you were able to accomplish anything beyond looking...sigh. & carlos...carlos, indeed!!!!
ReplyDeleteYour photos, like Susanna’s, have a glow that is all photographer and heart.
ReplyDeleteCortona makes me pane for Portugal and one of my favorite places there-Obidos.
Thank you for reminding me of narrow streets hugging the shoulders, the music of steps on cobblestones, the delicious surprise of an occasional “easy-on-the-eyes” Carlos, the magical lightness of wine in Mediterranean soil, the light on the olive trees, and a landscape that anchors itself like a vine tight around your mind. This could have been Portugal.
And your book, my dear, total and absolute Poetry! Who needs words, when art creates all these many moods and images in the receiver? Yours is the hand that gives as much as it received.
And with words like Jack’s, who needs Carlos, anyway. If Carlos calls again, give him my number ;)
Xox
Isabel
Lovely pictures! I want to see them all! Welcome back! Oh, that's right you are already off again. Have a wonderful time in Portland!
ReplyDeleteDear Leslie
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures of magic Italy.
The cobble stones the lovely old doors.
You seem to have had an amazing time.
I would have loved to be with you.
MORE PHOTOS needed.
love.
I went to the site a 2nd time and got lots more pictures! (ah the vagaries and weirdness of the internet!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, just wanted to say how amazing your book looks. It looks a great treasure indeed. Hugs.
LOVE your blog! And Carlos:)
ReplyDeleteFabulous book Leslie!!!! Oh and yes Carlos looks yummy also,lol.
ReplyDelete´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶´´¶´´´¶¶
ReplyDelete´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶´¶¶´¶¶
´´´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶
´´´´´´´¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶
´´´´´¶¶´´´´´´´´¶¶´´´´´´´´´´¶¶
´´´¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶
´´¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶
´´¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶´¶
´¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶
´¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶
´¶´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶´¶´´´´´´´´´´´¶´´´¶
´¶´´´´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´¶
´¶´´´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´´´´¶¶´´¶´´´´¶
´´¶´´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶´¶´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´¶
´´¶¶´´´´´´´¶´´´´´¶´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´¶¶
´´´¶¶´´´´´´¶´´´´¶´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´´¶
´´´´¶´´´´´´¶´´´¶´´´´´¶´´´´´´´¶
´´´´¶´´´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´´´´´´¶´´¶¶
´´´´¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶¶´´¶
´´´´´¶¶¶´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶´´´´´´¶
´´´´´´´´¶¶¶´´´´´¶¶´´´´´´´¶¶
´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶´
´´´´´´´´´´¶¶´´´´´´¶¶´¶
´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´´´´´¶´¶¶
´´´´´´´´´¶´´¶¶´´´´´¶´´´¶
´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶´¶´´´´´´´¶´´¶´
´´¶¶´´´¶¶¶¶´¶´´´´´´¶´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
´´¶¶´´´´´´¶¶¶¶´´´´´¶´¶¶´´´´´¶¶
´´¶´´´´´´´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´´´´´´´¶
´´´¶¶´´´´´´´´´¶´´´¶´´´´´´´´´´¶
´´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
´´´´´´´´´´´´´o77¶Ã¸o7¶7´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¢Ã¸¢Ã¸¶´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶Ã¸Ã¸¢o7´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´o¶o¢Ã¸´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸o´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´o¶o$øøø´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´$ø¢¶oø¶7´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´Ã¸¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¢o7´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´7ø77o$´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´Ã¸¶¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶$¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´$ø¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶$¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶Ã¸Ã¸¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¢¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¢$¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´1¶¢¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´1¶¢¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´´´´´´´´Ã¸¶o¶¶¢´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´Ã¸¶¶¶¶´´´´´´´Ã¸¶7¶¶$´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´¶¶$¶¶´´´´´´´$¶o¶$$´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸¶´´´´´´´Ã¸¶Ã¸¶¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¶´´´´´´¢$¢¶¶Ã¸´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´Ã¸¶$ø$¶¢´´´´´$¶oø¶¶´´´´´´´´´´´´´
´1¶¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¶o´´´´oøo¶¶¶´´´´´´$¶¶¶Ã¸´´
´´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸¶¶¶¶¶¶$øo$ø¶´´´´´Ã¸¶7´Ã¸¶´´
´´´¶¶Ã¸$¶´¢¶¶¶¶¶1¶¶¶´´´´´¶¶´´¶¶´´
´´´Ã¸¶$$¶´´´´´Ã¸$o¶$¶´´´´¶¶o´´¶o´´
´´´´¶¶$¶¶´´´´¶¶$¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´7¶´´´
´´´´´¶¶$¶o´´´1777177¢o1´´´´¶o´´´
´´´´´´¶Ã¸¶¶´´77´´o´´´´´´´´´¶¶´´´´
´´´´´´¶Ã¸$¶$1¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶71´´´¶¶´´´´´
´´´´´´¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¢´´´´´´´´´´´´´´¶¶´´´´´
´´´´´1¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¶´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶7´´´´¶o´´´´´
´´´´7¶¶Ã¸$¶´´oøøø¶¶¶¶´´´7´¶o´´´´´
´´´o¶¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¶´´Ã¸Ã¸´´´´´´´´1ø$¶¶o´´´´
´´1¶¶Ã¸Ã¸¶¶o´1¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶1´´´´¶Ã¸¶¶´´´
´´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸¶Ã¸´´´´´´´$$¶¶´´´´´´´´¶¶´´
´Ã¸¶$øø$¶´´´´17´´7´´´´´´´´´´´7¶Ã¸´
´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸$¶´´´´´o1´o´11´´´´´´´´´¶¶´
´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸¶Ã¸´´´´´´´1´´´´´´´´´´´´7¶´
´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸$¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶7´´´´¶´
´¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸$$$ø$$$ø$øø¶¶¶Ã¸´´´¶7
´Ã¸¶¶Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸Ã¸$$¢Ã¸$¶1¶$$¶Ã¸¶1$¶¶7$¶´
´´Ã¸¶¶¶$øøøø$øø¶¢¶oø$$$ø$´o¶¶¶¶´´
´´´´$¶¶¶¶¶¶$¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´´
´´´´´´´´´1oooooøøooooo77´´
WOW WHAT A BEAUTY I LIKE YOURS CHOICE THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR NICE BLOG. TAKE CARE,BEST WISHES.
SEE MY WORLDS BEST COOL PHOTOS BANK!
NOW COLLECTION OF WORLD'S BEST PHOTOS
IN ONE PLACE.
NOW VISIT ALL MY BLOG AND ENJOY
COOL PHOTOS BANK
WORLD'S BEST DREAMY PHOTOS
NATURE OF GOD
WORLD'S BEST WILDLIFE PHOTOS
HOT HOT DESI
I loved seeing the photos of your work, the scenery but i have to admit I went to the comments section to see if anyone mentioned Carlos. hahahaha
ReplyDeleteWhat was I thinking??
I sooo love Tuscany and this workshop sounds like a dream come true! It's going on my "must do" list for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe book you created is simply beautiful.
Amazing book... I like the work, texture....
ReplyDelete