What a weekend. yesterday spring had definitely sprung, temperatures rose to 20C and the sun shone all day. I attended the dress rehearsal of a play I had written with a few friends-it is being performed tonight to the public :) It is only a short play but has all the components which add that sense of drama > a funeral, conflict, comedy, missing jewels and a secence; complete with thunder claps and spirit activity. It was so much fun writing it. Yesterday was also the day for setting up and hanging for an art exhibition I am part of. 16 South Island NZ Art Guild members are set to wow Cantabrians (people from the Canterbury region) with their eclectic collection of artworks in a first of a kind exhibition. “Common Ground” is showing from Monday 15th – 21st September 2008. Mon – Sun 10am – 5pm Opening Day – Artists in Residence – Monday 15th September. Gallery “O” in the Christchurch Arts Center, Christchurch, New Zealand. Level 1, Boulevard shops and galleries Worchester Boulevard (stairwell adjacent to Coffee Corner) The Exhibition titled “Common Ground” will raise the bar for artists throughout New Zealand as this group of well known artists showcase their talents and make their original works available for sale to the general public. The public are invited to a unique opportunity to meet and watch the “Artists in Residence” who will be creating paintings onsite during the opening day celebrations, Monday September 15th. The Artists involved are excited to share this experience with everyone. All the participating artists – Amanda Hook, Anni Morris, Barb Warren, Chavah Kinloch, Cheryl Irwin, Elissa Ramsay, Janet Marshall, Jude Blake, Kirsty Black, Maria Hartley, Pam Buffery, Rachael Inch, Ron Esplin, Sharon Burger, Shelly Van Soest, Tanya Dann, Viv Hansen – are proud members of the NZ Art Guild. The NZ Art Guild is a nationwide organisation which is committed to promoting, supporting and providing resources and opportunities to all kiwi artists. I got a phone call last night to say I had sold a painting ‘The Sisters’ before it opened. It was totally unexpected,and a big suprise. A fellow artist had bought it. Fingers crossed for lots of sales over the next week for all the artists involved. Oh…yes, the cheescake. I have a weakness for raspberries and made a raspberry cheesecale. The recipe is soooooooooo easy and definitely worth a go. End result is impressive and incredibly yummy so thought I would share the recipe here. So creative vibes to all and happy painting and eating ;) ~ Hugs Anni Raspberry Cheescake -Easy Serves 8 Prep 20 mins Cook 40 mins Ready in 1 hour Ingredients: * 8 digestive biscuits * 50g butter , melted * 600g cream cheese * 2 tbsp plain flour * 175g caster sugar * vanilla extract * 2 eggs , plus 1 yolk * 142ml pot soured cream Method 1. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Crush the biscuits in a food processor (or put in a plastic bag and bash with a rolling pin). Mix with the butter. Press into a 20cm springform tin and bake for 5 minutes, then cool. 2. Beat the cream cheese with the flour, sugar, a few drops of vanilla, eggs, the yolk and soured cream until light and fluffy. Pour into the tin. Bake for 40 minutes and then check, it should be set but slightly wobbly in the centre. Leave in the tin to cool. Try – Put a handful of whole raspberries into the base before pouring over the cheese mixture. Mash and sieve a further 200g raspberries and drizzle 2 tbsp over the top, running a knife through any large blobs. Bake as before and serve the rest of the sauce on the side. Top the cheesecake with more fresh raspberries.