A Conversation with my Youngest Art Collector

 "Mothers... Past, Present, Future", watercolor and charcoal on paper, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Last night I met with a collector who was purchasing "Mothers... Past, Present, Future" and my 8 year daughter was along for the meeting. She listened to our conversation about art, Moms, parenting, loss, life and age-old friendships. She also watched me like a hawk when she saw me tear up as we were saying goodbye - to the collector and to the piece.
"Mom, how can you sell a painting you love if it makes you sad to let it leave?"

I explained that is was my job to create art and release it to the world. And, that I wasn't truly sad, since I was thrilled it was being purchased, but that is never easy to let a favorite go. But, if my art has deep meaning to me, then it probably will to others. So the more emotional or connected I feel to a piece, the more others will be too. The bottom line really is if I can sell my art, then I can keep painting.  

This morning she was in my studio studying the Vintage Lavender Dress painting, yet again.

"Mom, if I had enough money would you sell me this one? I love it, but I do not want to make you sad."  
As my heart swelled with love, so did my eyes with tears.

I am hanging it in her room today - and the original is hers forever! 

Birthday Gift for Celiac Awareness Month

"God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."  ~ Voltaire

Seems apropos that my birthday falls during Celiac Awareness Month!  Awareness, and gluten free eating, gave me back my health and - the gift of living well!  
For that I am deeply grateful!

To share the birthday love, awareness and a help encourage a positive attitude I am offering specials on my GF Blessing now through the end of this week, Saturday May 24th. Choose the 8x10 art print or the downloadable pdf that you print yourself.

And enjoy!

Would you try Anything to get rid of your migraines?

"Midnight in the Garden", acrylic on canvas, Copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Would you try anything to get rid of your migraines?

ANYTHING?!

Would you ever sit at work with a banana peel on your forehead because you read it might ease the pain?

Would you ever take 14 pills a day – scary meds – because the Dr said it ‘might work’?

Would you take meds that made your hands or arms numb?

Or made your heart race or go out of rhythm?

Would you subject yourself to test after test after test?

Would you have an MRI every time the next Dr asked, knowing your head would be locked in that cage and you would be sent into the machine?

Would you travel to another city to see a specialist who might be able to help?

Would you eat tree bark? Or something that tasted just like it!

Would you brew and drink tea that smelled so vile it made your stomach turn?

Would you give up ALL chocolate for 22 years, or maybe forever?

Would you read every article, every book, every bit of information looking for clues/answers/relief?

Would you sit in the bathroom in the dark, feet plunged into hot water, ice pack on your head hoping, praying for a moment of relief?

Have you tried acupuncture?

Bio feedback?

Tai chi?

Massage?

Have you ever brewed coffee at 3am when awakened by an aura, knowing you have 20 minutes before the sledge hammer slams into the side of your head?  That relentless sledge hammer that would go on for hours and hours, and sometimes days on end.

Would you try ANYTHING to get rid of your migraines.

and then the real question... Have you tried everything? 

Have you tried to eat gluten free? fully gluten free and clean? and stuck with it!

Believe it or not, it's easier than that list you just read. I know first-hand.

And it Just. Might. Work.

Imagine if after 3 or 4 months your migraines were lessening, in intensity and frequency… and then continued to diminish and slide away.

Imagine your debilitating, mind-bending, life-robbing migraines becoming a thing of the past.

Imagine going from 2-3 migraines a week, to maybe 3 migraines a year!

Imagine.

Would you do it?

Would you try it?

Imagine...

Custom Dress Painting

 My wedding gown has been in a box, in the back of a closet for the last 10 years. Maybe someday my daughter will wear it, but not sure how many times that actually works.  I have tons of lovely photos of our wedding but I still want to create a special painted keepsake. Something I could have on the wall in my bedroom or studio to see - and appreciate.  This dress below is not actually my gown, but it is one I designed based on vintage dresses.  I still need to get to my gown!

Custom Wedding Dress Painting, 8x10, watercolor on paper

Just like I need to get going on my daughter's communion dress - her date is coming up fast.  It will be her surprise gift (a hint of it was greeted by screeches of joy!)  So I am guessing it will be a hit.

I did this pair of paintings for a family with twin and I can't wait to hear what the girls think. So while I am in the flow, I will get hers started today! 

Mother's Day, 3 Generations

"3 Generations... Maiden, Mother, Crone" 

watercolor & charcoal on paper, 16x20, copyright Erin Rogers Pickering

Vintage dress forms, elegant in their faded beauty holding the spirit and the story of all the women they helped dress.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day... past, present and future mothers!

Yes, it is Pizza. Recipe Review of Paleo Cauliflower Crust

Recently I got up the nerve to try Against All Grain Danielle Walker's Cauliflower pizza crust.  I say "got up the nerve" because it was pretty hard to imagine turning a head of cauliflower into a pizza, and I had just read an article on Huffington Post about what is, and what isn't, pizza (it was actually quite funny).  

But once again, curiosity and a craving for flavor won out!

I had a big head of cauliflower sitting there just asking to be used.  So I jumped in and gave it a try.  All the prep was done when my husband and daughter were out, so they didn't know what was in the crust... and I decided to keep it a secret until the taste test.


I made ours a white pizza with sauteed garlic, oil and loads of cheese.  The aroma of it baking was mouth-watering!


I did not achieve the crispiness that Danielle has in her photos, but I realize I should have pressed it down much thinner before baking.

I've made it twice and the second time was definitely more successful. I believe I will continue to improve my technique.  Because I will be making it again!  Cooking and baking are all about experimenting, testing, trying - and trial and error.
We all enjoyed it. And, they had no idea it was cauliflower.

Is it pizza?  Maybe not what you get at the corner pizzeria, but to me it was - and it was truly delicious! 

Ratings, from 1- 5 spatulas
Time: 3 pulsing, steaming, pressing, baking takes time but it's still not to lengthy
Ease: 4 a fair amount of steps involved, but not very difficult
Ingredient Availability: 5 a quick trip to any supermarket
Taste: 5 I was not able to achieve the crispness but lovely and delicious

Paleo Gluten and Grain Free Muffins - Recipe Review

I admit that somedays I miss bread, and I don't mean gluten bread, but any bread. I avoid even the GF flours and baked goods because of too many issues that point to a tapioca intolerance, so I gave up the lot of them. Most days I am fine with it, but sometimes I dream of bread or muffins.  I always had a weak spot for muffins!

When I stumbled on PaleOMG's zucchini apple spice muffins I was intrigued. 

And, honestly not quite convinced that the assortment of ingredients listed could actually achieve a muffin, no less a fluffy one!  Sounded more like a veggie side dish, or possibly an interesting omelet. 

I kept looking at the photo of the finished product, and dreaming of the taste and aroma so I gave it a shot.  My husband came in the kitchen while I was grating and draining the zucchini and said "I thought you were baking muffins?"  I am... hmmm, we shall see.

The recipe was simple enough, needed no complicated equipment or ingredients, and the most time consuming part was allowing the zucchini to fully drain after grating.  I poured the initial liquid off then kept flattening it with a spatula on a tilted plate while I went about other kitchen chores. Every 10 minutes or so pouring off the liquid.  

The recipe yields 9 muffins but I usually make 12 slightly smaller muffins so I can make them last longer.  The last batch I baked went too fast!  They are a new favorite, and staple, in this house which inspired my illustration! Thank you Juli - these muffins are genius! 

RATINGS, from 1-5 spatulas
Time: most timely part is draining off the liquid from zucchini, 4
Ease:  easy to follow, no complicated steps or equipment, 5
Ingredient availability: pretty basic ingredients, 5
Taste:   moist, chewy, not overly sweet, divine, 5