Cherie Bender's Glitter Book Of Magical Cooking ~Tahitian Rose~

~ Tahitian Rose ~ Pastel Drawing  by Cherie Bender

" Your heart is like a magical kitchen. If you open your heart, you already have all the love you need" Don Miguel Ruiz: The Mastery Of Love.

When I think of roses, I think of Love. But roses also have an extra special meaning for me.
My Maternal grandmother smuggled five fragile porcelain roses and one delicate porcelain candle-holder, hiding them under her clothing, while traveling through Germany. Thankfully, escaping Hitler and the atrocities inflicted on her people.  Grandma and Grandpa are my connection to my Jewish family history.
 Amazingly, I now have these celebratory roses, virtually intact,  decorating my festive table settings!  They are a fragile, beautiful, strong remembrance for me of courage, and faith through adversity.
 Treasuring these porcelain roses as keepsakes of infinitesimal value, I feel the power and endurance of love each time I set my table.
The pastel drawing above ~ Tahitian Rose ~ was created as the figurehead of my new Magical Cookbook,  inspired by these porcelain roses and my  garden rose, a Tahitian Rose of majestic loveliness, the scent of which intoxicates and inspires.
Within the synchronicity of reading Don Miguel Ruiz's enlightening book and discovering the chapter "The Magical Kitchen" plus reading lots of amazing cookbooks on my journey, I feel truly blessed with  inspirational messages, healthy cooking, and wise counsel.
Food nourishes the body and soul. Faith nourishes the spirit. I'm an artist combining her great loves in my Magical Cookbook: painting, cooking, and aromatherapy recipes for beautifying the body and relaxing the soul.
Faith+delicious food = inspirational Magical Cooking! Recipes for beauty, health and longevity.
This is a fantastic opportunity and so much fun, sharing  my favorite recipes and illustrating them with my oil paintings, pastels and drawings.
 I'm creating another  new drawing called ~Azulene~ a pastel with Swarovski crystals, highlighting the beautiful healing Chamomile flower, and  the benefits of a Magical Formula of Azure Blue: an essential oil formed by the German method of distilling the charmingly beautiful Chamomile flower. I will be posting my pastel drawing called ~Azulene ~ and sharing my knowledge of the amazing healing and calming properties of Chamomile.
References: The Mastery Of Love: Don Miguel Ruiz;
Flower Power: Flower remedies for Healing  Body and Soul: Anne McIntyre