Barbara's Bistro Book...

First,

the rough draft is completed on copy paper...

and

is then followed by drawing the illustration

using graphite

in the actual Maruman Japanese fold sketchbook.

This step is always sooo messy for me...

lots of erasing

along with fingers and hand clean up to follow.

 Next comes laying in the ink...my favorite part.

Here is where I get to add details

and begin to carve out the finished product.

Ahhh!

So...now, at long last...

here is the reveal of the final book in our exchange.
Ta...Daaaa...

presenting to all of blogland...Barbara's book...

my entry is at the very end.

Click on any image to enlarge for better viewing...:)

 Barbara's pages 1 and 2...officially

opening the bistro for business and a world of artistic encounters.

 Her pages are followed

 by Paulette's bountiful Italian inspired pages 3 and 4...

I absolutely LOVE that quote...:)

 ...and then we go "South of the Border"

for Jan's zesty "Killer Guacamole" illustration

and recipe on pages 5 and 6.

 Next comes a familiar laid back reference to the king

of Key West...Jimmy Buffett...

on Char's pages 7 and 8...

 ...followed by Carolle's fresh and healthy market inspired

bistro take

on pages 9 and 10.

 Cindy's pages 11 and 12 follow with a country inspiration,
some fresh seasonal ingredients,
multiple cookbooks, and bright flowers...

...only to be topped of with

a traditional banana split (ZIA style) for dessert

on pages 13 and 14

"yummiliciously" drawn by Barb W.

Thanksgiving occurred during the time Judy designed pages

15 and 16...and as you can see

she included a favorite family recipe

for turkey dressing.

I received Barbara's book in December...

so I thought it best

to personally research typical desserts one might find

during this time of year.

It was a hard job..."but somebody had to do it"...

...Right???  :)

I included my version of a beautiful "Blitz Torte"

which

Barbara remembers her mother making.

The chocolate "Black Russian" bundt cake on the pedestal stand

was inspired by the lovely dessert

Barbara made for my birthday gathering this year.

The cookies and other treats

were a nod

to the delectable home made goodies found

in the wonderful traditional

Polish and German and Italian bakeries

of the city of Chicago...

where Barbara and I both lived

in our youth.

Lastly,

here is the "whole enchilada."

I hope you can appreciate the fact that

from start to finish

it was

a work of culinary and artistic love...

and also a wonderful trip for many of us down

memory lane.

“A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand..

and my artistic Muse

hovering over my shoulder.”

~Author Unknown