Festival of Art '09

I got so caught up in other things I forgot to mention something...

Last weekend was the Catalina Festival of Art! Between work, school, and various other unpleasant time sucks I didn't really get to enjoy it as much as I have in past years.  I did notice that instead of the pegboard & post contraptions usually set up with tables for the booth space, this year each booth was supplied with a nice white shade canopy and a sort of coated metal gridwork to hang things on the back wall of their space, along with the usual large table and metal folding chair. I'm guessing it made a positive difference for the artists, but I'm quite sure it made a tremendous impact on the overall look of the event. 

 

And you can see an overhead shot on the Art Association's home page here. (Not sure how long that linky will last!)

So, in no particular order, a few of my favorites:

Xavier's pottery, all gorgeous but I really love the mugs.

Oddly pretty and very delicately detailed bug watercolors, I have a friend who would probably love these.

Lorenzo's mosaics, the framed mirrors are nice but the pieced together images of the casino and the island are really clever and special.

Fused glass plates, sparkling in the sun - so pretty & so impractical!

Lastly, the art of Ed Arnold:

I like that he uses recycled materials - discarded bits of wood and mis-mixed house paint. 

Other than that, I don't know what it is about his creations that appeals to me but you can read more about the artist and a show he had last year here and see much more of his work here.

Someday, when I can afford it, I'd like to do more to support independent small artists. But for now - this will have to do! 

In my next life

I think I want to be her...

(Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.........)

This one does not stress about forming grammatical sentences in Spanish or memorizing ethical theorists, worry about whether or not someone will call, or even waste one moment thinking about holes in walls, stained carpets or dripping faucets.  Sure there's a few basic hygiene issues to get past, but on the whole???

Fresh food and water delivered daily, shelter provided free of charge, love and affection on demand, and endless naps in the warm sun.

Yeah, I think I could handle that.

Have you seen these?

The other day I was sorting through a stack of magazines and catalogs that had apparently mushroomed out of control and was taking up valuable real estate in my small home.  I found this cute ad:

If you've seen it you probably recognize it. (And if you were a knitter, you probably had the same thought I did, didn't you?)  Essentially the ad is for a credit card, and the woman pictured is standing in her kitchen, and saying that she doesn't cook, but she does love clothes, so this is what she went out and did with her credit card.

Turned her kitchen into a walk-in closet!  A few years ago I met a woman who doesn't cook, and she needed more storage in her tiny kitchen, so she had the oven removed and turned that into more cabinet space. At the time I thought that was just brilliant and I still do.  But this really takes that to a whole new level!  So right about now those who are struggling with yarn stash storage issues are thinking, "Hmmm...."  (Yeah, so about those gravy boats and crystal glasses on the top shelf - you use those how often?)

And this ad also caught my attention:

It's for the hat the woman is wearing.  Apparently this was really popular over Christmas, and sold out in many locations, even on the company website.  The name of this much coveted chapeau is the "Crazy Stripe Crochet Hat".  Do you see the problem with that?

No?  Let me get in a little closer:

Uh-hunh, you gots it.  That ain't crochet.  It's knit.  I'm guessing a 2x2 rib?

I mean, we who routinely utilize two pointy sticks to create lovely, warm knitted goodness are used to the fact that people who do not knit or crochet often can't tell the difference between knitting and crochet.  And I'm sure crocheters would agree.  But for the love of little green frogs - this is a major ad campaign for a hot holiday season item sold by a big name brand.  I know "Crazy Stripe Crochet" is more alliterative than the truth, but puh-leeze. 

(Oh, and to the folks at More Magazine who sent me that nice introductory subscription offer?  Ummm...do ya mind?  Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.  Back off bee-otch! )

Pay It Forward

I've participated in a few other swaps and gift clubs, but none that seemed as easy as this, so I went ahead and signed up under Soapbox for Pay It Forward.

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Pay It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

So that's it! Anyone interested? Leave me a comment!

Art Walk '07

Yesterday afternoon I did finally go out for a walk and then strolled down Front Street to check out the booths at the art festival. It seems like every year there are less and less vendors participating in this event and the few people that I mentioned that to agreed with me. I wonder if A) the event organizers have recognized this, B) the event organizers have recognized this as an actual problem, and C) the event organizers plan to do anything about it? (A, B, C may seem logical to you or I, but things don't always happen that way here.)

So if you are wondering where the wild things are, I can tell you that that this weekend they were here:

With the Eisenhut sisters who wore their matching shirts while selling the dichroic glass items crafted by Alice Eisenhut-Torres. (Yes, I know I should have gotten a better picture of both the shirts and the goods on the table - I'm learning). Since I'm trying to focus on spending money only on necessities or that which seriously improves my quality of life, and a pretty glass hairclip does not fall into either of those categories, it was necessary to move on quickly.

And my former roommate Danny Peterson was deep in conversation with a potential patron of the arts:

And then of course, saving the best for last, there was Lesly Lieberman:

Who makes such beautiful jewelry that if (like me) you can't buy, you'd better get someone strong to hold onto your wallet for you. (Yes, Lesly. Your future's so bright you should wear shades!)

Teddy Bears in Tu-Tus

A couple years ago my friend D. invited me to check out the Harvest Festival with her at the Long Beach Convention Center. She knew me well enough to know I dig that kind of thing and actually used to work for one of the vendors on this particular show's "circuit" (if that's the right word for it). Now I've learned over the years that the goods offered at these events can range from the amazing to the truly god-awful. And yes, I do admit that is very much subject to personal taste, one person's idea of hideousness-beyond-even-kitschy-cool can be what someone else considers craft, or even ('scuse me while I swallow hard) art.

That year, one of those such items was discovered and has been used as a point of reference in many conversations since. If anyone ever reads this, and ends up feeling offended, please keep in mind this is all just my personal opinion, and truly, if you can actually run a business that makes money selling those sort of things - I might just be a tad jealous.

Yesterday, I went back to that annual event and was pleased to see that there were absolutely none of these:


I was quite relieved. There were lots of other nifty things and I had planned to take photos to share them but was prevented by the very large sign just inside the entrance stating "NO PHOTOS", so I'll have to go with links instead. D.'s old aquaintances from Larenda were busy and seemed to be very popular. The Ankara Designs booth was positively mobbed every time I walked by, I bought a nice hairclip from them in the past and thought about getting another but didn't have the strength to fight the crowds of women. I absolutely loved the jewelry created by Laura Moore of Billys a Bad Kitty and unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately?) it's just not in my budget right now. (But maybe someday, and I certainly won't forget the name of her business!) A Painted Setting sells beautiful, fragile hand-painted glassware that will never be a part of my life but it was great that the artist was there in the booth doing a demonstration when I was passing by - good timing on my part, eh? And lastly - don't ask me why - but I really liked this too.

With my town's usual fabulous timing, our local art festival is on the same weekend as this one in Long Beach, so if I can pry myself off the sofa, I may yet make it down there.