young and fabulous, yes indeedy!

My cousin sent me a birthday card ... LOL ... OH YEAH, young and fabulous, that's me! (more like older than dirt but still moving hahhahahhaha)

Had some pre-birthday birthday fun over the weekend on Saturday ... first the wonderful Road to California Quilt Show, out in mega WINDY Ontario and then a fun modern ballet, based on the music of Sarah McLachlan, "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy".

I had fun but could have had a whole lot more hahahha

The ballet was lovely, such beautiful images
made with the human body. And I adore Sarah McLachlan.


And here's my very first mini sampler 

that I showed you a sneak peek of earlier,
for my partner Marti ...

Happy Monday!

holiday happenings

To the tune of Jingle Bells, we're "Coughing all the way" through the holidays over here. Sheesh, will this monster of a bug leave town, puhleeeezze! Nevertheless, we are out and about and celebrating the season a bit. Fa la la la la ...  Gingerbread cookies have been eaten snarf snarf ...

and more Christmas cards made ...

Saturday night we saw the wonderful Irish accoustic band Lunasa in concert with singer Karan Casey at the Broad Theater, for A Celtic Holiday. Beautiful haunting music and Karan Casey's gorgeous voice.

And more merry making on Sunday! I've wanted to see Charles Phoenix for years and finally got to see his Retro Holiday Slide Show over the weekend. HYSTERICAL! Laughed for two hours straight without a pause. The event took place at the former Twinkie and Ho Ho Factory!!! - which has become Modernica Props, a gigantic movie prop rental company. Vintage lovers take a seat before you get the vapors and pass out on me --- filled to overflowing with mid century wonderfulness.

Holiday attire was suggested and we silly kids couldn't resist
bwahhahhahha ...

Happy almost Christmas!

Cities, Bicycles and the Future of Getting Around

Last night we went out to dinner at the lovely Cafe Pinot. When we arrived it was still sunshine-y and warm and we ate on the patio. It was lovely as day turned into night with the candle glow and tiny lights.


(top photo - Cafe Pinot, bottom photo - google. ay yi yi I thought I could center this caption WAH!)

Then ... so very cool! We went to the Aratani Japan America Theatre and attended a panel presentation and discussion about making Los Angeles more bike friendly. The panel included the wonderful David Byrne, the hubs absolute favorite musician. (I'll have to ask him which is his ultimate favorite thing in the whole wide world, Star Trek or David Byrne?!) The panel also included a city official, an urban planner and a bike advocate.

They began the evening with a video of clips from movies of people on bikes. These are the ones I remember from last night ... Wizard of Oz, I Love Lucy, Life is Beautiful, Andy Griffith Show, Butch Cassidy, Cinema Paradiso, The Bicycle Thief, Il Postino, ET, The Muppet Movie ... my memory is failing me but it was so much fun! You could hear people smile and giggle with recognition as the images came on screen.

The traffic is so horrific and unpredictable in Los Angeles. It's having an impact on the way we live and our choices. We've begun to not go to some places and do things we used to do because we can't cope with the traffic anymore. (plus we're also old and crotchety now teehee!)

Time to get a bike again!

And it was so great at the event, they had bicycle valets for the people that rode their bikes there. They asked for a show of hands and many people had ridden their bikes to the event.

There were bike clubs and bike activists there with all sorts of ideas and it was exciting and so very encouraging to listen to a grass roots movement that's coming alive.

Artistic Affaire Market Soiree

Oh you guys! This was so much fun!

What a thrill to match faces with names, of beloved artists and bloggers. AND my gosh, all the wonderful creative things on sale. WOWIE. I wish you all could have been there. And to be blessed with a friend like Susan, who knew so many of the artists/bloggers and also the participants she's met at previous Artistic Affaire events and would introduce me to everyone.

The lovely Kim Caldwell, who organizes and puts on these oh so special events, came up to me and introduced herself - which you know was such a gift for shy me. Everything was so beautifully done, I can't say enough good things about it. I hope some day I'm lucky enough to attend one of the class events.

I said a few words to Amy Powers of inspireco, Holly Stinnett of Holly Loves Art , Candice Carpenter of Peacoats and Party Hats, and Ruth Rae. Yabba dabba doo. Yeah me!

Unfortunately the other artists were occupied when I happened by their tables and I missed getting to speak to them. I've been suffering with a stinkin' headache for two days - so I would have lingered awhile longer if I'd felt better - and possibly gotten to meet more people.

But Mission Accomplished. WAHOO! I was the first to pick up one of the (only four!) embroidery kits that Amy Powers mentioned on her blog and brought to the event. So darling!

Poor Susan, I convinced her to get there really early, fearing a line and I so wanted to get one (of the ONLY four teehee) embroidery kits that Amy was bringing. The nice thing was that meant that I got to be introduced to other people as we waited outside, before the all important SHOPPING began.

I asked a couple of eager shoppers :) what they wanted to pick up most and so on, until two charming women arrived and it turned out that one of the women wanted the Amy Powers embroidery kit as much as I did. So we did a mock tussle and dash for the entry door.

So Amy, please know you had one of the hot ticket items!

I also got the neatest Halloween pin from Holly Stinnett with a vintage image - so terrific! And I got a mini Halloween banner kit and some Halloween bits and bobs from Candice Carpenter and I also bought some beautiful vintage wallpaper from Kim Caldwell.

I would have loved to have come home with everything - I mean EVERYTHING! I can't remember the last time I went somewhere and liked everything my eyes landed upon?! And everyone was so nice and genuine and gosh, so very creative and talented. It was exhilarating and inspiring to witness.

Truly a delightful evening!

I'm so excited

And I just can't hide it! (chuckling at my noodleheadedness!)

I'm going with my friend Susan, of Creative Destination, to the Artistic Affaire Market Soiree tonight.

I didn't sign up for the wonderful classes tomorrow but one of these days, I hope to make it! Lucky Susan, will be taking classes with Ruth Rae, Julie Haymaker Thompson and Lisa Kettell. Whoa. WOW!!! Lucky girl, Susan!

But I am going to the Market event tonight. WAHOO! Look at these wonderful artists that are going to be selling their artwork and wares:

Artistic Market Soiree Vendors

Laura McCollough of A Kiss on the Chic
Kim Caldwell of Artistic Bliss Designs
Christine Rose Elle of Dollybelle Atelier
Holly Stinnett of Holly Loves Art
Amy Powers of Inspire Company
Julie Haymaker Thompson
Kristen Robinson of Kristen's Journey
Kim Hesson of Miss Alayneeah
Lisa Kettell of Moonfaires World
Candice Carpenter of Peacoats & Party Hats
Ruth Rae
Jamie Skolnik of Simply Me Art
Analise Sledd of Sugar*Sugar


I cannot wait! I'll tell you all about it later.

Keep a good thought that I am able to form words and get them out of my mouth this time bwahahhahahhahhaaha.

Elsa Mora

Oh my gosh. We went to an art gallery opening last night.

Oh you guys! We got to see the wonderful artwork of the enchanting Elsa Mora in person!!! If it's at all possible, her work is even more stunning in person. I wanted to come home with everything in sight.

¡Estimado Elsita, adoré cada pedazo!

WAH! I didn't get to say hello though. I'm so shy and such a knucklehead. There weren't many people there when we arrived but Elsa was always talking to someone and I didn't know how to graciously um, linger and say hello, without looking like a lunatic. Duh. D'oh. Duhr.

And then my chance had passed ... the gallery began to fill up and she was encircled with intimates and well wishers. sniffle sniffle.

I need to wear a button saying "please come talk to me, I'm too much of a twit to come to you"! Woe is me.

Elsa is showing in tandem with the wonderful Carlos Estevez. I was unfamiliar with his work but I want to be sure and follow him now. Amazing work.

I did manage to say hello to Carlos Estevez and tell him how much I enjoyed his work and the show ... only because he happened upon me and we were face to face. YIKES! My husband had disappeared around a wall in the gallery and I had followed behind to see if the exhibit continued, found that it didn't (it was the office area) and I turned and there was Carlos Estevez. Blithering and muttering of words then commenced.

It's no fun being shy ... and middle aged. Geez.

Anyway, you must go see the show if you're in Los Angeles!

Oh and perhaps have lunch or dinner at Cube like we did ... we had Burrata with caramelized brown turkey figs and rosemary honey, I had sweet kabocha squash stuffed pasta, hubby had maltagliati with shaved lobster mushrooms and for dessert I had the chocolate lava cake and hubby had the warm honey date pudding. YUMMERS!

Such a delightful evening!