What a happy day Saturday was!!! With directions in hand I set out for Danville to Tinsel and Treasures an art show featuring 7 wonderful artists.
Set amid a lovely neighborhood and a stones throw from downtown was the Danville Women's Club and it was filled with pure delight! I was so excited to not only see all the spectacular art but to actually MEET these amazing women in person. I think my exuberance was a bit over the top but I can't help being silly and sometimes a bit loud when excitement gets the better of me.
I walked in and scanned the room for a moment when my eye caught sight of someone looking at me with a tinge of recognition in her eyes. "Lisa?" She asked and then she told me who she was....TERISA! Yes my co-host for Project Blogway from that fabulous blog Running With Scissors. Oh to meet and hug her and chat in person - the amazing part being it was all so comfortable and easy. She is as delightful in person as her blog and oh so lovely! Terisa had come down from Napa with her equally delightful (I know I keep using that word but it's true) friend Sue. (why did I not get a pic of her?) Sue is eclectic and sweet and someday soon G and I will be going up to Napa for a wine tour with her. (even before meeting in person we discovered Terisa's husband grew up in the same Oregon town as my life long best friend - and they know one another. Isn't it a small world?) I am still smiling.
**Terisa**
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As we stood and chatted I saw a familiar face walking towards us.......at first I wasn't sure of her recognition of me (I knew who SHE was) but then I saw that spark in her eyes and we nearly knocked each other over with a big blogger friendly hug! Who was it? Well it was that Ribboned Crowned Diva herself, Donna O'Brien. Donna was one of the artists there and I had told her I would be coming. She and I talk on the phone now and then so to finally meet up close and personal was a complete thrill and to see her work up close and personal another thrill. She's beautiful inside and out and we share the same shallow fondness for reality TV. So not only do we have art in common but we can dish about The Bachelor! HA! I adore her! There definitely is a regalness about everything she creates - I think she should be dressed as a Queen or at least a Princess when she sells her work. We laughed, we hugged some more and I am so happy we had the chance to do both. OH and when it comes to Johnny.....well let's just say she's rather possessive of her man. (well, she THINKS he's hers anyway)
**Donna**
**Donna's table of wonderful wares**
(see the empty display cases? By the time I arrived they were empty)
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(see the empty display cases? By the time I arrived they were empty)
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This is Colleen Moody of Merry Wishes and Vintage Dreams. Doll artist extraordinaire! Her creations are whimsical and wonderful and YES, delightful. Colleen casts off sparks of genuiness, sweetness, fun, friendliness and more. Meeting her was like coming together with an old friend. AND as we chatted we found out we grew up in the same town, we went to the same schools for Junior High and High School and we lived in the same general neighborhood. (OK, I admit I'm older). But how's that for another dose of how small the world is?
**a close up of Colleen's dolls**
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This is Ulla. I had met Ulla one other time briefly in Berkeley where she teaches classes at Castle in the Air. She is charming and sweet with a smile that lights up her whole face. She is a VERY talented artist who works in many mediums and has even taught workshops in her own studio. She made these adorable bat babies - click on photo or see them up close on her blog. She has a phenomanal imagination!!!
Ulla's blog is a constant font of information about extraordinary artists, I don't know where she finds them!
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This is Gina Gabriell of Eleven Morning - talk about charming!! I admit to not having seen her work before but wow, wow is this gal talented. If you look at her website you will see there is probably nothing she can't do. Next month she is opening her own store called Tangerine in Dublin(CA) which I will absolutely be going to AND she will have workshops and classes (one I plan to attend in November). I was struck by her characters wearing black and white striped stockings and red shoes......if you know me at all you KNOW I am partial to that. In fact speaking of shoes........the shoes below are what she was wearing and I LOVE them!
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This is Iva Wilcox's table and unfortunately she was helping someone and turned when I took the photo. Trust me she's lovely! Her folk art is amazing and celebrates holidays in such a fantastic way. I believe it was Iva who got this event together. I was lucky enough to spend a little bit chatting with this oh so sweet woman. I had first heard about her in a very sad way a year ago - the loss of her daughter. I had heard how many artists had come together to be a part of the Angels for Brianna Fundraising Auction in 2007 that was an outstanding array of beautiful art created by generous hearts.
Iva also has a blog and she has an article in the current Somerset Studio magazine. She makes "Tunnel Books" that you have to see to believe!
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This is Sylvia Anderson. I was only able to chat with her briefly but I was struck by her absolutley wonderful creations. That moon with the hat to her right is so much more vibrant in person, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. The Owl and the Pussycat dancing atop the moon box is also a fabulous creation, the box rotates. I just loved her work and she, herself, is very sweet! She also has an Etsy site where she sells her delightful (yes there's that word again) work.
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There was one other artist, Connie Govea Stuart, sadly I was not able to meet her and I feel badly I didn't get a photo of her table set up. Her work is vintage inspired loveliness. She doesn't seem to have a website or blog that I know of but you can read about her here by scrolling down the page. She's had her work published in several magazines including Stampington and Company.
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This is Ulla. I had met Ulla one other time briefly in Berkeley where she teaches classes at Castle in the Air. She is charming and sweet with a smile that lights up her whole face. She is a VERY talented artist who works in many mediums and has even taught workshops in her own studio. She made these adorable bat babies - click on photo or see them up close on her blog. She has a phenomanal imagination!!!
Ulla's blog is a constant font of information about extraordinary artists, I don't know where she finds them!
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This is Gina Gabriell of Eleven Morning - talk about charming!! I admit to not having seen her work before but wow, wow is this gal talented. If you look at her website you will see there is probably nothing she can't do. Next month she is opening her own store called Tangerine in Dublin(CA) which I will absolutely be going to AND she will have workshops and classes (one I plan to attend in November). I was struck by her characters wearing black and white striped stockings and red shoes......if you know me at all you KNOW I am partial to that. In fact speaking of shoes........the shoes below are what she was wearing and I LOVE them!
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This is Iva Wilcox's table and unfortunately she was helping someone and turned when I took the photo. Trust me she's lovely! Her folk art is amazing and celebrates holidays in such a fantastic way. I believe it was Iva who got this event together. I was lucky enough to spend a little bit chatting with this oh so sweet woman. I had first heard about her in a very sad way a year ago - the loss of her daughter. I had heard how many artists had come together to be a part of the Angels for Brianna Fundraising Auction in 2007 that was an outstanding array of beautiful art created by generous hearts.
Iva also has a blog and she has an article in the current Somerset Studio magazine. She makes "Tunnel Books" that you have to see to believe!
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This is Sylvia Anderson. I was only able to chat with her briefly but I was struck by her absolutley wonderful creations. That moon with the hat to her right is so much more vibrant in person, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. The Owl and the Pussycat dancing atop the moon box is also a fabulous creation, the box rotates. I just loved her work and she, herself, is very sweet! She also has an Etsy site where she sells her delightful (yes there's that word again) work.
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There was one other artist, Connie Govea Stuart, sadly I was not able to meet her and I feel badly I didn't get a photo of her table set up. Her work is vintage inspired loveliness. She doesn't seem to have a website or blog that I know of but you can read about her here by scrolling down the page. She's had her work published in several magazines including Stampington and Company.
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OH and I also met Chelise Stroud Hery (Chel) - I can't believe I didn't take a photo (and she was dressed so darn cute too) so I hope she doesn't mind that I pilfired a pic from her blog [above]. I first "met" Chel via One World-One Heart the first year. She is the Founder of ZNE click and read all about it. It's an amazing organization that I will be joining (I should have joined a long time ago). They also hold conventions with the next one being April 29-May 3, 2009 in Pleasanton. I am absolutely going to attend and hopefully take some workshops and definitely meet more blogger friends as well.
I was standing right next to her not realizing who she was and when I did I was THRILLED to be able to meet her in person and give her a hug. She has done amazing things!!!
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I was standing right next to her not realizing who she was and when I did I was THRILLED to be able to meet her in person and give her a hug. She has done amazing things!!!
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I couldn't be happier about being able to attend this event and I look forward to attending more of these in and around this area. Hopefully one day even actually be one of the artists showing and selling. I hope you enjoyed meeting these women (if you haven't already) and will click on the various links to read about them and see their work! I mean isn't this what we should do as bloggers.......promote one another??
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!! We're enjoying some mild weather here and I hope it continues! NOW I simply must work on my paper couture!! REMEMBER - Wednesday is the Runway Show!! See you then!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!! We're enjoying some mild weather here and I hope it continues! NOW I simply must work on my paper couture!! REMEMBER - Wednesday is the Runway Show!! See you then!
Love,
Lisa
XOXOXO
