HAVE A DOG-GONE MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Christmas isn't a season.  It's a feeling..........Edna Ferber

 

And I'm feeling the spirit as I watch the villagers scuttling around, moving and decorating throughout the village.  Twinkling lights, wrapped packages, colorful Christmas balls, rag tied Christmas trees, wreaths, and so much more unique decorating in front of the studios.....really, it's enough to wear a dog out just lying here watching them.

 

Balboa Park's Annual December Nights is scheduled for December 6th and 7th, from 5 PM to 11 PM.....the museums will be free to enter, carolers, food booths, Santas, and much entertainment will be throughout the Park.

 

Parking is at a premium.  Valet service is available.  Shuttle service is available.

Dress warmly....

This is a family event....but if your dog is handsome, bring him along too....as I get older, just looking at handsome dogs is enough for me...perks the old fur up.

 

I will be eagerly awaiting your company in Spanish Village Art Center.  We will be festooned with colorful Christmas decoration, twinkling lights, the aroma of hot apple cider and freshly made popcorn, arts & crafts booths throughout the patio, live entertainment, food booths, a jolly  Santa booth for kids with an agenda, and lots of happy village artists looking forward to sharing the ambience and spirit of the season with you.

 

Franklin, the arachnophobic rat is eagarly anticipating the free yummies dropped on the floor, while Erika the rag cat is anticipating what Franklin would taste like....can't we just all get along???  Brandon my poodle buddy and I will be randomly greeting everyone, and humbly accepting handouts to munch.....although, belly rubs, head pats, and compliments are always appreciated.  I will be wearing a bright, fluffly, red bow on my collar, and Brandon will be wearing a large, green, bow tie on his collar.

 

There's a saying ' He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree'....Roy L. Smith........however, Franklin, Erika, Brandon, me and the other 4-legged members of the village look forward to all the goodies left on the grounds....waiting for us to store it away.....that, I guess, are our gifts from the Christmas season.

 

Well, come and celebrate with us!

Remember to keep the Spirit of Christmas all year round....and remind my brothers and sisters not to pee on the tree.

 

I love you all!

Bella

CLAY and PEOPLE

 

Hello Everyone!

 

Did you know THE POTTERY GUILD'S TWICE YEARLY PATIO SALE is happening this weekend, November 9th and 10th, from 10AM to 4 PM!  

 Throughout the village, booths displaying creative, colorful, useful and decorative artworks made of clay.....one of a kind creations, all hand made by our artists.

 So, dear hearts, dip your feet into Christmas shopping, gift buying, enjoying the creative minds of our artists, and meandering through all our 37 working art studios!

 We'll have live music, food booths, and lots of people watching.

 Remember, we are free to the Public, and family and pet friendly!

 .....I was thinking, clay and people are somewhat alike....some you can see right through, and some you cannot.....but, both are fragile.

Had a lovely time at the Doggy Halloween Costume Contest and Parade!

Simon, the blue eyed Siberian Husky just IGNORED ME.

 

 

Am I losing my touch????  Turning gray???  Losing my fur???  Putting on weight???  Too many meatball, pizza and milk bones???

Is there anything redeeming about getting on with age????

 Or, I should remind myself to be grateful for every moment and day.....

 So, my dears, enjoy each moment....make happy.....

 Much Love,

 

 BELLA

COME JOIN THE FESTIVITIES! Saturday, October 26th

Can you sense he shortening of the days as darkness creeps in earlier each evening?  Soon,we will say good-bye to summer as autumn makes its presence known....tree leaves turning golden brown and falling to the earth, and the recogning of holidays nipping at our heels....before we know it, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's quickly become memories.

Spanish Village is beginning its kick-off with Family Days, Saturday, October 26, 11 AM to 4 PM....

It is the day the Village celebrates Halloween.

Artists set up booths with their artwork for sale, and art demonstrations will be displayed in the courtyard....all 37 working art studios will be open, welcoming your observations of art being created and happy to answer questions about their art.

Visitors, dressed up in Halloween costumes, can come and visit the studios and 'trick or treat'....candy corn, lollipops, sweet tarts, caramel apples, red licorice, gumballs, lemon heads, lots of chocolate (4-leggers cannot eat this, and so much more, waiting for the goblins, witches, vampires, wild and cute animals, ghosts, and other costumed 2 and 4 legged creatures who trick or treat....

HOWEVER, nothing compares to our ANNUAL HALLOWEEN DOGGY COSTUME CONTEST, complete with DOGGY PARADE, and prizes for my 4-legged comarades....no one should be dressed up like beautiful Cinderella, because I will be, looking for my Prince Charming (preferrably with no fleas and all his teeth).  Shhh, I have a soft spot for boxers and Siberian huskies (blue eyes...hubba, hubba).  It all begins at noon in the courtyard.

Coming to Spanish Village, is a chance to see unique, handmade, arts and crafts of all kinds, amongst vintage studios, colorful paved grounds, live music, art demonstrations (even glass blowing), kids and dogs dressed in Halloween costumes, trick or treating, and a fun DOGGY COSTUME CONTEST and PARADE!!!!

COME JOIN THE FESTIVITIES!

We are family and pet friendly.

WE ARE FREE TO VISIT!

So, my 2-legged blogging friends, smile, don't worry twice, and remember, I love you!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

LOVE, KISSES, PIZZA and MILKBONES to all of you,

Bella

OPEN HOUSE

Everyone!  Free to the Public!

You are invited to: SPANISH VILLAGE ART CENTER'S

                             YEARLY OPEN HOUSE

                             SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 5PM-8PM

Come enjoy visiting 37 individual working art studios, talk to the artists, stroll the village, take in the colorful, vintage ambience of the largest and olderst art colony in San Diego.

Bring the family!

Bring Rover!

Bring a date!

Bring yourself!

Take your time to enjoy the original art, delicious appetizers, bid on the silent auction (artwork donated by our Village artists), sit a spell to listen to the live music and enjoy the festivities.

COME Enjoy an Evening Under the Stars with Spanish Village!

I will be the fluffy, pretty dog with the wagging tail, and smiling face!

Slices of pizza much appreciated.

WOOF WOOF, my Loves,

BELLA

CHATTER-CHILDREN AND CLASSES

Summer days last til around 7:30 PM, when the sun sets. 

Still, the children's art classes, mornings and afternoons,  give aspiring, young, artists, exposure to clay, painting, mixed media and so much more.

I lie underneath the jacaranda tree, in my cool, freshly dug hole, and listen to the chatter of the children and the birds.  Lunch time is always a special treat because the children are quite generous with sharing bits of lunch....although, I could do without anymore bologna or string cheese.

Come enjoy the Village and rub my tummy!

Love,

Bella

VILLAGES AND HOUSES

VILLAGES AND HOUSES

 

''In A Perfect World, Every Dog Would Have A Home, and Every Home Would Have A Dog''

 

In an ideal world, we would all have homes....every dog, every person, anyone who wanted a home should have a place to call home.

 

I do not have a home.....well, I had one awhile back, but I didn't like the yapping, little, dog next door, the television on all day, being fenced in, and I missed my friends at Spanish Village....I had developed a nervous chewing habit that the vet said was emotional....so, here I am, back at the Village, and happy.....no more of the chewies, and my ears aren't bombarded with the noise of the television, or that yapping dog....

 

Homes come in different places....for Brandon, my buddy, the poodle, it's his bed with his master,  for Erika, the ragdoll cat, it's in a dry, cozy, unused storage box, for Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, it's a dark corner in Mary's studio, and, for me, it's the wherever the food smells good and the belly rubs are aplenty......which, is here, in Spanish Village Art Center.

                                                               MOLLY and TOM

 

Here, amongst the friendly artists, surrounded by original art, and the charming, colorful, vintage, white cottages, I call home.....I guess home is where your friends are....home is where your heart resides.

 

There's a saying, ''a man's soul can be judged by the way he treats his dog''....by Charles Doran....

 

And, it is here, Spanish Village, where charm and soulfulness can be found in the artists and the artwork they create.

 

Come and visit us!

 

Love,

Bella

WOOF! WOOF!

CLAY TO CLASSES

There's a rhythm to the special occassions to Spanish Village. One such event is the 'Potter's Guild Twice Yearly Patio Sale', on June 8th and 9th from 10 AM to 5 PM. Booths cover our spacious patio, displaying all things made from clay. Coffee cups to sculptures, raku to sagger, utilitarian to decorative objects of art can be found....all handmade, one of a kind...come meet the potters!   Father's Day is Sunday, June 16th! Come pick out a handmade coffee cup or browse the tables for something else. While you are enjoying the Village, pick up a roster/application to Spanish Village's Summer School for Art. Classes are held weekly, Mon-Fri, July through August, 9 AM to 12 PM or 1 PM to 4 PM. Cost: $140.00 per morning or afternoon class...or check our website : http://SpanishVillageArt.com   Summer School is always a joy for Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, Erika, the ragdoll cat, and the numerous other 4-legged creatures that hang out at the Village....why? ALL THE FOOD LEFTOVER, whether it's in the trash, tossed out to us, or left on the ground, we all appreciate the goodies! Kids are notorious for leaving food around....     Oh! Here comes Rebecca! She's got a brush and a new ribbon to put in my fur! Remember to come by and pat me on the head, bring some pizza, and perhaps a meatball sandwich for me, next time you see me! ....and a bit of advice to the fathers........be sure to treat the mothers well, and they will make you and your family happy. Good Shopping at the Village and Happy Father's Day! Love, Bella

MOMS TO MOTHERS

 

 

Mother's Day is this Sunday.
I don't remember much about my mother, but I wish I did. In the Village, I see children with their moms, mothers holding infants, grown men and women strolling with their elderly mothers, and couples waiting for their baby to be born.....It's all a facet of Nature, MOTHER Nature.

For this weekend:
If you are looking for a unique gift for Mother's Day, come check out the Glass Guild's twice yearly patio sale, both Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 5 PM.....

Tables set out throughout the spacious patio will display and sell glass work of all kinds ranging from useable glass, wearable glass to decorative glass. All work is made by glass guild members of Spanish Village.

 

For those who would enjoy creating clay windchimes:
Beverly in studio 39, invites you to assemble a unique, custom made, windchime, complete with clay beads, glass beads, and brass bells, for Mother's Day.....(she gave me a meatball to mention this---Woof!)

Spanish Village is family and pet friendly..... a charming, vintage village, creating an art colony of San Diegans, who invite you to come see us!

We are open 7 days a week, from 11 AM to 4 PM!

So, my loves,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Bella

PARADISE and KARMA

It's a beautiful day in San Diego, paradise, really. The village is letting out a sigh of relief from the excitement of Earth Day, and parking is possible now.

I was wearing my new tie-dyed ribbon, made especially by Cassandra, for Earth Day, and I really thought I would steal the day....I felt slim and perky, my fur was clean and fluffy....

Carol put a bit of perfume on me....and Don had brought in some pizza and meat balls.....

However, in came Karma, the village black cat, riding on Tom's shoulders....everyone congregated around her....(that cat will do just about anything to upstage me).....however, I think she's lost a few whiskers and put on a pound or two, ....eating too many of this spring's mice.

Next month is Mother's Day! Remember to come to Spanish Village for an original, handmade gift for her!

Take Care, my loves!

Bella

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

 

This Sunday, April 21, 10AM-5PM, Balboa Park, including Spanish Village Art Center, is celebrating out annual Earth Day festivities.

Throughout the Park, informational and demonstrational booths will offer ways to help celebrate and appreciate Mother Earth, encouraging us to be conscientious caretakers of our Earth, acknowledging how she nurtures our ecology, our dependence on her.....knowing her well-being means our-well being.

As for me, a freshly dug hole to lie in, and the warm sun and nurturing rain, that goes to growing wheat, that feeds the cows, that makes the cheese, that makes the cheese pizzas on my whole wheat cheese pizza, that gives Anthony, the delivery person a job, and so much more to our economy/ecology.....

Earth is our Home.....Care and Protect Her!

Love, Kisses,

Bella

BUNNIES AND BASKETS

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail,

hippity hop, Easter is on its way!

 

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

You Are Invited to a:

Children's Easter Egg Hunt

in Spanish Village Art Center

on Easter Sunday, March 21, 2013

11AM-3PM

Eggs delightfully hidden by the village artists

Free to the Public

Spanish Village is celebrating its annual Easter Egg Hunt, where hundreds of colorful, plastic eggs, stuffed with pre-wrapped taste treats, whimsically hidden throughout our charming patio area, and hidden on the hour and on the half hour, 11AM-3PM, will bring happiness to those adventurous Egg Hunters.

I will be wearing my Easter pink bow on my pink collar, but please don't feed me chocolate or taste treats....doggies shouldn't eat such goodies...but I would appreciate a pat on my head, belly rub or compliments....(should you have a slice of pizza or a meatball, that would be appreciated, too).

It's a fun occassion for all...parents can poke around the 37 working art studios where one can watch demonstrations and purchase unique artwork, listen to live music, people watch while enjoying the charming ambience of vintage studios, springtime flowers, and where ever else the imagination leads.....and of course, we are Dog Friendly!

 

So, my little 2-legged friends, arm yourself with an Easter basket, and make happy memories of Spanish Village!

Hopping Easter Day!

Woof!

Love,

Bella

P.S. Easter: happens on the first Sunday after the full moon on/or after March 21.....

LOVE

 

        Valentine's Day is coming up.....  My mind wanders to what is really Love.

It's clearly a feeling, like a cool breeze on a warm day...something I know is real, but cannot hold or see...only realize the effects of it...such as Lucy's yummy chow mein, Brandon's wet tongue across my nose, Priscilla nudging her kittens, Danielle's signature on a finished watercolor, and so much more.

 

Is Love the impetus to good actions or art, or are actions and art the impetus to Love? ( I feel like I'm chasing my tail).

Valentine's Day brings me meatballs, bites of pizza, tasty tidbits of this and that, a new pink Valentine's ribbon for my collar, hugs, kisses, and belly rubs from my 2-legged friends in the Village, who show their Love by creating artwork of all types, beit jewelry, paintings, glass/enamel/wood/clay or sculpture, and much more.

So, if you fear that chocolate heart, or box of candies, will make your man loosen his belt buckle, make your lady bust her pants, or finance your dentist's second home....Come to Spanish Village Art Center's 37 working art studios to buy a CALORIE FREE token of your Love.

Okay, so what is Love?
Love has many facets.
It is as hard as diamonds, and much much older.
It is what continues with its own intentions through the minutiae of fear, darkness, and callousness.
It is the undying pulse where there is conciousness.
I am lucky to be loved, but more fortunate to Love.

So, my 2-legged, reading, friends.....

I LOVE YOU.

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Bella

I LOVE 2 PARTY!!!

artist Weston Riffle "Imperial Valley"                                                       Images are Copyright Protected" Hi Everyone,   Did you go to the Small Image Show's reception last Saturday night? If you didn't want to brave through the opaque fog, or the rain, here are some photos of the BIG taa-doo about small art!                                                                             BOW WOW! artist Ally Benbrook "Stubby Dog" Images are Copyright Protected   And, remember, it is free to the public, and runs 11 AM-4 PM, 7-days a week, until Feb. 25th!! Come enjoy! Come Buy! Come and say 'hi' to me!                                                  Everone seems to be enjoying the show   Looks Like my friend Barbara was having fun!   So, take care my 2-legged friends.  We are pet & family friendly! Bella

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

Oh, this warm sunshine feels so, so, appreciated! Last week's cold spell sent all my 4-legged friends scattering for warm shelter.

 

EVERYONE! YOU ARE INVITED TO:

38th Annual Small Image Reception

Spanish Village Art Center -  Balboa Park
1770 Village Place - Gallery 21
San Diego, CA 92101
Saturday January 26, 2013
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Free to the public!

It's a unique challenge for artist's to create artwork no greater than 10''x10'' with a wide range of visual expression.

The show opens on January 23 thru February 25.

11:00AM to 4:00PM

All artwork is for sale, and catalogues are available.

My favorite part is the reception where all those yummy taste treats are offered.....especially the meatballs! And, the leftovers dropped on the floor, are graciously eated by Franklin, the arachnophobic rat.

If you would like to enjoy the vibrations of other art lovers, stroll around Gallery 21, and enjoy small works of juried artwork, COME TO THE RECEPTION!

I will be the beautiful, longhaired, bearded collie, with the pink bow....meatballs are alway appreciated.....

Til the Reception!

Good Bye, Woof! Woof!