Monday, February 24, 2014

39th Annual Small Image Show

WHEW!
Saying good-bye to the holiday season goes with a sincere so-long!
 
And now, the village is welcoming our juried 39th Annual Small Image Show, where art of all kinds is created within a 10''x10'' or smaller art images....incredible!
 

 
 
 
39th SMALL IMAGE SHOW
SPANISH VILLAGE ART CENTER
GALLERY 21
RUNS FROM: January 31 to March 2
Art for viewing and some for sale
NO ADMISSION
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
OPEN DAILY 11am to 4pm!
   

 
 
Reception: Saturday, February 1, from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Come meet the artists, see award's presentation, savor the finger foods, and enjoy the live music!
 
As for the 4-legged villagers, Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, has taken up house with Margaret, who is busily building a nest for their anticipated family.
Erika, the rag doll cat, is becoming quite adept at catching baby mice and roaches...and is eagerly anticipating the arrival of Margaret's babies, bones and all...
Priscilla, the tiger gray, is getting old...I think, sometimes, too tired to catch her dinner.....Brandon, my poodle buddy or I make it a point to keep an eye on her, and drop off a rodent or two for her meals......luckily, since the weather has been warm, we don't have to find dry shelter for her.
All of the villagers look out for each other, one way or another.
 
Remember Everyone!  Visit the Small Image Show in Gallery 21, come for the reception, and then meander through the working art studios, watch art demonstrations, enjoy live music, and drink in the quaint ambience.
 
 
 
We are pet and family friendly....and always, free to the public.
 
See you there, my loves!
 
Bella the blogging Beauty..

Friday, November 29, 2013

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

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

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

Thursday, October 17, 2013

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

Thursday, August 29, 2013

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

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

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

Friday, June 21, 2013

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!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

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

Monday, May 6, 2013

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

Friday, April 26, 2013

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