Gifts from the Heart

Beginning Saturday, December 1, three local women artists, award winners and members of the Santa Clarita Artists’ Association present their very varied art styles in one all-inclusive show and holiday gift boutique during the month of December at Valencia Art and Framing, Granary Square, located at 25850 McBean Parkway in Valencia.

Bridge to Home-Santa Clarita Shelter hosts Humor Helps – A Comedy Show on November 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Blessed Kateri Church located at 22508 Copper Hill Drive in Santa Clarita.  This fun and laughter filled evening will include nationally acclaimed comedians such as Alonzo Bodden and others, live music, a silent auction and other fund-raising activities; delicious appetizers will be served.  

Barnes & Noble stores across the country invite customers to give the gift of reading to children in need during its annual Holiday Book Drive, taking place from November 1 to January 1, 2013.  The Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive provides an opportunity for customers to donate books through locally designated non-profit organizations.

The death of a child is devastating and it’s important to the family that the child always be remembered. That’s why members of the Santa Clarita Chapter of The Compassionate Friends (TCF) will participate in an annual worldwide event designed to honor the memories of all children, regardless of age, who have died. The chapter is joining Sunday, December 9, with hundreds of organized memorial services around the world for The Compassionate Friends 16th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting, an event now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting in the world.

Soon our homes will be filled with the aroma of turkey for Thanksgiving along with guests and family.  If one of the things on your holiday list this year is sprucing up your home, we can help.  Custom framing can transform your home into an elegant holiday showcase.  It’s one of the easiest and quickest ways to brighten up your tired decor. 

Ma Maison is so excited to announce our expansion onto Main Street in downtown Ventura.  We are opening a second location in Ventura that will be open by November 15!  We are thrilled to open the doors for this second boutique because the products we carry are currently unavailable to residents of the area and it will also afford us the opportunity to introduce more new items to Santa Clarita as well.

The Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society will host its 19th Annual Rose Show themed “Wild West Roses” on Saturday, November 3, and Sunday, November 4, at William S. Hart Park, 24151 Newhall Avenue in Newhall.  The show will be located in Hart Hall, and is Co-Sponsored by the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks & Recreation.  Concurrent with the rose show, there will be an art show on the rear patio of Hart Hall that will feature rose art by many local artists.  The public is invited to attend both events free of charge.

Everyone has a loved one that has suffered at the hands of cancer and this is the month to raise awareness and funds to try and find a cure.  In honor of my grandmother who has been in remission for five years and all the other survivors:

The question is “What is art?”  Anything that shows or tells about ideas, feelings, or experiences is art.  Paintings, photographs, poems, stories, plays, songs, and dances are art.  Art is like magic.  Art helps you appreciate what is around you.  Where is art?  Art is everywhere.  It is in the trees and clouds and shadows on the sidewalk.  It is in the clothes you wear, the dishes you eat from, the furniture in your home. 

The Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA) will host the 23rd Annual Art Classic on Saturday, October 20, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hart Hall at Hart Park in Newhall.  A free public viewing will be on Sunday, October 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The annual Art Classic Gala is our major fundraiser for the year,” said SCAA co-chair and president, Laurie Morgan. 

So how do you get inspired?  Is there a place you go?  People you meet?  Technique you follow?  The answer is whatever works for you, that’s probably a cop out, right?

It’s actually inside you already, you just have to find a way to release it.

There is a great deal of difference between framing materials.  Custom framing isn’t just about enhancing the beauty of the art but should be about preserving it as well.  When searching for a framer and comparing prices, you should be aware that the materials used in the framing process can vary significantly in quality.  At FASTFRAME, we are concerned with preservation and conservation of your art so all of our materials are museum quality and acid free. 

The Santa Clarita Valley Branch of AAUW will hold its Annual Membership Brunch to celebrate 44 years of service in the SCV and to kick-off the year’s activities, on Saturday, September 15, at 9:30 a.m. at the home of Louise Schultz.

Where did the roots of Art in America begin?  Art education is rooted in part in the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century when drawing was taught in an effort to improve the production of products.

However, the real beginnings of the visual arts in America began when the first English settlers landed on the East Coast and established their homes and churches.

Take a step into Naughty But Nice and you won’t be disappointed. Naughty But Nice Lingerie offers products from a variety of companies, with styles and price ranges to meet everyone’s needs from 18 to 80.

Owner, Sharon Dallas, has been making women look and feel great since 1989, and it’s no surprise why clients absolutely love her.  She’s the expert bra fitter, the “virtual professor” as some may say, and she has a talent for fitting women with the perfect bra.

Dear Santa Clarita,
Ma Maison is celebrating its ninth year in business and we wanted to take a moment to say Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support of our little boutique.  Your continued patronage over the years has not only kept us SCV’s most unique home décor and gift store but has also inspired us to stay innovative in these ever changing economic times. 

I recently made the remark “getting your hands dirty” to a close friend, and the response was “what does that mean?”

I took it for granted that it was a term widely used and needed no explanation.  Well, I guess it does, and here it is.
It means that during your creative work as an artist, you should not be afraid to dig in and get your hands full of paint, ink, charcoal or whatever you’re using. 

When you have a collection of photos, artwork and other special items to display, how can you get the most impact from them?  Framing them is a great way to emphasize these pieces, while protecting them at the same time.  The design options with custom framing are virtually endless.  Depending on your personal tastes, you can have the items framed in a coordinated fashion for a matching, streamlined collection, or if your style is more eclectic, you can create a grouping with differing frame styles.  Custom framing enables you to personalize the designs to get just the look you want.