Gifts from the Heart

With the stock market ups and downs and the low interest rates on deposits currently, people often ask me if art is a good investment.
In addition to the beauty, aesthetics and often inspiration that art brings to our lives, collectable art such as limited edition signed and numbered prints, and fine art originals can be a very good investment financially.
A few examples are selected works by popular artist Bev Doolittle. 

My family and I had just finished a day of touring the Cotswolds when rain started to mist the windshield on that Friday night in England 19 years ago.  As I guided the rental car through an intersection, a large car barreled over a hilltop and broadsided us at full speed.
My daughter, Amelia, 18 months old, was killed instantly, and Jeremy, 4, went into a deep coma from brain hemorrhaging and was hooked up to life support in a nearby hospital.  My wife, Wendy, suffered internal injuries, a broken leg and multiple fractures.

The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra (SCVYO) Foundation and the College of the Canyons student orchestras have been awarded a $9,000 challenge grant from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation (HMNF) to establish a musical library on the COC Valencia campus.
Expected to house music for all levels of orchestra from beginner through young professional, when established, the library will lend music and materials to SCV area schools, youth organizations and both private and public musical ensembles.

On Wednesday, March 3: “Reverse Mortgages” will be the subject of a presentation by Bank of America Reverse Loan Officers Maria-Esther Villanueva and Gonzalo Monje from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Activity Rooms one and two of the SCV Senior Center, located at 22900 Market Street in Newhall.

We at Valencia Loan Company are proud to say that we are a fully licensed collateral loan agency and direct purchaser of fine gems, jewelry and watches.  So if you need a short-term loan, or would just like to sell your unwanted gold or platinum jewelry, we can help.  It is quick and easy, all you need is a valid driver’s license or valid passport. 

Whether you’ve got prints, paintings or photographs, properly done framing will give you the maximum enjoyment and protection for your art.  A poorly done frame very often results in damaged artwork (fade and tape marks, etc.), lessening both the life and the resale value of the piece.

Only two percent of women around the world think of themselves as beautiful.
Four out of five women are dissatisfied with their image.
Too often women, starting from their early years, are bombarded with social and cultural misconceptions together with skewed “photoshopped” images that lead to a personal flawed perception which define our definition of beauty.

In the coming months, as the American Cancer Society’s distinguished gala “Imagine…An Evening in Paris” gears up for its August 8 arrival at Robinson Ranch Golf Club, community members will probably have questions about the soiree.  Here are some potential gala ponderings, replete with answers:

Spring is just around the corner and while some of your neighbors may be planting bulbs to brighten their gardens, others are making plans to turn up the color inside their homes.  Redecorating has become popular this time of year due to the long association with “Spring Cleaning.” 

How can we find more time for ourselves?  With the current economic situation we are in, it is more and more difficult to find time to do anything beyond working longer hours, which doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon, and family time is spent shuttling the kids to and from their events and activities, or to school and back.  Quick dinners.  No spare time? Help!

Encountering other cultures, countries and languages has always been a passion of mine and last month we had the opportunity to visit Italy again.  I am grateful for all of my adventures, but this trip in particular was truly a journey to remember.  First of all, Europe was experiencing one of the coldest fronts in decades so some of our original plans had to be pleasantly diverted. 

Organizers of the American Cancer Society’s Second Annual “Legacy of Hope” gala, “Imagine… An Evening in Paris,” are seeking volunteers to help fill key committee roles in planning their French-themed late summer event.
The gala – which will honor local community leaders for their outstanding commitment to the battle against cancer – is slated for August 8 at Robinson Ranch Golf Club. Sponsors, underwriters, and live/silent auction donors are also being sought. 

Valentine’s Day is a perfect time to get engaged.  With all that love in the air, this romantic holiday could set the right mood for your special occasion.
Keep in mind as you plan your proposal that this will be one of the most significant moments in both your lives.  Make it a day she will remember and cherish forever.  The most memorable proposals rarely cost a lot of money, they are just well planned and thought out.  Most women dream of this day, so use your imagination to surprise her.

One of the most exciting and energizing parts of owning our Candleman of Valencia store is making sure we are always bringing in fresh new merchandise for our customers and offering products you won’t find at the big box retailers or department stores.  My wife Karen and I traveled to the largest gift show in the United States, the Atlanta Gift Show, in early January.  We arrived in eight degree weather and on our first night we watched a snowstorm come in and blanket the Downtown Atlanta area from our hotel.  It seemed surreal having just flown in from Los Angeles with 70 degree weather.

The Santa Clarita Artists’ Association (SCAA) February 15, 2010 meeting at 7 p.m. will feature landscape artist, Carolyn Counnas.  Carolyn will be demonstrating the Seven Principles of Creating Depth in Your Paintings.
Carolyn found her artistic inspiration from trekking around the world.  Having lived in India, Africa, Japan and Europe, various ethnic influences are evident in her early work, which captures the feeling, energy and emotion of a place rather than a particular subject. 

With newspapers announcing educational cuts in their budgets and some elementary schools that may be closed, I feel concerned about what all of this will mean in the coming weeks and months.

As the New Year starts, I have been reflecting on the past year and the current economical crisis in the U.S.  It is so sad to see what has happened to so many friends, family and people in the news who are faced with such financial challenges due to the economy.  It makes me even more thankful though to know how lucky my family has been and how lucky I am to have had such loyal wonderful friends and customers who support our local store here in the Santa Clarita Valley.  Santa Clarita is such a warm wonderful place to raise children and it often reminds me of the valley where I grew up when I was a child.  I told myself that I would love to do something as a “give back” to the community in which I hold high respect.

How often have you heard a song on the radio and instantly you recall a nice memory and your mood is totally altered?  Music is magical and transcends age, race and nationality.  At Ma Maison we originally had XM radio playing in the background but it soon became routine and...