Festival of Arts & Pageant of The Masters

If you're ever in Southern California during the months of July or August, you have GOT to check out the Festival of Arts & Pageant of The Masters in Laguna Beach. I wish I could have recommended this earlier in the summer, but at that point I had never been.

Admission to the festival is only $7/adult and $4/students and seniors, so you can't beat that! The pageant is more expensive, and it varies depending on where you're seated and what day it is.

The open-air gallery of the festival isn't huge, you could see it in a couple of hours if you're pressed for time, or you could spend the whole day. You can also opt to go on a guided tour, or just wander around on your own. My family and I enjoyed the tour because we got to meet the artists and listen to them talk about their art. It's really amazing because the artists have to be juried into the show by a committee, and then they are judged throughout the festival to determine if they will be invited back. It's very competative, and the exhibits are quite impressive.

I wish I could share more pictures, but most of them are copyrighted.

In addition to browsing through the gallery, you can create some art of your own if you'd like. This is my husband making a print.

I have to say, the lady helping him was a piece of work herself! You definitely want to follow her directions very closely, or everyone there will know it! In a loud, but funny way... She made us laugh. :)

I regret that I wasn't able to see the Pageant of The Masters. Really regret! But I will definitely catch it next year. The sets and the people are designed to look exactly like famous paintings. But don't think "costume," think "artwork."

So, I hope you can put it in your future vacation plans... Maybe I'll see you there!

Alisa

Friday Finds

I decided I need a new serving bowl. Maybe a few. So I started shopping around and found some beautiful handmade stoneware and ceramics! Now, I'm thinking I need new dishes to go with those serving bowls...

I love this! Especially the deep red color. I found it at Sheila's Art

Pretty! These are at OC Pottery. He's practically my neighbor! Maybe I could pick them up and get free shipping... :)

Ok, you HAVE to click on this link and look at the beautiful detail on this plate! You can't see it in this picture, but there are other pictures in the listing that show it up close. 

I might have to take up knitting and get a cat, just so I can buy one of these adorable Kitty-Proof Yarn Bowls!

Alisa

Wow... It's a Whole New World!

Did you read my post "Unique" from a week ago or so? I was all excited about drawing original pictures and paying to have them made into custom stamps. Well, looky here!.....It's The Stampmaker! I haven't been this excited about finding a new product since PMC!

Watch and be amazed....

This is on my birthday wish list (hint, hint!)!

Alisa

Cameo Factory

This summer my husband and I celebrated our 21st anniversary by taking a trip to Italy. It was amazing! My dream vacation! One of things I enjoyed most was visiting a cameo factory in Pompeii. We got to watch a video demonstrating how they are made. It is so incredible to me that people can carve such detailed and intricate pictures by hand with just some chisels, and they've been doing it the same way for thousands of years! I found this video that you might enjoy that explains the process.

I actually wish I could have spent more time there, and that I could have watched an artist, first hand, making one. It really does fascinate me!

The hardest (but most fun!) part of the visit was picking one out for myself. There were so many to choose from, it was a little overwhelming.... But I managed! :)

This is my cameo :)

So cool. I really admire people with such artistic talent!

Alisa