A Christmas Tree Exhibition!!!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!
They are green when summer days are bright,
They are green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!
How oft at Christmas tide the sight,
O green fir tree, gives us delight!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
You give us so much pleasure!

A Christmas Tree exhibition?! I couldn't miss it! I mean really, at only about a 50 minute drive, could you?

It's at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. An American Christmas runs until January 8th and it's pretty incredible and so creative!

Each tree represents a particular decade, beginning in the same decade as the Declaration of Independence. You cannot believe what they put on these trees! I don't have many distance shots in this post, because with my little "point and shoot" camera, you can't really see what anything is, from more than a few feet away.

There were so many "decorations" on each tree, reflecting what was going on in American society and the culture during a particular decade. (1700-2010) I basically picked the photos that weren't blurry since I wasn't using a flash. There was so much more than what I have shown here! You could go back over and over and notice something different every time.

1770-1779

1800-1809

Among other things, this tree (below) represented the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the country's size and the famous Lewis and Clark expedition which happened a year later.

I think this was the 1810-1819 tree, but I'm not sure. I just love having a wooden ship on a tree!

1830-1839 There was a lot of things going on this tree including Davey Crockett's coonskin hat, Sam Houston's portrait, references to the Alamo and the kindergarden movement.

I love the old book on the tree, with the rough woven ribbon ...

1840-1849

The frontier, westward movement, wagon trains and the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill, as well as works by Poe and Longfellow.

1860-1869

Included a copy of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's stovepipe hat and Emancipation proclamation.

1870-1879

The industrial Age ... a railroad boom, newly developing athletic sports like tennis and football and the establishment of Yellowstone Park.

1890-1899

1890-1899 The Ferris Wheel at the Chicago World's Fair, the establishment of Yosemite National Park .... the Happy Birthday melody ...

1900-1909

The Wright Brothers tested their Wright Flyer, Henry Ford introduced the model T, Sears Roebuck catalogs and mass production of things like Teddy bears, as well as a telephone and a newspaper with the tragedy of the San Francisco earthquake in the headlines ... all were represented on this tree.

1920-1929

The jazz Age, American prosperity, prohibition, Babe Ruth and Charles Lindbergh ...

1940-1949

1950-1959 with the 1960-1969 tree in the background ( Please click on photos to enlarge, for more detail!)

1960-1969

The photos to the left are veterans who volunteer as docents at the library ...

1970-1979

1980-1989

There were all sorts of things on this tree but I went with E.T.

;)

2000-2009

2010-2119 (Doesn't 2019 sound like forever away?)

Since we really don't know what the decade will look like, they put question marks on the tree and asked not only what will it look like when we look back but what do want it to look like?

What are your hopes and dreams for this decade?

What can we do to create it?

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.
Your boughs so green in summertime
Stay bravely green in wintertime.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Forever true your colour.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.
Reminding me on Christmas Day
To think of you and then be gay.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
You fill my heart with music.

English Lyrics Unknown Origin

(or a million origins)

Hope you are having an amazing week filled with holiday cheer!

And

Happy Hanukkah!

Welcome!

Haul out the holly;

Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.

Fill up the stocking,

I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now ...

For we need a little Christmas

Right this very minute,

Candles in the window,

Carols at the spinet

Yes, we need a little Christmas

Right this very minute.

It hasn't snowed a single flurry but

Santa Dear we're in a hurry!

~ lyrics by Jerry Herman

Mame, 1966

Welcome! I have been inspired by so many of you, to share a little of my "at home" holiday spirit. I have a tendency to go a little overboard but I restrained myself a bit this year! (I know it's hard to tell!) I had a few friends from the art studio over one night, so I also set up an extra table for finger food.

As you can see I finally have seating in my living room! A lovely sleigh-bed my parents weren't using, fit perfectly between two windows! It's as if it had been built for just that spot!

Some of you might remember that, for a few years, I had made my living room into a studio space and had gotten rid of my big monster of a burgundy (circa 1997) overstuffed sofa. It was a nice idea in theory but not such a great set-up to have guests. Or as one of my girlfriends put it, "You need a spot to have gentleman callers!" Glass Menagerie reference aside, she was right. It's not good when your only two seating options are old, hard, bentwood dining chairs or the Sealy Posturepedic.

Some of what might look like Christmas decorations (the Indian and Pakistani pillows and sari fabrics) are actually there for year-round pleasure, but the lights and ... well, you'll figure it out, are the holiday adornments. ;)

The table runner is actually an old Japanese Obi I have had for years. Perfect for the hors d'oeuvre table with it's red and gold thread!

This little nativity scene was a gift from my parents' trip to South America ...

Small retable from Mexico ... another gift of my parents' travels.

I didn't go overboard in the powder room but it still needed a little extra glitz ...

Yep, the ceiling is a shiny black and the shade is a silk damask, from Silk Trading Co. which I am still in love with!

It's been ages since I have had more than two people in my place at a time. I used to throw dinner parties and shindigs all the time, so this felt like a wonderful renewal!

I made a toast to gratitude and bringing in new energy into my place! It felt wonderful!

My Dad informed me that today was the biggest mail day of the year. Of course, I found this out after my trip to the post office. No wonder the parking lot looked like game day at the L.A. Coliseum.

I went to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley last friday, for their Christmas Tree exhibit. So many fun ideas so I will be blogging that this week, along with Greeting Cards from Christmas past! Lots to catch up on!

Here is one of my favorite Christmas tunes!!!

The truth is that this time of year offers us a wonderful opportunity to rekindle the spirit of love and living life to the fullest.

With your expectations set on positive, here are some attitude adjustments to try:

I’ll let the holidays flow, rather than trying to make them fit into a fixed schedule.

I’ll remember that people are more important than things.

I’ll relax my expectations for myself and others this year.

I’m going to live in the present moment and enjoy each activity for itself instead of always thinking about what is ahead of me.

I’m going to approach the holidays with a sense of joyful anticipation and wonder, just like I did when I was a child.

from Wayne Dyer's Blog

12/8/10

For more of this Wayne Dyer post click Here

Many Blessings to you my friends!

December ... busy busy busy!!!!

A bee is never as busy as it seems;

it's just that it can't buzz any slower.

~Kin Hubbard

It may indeed be the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (I happen to think so) but it's also the busiest, so I thought I'd do a quick recap of the "goings on."

A week ago yesterday was my Italian written final. 3 essays. I didn't even get to the last! You see, I get a little "involved" sometimes and forget I still have two more essays to write! For the first essay we had to write a proposal for a movie, which included the story-line, how we would cast ourselves and who would be our co-star. Of course, this is all in Italian. Oy. It was intense.

Like I said, I didn't get to the last essay, but I have gotten A's on everything else in the class, including the oral exam (last night) so I am sure I will be fine. Speaking of the oral ... hilARious. Flavio (il mio professore) put my friend Karen and I together with our young friend Karo, who is adorable and I am sure a heart breaker to all the 20 year old girls on campus. We had to write a skit about a guy (Karo) who is caught dating 2 girls. Funny stuff. Best Italian class ever.

Anyway, I also managed to get over to the Italian Institute of Culture (IIC) with my friend Marcello, for the opening reception of Deposito: Selected works from the Galleria del Deposito (1963-1969.)

It runs through February 2, 2012 if you happen to be in the L.A. area.

Designs by Rudi Gernreich

Love this blouse! So groovy!

"On display a collection of works from Galleria del Deposito (1963-1968) in Genoa including serigraphs, scarves, trays, multiples, and jewelry created by internationally acclaimed artists such as Getulio Alviani, Max Bill, Eugenio Carmi, Lucio Fontana, Jesus Rafael Soto, and Victor Vasarely, among many others. This show will highlight the critical connections between Eugenia Butler (as she served as the American representative for Galleria del Deposito) and the influential role Italian artists had on the L.A. art scene."

From what I gathered, these designs by Rudi Gernreich used textile designs created by Italian artist Eugenio Carmi, who was actually there there at the Institute that night. He was being interviewed on stage, giving an introduction to the exhibition and background on the Galleria del Deposito. Eugenio Carmi was born in 1920 in Genoa, so ... not the youngest of gentlemen but very charming! (Not shocking, I suppose, being Italian, and all. :)

Marcello and works by Eugenio Carmi

More of Rudi Gernreich's designs ...

How fun is this?!

December is birthday time as well, kicked off by my niece Rachel who turned 18 on the 4th!! We celebrated with a Moroccan feast and belly dancers at Dar Maghreb Restaurant in Hollywood. I am actually convinced that that might have been the most I've ever eaten, in a single sitting. I wanted to lie across the couches and take a nap!

Rachel being a great sport ...

These photos below were taken from substituting an art class at the Wizard of Art one Saturday afternoon. I just had to share them! These girls were in the same class, obviously bringing up the cute quotient exponentially.

Two Red Huskies in the Moonlight

pastel on paper

Natasha age 5

Man on the Moon

pastel on paper

Amelie age 5

Couldn't you just die? So cute!!!!

December also brought with it, a long overdue trip to the Korean Spa last Thursday. I say "long overdue" because my dear friend Shea has been trying to take me for my birthday for three years now! Something has always come up. Someone gets sick or I would have an audition ... Anyway, we made it!!!

I tell you, after soaking in various tubs and steaming ourselves into limp noodles, we got scrubbed almost every inch from head to toe. It was amazing. I am not kidding, my skin hasn't felt like this since I was 3! Smooth as a baby's bum! I highly recommend it. Perfect relaxation in the midst of the holiday season, if you can swing it.

That night, after the Korean Spa, was the opening of "Snap to Grid" at LACDA (Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts.) Snap to Grid is sort of a fundraiser and they except everyone's work. I thought it would be fun if my nieces and I were all in it together, so Rachel, Elizabeth and I sent in our digital photo images. Rachel, unfortunately, couldn't make it from Ojai, so Elizabeth and "represented" that night downtown at art walk! The parking was insane but we finally made it inside.

Snap to Grid 2011

LACDA

It looked cool with everyone's pieces up on the wall together. It became one large piece of art and was definitely stronger as a whole than the individual pieces themselves. (At least that's what Elizabeth and I thought)

Mine is on the far left ... it's Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome with a big ol' magical light beam coming through the window.

Elizabeth next to her piece (with the horn) and Rachel's piece next to it (with the candles.) They must have seen the same last names and hung them together. I will have to do a post of more of their photography and art. They are so creative!!!

The next day, Friday, was my birthday so I picked Elizabeth up at USC and we had breakfast at Bottega Louie in downtown L.A. It reminds me of being in Europe with it's cafe tables, beautiful displays of sweet treats and high ceilings! It was a smaller breakfast menu so now I am going to have go back on the weekend for the brunch menu. Outside of being with my niece, the best thing was the beignets! I don't think I'd had one since New Orleans, circa 1987!

Bottega Louie

That evening I met my sister Penny and 3 of my oldest friends for dinner at a little Italian restaurant, which was a beautiful quiet evening, followed by my Saturday pastel class the next day, a lovely dinner with my parents and catching most of Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer that evening. We finished off the night with a viewing of my "go to" holiday movie, Going My Way. I know I mentioned it last year but I thought I would remind everyone anyway. ;)

These are different videos from last year!

After having breakfast with my cousin Jennifer Sunday morning, I headed back to L.A. to host a pot luck reunion for my figure drawing/art studio pals at my place that night. At the risk of making everyone crazy and sick of me, I think I will post that later! Besides, I'm having my neighbor over for dinner in a bit. Tomorrow night? Making Pomander Balls in Highland Park.

Next week I am carving out time for quiet and reflection. That's the plan anyway.

OH! And guess what? Turns out that December 9th (my birthday) is National Pastry Day every year! Who knew?

Hope everyone is able to have some fun this holiday season,

make some beautiful memories for the future,

and not do anything they don't want to do!

Blessings, light and joy!