We started the weekend off bright and early with a little trip to Warner Brothers in Burbank, CA -  After a few minutes of standing in line, we quickly realized all the amazing furniture had been sold the 2 days before (when it was employees only) - so we dove into a sound stage and dug through clothing, light fixtures, random photos, frames, etc. and found a few good things.  total spent:  $16 - for a fun morning and the opportunity to wander the Warner Bros. lot!  We want to go back for a tour - to see more about the making movies business - it's fun and complicated and interesting!!! 

After our shopping, we went to the famous Bob's Big Boy - it is around the corner, always hopping and even has a drive in area that they still use a few nights a week.  We stuffed ourselves with breakfast (I had regular french toast although they do offer a "deep fried" version!) - then went to Santa Clarita to visit my friend Belle who had a booth at a local fair - After that, we were a bit tired... went home to nap, recoup, and regroup.  I went out to the cup exhibit in Tujunga, CA - that evening... oh - I can't have a fun weekend without including ceramics, right?

The McGroarty Arts Center had an opening night of it's 6th Annual Exhibition and Benefit, "All Cups" which my friend Melody Cooper was in... as well as some other buddies, including Jim Heuston!  I suggest if you have time and are in the area that you visit the show - it's free and open to the public, running for 2 weeks...

Melody's cups are amazing - she made 4 of them for the show - which all sold in a few hours... they were the same "boxes" she ususally makes, heavily textured, with little beads and even a ceramic teapot hanging from the top ledge - the cup lifted off the stand, then the lid of the box lifts up to reveal the interior... there was a little drawer in each one... they're just insane.  she was so fun to walk around with and view this art... it made me want to get back in the ceramics studio and make cups!

Then I saw these cups by Cheryl Hoyt - yes, she draws and paints these portraits by HAND - I was in awe - such detail and so beautiful - she did 5 or 6 of them... I bought the "Democrats" cup - it's so gorgeous I couldn't stop myself - the execution of line on a ceramic piece like this I have yet to see done by hand... by HAND! - wow.  I hope she can come to our studio and teach a workshop....

 The weekend wouldn't be complete without some knitting - I spent the evening on Sunday scanning photos of my millenium trip to Paris - and making and adding to the Forest Canopy Wrap - it's miles from being done, but I learned that sitting in the office, tinkering with scans or playing on facebook online is a good way to help make this piece progress... knitting and crocheting bits, tossing them in a bowl, then from time to time picking a few out of the bowl and adding it to the work - it's growing (slowly) - I want my crochet abilities to increase... and need to take a class or two so that I can get more textures in it... but it's getting there :)

I also want to find the "right" button for this piece... I have an idea ;)

stay tuned!