It Is That Time of Year Again!

As the holiday season quickly approaches (23 days until Christmas) we are faced with what to do for gifts in this economy. Everybody has been watching their spending this year and are continuing to do so for the holidays. Here is my word of advise for this holiday season...

Step 1: Read Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Step 2: Take a deep and cleansing breath.

Step 3: If you decide to buy gifts, support the local economy by buying at locally owned stores

Step 4: Spend time with your family and friends because without our material possessions, they are all we have.

Now, I am not saying "don't buy presents this year." Heck no! Nothing helps the economy more than putting money into it. But what I am saying is to really think about your favorite people. Meaningful gifts that are special to the gift receiver and you make for a more memorable experience. The holiday's are about showing our friends and family how much they mean to us whether it be by gift giving or sitting in the front porch drinking egg nog (it's Florida, we can do that!)

Let me tell you a little diddy about one Christmas and a really great gift. A few years ago my mother got me something that one wouldn't really think too much about. I was out shopping for my family and happened upon something I liked. Thinking that I would come back and pick it up in a few weeks I left the store. I didn't say anything about it to a soul. Later on Christmas my mother gave me a package and I had no idea what would be inside. It was exactly what I had seen in the store that day. She was so surprised about how thankful and excited I was to receive it (it wasn't anything super special.) It wasn't even that I really wanted it for material reasons, it was that I knew she saw it and thought of me, and I knew for certain that moment my mother still knows exactly who I am. So...

Remember that "Christmas doesn't come from a store" it isn't about having the most gifts under the tree, or the most expensive things. It is about loving people and being loved.

So don't give gifts because you have too, do it because you really want too.

~Liz

Color IQ

So our friend Brian found this really cool color IQ test. My eyes still tingle from taking it! Here is the link to the site. Very interesting results. I scored a 28. For funzies, take the quiz and then post your results as a comment to our blog.

~Liz

Well, with knots in my stomach and cringing the whole way to the showroom floor, I announced to everyone two weeks ago that we would do a one-week sale of 50% off on all of our non-consigned fine art. What started out to be a gut-wrenching risk turned out to be one of the most heart-warming experiences we've ever had here at the gallery! So many people came in after seeing the email newsletter and were SO HAPPY! They all said the same thing - they had been looking at xyz image for over a year and could never afford it until now! They knew everything about the artists, and had been paying much more attention to us than I ever realized. I was then THRILLED that I could actually help someone start an art collection who really appreciated the art and realized what a spectacular piece they could now own. I was comfortable knowing that even though they paid a stupidly low price for it, that the art would not end up in a garage sale 10 years from now. I guess the only sad part is that we would have worked with all these folks had we known they were so in love with the art to begin with!

While I doubt I'll ever do another 50% off sale on the finest of the fine art, we are ALWAYS happy to discuss options and layaway plans. - But just to see who's reading this, I'll tell ya what - I'll extend the 50% off for our bloggers until November 7th. The list of the fine art included in this offer is here. Just tell the gang that you saw it on the gallery blog!

Thanks, and have a great week!
Angela

October

October is here and it kicks off my absolute favorite month of the year!  I L-O-V-E October.  It feels more like fall, people start getting into the "spirit" and I just love the reminiscent feeling of October.  I love Halloween!  Getting to assume a personality that is not my everyday is so much fun.  Remember when you were a kid and you were so excited to dress up and go trick-or-treating?  Remember getting pumpkin goop all over the kitchen whilst carving a jack-o-lantern?  Remember the dum-dum & tissue ghosts?  I do! I love the smell of October, the mood of it.  I love that November comes next.  I love the way the October sky looks.  It is hard to be crabby in October.  Anyway, any Halloween costume ideas yet?  I think I am going to dress as an 80's Hair Metal Groupie.  Anyone have a pleather mini-skirt I can borrow ;)

~Liz

You Like What You Like

Okay, as I sit here listening to "Santa Baby" in the middle of September watching people buy thousands of dollars worth of Christmas decorations I wonder why.  Why spend so much on something that you will only used a few months out of the year?  The answer?  Because you like it and it makes you happy!  People like the sense of accomplishment and visual stimulation they get after a weekend of hardcore decorating.  They enjoy trying new things.  Decorating for the holidays is like being an artist with a whole room (or house) as your palette.  I don't know why I was so judgmental before.  People like what they like and that is ultimately why we are here.  I know I like what I like and I don't care what other people think about it, and I spend my hard earned paycheck on what makes me happy.  So, that being said, be proud of what you like.  Don't let anyone tell you that you have "bad taste," there is no such thing!  And remember, if you had a nickel for every time someone told you they didn't like your taste, you'd be a five cents richer and still be surrounded by the things that you love.

~Liz

The Colors We See

While working on our monthly e-newsletter, I was searching for something funny or inspirational to put at the end of it.  And, during my search I found something that I thought was so perfect to write about.  

"They'll sell you thousands of greens. Veronese green and emerald green and cadmium green and any sort of green you like; but that particular green, never."
Pablo Picasso, 1966.

It took me reading it twice to realize what it meant.  There are so often times when we're searching for a particular color... it's in our head, and we know exactly what we're looking for.  But, we can never find it.  This actually happened with me when I was painting my kitchen.  We were painting it red, and I searched and searched for the red that I knew I wanted.  My husband later decided that I make colors up in my head that don't actually exist.  But, I ask you... if the color doesn't exist, how can I envision it?  There must be a way to figure out how to make it, "right"?  

What a relief that an artist like Picasso suffered from the same problem.  

His quote also made me think of a discussion that I had with a friend a few months back.  "I may see the sky as blue, and you may see the sky as blue, but isn't it cool that neither of us see it as the exact same blue."  She didn't quite understand.  I explained how our minds perceive color differently even though it may seem that we all see exactly the same thing.  She still didn't understand.  (And since she's a very close friend, I decided to leave it at that rather than argue).

Color is such an extraordinary thing.   It's amazing how it can affect our ideas, moods, and senses.  It's where I realize my passion for the visual arts begins. 

- Bianca

Star-Bellied Sneetch Tattoo

Liz? You restrict your personal style? HAAAAAAAA! She comes to work with purple stripes in her hair, skull-laden shawls, and black nail polish!!! (You all should see her! She's got the over-50 Christmas Cottage employees all thinking about getting glow-in-the-dark tattoos)

Very true about images though & that law of attraction thing... I'm 45 and I STILL have Harrison Ford pics hanging in my office. He should be calling any day now...

-Angela