Every Mum Deserves a Break!

A little while ago I had the chance to get mine; a trip to Provence with two girl friends.
I took my sketch pad along and here is the story in pictures:

"A mini break? in France? I'd LOVE to"

Frantic preparation.....

A warm welcome greeted us.....

At the beautiful old farmhouse 'Mas De Capellan'

First things first; SHOPPING!

Quick stop for hot croissants and coffee....Yum!

and to make new friends....

Then, down to business; a spot of sun-bathing.....

Before setting off to explore....

'Sur le Pont, D'Avignon'

A country wedding!........

It all made us ravenous 'Bon appetite!....

Alas, all to soon, it was time to go "Overweight? Moi?!!"....

Happy to be home......

*NEW* Skiathos 2009 Calendar

This calendar, showing scenic views of the beautiful island of Skiathos, Greece is now on sale, with up to a 50% discount (till Sunday only!). See it at my Zazzle store:

From Russia (and Fred!) with Love

You know how sometimes, someone does something for you that quite simply leaves you speechless? Well, this Christmas someone gave me a present so thoughtful, that I was quite literally lost for words.

What made it all the more special, was that it was handmade for me by a very young man who, knowing how much I was missing my daughter since she left for Russia, had taken considerable time and effort to produce a wonderful book, using photos he'd taken himself on a recent visit to Moscow. It is such a meaningful gift for me and I will treasure it for ever.


His name is Freddie De Stefano (he's the youngest brother of my daughter's partner) and he is a budding young artist with, I believe, quite an exceptional artistic talent.








I'll let you judge for yourself, here are just a few of the book's many pages:

Calling all artists! Live Telesummit tonight!

I've just received this and thought it might be of some interest:

"Hi yvonne,

When it comes to art careers, the smARTist Telesummit is the only professional conference offered anywhere online or off.

To celebrate, we’ve cooked up a genuine, 100% press release.

You can read it here:
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=83906

-------------------
Also, don’t forget the last free Pre-event with Mari Smith – How to Sell Your Art on Facebook – is this Monday Jan 12th. It will be recorded, but you have to sign up to get it!

You can sign up here: http://www.smartist-telesummit.com/live/preevents/#smith
---------------------------------

Together, we can make 2009 the best year ever for artist success!
Ariane
PS The best part about this press release? It introduces you to our great sponsor Imagekind.

A. Goodwin, Ed.D.
Founder, Organizer, & Host
smARTist® Telesummit 2009
Build your art career from the comforts of home
And make an honest living doing what you love

'Westfield'

I've held off as long as I could, but yesterday I finally succumbed to the media hype (not to mention my daughter's pleas!) and made the short trip down the road to London's brand new Mecca; 'Westfield' (hailed as the largest indoor shopping mall in the whole of Europe!).


It certainly is VAST and although I'm one of the minority (I'm sure) group of WWHW's ('women who hate shopping) I have to admit it is pretty spectacular. While everyone else seemed focused on a frenzied shopping spree, ferreting out the final 'sale' bargains (despite the credit crunch!) I only had eyes for the amazing architecture:




From every angle it is simply a visual delight; a fabulous combination of cutting edge, innovative art and design. Using a combination of materials such as wood, steel, glass and stone and employing the latest technology and lighting systems, every surface is truly a work of art in it's own right.



I marvel at how any project on such a massive scale - that could so easily have felt cold, impersonal and intimidating (and, with so many levels and walkways, confusing!) provides instead a sleek, ultra contemporary and totally user-friendly environment. It feeds all the senses and is so well planned (and beautifully executed!) that it lifts the whole shopping experience to an altogether higher level, one that is more exciting, totally unique and (yes, I'll even concede) pleasurable!

My photos certainly don't do it justice so if ever you find yourself this way, believe me, this is not one to miss! Besides:

"Westfield London and Getty Images Gallery are currently presenting 'London through a lens'

This highly acclaimed exhibition features a selection of rare, beautiful images capturing the unique cultural, social and political history of our famous Capital. Due to overwhelming popularity, this stirring photographic collection has opened its doors at Westfield London, in The Village.

"This exhibition really is as exhilaratingly diverse as the Capital itself" says Getty Images Gallery Director, Louise Garczewska. "What does unify the images is the prevailing 'feel' of London, the buzz that is hard to put into words, but would account for why 7.5 million Londoners call it the best city in the world!"

Just some of the famous faces featured in the collection, selected from Getty Images' Hulton archive, include the Kray brothers, Reggie and Ronnie as amateur boxers posing with their mother Violet, before they went on to become notorious London gangsters. Other striking images include Daleks invading a London street outside Wyndams Theatre in 1965, Blitz searchlights over St Paul's Cathedral on New Year's Eve 1943 and men rescuing residents in Rotherhithe from flood when the Thames broke its banks in 1928."........... to read on, visit:

http://uk.westfield.com/london/offers-events/wl-events/getty-images-gallery

It's Panto time! (Oh no it's not!)

For good, old-fashioned and clean (mostly!) family entertainment, look no further than the traditional English Pantomime. Taking its rightful place in the illustrious history of British theatre, with roots in the both the British Musical Hall tradition and the Comedia dell’ Arte (the traveling, often masked, street performers, tumblers and dancers of the middle ages) it continues today to provide humour, spectacle, thrills and buffoonery, for adults and children alike – usually around Christmas time - and is very often their first taste of live theatre.

Audience participation (“Look behind you!!” &”Oh, no he isn’t – Oh, yes he is!!”), always brings squeals of delight - or eyes transfixed with terror! With the sumptuous stage-sets and sparkling costumes conjuring-up the exotic East or Never-Never land, the stories are always well known and much-loved tales such as Aladdin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Peter Pan etc. The plot in which good triumphs over evil and Love conquers all, never changes. It’s simple enough: boy meets girl, baddie spoils the fun, boy fights baddie, wins girl and everyone lives happily ever after.

I say 'simple enough' yet most non-Brits find our Panto's totally confusing! Can't imagine why....Could it be, perhaps, because the girl, dressed as a boy, has a mother, who’s really a man dressed as a woman or ‘Dame’, or because he (er, she) falls in love with a girl (who IS a girl!) with ugly sisters who are actually men, or because he has a loyal four-legged friend who is really one (or two!) people stuffed in either end of an suffocating mock animal skin?

I made the collage (above) from material and photos of many of the productions I’ve personally been involved with over the years (on both sides of the footlights!) as sometime producer, director, choreographer, costume/set-designer, scenery painter and general dogs-body (even as performer; check out the ‘Good Fairy’ with King Rat!). I hoped to capture the essence of what Pantomime is really all about and convey just how much fun it is. If you're in the UK, I hope it will tempt you to go along and support your local production. Whether in humble village hall or grand town theatre, it's a wonderful (and increasingly-rare) form of entertainment that's suitable and can be enjoyed by all members of the family together.

Happy New Year Everyone!

I just want to send a HUGE 'Thank you!' to everyone who's supported my

new ventures this year; my wonderful family, all my friends, old and new and especially

those who've so patiently guided me through the mysterious maze and mists of this alien

(well, it was to me!) 'cyber space'.

Finally the fog has begun to lift and (hopefully!) the blogs are beginning to make sense.

Wishing you every Happiness, Health, Peace, Prosperity & Love

and may 2009 be a good one!

Yvonne