Kaleidoscopic Curiosities

Paradise on a plate

If you are a chocoholic like me, and you live in Orange County CA, run-don't-walk to Habana, the Cuban restaurant at The Lab Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa. This is my favorite dessert, the Cafe Cubana. It's a cute little coffee cup made of dark chocolate, filled with a layer of dense chocolate coconut (?) fudgy stuff and another layer of fluffy chocolatey moussey stuff, and maybe some espresso flavored stuff somewhere in there, drizzled with more chocolate sauce and surrounded by some gratuitous fresh fruit which is actually quite tasty but really, who needs it when you've got a plate full of chocolate? I mean, come on.

To be honest, the Cafe Cubano used to be even better because they used to puddle the plate with a vanilla bean sauce that was out of this world. And I think maybe there used to be three different layers of chocolatey goodness inside, not two. But these are minor complaints. I will still drive 60 miles round trip to eat this. And no, I probably don't want to share one with you. :) Get your own.

Pinata De Los Muertos

What a beauty, eh? I'm very happy with how the pinata turned out, although I did learn some lessons along the way:

1. If you have to mail it somewhere, consider filling it with lightweight candy like smarties and pixy stix rather than gynormous quantities of peanut butter cups and dark chocolate.

2. If you have to mail it somewhere, consider how well (or not) the decorations will hold up in transit. She's going to need some serious fluffing when she shows up on the other side of this swap!

3. However long you think it will take for each layer to dry, double it.

All in all, though, I had a lot of fun making this little lovely and I hope my swap partner kateyb enjoys it!

PS: The day before I packed up my girl to mail to kateyb, I got a pinata in the mail from chappykat, and it amused me to see what a handsome couple they make. I love the yellow guy's smarmy mustache and obvious toupee!

 

Who am I?

As if I have time on my hands, I recently became active in Swap-Bot again. After a swapping frenzy during summer 2006 I got called away to more pressing matters, and later learned that my swap-bot rating had suffered as a result, understandably so! I don't know why that stupid number bothered me so, but it did and I've worked diligently over the past two months to restore my reputation. :) It's been fun; mostly I've swapped fat quarters of fabrics and Japanese stationery, both of which are in plentiful supply around here, but a few swaps have ventured into the creative realm like the one shown here in its infancy. Can you guess where this is going? Tune in tomorrow to find out!

 

Mosaic Tile House open house

If you've never been to the Mosaic Tile House in Santa Monica/Venice, you've got to check it out. It's wacky and wonderful and so invigorating! Cheri makes the tiles and Gonzalo breaks them and creates the mosaics, and they have mosaicked over nearly every surface of their amazing home, including the front yard. Also, they're both painters and they have a huge high-ceilinged studio attached to their house, so there's lots to see and explore.

They used to do an open house nearly every weekend, but lately the opportunities to visit have been limited to just once or twice a year. The next open house is on Sunday, October 21 and they will have ceramics and other artwork for sale. Unfortunately I'll be flying home from ArtFiberFest that day so I won't see you there...but go, and drink in the colors and shapes and fun! Don't forget your camera.

Fall 2007 Pre-Christmas Pottery & Painting Sale

Sunday - October 21, 2007   From  12  - 5 PM

1116 Palms Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
(between Lincoln Blvd & Penmar Ave)
(310) 399-1469
www.cheripann.com

Here are some of my own photos of this very groovy place:

Family portrait

Creative Underground calendar!

Thought you might like to know that a simple yet somehow evocative piece I created a few months ago appears in the Creative Underground 2008 calendar, which may be pre-ordered at www.creativeunderground.net. It was printed in very limited quantities and only a couple dozen remain, so check it out soon! If you're near Fort Collins, Colorado, drop by for the official calendar launch party on November 3 and meet some of the participating artists (although, alas and alack, I can't be there).

The ladies at Creative Underground put together really cool art swaps and collaborative efforts. I was delighted and honored to be asked to contribute to this project.

How they grow!

One day I went to work, leaving behind two round, furry little fuzzballs. By the time I got home they were sleek and elegant miniature cats! I exaggerate, but it seemed almost that swift a transformation.

They still sleep like little babies, though.

Although their fans are clamoring for more kitty pix (and I thank the rest of you for your indulgence!), I haven't posted many new photos lately, because most of them turned out like this:

We are off to the vet today for shot #2. Wish us luck.