Last Wordless Wednesday before Halloween

Downtown Paso Robles is Ready for Halloween

This Scarecrow Wants Your Vote

A Halloween Display Window in Paso Robles

Scarecrow for Good Times Cafe, Downtown Paso Robles

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Christmas is in the Air at Studios on the Park

I finally made my pre-Christmas visit to Studios on the Park on December 19, but I didn't have time to share the photos I took there until today. We will start with the display window you see as you come in. This is always interesting because the reflections add to whatever is in it. Although we get a sample from most displays, a lot of the Small Treasures paintings are featured in the window.

As I walked into the Atrium Gallery, it reminded me of my days of buying for a store and attending the Los Angeles Gift Show. Here, though, the gifts on display were hand-crafted. I saw the work of many artists and craftsman whose work I had not seen before. If you can't find a unique gift for your hard-to-buy-for special someone here, you aren't likely to find it anywhere. What you buy here won't ever be a duplicate of a gift someone else gave. This is an overview of just some of what's on display. Now I will take you  closer to some of the displays

You can pick up a brightly colored purse here or one that's a bit more neutral. In the background to the right you can see part of one of many jewelry displays.

Next I was drawn to the table of candles you see below by Deprise Brescia, who works with Encaustic Mixed Media. You can click any photo to enlarge it for a closer look.

Unfortunately I don't have time to show you every exhibit. I'm actually skipping most of the galleries in this post, although I did visit them. You really need to come in and look around yourself, since photos can't do your shopping for you or show you how items look from every view. I do want to show you these special animals, though, made by Jennifer Stang Eikemeyer from glass and wood.

Below is a display of Deb Lysek's Silk Painting. Wouldn't you like one of these to decorate for the holidays?

Now we will take a closer look at the drums in that back left corner. They are made by Nanci Carter from Roseburg, Oregon. They are made of elk hide. You can try them out before you buy them. Touching is allowed. Aren't they colorful?

We are nearing the end of my tour, but we can't miss Zola de Firmian's Fine Art Ceramics. Zola lives in Creston and her studio is there. She explains her work on her website.

Last, but certainly not least, "Rosy" Rosenthal let me take his picture in his studio in front of his work in the Print Shop. It's not allowed to take pictures there without permission. Many of the prints are so small you need to be very close anyway to see them well. We can't see Rosy very well either, since flash isn't allowed in studios. Drop in and meet him in person.

That ends today's tour. Be sure to drop into the Studios on the Park to finish your holiday shopping. There are items there to fit any budget. Studios on the park has special hours this week before Christmas:

It will be open from 12-3 PM on December 23 and 24.
It will be closed on Christmas Day, December 31, and New Year's Day.

For questions about visiting, exhibitions, artists, and more, visit the Studios on the Park website. 

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Shop Windows I'll Always Remember

The City Daily Photo monthly theme for December is "Shop Window." I decided to post one from a couple of years ago that shows our city cares about those less fortunate. This one is advertising the Toy Bank which gives free donated toys to needy children for Christmas.

Barbara Radisavljeivc, Paso Robles, USA

The theme, though, reminds me of some of the shop windows I saw when I was a little girl when the big  department stores were downtown instead of in malls. In those days, a trip downtown was like visiting a wonderland. For me in those days downtown meant downtown Long Beach, California. The department store was Buffum's, although it was not the only store with the magic window displays.

A Christmas window back then was an extravaganza. There were moving toys everywhere. Maybe Santa could be seen in his workshop with busy elves packing toys while Rudolph and the other reindeer waited to depart. There were toy trains circling around the North Pole. Now some 65 years later, it's hard to remember the details. I had no camera back then. Just picture the decorated house that wins all the community awards for its display, and then imagine it in a store window.

I don't see those kinds of displays today. Maybe I just don't live in a place where stores still go all out in wanting to attract window shoppers with children. Maybe the malls ruined the tradition. Perhaps it's different in other states or other countries.

Do department stores in your community have magical displays in December to attract shoppers? Or just merchandise? Can you remember a really magnificent Christmas window display ? I'll be looking through the other photos on this theme from bloggers around the world.

Meanwhile,  maybe this will be the year you bring the magic of a model train into your home to circle the tree. Some of these can actually go around the standing part of your tree, instead of just on the ground. Be sure to get enough track if you have a large tree. Some on-site reviews feature videos.

 Seasonal Vision Christmas Tree Train by Wonder Costumes Christmas Santa Holiday Classic Train with Sound, Light, and Real Smoke by MOTA Eztec 37260 G Scale North Pole Express Christmas Train Set Christmas Train Set- Around the Christmas Tree Holiday Santa Express Train Set

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