Itty Bitty

Itty Bitties are always such happy cupcakes. I see them at Helios on my morning coffee stop. There they sit, all prim and proper under their glass dome of protection, smiling up at me. And they are so friendly.

"Have a great day!"

"You're a wonderful person."

"Life is good."

They were delicious before I even tasted one. But today was the day. I joyously asked barista Hide for one of the chocolate Itty Bitties with vanilla buttercream icing. He removed the lid with gentle precision and invited me to make my selection. I chose the happiest little Itty Bitty on the plate. A daisy dotted the very center.

I saved it for after lunch of course. You can't have too much fun too early in the day. Every bite was delight, and a wonderful relationship developed. I love you Itty Bitty! =O)

Artful Saturday

I took my first trip to the new Nasher Museum in Durham. Picasso and the Allure of Language was on exhibit as well as Big Shots: Andy Warhol's Polaroids. No photography was allowed for the Picasso, but I was able to snap some shots ironically of the Warhol photos and the film that was showing.

As I understand the museum has three films that are being rotated. We were only able to sit in for a short portion of the film, not long enough to even guess... The black and white to the right is the film. Below to the left is a Warhol of one of the museum's namesake family members. Mrs. Nash met Warhol and commissioned him to paint her and each of her daughters. The polaroid from which the painting was made is displayed alongside.

The museum isn't quite as much as I had thought it would be, but lovely enough still. I, of course, snagged me the required fridge magnet as part of my Pauper Collection. I think I have one from all my museum visits, with the exception of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. That was long before my magnet collecting days.

How scribbles in sketches and shapes in paintings can translate into images that our brain recognizes amazed me with several of the Picasso works. Forgive me for my simplistic stating of what was so awe inspiring. Some of my favorites were the Illustrations for Lysisrata. From what I read, I think this is referred to as his "classicism." I'd need to be a much, much more learned art appreciator to comment further. Golly, I could be way off with all my comments. If so, accept my humble apology.

But what fun those two hours were just imagining. That's part of the purpose in art, isn't it, even for the non-erudite.

Fun art!

Check out the fun new art I picked up at The Handmade Market in Raleigh a couple weekends ago. It's by Jaime Zollars, and it's called A Blue Homecomming. Her website is being "reimagined," I love that. You can view more of her work at the Nucleus Gallery website. And let me say OMG, I got the piece for $25 and picked up a frame and mat from Michael's for less than $25. I think I got a steal!! Thank you Handmade Market. Golly, though, now I want more of her work. My friend Sharon picked up a great piece, too, called The Ninja Snow. The story behind the piece Sharon purchased was Japanese folklore about Tengu. Sharon and I walked away knowing we'd picked up a couple of real finds, and we certainly did.