A Stroll Through Philly's Christmas Village

A very special holiday tradition in Philadelphia is its Christmas Village, 

held in Center City's LOVE Park from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.

The Village is modeled after the authentic Christmas markets in Germany,

the most well-know of which is the Christkindlmarket in Nuremberg.

Beautiful arts and crafts, including a large variety of Christmas décor and ornaments,

are sold by vendors in rows of wooden booths bedecked with festive pine garlands,

red bows, and the spectacular yellow Herrnhut stars - also known as Moravian stars.

What a festive way to spend a December afternoon with my daughter!

As is said in Germany, "Fröhliche Weihnachten!"

What a fantastic variety of Matryoshka dolls!

Lots of good eats! Grilled bratwurst was the lunch of choice. 

Roasted nuts, baked cheese raclettes, pretzels, and strudels were also popular.

Exquisite wooden Schwibbogen, ornaments and nutcrackers by Käthe Wohlfahrt.

.

How about this trend of brightly colored live Christmas trees?

More information:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Seiji Kawasaki's Realistic Wood Carved Food

It's hard to believe that these wood sculptures aren't real food!

Seiji Kawasaki carves these pieces and paints them to totally fool us 

into believing that we could take a bite and not get splinters between our teeth.

That is real wood-carving talent if I ever saw it!

Chocoholics- this one's for you.

Please pass the French onion dip.

He puts these wooden veggies to use as chopstick holders.

 See more of Seiji's carvings at his website,

his Facebook page,

on Instagram & on Twitter.

Images used with direct permission from Seiji Kawasaki.

The Central PA Festival of the Arts at Penn State

Spent a fantastic day at Penn State, my alma mater, in State College, PA!

We enjoyed every minute browsing the tents of handcrafted wares at

the annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts -

affectionately known as Artsfest.

My photo above, taken of a T-shirt bearing an image of the official Festival Poster.

Each year it's designed by Visual Arts Professor Emeritus Lanny Somese.

Read more about the posters here.

I pulled together my photos of my Artsfest favorites, 

along with links, when available.

A quote by Émile Zola is fitting here:

"If you ask me what I came to do in this world,

I, an artist, will answer you:

I am here to live out loud."

Enjoy the work of these talented artists 

who truly are living out loud!

Hibbs Art Glass

Mary Hamilton Linocuts

Friendswood Brooms

Delish Glass

Penn State's Steidle Building

Larry Smith Impressionist Paintings

Here's Larry in action.

Dave's Woodcraft

Accessories by The Passage

Each year a banner competition is held.

Current and past banners are displayed in overhead zigzags,

adding a colorful, festive flair to the event.

More info on the banners here.

Bashar & Roula Jarjour

Batik by Amit

Penn State's geologic obelisk consists of samples of Pennsylvania

building stone from throughout the state. It was constructed in 1896.

 

Old Town Wind Bells

Richard Bond, Glass Artist

Quilts by Lorac Designs

Clifford Nevin Scherenschnitte

Roger Mathews

Baxterbots

Everyday Bow Ties
Geraldo De-Souza was winner of the Booth of Distinction Award!

Strouse Woodworking

Tom Homann Pottery

Maryann Schmidt

Peppermill Studios

Here's where you can find out all about the

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts!

Nittany Lion photo op:

Lee, Lu, Julie, Mare

So enjoyed spending time with them,

along with Colleen, Anita & Bruce,

plus Pat & Tom with thanks for their tip-top hospitality!

Satchel & Sage - Typography and Illustration

Morgana & Gerren Lamson bring creativity to their marriage

with terrific typography and illustration.

Based in Austin, Texas, they formed Satchel & Sage

to sell prints, stationery, textiles and wood art.

I especially love this one! It features an illustration of Fallingwater 

and a quote by its famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Woodland Creatures.

Prickly Pear collage...

...with a close-up to catch the details.

A feathery pillow - inside and out.

Wood art.

Find Satchel & Sage here:

Website

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Images used with direct permission from Morgana & Gerren Lamson.