Last week my friend Charlotte came into town for an art event, but oh so smartly added a couple days to her trip for visits with California friends. I picked her up at LAX and we headed up the coast to meet our friends Syd and Mary and stay at a beach rental Syd found for us all.
The above is the view from the deck. Gee, Syd really let us all down, don't you think?!?
At first sight the view took my breath away. We felt so lucky to have 2 nights there. Here's a view from the house looking over the deck to the great blue sea:
We were staying in North Ventura in an area called Farina Beach. It was beautiful.
I remembered that a fabric store called Super Buzzy was located in Ventura, so Charlotte and I made a quick stop on our way to the house. It did not disappoint. Lots of unusual fabrics and other sewing related items.
And then we caught up with our friends at the rental.
I first met both Syd and Mary a decade ago at an art retreat. Our friendship was sealed though at the first ArtFiberFest where we were all teaching. They are both amazing artists and lucky to live within a reasonable distance from each other, getting together to make stuff regularly. Funnily enough, Charlotte first met them a few years later at a different ArtFiberFest we were all at. Art and a passion for creating makes for excellent friendship matchmaking.
We were all super excited to find out that the 36 hour getaway worked for us all.
We walked on the beach, laughed up a storm, slept very little, shared projects we're working on and others that we'll be teaching this year, shared and used favorite apps like TimerCam, ate all meals at the house, collected rocks and shells, made stuff, made more stuff, talked about making stuff, where to get supplies for making stuff etc. etc.
Mary and I even went for a swim in the freezing ocean! After getting out I immediately took a hot shower and put on my pj's...I swear, it was nearly sunset, although you can't tell in the photos above. We laughed that when sitting on the rolling chaise lounge, it looked as if they just wheeled me out of the looney bin.
How cute is Mary's rug hooked bunny?!? Sooooo cute. This was the sample from her recent classs at French General . She taught me how to make one of her folk art hooked pumpkins too. He makes me so happy, he's going to get his own post!
Syd made us all some sweet felt treats. Charlotte has a thing for little pink houses, having owned one once. I'd move into this one, wouldn't you?
36 hours goes by in a flash, even when you're staying up late and getting up early. But you know what? 36 hours is enough time to get super inspired and reconnect, well worth the effort it takes to line up 4 schedules when a friend's coming to town. I highly recommend it!
