Happy, happy new year! 

May 2026 bring us daily opportunities to be the Creatives that we are.

So much is coming down the pike this coming year. Below is a sampling of hands-on art and culture happenings that I hope you can attend. I’ll be attending them, too.

January 22nd (3pm)-25th (12pm) the West Coast Glampers are holding their annual rally in Borrego Springs, about as far north-east as you can get in San Diego County. I’ll be staying nearby at the Anza Borrego State Campground in our new camp-and-make-art van, "Big Red". The glampers will be at 221 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004.

February 24^th 09-1pm: To all the creatives in rural and unincorporated San Diego County, this one is for us.

San Diego Art Matters is bringing back Creative Conversations, co-hosted with North County’s newly formed Arts and Culture Alliance, it will focus on the opportunities, challenges, and creative assets of rural and unincorporated communities across the region. I participated last year, the key word being participate. You won’t be lectured at; you will be listened to. Plus, you’ll have a great time.

Event details:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (lunch included)
California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Let our voices, thoughts, concerns be shared. Please attend this with me.

The event is free, with RSVP required:
https://sdartmatters.org/creative-conversations-2026/

Saturday February 28^th 5:30-9p.m.

Mark your Calendars for the Del Dios Chili cook-off FUNdraiser.

Yes indeed, I will make my delish duck and white-bean chili. So, so yummy. The tastings and voting by Y.O.U.  will be held at The Old Del Dios Firehouse, aka the Del Dios Community Center, 20155 Elm Lane, Escondido, CA 92029 starting at 5:30pm. Awards at 7p.m. followed by all-you-can eat of the remaining chili until 10 p.m.

Music, food, drink in support of a great non-profit. Life is good. $15/person. Free parking.

March 5 and 6, I’m teaching a 2-part hardcover stab-stitch workshop at Front Porch Gallery in Carlsbad. FREE

March 13th also at Front Porch Gallery I bring back the accordion book format, this time we'll add a hard cover. FREE

FPG requires pre-registration through their website. All the ones I taught last year filled. Go to their website and sign up for their email notices to get early alerts on registering:

https://www.frontporchgallery.org/programs

O.k. New art for 2026 as promised! Starting the New year with fused glass sushi plates and small wasabi bowls. Perfect for SPAM musubi. That’s right, SPAM musubi is a thing. Don’t knock it until you try it. Which you can easily now because as I said, it’s a thing. Getting to be almost as popular here around Escondido as it is in Hawai’i.       

Until next Sunday