Category Archives: Arts & Crafts

“Something out of nothing.” Bringing creativity to Fairplex.

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“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou

If you’ve ever been to the L.A. County Fair, you’ve seen it. You’ve walked through FairView Farms. You encountered dinosaurs in the lush jungles of the Exposition Center a couple years ago. You were transported to London’s finest gardens and monuments. And you might have seen a pirate ship or barn make its way through the fairgrounds during a parade.

We don’t use pixie dust here…

Meet the mastermind behind it all: Kathy Wadham, creator extraordinaire or as her business card says: Director of Creative Programming. Staying true to Maya Angelou’s quote, her never-ending well of ideas continues to bring the fun to Fairplex. Her M.O.? “How hard could it be to make? There are no problems, only solutions.”

As we move towards Fairtime Kathy will be blogging her secret tips and tricks for how she transforms our quiet campus into a riotous, colorful playground and share some of her ideas with you for your own home or event.

“I have to say, I am one very lucky girl–I get to do a job that I love!” she says. “Simply put: I get to create the impossible.  Every day holds a different challenge for my extremely creative team and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being creative makes me happy; it is just part of who I am.”

Besides the Fair, Kathy and the creative team are kept busy with the other Fairplex events like holiday festivities, Oktoberfest and most recently, the Upland Lemon Festival.

Meet the creative team

Kathy and her team makes ‘something out of nothing’ on a regular basis. What was once a pile of scrape wood, buckets of leftover paint and a collection of nails, screws and splinters morphed an old-fashioned lemonade stand, perfect as a photo prop. Other creations included a western town, wine garden and the Circus.

Innate creativity 

London, L.A. County Fair 2012

Creativity comes naturally to Kathy. You might say she was born with it. “I have been making “something out of nothing” since I was a little girl,” she told us. “I used to make my own paper dolls and clothes out of old wallpaper books, brown grocery bags, scraps of fabric and lace.  In high school, I made my own clothes, because I wanted something different to wear every day. Remember Newberry’s? You could buy fabric for .50 cents a yard and could make a dress for less than $2 dollars. To this day, I never really wear the same things together the same way more than once. I just love the color combinations.”

I can personally attest to that last one. Kathy is always in something unique and colorful, always stylish, never gaudy :)

When she’s not creating something for Fairplex, Kathy can be found sipping Starbucks, browsing Pinterest (her obsession) and Etsy, watching TV (“my favorite shows are NCIS, Castle, Revenge, Scandal and HGTV”), shopping Target, Loft and HomeGoods and decorating and redecorating her house. Other loves include statement necklaces, clothes (“lots and lots of clothes”) and everything about the beach. She is married with three daughters and five wonderful grandchildren that call her Nana.

Coming up …

Kathy will be sharing her tips on creating a multitude of fun things. Summer’s coming fast and she has plenty of ways to bring the beach to your home (minus the pounds of seaweed and sand.)

What are some of your favorite Fair attractions Kathy has made?

Tell us in the comment section below….

3 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

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St. Patrick’s Day originally celebrated the arrival of Christianity to Ireland but has since become a cultural phenomenon celebrating all things green.

If your St. Patty’s Day signifies drinks, feasts and donning your favorite green clothing item, this post is for you.

3 Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

1. For the 21+ crowd:

While LAist suggests barhopping with the best of them on this glorious Sunday, we prefer creativity and an escape from the crowds.If you have the time and desire, create a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration of your own!

Let’s talk libations:

Greet your guests with an Irish Kiss cocktail served up in a dainty champagne flute.

Recipe:

4 oz. Korbel Champagne
1 oz. melon liqueur

Add two drops of green dye to 1/2 cup of sugar to give the rim that green glittery tint.

Add a lime for garnish and additional flavor.

Recipe and photo from Whattodrink.com

The Emerald Crush

This easy-to-make drink is sweet and to the point.

Recipe:

2 oz. Blue Ice Organic Wheat Vodka
½ kiwi
½ lime
1 tsp. sugarPeel kiwi and cut lime into quarters. Muddle fruit and sugar in a shaker until well crushed and juicy. Add ice and vodka, and shake vigorously. Pour all contents into a glass and drink with a straw. Source: Blue Ice Organic Wheat Vodka

Time to eat! 

The following recipes are both fairly easy to make and don’t require a lot of time to prepare. If all else fails, you can always throw together a tasty salad and order pizza…

Corned Beef & Cabbage

If tradition is your thing, corned beef is your meat. A bonus? One serving is less than 300 calories!

Makes: 6 servings
Prep 10 mins
Cook 52 mins

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds corned beef brisket
  • 1/2 cup sliced onion (1 small)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 1/2 pounds cabbage, cut into 6 wedges

Directions

1. Trim any visible fat from the meat. Set aside.

2. Place rack in a 4- to 6-quart pressure cooker. Add the meat, onion, bay leaf, black peppercorns, and water.

3. Lock lid in place. Place pressure regulator on vent pipe (if you have a first-generation cooker). Over high heat, bring cooker up to pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain pressure and pressure regulator rocks gently; cook for 50 minutes.

4. Allow pressure to come down naturally. Carefully remove lid. With a slotted spoon remove the meat and onions to a serving platter; set aside.

5. Place the wedges of cabbage in the pressure cooker. Lock lid in place. Place pressure regulator on vent pipe (if you have a first-generation cooker). Over high heat, bring cooker up to pressure. Reduce heat just enough to maintain pressure and pressure regulator rocks gently; cook for 2 minutes.

6. Quick-release the pressure. Carefully remove lid. With a slotted spoon remove the cabbage wedges. Serve with meat and onions. Makes 6 main-dish servings.

Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

If corned beef isn’t your thing:

Corned beef & cabbage isn’t for everyone. If you’re still in the spirit of the Irish you can always spring for this simple Shepherd’s Pie Recipe.

End the evening with a wee bit of dessert:

 Send your guests home with a little goodie back of green macaroons! You can purchase them at a grocery store or make some yourself.

2. Sunday Fun Day with the kidlets:

Leprechaun Grilled Cheese
Start the party off with a nutritious and fun lunch!

St. Patrick's day Grilled-CheeseMix broccoli pesto and cheese with whole wheat bread to create this gooey, delicious lunch. Pair it with soup and you have the perfect meal for the holiday.

Recipe from MOMables.com

Shamrock Crystals

This easy-to-make sparkling shamrocks make perfect decor the kids’ rooms, gifts for family members or just a souvenir from a fun day. Thorough directions and how-to photos are available here.

Dinner Time! Start the evening with a warm Creamy Potato Casserole

Makes: 6 servings
Prep 30 mins
Bake 350°F 1 hr 10 mins
Stand 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
  • 1 3/4 cups milk
  • 1/2 8 ounce reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), cut up
  • 1 cup Gruyere cheese, shredded (4 oz.)
  • 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives or green onions
  • 1 1/2 pounds Yukon gold or round red potatoes, cut in thin wedges
  • 8 ounces sliced cooked Black Forest ham or country ham, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup coarsely crushed bagel chips
  • Thyme and/or Italian parsley leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 2-quart rectangular baking dish; set aside.

2. For sauce, in medium saucepan cook onion in hot butter over medium heat 5 minutes or until tender; stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and mustard. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until slightly thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low. Whisk in Neufchatel cheese until smooth. Gradually add 1/2 cup of the Gruyere cheese until cheese is melted. Stir in chives.

3. In bowl combine potatoes, ham, and sauce; toss gently to combine. Transfer to prepared baking dish.

4. Bake, covered, 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. Uncover; stir carefully. Sprinkle with crushed chips and remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes more or until cheese is melted. Let stand, 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with herbs. Serves 6.

Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

And if you’re the super ambitious type, treat your children to these tasty confections:

Bridget’s Double-Decker Rainbow Shamrock Cookies are sure to delight your kids and provide them with a fun and colorful way to end a full day of St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Click on the photo to for a full tutorial on how to make these little goodies.

 

3. For those who are just not inclined to cook:

If you are in the area, McKinley’s Grille at Fairplex is offering a special St. Patrick’s Day feast. All weekend Chef David Teig is serving up his special Corned Beef & Cabbage as well as $3 green beer.

On the other side of campus, Finish Line Sports Grill is doling out its own St. Patty’s Day feast. Guests who visit on Sunday will enjoy plenty of drink and food specials all day long. It’s Sunday Funday at its finest.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore”

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Fairplex’s assistant director of development Laura Smolka-Gallardo is our guest blogger this week:

Do you remember reading the beloved limericks in Shel Silverstein’s books as a child? (Do you know where the sidewalk ends?)

Or perhaps you remember watching the Halloween episode of “The Simpsons” when Homer, Marge, and Bart recreate Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem, “The Raven?”

Experiencing poetry goes beyond memorizing and reciting meter in front of your sixth grade class (though I still remember all of the words to “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost!).

This weekend at Fairplex, poetry will come to life through 250 student artworks in the inaugural “ArtReach” regional art exhibition.  The call for submissions challenged students to create a dialogue between two different art forms, and the response has been greater than expected!

Held at the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts, the artworks featured in the exhibition were selected thorugh a juried process.  The show represents students of 27 art teachers from 17 public high schools representing 9 local districts.  Students from the Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC), a program of The Learning Centers at Fairplex, will also be participating, displaying works from their classes held on-site at the Fairplex grounds.

In addition to the words of Silverstein, Poe, and Frost, a variety of poetry served as the students’ inspiration to create their entries (20 pieces alone were inspired by Poe’s work, including seven about “The Raven”).  Some students used lyrics from their favorite song or even composed their own poetry for the competition.  Just as varied is the range of media and content submitted, from digital media to ceramics, from cement sculpture to portraiture.

Lugene Whitley, the exhibition’s manager/curator, noted the need for such an opportunity: “Teachers have shared with me that there are very few, if any, opportunities for students to display their artistic talents.  Most student artworks are exhibited at their schools or in small gallery spaces, so to have a space like the Sheets Gallery where hundreds of students can see their work professionally framed and presented to a large audience is really very special.  It has also allowed our CTEC students the hands-on opportunity to layout and install an exhibition.”

So if you see me at the door on Friday night during the ArtReach Opening Reception, be sure to start me off with “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…”

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Friday, March 2
6 – 9 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, March 3 & 4
noon – 5 p.m.

Parking and entrance at Gate One

Your “Un-Mall” Holiday Shopping Experience

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Harvest Festival Eggshell ornaments

If you want really special, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts (you can include yourself on the list of recipients), the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show, Dec. 4-6 at Fairplex 4 is your shopping destination. Choose from folk art, jewelry, ornaments, clothing, candles, homemade candies, vintage items, woodcrafts, ceramics and more.

One ticket is good for admission all three days. There’s entertainment, a drawing for $100 in Harvey Bucks (just like cash for Festival purchases), food, a Kids’ Zone to keep the little ones entertained, a package check (all proceeds donated to charity). If you bring a can of food to donate, you’ll get reduced admission. Purchase tickets online soHarvest-Festival-jewelry_re you don’t have to waste time waiting to get in!

Friday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 6
Fairplex 4

 

Admission:
Adult: $9
Senior (62+): $7
Ages 13-17: $4
Ages 12 and under: Free when accompanied by an adult

Hours:

Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Buy Stuff, Sell Stuff at the New Jewelry, Gem, Bead & Mineral Rock Show and Expo

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If you’re buying, selling, appraising, learning or just looking, there’s a world of opportunity at the New Jewelry, Gem, Gift, Bead, Craft & Mineral Rock Show & Expo this weekend in Fairplex 5. Take a free class, sell your gold and coins, have your gold appraised, learn how and where to pan for gold or just scout around for gifts and free stuff (you have to actually be present to win one of the free door prizes).

Show Times:

Fri., Jan. 9: noon – 6 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 10: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sun., Jan. 11: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free admission for seniors on Friday. Coupon for $2 off admission if you print this ad.

5 Reasons to Shop at the Fairplex Harvest Festival

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1. You’ll be able to find a unique gift for nearly everyone on your shopping list at the Harvest Festival Original Art & Craft Show, including your fussy Aunt Ellen and your niece with the pierced tongue. There are beautiful art pieces, Christmas and holiday decorations and ornaments, pottery, personal beauty items, jewelry, toys and dolls, beautiful hand-crafted clothing and accessories and sculpture. And jewelry. Did I mention jewelry?

2. You could win a trip to Paris!

3. You don’t have to stop shopping to drive somewhere for lunch or a snack. It’s all right there in one place — lunch, drinks, entertainment, music. There’s even a Kids’ Zone so the young ones won’t get bored and nag you while you’re shopping.

4. You can go to to the Harvest Festival web site and register for a free Harvest Festival grab bag of free gifts.

5. One admission ticket is good for all three days of the show.

Admission: (one ticket is good for all three days)

Adult: $9
Senior 62+: $7
Youth 13-17: $4
12 and under free when accompanied by an adult

Park at Gate 9 on White Avenue or Gate 3 on McKinley. Fairplex parking rates apply.

We’re Quilting at Fairplex – “Bee” There

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If you’re a quilter now or you wish you knew how, get on over to the Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival. You’ll find products, workshops and seminars on quilting, needle arts, punch embroidery, iron-on metals, crystals, beading, cross-stitch, knitting, sewing and more. One popular class: “Less Than Traditional” quilting Charlie’s Way, which promises to make quilting quicker and easier than ever before.

Your ticket is good for all three days so take your time, come back each day of the festival so you don’t miss any learning opportunities. Visit www.rustybarn.com for a show brochure listing all exhibitors, classes and locations. There’s a $1 off coupon on the site also.

Thursday, Oct. 9 – Saturday, Oct. 11, Fairplex 5. Admission is $8 for adults (good for all three days). Park at Gate 17. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you’re all sewed out, head to Fairplex 8 for the Sugar Plum Arts & Crafts Festival. This one’s a FREEBIE! It’s a frightfully delightful shopping adventure, with all things Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, all in one place.

Friday (10 a.m. - 8 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) Oct. 10 & 11. 

Still not tired? There’s a home improvement and remodeling show, too. It’s free. It’s in Fairplex 4, Friday, Oct. 10 (2 p.m. – 7 p.m.), Saturday, Oct. 11 (10 a.m. – 7 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.).