December 8, 2022 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Gifts from the HeART

LEGO The Starry Night — LEGO-The-Starry-Night

Do you have artists, art lovers, or aspiring young artists on your holiday list this year? Or perhaps are looking for a treat for yourself? I asked around and gathered interesting recommendations from the art world this year. Perhaps something on this list will catch your eye or inspire that perfect gift!

For the Artist

Gift someone the perfect views to paint en plain air with an America the Beautiful National Park Pass! Landscape artists and outdoor enthusiasts can use the pass to access over 1,100 National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands throughout 2023. The $80 pass is good for two passholders, with discounts for seniors, military veterans, and others. Find out more information at USParkPass.com.

Looking for something small with an edge? The secret is a pair of Silky Nevanon Fluorine Coated Scissors. Perfect for every artist and crafter, these sleek black scissors are coated to ensure they slide through every surface, including sticky or wet ones. They stay wicked sharp and are easy to clean, even when covered in paint. Find them for $30 in the Silky store on Amazon.com.

Speaking of cleaning, artists deserve some self-care, especially when it comes to their hands. Treat them to smooth skin and a moment of relaxation with sugar scrubs, soaps, body butter, and more from local company Odelia, Marie & Patrice. Based in West Chester, PA, this luxury beauty shop creates items that are sustainable, ethically sourced, and vegan. Find all their items at OMandPatrice.com.

For the Art Lover

The Magic of Ferns, Emie Hughes, The Jeweled Warrior

The top gift for every art lover is, of course, Art! While they may already have beloved works, artist shops and galleries are full of smaller pieces that perfectly complement gallery walls and brighten small corners throughout the home. Check out the hashtag #25daysofminis on Instagram to see how many artists are creating tiny pieces for the holidays. Find something at one of the many galleries throughout the Brandywine Valley that have winter exhibitions and shops ready to delight every art lover! All the information is in the CFL December Art Roundup.

Looking for something a bit more interactive? The Museum of Modern Art in NYC has the perfect gift. MoMA collaborated with LEGO® to recreate a LEGO® Ideas Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” (1889) brick by brick. It is the perfect chance to get hands-on with one of the most famous artworks of all time. Find it and many other unique art gifts in the MoMA store.

Do you know that person who is constantly rearranging their artwork? Help them out with the secret to hanging perfectly spaced and level frames every time! The Black & Decker MarkIT Picture Hanging Kit is at the top of my list, along with this new style of Picture Hangers that combine nails with a sturdy backing. Both are available on Amazon.

Forest Snowman, Martha Fenoglio, Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery

For the art lover who wants to celebrate the Brandywine Tradition, the Barbara Moore Fine Art Gallery has the perfect show. Featuring nineteen local artists, the 6th Annual Christmas in Miniature Art Show includes winter scenes, holiday traditions, playful figures, and scenes of the Brandywine. The vibrant pieces stand out even on a smaller scale, ideal to include in gallery walls and to brighten dark corners. Christmas in Miniature is available to view and purchase online at BarbaraMooreFineArt.com through the end of the year.

For the Art Student

I have it on good authority that the most requested gift for art students from elementary school through college are Copic Alcohol Markers. Available in various sets and sizes, they draw smoothly, dry quick, blend well, and have replaceable nibs for enduring use. They are a splurge for students, which makes them a very welcome gift at every age! Find them at local arts and crafts stores or online at Copic.jp.

Sharing artwork is one of the joys of creating, and young artists love being able to create on the go. Even better is making it a sticker! Mini Portable Photo & Sticker Printers use special paper that don’t require ink refills in the printer. Small enough to fit in a pocket, they charge quickly and can be used to print photos too! There are a wide range available, including the popular Canon Ivy.

For a more hands-on artist looking to develop their sculpting skills, clay is the way to go. But trips to the kiln require a lot of work, and possibly a ride from someone with a license. Air dry clay is a great option to create without the hassle. For a professional finish without a kiln, kits from Sculpd provide everything a student or casual potter could want. They include air dry clay, tools, paints, and more. Find all the options at Sculpd.com.

Links and products on this list are simply recommendations, not promotion. Happy Holidays!

About Victoria Rose

Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.

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Hank’s hearing rescheduled

Local News Chadds Ford, Local News

Chadds Ford Township supervisors will hold a conditional use hearing and hear the land use application for Hank’s Place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22. They were originally scheduled for Dec. 7, but there was a mix-up in advertising which necessitated the change.

Supervisors are also scheduled to vote on the 2023 budget during that special meeting.

During the Dec. 7 meeting, the board approved a subdivision application for 28 and 32 Atwater Road. That plan calls for a reverse subdivision of those two lots, 4.1 acres and 2.6 acres respectively. Once they are joined, the whole 6.7-acre parcel will be subdivided into three lots with two new dwellings to be built.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Around Town Dec 8

Along the Ford

445535_Boardwalk_Hill_ William _Bill_ _Longwood Volunteer Photographer_ — A program in black and white photography incoming to Longwood Gardens. (Courtesy image.)

• A new creative arts class is coming to Longwood Gardens next month. It’s a photography class Winter Landscape in Black and White. It has onsite and online components beginning with an online orientation on Wednesday, Jan. 11, and a two-hour shoot on location on Saturday, Jan. 14, followed by an online critique on Monday, Jan. 16. A digital SLR camera and a tripod are recommended. The cost is $129. Go here for more information or to register.

A sensory-friendly tour of the Brandywine Railroad is planned for Jan. 4. (Courtesy image.)

• The Residence at Chadds Ford is joining the Food Bank of Delaware for a Christmas Food Drive. Canned goods and dried food such as pasta and beans, along with shampoo, conditioner, cleaning products, diapers/wipes, dental hygiene products, and soaps will be collected through Dec. 23. The Residence at Chadds Ford is at 1778 Wilmington Pike.

• The Brandywine River Museum of Art is offering special hour-long access to the annual train display for people on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing disorders. It’s a sensory-friendly event so those with sensory issues can view the annual Brandywine Railroad. There will be reduced crowding and noise, and sensory regulation tools such as fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and sunglasses will be offered. The event is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 4, with four half-hour time slots to spread out the number of people in the galleries. It’s free with advanced registration. Go here to choose a time slot and register.

• The Delaware Theatre Company is now open with a production of ART, a French comedy about some friends who have a falling out after one of them buys a pricey painting. The dominant question is: Is it art? The show runs through Dec. 17. Ticket prices are $30 to $45 and are available here.

• In celebration of the Lunar New Year, and in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s historic 1973 tour of China, the iSING Suzhou International Young Artists Festival announces the North American premiere of Echoes of Ancient Tang Poem on Friday, Jan. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall in Philadelphia. Tickets are $10–$55 and are available here.

Chadds Ford Township resident Kathleen Goodier, left, is named Resident of the Year by the Chads Ford Township Residents’ Association. With her are Phile Wenrich, CFTRA president, and Tammy Maciolek, chair of the Awards Committee.

Rob King, of Chadds Ford Tree Service, accepts the award for Business of the Year from Wenrich and Maciolek during the Dec. 6 awards night. (Photos courtesy of Tom Bradley.)

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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Avoiding the ‘tripledemic’

Health

Christiana Care is urging people to practice proper hygiene and to get vaccinated in the face of what is being termed a “tripledemic.” The tripledemic refers to a surge in flu, COVID, and RSV, according to Physician’s Assistant Allyssa German at Christiana’s Concord Township facility.

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus and has symptoms similar to the flu and COVID — sore throat, body aches, fever, and congestion.

“We’ve seen all three [of those illnesses] independently before,” she said. “COVID has definitely been in the forefront of the news for almost three years now, but flu, which we’ve been dealing with for many, many years, has been lower in numbers over the past two years. I think masking and staying home and quarantining has something to do with it, and that’s a great way to help prevent getting the flu as well as COVID and RSV.”

Nonetheless, numbers are on the rise, she said. While German didn’t have numbers for COVID or RSV cases she did say the number of flu cases is higher than normal for this time of year. In Delaware County, there have been 2,500 cases reported, while in Chester County, that figure is 1,500, but not all numbers are in yet. She’s concerned about the number of cases this early in the flu season and said the rise may be due to people relaxing from recommended restrictions for the last three years, especially coming off a major holiday like Thanksgiving.

“I think that’s why all three of these of these respiratory viruses are surging.”

She said flu numbers normally don’t get that high until January, February, or March. “Already we’re kind of outrunning where we’ve been for the past couple of years for flu.”

She has no numbers for COVID but thinks that might be due to the amount of home testing going on. Positive home tests are not reported, but lab test numbers are reported. Because of that, she said, the number of COVID cases is underreported.

There’s no vaccine for RSV, she said, but to combat the other two viruses before they hit, German is recommending people get vaccinated for flu and COVID. Both vaccines can be given during the same medical visit with one shot in one arm and the other shot in the other arm.

People should also be conscious of sanitation and hygiene. They should be washing their hands, staying home if sick, washing down surfaces and doorknobs, and wearing a mask if they need to go out while sick.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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