SuzeBlogz

Lookin' Purdy !

well, in between all the usual daily stuff The Lenster and I managed to see Agatha Christies "The Mousetrap" at the Walnut Street Theater in downtown Philadelphia.

having never seen it before I am now sworn to secrecy regarding the ending !! But, the neat thing was that the lead role was played by an actress named Jennie Eisenhower who, it turns out, is the daughter of Julie & David Eisenhower and the granddaughter of the late Pres. Nixon.

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We've had the most wonderful, mild weather here in New Jersey...today was in the 60's..which at this time of the year is completely unheard of. By now, usually, we'd be buried in snow....is this what they mean by global warming??

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I've been making some jewelry.They're all on ETSY

This one is called WRAPPED UP

AND comes with earrings

This one is called CHEETAH JASPER

and that's because it uses those stones

and also comes with earrings

and, this one is called WINGS

I LOVE THIS PIECE.

The bezel is filled with Epoxie Clay. A collage image has been placed inside with a glass bubble covering it. The clay has been brushed with Perfect Pearls.

it's got glass beads and crystals too.

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I've also been toying around with mylar Shimmer Sheetz after seeing what the adorable Judi Kauffman did with them for CHA....

So, I made this for myself......

I embossed the mylar with an embossing folder and sanded the surface. Then I made a fairly simple necklace design, inspired by a class I took a few years back from the glorious Miss Madge (Margot Potter). Margo has, incidentally, written a terrific post on her website all about PINTEREST. You should all take a moment to read it.

Then I posted a pix of me wearing it on FB and my sweet friend Kathy Gledsdale in the UK said..."Please....I want it" !

So..Kathy...I'm selling it to you !!

It gives me reason to make another !

Heart-ing !!!

A VERY HAPPY VALENTINES DAYS TO ALL OF YOU !

The Lenster and I had quite a busy weekend. First we had his surprise birthday celebration on Saturday night, and the following day we went to the annual luncheon/dance thrown by people in the Lensters industry (he's a marine engineer)

we've been attending this function every year for the last 4-5 years and it is always a wonderful schmooze-fest !

You almost feel like you're on a cruise ship with all the food, the luxurious ice sculptures

and the DESSERTS !!

and the dancing

and the balloons and face painting

and all the ladies got roses

and a swag bag with goodies

and cotton candy

and The Lenster was able to spend more time with his sister Jane who flew back to Nashville today

FANTASTIC WEEKEND !!!

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On Monday I did a beading class for a small select group of ladies from a neighboring development who wanted to learn the basics.

once you get the hang of crimping and opening & closing jump rings you can easily make a finished project

and thats just what they did !!!

talk about excited....they told me they never expected to walk away with anything finished let alone wearable !!!

well then...what kind of class would be if they didn't !!!!

everyone loved Ranger's Memory Frames and Memory Glass.

coming home.....great sky

I always love a good photography experience ! For me, it's that extra added bonus to a great day.

SO MUCH TO DO.....not enough TIME !!!!!

The Biker Boys Birthday !

When The Lensters big 70th birthday kinda 'came & went' on Friday, with just a small little cake at Temple he took it in his stride. He's not one to expect big things !!

So...when he went to our clubhouse on Saturday night for a 'supposed' dinner with the kids he was feeling very happy and appreciative that we were all getting together.

Little did he know !!!!

Dont ask how I managed to maneuver him into the room where everyone was hiding, but I'd been planning this surprise party for 2 months and it came off without a single hitch....devious little person that I am !!!

every table had a motorcycle theme and my close friend Pam (who owns a party planning business) did ALL the work making these amazing centerpieces and a fabulous sign in board...which, hysterically, included a picture of me as a biker chick....BUT NO...THAT WAS NEVER MY REAL BODY...not ever...

and I mean NOT EVER !!!!

The Lenster was shocked...surprised...even crying....so moved....

40 of our closest friends were there...unfortunately our middle son Lee and family couldn't get up from Texas because he'd just started a new job and was required to work that weekend, but we skyped with him !

The biggest surprise of ALL was that The Lensters sister Jane (A doctor in Nashville) flew up just for the weekend. We haven't seen her in 3 years.

I hired a gal from north Jersey to make this AMAZING motorcycle cake...all edible...and looking exactly like The Lensters real Honda Gold Wing.

the tires were rice krispies treats !!

and we absolutely DID cut into it and eat it and it was SCRUMPTOUS !!!

we had a wonderful Buffet dinner

and The Lenster opened his gifts...which included lots of wine

movie tickets

a new GPS

and I gave him tickets for us to see "The Book of Mormon" on Broadway which won't be until August.

The friends were auctioning off the gifts...in jest !!

Our friend Gail (below) owns a soap business and she made party gifts for everyone...motorcycle soaps that smelled delicious !!

next door to the party room was the clubhouse Billiards room where the kids (and even some adults !) hung out and played games

what a night !!

WHAT A NIGHT !!

Downtown New York

The Lenster and I were given some V.I.P. tickets to come to a very interesting all-star panel discussion about a new book called...of all things..."Kosher Jesus" ! It took place at Trinity Place in Manhattan, across from Trinity Church.

The panel,moderated by the Editor-In-Chief of "The Forward", Jane Eisner, consisted of (L-R) the Mayor of Newark, NJ, Cory Booker, The Rabbi who authored the book  Shmuley Boteach, Wall Street Columnist Bret Stephans and Harvard Professor Noah Feldman.

The book...which I haven't begun to read yet (but have an autographed copy of) is about the legacy of Jesus among Jews & Christians.

Okay...safe to say it was a lively 2 hour discussion...pros and cons - which I'm not even going to attempt to get into here....this is more about the amazing sights and sounds of downtown Manhattan right in the heart of Ground Zero.

The Lenster and I love taking the train into the city...

we board the PATH headed downtown toward the World Trade Center

and get off to go up toward the street

 

we pass the new construction of the Freedom Tower

and lots of other interesting construction....

we walk about 7 short blocks, passing St. Pauls church and Trinity Church...both very historic

we walk past lots of NY architecture

cross some famous streets

pass other streets that famous people have walked on

make a brief stop in the 9/11 Memorial Store

memorabilia from the victims

this one was particularly moving

The wallet and cards found weeks after this young lady perished.

the plans for what the new area will look like

this was an amazing memorial motorcycle

on the way home it begins to snow

and before we head back on the train

the last thing I see is the new Freedom Tower shrouded in mist

something amazing to stay in my memory for a long time.

and you need more because....?

so, while the world was gearing up for the Super Bowl I was bowling myself over at a small local bead show !!

I was especially interested in these unusual beads from designer Michael Harrington

apparently he has developed some special and unique technique for making beads from recycled optical lenses, making them super light and about 1/2 the weight of a glass bead. He calls it Cold Fusion. They were really gorgeous. I splurged and bought 1 bead at $40 just to try it for myself.

They are so light they literally bounce

and of course there was the usual run of beads that you see at all the shows...

it's always kind of mind boggling...you know you have enough but you always seem to find more...right??!! These are paper beads...(I like to make my own)...I think they are great fun.

I see my friend Priscilla at lots of shows

She has the most unusual beads...many made from sawdust in which she uses her own collage images. Go and visit her at her website.

I picked up these beautiful faces and made earrings and a necklace with them

the necklace is only 24 inches long...I hung it on a short mannequin !

and, as we speak, it's going right up on ETSY

my mind is still away

aaaah...Home.....

I totally slept in this morning but boy was I ever still dreaming about that gorgeous Wynn hotel

and all the SHOPPING.....

okay...okay....enough daydreaming....so..moving on to the furniture show

it was held across town at the World Market Center

3 huge buildings with floors and floors and floors of furniture

I went with my friends Doug, Wendy and Judy. We saw so much incredible home decor....my mind was spinnnnnning.

I basically skipped the couches & that type of stuff cause I just wanted to see the 'trendy' things like this fun metal perpetual calendar.....do you ship??!!

this was a wholesale 'to the trade only' show so for now we'll just take a little virtual tour for the sheer inspiration it provides....I'm sure you'll see many of these exciting things in retail stores this coming season.

Wood

metal

blackboard

Glass

fabric

paper

Edison light bulbs

steampunk inspired

swarovski crystal fireplace...LOL !!!

mirrors

metal & bone

I'm a sucker for birdhouses

and my favorite came from this adorable designer Mimi Tin, owner and creator of www.sushistyle.com

sushi furniture!!!

so...now I'm home and full of ideas and waiting for my CHA orders to arrive by mail so I can start new, fresh creating !!

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BTW...February is  Black History Month. It was begun by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. His goal was to educate the American people about African-American history, focusing on African Americans' cultural backgrounds and reputable achievements.

Here's a recent letter you might find interesting....!

 

it's a 'Wynn-er' !

I've been basking in the luxury of The Wynn Hotel here in Las Vegas. Look at the view from my 22nd floor room !! There's even a TV in the bathroom.

Came here after CHA with Wendy and Judy (The Wax Girls !) to see the Furniture show. But first a little tour of the hotel, which is magnificent

and all decorated with a "Year of the Dragon" theme

in honor of the Chinese New Year

everything about The Wynn is first class....I was incredibly lucky to get a 'furniture show' rate cause this coming super bowl weekend it goes up to $750 a day!! YIKES !!!!

We had a wonderful dinner here

where they bring the 'still moving lobster and other fishes right to your table for you to pick out....OK..I admit..that creeps me out a bit...

we passed a bride who had just gotten married here

then the day got even better when we hooked up with my friend Doug Soule, a producer for FOX news. I've mentioned Doug many many times in the past...we've been bestest friends going way back to when he was a teenager working at Stamp Oasis

I would never come to Vegas and not see Doug.

and in the evening I hooked up with my first cousins Anita and Mark who were vacationing from Boston at the same time I was here....it couldn't have been better timing. Dinner at Smith & Wollensky...delicious !

so...come back and tomorrow (after I'm home) I'll give you the lowdown on the furniture show....

you'll love it !

sleep.....whatz sleep???

so, since I went gluten free my energy level has skyrocketed and I have lots of energy...I've been going to sleep at midnight and waking at 6 am....raring to go....walkin' the show...

BUT...

this morning, when I needed to be up by 6 AM I overslept and got up at 7:30 so

GUESS WHAT...

Missed my flight to Vegas...!!!

Fortunately I don't stress......

 

Now I'm sitting comfortably in the United lounge, on their lovely WiFi and blogging the rest of CHA...

There's always another flight...I'm on standby...could be midnight ! LOL

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Thinking about my sweet friend Judy Kaufman and the wood bangle bracelets she made with Shimmer Sheetz mylar. I MUST try this when I get home..I got some samples to play with.

thinking about the fabulous friends, that I love, that I was so glad to run into

Carmi Cimicata and Diva Danielle Forsgren (her crown was "at the spa")

Watching THE Ken Oliver demo and Fran from Stampendous

checking out more of Wendy Vecchi's incredible samples from her Art Parts line.

You will go NUTS for Rangers new Texture Treads....designed by Debbie Tlach. Remember how I used to pour UTEE onto rubber stamps...well, now you have these amazing designs with both a negative AND a positive side and they are INCREDIBLE for doing that exact technique.

and...speaking of booth displays...we were speaking of that somewhere, right?

beautiful designs from Fernando

amazing effects from Dyan Reaveley at Ranger

I love how she takes her USED paper towel wipe ups and attaches them to Claudines sticky back canvas on the sticky side, then she can sew it into books

here's more of her colorful work.

and some of Margie Romneys new paper for Bazzill

and the BRILLIANT amazing things you can do with the bezels from Susan Lenart Kazmir...My God, I LoooooooVE her stuff !

and, I love HER and her Ice Resin

it's just a love fest at CHA

Wendy and I making little origami books at a make it take

 

a "tacky" new product from Duct Tape

and a product to get "hooked' on..which, believe it or not I  loved !!

OK..more stuff

great looking stencils from Crafters Workshop designed by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

very very super fine spray...lovely

paper plates

Heidi Swapp and Pam Carriker...xoxoxoxo

can't remember where...just liked it !

Polymer Clay at Makin's Clay booth

and...the day comes to an end...

vegas...furniture show....HERE I HOPEFULLY COME !

More from CHA and then some

As I mentioned before...running into old friends is really the best part of CHA

Like seeing Dee Gruenig (r) Lisa Lambright, & Lisa Pavelka (l)

 

running in to the adorable Chris Nicholson who I just love

or having dinner with wonderful friends like Theresa & Bonnie from Ranger, Wendy & Jess from Vintaj

Joan and Lisa Kittell & Debbie Tlach from Ranger

Ludmilla, Tim and Wendy

Patti, Ben Reveley and Mario..

at Buca di Beppo where the whole Ranger gang goes every year at CHA...it's a tradition

it has hilarious decor....like "The Pope Room"

and you can share great desserts

OR NOT !!!!!.....

you Go Bonnie !!!!! It's all yours !

or just chill out like Claudine

or cutie pie Jen Starr demoing at Tattered Angels

and running into Sarah Hodson and Sherri Haab..two of my very favorite talented people

the night before last I had dinner with one of my oldest and closest friends, Judy Beard, who I had not seen in a few years. It was a great, great evening for both of us, catching up. Everyone has always said we look like sisters. We FEEL like sisters.

OK....back to the show....

7Gypsies and Tattered Angels, along with Canvas Concepts are now all part of one company...lots of companies are merging. Here are some of the cool things in the 7Gypsies  booth

I was very impressed by this young man, Nick Harsell, an artist from Eugene, OR who was doing some amazing art with markers

back again at Creative Impressions...more cute stuff with their ribbons

and some exciting random  looks from all around the show floor...in no particular order..!

Dyan Reaveleys amazing piece for Ranger

Oh my...and there she is...Miss Dyan herself..

Polmer Clay at the Makins Clay Booth

At The Jesse James Bead Booth

This is fabric !!!

Everything you see below, all those intricate patterns,  were cut by hand

this niche was seen at the Graffic 45 booth

all made from paper

Seen at Vicky Breslins booth

Made from yarn

painting real people...wow !

and...an appearance by Tori Spelling, who has an interesting new jewelry line with Darice. Everything is a mix and match and add on for different effects.

I'll close out today with the super wonderful Jess from Vintaj demoing the melting pot at Rangers booth

 it makes me VERY happy to see the wonderful ideas she has been doing...she's carrying on the tradition magnificently...look at some of her beautiful samples with both her new Patinas and with UTEE

still walking, walking

so I had on really comfy sneakers all day and my poor feet were still in bunion hell by the end of the day...

however......I pushed on....!!!

past the throngs of buyers

saw more delicious friends

Cynthia Shaffer & Jenny Doh, Susan from the UK,

The ladies of Graphic 45 and Stacy Caron from Spellbinders

Didn't catch the name of the gal on the L, but the adorable Vicki Breslin, Queen of Stuff,  in on the right

and....the preciously adorable Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, who is NOT a dirty girl (LOL),  and who has a terrific stencil line with Crafters Workshop

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AM THRILLED to tell you that Purple Cow now has a really excellent new tool to use with wax.

forget about any others that came before this one......this is the BOMB ! and it will soon be available for purchase from the gals at WaxWorksWest in Corallitos, CA...along with a huge variety of hot tips.

and because I love jewelry, nothing tops the faaaaahbulous stuff at Vintaj

so...you might be wondering how their metal got its color...well...another exciting new addition to the craft market are the Rangers Patinas made in partnership with Vintaj

in such gorgeous colors

and I was excited about Tiffany Windsors product

you can make incredible home decor and jewelry with it..like these

There are always gorgeous displays at CHA....check out this one made of all paper and beads and crystals

Wendy & Judy (My WaxWorks girlfriends) are admiring it too !

and there were shoes to match

as someone who loves beading..I was just blown away with this booth...I'll have to go searching for their name again

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now this was super interesting...what to do with a left over soda pop can?

MAKE ART of course...

yes...each & every piece of this "painting" is a square cut from a soda can.

and all you have to do is follow the DVD

 

The ribbons at Creative Impressions are always wonderful

and they do such darling things with them

Finally caught up with Claudine who was demoing at the Stampers Anonymous Booth

and who has some really adorable new stamps

saw Wendy Vecchi's fantastic new Art Parts

and now.....well...now I'm trying to rush to get dressed for the annual Ranger dinner....think I might need to soak my feet first....

 

More tomorrow folks....