SuzeBlogz

another NY experience

If you thought crafts ate up most of your spare cash you haven't experienced the cosmetics industry yet!!

a lovely friend got me tickets to the Cosmetics, Spa, International Hair & Beauty show at the NYC Javits Convention Center.

OH BOY !!!

thousands of attendees...AND I DO mean thousands and thousands !

At this show you are able to buy direct from all the manufacturers BUT, unless you came prepared with a list of what you knew you wanted or needed you were....like me...

OVERWHELMED !!!

Cosmetic brushes up the whazoo....from dozens of different manufacturers..$2, $3, $4 and so on. At the retail counter you'd pay quadruple the price.

need a facial or some false eyelashes...wait in line

want new nails

pick an eye shadow color

walk the aisles

want something different in your hair

you'd better like it cause it's in there for at least a week, maybe two ! It sticks in with tape. I wanted purple but they were all out.

need to get your teeth whitened....seriously. The line for this was huge...no worries..I didn't need it.

maybe an experimental haircut...lots of that going on..

glitter tattoos

feet massage

interesting people...hmm

he had better eyelashes than me....and those brows...whoa !!!

and some v-e-r-y interesting garments....

the latest in equipment

and products

or you could just sit and watch a show

no matter where you walked...you were filled with eye candy

and a bazillion hair dryers, combs, brushes, nail polishes, Lordy..you name it..it was HERE. !!

my poor bursitis hip....I was a goner by the end of the day..

BUT

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didn't stop me from going back into New York today (this time with the Lenster)

to see a matinee performance of one of our favorite shows on Broadway (for the umteenth time !)

OMG..."Everythings Alright, yes, everythings alright...."

SPECTACULAR....The best production I've seen anywhere.

huge standing ovation

AND we had a gorgeous day weather wise in the city

and, on the way home we passed this darling family

Yup....EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT....

Schlepping the Lower East Side

Every year, for his birthday, my brother Les and SIL Muffie come to NYC from California. We always go in to spend a day with them. Yesterday we walked around the multi-cultural Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Originally, the "Lower East Side" referred to the area alongside the East River from about the Manhattan Bridge and Canal Street up to14th Street, and roughly bounded on the west by Broadway. It included areas known today as East Village, Alphabet City,  Chinatown, The Bowery, Little Italy and NoLlta.

No matter who you are, somewhere in your history you had a relative who came over and probably settled in this 'Gateway to America' community.

so....we pick up Les & Muf at their midtown hotel and take the train down to the lower east side

note to tourists...a little tip for any seniors who come from out of town and want to ride the train...BRING YOUR MEDICARE CARD to show for the senior discount...yes...your medicare card...they won't accept anything else. Can U even believe that!!!

first stop the world famous Lombardi's Pizza

Yes....the first pizza place in the United States !

and, with a TRUE brick oven to make the most fabulous pizza

very close by we came upon Engine Company 55 who lost 5 firefighters on 9-11.

now, you can't walk around the Lower East Side and not drop into an Italian deli or two in Little Italy

or dine outside

or buy from street vendors

 

and see famous landmark restaurants

you will also see The Stabile Building

This is now a museum that highlights the Italian immigrants and their experiences in America. It used to be a bank

In the windows were displays of The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in NYC on March 25, 1911. It was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city of New York.

around the corner.....a memorial

and, tucked away in a little corner

a tiny church and beautiful courtyard

walk a little more and suddenly you're in Chinatown

in Columbus Park...a wonderful experience, especially if you are not Asian. When you come to NYC you must get out of 'just seeing Times Square' and experience the flavor of these neighborhoods.

Musicians playing, palm reading, playing cards or Mah Jong..I felt like I was right back in Shanghai

and the street foods are amazing

The Hester Street Playground

The playground lies at the foot of Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Hester Street between Chrystie and Forsyth streets & serves the children of Chinatown. It is a state of the art space.

Still walking....walking.....OY VEY ! My back is now really feeling it....

we reach the Jewish neigborhood

The tours were full up so we just glanced by the site of the original Orchard Street synagogue.

We never stop feeling amazed when we see original tenement buildings. Their facades are architecturally beautiful.

My father was a textile salesman and walked the streets of the lower east side selling what they then called 'piece goods'.

It was a FANTABULOUS DAY !!!!

and, because we go into Manhattan often you can count on another tour again real soon !!!

 

 

Bussing It

As if we hadn't had enough of fabulous Philadelphia, The Lenster and I joined a group from our synagogue this past Sunday for yet another trip there ! This trip was done specially for the temple youth.

This time we boarded a plush bus and left the driving to them! First we visited the Eastern State Penitentiary. WHY you ask? Well....Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers....

at one time it was known for its grand architecture and strict discipline. This was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts.

hard to believe, huh???

Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone.

we had a fantastic guide walk us through every aspect of the prison

Here's Al Capones cell....pretty nice ! All the comforts of home ! The prison even had its own baseball field !

It also had a synagogue...

Our Rabbi Brooks Susman in front of the restored ark.

it was quite an amazing historical site.

From there we went to the American Jewish History Museum. Pictures were NOT allowed there but I somehow managed to sneak in a few...OK...I don't think God will really punish me, now do you??

and, of course I helped by visiting the gift shop and leaving them some greenbacks !!

(this says 'LOVE' in Hebrew)

Our weather has been magnificent the past few days...totally like summer...so, tomorrow should be REALLY exciting because.....

DRUM ROLL PLEASE !!!

My brother Les (who, thank you all for asking, has been doing just great) and my sister-in-law Muffie are coming to NYC from California and we're going into the city to spend the day with them.

Last year when they visited we picked them up and drove them all over Brooklyn... back to our old public school, high school, college...etc...this time we're all going to spend the day in Manhattan...

 

I haven't walked this much since I was twelve !

and you can be sure we'll find plenty to do !!!

1776 to 2012

In just 90 minutes you can leave the 21st century and transport yourself back in time of the days of the Declaration of Independance....it's just a car ride away from my house to Philadelphia.

we really love going to Philly. Jared was on school break and really wanted to see The Liberty Bell so...

we visited as many of the sights as we could do in one afternoon without killing ourselves ! Jared is 9..he can schlep for hours...Grandma is old...'nuff said !!!

Gaze upon Benjamin Franklins former home !

the real walls have been preserved

that was pretty damn amazing

as was the printing press room

This is where the Supreme Court met.

you really get a wonderful sense of our history when you visit Philadelphia. We are very fortunate because we live right between NYC and Philly and can go to both whenever we like.

So...that was yesterday....

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Today The Lenster and I drove BACK to Philly, but to a different part of town...closer to Valley Forge... for the Innovative Bead Show.

Now..in all honesty....I could probably sell beads to these vendors cause I am in bead overload....yes...you heard me...BEAD OVERLOAD...and I assure you there IS such a thing !!

Oy Vey !!!

So many beads....so little time !!!

BUT...you DO run into friends and admirers...for me, that's the coolest part

On the left we have Judy Streger from NJ who is an avid blog follower...hugz to you Judy & thanks for stopping me. The always adorable Margo Potters' hubby Drew is front and center, and one of my best friends Nancy Gall is to the right.

and...I always look for Kabela Designs when I go to local shows. Hi Beth !!!

some of the rings in Kabelas booth. You buy the componants and make your own !

and, Kabela always has delicious samples.

Then I discovered enameling ! I knew basically nothing about this art form

but WOW...it is ever interesting...and I love that it involves a TORCH !!!

There are books

and gorgeous colors of enameling powder

and, while I may not be ready to get involved in it just yet...there are real people to talk to about it...Hi Guys !

Painting With Fire

so...here are a few more samples that were displayed at todays show...

these are from another favorite of mine..

Green Girl Studios

Now....lest you should think that all I've been doing is watching American Idol (yes..I'm pissed at those last results...c'mon America...it's Jessica all the way !)

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I've been loving the new Dylusions Dyes from Ranger & designer Dyan Reaveley...

I sold the last necklace I made using her dyes on a canvas. This time I tried them on wood followed by some stamping.

and...if YOU would like to own it, just click HERE !!

Going once....going twice.....

all sorts of things....

are happening over at the Weinberg household..

Firstly, tonight begins Passover so we'll be off to the first Seder (The feast commemorating the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, celebrated on the first two nights of Passover.) in a few hours and will blog on that tomorrow or Sunday, but wanted to fill you in on other stuff.

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You might recall.....(or not !) that I'd been looking for 'just the right tree branches' for an idea for the house....The Lenster, with his sharp eyes, was able to find us the exact white birch I was hoping for. He spotted them in a vacant lot and, with saw in hand, took exactly what he thought were the right ones.

I am over the moon ! We ae very big into all these natural looking 'accessories'.

and, you'll also notice the ingenious planters...upside down

found them online...ran to Home Depot to get some plants

specially designed so nothing drips or falls out

and...YES...they have birds on them...PERFECTO !!

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also PERFECTO

the new DYLUSION Dyes from Ranger and designer Dyan Reaveley and stencils from The Crafters Workshop

I ordered some 2X2 canvases online and decided to try the dyes directly on them...then see if I could turn it into jewelry

they are fabulous on canvas..so..that means they will also be fabulous on Claudines Sticky Back Canvas too.

Used Tims little screw eyes on the sides...

added some decorative Artistic Wire and a bauble from Stanislaus

and some beads...

and some of Tims gears

so..whaad'ya think...should I sell it on ETSY ???

 

I do plan to sell this gem..or should I say lots of gems. This is all the rage now...contemporary yet vintage style lucite for summer.

I love "The Beadin' Path" (where I bought these great beads) ..I discovered them at the Whole Bead show in NYC and all I want to do is make a trip to their Freeport Maine store !

there are so many fabulous beads used in this necklace

To those of you celebrating either Easter or Passover...may it be a wonderful blessed holiday for you.

Check back in a day or two !!

 

MADE LOCALLY

The Lenster and I went to a local art Fair today

it featured artists and craftspeople from all walks...jewelry, furniture, food, health...and it was held on a track field (indoors) at Monmouth University.

so, you got good excercise as you walked, stopped, walked some more,  visited with and talked to the various artists, and then walked even more !!

I was especially happy to see my friend Michelle Bernard

not only because she makes fantastic eclectic jewelry

at Yesterdays Trash Art

but she also makes the most wonderful fun art too

as does her mom Carol

and, as does another friend Linda Coppolino

but, one of the most incredible "finds" of the show..and I think a new friend...was Andrea Rosenfeld. Now this is a gal who makes magnificent HIGH END sculptural, playful and healing jewelry.

I could have stayed and talked with Andrea all day.

her approach to jewelry making was so wonderful to listen to.

Like I said....her end product is simply amazing

she uses only the finest silver, solder, beads, etc to create her amazing jewelry.

and she weaves wire ...which to me is just gorgeous...

Her pieces are all one of a kind, completely unique. She can be found on her website at Hot Rox Jewelry

but...If you are a shop that sells fine jewelry you can contact Andrea from the website link above regarding wholesale.

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another treasure at the show was Mirror Mirror

beautiful because of it's extreme clean lines and lovely simplicity...and she's on ETSY.

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Other fun things at the show included cakes..one shaped like a Chanel purse !!

Beeswax Candles from E & M

Original sculptures...which can be found at the Gallery in Ocean Grove.

Inlaid Furniture

Funny T-Shirts (look at how she uses the "peace" symbol !)

purses

and etc...etc....etc....etc

Very elegant, sterling silver, all hand made one of a kind from Leslie Eaton LLC

You KNOW we had a good time !

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In the meantime...I decided to make myself a little 'something" because I loved the vintage resin beads I got from Heather at The Beadin' Path

so.....using some of my own beads and a whole bunch of hers I made this...

which I LOOOOOOOOOVE...and is so me !!!

there's some new stuff on MY ETSY page too...so..go hop on over...

and the final word for the day is....

right on !!

so, what else is new?

There's nothing like a quick trip into NYC...especially for a bead show.

The Lenster and I like taking the train into the city, getting off at Penn Station. One of the interesting things in Penn Station are the walls...all with beautiful tiles

It was a nice day so we walked 12 short blocks to the show and, on the way, passed my old college alma mater "Fashion Institute of Technology" (FIT)

we saw a bride walking with her attendants

then we got to the show

after a bit of walking around together the Lenster went off into the streets of Manhattan while I shopped the rest of the show ! Believe me...neither of us was bored !!

I have to tell you...Vintage lucite and resin pieces were very popular....just say PLASTIC !!!

you do realize that after a while everything sorts of blends together and you get dizzy looking at so much

but, you certainly get inspired...!!

and these, believe it or not, are glass

OKAY..that was the day trip...

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following day my synagogue did a fund raiser at CHICOS clothing store. My Favorite !!

They opened 2 hours earlier just for our group and we shopped till we dropped....really, we did..

everyone had their own dressing room with their name on it...

we supplied coffee and goodies

we had a blast...all those giggling women asking each other "How do I look"??!!  Do you like this on me ??!! Does this make me look fat !!!!!

 

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speaking of fat....Our holiday of Passover is soon approaching (First night is Fri April 6) and we have all the best greasy foods that week.

Last night we went to a mock Seder...the ritual meal...for an adult ed presentation of what the objects on the Passover table mean. Our friend Rhoda opened her house up to everyone and served all the traditional foods from different parts of the world.

Today I'm off to a "retirement party" for The Lenster...Friday is his last day of work and he's ecstatic !

Of course I'll keep you all up to date on just how he stays busy !! LOL

 

the new stuff

I know a lot of you follow my travails on FaceBook, so you know that last week I spotted this table in our local Home Goods....

Oh My...I was doomed....

Had to have it...had NO idea where it would go, but just knew I had to have it...."Industrial Chic" I would call it, altho there's nothing 'chic' about it......The Lenster and I bantered back & forth over this piece of furniture the entire weekend...

being a typical man..."Where are we gonna put it"..."I think it's too big to go 'there'"...etc and so forth...oy vey !

Now, if you understand how Home Goods works then you know if you don't buy it when you see it...GONE !!!

we bantered....Monday came..The Lenster finally relented...I called Home Goods...they told me it was sold ! I was beside myself ...GONE...IT WAS GONE !!! Someone else had MY table.

Okay..it's a long stupid story..I won't bore you....

I called every Home Goods in New Jersey...no one had another one..But, the Lenster decided to give it one more try...he stopped back there...a little voice said....go back young man..go back....

Lo and behold..it wasn't sold at all (after all....who would want this weird looking table.... this is not your average persons taste !) ..they had moved it to another part of the store, no one knew and the girl who answered my phone call assumed it had been sold...

NEVER ASSUME.....

my wall (I took down what was there)....

the moving men

the new table

it doesn't take much to make me happy !

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Then we visited our friends Marilyn & Mort cause I really wanted a huge tree branch for a window treatment I'd seen in a garden center

Marilyn and Morts house is about 20 minutes from us. They have a gorgeous home

and their property is wonderful, deep woods, and full of flowers and unusual trees. Marilyn is very active in the horticultural society. Of course, not much is in bloom yet but..that didn't matter...

I wanted a large tree branch with 'character'..like these...

I have twigs & branches on lots of stuff around my eclectic house...for example...they make great headboards...

found this YEARS AGO at a Home Goods...yup..buy it when you see it !!

Bought this on a California trip many years ago..it is made in Thailand. I used my 3 magic words "DO YOU SHIP" !!!!

Pier 1

West Elm (the doll came from an antique shop)

Found this treasure in New Hope, PA.

yup..I like all that natural stuff...it better never go out of style or I'm in deep trouble.

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a monthly drop in to the local Anthropologie found me taking pix of these inspirational settings

the back.....

the front

and I love what stores are doing with glass jars & bottles these days

 

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Tomorrow I'll fill you in on this past weekend...gotta get my day going....

TTFN

and it all happens at once !

Some weeks just fly by when every day there is a new package at the front door....

On the 16th the new Ipad3 arrived and I was jumping for joy!

Next day a lovely box from Ranger arrived with all sorts of new goodies to play with

I am especially anxious to play -again- with the new patinas for Vintaj which are yummy gorgeous..I played with them at CHA.

not to mention that I am equally excited to get my hands on Dyans new Dylusions sprays for paper

then a package came from the waxy girls in California because they sell the new stencils from The Crafters Workshop...

More jumping for joy. You can order them here..

OK....next day, another box...from the one and only Susan Lenart Kazmer

now, how brilliant is this...a stencil that is made to fit all of her bezels so you will always get it right !!! And...gorgeous silk ribbons....just gorgeous, and a few of her bezels !

 

Okay...now I'm heaven bound..but..lo and behold..next day a box arrives is from the equally brilliant and generous queen of clay Lisa Pavelka

I mean where does a girl go from here !!! I'm over the moon !

I have wonderful, generous friends.

So...I felt perhaps I should treat myself to a few silly new goodies....for my iPhone...like the OlloClip camera. I ordered it online...it came in a box...to the door !!!

this is a way cool camera that attaches to your Iphone 4 or 4S and allows you to take wide angle, macro (yes..REAL macro) and fisheye. It just clips on to your phone.

Here's fisheye Bonnie, from Ranger,...in her office

I made a little stop at Ranger for 'lunch with the girls' and to see Linda Hahola who came down to help them with kitting up class supplies.

Linda, Terri and Alain...busy, busy, busy !

Lo and behold today the next box arrived...now THIS is quite a gadget...

YES...a remote control for your iPhone....so YOU can be in your picture...I mean seriously...I am tilting sideways... I'm so crazy!!!

But wait...why stop there...I got myself a little iPad gadget too. I'd seen it demonstrated and that sold me in a heartbeat...

iConvert® Scanner for iPad 

Seriously...I need an intervention !!!

There's more...like the tree branches I collected for a window treatment (more on that tomorrow!)

and the new table going into this open space...

yup...stay tuned for that one too....

 

There so much catching up to do.

U wouldn't want to miss any of it, would you?

 

evolve

so, it's just been busy as usual. The Lenster had an op for a trigger finger and yesterday the bandages came off and he's doing great...anxious, as ever, to hop back on the motorcycle....me? not so anxious !

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I had adorable company a few days ago, my close friend Gail brought her 4 year old granddaughter Abi over to make jewelry.

It's been many years since I had very young granddaughters (mine are teenagers now) so this was incredibly fun. Abi picked out the most sparkly beads and stung them herself. (of course I helped to finish it !!)

Then...we gave her a manicure and new bright blue polish. Typical girl....loved it !!

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In between all this we still have Mollie the cat in her ridiculous collar. On Monday we see the Vet about taking out the stitches. Oh..that should be a picnic !!! Mollie is a screamer, a hisser and a meanie !!

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I've added some stuff to ETSY that you might want to look at.

This is called SIXTEEN

The focal piece is made from Mylar Shimmer Sheetz & it comes with matching earrings

This one below is called EVERMINDFUL

and is a beautiful 8 inch bracelet.

I must be on a bracelet kick cause I did a few more

FANTASYLAND

This one is called ASSUME NOTHING

But, I can never stop making anything with crystals...that's like my 'go to' look...even with jeans...

GRANNYS ATTIC

 

This is the gorgeous DREAMY MOOD

If you like the Far East

CHINA BRONZE

And this one, CHINA SYNDROME, is totally unique and needs someone who likes a really different, chunky style with an authentique antique coin from China as the focal point. It is strung on a very interesting ball chain that is encased in a wire mesh.

and lastly comes the most recent

I got hooked on these "mood beads". If you touch them with warmed hands they change color and go from brown to green to purple/blue.

I'M IN THE MOOD

AND IT COMES WTH A BRACELET and EARRINGS.

tomorrow our day starts with a visit to a friends for brunch and a walk deep in her woods....I'll explain it all later !!

you'll just have to visit here again !