SuzeBlogz

Spending Time

So.....we awoke this morning to a sprinkling of that white stuff

why doesn't it just GO AWAY ALREADY !

But, it didn't stop us...into the car...off for some fun family time...

We took Jared on a little tour of the elementary school his mommy went when she was his age !

Then to the local pet shop. We are NOT in the market for any type of pet...we just wanted to take Jared to visit them. We still have Mollie (8) the cat, a rescue!  I'm all about rescue animals. But...these little dogs are adorable and this shop keeps them immaculately clean.

then...a zip over to the book store. Jared knows I LOVE anything about dinosaurs.

and I found this unusual book which I did not buy but thumbed through while Jen and Jared perused the kids section

very "altered art" pages

moving on to a consignment store...where this great signage hung on a wall..I think it should hang on mine !

  on to...my favorite...ANTHROPOLOGIE....where you always come away with the coolest ideas...

outside the store...colored glass pebbles

Inside the store.... planting in a large funnel...I LOVE this idea.

hanging paper from the ceiling with wire. Who thinks these things up ?

 

always cool jewelry...this one, made from shells.

  a wall with tags and numbers

and....speaking of numbers....yesterday I was reading my friend Ginny Carters blog and saw where she got (as a Birthday gift, lucky her) these FABULOUS NUMBER PILLOWS from Pottery Barn...so..I found myself floating into their store (next to Anthropologie)  and giving them my credit card....and I believe it's all Ginny fault !!!!

Love you Ginny !!! I bought numbers 1 through 4....they're great!

Well...The Lenster is off to New Orleans tomorrow for work and I'm gonna start working on my UK projects...I'm off for there in just 2 weeks.

getting out

No point in making believe...it's been a little rough around here.....I'm awfully weepy. I know it's normal so I'll just give it whatever time it needs.

I must thank you guys...I have never received so many emails and facebook/blog comments like this outpouring. You all took the time to write such wonderful things. I read every single one of them, shared them all with The Lenster and thought it was just amazing that people cared that much. I just want to say thank you again, so much,  and....my heartfelt sympathy to those of you who also wrote to say you just lost a pet too. I'm with ya! It's awful.

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The Lenster found an ad in the paper today for a local bead show. Very small show, but it got us out of the house.

 

My friends Jodi and Linda met us there

here are some samples from the show

 

I really like the look of the leather & the knots between the beads

Tonight Jen and Jared came for a sleepover and we went into the attic to dig out pictures taken 25-30 years ago. We have been hysterical laughing about the hairdos back then and how skinny we were...a great stress buster !

I'll have to post some...

but not just yet !

she lived a beautiful life

Todays been a tough day. A lot of crying. It's okay.

17 years ago Jennifer brought a beautiful kitten home from college and we became immediately attached to her. Based on her gorgeous fluffy silver white fur we dubbed her STERLING. The Lenster and I have been big time "Cat People" for all of the 46 years we've been married. We've had many cats.

Little 5 pound Sterling was with us the longest.

She had the most exquisite traits. Whether she knew you or not, she'd follow you around,  jump on your lap, sit with you and drool on you. She LOVED people.

Then she'd do what we always called "the touching thing".....she would touch you with her paw...pet you repeatedly until you petted her back...it was remarkable. When she wanted food she'd look you right in the eye and speak to you directly. She was amazingly human in so many ways.

She began to fail only recently and I deeply believe that this beautiful family member, (who in people years made it to 85,) waited for The Lenster to get back from Oregon and for me to get back from CHA before she passed. 

A few years ago my friend Julia Andrus gave me this angel cat metal doorstop because she said it reminded her of Sterling. Sterling is now a real kitty angel.

Today we will bury Sterling in the backyard and put a special marker there for her.

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Thank you to all of you who have already sent me such lovely notes in facebook and email. Every one of them was read & greatly appreciated.

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and, Thank you Nicky Nobbs for sending this...just wonderful & very comforting.

"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. 

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet 
goes to Rainbow Bridge. 
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and 
play together. 
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and 
comfortable. 

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those 
who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember 
them in our dreams of days and times gone by. 
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss 
someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and 
looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. 
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs 
carrying him faster and faster. 

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you 
cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses 
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once 
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never 
absent from your heart. 

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown... "

The Last Hurrah..rah..rah

last day...can't tell you how many photos I've taken. I have enough for a year !

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new punches

punch flower art

a bird in a booth display

a torso in a booth display

fantastic display of paper beads (paper beads can be dipped in UTEE you know !)

Author & designer Norma Rapko Vargas & her daughter in a GORGEOUS hand made paper dress.

Metal Art designer Rebecca Krahula

Magdelena, owner of MercArt

 

'Vary Carol' Home decor by Carol Foldvary-Anderson

Barbara Trombley owner, at her The Art Institute Glitter Booth

Radiant Pearls (Luminarte) has been picked up by Creative Imaginations

 

Display at the VIVA DECOR booth.

Viva Decor has the most interesting and unusual products..which includes a new polymer clay in a ba-zillion colors

 

and these way cool paints, one for paper and one for fabric

and look at what they made using the fabric ones

and here is what polymer clay designer Patty Barnes made

YES...polymer clay

Die Cuts with a View Wall Accents. Peel off...stick on. My kind of art.

 

Karen Thomas.....what a super person and great artist

Polymer Clay artist Judy Belcher

 

Zutter Bookbinding System

Wendy Vecchi (Studio 490) and her friend...new author Lisa M. Pace from Maya Road

 

Wendy gets around....here she is with Olivia, the youngest member of the Maya Road design team !

Customer Service at Ranger...the adorable Jackie McLaughlin

fun products from Crafty Chica

more art..this one was at the Prima booth

 

 

This 'dress' is made entirely from Pentel ball point pens and pen caps !

kissing the 'faux' celebrities (yes..he's a cutout !)

 Shannon & Sharlyn ...the gals who produced my Melt Art Video

Ranger adds Wonder Tape to their Inkssentials line

 

Beautiful fabric sample

 

More of the Ranger Designer Challenge

Lisa Kettell

 

Patti Behan

and mine

 

and fabric designer Julie Fai-Fen Balzer with hers

  a few people have asked...these pieces are all 12 x 12

DIY Bangles

And here she is....Store owner Allie Gower...she's a hoot !

Friends Louise Hnatiuk, Linda Petersen & Jen Lowe

and my friend Connie Williams from Stamp Your Art Out stopped by and gave me this little book. I decided to try waxing and collaging it. Visit the website for her own line of  Versus rubber stamps

meet our Australian distributors...Stamp It's Di and her son Chad (he's 6 ft 8 inches...and I am 5 feet...that's
the long and the short of it !

and here...at the end of today I poured some clear UTEE & my Beadazzles into a Maya Road super large bottlecap....Love it !
I placed a photocopy of Marilyn into the bottlecap and poured.

GO GET OUT YOUR UTEE !!!

More from the floor....

CHA continues to be a whirlwind and my note from TUT this morning had this to say

"People who do all they can, with what they've got, from where they are, no matter how puny their actions, how tiny their steps, or how futile it may seem, simply have more fun. Way.

Of course, to the uninitiated it doesn't appear that way. To them it appears as if only those taking gigantic leaps, who drive cars with fancy wheels, have loads of friends, perfect bodies, and fly around the world in First Class Sleeper Seats, are having fun. But what they don't realize is that we're often talking about the very same folks, just at different points in their journey.

Coffee, tea, or a brand new Bentley?     The Universe"

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Claudine and Jenny Doh catch up. Check out Jennys blog & her ART SAVES campaign

Make It Take It's at the Cosmo Cricket booth

 

Tim's Make It Take It at the Ranger booth

Running into Julia Andrus (l) and mixed media artist Sarah Hodsdon

Julia is so proud that her designs are now going to be actual finished home decor products you can BUY at KOHLS stores

 

Finally great to meet the FAMOUS and super talented and gorgeous Angela Cartwright

Some booths have such unusual displays...look at this use of newspaper

and a cupcake wedding tier !

Heidi Swapp is now with My Tattered Angels

 

I caught up with my New Jersey friend and practically neighbor Julianna Hudgins from Ellison. She's my lunch buddy when we're home.

 

Jewelry Designer & mixed media artist Kecia Frazee Deveney. She's another New Jersey neighbor.

 

Hawaiian rubber stamping store 'Stamps & Memories' owner Roxanne brings me Macadamia nuts at every single CHA show and has done that for years !

 

Hot Damn ! Mixed Media artist extraordinaire Susan Lenart Kazmer

and her exciting book

 

and Author and designer Sherrill Kahn has a new book too showcasing her unique and beautiful style of art.

some of the show booths

 

and, some more of the RANGER DESIGNER CHALLENGE

and funny lady Donna Downey finding her designer challenge creation

and....look at this amazing ring that UK designer Jennie Boxall made for me using Grungepaper and my Glitz Stickles.

and this gift from UK store owner Linda Brown . I am so lucky to have such kind and talented friends.

 

  here's more of the Ten Seconds Studio Molds....YES !

 

Okay...now I LOVE this new idea for holding your purses..check this out...

It hooks on to your purse (like a bracelet) so it's always with you...then..it's there when you need to hook your bag to a table..no matter how thick the table is. Called the CLIPA

I need one of these...I want it !

 

now it's not all work and no play...after the show....Dinner & SHOPPING with my bestest buds Wendy & Judy at Garden Walk outdoor mall

and then...after dinner I whip out my favorite teeth cleaner...I LOVE these WISPS....have you ever tried them? You should ! I get them at the drugstore.

Well....I still have many more pictures to share so they may be coming for the next few days...not that I think you guys are gonna mind!!!

But...for now....gotta say bye ! American Idol starts here soon...I gotta go get comfy!

 

Day 2 OVERLOAD !

I know a lot of you have been waiting to see the FAAAAHBULOUS Designer Challenge display boards in Rangers booth.

Over 20 designers were invited to use products from my melt art product line to create unusual art. They used beeswax, UTEE & Mold n Pour in various combinations and massive amounts of imagination

Here are a few for today

 

 

 

 

 

and, by the way...all the designers who did "food themes"...it is NOT real food...it is ALL UTEE !!!

 

 

Leandra actually BUILT a cage made of wire &  UTEE...it is the single most BRILLIANTLY CONSTRUCTED piece in the display...just sheer genius.

 

I'll post more art tomorrow

Designer Kristal Wick has a new book

 

Carol Duvall has one too

 

Design Originals books has a big presence in the Zentangle world.

They had a make it take it in their booth where people made this great art piece.

 

Beautiful Sherri Haab, a Utah based author & designer has a new book coming in March.

Motorscooters...still BIG at the SLICE booth ! They're a giveaway!

 

two gorgeous gals walking the show..I just had to stop &take their picture

 

not to mention the always 'colorful' Margot Potter...jewelry designer extraordinaire and her new silver Doc Martens boots !

The Innovations booth. New products are introduced here

The new Presto Punch from Spellbinders

 

Presto Punch™ is the first battery-powered punch and embossing machine available. It presents the easiest, most convenient solution for paper punching with it's innovative design and one-touch operation.

 

The Vintaj booth is always a decorating dream

Here is a piece of art hanging in their booth...OH MY !

 

Rangers new Black & White Enamel accents (think Glossy Accents only Opaque)

Things were really popping at the Making Memories booth giveaway

Rangers Booth

and I did a Make-It Take -It today

and we had some fun people who tried their hand at it...including crafty guys like Corey Cohen from A to Z Scrapbooking

and my bestest buds Wendy and Judy...the Wax Works West girls

and the great piece Wendy made using my products

 

and, speaking of jewelry...oh my goodness...the Blue Moon bead girls....WELL...

look at the stuff THEY make

 

Then I found a booth with Asian stencils. PrettyScrapbooks.com

and I conclude today with two of the youngest buyers at CHA !!!!

and one of the coolest backpacks!!!

hang in guys....more tomorrow !

Aaah..the momentum continues

Well...CHA was a busy, busy day today, so... I basically demoed all day .... without further ado...I'll post some of the pictures I was able to get & keep the chitter chatter to a minimum

Lots of visitors to the Ranger booth...the most wonderful being the diva of craft Carol Duvall. More energy than anyone I know.

 

Tim demos to big crowds

then his pals stop by...2nd from R is Heidi Swapp

Suzi Blu and Michelle make friends

Robin Beam (r) Educational Director for the A.C Moore craft stores and designer  Sally Lynn MacDonald stop by

who doesn't remember Mary from 'Hot Potatoes' and all of her appearances on the Carol Duvall Show

 

Elizabeth Nardella (owner of A Scrapbookers Dream  in Bolton, Canada) brings me a treasured pair of red Olympic Mittens...very hard to come by !

 

and I almost flipped when one of my oldest and most funny friends dropped by...I hadn't seen Mark Jetton (Deadbeat Designs) in years  but I follow his hilarious blog religiously ! It was great to see him again.

 

Visited with Cheryl Darrow(l) of Ten Second Studios with my UK friend Linda Brown owner of LB Crafts

Cheryl has got some really beautiful new metal colors

and incredible molds which work great with her metal and with my UTEE

 

Found brilliant scrapbooker Jen Starr doing a make-it/take-it

 

Lisa Pavelka promoting her newest book

 

LOVED the display at the PRIMA booth 

and the Ranger girls...we look so cool in our fancy aprons

the Cricket booth has this new concept...the Cricket Cake...the machine can now cut fondant

new bags at Anna Griffen

Great BOX rings at Amate......I LOVE these

New stamps at Obsession Impression

Incredible jewelry findings from designer Jill Schwartz for Making Memories. Can't wait till these hit the stores.

 

and interesting way to hold your scrapbook papers in place with this cool new tool.  Allows you to create the perfect design while you adhere it to your surface. Called the "Freeze Frame"

there was just so much to see that I have to do this in small steps.Just can't blog the whole show in one sitting !..it's very late and there is still more....

The entire Ranger group heads out to our annual Buca di Beppa dinner

and we celebrate Justins Birthday. Justin is one of the owners of Ranger

and Patti has a happy, albeit guilty, indulgence

well...if I was still on Jersey time it would now be 2 AM...so....it's time to face the bed....tomorrow I have a make it/take it all day...gotta get that beauty rest and there's still so much more to show you,

The Setup Begins

I begin the day by noticing that the toilet bowl in my room has been customized for me...did I ever mention that my middle name is DOROTHY as in the Wizard of Oz and Toto too!

A hearty breakfast and off to the show. Look...blue skies!

 
Right next door to the wholesale show they are holding the gigantic CHA retail SUPERSHOW

the first friend I run into is polymer Clay Goddess LISA PAVELKA

Then...my 2 gals pals from the UK, Jennie Boxall and Wendy Gale from The Stamp Addict and my very close friend JULIA ANDRUS

Then we find the Scrapbook Diva, Danielle Forsgren and Rayme Sciaroni

and I catch up with super wonderful old friends Dee and Warren Gruenig

and a few more friends

Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo

and Designer and crafter Terry Sproul

I find Robert and Stephanie at American Art Stamp..both friends for many years

and the always cheerful artist Michael Strong

 

Scooting around the SUPERSHOW I find this cool bead machine that is sooooo simple they had kids demoing with it

It's called simply THE BEAD SPINNER and I understand JoAnns sells it...find a 40% off coupon cause it's so cool. It strings beads on wire JUST LIKE THAT !

The Making Memories Retail booth had a lot going on ! Imagine winning that cycle.

Cuttlebug retail booth...busy too

 Julias' booth ECO GREEN CRAFTS was super busy....she has a whole entire line of recycled and green friendly products...like check out this bird on a pedestal that I can't wait to add beeswax to !

more of her brand new products

 

Recycled Glass embellishments

GREAT new unmounted stamps...including Steampunk designs.

Here's Stephanie demoing at their booth

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now..on to the setup at Ranger where Patty Behan is modeling her finished Splatter apron...which she has done using RANGER DABBERS and her own special technique. I think she's gonna do a video on it soon.

and Michelles Cupcake apron...dyed with Ranger Colorwash

 
and everyone is busy unpacking the booth

 

Tim unpacks the Bedazzles display Board

Mario who MADE the Melt Art UTEE boards, unpacks them..Fabulous job Mario

then Tim rushes off to give his DISTRESS CLASS to a packed audience.

this is the beautiful project using his new Sizzix Flower Die

everyone learns to make these gorgeous flowers which were originally a Wendy Vecchi concept...she has a stamp that makes this design as well.

  Tim is marvelously organized...everyone worked with these color coded applicators preloaded with distress ink colors. What a great idea.

and everyone went home with Tims brand new book from Advantus

then...rush..rush...we're off to Claudines Studio Time Class

Here's Claudine with our good friend Carmi Cimicata. Carmi happens to be MY personal inspiration. I never miss a day reading her blog. She creates 365 days a year...always a brilliant idea from Carmi.

Claudine's class project is this adorable book

where she has taught the class the 'how to's' of all her products

and now.....whew...I am off to have dinner with my Canadian friend Elizabeth who is always a bright light

tomorrow the show starts...so..I will blog when I'm done for the day if I'm not too pooped out by then !!!!

The Arrival

Up at four AM....

FOUR A.M. Can you imagine....I'm no prima donna, but FOUR FREAKIN' A.M.

Hook up at 6 A.M. at Newark airport

did you ever see such a perky group....The Rangerettes!

Me..Debbie, Patti, Michelle, Teresa, (in front) Jackie and Bonnie

Trust me...we faded fast! a 6+ hour flight across the country to come to Anaheim California for the CHA show which starts Sunday. Classes start tomorrow.

as we land we're so thrilled to see sunshine and big white puffy clouds because they've been having huge rainstorms & flooding here and believe me...Californians have NO CLUE how to handle blasts of big rain and heavy downpours. They are used to blue skies.

well....just like a bad omen...we exit the plane and the skies open up and kaboom.....gigantic rain ! I thank myself for being smart enough to wear my nice warm UGGS that I sprayed before I left to make them waterproof ! Warm feet are everything.

We hook up with Tim and Mario in the lobby and then we all check into the hotel. They are all over at the convention center now getting the booth set up...I am relaxing in my room cause age has it's privileges !

In fact...I LOVE the little privacy door hanger the hotel provides so no one disturbs you.

In fact, and tonight, which they say will be very cold here,  I plan to stay in & try to watch the Hope for Haiti telethon and continue to say prayers for those people.

Not Farming, No Sir !

Okay...so here goes...

It's time to own up so no one gets offended.

I don't get this whole real time farm simulation thing and I DON'T want anyone trying to justify it to me.

I know...I know....since I signed onto Facebook many of you have been generously sending me these animals and plants and sheep and seeds and eggplants and heaven knows what else...they just keep a-comin'

and guess what..,.you have never gotten back any of those things from me !

I'm a terrible friend.

My life is virtual enough. I just DON'T want to be harvesting, planting, growing or selling these make believe foods!

I don't want pumpkins that will wither and die...no siree !

After watching my TIVO of Dr. Phil today (now there's an addiction...TIVO) ...he had on a lady OBSESSED with Farmville.....After listening to her....I was even MORE sure I wasn't EVER gonna be planting any seeds or inviting any neighbors to partake in this ! NOT EVER !!!

This ladies poor family never saw her...she was glued to her computer screen 24/7. Addicted. When asked she said she had no other life. ARE YOU PICTURING THIS !!?? She was even worried that some of her plants would die while she was on the show and away from home.

IS SHE KIDDING ME !!!!!

the only plot I want to know about is the one I'll eventually, some day (years and years from now we hope) , end up in !

I've already got enough addicting habits......IDOL for one....

so, please dear friends.....send me pictures of what you've made with my products, or what you've been creating lately but DON'T send me on any more trips around THE FARM !!!!

Plowing On, SUZE!