SuzeBlogz

Oh Happy Day

Okay....I can hardly contain myself, so I must get right to the point.....

OMG.....Remember those amazing suitcases I went gaga over on Facebook....like drooling and panting.....WELL.....The Lenster and I stopped by the mall today after the kids Purim party (more on that in a sec) and, after taking in a movie ('Shutter Island'...don't bother...awful) wandered into the Surrey Luggage store.

They just so happened to be moving to a new mall location and were having a

h-u-m-o-n-g-o-u-s  sale.....

who knew...I didn't plan it.....I swear...it was B'Sheret (that's Hebrew for fated...meant to be).....

There they were....the gorgeous Britto Collection suitcases...only 2 left....on clearance sale

The Lenster worked with the sales guy for an even more super price. He wheeled...he dealed.

he wheeled and dealed them right outta the store !

I LOVE THE LENSTER....he knows me !!! and let me tell you...he got the deal of the century because they needed to get rid of all their inventory. OH HAPPY DAY

I can be so materialistic....and proud of it !!!

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Aaah..but, speaking of Purim and the kids.....today the temple had their party. Great fun for kids and adults alike, as you can see here....

face painting

 

Crafts


Games

 

A little tattoo art

 

Cotton candy...the best sugar high on the planet



 

and Hamantaschen to take home and bake yourself

and, here's a recipe for you so you all can enjoy Purim too!

Happy Purim

Aaahhh...so what is Purim you ask ?

Well, it is a day of celebration in Judaism where people often get dressed in costume (but don't think Halloween) to celebrate the deliverance of the Jewish people from the Persians back in biblical days. The story of Purim can be found in the Book of Esther called The Megillah.

This year, as we have always done in my synagogue, we put on a little play to tell the story. Our Rabbi is a very clever guy and a hilarious storyteller and this year he decided that we should dress us like the characters from the new hit T.V. show "Jersey Shore" to help tell the story.

DON'T ASK !!!!

I was "Snooki"

yes Snooki has long black hair, tight T-Shirts and jeans and killer high heels.I went to Wal-Mart and found a cool kids T-shirt for $7 that fit the bill and I went to a party shop for the wig.

 

all new lyrics were written to Frankie Valle and the 4 Seasons melodies which we used to tell the story in song. It was totally terrific !

 

we had a huge turnout and everyone loved it !

 

and then, like most good parties...we eat !!! Jewish Deli food...yummmmmmy

and, whenever the name of Haman (the bad guy) is said out loud in the story the kids all grind the groggers (noisemakers) to drown out his name.

Our special Purim dessert is Hamantashen, a sweet cookie dough that is rolled out in a triangle shape and filled poppy seed or prunes

 

Tomorrow the celebration continues with a big Purim party for the kids and me, being the BIG kid will be there enjoying all the fun and games !!

we're on the telly

Last night Tim was on QVC in the UK...we couldn't get it in our hotel and my computer wouldn't let me see it either, but I got The Lenster, back home, to watch it and send me pictures ! Cool !

today all of us were on

and we were ecstatic that we sold out so quickly.

Mario helps us set up...he's just a doll

 

behind the scenes

 

On air

Tim will still be on for a bit, but Claudine and I are hitting up the chinese restaurant across the street. The anxiety is over !

I've been invited back in June for an hour on air with Dawn and I'll be there!

Tomorrow we all head home.....whew !

and there's more....

Claudine, Mario and the very talented Rachel Greig

Designer and wonderful talent Paula Pascual

The gorgeous  (and close friend) Julianna Hudgens

artist Faye Whittaker demoing

Some more views from the show

including friends Sheena Douglass (l) and Susan Wilson (r)

and lots of exciting product of every kind, especially fabric

and buttons

Tim demoing

Then....we loaded up the van and headed off to London

Checked into our hotel with the lovely little pillow choices

then...off to a delicious chinese food dinner and a quick stop to pick up some light reading material

I'll just let this speak for itself  !!!!!!!! I'm still trying to contain my hysterics !!!!

Okay...it's now 11:15PM here in the UK....just 45 more minutes to catch Tim on QVC...keep those eyes open !

Rise and SHINE

Shine ???

Ooops....no shine...6 AM.....how about SNOW instead !

yes.....we woke up to snow

so, everyone kind of relaxed at breakfast. Claudine dropped by my room so she could stand under the beam in my room.....yes...you heard me right !! This beam is IN MY ROOM.

downstairs she warmed herself by the fire

now, here's something you never see....Mario in LONG pants

Dyan catching up on the news

 

Sometimes you feel like a nut...sometimes you don't

then, we're on the road

 

even the birds made their way in the snow

and we're there !

immediately caught up with old friends...Corrinne Amos...love you sweet girl

 

after my demos I walked the show with super good friend Leandra Franich, owner of Paper Artsy. You can see how serious we are about walking !

caught a glimpse of Michael DeMengs newest book DUSTY DIABLOS... It's not out yet....that made this a real WOW moment !

lunch with Leandra, her hubby Mark (next to Dyan) and the Ranger gang

 

Tim and Leandra 'bumping' their IPhones. It feels like everyone and his brother has an IPhone in the UK.

caught up with another of my favorite people Linda Brown (center standing) owner of LB Crafts..hug hug Linda.

and Jennie Boxall.....smoosh!
 

Stacey Caron owner of Spellbinders -think the WIZARD !! Love ya Stacey

and this was the Ranger display in our UK distributors booth, Personal Impressions

and here is a small sampling of the show as I left Batman and actually walked the aisles.

 

Textile artist Sarah Lawrence demonstrating her Creative Color Sprays

 

Peel Offs, a very big thing with UK card makers

 

Lots of jewelry booths. LOVE this scarf tassel idea that comes in a Make it Yourself kit.

paper masks become art

fancy staplers

kids kits

Tattered Angels new Chalk Mists

 

Home decor paints

paper boxes...I see a collage coming

glitzy displays

lovely booth samples (this one used Claudines sticky back canvas !)

and demos of course....Claudine was very busy

and then..it was off to our annual dinner at the WING WAH sponsored by the wonderful people at PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS

because it was Claudines first time there she was initiated with a "faux" birthday so we could all get a piece of the the fabulous WING WAH swan cake

What a great day for all of us.

Tomorrow we demo and then take off for London mid day to prepare for our QVC appearance on Tuesday....

Keep tuning in.......

CLASS DAY at STITCHES

Rise up Suze...it's 5 A.M....kind of an ungodly hour...dark outside...weird. But...we have to go to breakfast before our day starts at class. Our hotel, The Bulls Head in Meriden is located in the center of England. How cool is that??!!

The hotel is so nice....they did us a special favor and prepared a lovely spread hours before they normally begin serving because they knew we had to be on the road early.

and then we were off to class

the students began lining up outside

and we greeted them

our group of over 50 students for the first session (3 hours) and 50+ for the second session, another 3 hours with just a 1/2 hr break in between. Talk about 'on the go'

Our goal was to teach them to make this gorgeous frame.

the wonderful components are made with my Melt Art products, Claudines' Studio Line and Tims products too.

they poured, they swirled

and, after an hour with me, Claudine came on and taught them how to use her STUDIO line of paints for her hour.

then Tim came on to show Distress and Alcohol Inks with his acrylic tiles

and the really neat part was that I got to actually participate in the class too and make my own frame...which I totally love.

and, as Alain (one of Rangers owners) began cleaning up

Tim, Claudine and I were signing frames and autographs for everyone..it was such a happy day !

Tomorrow the actual STITCHES show begins for the buyers...we'll be getting up nice and early again, but I can't wait to see the many familiar faces of my UK friends.

So...until tomorrow.....hopefully.

On the road to Birmingham

Now, here's what I've observed...

24 snowflakes and the whole of England shuts down. Last night they closed Birmingham airport. These people do NOT know what snow is....WE GET SNOW !!! They get dustings.

but me....I get shopping !!!!

Before leaving Manchester...a visit to POSH U...even the name suggests luxury. They are a very high end luxury shoe and handbag shop. Actually, I am not into shoes...but I am into handbags and I am most definitely into jewelry.

Debbie drove me to the shop. I found a gorgeous black all leather -ON SALE- handbag by Paul Smith. 

 

 I was hoping for a Lulu Guinnes bag I'd seen on one of my students, in purple, but alas...they only had it in red. So..I'm going to search online...altho now I'm kicking myself that I didn't get the red !!!
 then, we zipped over to 'Precious'...OH DEAR

 have credit card...will enter blingy jewelry and accessory store...

Debbie bought this blingy ring

I got these

 

and this scarf

  

I believe in supporting the economy !

 then....on to Birmingham to meet up with Tim, Mario, Alain, Dyan and Claudine

on the way we passed signs for Stoke-On-Trent where my father came from..very cool...(yes..I have been there before)

 and then....a great friends dinner

   tomorrow...the BIG class for the store owners

STAY TUNED

Life is GOOOOOOOD

YES...I found American Idol on British TV . Happy Camper..that's me.

and got to see the first group to be picked. Tonight (a day behind America) I'll see the rest of who got picked. Of course I cheated a bit and read the AI news on their Blog so I actually know...... but, since I'm not seeing any favorites yet (well maybe Todrick Hall) ...and haven't bonded with anyone yet...too soon...I'm looking forward to tonight.

 

Catch up with some of my other AI favorites..David Cook being silly and Adam Lamberts front porch interview. Okay...enough of my obsession.

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Today...second day of super classes at CRAFTRANGE. Thank you to those of you who wrote such lovely things on yesterdays blog (and Facebook)..I don't usually get to answer them but I want you to know I read and appreciated them all.

Day began with more rain and some snow.....what's up with that?! But, I'm staying at the beautiful home of Debbie and Michael Toms so I was tucked safely away in luxury....heated floors and all...honestly!

  and the weather  didn't dampen anyones' spirits. They came through the beautiful countryside to class.

They loved working with beeswax

Carol used a Japanese book punch to make designs in the wax

even I was inspired (by yesterdays group as well) to make an Alice collage

and then we went "Rah-Rah" for UTEE

 

Janet made this

 

and this

I made this (I'm a little Alice obsessed)

and this (Judikins stamp)

and we celebrated Chris' birthday

then...off to dinner at The Eagle at Barrow where I had a real English lamb stew...yummy !

and felt like I was back with The Tudors (where is Jonathan Rys Meyer when you need him...huh...huh...!?)

thank you to my lovely hosts...Michael & Debbie

Tomorrow I hook up in Birmingham with Claudine, Tim and Alain...

Tally Ho !

Craftrange Rules

Another glorious day in the land of crafts !

Today I did Beeswax and UTEE magic at CRAFTRANGE in Burnley, Lancashire, UK.

A big thank you to my host Debbie (R) and to Janet (L) who set everything up

You enter this amazing shop and find a lovely UTEE display announcing that I'm coming

and you're greeted by a lovely staff and a wonderful array of product laid out in about 3,000 square feet of space

and the shop gives jewelry classes too

 



BUT WAIT

Just when you think you've seen it all...ta da

the shop has a CAFE...remember Eat, Pray, Love,,,well this is

eat, shop, craft....now, I ask you..does this work or what??!!

WORKS FOR ME !!!!

and, a lovely classroom with great students

who made super projects...like this beeswax collage (and I apologize for not remembering the name of the talented student who made it !)

and finding objects to mold was a huge hit

and I got lovely gifts from students, including some hand made jewelry and a super cool book (thank you guys....you know who you are !)...very appreciated.

and....I got to meet my blogging friend Paula....finally...yipee !

Tomorrow...repeat performance !

but first tonight...I am going to find American Idol on British TV if it kills me....

Fabulous Class Day at Dawn Bibbys

Couldn't have asked for a better day....

other than the slight snowfall we had this  morning, the day was a smash hit! Dawn has a brilliant store !

There are so many pictures to share I'll just get right to the point....especially because it's past midnight here and I have had a VERY L-O-N-G day !

Here are some views of her amazing store. If the store doesn't have it, it ain't made. They have everything !

Everywhere I looked they had signs saying I was coming !

stickers, stamps, paper...everything you could need

 and a terrific class area


3 hours of UTEE fun !

2 more hours of UTEE demos

 

 gorgeous UTEE cards on display at the shop

and dinner with Dawn and my old friend Judith from Woodware who I always love seeing.

tomorrow I'm on to CRAFTRANGE for two days of classes. Very excited !

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Be sure to catch Tim, Claudine and me on UK QVC on the 23rd http://www.qvcuk.com/

Todays tech note....

Adobe now has a program like PICNIK...check it out here https://www.photoshop.com/

.....I just SKYPED with The Lenster back home and now

I'M OFF TO SLEEP !