SuzeBlogz

It's Positively INSPIRING !

I can't even begin to tell you what a phenomenal event INSPIRED is. I can just try to relate some of it to you in pictures. Everything about this event is first class from the minute you awake to the second you lay your head on the pillow. Donna has thought of everything and has left no stone unturned.

You can get your picture taken in an assortment of costumes as you walk from classroom to classroom....hilarious

wonderful buffet lunches, dinners & desserts with ice cream breaks in between

friends getting together, Angela, moi, Donna and Ali Edwards

Angelas class project, the Cha-Cha bead necklace and her class sign

 

 

Teacher, Angela Bannatyne from Orlando, FL

some of the happy ladies from Angelas Class wearing their creations !

And now for my Beeswax Collage class

Here are some of the samples that my students made throughout the day today...so sorry for not acknowledging the individual artists ( and for not being able to post everyones pieces) but I do want you to know that the work all of you made in class was just gorgeous...

 

More Camera Bags up for raffle

Danitas

 

Jenny Bowlins

Pam Garrisons Class Sign

Daras Mosaic Class Sign

The teachers being honored at dinner with hand made charm bracelets

Tomorrow begins the last round of 3 three hour classes back to back...oh boy...

don'tcha worry...I'm still standin' & taking pix !!!

Meet, Greet, SHOP !

I took 150 pictures today so at the end of INSPIRED I will find a way to post a full album that you can all log in to, but for now a recap of SOME of todays happenings.

Our fabulous handmade badges...made by Jen Keith...all of them handmade..hundreds !

Our hostess with the mostess, Donna,  with The Lenster

a glimpse into a few of the mini class projects with apologies for not crediting each individual teacher or student that might be pictured

 

 

I do remember that this class was taught by Susan Edmonson

 

Running into really good old friends like Cheryl Darrow, Ten Second Studios. Cheryl has some fabulous new stuff....more on that in another blog....

In the hallway set up begins for displays

and the 'camera bags' that have been decorated are out for display. I'll get you closeups a little later....these will be raffled and money given to the Hope for Haiti fund.

This is Donnas contribution

 

Then, before it officially opened I sneaked into the Vendor Fair for some pictures of items for sale...oh yeah!!!

 




I was thrilled to see a Make-It, Take-It using the Melting Pot & UTEE. Wire was twisteddinto a heart shape and dipped into the pot filled with UTEE then attached to a tag.

At 6 pm Donna had the meet and greet....just incredible

 

some of us that are teaching

then dinner for the teachers

I mean...what can I say.....there are a hundred more pictures that still tell more story...you'll just have to stay tuned....

tomorrow ALL the big classes start...it's all too fabulous !

Getting so INSPIRED

The festivities have begun as we arrive in North Carolina for the INSPIRED event

This was the first time I'd seen an Oregon Grape Holly plant and I fell in love...gonna try to find that plant back home

even the local birds were lovely

and then, after 9 hours driving time, we arrive at the gorgeous Embassy Suites

and find the signage for Donnas grand event

and signage for her new stamps...everything so professionally done

we go up the elevator to our room to check it out leaving many of the girls gathering below

we have a luxury sitting area in the room with 2 large flat screen T.V's.

 

with a real plant...nothing plastic !!

and a lovely snack waiting for us

and then we start hauling in the class stuff...well..not 'we'..the Lenster

then he hauls me !!!!!!

 

yikes...the no makeup look !!!! (Donna took these adorable pix !)

The unpacking area

and here's Tims' fabulous canvas bag, one of many that will be raffled off for charity at the end of the event, which also includes the one I made.

keep coming back...this is gonna be a great event to blog about !

and we're off & running

The peonies are showing promise....any day now they'll be BIG & luscious

and speaking of B-I-G

The B-I-G day is almost here....The Lenster and I are off to Concord, North Carolina in the morning, about a 10 hour drive...(well..probably more with stops)....because I will be teaching at Donna Downeys' INSPIRED artist workshop event.

Donnas canvas camera bag is all decorated and ready for the trip.

 

I printed images from my Instant Art Collage book  (sorry...no longer available) onto Claudines Sticky Back Canvas, cut them out and attached them to the strap (which I painted with Claudines Studio paints) using Ranger Wonder Tape so they'd never lift or move. I stamped words in between.

 I'm in the process of packing the suitcase. Mollie believes she's coming too.

we had to create an art piece for outside our classroom so I did a beeswax collage which will then be raffled off at the end of the event. Someone will go home with this.

Perhaps we should call it "If the Bluebird of happiness poops on your head you ______", and YOU fill in the blank !

The whole piece is done with wax except for the bird..he's UTEE & the spoon is real. I rubbed a rub-on onto the spoon and sealed it with a little bit of glossy accents.

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I want you all to go and check out my friend Zana Clarks fabulous art on her website. Zana is a remarkable watercolorist. Here's just a little taste of what to expect...done with her rubber stamps.

then, hop over to http://www.more.com/13752/20509-tracy-54 and vote for Zanas sister Tracy to win a spot on the cover of MORE magazine...you need to sign up first before you can vote. Lets make it happen !

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I think you'd also enjoy looking at Theresas' Faerie Moon Creations Blog. She and her hubby design whimsical, one of a kind jewelry creations. And please take a minute to look at the beautiful work of Lana Grow

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My son Lee (military, Florida) & his family sent me beautiful flowers for mothers day. They arrived in a glass vase in perfect condition and after a few days they bloomed so beautifully I thought I'd show you. I LOVE these !

when I come back from INSPIRED I'll let you in on what Jennifer and Marc each gave to me. The Lenster took me to CHICOS.....tee hee !!!!

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Well, tonight the evening ended with a wonderful Italian food birthday dinner for my friend of 35 years, Pam Lawsky.

 

Pam, (third from L in front) was so thrilled to have us all together. This group of girlfriends have known each other for over 30 years.

see...there IS something to be said for getting older !

M is for the many words......

Mom, mother, mama, mommy, mum...whatever you call yours...it's always a wonderful day for us. Marc came down from North Jersey, Jen and Jared came down too. Lee & family (middle son) is in Florida (Air Force) so not so simple to be here...but he was here in heart & spirit.

Out for lunch...let's try something really different... HA ! SUSHI !!!

Jared likes Udon noodles, but The Lenster and I stole some

Here's Jen, Marc & Jared

Marc takes after me, and Jen (& Lee, below) look more like the Lenster

But here's the strangest of all....both Jennifer AND Lee have really blue eyes (just doesn't show up well here, but trust me) and Lenny, Marc and I have dark eyes. Hmmmm....recessive blue somewhere on both sides...going waaaay back I'm guessing !!

Cause I don't know any mailmen !!!

always something new

I'm still on my Photoshop quest to learn something new every day if I can...not always possible, but, today I easily grasped a simple technique, turning this picture (taken last year in Portugal)

into this

and this one

into this

and my favorite so far, this

into this

and it's not difficult...just click on this site and watch the short video how to.

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The Lenster and I stopped by our favorite Garden store today, CALGO GARDENS where EVERYTHING is about flowers....so..in keeping with yesterdays theme...here are todays flower trends. This one, below, is made from recycled tin cans. Brilliant.

 

a clock...made from recycled metal

Going to Calgo for a few hours is like traveling to a magical land.

Tomorrow the kids will visit for Mothers Day and we'll go out to eat & have a great visit.....so...stay tuned... !

listen bud....

....I've concluded....it's the year of THE FLOWER

Yes...everywhere you go...every store window, every display and every rack is showing flowers. I took all of these with my Iphone, (some through store windows).......once again proving you don't need an expensive camera if you have a camera phone and you're sneaky !!!

I bought these flower shoes...love them !

 

so...now that you know how popular flowers are this year, get some of Wendy Vecchi's fantastic flowers stamps or, Tims new flower die. Catch this cool video on how to make them with ordinary card stock and get busy. They're so in style !!

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I think my daughter Jennifer is the best mom on the planet, so I made this for her for mothers day...will give it to her Sunday. She wanted a purple necklace after she saw the one I made for myself.

Naturally...UTEE in the Amate heart

well...it's gonna be  bizzie weekend, Mothers Day and all. Have a fantastic weekend, all of you.

Love is all you need

Friends..... Nashville Tennessee needs your help. My dear friend Mary O'Neill (Hot Potatoes Rubber Stamps) sent me this note on Facebook. Not only she but the Lensters sister Jane lives in Nashville and we've spoken with her...she is praying that her house isn't under water.

"Hey Suze, Please ask your crafty friends to watch CNN now and help out 
Nashville. 1-877 345-1522. We are the second biggest flood disaster in US 
history and we are in a whole lot of trouble. I have been out two days in a row 
handing out food, cleaning mud and it is out of my power to comprehend this. 
You have a tremendous network of friends and I need so much help in my sweet 
city!"

Please good friends....those here in the states....help them out !

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Another beautiful spring day....pollen flying !!!

Birthday lunch time. Took my beautiful friends Patti (L) & Debbie out for their May birthdays...where else...sushi ! I luv these girls.

then....zipped over to the next town for a special event at Carla Gizzi's fabulous antique store

This was a terrific, well attended party ! Great Food

 

and the nicest people to spend time with... plus....the MOST wonderful things to buy or just gaze upon..that's Carla, our hostess with the mostess, in the purple dress.

with our friend Cheryl who works at Monmouth Antiques

 


 

and Carla sells beautiful cards

and gorgeous chandeliers

and old ephemera

All I can say is this

right on !!!!!

yes, it all adds up

Not that I was ever curious, but I recently discovered what some Japanese Origami artists can do with our dollar bills...thought you might like to see it too cause I'm pretty darn impressed .

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and here's what I have been doing with Donna Downeys canvas camera bag

sized to fit an SLR (but she also has one for a point & shoot camera)

I used a lot of Claudine Helmuths' Studio Paints (plus others) and printed on her sticky back canvas. I added heat set rhinestones. I'm bringing it to Donnas' INSPIRED event when I go there to teach in 2 weeks. Here's the top..

tonight I'll conclude by sending you to watch a wonderful video from my friend Debbie Tlach and edited by Patti Behan. She transforms her every day self into Wonder Woman right before your very eyes and shows you what to do with Ranger's Wonder Tape. YOU WILL LOVE IT !

Where's My Mummy ?

There is NOTHING as invigorating as a weekend trip into Manhattan

a brisk walk up (or down) 7th avenue and you see some typical, wonderful NY sights

you can get a NY pretzel on practically any street corner

or buy a knockoff designer bag for 20 bucks...on practically any street corner

 

or find a T-Shirt to fit any size and style..on practically any street corner

and even hear music...for free...on practically any street corner

I think you get the picture......

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But...it would be an understatement to say I LUV New York. I can never get enough. I could go there all the time and never see it all.....and I come from there !!

so, today we went to see the KING TUT EXHIBIT ,on limited display, at the Discovery Center, East 44th between 7th & 8th avenue

of course you were NOT allowed to photograph anything in the actual exhibit and I behaved myself...I didn't even try to sneak in an IPhone photo...so, these were taklen in the gift shop.....where you could buy any TUT related item imaginable !!

aaaahhhh, commercialism !

and jewelry replicas, of course. I behaved ...did not buy anything ..and you can see why...just check out that price tag !!!

 

and I have absolutely no extra wall space in my house for an ANKH hanging !!

 

or CANOPIC JARS, whose main purpose was to hold your dead organs before they mummified you. Oh dear....They looked more like cookie jars to me ! (just kidding )

wanna make a note of that ?

 

but...seriously...this was a fabulous exhibit and I've been to several. They have the actual relics from TUTS tomb on display and an equally, absolutely astounding, replica of his mummy that will have you taking deep breaths. The real sarcophagus is in a high-tech glass case in the antechamber of his tomb near Luxor.

The real body's new resting place is one of the most advanced display cases in the world. It can precisely control humidity and airflow, and it is filled with a nitrogen-rich mixture deadly to known bacteria and mold.

The Lenster and I will be going to both Israel and Egypt in late October, early Nov and are super excited to finally see much of these holy lands up close.