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Dyan Dazzles

 I am thrilled that Ranger has come out with a line of beautifully bright dyes for UK artist Dyan Reaveley.

Dyan is quite well known for her amazing journaling style and the techniques that go with it. She has the keenest eye for finding the weird, the amazing and the funky !

and, with that in mind, she did a 2 hour Ranger U workshop this morning using her DYLUSION dyes that also happen to go with her line of rubber stamps and stencils.

Students got busy...

with a small assist from Tim...

Dyan explains her Bleach Out technique using NO bleach

and her resist techniques...that no one could resist !

and she approves of everyone getting nice and inky !

she spritzes and sprays

but my favorite is when she shows what to do with a roll of kitchen towels

and how she begins the background for a journal page

how she uses her stencils

and how she works with various white pens

her journals are completely amazing..here are a few highlights...

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In the evening I had some of my favorite gal pals over for dinner and drinks....

The adorable Aurea Estelle from Barcelona... who had never tasted corn on the cob before !!!

from L-R, Ronda Palazzari (author, designer & instructor), Lisa Pace (author, designer & instructor) and, Carolyn Ross (owner of Crafty Scraper in Waxahachie, TX.)

they loved the Lensters home made wine...can U tell??!!

hope you all have a copy of Lisas' book..I do !

time to call it a night....what a bizzzzzzie day it was !

Let's all EAT Together

Aaaah...Food...it always brings friends together...

and,. so it was last night when students at the first session of Ranger "U" got together for the annual Bar-B-Q

and don't even ask if they had the BEST time ever in class cause that goes without saying....

They are going to have 3 days of classes with Tim, Claudine and Dyan...they are super lucky.

I may have retired (NO MORE TEACHING..THANK YOU !!)

but I'm always asked to be a part of Rangers activities...we're still a family !! (is everyone in crafting a blonde?? LOL)

Tim shares his thoughts with the two hungry Ranger owners Justin and Alain

Rangers Patti Behan (r) gets her picture taken !!!

Pattis' hubby Kevin and The Lenster

Two very talented ladies...Lisa Pace (l) and Tammy Tutterow

Lisa is loving playing with UTEE and also with wax...look at this incredible little canvas she made for me with beeswax

I already hung it in my house. I am crazy about it !!

Aurea came all the way from Barcelona, Spain

Tomorrow Dyan (rear R)  will be teaching her techniques and I'm coming in to help her and see what she does in class. I am completely taken with her new products and techniques. I've been waiting for these very bright colors for a long time !

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Lest the eating and celebrating should stop....off we went into NYC (again !!) to Sammys' Roumanian restaurant on the Lower East Side, with our friends from home.

and, as U can see we're back in the area where we were just a week ago with my brother...where Chinatown and Little Italy come together.

and where you can still find the historic & famous art supply store, Pearl Paint.

the same street vendors are everywhere on every corner

Lower Manhattan has its own special flavor

the tenements with their fire escapes

but, one of these great 'landmarks' is SAMMYS.

34 years in the same location.

Now, trust me when I tell you that once you come up upon Sammys you're saying to yourself...."Self....there is no way I'm gonna eat here in this dingy little hole in the wall." Yes, I can absolutely hear you saying it !!!

 

 

This restaurant is a one of a kind, unique experience, serving large portions of homestyle Jewish food.

NOW, If you don't like homestyle Jewish food, served in a loud, festive atmosphere, then this ain't your kind-a place !

HONESTLY...you can't even imagine....the homemade chopped liver is made right at your table. OMG Delicious !

Like waaaaay more food than you could ever eat at one sitting...even with 9 of us we each took a lot home !

that's it...dig in...help yourself !

and there's dancing and entertainment...riotous entertainment...a singer who tells really funny jokes, sings songs, and has a whole riotous schtick.

Everyone gets up to dance...'Zorba the Greek' style or 'Hava Negilla' style with handkerchiefs and napkins...

 

You need rezzies and there are 2 sittings for dinner, 6 or 9 pm.

and, as you can see the whole room is covered in pictures of patrons

it was fascinating

BUT...the best has yet to come...

AT THE END OF THE MEAL COMES A NEW YORK TREAT

an honest to goodness, real, genuine NY eggcream

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Step 1: Fill glass with milk

Step 2: Squirt in REAL seltzer from the original fizzy bottle

Step 3: Pour in the one and only original FOXES U BET CHOCOLATE SYRUP

Step 4: Stir it all up

Step 5: MAKE A TOAST

STEP 6: Drink Up

or do it the ole fashion way...with a straw

One taste of an old fashion eggcream and my mind is right back to my childhood in Brooklyn...How wonderful !

upon leaving...after all that food...they put out

everyone should make a point to go there just once for the experience

Unbelievable !!!!!

(belch !!)

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 !!