SuzeBlogz

FancySchmancy

I think sometimes you get so busy running around you forget you're supposed to finish those projects you started ages ago.

I hope you'll hop on over to my ETSY site and check out whats there

One of my goals is to give you really upscale, trendy jewelry that is extremely affordable...and I mean AFFORDABLE.....I am very confident that it is!

I use a ton of great looking, unusual beads and chains and prices rarely exceed $40

 

this was just a brief tour...hope you find something that suits YOUR FancySchmancy lifestyle !!

 

Jurassic Jersey !

e

Yes..right here in New Jersey lies a land unknown....

....and we visited...

(more on how I created this photo at the very end !)

it was the coolest place...and Jared loved it as much as we did !!! His exact words I believe were "Grandma..it's awesome" !

not only do you get to meet and greet all the prehistoric creatures, but the excellent signage tells you everything about them & especially where and when they were found...some right here in New Jersey..who knew !

the place is called Field Station Dinosaurs

and it's right near the NJ Meadowlands. The 31 dinos are animatronic and very life size and are spread across 20 acres of dinoland.

and if you follow my blog you know that I am a BIG fan of dinosaurs. I once made a trip to Chicago JUST to see the famous dinosaur named Sue at The Field Museum. Sue
is the largest, most complete, and best
preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered.

how about this one

looks really real...HUH !!

(another special FX)

All the kids got to pet the 'baby dinos'

throughout the day there were lots of activities for the kids...each one a fun learning experience.

and you get a passport upon entering that gets stamped with each educational stop that you make.

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That evening...with not much break between events.... I went to a 'girlfriend' dinner for the wives of all The Lensters motorcycle buddies.

This was actually a very special dinner (at the Portuguese resturant Sol Mar in Newark). Standing in the back row (right behind Debbie in the blue dress) is the beautiful Jackie Reuveni....You've heard me speak about Jackie...she lost her 20 year old daughter just a very few weeks ago to a crazy driver who ran her down as she was jogging.

This was Jackies first major 'outing" with a whole group of girls and we feasted on delicious food

Jackie is a remarkable spirit and that's all I can say without getting all choked up. I'm positive she has her moments but this was not one of them. It was wonderful and uplifting to be around her.

 

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Now....Leaping over to my love of technology.

I am addicted to my IPad(3)....like this is a surprise, right??!!

I downloaded some fantastic photo programs that I have been going nuts with...they were suggested by Susan Tuttle who is a photography dynamo .

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I took a photo of Jennifer that I had taken in Paris and put it through a program called BLUR FX. YOU get to decide what to blur and what to keep sharp.

some I used with multiple programs like Pic Grunger, ScratchCam and Noir...all suggested by Susan.

look how you can blur everything but just the one person...

or just bring a few strands of hair into focus.

they're not free apps, but they are SO WORTH IT!!

 

GO HAVE FUN !!

let's do the twist !!

Another fun workshop for one of the local Brandeis Womens groups....wire wrapping is becoming a real hit....and I'll be doing the last in a class circuit for this lovely group next week.

I have to thank Pam (next to me in red) for being my official helper in all my classes. Couldn't do it without her.

and, to Marcy (next to Pam) for inviting me in the first place!

I was very excited to carry my tools in the new hand made case that I bought at Bead Fest last weekend.


remember now...these ladies are NOT crafters or jewelry makers (except Pam) ...in fact some of them have NEVER held a jewelry tool before...so..these pieces are quite an accomplishment.

I supplied the beads and stones and they got to pick one main focal bead and some additional smaller beads & such to dangle from it. I also supplied the fancy rope to hang it from.


Now seriously....their wraps were just terrific !

 

Girls just wanna have fun !! Now..Now..let's not argue ladies..

I brought enough for a whole Bar Mitzvah!!

speaking of FUN...

My obsession with Susan Lenart Kazmers Industrial Chic line continues...check out this piece that I made. Yes..it's heavy!

her line is sold exclusively at Michaels.

don't forget that the BLOG HOP

is still going on...if you havent made a practice of looking at it daily..here's a good reminder

Sunday, Aug 19                Tami Bayer                          http://www.tamibayer.com/

Monday, Aug 20               Theresa Cifali                     http://theresacifali.com/

Tuesday, Aug 21               Tracie Stivers Lampe       http://www.radicalrecycks.com

Wednesday, Aug 22         Traci Bautista                     http://kollaj.typepad.com/

Thursday, Aug 23             Jen Crossley                       http://amarkintime.blogspot.com/

Friday, Aug 24                  Eileen Hull                           http://www.eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Saturday, Aug 25               Pam Carriker                      http://pamcarriker.com/blog/

Sunday, Aug 26                 Sandy Martin                     http://sweetpeajewelry1.blogspot.com/

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Took a quickie trip over to Anthropologie today..

when I got home I told The Lenster we must be on the lookout for a suitable kind of chair.... re-paint it then make it look REALLY worn so we can make one of these...I really loved it. The concept of using the hanger is brilliant !!

...whadd'ya think of these fringe tassels? There has to be an easy way to recreate this! These were leather. The bag was over $250...I vote...MAKE ONE !!

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The last necklace I put up on ETSY sold instantly and is on its way to Australia..so..just finished this one the other day and wore it right away to see how it looked on a real person !! I'm wearing it in the first picture.

It's for SALE...and very inexpensive...

go check it out !!

alrighty then...it's midnight and all my favorite shows have gone on hiatus (hi·a·tus  (h-ts)n. pl. hi·a·tus·es or hiatus 1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break:)...whats a girl gonna do.....

I hate reruns !!!

partytime

New Jersey is famous for it's diners. Not the actual people who dine out, but the place we go to eat...

there are approximately 525 diners in New Jersey...and they basically all have the same thing in common....

they all make basic foods well, like club sandwiches, eggs, burgers, simple salads, mashed potatoes, tuna fish, and pancakes. But it also must offer every conceivable dish under the sun, from moussaka to pastrami reubens. It doesn't matter if 99 % of ordered items come from 1% of the menu; a diner must always be ready for the customer who doesn't realize he could get a better Penne a la Vodka almost anywhere else!!

A group of us met up at

(for anyone wanting to visit JB's....it's in Freehold - that's Monmouth County, at the exact intersection of routes 537 & 524) and it's a fun 50's style.

and has the traditional cakes and desserts in the glass case

the Jukebox

the tributes to Elvis

the obligitory QQ (historic) car parked outside

the toys

and good diner food !!

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from there we all drove over to the wonderful quaint beach town of Ocean Grove

for a Neil Sedaka concert at The Great Auditorium

The Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove, NJ, is considered to be the most impressive and largest enclosed auditorium in New Jersey, and is the center of activity in Ocean Grove since 1894. It is used for Sunday services in the summer and showcases are held for well-known preachers and evangelists known throughout the world. Concerts, exhibitions, and other entertainment are also held in the Great Auditorium of Ocean Grove.

The place filled up like crazy !

and my word...... he was FAAAAAAABULOUS !!!

his voice is 10 times better now then when he was younger. Still rich and crystal clear. he sang all his hits and then some. If he comes your way...DONT MISS IT !! We loved it. Standing ovation from the whole crowd!!

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Still partying...next day...

with a whole different group of friends we attended our friends sons wedding...

Gorgeous Chuppah (wedding canopy)

and me..who doesn't drink

but thinks nothing of signing into a spoon...!!

and enjoys watching the bride and groom get lifted on the chairs while everyone dances around them

on a 'crafty' note...I flipped over the way the table numbers were 'framed'

the waiters sure collected them fast after the meal....they must have seen that look in my eye..."Would anyone miss this lovely frame if it somehow fell into my itsy bitsy purse"??!!??!!

no,no..I'm a good girl...!

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and tonight The Lenster and I concluded our party cycle with a terrific concert at our clubhouse called "The Ladies of the Phantom"

Three magnificent sopranoes who have all played "Christine" from "Phantom of the Opera" (at various times and in various productions all over the country & Canada) gave a 90 minute concert of all types of theater music...

another full house and standing ovation

I'm partied out now !!!

It's TV time on the couch for me !!

More hoopla

Bead Fest time again !!

so much to look at that you can go a bit batty going up and down those aisles trying to make decisions.

Maybe it was a smart decision to get there very late in the day (90 min trip anyway!) so I only allowed myself 2 hours to 'find it or else'!

well..I certainly loved the items I found at Lisa Kan designs

and I did buy myself this beautiful handmade tool carrier. It's thick and plush and made with love by Lisa. You can order them HERE.

Found bestie girlfriend Nancy Gall shopping too

and I got some very unusual glass 'spike' beads from Lisa Kan...

the next special treat was to run into Becky Nunn, owner and designer of Nunn Design..and a friend from waaaaaay back !

Beckys booth was certainly a favorite for me

I won't even tell you how much of her rhinestone chain I bought ! Oh c'mon...there was NO passing that up !!

I got a lotta stuff from Becky !!

I love Beckys stuff and Susan Lenart Kazmers' Stuff and Vintajs' stuff and Kabela Design's stuff and Amate Studios stuff. THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR ME. All my favs !

Mix & match.

then we ran into Drew Potter (Margo's hubby)...that's  always a treat

all the visual stimulation at these shows just boggles the mind...if you even have a mind left after you've looked at so much.

This was made using Unicorne beads "Yo-Yo" beads.

and did you all know about the metallic paints from VIVA decor...you change the color of any piece of metal

I found them demoing at my old friend Armandos' booth "Amate Studios"

remember, of course, you can also patina your metals with Rangers Metallic Vintaj Patinas.

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my last 5 minutes of the show I spotted these fine people

Antelope Beads

Gorgeous leather and ceramic beads with all kinds of additional findings to put with it.

I bought enough to make 3 bracelets...which took me all of 10 minutes to do when I got home...I have found a whole new LOVE !!!!

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WELL....it's time to hit the hay...we're off to a wedding tomorrow...I haven't even slipped on the dress and shoes yet to see if they'll still fit !

Wahoo !! My Turn !

It's me...today it's MY turn at the BLOG HOP

so.. if you've been following the past few days blog hops...there was a lucky bunch of us that received random packages in the mail from the folk at Industrial Chic and were asked to take what we got and make something WONDERFUL from it.

In the next few days you can follow these great designers to see what they made

Sunday, Aug 19                Tami Bayer                          http://www.tamibayer.com/

Monday, Aug 20               Theresa Cifali                     http://theresacifali.com/

Tuesday, Aug 21               Tracie Stivers Lampe       http://www.radicalrecycks.com

Wednesday, Aug 22         Traci Bautista                     http://kollaj.typepad.com/

Thursday, Aug 23             Jen Crossley                       http://amarkintime.blogspot.com/

Friday, Aug 24                  Eileen Hull                           http://www.eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Saturday, Aug 25               Pam Carriker                      http://pamcarriker.com/blog/

Sunday, Aug 26                 Sandy Martin                     http://sweetpeajewelry1.blogspot.com/

today you get to see mine !!

Now..I have to begin by explaining...When I opened the box I immediately decided I needed MORE....so I asked permission to go shopping at Michaels to buy some extras..

GRANTED !!

we were told we could use other things in our creation but most of it should come from the "Industrial Chic" line of goodies designed by Susan Lenart Kazmer

NO PROBLEM !!

If I could own ALL her stuff it wouldn't be enough !

These are separate IC embellishments that I attached together

I took apart her chains that came grouped together and interspersed them with beads

She has a fabulous package of glitters in different colors that already come in those cute, ready to wear, bottles. The pearls were part of the chain grouping that I took apart.

the dangly rhinestones are hers too !! Wahoo!!

The heart was a glass bead I bought at a show.

and, the beads below were mine too, but the chains were Industrial Chic.

when you go to the Michaels near you look for...they have an entire section all set up for just Susans line.

now...see that way way cool "light fixture" in the middle...well, on one of my trips back to Michaels I couldn't resist it and even tho it's NOT part of MY blog hop I just had to make something with it using more IC product....

you'll have to stay tuned to see that one !!!!!....

Susan Lenart Kazmer is also the mastermind behind

"Ice Resin"

By the way..if you'd like to catch up on the previous contributors here they are

Barb Saint John kicked off Day 1

Cheryl Bodkin-Waters day 2

August 12           Cindi Bisson                        http://fatcatcreations.blogspot.com/

 Aug 13               Gretchen McHale                http://www.studio320jewelry.com/blog/           

 Aug 14              Jenny Barnett Rohrs            http://www.crafttestdummies.com/    

 Aug 15         Kari McKnight-Holbrook            http://backporchartessa.blogspot.com/   

 Aug 16             Lindsay Obermeyer              http://loops.typepad.com/

Aug 17                 Seth Apter                       http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/

now...tomorrows blog will tell you about the Bead Show that The Lenster and I went to today and the Neil Sedaka concert we're going to tomorrow night..

tra la..

until then!!

when family gets together

Our middle son Lee just came for a visit. If you recall, he's the son who served in the Air Force for over 20 years and retired not all that long ago. Now he & his family live near Houston, TX.

Lee is here for 4 days and will be going to his 25th H.S. reunion...wife Lana and daughter Darian are still in TX.....so..yesterday we gathered up the New Jersey family for a sushi get together.

We have Lee on the left, The Lenster, Jennifer, Alyssa (14+), Michael (16+ and 6'1"), Marc and Patty and front and center Jared (9) and grandma!!

Marc and Lee haven't physically been together in 4 years and we kept teling them how much they look like each other now

now I guess they got to actually see it !!

so, it's us and our 3 kids...Lee (43), Jennifer(41) and Marc (46)...and their kids (sans Lee's daughter Darian 15)

Alyssa and Michael belong to Marc and Jared to Jennifer

and we had a GREAT time

just a quick note:

Tomorrow, August 18 is MY turn at the

so be sure to come back...

the necklace I'm wearing in the above pictures also reflects The Industrial Chic line

I added a few of my own do-dads and the large green piece they sit on, but the rest comes from Susan Lenart Kazmers line.

I got stopped a few times with comments...but NO..I'm not selling it OR giving it up...

IT'S MINE !!!

back to the family...looks like a Lenster & Lee golf day!

Stay OnThe Path...

and that's what The Lenster and I did today...with Jen and Jared

we took a drive to Duke Farms, the former estate of heiress Doris Duke (her history is really fascinating). The mission of this farm is to be a model of environmental stewardship in the 21st century.

This building used to be the horse stables and is now the orientation center. Some stables huh??!!

you can either rent bikes to get around

or come with your own (aren't these cool?)

or hop the tram

which you can catch at stops that looks like this

but usually you would begin by watching the really good video on Dukes life and the evolution of how she maintained the 2,740 acre estate....that has, by the way, over 2 million trees !!

Duke farms is one of the largest privately owned parcels of open land in New Jersey. It's FREE to visit. There are 18 miles of trails through woods and meadows, lakes, streams, lots of native plants and animals and a fabulous hothouse for orchids & other tropical plants.

outside of the hothouse you find lots of wild flowers

and the local fly bys

when our excursion was over we realized we were only 5 miles from the big Bridgewater Commons Mall...yahoo!!

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Would I pass up an hour or two at a Mall? R U kidding??

I definitly don't get there all that often....too far away!

they have such great graphics in this mall

and Jared can always find something to put together in the LEGO store where you build your own mini figures...3/$10

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Jen is a total fitness buff and wears a fitbit. She walked over 10,000 steps today. I wore one too and just about made 4,000....now I feel like a total cripple...boy do I need to lay in a hot bathtub!!!

My idea of exercise is to go upstairs, sit down, stay put and make jewelry!

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and speaking of jewelry

Don't forget the wonderful

today (August 12) is

Cindy Bisson's turn

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and....Thought I'd share my latest acquistion....ordered it a few weeks ago from FAB.com online...love it !!

Catch ya later !!

wrapping a wire & blog hopping

It's really fun when you are asked to teach non crafters and non beaders a technique!

They come with no pre-determined ideas, little expectation and not much fear of not 'getting it' ! They're just anxious and excited...

Every few months I do a workshop for the local chapters of Brandeis. I just did one on how to do a wrap wire...they loved it...AND they did great!

some of them had never touched a pair of jewelry pliers before.....and they had so much fun. Some came VERY prepared ..it was really great!

I mean, think about it...these are not jewelry makers at all...can you imagine how much they loved this!

could anything make a teacher happier ??!!

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Thought I'd also pass along a bookmark that Julianna Hudgins made..thats very inspiring ! Go to Juliannas' Fan Page on Facebook

and click LIKE...we want her to have 0ver 550 LIKES and you might be the one person who does it !

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Now...this is super exciting too...

I was invited to be a part of a BLOG HOP

for one of MY personal favorite people/designers

SUSAN LENART KAZMER

she of Ice Resin Fame !

whose Industrial Chic line of jewelry componants can be found at Michaels stores.

 

Follow the day by day BLOG HOP

and see what each of the 36 invitees have made. Each day a new piece with directions is featured.

Barb Saint John kicked off Day 1

Cheryl Bodkin-Waters day 2

and this is the list for those to come

Sunday, August 12           Cindi Bisson                        http://fatcatcreations.blogspot.com/

Monday, Aug 13               Gretchen McHale                 http://www.studio320jewelry.com/blog/           

Tuesday, Aug 14              Jenny Barnett Rohrs   http://www.crafttestdummies.com/    

Wednesday, Aug 15         Kari McKnight-Holbrook   http://backporchartessa.blogspot.com/   

Thursday, Aug 16             Lindsay Obermeyer        http://loops.typepad.com/

Friday, Aug 17                 Seth Apter                          http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/

Saturday, Aug 18              Suze Weinberg                 http://suzeweinberg.typepad.com/

Sunday, Aug 19                Tami Bayer                          http://www.tamibayer.com/

Monday, Aug 20               Theresa Cifali                     http://theresacifali.com/

Tuesday, Aug 21               Tracie Stivers Lampe       http://www.radicalrecycks.com

Wednesday, Aug 22         Traci Bautista                     http://kollaj.typepad.com/

Thursday, Aug 23             Jen Crossley                       http://amarkintime.blogspot.com/

Friday, Aug 24                  Eileen Hull                           http://www.eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Saturday, Aug 25               Pam Carriker                      http://pamcarriker.com/blog/

Sunday, Aug 26                 Sandy Martin                     http://sweetpeajewelry1.blogspot.com/

It's just been very exciting !

Brilliant thought for the day

Girlfriends

and what's better than a party with girlfriends??

our chapter of the Brandeis Womens Club had its 6th birthday/anniversary party last night at our clubhouse.

People were asked to come dressed in their 50's, 60's, 70's (or so) attire...like they did in H.S. Some took it all the way..

some even found their old Cheerleader outfits and still FIT INTO THEM !!

it was wonderful

and we were all given lots of 'crafty' items to make our own 'corsages'...that proved slightly hysterical...

I mean..I may be crafty but I'm definitely NOT a pipe cleaner and frou-frou kinda gal!!! And, I didn't dress the part either...!

but some of the 'corsages' were absolutely wonderful !

and then there was the Karaoke...aaaah...more my speed..

the teams were the gals from various NJ High Schools

and Brooklyn (NY) High Schools, Bronx, etc...

and so fun to discover that Pat and I graduated Midwood HS together

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Then today my sister in craft...the gorgeous Julianna Hudgins came to visit

first stop: Michaels Craft Store

second stop...a nice outdoor schmooze on the patio

and then I watched 'the wire master" at work..

using a straw, Julianna threads wire mesh that she will incorporate into a necklace

Mollie gets in on the act

the whole process is fascinating to me...I'm someone who really just strings jewelry...Julianna knows WIRE !!

just wait till you see what she comes up with...

in the meantime....go to Juliannas FAN page on FB and "Like" it !

The more fans....the merrier !!!