Good thing my head is attached...I almost forgot to add that you can find my jewelry at a fabulous shop in Encinitas. (I may have mentioned it before) But I wanted to introduce you to the owners and give everyone a tour....
They are wonderful! If you're nearby stop in and peek at all the goodies!!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
My Favorite Things...
Well, the last couple weeks have been a whirlwind. Doctors appointments, unwell people in our lives, running around, and now working towards my show in Phoenix. Phew!
I wanted to start sharing some of my favorite things and items that I find myself using almost everyday. Sometimes during teaching folks will ask me about certain things that they've never heard about or seen or have no clue how to use...! So here goes...
If you don't own one of these you need to get in the car and go get one, right now!! (just kidding) But these craft sheets, sometimes also referred to as silicone mats, are the best invention in awhile. In the background you can see my desk is covered with one...okay, maybe more than one! I have them all over. My kids scribble on them with permanent markers, all types of paint, glues, and I use them under all my resin projects. After the sheet gets dirty you wipe it down with a damp cloth or baby wipe. When I feel lazy I put it in the top of my dishwasher. You can also bake on it. It works for shrink plastic or polymer clay and, if you designate one for food only, you can also use it for your edible projects! A great investment that you'll use over and over again for years to come. (go get one or two!)
Item #2 are these Tonic scissors designed by Tim Holtz. I have a pair in every room! (just about) Not only are the blades teflon coated but they're serrated! That means you can cut through tough stuff like foils and thick cardboard or trim your rubber stamps or just threads hanging from your kids clothes. Also those large red handles are squishy, soft for your hands when you're working on lots of things for long periods of time. Love them!
Okay one more, I take these whenever I have a class or to school or anywhere, including my studio, another great product!
These fold flat for travel!
You can use it as a water busket for painting or gluing, sometimes it becomes a trash container at the table, it's a great thing! (you'll see my logo on a couple pictures because I do sell some of these items too!)
Last but not least here's what my desk looks like today...Yikes!
I am trying to work out some new class ideas for the fall but maybe all I'm doing is making a huge mess! What else is new!
What have you been up to?
Until next time!
Create, create, create!!
Susan
Friday, July 1, 2011
On The 10 Year Plan...
Well, the first week of kid class was cancelled, we needed a minimum of 5 kids to join us and we missed by a couple :(
Some things are blessings in disguise and I was able to cross off a few things on my "long" list, otherwise known as the 10 year plan. First my daughter and I spent a couple of days doing a mosaic on our enormously heavy umbrella stand. Which now will be heavier with all our tile, glass, and concrete!
Next I've had these little aluminum chairs forever. My neighbor had them slotted for the garbage and I couldn't let them go. That was probably 8 years ago.
Four cans of spray paint later we now have 4 different colored, fun pool deck chairs. Yay!
And a nosy dog...the others are 2 shades of turquoise.
The other big project sanding and re-varnishing our patio table and chairs. That's so one of those things that's on the bottom of the to do list. But it feels good to get through it. Plus it might last another few years and that would save me a few dollars that I don't need to spend on new furniture. (can't find any I like that's less than $2000 anyway, that's not going to happen!)
Happy 4th of July weekend! Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday!
Until next time,
Susan
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Some things are blessings in disguise and I was able to cross off a few things on my "long" list, otherwise known as the 10 year plan. First my daughter and I spent a couple of days doing a mosaic on our enormously heavy umbrella stand. Which now will be heavier with all our tile, glass, and concrete!
Next I've had these little aluminum chairs forever. My neighbor had them slotted for the garbage and I couldn't let them go. That was probably 8 years ago.
Four cans of spray paint later we now have 4 different colored, fun pool deck chairs. Yay!
And a nosy dog...the others are 2 shades of turquoise.
The other big project sanding and re-varnishing our patio table and chairs. That's so one of those things that's on the bottom of the to do list. But it feels good to get through it. Plus it might last another few years and that would save me a few dollars that I don't need to spend on new furniture. (can't find any I like that's less than $2000 anyway, that's not going to happen!)
Happy 4th of July weekend! Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday!
Until next time,
Susan
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Goings On...
We are diving right into summer! AdaLee and I will at Bead Island in our town of Murrieta (26145 Jefferson Avenue) for three weeks of kid classes. Open to ages 8 through 14 from 9 am to 11:30 am. and if you don't mind some cleaning up around you, bring your lunch to nibble on after class! Moms you can stay and play if you would like to but you don't have to. (We'll keep everyone busy until you get back!)
Next week, Tuesday 6/28 through Thursday 6/30, that gal up there and I will be creating tons of different things with paper! Origami, paper beads and all things floral.
For Tuesday July 12 through Thursday July 14 we are getting out the polymer clay! For those who haven't played with this clay before it is a plastic, non-toxic, bake in your own oven clay! That means you can make all kinds of goodies with it! Beads, mini-sculptures, game pieces (think personalized checkers or creature chess pieces!), use your imagination freely!
Our last week, Tuesday July 19 through Thursday July 21, must include my personal favorites! Magnetic bottlecaps, as decoration and jewelry, and all kinds of shrink plastic! Yay!
Please contact the shop at 951.461.1071 to reserve a spot or take a trip over there to see all our samples. (bottlecap samples are hiding for another week or so!)
In addition to our kid class schedule I do have one day of "big" kid class this weekend. Saturday June 25th we will play together in my "Addiction to Shrink Plastic" class in the morning then more good stuff with "Intro to Resin" in the afternoon. Also held at Bead Island right here in town!
One last thing...I want to share what's on my desk this week and it's all things Alice.
Currently I am working to have as much inventory as I can for a mixed media show in Phoenix, Arizona (yes, I'm travelling out of state!!!) With any luck (and a strong wind) my table will have a ton of Alice, Oz, and various other fairytale characters. Keep your fingers crossed!
Until next time,
Susan
Monday, June 6, 2011
Getting Un-Stuck
Well, it's been a busy, busy spring that was preceded by a nutty fall/winter season. Wow...
Since being here last January I've done alot of introspective soul searching about his business of mine. Christmas was too busy and I lost track of several things I shouldn't have, let alone try and enjoy the holidays with my family. It's been that way for, hmmm, maybe five years now. But last season was the worst. And it continued right into the first part of this year.
It's better now. I've weeded through my schedule and rearranged what it is I want to be priorities. Boy does that help! It took some time, thinking, and a few things had to go by the wayside but I fell tons better. Less stress and better focus.
That's going to be my phrase (or one of them) for this year...focus!
Did you miss me?
Always,
Susan
P.S. I shook up how this thing looks with a background from one of my favorite artists, Itkupilli. Please peruse her blog and click on the upper left hand corner link. You won't be disappointed!
Since being here last January I've done alot of introspective soul searching about his business of mine. Christmas was too busy and I lost track of several things I shouldn't have, let alone try and enjoy the holidays with my family. It's been that way for, hmmm, maybe five years now. But last season was the worst. And it continued right into the first part of this year.
It's better now. I've weeded through my schedule and rearranged what it is I want to be priorities. Boy does that help! It took some time, thinking, and a few things had to go by the wayside but I fell tons better. Less stress and better focus.
That's going to be my phrase (or one of them) for this year...focus!
Did you miss me?
Always,
Susan
P.S. I shook up how this thing looks with a background from one of my favorite artists, Itkupilli. Please peruse her blog and click on the upper left hand corner link. You won't be disappointed!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sneak Peek & A Creative Jaunt
The last week has been a blur. Committed to too many things and there aren't enough hours in the day. But somehow, someway things manage to get done. Maybe just working better under pressure.
Tomorrow morning two of my favorite people will be on my doorstep to take off for the biggest craft, hobby, artistic venture perhaps in the country or in several countries. CHA is at the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend and I am super excited to be able to go. It's a magic wonderland for all of us who are creative. I plan to set my hair on fire with new ideas and inspiration. If I can find wi-fi I w I'll blog a bit from the site tomorrow or Sunday. There is always such fun stuff to share.
Plus I am dropping off a bunch of my jewelry pieces to the Irvine Fine Art Center on Monday and will be featured in their gift shop for february, yay! I've got a sneak peek of some of the things you will find if you go take a peek, ready, set, go!
I love Salvador Dali...
Mona in hearts.
Alice dressed up for Valentines day.
And some Frida, all my favorites!
So I'm off..to bed, to CHA, and to spend a few hours with great friends!
See ya soon,
Susan
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tomorrow morning two of my favorite people will be on my doorstep to take off for the biggest craft, hobby, artistic venture perhaps in the country or in several countries. CHA is at the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend and I am super excited to be able to go. It's a magic wonderland for all of us who are creative. I plan to set my hair on fire with new ideas and inspiration. If I can find wi-fi I w I'll blog a bit from the site tomorrow or Sunday. There is always such fun stuff to share.
Plus I am dropping off a bunch of my jewelry pieces to the Irvine Fine Art Center on Monday and will be featured in their gift shop for february, yay! I've got a sneak peek of some of the things you will find if you go take a peek, ready, set, go!
I love Salvador Dali...
Mona in hearts.
Alice dressed up for Valentines day.
And some Frida, all my favorites!
So I'm off..to bed, to CHA, and to spend a few hours with great friends!
See ya soon,
Susan
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, January 14, 2011
Swallowed Up...Part Two
Okay, let's start again. That last post was crazy long! Let's start again where we left off...Thanksgiving.
These two took us out for dinner since we had just driven in from Las Vegas. Don't they look happy about it?
This young man had two orders of mini corn dogs and a complete quarter of a pumpkin pie. Ate it all then around 2 in the morning tossed his stomach all over his room, the bathroom, and the hall. Yay!
Another couple of classes on 12/5 with yet another great group. Aren't they fabulous to look at?
My 12/11 group! It's truly amazing what everyone comes up with in class and how different everything is. And the enthusiasm for learning something new is overwhelming.
Working hard...
We had a bit of time to be goofy and play with our "dog".
My daughter is a dragon fanatic so we made Dragon cookies for all her friends for Christmas.
Most of the time they actually like each other.
Christmas day...
Christmas night...
This gang chaperoned the adults until the wee hours of the morning on New Years Eve.
That pretty much where we are today. These two are relaxing while the humans run around like crazy people. We're back in school, volunteering, planning events, writing class ideas, updating websites, and everything else that goes with it.
I hope that your holiday time was as wonderful and nutty as ours.
Until next time,
Susan
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
These two took us out for dinner since we had just driven in from Las Vegas. Don't they look happy about it?
This young man had two orders of mini corn dogs and a complete quarter of a pumpkin pie. Ate it all then around 2 in the morning tossed his stomach all over his room, the bathroom, and the hall. Yay!
Another couple of classes on 12/5 with yet another great group. Aren't they fabulous to look at?
My 12/11 group! It's truly amazing what everyone comes up with in class and how different everything is. And the enthusiasm for learning something new is overwhelming.
Working hard...
We had a bit of time to be goofy and play with our "dog".
My daughter is a dragon fanatic so we made Dragon cookies for all her friends for Christmas.
Most of the time they actually like each other.
Christmas day...
Christmas night...
This gang chaperoned the adults until the wee hours of the morning on New Years Eve.
That pretty much where we are today. These two are relaxing while the humans run around like crazy people. We're back in school, volunteering, planning events, writing class ideas, updating websites, and everything else that goes with it.
I hope that your holiday time was as wonderful and nutty as ours.
Until next time,
Susan
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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