Sunday, October 9, 2011

Midnight and All is Well

Saturday night.... midnight
*****
My back hurts, my feet hurt, 
my head hurts and I couldn't be happier.

Some wonderful friends walked out of here
late, very late,  tonight beaming
 with pride at their Halloween advents.
The projects could not have been more
 different, which thrills me. 
I hate classes where it's "follow the teacher".
 I encourage everyone to step outside the box, 
hell, blow the box to smithereens, and I am 
over the moon happy when the gals are
 standing back looking at their work
 and giggling with pride.
I want them to surpass the teacher's work.
 If the teacher has to be the best one in the room,
then the students are not learning and growing.
 Surprise me, thrill me, make me go 
"Whoop, Hot Damn, that is SOOOO cool."
I did a lot of that today.

All the gals were supportive of each other, 
 trading items they had brought,
 and advice was sought and gladly given by all.
I almost blew dinner when we had to 
move it up 2 hours because we were all starving,
 but I pulled it off, while
 sweating bullets I tell ya, sweating bullets.

Dinner was Fresh Raviolis with mushrooms, 
shallots and peas in a butter cream sauce. 
Roasted  tureen of root veggies; carrots,
 orange, green and yellow peppers, fennel,
 onions, and potatoes with chardonnay apple sausages.
A salad of romaine, dried cranberry, fresh pears, feta,
bacon, glazed pecans, tossed with a homemade
 dressing mix of poppy seed and balsamic.
Dessert was my homemade pepperkakor cookies
(Swedish gingerbread) 
and a sour cherry-peach hot crumble 
with vanilla bean ice cream.
Lots of seconds and a few thirds.
Throw in the 9:00 breakfast and we ate 
our fair share today. :-0


And oh, how they worked....


I had to laugh as I viewed the table.


Full





Fuller



Fullest




Working on canvases


We had the perfect fall day.









Justice was tuckered out.
Spot Howie under the table?
Thankfully these are all pet people, 


Some of the works "in progress" in the afternoon; 
I apologize to my class for these photos.
Mea culpa
I did not do their canvases justice,
and missed so much...  
I have loads of blurry shots;
when will I learn to get out tripod?











That's a peek at a Gathering at Suzan's....
By request there might be a Holiday 
Gathering coming in November.
As always very limited seating, stay tuned.


I will try to show finished advents soon.
I am trying to edit and repair so many blurry photos.
I'm afraid teaching and cooking 
left little time for good photos.
I see the same complaint on all the "show" blog people.
You cannot teach, sell, promote etc and have time for photos. Bad blogger Z!
Have a good week everyone! 


22 comments:

Susie~From My Home To Yours said...

Suzan....what fun! Love the projects and pics.

I just have one question....what is in all those boxes in your garage?

Just curious,
Susie

Low Tide High Style said...

Wow, so much creativity and to be fed deliciously too...what a win/win!

Kat :)

One Shabby Old House said...

Oh my what fun that looked like. So many great ideas. What kind of a class is this? If I were to look for something in my area like this what exactly would it be called. I know that I would enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing.
Becky

time worn interiors said...

I was wondering about the boxes myself! hahaha!

Looks like you girls had a great time!

tot

Vicki said...

LOL - Susie, I was thinking the same thing! lol. Great class. Love what your student's made. Just adorable. Your dinner sounds amazing. I'm ready to have that salad now

Faded Charm said...

Looks like such a fine time Z. Not to mention the food.....wowza what a feast!

Love this idea!

xoxo
Kathleen

Grammy Goodwill said...

hehehe - I noticed the boxes, too. After reading about dinner, I would have gladly come just to eat that delicious meal. The projects look good, too.

Createology said...

Speechless and green with envy...

TheCrankyCrow said...

Am I the only one who didn't notice the dang boxes??? I was too busy looking at the amazing productions going on....wow!!! I knew it was gonna be good - but holy Halloween heck - the finished products that came out of that powerhouse of creativity are absolutely amazing...!! I so, so, wanna do this some day....(Any ravioli left??? Oh my heck does that sound all kinds of good!!) Hope you're on the way to recovery...Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

joanne said...

Oh Z, it sounds like such a fun time!! And yum...the food sounds divine. You really did a great job of getting everything in perfect place for everyone else to enjoy. Take a little rest eh?

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Well looks like a great day was had by all Suzan and I can just imagine how much work you put into preparing all this... so creative!! You're making me hungry with all this food talk,, sounds delicious.. Oh.. and by the way.. did you make them come dressed in halloween colours? hehe

Have a great week.. a rest is in order I think.. ciao xxx Julie

Marguerite (Tina) Smith Hart said...

Oh Suzan that looked like so much fun and I only wish I was closer so I could attend the next one....sigh!
And the menu made my mouth water!
Have a great holiday today and take care!
Tina xo

Tanya said...

"Whoop, Hot Damn, that is SOOOO cool!!!", to coin a phrase...MOST EXCELLENT, Z!

Jill said...

Oh my gosh!!! What a gathering! You cook, teach, and EVERYTHING for it?! You have to be exhausted. Really, really fun. So wish you lived closer!

Linda said...

What fun!! All the projects look awesome...get some much needed rest now!! Have a great day!!

the old white house said...

Everyone's Halloween advents look awesome! What a fabulous event, and the food sounds delish. The salad sounds like Cam's favorite, we call it pear salad and it's his most requested dinner item. I do love that everyone's is different, you are a great teacher! t. xoxoxox

Evi said...

this looks like sooo much fun!!!!!
Love the tags.
Oh, I wish I lived closer.
And not only did these gals have fun, but they also got delicious food....sigh. I am green with envy.
XOXO, Evi

Cindy said...

That looks like so much fun! What creativity everyone has! I love all the artwork. Your dinner sounds so great. I could on and on about all the photos of good stuff. (BTW..your garage is so dang clean, I would be so embarrassed for someone to see my garage, let alone my studio!!)Good Job my friend!!

June said...

Sheesh Z, could I have really missed this many posts here??? It is 5:30 on the 11th and I sat down to the computer and thought...'I wonder what Z has been up to' and cripes, you have been one busy lady.
This post made me miss the art classes I used to do in my own home for many years. We met once a week and I taught painting and ceramics. We had so much fun. I still have many friends ask why we don't do it anymore. I sure miss it, but not the always thinking up new things to teach.
You guys look like you're having quite a day of projects.
love from here you crazy girl you!

Jillayne said...

It looks smashing! The food, the project packs, the results - what a wonderful event you created. I love the Hallowe'en advents - brilliant idea.
$140.00 is a bargain for a full day and I would say those lucky gals got their money's worth.
And of course, glad to hear all ended well for Houdini; he was lucky to have landed on your doorstep z.

Boxwood Cottage said...

Oh dear Z how I would have loved to play along, looks like so much fun!!!
xoxo~ Carola

Anonymous said...

Finally looking at the Gathering pics. Only a week late...not bad for me! I notice all the gals look busy, creative... and then there's me - mouth scrunched up, looking way too serious for all the fun I really had. Can't wait to apply the techniques you taught us to other projects. Fabulous day of creativity with a teacher extraordinaire! Love from: Your Utah play partner