70

 

The birthday plans changed as I drove to LA so that

 I could attend bonus son Ivan's competition.

First night there Hannah and Nick went to a

 friends B-day party Barbie themed.

They went as Barbie and Oppenheimer

First two nights at Ben and Helene's 

Ben grilled a lovely meal and I was eaten alive (over 40 bites)

by these nasty mosquitoes that invaded CA-aedes - I'll spare you the photos.

In fact I had an allergic reaction called Skeeter syndrome.

It'll be awhile for swelling and infected areas to go away.

Bright and early Saturday after Ben prepared a lovely light breakfast

 we drove to Anneheim for Ivan's event.  

Ivan did great ( second from left),

but was disappointed at second place 

After event lunch at this smorgasbord place.

Many restaurants for takeout and then we reconvened to eat.

I love this photo of Ben and Ivan.

Best buds since jr high. 

That evening a takeout Chinese feast 

Are you grasping the gastronomy path 

we take when together?

 Then kids treated me

 to luxury suite at Mr C's Beverly Hills.

Comped Peach Bellinis to start

Walter and Hannah on one of two balconies.

In the room my favorite pizza caceo pepe, 

and mushroom, both wood fired.

Next day lunch with all-

Here Hannah, Ivan, and Ben

Ben,  Helene and Kevin, Ivan's boyfriend

Walter did great with his new just for the trip, pup cart. He loved it!!

It will totally change how we get out and about.

I highly recommend.

He felt safe and so no barking at strangers or dogs.

 Walter made best friends with security guard Julian. 

We also crammed in a little traditional Target run, 

a visit to Culver's terrific farmers market Saturday morning.

I am so envious of their farmers markets.

Hannah gave me a Taro reading that was freakishly spot on.

Breakfast at the coffee shop where

 Nick and Hannah had first date.

Then salt water pool date at Mr C's with her two besties

Heidi and Jenny.

These thirty somethings even played Marco Polo.

Hilarious!

These three started a very cool writer's group

and all are doing great things, well, WILL

continue as soon as strike is over.

Walter enjoying our last morning.

Oh and yes this is dog friendly hotel.

A doggie area right near the front so we went up 

and out easily as needed.

Gorgeous landmark hotel and it turns out I stayed 

there the last day it was Mr C's. 

It was sold Monday to a large corp.

I sure hope they keep all the staff.

They were exceptional.

So this is 70

A wonderful visit with the most important people in my life.

I hate sharing any photos of me, as those of you who have been here

 since 2008 can attest. However it seemed to be a requirement for this post,

even with my swollen, red, arms and hands from those horrible bites. 

 It's an important milestone and although

I felt guilty for all the kids did for me, it was such a blessing this gift

of time we all shared. 

I gifted them each part one of my Story Worth. 

You saw the wrapped versions in a previous post. 

 I'm thinking that this next year I will 

search thru the years of blogs for some writings 

I am pleased with and add a few more gems

 to who Suzan Rennie was.

This was the bookmark I added to their books

One of my favorite photos of me at 24,

before I was no longer just Suzan Rennie.

oh so very long ago.

Z

 

Gifting

One of the perks in creating a mix of 

projects is you acquire a variety of materials and 

not all are used for prints, paintings etc.

Some are useful for everyday items.

Different handprinted tags with 

hand painted ribbons.

When I'm stuck creating something 

large, or just can't get started at all,

making some quick embellishments or 

ribbons, or making various gelli prints, 

is productive "thinking" time or

mindless distractions. 

Having supplies like this at the ready allows

for very personalized gift giving.

I had planned for hand painted paper 

for these gifts but ran out of time.

It's on my list for the next

 crafting time.

That is if I can stop doing sudoku.

I had an issue with it several years ago,

doing far too many,

but now I've found an on line spot and 

well...

 

Only 112 today, some parts of town

 got rain and hail yesterday, but nada here.

 

Hand Painted Ribbons

I am still enjoying the daily fodder challenge and today

 I made these ribbons out of linen.

 I have a plan for them to wrap 

some special gifts for the kids. 

The Fodder Challenge and Fodder School 

really puts your creativity into high gear.

You can follow the teacher's instructions

exactly, or if you don't have those supplies, 

you can detour and use what you have, or what 

you are comfortable using.

With every lesson, it becomes a jumping off

point to other ideas and inspirations. 

With it being 117 degrees here today, 

doing anything but holing up 

in the studio was out of the question. 

What are you doing these days?

Z

 

Finished

Sister Moon is finished 

The line is from the lyrics of Blue Moon

Blue moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue moon

You knew just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

And then, there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will ever hold

I heard somebody whisper, "Please, adore me"

And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold

Blue moon

Now, I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

DJR

My father used to hum and croon songs

while we spent time in

his workshop.

Blue Moon was one of them 

Catch A Falling Star was another

 

Getting Mojo Back

 For so many years I spent days, weeks, even months

at a time in my studio   

 sewing, creating, preparing for classes, 

painting furniture, making purses,

 bags, dolls and ornaments. 

There was always something new I wanted to learn, 

or attempt, or teach to others.

Life intervened and I'm pretty sure my mojo

took a walkabout.

Oh, it returned in spurts,

but I never could just lock it down for good.

I don't know how long this will last

but for now I am free wheeling ideas in

all directions.

Taking the fodder classes has been the jumping off point,

but I've climbed the high dive myself.

This moon piece is now nearly complete;

it took some time to cover the entire canvas in moons.

I'm a cancer sign and have always had an affinity 

for the moon. Since I was little, 

when I saw the moon I would whisper, "sister moon". 

This was the test run for another I have planned.

I'll be making some fabric sunflowers later in the week,

as well as finishing the fodder challenge.

Too dang hot to be anywhere but in the studio anyway.

My fab four will be coming in for my b-day soon.

I'll have to stop playing and clean house.

Z

Gelli Fever

So I had made some more prints, and then a few more, 

and then well, you get the picture.

I repurposed an old canvas that had printed tissue on it already,

in fact for about 4 years untouched,

then dry brushed some color on, ( hated that) 

so then some torn, textured, tissue from the cold pack 

that Prime wraps around delivered fridge worthy products.

Been doing watercolor circles in a class,

 so stayed with that theme,

and cut circles out of the gelli prints

and ta da!!

It's texture upon texture.

My upstairs hall is becoming a gallery of all my class

and post class projects.

I have to remind myself that I'm the only

 one that has to like it.

At 70 ( coming up in 11 days) it's 

still a lesson I need to work on.

I've spent too many years pleasing others

 before self, and in spite of self,

 and worried about pleasing others,

Finally, I have narrowed my focus 

to a few honest and dear loved ones that matter.

I have also learned, far too late,

 to set and keep boundaries.

My mind can easily slip into rehashing betrayals 

over the last couple decades. 

They lay just below the surface ready 

to pounce at the slightest opportunity.

Gelli printing garners quick results and 

successful results more often than naught.

Great music, or a good streaming show

and the hours zoom past,

 with not a negative thought or fear.

I highly recommend any type of creative pursuit.

So good for the soul and hopefully wards 

off the age issues we all eventually face.

Throw in a couple sudokus, one mini crossword,

 one spelling bee and 2- 3 on line 100 piece jigsaws

daily and you have...

well, me

It's damn hot here but then isn't it everywhere?

DO NOT say "but's it a dry heat" 

You'll hear me scream.

Z