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

  

 

 

Geli squares

A little project that kept me busy for a couple days. 

I had a pile of geli printed papers I had made a few months back

 and decided I would try another style of collage.

 I had already made paper quilts and desired something a little 

more rustic, textured or rough?

I adhered the geli paper to mixed media paper 

and then cut into 2x2" squares. 

I had a nice thick 12x 24" canvas stored so....

I did not want them adhered flat and 

also did not want a smooth appearance,

hence the word rough, so I let the wrinkles 

and curled edges come as they wished, 

and in some cases encouraged.

I finished the sides in geli strips.

It was a fun exercise,

though laborious for sure.

Purists will cringe at the wrinkles etc but 

you've seen my house,

do I care about such things?

Creating is so good for the soul,

my free therapy.

 

 

 

DJR

Dad loved to fish

Some of his happiest days were spent beside a creek, in a canoe,

on a friend's boat or on his pontoon.

I took several fishing trips to Canada with dad and his friends and 

loved seeing him so relaxed and funny.

He's been gone 23 years and I don't think a day goes by 

that I don't remember something he taught me,

or use a skill he passed on.  

I miss him so very much.

To him I was Suzy

Z

 

Back In The Studio

I've been spending a lot of time in my studio.

Cleaned things up a bit, and removed the daybed, too crowded with it there,

and hauled a chair back up into the corner. 

We've had a glorious cool June, but the tide is turning, so I'm retreating from

the garden back inside till fall temps. 

Getting the chair up the stairs and around the half wall

was challenging. Another one of my "midnight" ideas.

I pushed the chair end over end up the stairs, easy peasy,

but then it couldn't clear the turn into the room.

With one huge lift I got it up on it's back on top of the wall,

praying it didn't crash down to the bottom floor and slid it

 along the half wall into the room. Pretty proud of myself actually, 

but did receive a scolding from darling daughter.

I just had knee injections that afternoon and was feeling "powerful",

but of course she thought I was over doing.

Don't we all Over Do?

 

I've been gilli printing and painting and I took several free and also fee classes

on line the past few months and weeks. Ordered some supplies from Amazon, 

that arrive today and I will be attempting 

to paint "things"- flowers maybe, a dog for the first time?

 I will show anything that I'm not mortified to show you.

 They will not be realistic for sure,

but hopefully not trashcan worthy. The fun is the process right?

I also hope to FINALLY finish that damn blue log cabin quilt, begun years ago 

and worked on off and on for years. I showed it last year hoping 

to guilt myself into finishing... Why do we sometimes just get "stuck" on 

things like this.? I have a small area in my hallway that needs to be repainted. It might take 

about 30 minutes? Can I do it? Nope

I have four hallway lights I have hated for 30 years. Looked recently to replace, $$

but I'd rather save for new flooring. So I'm going to paint the bases from gold to black.

I can't /won't remove so I'll paint in place, hehe

I'll take you along for that adventure.

I've worked out a clever solution I think.

I have to keep busy to avoid the dread I feel about the world and society.

It's a frickin' mess for sure. 

Z

 

Just Paint

 The weather has been lovely here - mid 80's,
so I decided to cram in a few more outdoor projects 

before we are scorching.
Bought a pretty and larger new rug, (on a terrific sale)
for this area but with all the colors, needed to
update. I've had to use a tablecloth for a few years as the

plywood top I added to the vintage table base was looking shabby. 

I definitely was not a fan of this vibe.

In my earlier everything green phase, I had striped the plywood 

top and after years of exposure to the elements, it was faded, shabby, 

and chances of splinters were high. 

I decided a base of brown with maybe stenciling,

 or more striping would look nice. 

I sanded the top and didn't want to spend money on paint,

so I found a small can of brown that I had purchased years ago.

Did 2 coats and went in for some lunch, when suddenly 

downpour. Fast and brief, but enough to rain spot it all over!

DAGNABBIT

Wiped it all down again, and let it dry.

By the time I got back to it, it was evening,

 so I quickly slapped on a third coat.

I stood back and pondered stencil/ stripe?

Looked at the rug, the grey chairs, and thought

NOPE

Just leave it.

Rolled it back into place, and snapped a quick shot to show

a gal pal Robin, and the kids. 

Often I remind myself- 

Keep It Simple Stupid

KISS KISS

z

Blooming Time 2023

Constant battle with weeds - I think I'm at a tie

 

Mothers Day

 Happy Mothers Day

I hope you can celebrate having one, being one, 

remembering one, or loving one. 

I was fortunate to have my kids drive in 

to help me with the long awaited garage sale Saturday.

I have helped with dozens of friends and clients sales,

 and held dozens of my own, and 

believe me the thrill is gone.

 I've been purging forever it seems.

Of course the weather turned hot, and we were only open 

from 7:30 - 2:00, but still 

I made what I needed to replace a long built in broken microwave,

and treat myself to a fun new item for the backyard.

I still had a nice bit of money left over so it's a win!

The sacrificing a weekend to deal with an awful thing 

like these sales, well was just the best present ever from Ben and Hannah. 

They also cleared out a hidden side yard of accumulated debris

which also made me sooo happy. 

Toward the end I always slash prices and fill boxes with 

free stuff - everyone loves that, so nearly all sold.

I have just a few boxes in my car to donate, and a small pile of good things,

mostly kitchen items, that will just go back on now empty shelves. 

I won't "need" them so I purged, but I will still use them eventually.

Right at the close of sale, UPS showed up and in a fast five minutes 

I took these tired bones and tried out my new.....

Hammock

Walter checked it out and eventually hopped in also.

Not sure where I will place in the yard just yet.

This was very affordable, and the hammock

removes from frame in seconds so 

I can store inside on the porch, keeping it clean.

 The frame will knock down in five, and everything stores

in a carry bag.

I "hung" out for an hour while the kids talked, and listened to 

music and I could have easily dozed off, very comfortable.

Enjoy your day.

  

WGA STRIKE

Either you care about such things or you don't.

It's about so much more than you missing your favorite show.

It's about decency, honesty, fairness.

This type of behavior and business practice is rampant

in every corner of our society, in politics, housing

health care...

Yes, this is affecting my daughter and Jenny, her writing partner, and 

their WGA family. 

BUT

It is affecting us all when it comes to AI.

When AI writes anything it is not birthed magically 

thru the computer components, it is "farmed" from all the

 ideas and creative pieces that humans previously wrote, 

and then they will never be paid for, 

yet the 1% at the top will GREATLY profit from.

The proverbial "tip of the iceberg"

with whatever icebergs we'll have left...

This is, as many things are, about more than what you 

see and read on the surface. 

A few powerful folks at the top of many companies,

including our "political corporations", SCOTUS etc  are 

living gluttonous lives on the backs of what

resembles the serfdoms of the past.

It is also why when a neighbor asked if I was excited to 

watch the coronation I replied hell no, 

much to the dismay of the folks behind me in the checkout lane.

I cannot, will not, support or encourage the continuation of 

a monarchy built upon, hugely profited from, 

the colonization and slavery of other countries.

So please if you begin to miss some of your favorite entertainment,

instead of cursing those on strike, 

drop a message to the studio 

or company behind the show and tell them

 it's time to play fair and be decent.

A message to a sponsor is always a good idea. 

and on another note-

 Teachers are quitting in droves,

most for the same reasons. 

Who will be left to teach all your grandchildren?

as at home schooling went so well right? 

It is about more than just this union having to fight,

it is our country so out of balance, 

devoid of truths and compassion.

We must care or be forever lost.