Spring Planting

The days are getting longer, the air is getting warmer and I can hear children playing outside, as birds playfully fly around. I am so excited because I know that all these things point to one exciting event...Spring time! Oh what a fantastic time of year when the earth 'springs' alive again and I get to play in the dirt again! Not to mention...I get to take out my camera and take pictures of all these lovely colorful works of art. What a wonderful invention that MACRO setting, oh, and not to mention the TRIPOD. When I'm up close and personal with a lovely Black Eyed Susan my TRIPOD is so handy!

* Have you checked out Susiebee Studios to see the GREEN announcement!

Have a wonderfully colourful day!

     Susie

Holland's best kept secret: Alexander van Slobbe

Fashion for thought, Stof tot Nadenken: An exhibition about the Dutch designer Alexander van Slobbe. In honour of his 20th designing anniversary, the Central Museum of Utrecht is hosting an exposition about his work. His minimalistic, structured, simple and modern designs were very successfull during the 1990's and gave our little country, The Netherlands, a better spot on the fashion map.




The first room was all about his accessories and detailing. Jewellery, perfumes and the entire process of golden studs, wich began with paper foldings were on display in lightboxes within a dark room. Like the tecnical process of making the stud, sewing patterns and structure play a prominent roll in this exhibition.




Mannequins all in black were hanging from the ceiling wearing Alexander van Slobbes best pieces. underneath each Mannequin the sewing pattern drawn on the floor.




The last part of the exhibition was an atelier where visitors can make their own Alexander van Slobbe dress! Patterns, sewing machines at your disposal, bring a piece of fabric and spent a day at the museum! Definitely a fashion exposition in Holland worth going to!

*for all the Dutch readers; If you're also sick of seeing the same old Victor&Rolf dresses at every fashion exhibition, this is defenitely a refreshing place to go!

Count Your Many Blessings!

You know some days get so hectic with work, school, errands, and family stuff that most of the time I am so grateful for my hobby. With scrapbooking I have a chance to sit down and look at the wonderful pictures that I have taken of the blessings that I have all around me. I have so much to be grateful for and sometimes I just have to remind myself! Make a goal to take time to count your many blessings!

Hey, remember that this week on MARCH 27, 2010 @ 8:30 p.m. it is EARTH HOUR! We can all do something to help this glorious planet that we call home.  Go to http://wwf.ca/earthhour/ to find out what other people our doing to make a difference! 

Have a super fantastic day!

                                      Susie

Scrapbooking about the 'Tooth-fairy'!

I love layering and playing! There are so many neat products and colours that you can use! Actually my background paper here is from Prima packaging. I ADORE their 'GO GREEN' concept. The very idea of using packaging in your artwork instead of throwing it away is fantastic! Try it! It is fun. They have neat ideas on their blog - http://prima.typepad.com/ .


              Have fun with this!
                                     Keep on Scrappin'
                                                                    Susie

Ecojot for your scrapbooking and paper needs!!!

Check the great product that this company has and it is made from 100% recycled paper! SWEET! I love jotting down things , so the lined journals are great, however, they also have sketchbooks! Now I can doodle all I want on RECYCLED PRODUCT! The whimsical covers are really cute!

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

The notebooks & sketchbooks are at Chapter's but, you can also visit their site at: 

http://ecojot.com/ .

• Make sure to CHECK OUT contest # 2 on   
• http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home
•  You could win a Ecojot journal!

Have a great day and go out and do something 

       that is good for the world today!

                                                                               Susie

Loveblogs / hateblogs

The reason why I used to love fashion blogs so much was because they were independent, it was nice and reassuring to read about fashion without having the urge to run to the store to buy something, reading about fashion without having to consume anything. Fashion is not all about buying the newest shoes, it's not about buying anything at all. Something that I rarely find in most magazines. I loved to read personal opinions, see creative projects, daily outfits from all different parts of the world, discover new thrifting finds, wonderful self shot images or inspiring photo shoots by big photographers. Still I can't wait to snuggle up behind my laptop and read the posts of my favorite bloggers.

But it’s such a disappointment when all the daily outfits from all over the world are the same head to toe Zara ensemble. Or that the newest ‘must have’ was suggested to 1000 bloggers at a time through a mass email sent by a press agency. Many of the blogs I’m coming across are so alike. Something that almost crushes idealistic thoughts of democratic fashion. 'Internet is taking over fashion, there used to be a certain hierarchy, an elite group in fashion that always got front seats at shows and were regarded as very important. But all that is changing now, fashion is democratizing.'-Aynouk Tan interview A few months ago I saved this comment on a Luxirare blogpost. I couldn’t agree more and I couldn't have said it better. Thank you Rose! whoever you are!

Dear Ms Luxirare,
As always, very interesting idea, very meticulous, artful and well-photographed execution.
Did anyone actually eat the lunch and forthwith declared undying love/tripled allowance/actually give your own magazine?
I am not at all amazed.

To the people that are toppling over eachother and go OTT with all these OMG's and other expletives: Hey, wake up, it's not rocket science!
She's using regular food preparing (and tailoring) techniques, only slightly odd (if not so easy to come by in some places) materials, crafted/bought packaging, a decent printer/camera and a roll of white background paper in heaven knows what room.
BUT what makes Luxirare extraordinary is the amount of THINKING that goes in her work, the amount of love, patience and dedication in her preparation and execution (documenting it all is just good science imho), and her utter refusal to give in to mediocrity, popularity, or the desperate, breathless search for the next newest thing.For which I commend her.

So guys 'n' girls, it's not so much about Godgiven creativity – you too can be extremely creative. Just stop craving for the latest, hardest to find, dearest goods; stop fooling yourselves with celebrity/designer/money cult; and start thinking outside your (bento)box. Get off your butts, leave all your opinions and prejudices at the doorstep, question everything, be curious; observe, truly look into the nature of things; learn a trade (or at least a proper skill like cooking, sewing, knitting, visiting a library to read actual books or mending your own shoes); but most of all: try to see the humor in life; the beauty in oddness; and the sublime in even the humblest carrot. It is out there! All you need to do is open your eyes and allow your senses and your brain to wander free. To give you some inspiration, Google "play with your food" and enjoy Joost Elffers work. This particular book was made in 1997, and the calendar made its way into 100thousands of households because it was sold for a mere 5$ (equiv) in the biggest grocery store chain in Holland. Now that's truly 'art for the masses'.
And now wipe that grin of your face – whether it's from enjoyment or contempt.
Rose

Scrapbooking Pets

Technorati Tags: Scrapbooking,PrimaMarketing Inc.,My mind's Eye

In our home, we ‘adore’ our pets! They always become part of our family and therefore  they become part of my photo shoots and then the theme of many my scrapbook layouts. Who couldn’t resist… they are SO CUTE! Anyways… whiles going through some supplies I found some awesome supplies from My Mind’s Eye and Prima Marketing Inc. that look great with this little guy! Speaking about Prima Marketing Inc. you should check out  some of their new releases, like the camera bag from Donna Downey. I can’t wait to have some fun altering that! And check the color of the year – “ TURQUOISE’ on their oh so cute ‘Strawberry Kisses’ paper line.

So much sure you remember you furry and not –so –furry friends in your scrapbooking projects today!

                     Keep on Scrappin’

                                         Susie

ALTERED SPRING CANVAS

When I was younger I loved playing with paints. I especially loved going to stationary stores with my Mother where we would spend, what seemed like hours looking at all the different colours and types of paper. I was always allowed to pick out a new paper or two so I could write letters to my pen pals.  Not much has changed since then, I still love playing with paints and I still adore paper! I had so much fun making this altered canvas . I used bits of mulberry paper and recycled paper. Check out Susiebee Studios for more detail on this project. When doing a project like this remember that there aren’t any rules; just have fun!

 Susie

Winter Isn't Over yet!

Just when we start having a major case of Spring fever, Old Man Winter reminds us that it isn't spring yet! I guess that I don't mind because we just bundle up the kids and have some good old fashion 'SNOW' fun!

         SNOW + SLIGHT INCLINE = LOTS OF SILLY FUN

 So after a fun filled afternoon with my family and friends at a nearby hill, I really don't mind that maybe I am going to have to wait for Spring a little bit longer!

Have you checked out the 'I GIVE A SCRAP' contest at Susiebee Studios. Contest #1 has been announced, so check it out.
                                                                         Susie

In the beginning...

I feel like I have been here before, you know, at the beginning of something. I was in the middle of my blog , but then it became very sick with a very nasty virus which I couldn't cure at all. I really don't understand the purpose of viruses except they make my life miserable. Oh, and before you say anything, I know, I should have backed up my blog, but alas...I did not and so I am now at the beginning of another blog!

So...here we go. I found the perfect item to start my blog. A writing pad from Knock Knock . It is so darling because you can put down everything that you feel you want to ACCOMPLISH in the present or future. You can be as practical or as serious that you want to be. What fun! Maybe I should have put down back up blog!

                                     Keep on Scrappin'

                                                                        Susie

SPINE HEEL

I love clothing that is inspired on skeletons and bones.
I love breastbone inspired bib necklaces.
I love black and white tie-dye because it reminds me of skeletons and x ray.
And I LOVE these Dsquared shoes with a spine for a heel.

image via OneFilthyYouth

bustier reincarnated

before...




after..






bustier found on a pile of secondhand clothes
stripped it from its lace
found wonderfull sheer light blue fabric underneath
was inspired by tecnical drawings of corsets
sketched and scratched a bit on the fabric with black and blue markers