The snow is falling!

& I have the day off! How lucky is that? It's so pretty to look at as long as you don't have to drive!

I wanted to share a new class for January, it's not at the store, because I brought it back home by mistake, but here are a couple of photos.




Wednesday, January 27 10:30-1:00

"Recollections"
We will be making this 6x12 book using Graphic 45's Domestic Goddess. This book will be perfect for those current or "retro" photos, recipes or other around the home "memories".

Bring your basics PLUS: Claudine Helmuth's Matte Medium & foam brush, pop dots, "Stream" Paint Dabber, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Cropidile, sanding tools

Thanks to everyone that has supported me in the past year! I appreciate my customers so much & look forward to what the new year will bring! See you soon!

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

Adam's 1st Birthday!, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

And a very Happy Birthday to my oldest son, Adam!
28 years old today! Love you son!

Holiday Hideaway Sharing

Printer's Block , originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Printer's Block

Another project from Holiday Hideaway. This was a lot of fun!
We used GrungeBoard Letters, Paint Dabbers & Distress Ink on a MDF square to make this one!

Another project from Holiday Hideaway . . .

Holiday Hideaway Canvas, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

I gotta say, this is my favorite! Tim gave us a blank canvas & told us what to do but didn't give us a sample. He wanted us all to create without the pressure of duplicating his project.

It took us a few minutes to get used to the idea but soon we all embarked on our own little creative adventure! This was so fun!

This is an 11x14 canvas with several smaller canvases added for dimension. We first sketched out a patchwork design of squares & rectangles. Next we added papers & paint then coated the canvas with beeswax. We finished our creations with glitter, stickles & embellishments!

Another one . . .

Home is the Heart of the Holidays, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Home is the Heart of the Holidays

Thursday, January 15 @ 10:30

THis is my annual after Christmas layout. It celebrates family, home & holidays with Cosmo Cricket Papers, K&Co Embellies, Ranger Stickles & Tim Holtz Stamps.

Bring your basics PLUS you will need your own red gel pen.

New Classes for January 2010

Preserving the Past for January, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Preserving the Past for January

Wednesday, January 7 @ 10:30 or 6:30

I have been bringing you a 2 page Heritage Layout each month since 2003. In this class you will learn techniques, use new products while creating a layout for your Heritage Scrapbook. Don't have old photos? Most of these pages can be used in your everyday layouts too!

Bring you own scissors, adhesive & distress ink of your choice. Black photo corners not included but are available to purchase.

Holiday Hideaway Sharing

Shadowbox, Holiday Hideaway, Santos Hands, ephemera, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

This is 1 of my favorite projects from Holiday Hideaway! We were given a 6x6 shadowbox & the Santos Hands & the Heart. Everything else we chose ourselves to create a project that had personal meaning.

My numbers represent my wedding date 4/16/78. The letter tiles represent my boys A-Z. The 3 stars represents my family, Tom, Adam & Zack. The Dictionary definition is Peacemaker & Peace. I have always been the "Peacemaker" @ home & everywhere else! I've been accused by my son as always looking on the bright side of everything!

There are other things in this little treasure that are hard to see in the photo but you get the idea! This is my favorite project from Day 1!
More tomorrow . . . stayed tuned~

Holiday Hideaway!

Holiday Hideaway!, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

The other 1/2 of the 6 of us!

Holiday Hideaway!

Holiday Hideaway!, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

We are back! We are back & sitting here wondering . . . was it a dream? We had the most amazing time! We are so inspired, we have so much to share! I don't know where to begin but you can be sure there will be sharing!

We came back with so many goodies they had to be shipped! I won't even get to see them until Friday when the brown truck gets here!

For now enjoy this photo of our first shopping trip in Prescott! Notice the fun felt flower we are all wearing! Our traveling companion Wendy Vecchi made these for all 6 of us!

More later, gotta go tinker with some of my new projects!

Goodbye again . . .

Goodbye again . . . , originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

We had a great Thanksgiving . . . up early today to take Soldier son back to the airport. Harder each goodbye I think!

Takin' a break . . .

Tons to do before Turkey Day! I got my desserts made, a little shopping done, still messing around with the decorations. . . anyway need a little blog therapy, I earned it!

Check out this adorable garland:



The blog is Little Bit Funky. This is here take on Martha's garland seen here! Isn't it just adorable? She even has instructions so you too can create this darling decoration!

Okay, back to work!

Too busy!

Yeah, I admit it . . . I am too busy looking @ other blogs to keep my own up to date! Soooo, with that in mind. . . here are a couple of blogs I've been stalking lately {out of quite a few!}

Check this one out: FRESH & FUN
Love the tutorials! Stepped out instructions with a video too!

How about this one: AMERICAN HOLIDAY ARTISTS
Wow, the artwork is truly inspiring! Check out the sidebar . . . I never run out of blogs to check out!

This one is good too: FOLDING TREES
It's origami & some of the creations are truly amazing! Just think you can fold a Thanksgiving Turkey! Lots of Tutorials & links to other creative places.

I'll share more of my fav places soon!

My class this week!

Holiday Banner with Graphic 45, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Holiday Banner with Graphic 45
Thursday, Nov 12
6 - 9 PM

Just in time for the HOLIDAYS we will create this banner made with Graphic 45 Papers, techniques from Wendy Vecchi, stamps, stickles & crackle from Tim Holtz plus a whole lot more. 2 Spaces remain for this class.

SUPPLIES:
Basics PLUS cropidile, Sanding Tools, TIny Attacher
You need your own
Antique Linen Stickles
Clear Rock Candy Crackle
Frayed Burlap Distress Ink
Black Gel Pen or other black pen
Gold Gel Pen
Ranger Archival Coffee Ink
Gold Paint Dabber

Stamp Sets used are:
Studio 490 Thinking of You Background Stamp
Tim Holtz Festive Sounds Music Background
TIm HOltz Mini HOlidays Mini FLourish

Preserving the Past for December

Preserving the Past for December, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Wed, Dec 2
10:30 & 6:30

In this class we will use grunge paper & Studio 490 stamps to create one of Wendy Vecchi's signature flowers! You will receive an entire letter sticker sheet so you will be able to personalize the layout for your own photos!

Please bring your basics plus Ranger Archival Russet or Sepia Ink. Tonic scissors, I used Tim Holtz Tea Dye & Faded Jeans Distress Ink for this layout.

HOME IS . . .

It's nice to know when your soldier son comes home to visit, there are things that never change. He left his post yesterday afternoon & drove through the night to get home. . . after a huge breakfast & hot shower he's off to sleep for a few hours! Clothes left on the floor where he always leaves them! It's especially sweet to have him here in light of the shootings a Fort Hood . . . my heart breaks for those families . . .

A few more things about . . .

Shrimp, Twice Baked Taters & Sweet Tea, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

. . . my Carolina home! Let's talk about the food shall we? I'm a little spoiled when comes to seafood. Red Lobster just isn't the same. These shrimp were caught last week by my amazing Brother in Law Woody! The flounder was caught the day before. Sweet Tea isn't anything new, it's a standard for every meal.

You never have your breakfast cereal without blueberries. Picked in June & frozen for daily use. Strawberries too. In the backyard, we have pecan trees. It's a lot of work to shell the pecans but you can't imagine the difference in the flavor from the bags in the grocery store.

I could go on & on, but I'm just getting hungry, LOL! Enjoy the seee-food! Carolina Sue in St Lou

My class this week!

Preserving the Past for November, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Space is still available in both sessions . . . Call For Keeps Sake to reserve your spot today!

Preserving the Past for November

Wednesday, Nov 4
10:30-12:30 or 6:30-8:30

This month's 2 page Heritage layout features papers from Pink Paisley, stamps from Studio 490 & more.

Bring your Basics plus Ranger Archival Black Ink, White Gel Pen

I have to share . . .

IMG_0004, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

From time to time I loan my creations to someone, especially if it is a past class that they may have missed out on. I know I will get them back and I am always pleased when someone finds some kind of inspirations from my work!

This week when I came into work after a week out of town, I found this sweet surprise on my shelf! It brought a smile to my face on such a rainy day! I waited till I got home to open my little gift . . . "Puddin" my kitty kat helped me!

Inside the little purple box was a pretty silver charm with the words Thank You. What a neat surprise! Thank You Laury for making my day special!

Down East

Down East, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Sooo, if you drive a couple of miles east of the family home . . . you come to Oriental.

http://www.towndock.net

Quaint little village on the Pamlico Sound, it's also the Sailing Capitol! you'll see boats from literally all over the world docked here.

It's a quiet, colorful town with great childhood memories for me!

Bear Statues

Bear Statues, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Bears are New Bern's city mascot. You will see bears all over including the city's flag. This year there are at least a dozen of these fiberglass bears all over town. I didn't find all of them but here are a just a few!

http://www.new-bern.nc.us/HistoryNB/index.html

Scenes from Downtown

Scenes from Downtown, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

I am often asked, "Where do you go when you {go home}?" Well, here is a few photos from Downtown New Bern, NC. New Bern is the closest actual town to where my family lives. This is where the tiny airport is . . .

New Bern is about to celebrate 300 years in 2010! They have done a wonderful job of preserving the old in this town. Tryon Palace is the centerpiece with the gorgeous gardens.

These are photos from our short walk to a little lunch place called Chadwick House, where we took my Mom.

Cotton . . .

Sue's Pic Oct09 042, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

A better photo of the cotton . . . I know I'm a dork, but I love stuff like this! Guess I am kind of a country girl . . .

October 2009 in Downtown New Bern,NC

October 2009 in Downtown New Bern,NC, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

A few pics from yesterday . . . a stroll downtown, a little lunch @ the Chadwick House & on the way back home I pulled over to take a couple of pics of cotton in the fields, which always looks so cool to me!

Greetings from Down East . . .

orientaldragon, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

where the land & sky meet the water etc etc . . . It's gorgeous down here as always . . . took a little road trip this morning to get some eastern north carolina bbq.
Delicious.
Actually you can get this kind of bbq anywhere down east but my Dad has to get his bbq only from "Rolands". I didn't mind, I got to see the ocean . . .
More to come, big family reunion on Saturday . . . meanwhile go to towndock.net, you might see me on the live cam you never know. . .

Here you go:

Some of my students & friends have asked for my favorite Apple Cake recipe again this year!

We also shared some homemade Caramel Corn yesterday @ Fright Fest and the gals wanted the recipe for that too. Enjoy them both, they are Kelemen Family traditions here!

Grandmas Fresh Apple Cake
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 cup sugar
3/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup chopped nuts
4 cups coarsely chopped apples

Mix together dry ingredients
Stir remaining ingredients except apples into dry ingredieints
Batter will be very thick
Stir in apples (you will need to use your hands to combine the mixture)
Pour into an ungreased tube or Bundt pan
Bake in pre heated 350 oven for 1 1/2 hours

Usually I dust the top with powdered sugar but this cake is unbelievably decadent with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting.

For the frosting
1 stick butter
8 oz cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
16 oz box powdered sugar
Blend until smooth, pour over cooled cake!


CARAMEL CORN

1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
8 quarts popped popcorn

Pre Heat oven to 200 degrees.

Over medium heat, combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan & boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in baking soda. Stir well. Pour over popped popcorn in a large roaster or pan. Stir to coat well. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper to dry.

My Class This Week!

Christmas Holiday Planner, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

I have a few more spaces left in this class. . .

Christmas Planner Project
Thursday, October 20 @ 10:30

Just in time before the holidays, we will create a useful but fun project that will fit inside your pocketbook! This is an altered file folder turned accordion book with pockets.

Bring your basics plus: Scoring Tools, distress ink, cropidile

New Class for November

Holiday Banner with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

HOLIDAY BANNER
Thursday, November 12 @ 6PM

We love Graphic 45 & the Holiday papers are just perfect for this vintage style Christmas Banner! Visit For Keeps Sake to see this project in person, photos don't do the colors & sparkle justice!

SUPPLIES:
Basics PLUS
cropidile, Sanding Tools, TIny Attacher
You need your own
Antique Linen Stickles
Clear Rock Candy Crackle
Frayed Burlap Distress Ink
Black Gel Pen or other black pen
Gold Gel Pen
Ranger Archival Coffee Ink
Gold Paint Dabber

Stamp Sets used are:
Studio 490 Thinking of You Background Stamp
Tim Holtz Festive Sounds Music Background
TIm Holtz Mini Holidays Mini FLourish

FRIGHT FEST is Saturday!

Spooky Memories with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Each year Missy & I bring you FRIGHT FEST! An entire day of Halloween Fun. My project is an accordion album with pockets & room for all your spooky photos! We'll have refreshments too. Call the store to reserve your space in 1 or both classes!
Spooky Memories

Saturday, Oct 10 @2-4

Bring your basics plus Glossy Accents & Purple Crackle, Black Soot Distress Ink.

Classes this week . . .

Preserving the Past for October with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

First is Preserving the Past for October
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ 10:30 or 6:30

You don't need antique pictures to join this class! Each month we create a 2 page layout perfect for your Heritage Album BUT this class is for everyone that loves vintage style! If you haven't signed up yet I have prepared 2 extra kits. Call the store tomorrow to reserve your spot!

Bring your basics plus: Bronze Metallic Crackle
Brown Distress Ink

A new class for you!

Christmas Holiday Planner, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Christmas Planner Project
Thursday, October 20 @ 10:30

Just in time before the holidays, we will create a useful but fun project that will fit inside your pocketbook!

You will want to bring your basics plus, scoring tools, sanding block & brown Distress ink of your choice!

3rd Annual Fright Fest

Spooky Memories with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Spooky Memories with Sue

Saturday, Oct 10 @2-4

Each year Missy & I bring you FRIGHT FEST! An entire day of Halloween Fun. My project is an accordion album with pockets & room for all your spooky photos!

Bring your basics plus Glossy Accents & Purple Crackle, Black Soot Distress Ink.

Preserving the Past for October with Sue

Preserving the Past for October with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Seriously, I can't understand where the time goes. Since I started maintaining the FKS blog, I just can't seem to keep up on my own stuff!

Here is my Heritage layout for August!

Wednesday, Oct 7 @ 10:30 or 6:30

You don't need antique pictures to join this class! Each month we create a 2 page layout perfect for your Heritage Album BUT this class is for everyone that loves vintage style!

Bring your basics plus: Bronze Metallic Crackle
Brown Distress Ink

Preserving the Past for September

Preserving the Past for September, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Wednesday, Sept 2 @ 10:30 or 6:30

This month's 2 page layout will include a batik stamping technique on GLOSSY paper that we will use to create our decorative elements.
In addition to basics you will need:
Clear Embossing Ink
Denim, Stream, Terra Cotta Pigment Ink
Vintage Photo Ink
Black Archival Ink or Black Staz-On

A new class just for you. . .

Vintage Acrylic Tag Book, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Since we bought the Clear Scraps store in June, we have more than a little acrylic to play with At For Keeps Sake! I've done a few acrylic projects, but it was time to do acrylic Sue style! Here is my Vintage acrylic. Space is limited to 10 students. Call For Keeps Sake, 314-487-8131.

Vintage Acrylic Tag Book
Learn great techniques for acrylic
In a vintage style. We will use alcohol
Inks, Staz-On, Wendy Vecchi Stamps
& more!
You will need to bring your basics
PLUS: Cropidile
Caramel, Ginger, Latte Alcohol Ink
Blending Solution, Alcohol Ink Applicator
Black Archival Ink, Brown & orange Staz On
Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Ink
Tiny Attacher
Sanding Block
Zip Dry or Glossy Accents

Uploaded by suezlou2003 on 18 Aug 09, 7.28AM CDT.

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As requested . . .

Graduation, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

I've been MIA . . . first my surgery then off to see my soldier graduate. The 3 of us (DH, DS & I) went down & spent 5 days with him. We had such a great time, all 4 of us as a family. We all had our cameras so no less than 1000 photos were taken. We haven't even had time to look at them all!

Thanks to everyone that has asked about him. He is now in his next phase of training . . .

Sweet Summer DAZE

Sweet Summer, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Thursday, August 27@10:30

In this class we will make a darling mini album from 2 sided paper by scoring & Folding. This little book This will hold lots of summer themed pics and is expandable!

Supplies:
Basic plus bring your cropidile
Scoring tools,
Adirondack Pigment Inks:
Mushroom, Juniper, Lettuce
Glossy accents or other liquid adhesive

Hi All!

Just to quick note to let you know . . . surgery went well. I'm home & moving a little bit slow but all in all not doing too badly! I'm working on a couple of new classes in my time off, hopefully I'll have something new to share! In the meantime, here's a new Yahoogroup to check out:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverythingWendyVecchi/
See you soon, Sue

My CLASS this week!

Keepsake Travel Journal with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Keepsake Travel Journal

Thursday, July
10:30-12:30

In this class we will convert an ordinary manila folder into a
keepsake journal. We will create pockets & pages perfect
for keeping ticket stubs, hotel keys, brochures and photos.

Students will need to bring scoring tools such as a scoring blade or score it board. cropidle, Distress Ink Black soot, Distress Ink Vintage Photo or Tea Dye, sanding block, corner rounder!

Enjoy Everyday Altered Scrapbook

Enjoy Everyday Altered Scrapbook, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

My class this week!
Wednesday, July 15
10:30-1:30
In this class we will take a plain white
Scrapbook and paint, stickle, punch
Our way to a memory book perfect
For any collection of photos.

Please bring your basic supplies

Plus the following:
Cropidile
Stream Paint Dabber
Sanding tools
Glue stick, brayer
Broken China Distress Ink
Ruler/Pencil
Tiny Attacher
Foam dots or squares
A FIskars scallop border punch
This is a 3 hour class you may want to bring a snack!

My 4th of July . . .

zack kelemen, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Zack is going to finishing up with his basic training in a couple of weeks. July 4th he got his first weekend pass, the first time that we've seen him since he left April 16th. One of friends took a photo with his cell phone. Wow, he looks so good!

Happy Independence Day!

PRESERVING THE PAST for August

IMG_0048, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Wednesday, August 12 @10:30 & 6:30

Each month you will create a 2 page Heritage themed layout perfect for your treasured photos.

This month's layout features pretty papers from My Mind's Eye and Chipboard elements from Maya Road.

Bring your basics plus Ranger Pool Paint Dabber and your favorite brown ink.

My Class next week!

Preserving the Past for July, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Preserving the Past for July

Wednesday, July 1 @ 10:30 & 6:30

We will use Cherry Arte & Teresa Collins Papers with CI Chipboard to create a 2 page layout perfect for your Heritage Scrapbook! The left side page includes a hidden journaling panel (behind the quote!).

You will want to bring your basics for this class . . . in addition we will use
Adirondack Pigment inks Butterscotch & Cranberry.

This is late but . . .

IMG_0009, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Thanks to everyone for your support of our 2009 Komen St. Louis Team!

We had a great time and it was a beautiful day! More photos on my Flickr account!

Preserving the Past for July

Preserving the Past for July, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Wednesday, July 1 @ 10:30 & 6:30

We will use Cherry Arte & Teresa Collins Papers with CI Chipboard to create a 2 page layout perfect for your Heritage Scrapbook!

My CLASS this week!

Paradise, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

We will create this
Board book in a box.
We will explore different
Textures including cork,
Distress embossing Powders,
Coredinations,
Cuttlebug and more.

Call For Keeps Sake 314-487-8131

Supplies:
Basics plus
Glue Stick & Brayer
Adirondack Stream Pigment Ink
Tea Dye Distress Ink
Tea Dye Distress Embossing Powder
Ultimate Glue or K & Co Glue
Stipple Brush
Foam Dots
Tim Holtz Foam Alpha Stamps
Ranger Matte Accents
Black Fine Point pen (Micron or Zig)

My class this week!

Preserving the Past for June, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Preserving the Past for June

Wednesday, June 3
10:30 & 6:30

This month's layout will feature a transparency, acrylic, alcohol ink, Coredinations, Cuttlebug & more.

Bring your basics plus,
Sanding tools
Shabby Shutter Distress Ink

Another Class for July

Enjoy Everyday Altered Scrapbook, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Enjoy Everyday Altered Scrapbook
With SUE

Wednesday, July 15
10:30-1:30
In this class we will take a plain white
Scrapbook and paint, stickle, punch
Our way to a memory book perfect
For any collection of photos.

Call For Keeps Sake @ 314-487-8131

New classes coming your way in July

Keepsake Travel Journal with Sue, originally uploaded by suezlou2003.

Keepsake Travel Journal with Sue
Thursday, July 23
10:30-12:30
$18
In this class we will convert an ordinary manila folder into a
keepsake journal. We will create pockets & pages perfect
for keeping ticket stubs, hotel keys, brochures and photos.

Call For Keepssake 314-487-8131